Musings
Last night’s Game 7 was one of the most thrilling games you will ever see. It was full of twists, turns, and surprises. Neither manager had their best day. Players went from goats to heroes and vice versa. Most of the players were not sharp in this game. While it is hard to say that a great game like that wasn’t the best baseball, it is certainly true seeing the errors, poor judgments, and miscues. Despite all of that, it was a great game with a lot to unpack.
First off, the umpiring was atrocious as it was most of the World Series. Throughout the telecast John Smoltz and Joe Buck did a good job highlighting how first Home Plate Umpire Sam Holbrook was just missing clear strikes throughout the game, and then when the game got tight late, his zone became inconsistent. There was a pitch that Mike Napoli struck out on that was a foot off the outside corner, which is all the more appalling when you consider Holbrook wasn’t even calling pitches strikes that were actually on the outside corner.
Then there was the call John Hirschbeck completely blew in the third inning.
You can’t get that play wrong. It wasn’t even close. This game and this World Series made the best possible case for the need for replay in baseball, and it also made the case for the need to get going on the technology for automated called balls and strikes.
The play was also terrible because it was just a bad play by Javier Baez. It was one of two bad errors he made in the field trying to do too much. Baez would make everyone forget about those two errors, and his overall shaky play in Game 7 by leading off the fifth inning with a monster home run off Corey Kluber.
Baez was one of THREE players to make everyone forget about his poor play by hitting a huge home run.
The next up was David Ross of all people. With Jon Lester pitching, Ross was the only player who could have fielded a dribbler off the bat off Jason Kipnis. He got to it, but instead of eating the ball, the threw it away giving the Indians second and third with two outs. A wild pitch later in the ensuing at-bat would ricochet off his helmet (not his fault) and would lead to two Indians runs to get them back in the game. Of course, we would forget about it as Ross hit a solo home run in the sixth inning off of Andrew Miller which would make it a 6-3 game. At that point, we would not know how crucial that run was.
It was crucial because of Rajai Davis. While it was doubtful Davis could get either Ross’ or Dexter Fowler‘s leadoff home run, it is true he gave himself little chance by mistiming his jumps. That really wasn’t a big deal. What was a big deal was his hesitation and poor throw in the fourth inning.
With Kris Bryant (one of the few players on the day who actually played well throughout) standing on third base, Addison Russell hit a medium depth fly ball. Many people don’t go on that play, but someone with Bryant’s speed and base running ability does. Davis didn’t get his full force behind the throw, he hesitated his throw, and he threw it high. The combination of the three along with a great slide by Bryant allowed the Cubs to score the go-ahead run.
Later that same inning, he misplayed a Willson Contreras ball to the wall. He initially broke in on a ball that went to the wall. It is up for debate whether or not he could have got there, but it is undisputed he gave himself no chance whatsoever to get there.
Of course, everyone forgets his play in the field because he squared up an Aroldis Chapman fastball in the bottom of the eighth to hit one of the most dramatic and improbable World Series home run this side of Bill Mazeroski:
Rajai. Davis.
Cleveland. Legend. #Game7 pic.twitter.com/PptzTVwcu5
— MLB (@MLB) November 3, 2016
Normally, Davis wouldn’t have had a shot against Chapman, but Chapman has been over worked and exhausted. It is strange Maddon stuck with Chapman because Lester was dealing. On the other hand, it wasn’t that strange when taken in context of the full game.
Despite the Cubs having a 5-1 lead in the fifth, and Kyle Hendricks, the NL leader in ERA this season, in complete control of the game, he went to Lester after a Santana two out walk. It was either desperation, sticking with a pre-determined formula or both. Whatever the case, as noted above, it led to the Indians getting back in the game.
As we saw with Davis’ home run, Maddon sticking with a Chapman who had nothing out there also let the Indians back into the game.
Sticking with pitchers far too long is ultimately what did cost the Indians the World Series. While Kluber wasn’t getting help from the home plate umpire, he wasn’t helping his own cause either. He wasn’t as sharp, and the Cubs went to work. Despite this, Francona got greedy trying to push him through the fourth. It ended up with a 3-1 Cubs lead, and eventually a 4-1 Cubs lead when Francona put Kluber back out there for the fifth.
Francona then went to Miller who had nothing. As a result, he allowed two earned over 2.1 inning. Both Kluber and Miller allowed more earned runs in this game then they had allowed all postseason.
Francona almost did it again with Cody Allen. Allen took over for Miller in the seventh, and he got out of a mini-jam. Allen would pitch effectively into the top of the ninth where he seemingly lost it all at once. Jason Heyward was tattooing him left and right before finally hitting into a fielder’s choice. For the only time in the game, Francona went to his bullpen in time to get Bryan Shaw. Shaw got out of the ninth, but fate would not be on his side.
As if the game wasn’t crazy enough, right after the ninth inning, there was a rain delay. It was a short one, but it was enough to have a profound impact on the game.
During the telecast, we heard how Heyward calmed the Cubs down in the weight room during the rain delay. With the Cubs scoring two in the top of the 10th, his speech was and will forever be attributed to the Cubs rallying to win the World Series. Not to downplay it, but there was more at hand there.
Shaw, the latest pitcher available Francona trusted, was getting cold in the clubhouse. It showed when he came out for the 10th. Kyle Schwarber hit a blistering ground ball through the shift to get the rally started. Bryant then just missed one as he hit it to the deepest part of the park. It was at this point that a game with so many twists and turns finally reached its final turning point.
Rather than go halfway on the deep fly ball, especially on a ball Davis had similarly misplayed earlier in the game, the pinch runner Albert Almora tagged up and got himself into scoring position. This lead to Francona somewhat controversially intentionally walking Anthony Rizzo to set up the double play and pitch to Ben Zobrist. Zobrist then hit a sharp opposite field double just past Jose Ramirez to set up the go-ahead run.
After another intentional walk, Miguel Montero hit what would become the World Series winning RBI. Only at that point did Francona lift Shaw for Trevor Bauer, who somehow managed to get out of the bases loaded one out jam to give the Indians a chance.
The Indians would start a two out rally against Carl Edwards, Jr. Brandon Guyer worked the two out walk, went to second base on defensive indifference, and he would score on Davis’ RBI single. However, that is as far as the Indians would go. Mike Montgomery came into the game, and he faced Michael Martinez. Martinez had entered the game in the ninth for defense during that rally Shaw had to sniff out. The Indians had no more bench players left, so they had to stick with the career .197 hitter. He hit a soft grounder to a grinning Bryant. Bryant made the play, and Rizzo put the ball in this back pocket.
With that the Cubs won their first World Series in 108 years.
It was a thrilling game throughout that had you on the edge of your seat. It was also a sloppy played game with poor managing and even worse umpiring. While there might have been some poor baseball played, it was a great game nevertheless. It will go down as one of the greatest games ever.
For me, it wasn’t THE greatest. At this moment, the Smoltz-Jack Morris duel still sticks out to me as the greatest game I’ve ever seen. Many will bring up Mazeroski and the 1960 World Series. Historians will argue it was the 1924 World Series that saw the Washington Senators win the World Series behind Walter Johnson and a bad hop off a pebble. There are many others. This game belongs in the conversation with them, but in reality, it wasn’t the best ever, nor did it need to be to cap off what was a great World Series.
If you are a diehard Mets fan, or if you are a Mets fan well versed in the history of the team, you know how the Cubs were the Mets first real rival. You know the stories about how Ron Santo clicked his heels taunting the Mets, and you warmly remember the black cat crossing Santo’s path. From there, the Mets overtook the Cubs to win the National League East en route to winning the 1969 World Series.
In 1984, the Cubs obtained Rick Sutcliffe, and the team went on an incredible run to win the National League East over the upstart New York Mets who went from 68 to 90 wins with their first full season with Keith Hernandez and Darryl Strawberry. By the way, it was also the rookie year for phenom Dwight Gooden.
Then there was the NLCS last year that saw Matt Harvey, Noah Syndergaard, and Jacob deGrom dominate a terrific Cubs lineup. We all knew the Cubs were a great team, but the Mets were their kryptonite. As a Mets fan, a large part of you had to wonder if the Cubs even make the World Series if the Mets pitching was healthy.
But the angst goes well beyond that. There was Ben Zobrist as the World Series MVP. Mets fans watched him be a major contributor to a Kansas City Royals team who beat the Mets in the World Series last year. In the offseason, he was seemingly all but assured to join the Mets to replace Daniel Murphy. Instead, literally at the 11th hour, he spurned the Mets, and he signed with the Cubs. Part of you had to wonder how different the 2016 season would have been had Zobrist signed with the Mets.
The Cubs also overcame a 3-1 deficit to win the World Series. The Mets were in the same position last year, and like the Cubs, the Mets had their starting pitching aligned. It all seemed to be going according to plan as Harvey carried a shutout into the ninth inning. As we remember, Terry Collins went against his better instinct, and he sent Harvey out there instead of Jeurys Familia. Harvey allowed a walk and a double to narrow the gap to 2-1. Familia then did his job getting the ground ball to get out of the game only for David Wright to cut off a ball he shouldn’t have played allowing Eric Hosmer an extra jump rounding third. That was important as it gave Hosmer the ability to break for home, and he scored with Lucas Duda making the worst throw of his life.
Watching the 10th inning reminded me of that 12th inning game of that ill fated Game 5. Watching a cold and tired Joe Shaw helplessly trying to get out of the jam reminded me of an overworked and tired Addison Reed getting hit left and right by the Royals in what was a devastating seven run inning.
In many respects, as a Mets fan it was tough to watch. It was even tougher to watch when you consider Theo Epstein got his Cubs team to win the World Series before the Mets could win one despite Sandy Alderson having been on the job a year longer than Epstein. It is all the more frustrating when you consider the Cubs beat out the Mets for Zobrist, and the Cubs spent a lot of money in the past offseason.
The one solace to take out of all of this is the fact that the Mets are built to win not just next year, but in the ensuing years. And yes, the Mets are built to contend with or without Yoenis Cespedes. Not only do the Mets have the pitching, but they also have players like Dominic Smith and Amed Rosario on the way. There is still hope for Michael Conforto and Travis d’Arnaud to rebound in 2017 to recapture their 2015 form. Duda can put together a healthy contract year season. There is still a lot of hope for the Mets to be World Series contenders the next couple of seasons. There are also the seeds for a real rivalry between the Mets and the Cubs over the next few seasons.
However, as of right now, all that is left behind is a World Series victory for the Cubs, and the Mets wondering both “what if” and “how do we get back there.” That is what stings most of all.
Who will eventually become the World Series MVP largely hinges on what happens tonight. There is a chance that any one of the following could have a great game and separate themselves from the list. There is also a chance one of the following could become a goat tonight thereby removing themselves from the list. There is also a remote chance someone could pull a Bill Mazeroski and vault themselves to the top of the MVP list. It should be noted that Bobby Richardson was the 1960 MVP (first from a losing team). With that in mind, there are some potential MVP candidates from each team:
Chicago Cubs
Kris Bryant – Despite his poor play in the field in Game 4, his bat coming alive helped the Cubs win Games 5 and 6. He homered in each including a game tying shot in Game 5 and a go-ahead first inning shot in Game 6. So far in the series, he is hitting .273/385/.545 with two homers and two RBI
Anthony Rizzo – Rizzo has been the hottest hitter on the Cubs this World Series hitting .364/.462/.636 with three doubles, one homer and four RBI. He has also played a slick first base which should help his cause.
Addison Russell – His offensive stats aren’t spectacular, but his defense is. It should also be noted he leads the team in RBI this World Series. Those numbers are largely boosted by a game changing grand slam in Game 6.
Kyle Schwarber – If the Cubs were to win tonight, one of the narratives is going to be how Schwarber’s ability to DH greatly impacted the team. It would be why they won 3/4 in Cleveland while losing 2/3 at home. So far in the series, he is hitting .333/.467/.417 with one double and two RBI.
Ben Zobrist – This World Series, Zobrist has showed everyone why the Mets and the Cubs were so desperate to get him this past offseason. So far in the series, Zobrist is hitting .391/.462/.552 with a double, a triple, and an RBI.
Aroldis Chapman – While Chapman only has one save, he has made four appearances this World Series pitching 6.1 innings striking out nine Indians. The only run he has allowed was an inherited run from last night’s game as a result of Joe Maddon pulling him due to Pedro Stroop not being ready to enter the game yet.
CLEVELAND INDIANS
Jason Kipnis – Over the last few games, Kipnis has been red hot at the plate trying to do all he can do to defeat his hometown team and bring a World Series back to Cleveland. So far this series, Kipnis has been hitting .308/.333/.654 with three doubles, two homers, and four RBI
Francisco Lindor – the Indians best player has been their best player in the World Series. In addition to playing sterling defense at short, he has hit .364/.440/.409 with a double and two RBI.
Roberto Perez – His handling of the pitching staff has been key for most of this series, and he hit two huge home runs in Game 1 of the World Series shocking the entire world. So far in the series, he is hitting .211/.318/.526 with two homer and five RBI. He is the Indians leader in RBI.
Corey Kluber – Not only has Kluber shut down the Cubs in his first two starts, he also had a huge base hit in Game 4 of the series. So far, Kluber is 2-0 with a 0.75 ERA and a 0.833 WHIP.
Andrew Miller – Miller has been almost as good as he was in the prior rounds of the postseason. So far, he has made three appearances pitching 5.1 innings going 1-0 with a 1.69 ERA and a 0.938 WHIP.
For sure there are other candidates for each team, and quite possibly new ones will emerge tonight. No matter who that player is, the main hope for all baseball fans is that we are treated to a great Game 7 tonight.
With the Cubs beating the Indians 9-3 last night, we are going to get a Game 7. As we have seen over the course of history, sometimes you get a great Game 7 like the last one in 2014 when Madison Bumgarner came out of the pen to shut down the Royals again. You can get a very good one like 1986 when the Red Sox knocked Ron Darling out early only for Sid Fernandez to stabilize the game and give the Mets a chance to overcome an early 3-0 deficit. Then you get the 2002 and 2011 World Series where teams coming off deflating losses didn’t really play close games.
Tonight, there is a lot of unknowns. Will there be a Gene Larkin or a Jose Mesa tonight? Do we see one fo the unhittable relievers suffer the same fate as Mariano Rivera did in 2001? Worse yet, will there be a Fred Snodgrass moment that will leave people talking about a player’s decision for centuries? Right about now there are about three things we know:
- One fanbase is going to be left in even more excruciating pain than they already are;
- The other fanbase will experience joy like none other; and
- This game will have to be off the charts to even match Jack Morris–John Smoltz in 1991.
There are a number of factors at play in deciding who is the hero and who is the goat (pun intended) in tonight’s game. Here are some of my thoughts on the game:
Defense Matters
Arguably, the difference in last night’s game was right field defense. In the first, the indecision between Tyler Naquin and Lonnie Chisenhall led to two additional runs in the first inning for the Cubs. For his part, Chisenall has had a terrible World Series in right field. On the other side, Jason Heyward had a great game defensively in right field capping it off by nailing Roberto Perez at second to snuff out any chance at in improbable rally in the ninth. With that said, Rajai Davis absolutely has to start tonight’s game for the Indians.
David Ross Should Start
We have already seen the impact of pitch framing in one game of the World Series so far. You know Perez is going to get every call for Corey Kluber tonight. You don’t know that about Willson Contreras. Yes, Contreras has been decent in that area, but he is not on par with David Ross. If you want Kyle Hendricks to get the calls Kluber is going to get, you need Ross out there.
You also need Ross out there for another reason. As Joe Maddon has already indicated, Jon Lester may come out of the bullpen to pitch tonight. If that is the case, the Cubs will need Ross to catch him to help neutralize the running game. The last thing you want is to have a runner steal second off the Lester-Contreras pairing late in the game. You also don’t want to remove your better bat in Contreras late in the game should you need offense. With that being the case, Ross should start.
Chapman’s Game 6 May Haunt the Cubs
Because Maddon screwed up, he didn’t have a reliever available to pitch the bottom of the ninth. As such, Chapman threw an additional five pitches he didn’t need to throw. No, five pitches will not make or break Chapman. Still, keep in mind, Chapman had to come off the bench and warm up and throw five unnecessary pitches. He wasn’t close with most of them either. Between Games 5 and 6, Chapman has now thrown 62 pitches over the course of three days. That’s a huge workload for him. No one knows how that will affect him in Game 7.
Kluber Just Needs to Go Four Innings
Kluber is once again going on short rest. While it worked out well in Game 4, we do not know if he can pitch as well in Game 7 especially with him going against a Cubs team with a lot more confidence at the plate. Fortunately for him and the Indians, he does not need to go deep into the game. With the Indians effectively getting blown out last night, Terry Francona did not need to go to Joe Shaw, Andrew Miller, or Cody Allen. Accordingly, each reliever should be good for at least two innings a piece meaning Kluber just needs to get through the fourth, preferably with a lead. And who knows? With the way Francona has used Miller, Kluber may only need to go three.
Both Managers Need a Quick Hook
As we know with Kluber going on short rest, and with the way Francona has managed this postseason, the Indians will not be afraid to lift him early in the game even if Kluber isn’t struggling.
Maddon needs to adopt a similar approach as he has the past few games. While he doesn’t have the talented bullpen Francona has, he has both Lester and John Lackey available in the pen. Both have proven themselves as good postseason pitchers, and for his part, Lackey was the winning pitcher in Game 7 of the 2002 World Series. Should Hendricks face early trouble, like he did in Game 3, Maddon should get him because it is not likely the Indians will run themselves out of an inning again. By the way, I’m sure Jake Arrieta will also make himself available to pitch if need be.
We Don’t Know Who the Hero Is Going to Be
Seeing how hot he is lately, you would be inclined to guess Jason Kipnis would be the guy to carry the Indians tonight should they win it, but remember it was Perez who was the hero in Game 1 with him hitting two home runs. For the Cubs, it was Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo who got going last night, but for all you know Javier Baez could return to his NLCS form and get the big hits tonight.
Remember, it was Craig Counsell who played a major factor in two ninth inning rallies to help their teams overcome a one run deficit in a Game 7. It was Larkin who got the winning hit in Game 7 of the 1991 World Series. Heck, it was Bill Mazeroski of all people who hit the walk off home run to end the 1960 World Series. Seeing who gets the big hit tonight is part of the fun.
Overall, this has been a good World Series. Tonight’s game could make it a great World Series.
It is highly doubtful that 30 games played in an Instructional League in the month of October will have a far reaching impact on a player’s career. Still, Gavin Cecchini‘s time in the Arizona Fall League appears to be a bit of a missed opportunity.
It became very apparent this year that Cecchini’s future with the New York Mets will be at second base.
That first became apparent because Cecchini has struggled defensively at the position. While fielding percentage can be an overrated and flawed stat, Cecchini’s .933 fielding percentage in AAA, and his minor league career .944 fielding percentage cannot be ignored. His stats show he’s not capable of playing short. It is strange because he has the tools to be a good defender there, but he just can’t put it together.
This begs the question why do the Mets want him to put it together? With Amed Rosario having established himself as the much better defensive shortstop, the much better prospect, and arguably the better offensive player, Rosario, not Cecchini, is the shortstop of the future. If you still like Cecchini as a player, and you believe he is a major league caliber player, he needs to transition to second base.
And the process has begun. He worked on second base on the side during the AAA season. He even got into two games there before being called-up to the Mets. Given the fact that the transition presumably began, it has been surprising to see Cecchini play so much shortstop in the Arizona Fall League. It’s shocking when Mets first base coach, Tom Goodwin, is Cecchini’s manager. It’s downright stupefying when the Scorpions are carrying one second baseman and three shortstops on their roster.
It leads one to search for some logic behind what seems to be an illogical decision. Upon further review, there appears to be a couple of good reasons why the Mets have Cecchini playing a lot of shortstop in the Arizona Fall League.
The first and obvious answer is this is all much ado about nothing. While it would be preferable for Cecchini to play second base, it is more important for him to play everyday to see how he stacks up against the best prospects in the game. The Mets may just want him to focus on his hitting to see if his bat could translate against some of the better pitching prospects in baseball. Note, in a 30 game context, this does not just mean results, it also is his approach and whether or not he appears over-matched. If Cecchini does prove he can hit better pitching, his future would be further solidified with the Mets.
Second, there may be a real issue going forward with Asdrubal Cabrera and his knees (even with him not needing knee surgery). While Terry Collins’ first choice would be to move Jose Reyes to short in Cabrera’s absence, he may not have that luxury as Reyes may be playing third base for David Wright, or Reyes could start next season as the starting second baseman depending on what the Mets are able to do this offseason. Also keep in mind that Reyes has proven himself to be an injury prone player at times in his career.
If any of the aforementioned players are injured, the options at short would be Cecchini or Matt Reynolds. In the short term, the Mets may go to Reynolds who has played in the major leagues, is the better defender, and has had some success at the big league level. Moreover, Reynolds has been transitioning to being a utility player meaning he may be more accustomed to not playing everyday. In the event there is an injury that will require someone to take over for a month or so, Cecchini might get the call. While the Mets may be loathed to use him for a two week stretch, they may be inclined to run him out there everyday for a month or so to see how the better regarded prospect can handle being an everyday player.
Finally, the Mets may not be moving Cecchini from shortstop because you can never have too much depth. Rosario could regress, suffer an injury, or the Mets could be presented with a trade offer where they would include their untouchable prospect. In any of these scenarios, the Mets are going to need another shortstop. That shortstop should be Cecchini as he is currently the best non-Rosario middle infield prospect.
There may be other reasons why the Mets are playing Cecchini at shortstop in the Arizona Fall League rather than capitalizing on an opportunity to transition one of their best prospects to the position he is destined to play. Whatever the case, the hope needs to be the Mets are making decisions based upon sound principles that are in both their own and Cecchini’s best interests.
Editor’s Note: Cecchini left last week’s Arizona Fall League game after fouling a ball off his foot. Despite the injury, he is hitting .258/.359/.419 with two doubles, a homer, and six RBI in nine games. He is part of fan voting to select the final two players for the Arizona Fall League roster.
No matter your rooting interests in this World Series, the outcome of Game 6 of the World Series was good for all of baseball. For Cubs fans, your interest in a Game 6 is obvious. Even if you are a disappointed Indians fan, part of you must admit you are relishing the opportunity to win your first World Series since 1948 at home.
It is also good for baseball to see these two teams play against one another again. The three game set in Chicago was as good as it gets. Game 3 was an all timer with a great 1-0 nothing game featuring both managers flexing their strategic prowess throughout the game. Ultimately, it was Terry Francona‘s decision to pinch hit Coco Crisp, thereby removing the most dominant pitcher this postseason, Andrew Miller, from the game that helped net the Indians the victory.
Game 4’s 7-2 victory was a lot closer than it seemed. This was a 4-1 game entering the seventh inning. Corey Kluber was great again, but on just three days rest, he seemed more hittable (he really wasn’t). Miller wasn’t locating his slider as well, and a result, the Cubs seemed more confident at the plate. However, it was really over after the seventh. Still, there were some all time moments from this game. First, Jason Kipnis became the first player to ever hit a home run at a World Series night game in Wrigley Field. It just so happened that it was also the first World Series home run hit by a visiting player at Wrigley Field since Babe Ruth. Also, when Dexter Fowler hit his eighth inning home run, he became the first non-white player to hit a World Series home run at Wrigley Field.
Early on in Game 5 things looked bleak for the Cubs despite Jon Lester dealing. Then Kris Bryant led off the top of the fourth with a home run that awoke the Cubs leading to a huge three run inning. David Ross, playing in his last ever home game, almost took one out for a grand slam. Instead, he would have to take solace in the fact that he hit a sacrifice fly to make it a 3-1 game. It was an important run as the Indians fought back and scored another run in the sixth. With the Cubs rallying in the seventh, Joe Maddon took no more chances and sent Aroldis Chapman out there for the eight out save. Chapman just came in and blew the Indians away.
It was as good a three game set in a World Series you could have asked for this side of the 1991 World Series. With the three game set being in Wrigley, you were also treated to Bill Murray, Vince Vaughn, and Eddie Vedder singing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame”
For David Ross. @PearlJam frontman Eddie Vedder leads @Cubs‘ fans in ‘Take Me Out To The Ballgame’. #WorldSeries pic.twitter.com/almL4eCAgb
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 31, 2016
It was a great three games, and it is a big reason why baseball ratings are now surpassing NFL ratings. That’s more impressive when you consider it was a divisional matchup featuring the Dallas Cowboys, and the game went into overtime.
So far, this has been a very good World Series, and depending on what happens in Cleveland, it could become a great World Series. In many ways, this World Series (aside from the wildly changing strike zone) is why you are a baseball fan and why baseball is great. No matter who you are rooting for, you should want to see more of the same. Apparently, America does.
While baseball had its first ever night game on May 24, 1935, there would not be a night game played at Wrigley Field until August 8, 1988. Until this day, the Cubs still play a majority of their home games at night. Day games have been as much a part of Wrigley Field and the Chicago Cubs as the ivy that adorns the brick outfield wall, the center field bleachers, the rooftop seats, Harry Caray and “Take Me Out to the Ballgame,” or Ernie Banks saying, “Lets play two!”
These day games are part of the romanticism that is the Chicago Cubs. It is part of the romanticism that has swept up much of the country looking on to see if the Cubs can win their first World Series since 1908. If we are all tuning in to watch the Cubs win the World Series, shouldn’t we be watching games at Wrigley Field the way they were intended to be seen?
Note, this isn’t the typical plea for earlier start times because East Coast fans don’t like having to stay up past midnight for long postseason games. It also isn’t a plea for earlier start times to permit younger fans to actually watch the game. While both of these instances would be beneficial to those groups, they also ignore the reality of the modern world. Ultimately, ratings and revenues are what drives start times for baseball games. Still, as we saw with Game 2 of the World Series, a start time could be moved up if it is deemed to be in everyone’s best interest.
The argument for it being in everyone’s best interest is it is quite possible playing World Series day games at Wrigley Field could actually draw in more viewers. Fans may very well be more interested in seeing day games at a park that day games were meant to be played. It would also be interesting to see if baseball can continue to get higher ratings than the NFL. But therein lies the problem.
Fox has football contracts with both the NCAA and the NFL. On the NCAA front, Fox would rather air the Big 12 games during the day and play the World Series game at night. Obviously, Fox is going to show its 1:00 and 4:00 NFL games on Sunday while hoping the World Series can outdraw NBC’s Sunday Night Game. Overall, it is better for Fox to have football on during the day and the World Series on during the night. There’s nothing inherently wrong with that, but it still remains a missed opportunity for Major League Baseball.
It is a shame because day games are supposed to be played at Wrigley, and as it turns out the Cubs make the World Series seemingly once a century. This year would’ve been a great time for an exception to 8:00 start times for World Series games; at least for the two weekend games. Unfortunately, we aren’t going to get it, and for that, the baseball fans are worse off.
Back in the 1998 offseason, neither the Mets nor Mike Piazza were messing around. Before the end of the World Series, which is the time players could file for free agency, the Mets made the 30 year old Piazza the highest paid player in the sport by giving him a seven year $91 million contract. With that Piazza got to stay in the place he wanted to play, and the Mets got their superstar who would lead them to consecutive postseason appearances and would become the team’s second Hall of Famer.
This is the stage the Mets and Yoenis Cespedes are at right now.
Cespedes has until three days after the end of the World Series to opt out of the remaining two years of his contract. Given the terrific, yet injured plagued, season he just had, he is widely expected to opt out to seek a more lucrative contract in the free agent market. Unlike last season where players like Justin Upton and Jason Heyward were free agents, Cespedes stands alone as the top free agent target for any team that needs to add an outfielder, a bat, and a superstar.
There have been conflicting reports about Cespedes’ desire to remain with the Mets. However, if the last year and a half have been any measure, Cespedes has enjoyed being a Met, and he has blossomed as a player playing in New York. He has worked well with Kevin Long to improve his approach at the plate getting on base more often and hitting for more power. He has an organization that allows him to be the person he is by letting him play golf and show off his car collection. He also has a fan base that adores him and pleads for him to stay with the team day and night.
The Mets have also greatly benefited from Cespedes’ duration in New York. Cespedes and Piazza are the only two superstars who have led the Mets to consecutive postseason appearances. The fans love of Cespedes helps increase the gate and merchandise sales. More importantly, Cespedes presence in the lineup and the Mets outfield give the Mets the best possible chance to win a World Series.
Given that, the time between the end of the Wild Card Game and the end of the World Series should be spent with the Mets and Cespedes’ agents, Roc Nation, trying to reach an agreement to keep Cespedes on a contract that pays him commensurate value. Most likely, Cespedes has a a price he would agree to right now in order to stay. Similarly, there is most likely a price the Mets would be willing to offer Cespedes to entice him to stay. If there is a will, there can be a meeting of the minds before any other team is able to make an offer to Cespedes.
If a deal is not reached it means one of three things: (1) Cespedes wanted to hit the free agent market; (2) the Mets are not willing to pay what it takes to keep Cespedes; or (3) both sides failed to put forth their best efforts to get this done. If any of these are the case, it is a shame, and it may be a decision both sides will rue for years to come.
For what it’s worth, the Mets appear willing to take that risk.
Editor’s Note: this article first appeared on Mets Merized Online
With the Cubs facing the daunting task of heading back home down 0-2 in the World Series, Jake Arrieta stepped up and pitched the most important game of his life. Arrieta pitched 5.1 no-hit innings to help the Cubs even the series at 1-1 and to capture home field advantage. Arrieta was the pitcher to carry a no-hitter that deep into the World Series since Jerry Koosman pitched six no-hit innings against the Baltimore Orioles in Game 2 of the 1969 World Series.
Koosman’s performance was much more dominating and important than Arrieta’s. Whereas the Cubs are favored in this year’s World Series, the 1969 were about as big of underdogs as you get. The Orioles lineup featured two Hall of Famers in Brooks Robinson and Frank Robinson. They had a rotation featuring Mike Cuellar, Dave McNally, and future Hall of Famer Jim Palmer. This was about as tough a team you could face. This was a team so tough, they beat Tom Seaver 4-1 in Game 1 of the World Series. Going into the World Series, you presumption was the Mets needed Seaver to win each and every single one of his starts to even have a chance, and not even that happened.
With the Game 1 victory, the Orioles appeared as if they were going to steamroll through the Mets much in the same fashion they had done to the Los Angeles Dodgers three years before and would do the following year to the Cincinnati Reds. Koosman’s 8.2 innings two hit masterpiece changed all of that. It completely changed the tone of the World Series and the momentum. Without this performance, the Mets may not have had the same energy and belief in themselves. It’s quite possible we don’t see either of Tommie Agee‘s catches or Ron Swoboda‘s for that matter.
While Koosman was not named the MVP of the series, that honor would go to Donn Clendenon, his performance was the most important factor in the Mets changing the script and winning the World Series in five games. In that World Series, Koosman not only established himself as a great Met, he also established himself as the first big game pitcher in the franchise’s history. Without him the Mets never win the 1969 World Series.
Coincidentally, without Koosman, the Mets also don’t win the 1986 World Series.
On December 8, 1978, the Mets traded Koosman to his hometown Minnesota Twins in exchange for Greg Field and a left-handed pitcher named Jesse Orosco. Today is the 30th Anniversary of the Mets winning their second World Series. The Mets would not have been able to win that World Series without Orosco’s three wins, and his gutsy win in Game 6, of the NLCS. They would not have won without his standing on the mound to close out Game 7.
Neither the 1969 or the 1986 World Series would have been possible without Koosman. With it being the 30th Anniversary of the 1986 World Series victory and with Arrieta’s peformance, we were again reminded of that.