And you can read a full report from Game 1 here:
Final thoughts
Email from Len D.:
This ain’t a good start.... remains to be seen if the Goat is
dead....... fingers crossed!!!!!
We’ll see, it’s a seven game series and a lot can happen, but no doubt this was a huge victory for the Cleveland Indians. Also: Terry Francona is now undefeated in World Series games. The more you know.
Well there’s a Game 2 tomorrow, an hour earlier than today’s game due to weather concerns. A win there and the Cubs have gone 1-1 on the road, which is what you’re supposed to do.
Another Indians win? Well then Chicago might start panicking. We’ll be covering that for the Guardian, hopefully you’ll be joining us. Thanks for following along with tonight’s liveblog, especially those who contributed! Ciao!
Indians win!
Cubs 0-6 Indians, FINAL
Miguel Montero is in to pinch-hit here. Allen falls behind 2-0. It feels like with a 6 run lead the mission should just be throw strikes, but given the circumstances, it’s hard not to understand if his command isn’t 100% ideal.
He gets the benefit of a high strike call on the next pitch. 2-1. His next pitch is a definite strike. 2-2. Progressive Field gets REAL LOUD and Montero swings and misses at the next pitch and IT GETS LOUDER! The Indians have won Game 1 of the World Series
Cubs 0-6 Indians, top 9th
Russell takes ball one and then swings and misses at Allen’s second pitch. 1-1. He swings and foul tips one into the mitt for strike two. 1-2. He swings and misses at a high fastball and that’s out number two. The Cubs are down to their final out of the game.
Cubs 0-6 Indians, top 9th
Allen falls behind Contreras 3-1 and then hits a fly ball off the wall for a double. Improbable rally time?
Cubs 0-6 Indians, top 9th
Cleveland closer Cody Allen comes in and immediately strikes out Baez. The Indians are two outs away.
Email from Don L:
Stuck in Cleveland without a functioning TV. What to do? Get on Google and find your coverage. It’s great, much like the early days of radio coverage when one had to wait while the announcer recreated the sounds of the bat and ball and the crowd cheering!
Thanks for the kind words, we’ll be liveblogging every game of the World Series here at the Guardian, hopefully you’ll stick with us.
And that goes for everybody reading right now. Wait, hold on, we still have half an inning left here.
Cubs 0-6 Indians, bottom 8th
Kipnis grounds out and the inning finally ends.
Cubs 0-6 Indians, bottom 8th
And the one time I praise one of Maddon’s moves. LITERALLY THE ONLY TIME THIS POSTSEASON and it goes COMPLETELY WRONG. Davis hits a double off of Rondon. Ratings in Chicago start to plummet.
Roberto Perez hits a three-run home run! Cubs 0-6 Indians
Cubs 0-6 Indians, bottom 8th
Right-hander Hector Rondon is up here to face Perez. Francona’s done no pinch-hitting tonight, I just realized.
Rondon gets Perez into a 1-2 count, then wastes a pitch and then throws a hanging breaking ball and PEREZ HITS HIS SECOND HOME RUN OF THE BALLGAME!
Cubs 0-3 Indians, bottom 8th
Chisenhall is up with one on, two out. Grimm falls behind him 2-0. Yeah this is the Grimm I remember. He lines the next pitch over the shortstop’s head.
And, guess what, we have a pitching change, although in this case, Maddon’s 100% in the right to make a move here.
Cubs 0-3 Indians, bottom 8th
Here’s Brandon Guyer. Grimm falls him 2-0 but Guyer swings through the next two pitches to even the count. Guyer checks his swing and it’s a full count now. Grimm misses up high with his next pitch and Guyer takes his base.
Cubs 0-3 Indians, bottom 8th
Ramirez hits a routine flyball. That’s two down.
Cubs 0-3 Indians, bottom 8th
Justin Grimm is still out there. I’d imagine if the game were closer, there’d be someone else up. Also up, is Carlos Santana who’s… (struggles to come up with another reference) Uh is ready to hit a soul sacrifice?
No, never mind, there’s nobody on base to move up.
In any case, he strikes out badly on a unchecked swing on a 2-2 count. Not so “Smooth” right? Right?
Okay I’m getting a tad loopy here.
Cubs 0-3 Indians, bottom 8th
Well the good news for Chicago is that Miller’s probably not going to be available to for for more than an inning in Game 2. That’s not nothing. It feels like Francona might have leaned too heavily on his best pitcher, but he knows the old “teams that win Game 1 of the World Series” factoid.
Cubs 0-3 Indians, top 8th
Schwarber gets ahead 2-1. Miller’s next pitch… Schwarber swings for the fences and comes up empty. 2-2. And on the very next pitch…
SCHWARBER STRIKES OUT!
Miller leaves the mound to a huge ovation.
Cubs 0-3 Indians, top 8th
Zobrist with a sharp single, Bryant is at third. The tying run is up to the plate once again. Chicago hasn’t stopped fighting, you have to admire that.
Cubs 0-3 Indians, top 8th
Rizzo is up. Miller gets ahead of him 1-2. The crowd starts to get loud again. Every two strike count with Miller is an event. Miller’s next pitch is a ball. 2-2. Rizzo fouls off the next pitch. Still 2-2. Miller’s next pitch, a slider just off the plate, gets called for a ball.
The crowd doesn’t like it, but it did break. Rizzo swings at the next pitch but he doesn’t quite get a good swing at it and it ends up just being a wind-wavering flyout that Davis eventually tracks down. Miller’s thrown 38 pitches already.
Cubs 0-3 Indians, top 8th
Bryant works a full count against Miller, getting him to throw as many pitches as possible might be the best long-term strategy for the Cubs at this point.
And he takes ball four.
Cubs 0-3 Indians, top 8th
Miller is back out, for his last inning one would assume. Cody Allen is up in the Cleveland bullpen. He gets Fowler to line out.
Andrew M:
To Len D
Nobody is feeling good about a team called the Indians winning in 2016, hopefully their own fans are even a little bit guilty
There’s definitely a conversation to be had about the Indians’ name, one that I imagine will only be amplified over the course of the serious. It should be had, in my opinion.
Cubs 0-3 Indians, bottom 7th
Maddon keeps Grimm in the game to face Napoli. Grimm falls behind 2-0 before getting a strike call on a nifty curveball. 2-1. He throws another curve and gets Napoli to ground out.
Cubs 0-3 Indians, bottom 7th
If Joe Maddon were the producer of “Bewitched” there would have been 300 Darrens on that show.
Right now we have Justin Grimm, who I remember as sucking pretty bad. Lindor confirms my memory by hitting a rocketing double off of him.
Cubs 0-3 Indians, bottom 7th
LHP Travis Wood is in to face Kipnis with one out and nobody on. He induces a groundout and here’s Maddon once again. What did I tell you?
Email from Len D. after the top of the 7th:
Header: my feelings as a cub fan
Body of message: well shit...
Cubs 0-3 Indians, bottom 7th
And the maddening Maddoning has begun. Strop gets Davis to pop out to second and Maddon brings out a new reliever. We’re going to somehow see the entire Cubs bullpen over the next 2+ innings.
Oh and Contreras is doing the catching now and Albert Almora Jr is in right.
Andrew Miller might be the only player who was both with the Yankees and the Red Sox that fans of both teams still like equally.
Cubs 0-3 Indians, top 7th
David Ross is up with a chance for a storybook moment and he gets a 3-1 count with the bases loaded. He takes the next pitch. And that’s a 3-2 count now.
This is the biggest pitch of the game right here.
Ross attempts to check his swing on strike three and… HE CAN’T! That’s two straight strikeouts from Miller (what did I tell you?) and the Cubs load the bases with nobody out and can’t push a run home.
That feels like the game. (But please keep reading.)
Cubs 0-3 Indians, top 7th
Russell strikes out on three pitches. The Cubs can’t score on an out now.
Cubs 0-3 Indians, top 7th
Wilson Contreras is up, pinch-hitting for Coghlan. He flies out but it’s not enough to score the runner from third. That’s one out. Miller is two strikeouts or one double play away of getting out of the jam. (The first option is more likely with Miller.)
Cubs 0-3 Indians, top 7th
Baez is up next with two hitters on and nobody out. He immediately falls behind 0-2. Baez swings and fouls off the next pitch. It really looks like he’s lunging and you’d think Miller would be able to exploit that and put him away here rather easily.
Instead Baez lines a single and the bases are loaded and nobody out. Wow did this game’s dynamic just change dramatically in the span of a few batters.
Cubs 0-3 Indians, top 7th
Lefthander Andrew Miller, who has been frighteningly unhittable throughout this postseason, is up to face Schwarber. What a welcome back to the major leagues this has to be, from Kluber to Miller.
Schwarber actually works a full count here, which should be as good as a solid base hit. And in fact, he takes a walk on ball four. The tying run is now at the plate.
Den S. has immediately transported me into a Marx Brothers routine with this email and I honestly am completely down with it:
What is difficult about saying Pedro Strop is the first reliever to play in this World Series?
Cubs 0-3 Indians, top 7th
Email from Andrew M.:
Do you really think Kluber will play 3 times this series? Try and do a MadBum and make a long relief outing? If so do you think he’ll be as effective
It’s possible, honestly. Part of the reason Miller is warming up here is that Francona would like to use Kluber on short rest for a potential Game 4.
But he is back to start the top of the 7th where he immediately allows Zobrist to hit a a single and that’s the end of Kluber’s night. Here comes Andrew Miller.
Cubs 0-3 Indians, bottom 6th
It’s Pedro Strop time in Cleveland, the RHP ends up being the first reliever used in this World Series, which is something not everybody can say. He’s going to be facing Perez. Who he strikes out.
Gotta say he did the job.
Cubs 0-3 Indians, bottom 6th
Chisenhall flies out to left and that will do it for Lester’s inning. Maddon is taking him out. We’re into the bullpens, everybody.
Cubs 0-3 Indians, bottom 6th
Is Guyer going to be bunting with a runner on second with nobody out? He might not get a chance, he takes two balls.
Meanwhile there is stirring in the Chicago bullpen. Lester might not be long here. It might depend on this at-bat.
Lester throws a strike. 2-1. Guyer swings away at the next pitch. 2-2. This at-bat has taken a turn. Don’t think he’s bunting now. Guyer takes a pitch on the corner for a strike.
Cubs 0-3 Indians, bottom 6th
Lester’s back up. He hasn’t been terrible, it’s really just that first inning where he came close to unraveling.
Why do I keep saying things like that. Ramirez hits a leadoff double off of him the second I finish that sentence.
Two years ago I beat Corey Kluber 1-0....Today, I walked my 2 pugs while wearing a "pug life" t-shirt. Life comes at you fast.
— dan haren (@ithrow88) October 26, 2016
Cubs 0-3 Indians, top 6th
Rizzo is up, to see if he can do anything. On 1-1 he swings wildly at a pitch like he’s not even sure it occupies the same dimension as he does. On 1-2… Kluber doesn’t get the call. 2-2, Rizzo pops up and that’s it for Kluber this inning.
And maybe for this game? Miller has been throwing with purpose. It would be… unorthodox to pull Kluber the way he’s been pitching but, well, Francona’s been unorthodox with his bullpen use all postseason long.
Cubs 0-3 Indians, top 6th
Here’s Bryant who falls behind 0-2. He’s a real good hitter too, it feels necessary to point that out. Kluber throws a ball and then gets Bryant to swing on a breaking ball that he just pops up. That’s out two.
Cubs 0-3 Indians, top 6th
Andrew Miller is in the bullpen already! This feels like Chekhov’s Gun.
But Kluber is back in to the game. His first pitch to Fowler is a ball, the next is a strike and the next ends up being a routine grounder to second.
Cubs 0-3 Indians, bottom 5th
If you were hoping he was feeling better, Carlos Santana is healthy enough to take another at-bat, but not everything is going his way. He strikes out looking to end the inning. Still the Indians are winning.
Cubs 0-3 Indians, bottom 5th
Napolis swings and misses for strike three. That’s two down
Meanwhile, the Cavaliers have defeated the Knicks 117-88. This will be one of the very few times where a team beating the Knicks will be at all notable.
Cubs 0-3 Indians, bottom 5th
Lester’s back out for Chicago and he falls behind Lindor 2-1. Lindor fouls off the next two pitches and then hits one fair that Ross is able to corral and toss to first for the out.
Cubs 0-3 Indians, top 5th
David Ross lines out to first. And that was a relatively easy inning for Kluber. Not ideal for Chicago.
Cubs 0-3 Indians, top 5th
Russell swiftly flies out. Kluber’s pitch count remains rather low.
Cubs 0-3 Indians, top 5th
Kluber is back out there. No, Tito isn’t going to Andrew Miller THIS early. Coghlan falls behind 0-2, because that’s what you do against the Klubot.
Coghlan fouls off the next pitch. Still alive. But not for long. He freezes on strike three yet again. Ninth strikeout for Kluber.
According to Statcast exit velocity data, the Indians hit one ball harder than Roberto Perez's home run (112.9 mph) all season. One.
— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) October 26, 2016
Cubs 0-3 Indians, bottom 4th
And Kipnis fouls out to end the inning, but that’s a big home run by Perez. Especially with Kluber dealing and the Circumstances in the Cleveland bullpen waiting in the wings should he start to fade.
Cubs 0-3 Indians, bottom 4th
And Davis hits a long flyball but it dies in the wind on the warning track.
Roberto Perez hits a solo home run! Cubs 0-3 Indians
Cubs 0-3 Indians, bottom 4th
Nevermind what I just said! Perez hits a long fly ball that hits just above the yellow marker on the railings and that’s going to be called a home run by the umpires!
Cubs 0-2 Indians, bottom 4th
Lester’s back out there to face Chisenhall, who swings and misses at a 2-2 pitch. Lester’s looking like he’s a bit more in control here. He is the kind of pitcher who tends to calm down as the games get longer.
Cubs 0-2 Indians, top 4th
Well I *thought* I was joking But Schwarber just misses hitting a home run. It ends up being a mere double however and Baez hits a long fly to end the inning.
But that’s two straight Cubs making solid contact, which should be a sliver of good news for their presumably nerve-wracked fans.
Cubs 0-2 Indians, top 4th
Zobrist grounds out to second. That’s two straight outs without a strikeout, he’s clearly struggling.
Cubs 0-2 Indians, top 4th
Here’s Anthony Rizzo, former Red Sox prospect Anthony Rizzo (yes I can find a Boston angle anywhere). He works a full count on Kluber before popping up to Perez in foul ground. Not a strikeout, but the crowd appreciates it none-the-less.
So Lester is still too scared to throw to first. Plus ça change. #WorldSeries @HunterFelt
— AlisonW ⚾☕🍣💜 (@AlisonW) October 26, 2016
It feels like this wasn’t as bad as in Boston.
Meanwhile, it looks like Santana is staying in the game. For the moment.
Cubs 0-2 Indians, bottom 3rd
Ramirez with a single. Two on now. Potential rally here, especially with Lester not on 100%
Oh and Santana is reaching for his knee and limping that’s not a good sign for him or the Indians. Progressive Field goes quiet.
Cubs 0-2 Indians, bottom 3rd
Lester throws two straight balls to walk Santana, although Lester strongly disagrees with those calls by the home plate umpire. He’s getting into it a bit.
Cubs 0-2 Indians, bottom 3rd
Santana on the plate. Lindor takes a lunge for second before scurrying back. Lester could have had a pick off there. Santana takes a pitch for 2-0 and Lindor… Lindor gets thrown out by David Ross!
Maybe. It’s not certain if Baez completed the tag. The Indians decide not to have the umpires look at it. Strange.
Cubs 0-2 Indians, bottom 3rd
Napoli swings and misses at a 1-1 pitch. 1-2. And Ross takes strike three.
Cubs 0-2 Indians, bottom 3rd
Jon Lester is back out. Lindor takes pitch outside and then knocks up a base hit. And now we have the “Lester doesn’t throw to first” drama.
Cubs 0-2 Indians, top 3rd
Bryant swings and misses. And then swings and misses once again. 0-2. Wow is this crowd loud. Can’t blame them, this is some pitching porn they’re witnesses.
Bryant fouls away the next pitch, just trying to stay alive. Kluber throws the next pitch way too tall. Bryant is not going to swing at that. But he does swing at the next one, and of course he misses. Kluber has his eighth strikeout. EIGHTH.
Cubs 0-2 Indians, top 3rd
Dexter Fowler, whose name sounds like he should be a really happening 40’s jazz musician, is up again. Kluber gets ahead of him 1-2 and then completes his seventh strikeout by getting Fowler to chase. Lordy.
Cubs 0-2 Indians, top 3rd
David Ross, who it feels like was still in the league back the last time the Cubs were in the World Series, is up next. He falls behind 1-2 and then fouls the next pitch back into the seats. At this point, Cleveland fans would be disappointed by a routine out it feels like.
Kluber’s next pitch is just off the corner. The stands umpires hate this. They especially don’t like what comes next, as Ross hits a solid single.
Cubs 0-2 Indians, top 3rd
Addison Russell starts things off for the Cubs in the third. He falls behind 0-2 almost immediately. Kluber doesn’t even bother with wasting one, Russell takes strike three. That’s six k’s for Kluber.
Cubs 0-2 Indians, bottom 2nd
Kipnis back up. Lester throws a ball that, honestly, looks like it’s a strike. Lester’s next pitch is an actual ball. That’s 2-0. His 2-0 pitch is a strike. On 2-1, Kipnis hits one that looks like it could go into the seats, but Baez manages to catch it for the third out.
Yeah, I’d say that Lester had a slightly better inning this time around.
Cubs 0-2 Indians, bottom 2nd
Davis is back up. He hits a ball foul. 0-1. The next pitch is a ball. 1-1. He hits the next ball but it’s off of Lester who snatches it up and throws underhanded to first for out number two.
Cubs 0-2 Indians, bottom 2nd
Lester back on the mound. Let’s see if he can settle down after the first. Up is Roberto Perez who works a full count before hitting a flyball to Zobrist. One down.
Cubs 0-2 Indians, top 2nd
Here’s “Father” Craig Coghlan with two down. Kluber falls behind Coghlan 3-1. He’s got a chance here to extend the inning one way or another.
But Coghlan swings and misses on a cutter. 3-2. Kluber’s a strike away from stranding the runner on second. AND HE GETS HIM WITH A STRIKE ON THE INSIDE CORNER!
That’s his FIFTH strikeout!
Cubs 0-2 Indians, top 2nd
Javy Baez, offensive MVP of the NLCS, is up next. Zobrist is still at second, but there’s one out now. One imagine that he’s not bunting.
No, he’s not, in fact he falls behind 0-2. Indians fans in attendance start to cheer. Kluber’s next pitch is out of the zone. As is the next one. 2-2.
But Kluber finally freezes him for his fourth strikeout of the game.
Cubs 0-2 Indians, top 2nd
And here’s Kyle Schwarber, back from an ACL injury. He’s only had a few at-bats this season, which was cut short win an ugly on-field collision. He’s had some big hits for the Cubs in the past though, so they’re willing to role the dice that he’ll be able to contribute.
Kluber falls behind 3-1. It looks like Schwarber’s plate discipline is fairly okay. Kluber’s next pitch is a called strike. Full count. On 3-2, Schwarber strikes out.
Updated
Cubs 0-2 Indians, top 2nd
Ben Zobrist is up for the Cubs, who find themselves behind earlier than anyone expected. (Man, my 2-1 Cubs prediction is ALREADY out of play.) Zobrist hits a single that goes past Davis for a double. Chicago are in a good position to at least get one run back here.
Jon Lester came into the game allowing one run in 21 career World Series innings. He just allowed two in the first.
— Ryan Hannable (@RyanHannable) October 26, 2016
And the psychoanalyzing has probably already begun.
Cubs 0-2 Indians, bottom 1st
Lonnie Chisenhall is up now. Bases are still loaded with two outs. Chisenhall hits a foul pop up that Ross makes a great play on to get his pitcher out of a very ugly inning.
Wow wasn’t expecting that start.
Jon Lester hits Brandon Guyner with a pitch, forcing in a run! Cubs 0-2 Indians
Cubs 0-2 Indians, bottom 1st
Still bases loaded and two out and he hits Brandon Guyner with a pitch! Another run scores!
Jose Ramirez with an infield hit, a run scores! Cubs 0-1 Indians
Cubs 0-1 Indians, bottom 1st
Here comes Jose Ramirez with a chance for a big hit… He doesn’t get that, but he makes a swinging bunt that the fielders can’t get to in time. There’s no play here. The Indians score first!
Cubs 0-0 Indians, bottom 1st
Santana takes a strike at the knees. 3-1. Santana’s not fully sure it was a strike, there might be a lot of that tonight from hitters. On 3-2, it’s inside and the bases are loaded.
Cubs 0-0 Indians, bottom 1st
Beyond being an excellent classic rock reference, Santana is one of the most productive hitters on the lineup. This could be a key at-bat early on in the game. Lester falls behind 2-0.
Make that 3-0. David Ross, Lester’s personal catcher with both the Sox and Cubs, comes to the mound to settle him down.
Cubs 0-0 Indians, bottom 1st
Napoli takes a ball and Lindor goes off and easily takes second base. Lester then falls behind his former teammate 3-0. The 3-0 pitch… Napoli doesn’t offer at a strike from Lester. 3-1. The next pitch is out and away. He takes a walk as Carlos Santana comes to the plate with runners on first and second.
Cubs 0-0 Indians, bottom 1st
First hit of the game! Francisco Lindor hits a single, the veteran Mike Napoli comes to the plate.
Cubs 0-0 Indians, bottom 1st
Jason Kipnis grounds out to Rizzo on first faster than it takes to read this sentence. Two down.
Cubs 0-0 Indians, bottom 1st
Jon Lester is on the mound. He has problems with throwing out runners on first, and mostly doesn’t. So, be prepared to hear about that nonstop for the rest of the series. He’s facing Rajai Davis, who’s a monster on the base paths.
But that’s pretty meaningless if you can’t make contact. Davis swings and misses to end his at-bat.
Six straight Cubs retired in World Series play. Three of them are dead.
— (((Jesse Spector))) (@jessespector) October 26, 2016
Cubs 0-0 Indians, top 1st
Anthony Rizzo, struggling for much of this postseason, pops up to end the inning. Kluber couldn’t have had a much better start than that.
Updated
Cubs 0-0 Indians, top 1st
Kris Bryant fouls off a 3-1 pitch, he grimaces. Full count. He takes the next pitch and… (waits for umpire’s call) it’s strike three! Two straight strikeouts for Kluber to begin the game.
Updated
Cubs 0-0 Indians, top 1st
Kluber works his way bay to a 2-2 count and then gets a called third strike for the first out of the game.
Updated
First pitch!
Cubs 0-0 Indians, top 1st
We’re starting. Corey Kluber’s first pitch to Dexter Fowler is… a ball. Boo, that’s no way to start a season.
Updated
@HunterFelt I've won tickets to Games 3 and 4 so I'm just hoping for any Cubs win and a sweep so I can see the final game live! #FlyTheW
— Adam P Thoroughgood (@AdamBeGood) October 26, 2016
That’s awesome! I will note that Cubs fans are reading this and muttering “tempting fate.”
The saddest thing about this year's #WorldSeries is that one of these teams will lose, and neither deserve that. @HunterFelt @GdnUSsports
— AlisonW ⚾☕🍣💜 (@AlisonW) October 26, 2016
Neither fanbase deserves it, that’s for sure.
The Indians take the field. The hometown crowd is, as you would imagine, rather happy with this.
At least there’s no Dane Cook.
Yes, this is how you get the young folks interested in baseball: A montage of the elderly set to Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.
— Jon Tayler (@JATayler) October 26, 2016
We’re just about to start. Anyone have their predictions for tonight’s games? Now’s the time. I’m saying that the Cubs in a close one. 2-1. You? Email hunter.felt.freelance@theguardian.com or tweet @HunterFelt.
PSA: Don’t be this guy.
Just no. Why would you do this? What is wrong with you?
Clown pic.twitter.com/mg5XDD4bDb
— Paul Sullivan (@PWSullivan) October 25, 2016
Karl M. gives us a history lesson about the moment when the MLB decided to make the All-Star Game “count”:
The 2002 MLB all star game ended in a tie when the managers ran out of pitchers before the deadlock could be broken. They weren’t playing for anything so why risk a pitcher’s health. The following year MLB decided to make the all star game something to play for, home field advantage of the world series.
Quite right Karl. I will add my editorial commentary here,then-commissioner Bud Selig panicked at an event that caused a lot of bad press and overreacted. Which is basically what Bud Selig did always.
Cleveland Indians starting lineup
1. Rajai Davis CF
2. Jason Kipnis 2B
3. Francisco Lindor SS
4. Mike Napoli 1B
5. Carlos Santana DH
6. Jose Ramirez 3B
7. Brandon Guyer LF
8. Lonnie Chisenhall RF
9. Roberto Perez C
Chicago Cubs starting lineup
1. Dexter Fowler CF
2. Kris Bryant 3B
3. Anthony Rizzo 1B
4. Ben Zobrist LF
5. Kyle Schwarber DH
6. Javy Baez 2B
7. Chris Coghlan RF
8. Addison Russell SS
9. David Ross C
Updated
@HunterFelt @guardian this series feels like a #RedSox Alumni Reunion; Theo is about to demonstrate the benefits of a #Brookline education
— Jason G Mahoney, Esq (@jgmahoney) October 25, 2016
Well, Theo’s work is pretty much done at this point, so the on-the-field strategy is going to come down to the two managers. Here’s where I should probably provide full disclosure here and admit that I’m 100% in the tank for Terry Francona to the point where I spent significant time on Twitter impersonating him.
I want to emphasize that these opinions have always been my own and are not at all the result of any collusion with the Terry Francona For AL Manager Of The Year campaign no matter what leaked emails suggest.
If things weren’t crazy enough for Cleveland Cavaliers are about to tip off their season against the New York Knicks for the first game of the NBA season.
The banner Cleveland has been waiting for. pic.twitter.com/PD2m87V54S
— CBS Sports NBA (@CBSSportsNBA) October 25, 2016
It’s a bit of muddled schedule, for sure, although I’m 100% sure fans in Cleveland are utterly content with tonight’s embarrassment of riches. In any case, the reason we’re starting in Cleveland and not Chicago is that the American League beat the National League in the All-Star Game, awarding home field advantage to the Indians.
For people who don’t follow baseball regularly, this is not a joke. That’s seriously how the MLB determines this. Even Harvey Dent thinks that’s a bit arbitrary.
Preamble
So, here we are in Game 1 of the World Series between the consistently thwarted Cleveland Indians and the… well this can’t be right, the Chicago Cubs?
Well, it’s very clear that no matter which team wins this series, there’s going to be some history made and it all starts with Game 1 which quite often sets the tone for the entire series. By an overwhelming degree, World Series Game 1 winners tend to go to win the whole thing.
There’s obviously a lot of storylines going on tonight. There’s the Cubs’ 108 year championship drought (you might have heard those of us in the media mention it every once and a while.) This has somewhat overshadowed the fact that the Indians haven’t won since the more comparatively recent year of 1948. Considering that the Indians have made the World Series, for the first time since 1997, just months after LeBron James and the Cavaliers won the city’s first NBA title, it feels like there wouldn’t be a better time to break that title-less streak than the present.
There’s also slightly less “fun fact”-y subject matter to go, whether it be about Cleveland’s culturally insensitive logo being plastered everywhere or the prominent role Chicago’s closer Aroldis Chapman, mere months removed from a MLB-imposed suspension for domestic violence, has played in this postseason.
Because of all this, it’s easy to forget that this isn’t going to be a referendum on which team is easier to root for or on which franchise has the worst “curse.” It’s going to come down to, well, baseball.
That starts with the starters. Indians manager Terry Francona is putting Corey Kluber (18-9, 3.14) on the mound against the Cubs’ Jon Lester (18-9, 3.14), who he used to manage back when they were with the Boston Red Sox. (The Boston GM during that era? None other than current Cubs President of Baseball Operation Theo Epstein. I told you, there’s a lot of subplots for the taking tonight.)
If you want to join in, we welcome your contributions here at the Guardian. Send us your thought’s throughout this liveblog and we’ll include them along the way, just email them to hunter.felt.freelance@theguardian.com or tweet them to @HunterFelt. We’re close to Game 1 of the World Series here at Progressive Field. First pitch will be sometime after 8:00pm EST, it’ll depend on how long the pregame ceremonies and FOX coverage shenanigans, but we’ll be back well before then.
Updated
Hunter will be here shortly, in the meantime here are his thoughts on how the series will play out:
With the reality that the Indians and the Cubs are actually going to face off against each other in the World Series, and that mathematical reality of a seven-game series dictates that one of these two perennial losers will have to win, we’ve reached the point where we must abandon rational analysis altogether. I could talk about how Cleveland’s Terry Francona is a far superior in-game tactician than Chicago’s Joe Maddon or that the Cubs starters should more than nullify the fact that Andrew Miller is the greatest postseason relief pitcher since Mariano Rivera. No, instead, my prediction will be based solely on a classic Mountain Goats song. Hopefully Bill Gates is prepared to spearhead the Heaven 17 revival. Cubs in five
