Friday, October 28, 2016

World Series Game Three Thread: Cleveland Indians @ Chicago Cubs


Here we go ladies and gentleman, Game Three of the 2016 World Series between the Chicago Cubs and the Cleveland Indians. The Indians were not able to protect home-field advantage, not that this is a huge deal in Major League Baseball in my opinion, and head into Chicago for the next three games with the series tied at a win each. The Cubs will send Kyle Hendricks to the mound tonight looking to take the team to the next step in breaking the Curse of the Billy Goat while the Indians will look to break their own personal World Series drought with Josh Tomlin taking the mound looking for a victory. The game will be played at 8:08 pm ET and it can be seen on FOX.


Enjoy the game everyone! 

Joe Girardi & The 2010 Offseason That Could Have Changed Everything

The New York Yankees went into the offseason of the 2010 season after failing to defend their World Series crown and with an early exit in the postseason. The Yankees faced much uncertainty that offseason, much like they do most winters mind you, but this winter was a little different as their manager Joe Girardi was set to become a free agent.

Girardi was hired for the 2008 season on a three year deal to replace the popular and legendary Joe Torre and promptly snapped the Yankees skid of 13 straight seasons of making the postseason. This was not exactly the way the Yankees wanted to say goodbye to Yankee Stadium and goodbye to Joe Torre but the team bounced back in 2009 to win the World Series. The Yankees were back in the playoffs in 2010 but failed to defend their crown leaving Girardi unsure about his job security.


The Chicago Cubs pursued Girardi hard and heavy this offseason but ultimately on this day Girardi signed a new three year deal to stay with the club. What would the state of the Yankees be in today if Girardi had not signed on with New York and went back to Chicago where he spent some of his playing career? Would the Yankees have made the playoffs in 2011 and advanced past the ALCS in 2012? Would the Yankees have missed the postseason in 2013 and 2014? Does the team win the AL Wild Card Game in 2015? What about 2016? Who knows! One thing I do know is that if he had not signed on with New York on this day in 2010 Joe Maddon would probably be donning pinstripes right about now.


It’s something to think about anyway as we head towards a long and cold, dark winter.

World Series Game Three Preview: Cleveland Indians @ Chicago Cubs


It’s Game Three of the World Series already? Wow. The series began in Progressive Field in Cleveland and as the series shifts to Chicago for the next three games expect the crowds at Wrigley to be absolutely insane. The Cubbies, like the Indians, are three wins away from a World Series but this means so much more to Cubs fans I think. It means so much more to baseball too for the Cubs to win in my opinion but maybe that’s just the historian in me speaking. Anyway tonight the Cubs will send their Game Three starter Kyle Hendricks to the mound to square off against Josh Tomlin of the Indians.

Tomlin has two good starts already this postseason for the Indians and will look to deliver a third tonight in Chicago. All told Tomlin has allowed just three runs in 10.2 innings pitched this October for Cleveland.

Hendricks gave the Cubs a huge Game 6 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers last time out and will start tonight looking to somehow improve on his 1.65 ERA in 16.1 innings this October. In that NLCS start Hendricks allowed just two hits in 7.1 innings pitched in the victory.

The game will be played at 8:08 pm ET inside Wrigley Field and can be seen on FOX. Good luck to both teams.


Rob Manfred Wants to Change the Indians


The logo of teams like the Washington Redskins of the NFL, the Cleveland Indians of MLB and others have always been controversial, especially over the last 10-or-so years, and it seems like Commissioner of Major League Baseball Rob Manfred wants to change that. Whether he can or not remains to be seen but news was reported this week that Manfred plans to meet with Indians owner Paul Dolan following the 2016 World Series to discuss the Indians longtime mascot and logo Chief Wahoo.

Manfred said in an interview this week that the Native American chief is “offensive to some people and all of us at Major League Baseball understand why.” The Indians, under pressure from outside sources and presumably the league, dropped Chief Wahoo as their primary logo three seasons ago replacing it with a generic “C” on their jerseys and uniforms but there are still some logos seen with Wahoo’s face on it. Some groups want it completely gone, including Manfred.


Eventually Chief Wahoo will be completely gone from the game and the Cleveland Indians organization, we all know it’s coming, and 2016 might just be the year that this happens. Stay tuned. 

This Day in New York Yankees History 10/28: A Rod Opts Out


On this day in 2007 in the middle of Game 4 of the World Series between the Boston Red Sox and the Colorado Rockies we heard the news that Alex Rodriguez had opted out of his contract with the New York Yankees. The timing of the announcement as well as being a no show to receive the Hank Aaron Award, which honors the best offensive player in the league, did not sit well with MLB, Bud Selig, the fans, or the Yankees.


Also on this day in 1979 Dick Howser replaces Billy Martin as the Yankees manager. Howser would lead the Yankees to a 103-59 record with an American League East championship although he was fired by George Steinbrenner when he was swept in the playoffs by the Kansas City Royals.


On this day in 1953 Red Barber quit his job as the broadcaster of the Brookyln Dodgers and would find a new job with the New York Yankees. The man nicknamed "The Old Red Head" was upset with Dodgers owner Walter O'Malley over money and lack of support.