It’s October! That means it’s time for falling leaves, scary costumes, cold fronts and most importantly, post-season baseball.
The World Series is on the horizon, and the Cleveland Indians will play the Chicago Cubs. The Cleveland Indians won their series against the Toronto Blue Jays, 4-1.
The Cubs’ hopes of joining the Indians in the World Series were fulfilled when they eliminated the Los Angeles Dodgers, 4-2 on Sat. Oct. 22. After putting together one of the most dominant regular seasons in MLB history and accumulating 103 wins, the Cubs are the heavy favorite to win it all. Now only the Indians stand in the way of the Cubs getting an opportunity to break their century-long curse.
To gain some perspective, the last time the Chicago Cubs won a World Series: the Titanic tragedy had yet to happen, the Ottoman Empire was still in existence, World War I was still in the near future and Teddy Roosevelt was the President of the United States.
As of today, the Cubs are six wins away from breaking the infamous curse that has plagued the city of Chicago for 108 years. The Cubs are armed with what is arguably the best pitching rotation in the game; Jake Arietta, Jon Lester, Kyle Hendricks and John Lackey have proved time and time again that they are the team to beat. The Cubs seem to be the most complete team in the playoffs with a stellar pitching rotation backed by offensive threats Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant.
However, if there is any team that can put an end to the Cubs quest for destiny, it’s the young and fiery Cleveland Indians led by ace pitcher Corey Kluber and 22-year-old shortstop Francisco Lindor. After winning the AL Central division for the first time since 2007 with a record of 94-67, the Cleveland Indians have shot right through the postseason. The Indians swept the Red Sox in the Division Series and took down the Blue Jays in five games in the ALCS to clinch a World Series birth for the first time since 1997.
It is remarkable to think that the Indians have only lost one postseason game and handled the favored Red Sox easily. The Indians eliminated the Red Sox in just three games. They sent David Ortiz and the rest of the Boston squad home (in an embarrassing fashion). The young and talented Cleveland Indians are the real deal, and they’re chasing a history of their own.
The team has not won a World Series since 1948.
Cleveland has been waiting for over half a century, as no major Cleveland sports team has won any championship for 52 years. Earlier this year, the Cleveland Cavaliers won the NBA Finals and put an end to the championship drought, but can the city of Cleveland win two championships in the same year? Is 2016 the year of Believeland?
The way the team is playing right now, the Cubs will have trouble stopping them.
The Cubs and the Indians will be a matchup for the ages–both teams seeking a long–elusive championship and chasing history.
