Oct 30 2016

World Series 2016 Game 5: Indians @ Cubs

Sigh. I have to admit it hurts.

In 1969 I was the beneficiary of probably the greatest choke in Baseball history when my Metropolitans soared from a 9 1/2 game deficit on August 19th to an 8 game Division lead. To be fair we went 23 – 7 while the Cubs tanked 7 – 18 (the Cardinals were a game ahead of us and we beat them too). The reason they call it a “miracle” is that we were a new team (7 years) and were already famously hapless (“Can anyone here play this game?”).

However, as a Metropolitans fan you learn early that most years your team are lovable losers (unless they’re the Cardinals) and so you savor the summers they don’t actively suck. Frankly it’s gotten so I no longer slavishly sit season after season, rooting on each pitch. I wait until the day after and if it’s a win I’ll watch Fast Forward where they skip the Innings nothing happens (it’s not like you miss any of the ‘witty’ banter from the announcers unfortunately).

It is reliably reported that the most common exchange between true Cubs stalwarts is “You know, they’ll break your heart,” and it’s offered with a good deal more sympathy and sincerity than you ever heard from Red Sox fans who are consumed with so much Yankee hatred they’re hard to be around (Yankees fans hate the Metropolitans with the same fervor and treat the Sox with silent disdain).

It would have been nice to see them end a 108 year drought and now that they’re safely in the Central Division I personally don’t hate them any more than I do most average Senior League teams. It was with regret I put away my Metropolitans Cap this season, but also with understanding that it was a wacky fluke of luck that they even made the Playoffs given the number of injuries to key players.

Wait until next year.

There is a tad more emotion involved in parting with the Cubs who by every measure except World Series performance are the best team in Baseball this year. Wait until next year rings kind of hollow because this is a club built for today, not an institutional juggernaught.

Oh well. I’ve waited for the Cubs almost my entire life (they did win in 1908 when I was in my teens) and this is merely incentive to live a little longer. It would be nice if they’d extend the season a bit but I don’t expect it.

rustymancuso581

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  1. Base Hit

  2. Steal

  3. Davis steals 2nd

  4. Kipnis struck out. 2 outs

  5. And a K. 2 Down

  6. Lindor RBI Single

    Cubs 3 – Cleveland 2

  7. RBI Single. Indians 3 – 2. 1 On 2 Out

  8. Lindor out trying to steal 2nd to retire the side

    Cubs 3 – Cleveland 2

  9. Pitch Out. Bottom 6th

  10. Bottom of the 6th: Bryan Shaw now pitching for Cleveland

  11. Heyward struck out

  12. Leadoff KO

  13. Baez grounds out. 2 out

  14. KO. 2

  15. Miguel Montero, hitting for David Ross, struck out to end the 6th inning

    Cubs 3 – Cleveland 2

  16. KO. Top 7th

  17. Top of the 7th: Carl Edwards pitching for Jon Lester

  18. Napoli with a lead off single

  19. Ugh. Leadoff Single

  20. Napoli advances on a wild pitch

  21. Passed Ball. Runner at 2nd

  22. Santana out on a fly ball to left.

  23. Fly. 1 Down

  24. Cubs pitching change: Aroldis Chapman in for Edwards

  25. Ramirez struck oput

  26. Ramirez struck out

  27. K. 2 Out

  28. HBP. 2 On 2 Out

  29. Gruyer hit by a pitch

  30. Perez ground s out to end retire the side.

    Cubs 3 – Cleveland 2

  31. Bottom 7th

  32. Time for some insurance.

  33. Bottom of the 7th: Byan Shaw pitching for Cleveland

  34. Contreras grounds out

  35. Cleveland pitching change: Cody Allen in for Bryan Shaw

  36. Fowler hit by a pitch

  37. Fowler steals 2nd

  38. Bryant struck out

  39. Rizzo intentional walk

  40. Zobrist flied out to left field to end the inning.

    Cubs 3 – Cleveland 2

  41. Top of the 8th: Aroldis Cahpman pitching for the Cubs

  42. Yan Gomes struck out

  43. Top 8th

  44. Davis singles with a ground ball

  45. KO. 3 Outs for Chapman

  46. 1 On 1 Out

  47. Stolen Base

  48. Davis steals 2nd again

  49. Kipnis flies out to left field

  50. Foul Out for 2

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