Free agent Bartolo Colon has agreed to a deal with the Braves, a source told MLB.com's Mark Bowman on Friday. The terms of the deal, which is pending a physical, are not yet known. The club has not confirmed the report.
Colon was an All-Star for the Mets in 2016. He went 15-8 with a 3.43 ERA, leading the team with 33 starts and 191 2/3 innings pitched.
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Friday, November 11, 2016
Thursday, November 10, 2016
Altuve Earns Two Players Choice Awards
HOUSTON, TX - The Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) announced the winners of their highest honors tonight, naming Astros second baseman Jose Altuve the MLB Player of the Year and the AL Most Outstanding Player. He beat out Mookie Betts and David Ortiz for the Player of the Year Award and Betts and Mike Trout for the AL Most Outstanding Player Award. Additionally, for the second straight year, Altuve earned the Majestic "Always Game" Award, which is given to the player who - game in and game out - constantly exhibits grit, tenacity, perseverance and hustle; all for the benefit of his teammates and fans.
The Players Choice Awards, which have been in existence since 1992, are voted on by Major League players. The players annually honor the outstanding player, rookie, pitcher and comeback player in each league, and name a Player of the Year and Man of the Year award regardless of league.
Altuve won the AL batting title with a .338 (216x640) average, while posting 108 runs scored, 42 doubles, 24 home runs, 96 RBI, 60 walks, 30 stolen bases, a .396 on-base percentage, a .531 slugging percentage and a .928 OPS. He led all Major League players in hits, while ranking third in batting average, fourth in WAR (7.6) and fifth in total bases (340). He also ranked in the top 10 in the Majors in stolen bases, doubles and in OBP.
His historic season is one of the best by a second baseman in Major League history, as he became the first second baseman to reach 100 runs, 200 hits, 40 doubles, 20 homers, 95 RBI and 30 steals in a single season. He's just the fifth player in Major League history to reach all of those marks, regardless of position. By winning the batting title for the second time in the last three seasons, Altuve became the first second baseman to win multiple batting titles since Rod Carew won five between the 1969-75 seasons.
Altuve becomes the first player in franchise history to win the MLBPA Player of the Year and the second to win the Most Outstanding Player in his league, joining Jeff Bagwell, who won the NL Most Outstanding Player Award in 1994. The Astros have had two MLBPA Most Outstanding Rookies in Carlos Correa (2015) and Willy Taveras (2005) and two MLBPA Pitcher of the Year winners in Dallas Keuchel (2015) and Mike Hampton (1999).
Earlier this offseason, Altuve took home the 2016 Sporting News Player of the Year, an award which is also voted on by players from both leagues and given to the Major League player who had the most outstanding season. On Monday, Altuve, Betts and Trout were named the three finalists for the BBWAA AL Most Valuable Player.
In addition to Monday's announcement, Keuchel earned his third consecutive Gold Glove last night, while winners of the Silver Sluggers will be announced tomorrow. The BBWAA AL and NL MVP Award winners will be announced live on MLB Network on Nov. 17.
In his brief career, Altuve has earned four All-Star Game appearances (two starts), two Silver Slugger Awards, a Gold Glove Award, two batting titles and two stolen base titles.
The Players Choice Awards, which have been in existence since 1992, are voted on by Major League players. The players annually honor the outstanding player, rookie, pitcher and comeback player in each league, and name a Player of the Year and Man of the Year award regardless of league.
Altuve won the AL batting title with a .338 (216x640) average, while posting 108 runs scored, 42 doubles, 24 home runs, 96 RBI, 60 walks, 30 stolen bases, a .396 on-base percentage, a .531 slugging percentage and a .928 OPS. He led all Major League players in hits, while ranking third in batting average, fourth in WAR (7.6) and fifth in total bases (340). He also ranked in the top 10 in the Majors in stolen bases, doubles and in OBP.
His historic season is one of the best by a second baseman in Major League history, as he became the first second baseman to reach 100 runs, 200 hits, 40 doubles, 20 homers, 95 RBI and 30 steals in a single season. He's just the fifth player in Major League history to reach all of those marks, regardless of position. By winning the batting title for the second time in the last three seasons, Altuve became the first second baseman to win multiple batting titles since Rod Carew won five between the 1969-75 seasons.
Altuve becomes the first player in franchise history to win the MLBPA Player of the Year and the second to win the Most Outstanding Player in his league, joining Jeff Bagwell, who won the NL Most Outstanding Player Award in 1994. The Astros have had two MLBPA Most Outstanding Rookies in Carlos Correa (2015) and Willy Taveras (2005) and two MLBPA Pitcher of the Year winners in Dallas Keuchel (2015) and Mike Hampton (1999).
Earlier this offseason, Altuve took home the 2016 Sporting News Player of the Year, an award which is also voted on by players from both leagues and given to the Major League player who had the most outstanding season. On Monday, Altuve, Betts and Trout were named the three finalists for the BBWAA AL Most Valuable Player.
In addition to Monday's announcement, Keuchel earned his third consecutive Gold Glove last night, while winners of the Silver Sluggers will be announced tomorrow. The BBWAA AL and NL MVP Award winners will be announced live on MLB Network on Nov. 17.
In his brief career, Altuve has earned four All-Star Game appearances (two starts), two Silver Slugger Awards, a Gold Glove Award, two batting titles and two stolen base titles.
Dickey signs one-year deal with Braves
Dickey, 42, owns a 110-108 career record with a 4.01 ERA in 369 games (269 starts). He notched at least 200 innings pitched in five consecutive seasons from 2011 to 2015 and his 1,441 innings pitched over the last seven seasons (since 2010) ranks ninth in the majors, while his 88 wins in that span ranks tied for 14th. All but three seasons (2010-12) of his career have been spent in the American League.
The right-hander went 10-15 with a 4.46 ERA in 30 appearances for the Toronto Blue Jays in 2016, his fourth season with the club and his 14th Major League campaign. He made 29 starts before making his lone relief appearance in his final outing of the season on September 21. He earned the A.L. Gold Glove Award with the Blue Jays in 2013.
Dickey's three seasons with the New York Mets produced a 39-28 record and a 2.95 ERA in 94 games (91 starts). He won a career-high 20 games in his final season with New York in 2012, when he captured the National League Cy Young Award and was a member of the N.L. All-Star team. He also posted a career-best ERA of 2.73 that season, while working a career-high and N.L.-leading 233.2 IP. His 20 wins tied for second in the majors, while his ERA ranked fourth.
A native of Nashville, Tenn., Dickey attended the University of Tennessee and was selected in the first round (18th overall) of the 1996 amateur draft by the Texas Rangers. He made his Major League debut with the Rangers in 2001.
The Braves are Dickey's sixth Major League organization. He pitched parts of five seasons with Texas (2001-06), a year with Seattle (2008), a year with Minnesota (2009), three years with the Mets (2010-12) and four seasons with Toronto.
- Atlanta Braves
Thursday, November 3, 2016
Cubs win 1st Series title since 1908, beat Indians in Game 7
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| The Chicago Cubs celebrate after Game 7 of the Major League Baseball World Series against the Cleveland Indians Thursday, Nov. 3, 2016, in Cleveland. The Cubs won 8-7 in 10 innings to win the series 4-3. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) |
No more Billy Goat, no more Bartman, no more black-cat curses.
For a legion of fans who waited a lifetime, fly that W: Your Chicago Cubs are World Series champions.
Ending more than a century of flops, futility and frustration, the Cubs won their first title since 1908, outlasting the Cleveland Indians 8-7 in 10 innings of a Game 7 thriller early Thursday.
They even had to endure an extra-inning rain delay to end the drought.
"It happened. It happened. Chicago, it happened," first baseman Anthony Rizzo said after gloving the ball for the final out. "We did it. We're world champions. I tell ya, we're world champions. I can't believe it."
Rizzo put that final ball in his pocket as the Cubs piled up in the middle of the diamond, David Ross got carried off the field by his teammates and Bill Murray partied in the clubhouse.
And the whole time, blue-clad fans who traveled from Wrigley Field filled nearly the entire lower deck behind the Chicago dugout at Progressive Field, singing "Go, Cubs, Go!" in rain. They held up those white flags with the large blue "W'' on a night many of their forebears had waited for in vain.
Lovable losers for generations, the Cubs nearly let this one get away, too. All-Star closer Aroldis Chapman blew a 6-3 lead with two outs in the eighth when Rajai Davis hit a tying, two-run homer.
But the Cubs, after tormenting their fans one more time, came right back after a 17-minute rain delay before the top of the 10th.
Series MVP Ben Zobrist hit an RBI double and Miguel Montero singled home a run to make it 8-6. Davis delivered an RBI single with two outs in the bottom half, but Mike Montgomery closed it out at 12:47 a.m., and the celebration was on.
"I think about so many millions of people giving so much love and support to this team for so many years," said owner Tom Ricketts, whose family bought the team in 2009.
Manager Joe Maddon's team halted the longest stretch without a title in baseball, becoming the first club to overcome a 3-1 Series deficit since the 1985 Kansas City Royals.
"This is an epic game. It's epic. I can't believe we were able to do it — 108 years in the making," Zobrist said. "We did it."
"They never quit, either," Zobrist said. "They kept coming at us."
Cleveland was trying to win its first crown since 1948, but manager Terry Francona's club lost the last two games at home.
World Series favorites since spring training, Chicago led the majors with 103 wins this season.
The Cubs then ended more than a century of misery for their loyal fans — barely. Bryant, one of Chicago's young stars, began to celebrate even before fielding a grounder by Michael Martinez to third base and throwing it across to Rizzo for the last out.
"It's the best rain delay of all-time," Rizzo said.
Zobrist got a Series-high 10 hits, a year after he helped the Royals win the championship. Zobrist was among the players brought to the Cubs by Theo Epstein, the baseball guru who added another crown to his collection. He also assembled the Red Sox team that broke Boston's 86-year drought by winning in 2004.
From Curse of the Bambino to the Billy Goat Curse, he ended another jinx.
"We don't need a plane to fly home," Epstein said. "It's fitting it's got to be done with one of the best games of all time."
Cubs outfielder Jason Heyward had called a meeting during the rain delay, talking to his teammates in the weight room.
"I just had to remind everybody who we are, what we've overcome to get here," he said.
While Cubs fans hugged with delight, there was only despair for the Indians, who now have gone longer than anyone without a crown. In the Indians' previous World Series appearance, they were a double-play grounder from winning the 1997 title before losing Game 7 in 11 innings to the Marlins.
"It's going to hurt. It hurts because we care, but they need to walk with their head held high because they left nothing on the field," Francona said.
Earlier this year, LeBron James and the Cavaliers ended Cleveland's 52-year championship drought by overcoming a 3-1 deficit to beat Golden State for the NBA title. James and teammates were in a suite, rooting hard, as the Indians absorbed the same blow as the Warriors.
After defeating San Francisco and the Los Angeles Dodgers in the playoffs, Chicago became the first team to earn a title by winning Games 6 and 7 on the road since the 1979 Pittsburgh Pirates.
Dexter Fowler homered on Corey Kluber's fourth pitch of the game, and 23-year-old Javier Baez and the 39-year-old Ross — set to now retire — also went deep for the Cubs, who led 5-1 in the fifth inning and 6-3 in the eighth.
Chapman wound up with the win, and Montgomery got one out for his first save in the majors.
Bryan Shaw, who gave up a leadoff single to Kyle Schwarber in the 10th, took the loss in just the fourth Game 7 that went to extra innings.
Albert Almora Jr., pinch-running for Schwarber, alertly took second on Bryant's long fly to center. Rizzo was intentionally walked, and Zobrist slapped an opposite-field double past diving third baseman Jose Ramirez. Montero singled to make it a two-run lead.
Then in the bottom half, Carl Edwards Jr. struck out Mike Napoli, Ramirez grounded out, Brandon Guyer walked and Davis hit an RBI single. Montgomery took over, and helped set off a wild celebration on Chicago's North Side.
Even a dedicated White Sox fan could appreciate the victory.
"It happened: @Cubs win World Series. That's change even this South Sider can believe in. Want to come to the White House before I leave?" President Barack Obama tweeted.
Twenty-one other teams had won the World Series since the Cubs last were champions. They reached the top again on the 39,466th day after Orval Overall's three-hit shutout won the 1908 finale at Detroit in a game that took 1 hour, 24 minutes — this latest Game 7 lasted 4:24, not including the rain delay.
Back then, Theodore Roosevelt was president, New Mexico, Arizona, Alaska and Hawaii were not yet states, and the first Ford Model T car was two weeks old.
The Cubs were last champions when Joe Tinker, Johnny Evers and Frank Chance won consecutive titles in 1907-08, until now the only ones in team history. The Cubbies had not even reached the Series since 1945.
This one was for Ernie Banks, Ferguson Jenkins, Ron Santo and Billy Williams, who never reached the postseason.
For Gabby Hartnett, Ryne Sandberg and Greg Maddux, whose October runs fell short.
For Lee Elia and the "nickle-dime people" who spent so many wind-swept afternoons in the Friendly Confines watching loss after loss.
For Bill Veeck, who planted ivy vines against Wrigley Field's outfield walls.
For William Sianis, the Billy Goat Tavern owner said to have proclaimed when he was asked to leave Wrigley with his pet during the '45 Series: "Them Cubs, they ain't gonna win no more."
For Steve Bartman, whose life was upended when he tried to catch a foul ball as the Cubs came apart in the 2003 playoffs.
And for Harry Caray, who promised viewers after the 1991 finale that "sure as God made green apples, someday the Chicago Cubs are going to be in the World Series."
Maddon, hired before the 2015 season, won his first Series title after establishing a loose clubhouse that featured at times Warren the pink flamingo, Simon the magician and the motto: "Try not to suck."
"It was just an epic battle," Zobrist said. "Just blow for blow, everybody playing their heart out. The Indians never gave up, either, and I can't believe we're finally standing, after 108 years, finally able to hoist the trophy."
PEN PALS
This was the first World Series in which no starting pitcher got at least one out in the seventh inning, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. The only other in which no starter finished at least seven innings was in 2002, when San Francisco's Russ Ortiz threw 6 1/3 innings in Game 6.
UP NEXT
Cleveland's spring training opener is scheduled for Feb. 26 against the Cubs in Mesa, Arizona.
Saturday, October 29, 2016
Los Angeles Dodgers RHP Kenley Jansen named NL Reliever of the Year
Jansen has tossed scoreless relief in 14 of 16 career postseason games, while successfully converting all eight save opportunities. His eight saves are the most in Dodger postseason history. he has pitched more than 1.0 inning in four of his six postseason appearances this year. He picked up the NLCS Game 2 save with 2.0 scoreless innings, and, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, only four other pitchers saved a 1-0 postseason game by pitching more than one inning: Al Holland, Phillies vs. Dodgers in the 1983 NLCS (2 innings); Roger Mason, Pirates vs. Braves in the 1991 NLCS (2 IP); Mariano Rivera, Yankees vs. A's in the 2001 first round (3 IP); and Koji Uehara, Red Sox vs. Tigers in the 2013 ALCS (2 IP). In Game 1 of the NLDS, Jansen became the first Dodger since Jay Howell in 1988 (2.1 IP) to record a save while working the final five outs or more. He Established career highs with both 51 pitches and 2.1 innings in the Dodgers’ NLDS Game 5 win at Washington
In the 2016 regular season, Jansen tied with Zach Britton and Mark Melancon for second in the Majors with a career-high 47 saves in 53 opportunities. He was selected to his first-career All-Star game, where he earned that honor by tossing scoreless relief in 61 of 71 appearances. He ranks second among NL relievers in ERA (1.83), limiting opponents to a .150 batting average, which was the best in baseball. His 0.67 WHIP also ranked first in the Majors. He recorded 104 Ks, which ranked third in the National League. He walked just 11 batters, and owned the best strikeout-to-walk ratio in the National League (9.45). Jansen Appeared in three games against the Cubs this season, allowing one run in 3.0 innings while recording two saves. Batters were 1-for-10 (2B) against him.
On June 21 vs. Washington, Jansen established new Dodger franchise marks in saves, finishing the year with 189 after surpassing Eric Gagné (161). He also set the franchise record for strikeouts as a reliever (632), eclipsing Jim Brewer’s mark of 604. He was the only Dodger to record a save this season. The first time that’s happened since the save became a statistic in 1969. He posted a 1.60 ERA (7 ER/39.1 IP) and held the opposition to a .111 average at Dodger Stadium this year
Righties hit just .109 (13-for-119), and was strong against left-handers as well (.191, 22-for-115). Jansen Had a sub-2.00 ERA in every single month this season except for August (3.97). He recorded at least six saves in every month First batters hit .092 (6-for-65) with five walks against him, and batters were just 2-for-25 (.080) against with runners in scoring position and two out.
Baltimore Orioles LHP Zach Britton named AL Reliever of the Year
Britton recorded 47 consecutive saves this season, going 47-for-47. According to STATS, LLC., Britton has the longest save streak in as many chances to start a season by a left-handed pitcher in Major League history and ranks third all-time. Britton led the AL and tied for second in the majors in saves. His 0.54 ERA (4 ER/67.0 IP) led Major League relievers and was the lowest in Major League history among pitchers with at least 50.0 innings pitched.
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, only two other pitchers in Major League history have had an ERA below 1.00 in a season with at least 40 saves: Dennis Eckersley in 1990 (0.61, 48 saves) and Fernando Rodney in 2012 (0.60, 48 saves). Britton ranks third on the O’s all-time saves list with 120 and is one of two left-handers in O’s history with at least 100 career saves (also Tippy Martinez). Britton is the active Major League leader with 49 consecutive saves, dating to October 1, 2015. A total of nine relief pitchers have won the Cy Young Award and the last reliever to win the award was RHP Eric Gagne (Dodgers, 2003).
Indians, Cubs face off in Game 4 of World Series
CHICAGO – Saturday night, the Cleveland Indians and the Chicago Cubs face-off in Game four of the 2016 World Series. Cleveland won Game three on Friday night 1-0 to take a 2-0 series lead.
This is the 87th time in World Series history that the Fall Classic has stood at 2-1 after three games, and it is the 13th time in the last 17 Series (beginning 2000) it has occurred.
Of the previous 86 times that a World Series has been 2-1 after three games, the team leading the series has won Game 4 to take a 3-1 series lead 43 times (50.0%).
Of the 43 teams leading 2-1 to have won Game 4 and take a 3-1 lead, 37 (86.0%) have gone on to win the Series, including each of the last 10 times (Los Angeles in 1988, Toronto in 1992 and 1993, Atlanta in 1995, New York Yankees in 2000, St. Louis in 2006, Philadelphia in 2008, New York in 2009, San Francisco in 2010 and Kansas City in 2015). The last team to take a 3-1 series lead and lose the Fall Classic was the 1985 St. Louis Cardinals.
The Indians improved to 13-6 all-time in Game 3 of a Postseason series, including 7-4 in a best-of-seven. Cleveland is now 4-2 overall in Game 3 of the Fall Classic. The Cubs dropped to 6-16 all-time in Game 3 of a Postseason series, including 4-11 in a best-of-seven. Chicago is now 3-8 overall in Game 3 of the World Series.
This marks the fifth time that the Indians have led 2-1 in any best-of-seven Postseason series. The other instances include the 1948 World Series vs. Boston (won Game 4, won series in 6); the 1997 ALCS vs. Baltimore (won Game 4, won series in 6); the 1998 ALCS vs. New York (lost Game 4, lost series in 6); and the 2007 ALCS vs. Boston (won Game 4, lost series in 7).
This is the eighth time that the Cubs trail a best-of-seven Postseason series, 2-1. They have lost the series in six of the previous seven instances, with the only exception coming in this year's NLCS against Los Angeles (won Game 4, won series in 6). The first six instances include the 1906 World Series vs. Chicago White Sox (won Game 4, lost series in 6); the 1918 World Series vs. Boston (lost Game 4, lost series in 6); the 1929 World Series vs. Philadelphia (lost Game 4, lost series in 5); the 1935 World Series vs. Detroit (lost Game 4, lost series in 6); the 1945 World Series vs. Detroit (lost Game 4, lost series in 7); the 1989 NLCS vs. San Francisco (lost Game 4, lost series in 5); and the 2016 NLCS vs. Los Angeles (won Game 4, won series in 6).
Last night's Game 3 was just the 25th 1-0 game in World Series history, as well as just the second in the past 20 seasons (The deciding Game 4 of the 2005 World Series was a 1-0 White Sox win).
Friday night marked the fifth World Series shutout in Indians history, joining Game 6 in 1920 (1-0 over Brooklyn), Game 7 in 1920 (3-0 over Brooklyn), Game 3 in 1948 (2-0 over Boston) and Game 1 of this series (6-0 win).
The Cubs will start RHP John Lackey. Lackey went 11-8 with a 3.35 ERA (70 ER/188.1 IP) in 29 starts in his first season with the Cubs, where he recorded 20 quality starts and logged a 1.06 WHIP, his lowest single-season mark in his career and sixth-lowest in the N.L. He held opponents to a .218 average, by far the lowest mark of his career. His previous best mark was a .246 opponent average in 2006 with the Angels. His .645 opponent OPS was also the lowest mark of his career.
The Indians will start RHP Corey Kluber. The 30-year-old right-hander is slated to start Game 4 of the World Series at Wrigley Field on Saturday night. He will be starting on a shortened three days’ rest since starting Game 1 of the World Series on Tuesday, October 25 at Progressive Field. He went 18-9 with a 3.14 ERA (75ER/215.0IP) in 32 regular season starts.
REVIVAL | 112th WORLD SERIES
» The Cleveland Indians & Chicago Cubs are meeting in Major
League Baseball’s 112th World Series, the first meeting in Postsea- son history between the two franchises...second consecutive series for Cleveland to face an opponent for first time in PS history (also Toronto in ALCS); in ALDS, Tribe faced Boston for the sixth time in PS history.
» The 2016 Fall Classic has proven to be an historic event, as this year’s World Series features pennant-winners with baseball’s two longest championship droughts, as Cleveland is looking for the franchise’s first title since 1948 (68 years), while Chicago-NL is seeking to end a dry spell that dates back to 1908 (108 years)...the Indians last ap- peared in the World Series in 1997, the Cubs in 1945...additionally, this easily signifies the largest combined title drought between two teams facing one another in the World Series (source: Elias).
AIN’T WASTIN’ TIME NO MORE | TRIBE WINS GAME 3
» Cleveland edged Chicago-NL in Game 3 by a score of 1-0 to take a 2-1 lead in the series...the two teams split the first two games, as the Indians posted a 6-0 shutout in Game 1, while the Cubs responded with a 5-1 victory in Game 2...was first Indians home loss this Postseason (5-1 at home)...marks the 5th time for Cleveland to hold a 2-1 lead in any best-of-7 Postseason series (others: 1948 WS, 1997 ALCS, 1998 ALCS, 2007 ALCS); won Game 4 in ‘48, ‘97, ‘07...37 of the 43 teams (86.0%) that have held a 2-1 World Series lead AND then went on to win Game 4 have subsequently gone on to win the World Series overall; last team to take a 3-1 lead and lose the World Series was the
1985 St. Louis Cardinals.
ONE WAY OUT | 1-0 SHUTOUT
» The Indians posted the 25th 1-0 shutout in World Series history last night in Game 3, just the second over the past 20 seasons (2005 World Series G4; White Sox clinched WS with 1-0 win).
» With last night’s 1-0 win in Game 3, Cleveland’s pitching staff posted (a) the team’s fifth shutout of the 2016 Postseason (b) the 13th shutout in Cleveland Postseason history - 5th ever on the road - and (c) the fifth shutout in Cleveland World Series history - first ever on the road - the others coming in 1920 WS Games 6 & 7 vs. Brooklyn, 1948 WS Game 3 vs. Boston-NL & 2016 WS Game 1 vs. Chicago-NL.
» Cleveland’s 5 shutouts have established a new MLB record for a single Postseason, as previous record of 4 was accomplished by the 1905 Giants, 1998 Yankees, 2010 Giants & 2012 Giants.
» Cleveland is the first team to throw multiple shutouts in the same Fall Classic since the Giants in 2012 vs. Detroit (2-0 G3 win; 2-0 G4 win)... prior to 2012, the last team to have multiple shutouts in a single World Series was the 1966 Orioles (3 SHO’s)...the Indians are the first team to have each of their first two wins in a single World Series come by SHO since the 1959 Chicago White Sox vs. Los Angeles-NL (11-0 win in G1, 1-0 win in G5).
» Cleveland’s only previous 1-0 World Series win came in Game 6 of the 1920 Fall Classic at Cleveland’s Dunn Field.
WHIPPING POST | WINS & LOSSES
» Cleveland has a combined record of 103-69 in 2016, as the Indians
are 9-2 in the Postseason after finishing the regular season at 94-67... Cleveland swept Boston in 3 games to win the ALDS before taking 4 of 5 from Toronto in the ALCS...the Indians have won 12 of their last 14 dating back to regular season (14 consecutive games w/o losing 2 straight)... club is 19-7 since Sept. 16, losing consecutive games just twice in that 26-game span.
BLUE SKY | SCORELESS FRAMES
» Tribe hurlers have held opponents scoreless in 81.0 of the staff’s
98.0 innings pitched overall during the 2016 Postseason (82.7%)... the record for a single Postseason belongs to the 2014 San Francisco Giants, who tossed 130.0 scoreless frames.
» Cleveland’s 1.65 team ERA is the lowest figure among all 10 teams in the 2016 Postseason...next-closest team is current Toronto, who fin- ished with a 2.52 ERA...1.65 ERA currently ranks 22nd all-time for lowest team mark in a single Postseason - 6th-lowest in the Expansion Era (since 1961) behind only the 1966 Orioles (0.50), 1963 Dodgers (1.00), 1983 Orioles (1.10), 2014 Nationals (1.23) & 1961 Yankees (1.60).
» Cleveland pitchers saw the staff’s streak of 18.0 consecutive score- less innings come to an end in the 1st inning of World Series Game 2 (was first run allowed since 8th inning of ALCS G4 at Toronto), just 5.0 frames shy of the club’s franchise record of 23.0 - a streak that spanned 1948 World Series Games 2-4.
MIDNIGHT RIDERS | THE ‘PEN IS MIGHTIER
» ANDREW MILLER (15.0 IP) & CODY ALLEN (10.0 IP) have become
just the third pair of teammates to begin a single Postseason with 10+ innings of scoreless relief each...Allen and Miller join Dave Giusti/Bruce Kison (1971 Pirates - Won WS) & Wade Davis/Luke Hochevar (2015 Royals - Won WS)...should Allen make it to 11.0 scoreless IP, they will become the first pair ever to make it that far.
» Since acquiring Miller on July 31 (including Postseason), the Indians are 28-2 (.933) when holding a lead after 5 innings, 2nd-best in MLB (Texas 23-1, .958)...two losses were August 15 & 17...thanks to Aaron Charlton from STATS for research support.
STATESBORO BLUES | TRIBE POSTSEASON HISTORY
» Cleveland has gone 53-44 (.546) all-time in Postseason games, the
3rd-highest Postseason winning pct. of any A.L. team since 1901 & 5th-highest by any team in the Majors behind Florida (.667, 22-11), New York-AL (.590, 223-155), New York-NL (.573, 51-38) & Baltimore (.551, 54-44)...record would be 54-44 if 1948 A.L. Pennant playoff game of cially counted...Cleveland’s 97 of cial Postseason games are 6th- most played by any A.L. team since 1901, T12th-most in the Majors.
» Tribe’s longest Postseason winning streak is 6 games (Oct. 6-17, 2016), as this fall Cleveland became just the fth team in MLB his- tory to win 6 consecutive games to begin a Postseason run...lon- gest Postseason losing streak is 4 games, done twice (Sept. 29-Oct. 2, 1954 - 4G WS sweep - & Oct. 18, 2007-Oct. 2, 2013).
DREAMS | CLEVELAND FALL CLASSICS
» The Cleveland Indians are appearing in in the franchise’s sixth World Series all-time...Tribe’s 6 appearances are tied with Baltimore and Oak- land for 5th-most in A.L. history behind New York-AL (40), Boston (12), Detroit (11) and Philadelphia-AL (8)...have appeared in the World Series on ve (5) previous occasions, winning titles in 1920 (5-2 over Brook- lyn Robins) & 1948 (4-2 over Boston Braves)...the Tribe came up on the losing end in Fall Classics played in 1954 (4-0 to NY Giants), 1995 (4-2 to Atlanta) & 1997 (4-3 to Florida)...Cleveland is 16-17 (.485) all- time in World Series games; Tribe’s 33 World Series games played are 7th-most in the A.L. all-time...the 1903 World Series is considered to be Major League Baseball’s rst modern installment of the event.
» This marks the rst time for Cleveland to hold home- eld ad- vantage in the World Series...teams with home- eld advantage have won 6 of last 7 (exception: 2014 Kansas City Royals) & 9 of the last 12 Fall Classics.
RAMBLIN’ MAN | TITO IN THE POSTSEASON
» TERRY FRANCONA’s teams are 37-20 (.649) all-time in Postsea-
son play, the highest win% by any manager with at least 50 Postsea- son games managed...Tito’s 37 Postseason wins are tied with Casey Stengel (.587, 37-26) for 6th-most in MLB history after passing Hall-of- Famer Sparky Anderson in the ALCS.
» Francona has gone 10-1 (.909) all-time in the World Series...Tito’s 9-game World Series winning streak came to an end on Wednesday, as he lost for the first time ever in a Fall Classic...Tito is the only manager in Major League history to have won each of his first 9 World Series games...his streak of 9 straight wins was 3rd-longest ever by a manager behind Joe Torre (14) & Joe McCarthy (10).
SOUTHBOUND | CUBS SERIES NOTES
» The Cleveland & Chicago-NL franchises are meeting for the first time in MLB Postseason history...the two clubs have split 18 regular season meetings all-time (9-9), as the Indians have gone 6-5 vs. the Cubs at Progressive Field, while holding a 3-4 mark at Wrigley Field.
» The Indians & Cubs met most recently in 2015, splitting 4 decisions (1-1 in each city)...that season included a memorable trip to the North- side, as a June 15 rainout coincided with Game 6 of the 2015 Stanley Cup Finals - that same night, the Blackhawks defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-0 to win Lord Stanley on home ice for the first time since 1938 and then brought the Cup to Wrigley Field the next day for a pre- game warning track lap prior to first pitch between the Indians & Cubs.
YOU DON’T LOVE ME | INTERLEAVE PLAY
» Cleveland went 13-7 against the National League during the 2016 regular season, going 7-3 at home with the DH and 6-4 on the road... secured club’s first winning season in N.L. parks since 2005 (7-2)...out- scored N.L. opponents by a 113-77 (+36) margin...offense batted .277 (195-703) with 15 HR, a .763 OPS (.346 OBP/.417 SLG) and 5.7 runs- per-game (3rd in A.L., 4th in MLB), while pitching staff registered a 3.68 ERA (74 ER/181.0 IP), the A.L.’s 4th-lowest Interleague figure in 2016... Cleveland is 183-180 all-time in Interleague Play (1997-2016), going 103-77 vs. N.L. teams at home and 80-103 on the road in N.L. parks.
WASTED WORDS | MISC. NOTES
» The Indians have scored first in 8 of their 11 Postseason games thus far, going 8-0 in those contests; club is 1-2 when opponent scores first. » The Indians have struck out 8-or-more batters in 12 consecutive Postseason game dating back to the 2013 A.L. Wild Card Game, establishing the longest such streak in Postseason history (previ- ously mark was held by the Los Angeles Dodgers, who had an 11-game stretch that spanned 2014 NLDS Game 4 - 2016 NLDS Game 5)... Cleveland’s pitching staff has racked up 112 strikeouts across just 98.0 innings during the 2016 Postseason (10.29 SO-per-9.0IP), 2nd-most K’s by any team in the playoff field behind only Los Angeles-NL (113 in 96.0IP)...record for a single Postseason is held by the 2015 Kansas City Royals, who fanned 160 batters across 148 innings.
CLEVELAND ROCKS | THIS DAY IN MUSIC...
» 1971: Duane Allman was killed at the age of 24 following a motorcycle
accident in Macon, Georgia.
» BORN ON THIS DAY: (1946) Peter Green, founding member of
Fleetwood Mac; (1955) Roger O’Donnell, keyboards, The Cure; Kevin DuBrow, Quiet Riot; (1965) Peter Timmins, drummer, Cowboy Junkies; (1970) Toby Smith, keyboards, Jamiroquai.
WHY MUST YOU SHUT ME OUT?
The Chicago Cubs tonight play game four of the best-of-seven World Series against the Cleveland Indians after last night falling in game three, 1-0 ... Chicago, down two-games-to-one, was blanked for the second time in the Series (also a 6-0 setback in game one) and for the fourth time this postseason.
© Last evening marked Wrigley Field’s first World Series game since October 10, 1945, when the Cubs hosted the Tigers in game seven of the 1945 Fall Classic (a 9-3 Tigers win).
© According to ESPN Stats & Info, since Wrigley Field last was the site of a World Series game, 45 other ballparks have hosted a World Series contest.
© Chicago’s most recent World Series win at Wrigley Field was game six of the 1945 World Series, on October 8 ... that was an 8-7, 12-inning win over Detroit.
PITCHING IN
Cubs pitching has held opponents to one or no runs in three of their last four playoff games, including each of the last two games of this World Series ... Cubs starting pitchers have a 2.30 ERA (4 ER/15.2 IP) in the first three games of the Fall Classic.
© Jake Arrieta on Wednesday spun 5.1 innings of no-hit ball, which was the longest no-hit bid in a World Series game since Jerry Koosman of the New York Mets spun 6.0 innings of no-hit ball in game two of the 1969 Fall Classic.
FEAST OR FAMINE: The Cubs have plated five or more runs in eight of their 13 post- season contests this month, but have scored just one run combined in the other five games, including four shutouts.
© Chicago has averaged 6.0 runs per game in its eight post-season victories this
month while averaging 1.0 run per game in its five setbacks ... the Cubs are 8-1 when scoring at least one run this postseason.
QUITE A RETURN
Kyle Schwarber, who missed a majority of the season recovering from a left knee injury, went 3-for-7 (.429) with a double, two walks and two RBI as the team’s DH in the first two games of the World Series ... he is now hitting .343 (12-for-35) with a double, five homers and 10 RBI in 12 career post-season games.
EXPERIENCE ON THE BUMP
John Lackey tonight makes his 23rd career post- season start, the most for any active pitcher in baseball ... tonight’s outing will move him past Whitey Ford for the sixth-most starts in post-season history ... John Smoltz is fifth with 27 career post-season starts while Andy Pettitte holds the all- time record with 44 post-season starts.
© A win this evening would make Lackey the first pitcher in MLB history to record a post-season victory with four teams (Angels, Red Sox, Cardinals, Cubs).
YOUTH MOVEMENT
Wednesday night’s Cubs starting lineup featured six players under the age of 25: Kris Bryant (24), Kyle Schwarber (23), Javier Baez (23), Willson Contreras (24), Jorge Soler (24) and Addison Russell (22) ... that sets a World Series record for one team, surpassing the previous mark of five, done eight times (last by Cincinnati in game four of 1970 World Series).
BACK IN THE FALL CLASSIC
The Cubs this season have captured their first N.L.
Pennant since 1945, and now make their 11th appearance in the World Series ... Chicago won the Fall Classic in both 1907 and 1908.
© According to Elias Sports Bureau, no team in the four major North American sports had ever gone longer than 71 years without an appearance in a championship game/series.
© Including this year, Chicago’s 11 World Series appearances are surpassed by only six franchises: the Yankees (40), Giants (20),
Cardinals (19), Dodgers (18), Athletics (14) and Red Sox (12).
© Chicago now has won 17 National League Pennants ... only three Senior Circuit teams have won more: the Giants(23), Dodgers(21) and Cardinals (19).
A LOOK AT GAME FOUR
The Cubs are 8-10 in game four of post-season series, including a 2-0 record this year and a 1-1 mark in 2015 (won game four of the NLDS vs. St. Louis, 6-4; lost game four of the NLCS vs. the Mets, 8-3) ... Chicago is 4-6 all-time in World Series game fours.
NLCS CO-MVPS
Cubs pitcher Jon Lester and infielder Javier Baez were named co-MVPs of the NLCS ... they are the first NLCS Co-MVPs since Rob Dibble and Randy Myers in 1990 for Cincinnati.
BACK IN THE POSTSEASON
Chicago, who last season advanced to the NLCS, makes consecutive post-season appearances for just the second time since 1909 ... the Cubs made consecutive NLDS appearances in 2007-08.
FLY THE W
The Cubs compiled a 103-58 regular season record, tops in the majors and the team’s most since going 104-50 in 1910.
© With 103 wins, the 2016 Cubs are one of just three major league teams to win 100 regular season games within four seasons of losing 100 contests ... the Cubs, who went 61-101 in 2012, join only the 1969 Mets (100-62 after going 50-112 in 1965 and 61-101 in
1967) and the 1995 Indians (100-44 after going 57-105 in 1991) ... thanks to STATS, Inc.
© The Cubs have now reached 100 regular season wins six times in their 141 seasons dating to 1876 ... they’ve done so in 1906(116-36), 1907 (107-45), 1909 (104-49), 1910 (104-50), 1935 (100-54) and now in 2016.
O CAPTAIN, MY CAPTAIN
Manager Joe Maddon is only the second skipper in club history to reach the postseason in his first two seasons ... he joins Lou Piniella, who led the 2007-08 Cubs to the playoffs ... this is his sixth postseason appearance as a manager, having taken Tampa Bay to the playoffs in 2008, 2010, 2011 and 2013.
START ME UP
Jon Lester is making his fourth-straight trip to the playoffs ... during the regular season, he went 19-5 with a 2.44 ERA (55 ER/202.IP), the second-best mark in baseball.
© Lester recorded a quality start in all 15 of his home appearances, setting the franchise record (since at least 1913) for the most
home starts in a single season without throwing a non-quality start.
© Kyle Hendricks, the owner of an MLB-best 2.13 ERA (45 ER/190.0 IP), and Lester combined to notch baseball’s top two ERAs,
becoming the first teammate pair to do so since Roger Clemens (1.87) and Andy Pettitte (2.39) did so with the 2005 Astros.
ROUSING ROTATION
Cubs starters combined to allow only 6.91 hits per nine innings, the third-lowest mark all-time and the lowest mark since 1968 ... the Cubs are the first team to have four or more starters win 15 or more games in one season since the 2004 Cardinals ... Elias notes the Cubs have five pitchers with more than 10 wins for the first time since 1945 when Hank Wyse (22 wins), Claude Passeau (17), Paul Derringer (16), Ray Prim (13) and Hank Borowy (11) turned the trick.
THIS IS OFFENSIVE
The Cubs, with 808 runs scored in the regular season, have surpassed 800 runs for only the fourth time since 1938 (855 runs in 2008, 831 in 1998, 806 in 1970) ... overall, the Cubs have reached 800 runs only nine times in modern franchise history starting in 1900.
This is the 87th time in World Series history that the Fall Classic has stood at 2-1 after three games, and it is the 13th time in the last 17 Series (beginning 2000) it has occurred.
Of the previous 86 times that a World Series has been 2-1 after three games, the team leading the series has won Game 4 to take a 3-1 series lead 43 times (50.0%).
Of the 43 teams leading 2-1 to have won Game 4 and take a 3-1 lead, 37 (86.0%) have gone on to win the Series, including each of the last 10 times (Los Angeles in 1988, Toronto in 1992 and 1993, Atlanta in 1995, New York Yankees in 2000, St. Louis in 2006, Philadelphia in 2008, New York in 2009, San Francisco in 2010 and Kansas City in 2015). The last team to take a 3-1 series lead and lose the Fall Classic was the 1985 St. Louis Cardinals.
The Indians improved to 13-6 all-time in Game 3 of a Postseason series, including 7-4 in a best-of-seven. Cleveland is now 4-2 overall in Game 3 of the Fall Classic. The Cubs dropped to 6-16 all-time in Game 3 of a Postseason series, including 4-11 in a best-of-seven. Chicago is now 3-8 overall in Game 3 of the World Series.
This marks the fifth time that the Indians have led 2-1 in any best-of-seven Postseason series. The other instances include the 1948 World Series vs. Boston (won Game 4, won series in 6); the 1997 ALCS vs. Baltimore (won Game 4, won series in 6); the 1998 ALCS vs. New York (lost Game 4, lost series in 6); and the 2007 ALCS vs. Boston (won Game 4, lost series in 7).
This is the eighth time that the Cubs trail a best-of-seven Postseason series, 2-1. They have lost the series in six of the previous seven instances, with the only exception coming in this year's NLCS against Los Angeles (won Game 4, won series in 6). The first six instances include the 1906 World Series vs. Chicago White Sox (won Game 4, lost series in 6); the 1918 World Series vs. Boston (lost Game 4, lost series in 6); the 1929 World Series vs. Philadelphia (lost Game 4, lost series in 5); the 1935 World Series vs. Detroit (lost Game 4, lost series in 6); the 1945 World Series vs. Detroit (lost Game 4, lost series in 7); the 1989 NLCS vs. San Francisco (lost Game 4, lost series in 5); and the 2016 NLCS vs. Los Angeles (won Game 4, won series in 6).
Last night's Game 3 was just the 25th 1-0 game in World Series history, as well as just the second in the past 20 seasons (The deciding Game 4 of the 2005 World Series was a 1-0 White Sox win).
Friday night marked the fifth World Series shutout in Indians history, joining Game 6 in 1920 (1-0 over Brooklyn), Game 7 in 1920 (3-0 over Brooklyn), Game 3 in 1948 (2-0 over Boston) and Game 1 of this series (6-0 win).
The Cubs will start RHP John Lackey. Lackey went 11-8 with a 3.35 ERA (70 ER/188.1 IP) in 29 starts in his first season with the Cubs, where he recorded 20 quality starts and logged a 1.06 WHIP, his lowest single-season mark in his career and sixth-lowest in the N.L. He held opponents to a .218 average, by far the lowest mark of his career. His previous best mark was a .246 opponent average in 2006 with the Angels. His .645 opponent OPS was also the lowest mark of his career.
The Indians will start RHP Corey Kluber. The 30-year-old right-hander is slated to start Game 4 of the World Series at Wrigley Field on Saturday night. He will be starting on a shortened three days’ rest since starting Game 1 of the World Series on Tuesday, October 25 at Progressive Field. He went 18-9 with a 3.14 ERA (75ER/215.0IP) in 32 regular season starts.
REVIVAL | 112th WORLD SERIES
» The Cleveland Indians & Chicago Cubs are meeting in Major
League Baseball’s 112th World Series, the first meeting in Postsea- son history between the two franchises...second consecutive series for Cleveland to face an opponent for first time in PS history (also Toronto in ALCS); in ALDS, Tribe faced Boston for the sixth time in PS history.
» The 2016 Fall Classic has proven to be an historic event, as this year’s World Series features pennant-winners with baseball’s two longest championship droughts, as Cleveland is looking for the franchise’s first title since 1948 (68 years), while Chicago-NL is seeking to end a dry spell that dates back to 1908 (108 years)...the Indians last ap- peared in the World Series in 1997, the Cubs in 1945...additionally, this easily signifies the largest combined title drought between two teams facing one another in the World Series (source: Elias).
AIN’T WASTIN’ TIME NO MORE | TRIBE WINS GAME 3
» Cleveland edged Chicago-NL in Game 3 by a score of 1-0 to take a 2-1 lead in the series...the two teams split the first two games, as the Indians posted a 6-0 shutout in Game 1, while the Cubs responded with a 5-1 victory in Game 2...was first Indians home loss this Postseason (5-1 at home)...marks the 5th time for Cleveland to hold a 2-1 lead in any best-of-7 Postseason series (others: 1948 WS, 1997 ALCS, 1998 ALCS, 2007 ALCS); won Game 4 in ‘48, ‘97, ‘07...37 of the 43 teams (86.0%) that have held a 2-1 World Series lead AND then went on to win Game 4 have subsequently gone on to win the World Series overall; last team to take a 3-1 lead and lose the World Series was the
1985 St. Louis Cardinals.
ONE WAY OUT | 1-0 SHUTOUT
» The Indians posted the 25th 1-0 shutout in World Series history last night in Game 3, just the second over the past 20 seasons (2005 World Series G4; White Sox clinched WS with 1-0 win).
» With last night’s 1-0 win in Game 3, Cleveland’s pitching staff posted (a) the team’s fifth shutout of the 2016 Postseason (b) the 13th shutout in Cleveland Postseason history - 5th ever on the road - and (c) the fifth shutout in Cleveland World Series history - first ever on the road - the others coming in 1920 WS Games 6 & 7 vs. Brooklyn, 1948 WS Game 3 vs. Boston-NL & 2016 WS Game 1 vs. Chicago-NL.
» Cleveland’s 5 shutouts have established a new MLB record for a single Postseason, as previous record of 4 was accomplished by the 1905 Giants, 1998 Yankees, 2010 Giants & 2012 Giants.
» Cleveland is the first team to throw multiple shutouts in the same Fall Classic since the Giants in 2012 vs. Detroit (2-0 G3 win; 2-0 G4 win)... prior to 2012, the last team to have multiple shutouts in a single World Series was the 1966 Orioles (3 SHO’s)...the Indians are the first team to have each of their first two wins in a single World Series come by SHO since the 1959 Chicago White Sox vs. Los Angeles-NL (11-0 win in G1, 1-0 win in G5).
» Cleveland’s only previous 1-0 World Series win came in Game 6 of the 1920 Fall Classic at Cleveland’s Dunn Field.
WHIPPING POST | WINS & LOSSES
» Cleveland has a combined record of 103-69 in 2016, as the Indians
are 9-2 in the Postseason after finishing the regular season at 94-67... Cleveland swept Boston in 3 games to win the ALDS before taking 4 of 5 from Toronto in the ALCS...the Indians have won 12 of their last 14 dating back to regular season (14 consecutive games w/o losing 2 straight)... club is 19-7 since Sept. 16, losing consecutive games just twice in that 26-game span.
BLUE SKY | SCORELESS FRAMES
» Tribe hurlers have held opponents scoreless in 81.0 of the staff’s
98.0 innings pitched overall during the 2016 Postseason (82.7%)... the record for a single Postseason belongs to the 2014 San Francisco Giants, who tossed 130.0 scoreless frames.
» Cleveland’s 1.65 team ERA is the lowest figure among all 10 teams in the 2016 Postseason...next-closest team is current Toronto, who fin- ished with a 2.52 ERA...1.65 ERA currently ranks 22nd all-time for lowest team mark in a single Postseason - 6th-lowest in the Expansion Era (since 1961) behind only the 1966 Orioles (0.50), 1963 Dodgers (1.00), 1983 Orioles (1.10), 2014 Nationals (1.23) & 1961 Yankees (1.60).
» Cleveland pitchers saw the staff’s streak of 18.0 consecutive score- less innings come to an end in the 1st inning of World Series Game 2 (was first run allowed since 8th inning of ALCS G4 at Toronto), just 5.0 frames shy of the club’s franchise record of 23.0 - a streak that spanned 1948 World Series Games 2-4.
MIDNIGHT RIDERS | THE ‘PEN IS MIGHTIER
» ANDREW MILLER (15.0 IP) & CODY ALLEN (10.0 IP) have become
just the third pair of teammates to begin a single Postseason with 10+ innings of scoreless relief each...Allen and Miller join Dave Giusti/Bruce Kison (1971 Pirates - Won WS) & Wade Davis/Luke Hochevar (2015 Royals - Won WS)...should Allen make it to 11.0 scoreless IP, they will become the first pair ever to make it that far.
» Since acquiring Miller on July 31 (including Postseason), the Indians are 28-2 (.933) when holding a lead after 5 innings, 2nd-best in MLB (Texas 23-1, .958)...two losses were August 15 & 17...thanks to Aaron Charlton from STATS for research support.
STATESBORO BLUES | TRIBE POSTSEASON HISTORY
» Cleveland has gone 53-44 (.546) all-time in Postseason games, the
3rd-highest Postseason winning pct. of any A.L. team since 1901 & 5th-highest by any team in the Majors behind Florida (.667, 22-11), New York-AL (.590, 223-155), New York-NL (.573, 51-38) & Baltimore (.551, 54-44)...record would be 54-44 if 1948 A.L. Pennant playoff game of cially counted...Cleveland’s 97 of cial Postseason games are 6th- most played by any A.L. team since 1901, T12th-most in the Majors.
» Tribe’s longest Postseason winning streak is 6 games (Oct. 6-17, 2016), as this fall Cleveland became just the fth team in MLB his- tory to win 6 consecutive games to begin a Postseason run...lon- gest Postseason losing streak is 4 games, done twice (Sept. 29-Oct. 2, 1954 - 4G WS sweep - & Oct. 18, 2007-Oct. 2, 2013).
DREAMS | CLEVELAND FALL CLASSICS
» The Cleveland Indians are appearing in in the franchise’s sixth World Series all-time...Tribe’s 6 appearances are tied with Baltimore and Oak- land for 5th-most in A.L. history behind New York-AL (40), Boston (12), Detroit (11) and Philadelphia-AL (8)...have appeared in the World Series on ve (5) previous occasions, winning titles in 1920 (5-2 over Brook- lyn Robins) & 1948 (4-2 over Boston Braves)...the Tribe came up on the losing end in Fall Classics played in 1954 (4-0 to NY Giants), 1995 (4-2 to Atlanta) & 1997 (4-3 to Florida)...Cleveland is 16-17 (.485) all- time in World Series games; Tribe’s 33 World Series games played are 7th-most in the A.L. all-time...the 1903 World Series is considered to be Major League Baseball’s rst modern installment of the event.
» This marks the rst time for Cleveland to hold home- eld ad- vantage in the World Series...teams with home- eld advantage have won 6 of last 7 (exception: 2014 Kansas City Royals) & 9 of the last 12 Fall Classics.
RAMBLIN’ MAN | TITO IN THE POSTSEASON
» TERRY FRANCONA’s teams are 37-20 (.649) all-time in Postsea-
son play, the highest win% by any manager with at least 50 Postsea- son games managed...Tito’s 37 Postseason wins are tied with Casey Stengel (.587, 37-26) for 6th-most in MLB history after passing Hall-of- Famer Sparky Anderson in the ALCS.
» Francona has gone 10-1 (.909) all-time in the World Series...Tito’s 9-game World Series winning streak came to an end on Wednesday, as he lost for the first time ever in a Fall Classic...Tito is the only manager in Major League history to have won each of his first 9 World Series games...his streak of 9 straight wins was 3rd-longest ever by a manager behind Joe Torre (14) & Joe McCarthy (10).
SOUTHBOUND | CUBS SERIES NOTES
» The Cleveland & Chicago-NL franchises are meeting for the first time in MLB Postseason history...the two clubs have split 18 regular season meetings all-time (9-9), as the Indians have gone 6-5 vs. the Cubs at Progressive Field, while holding a 3-4 mark at Wrigley Field.
» The Indians & Cubs met most recently in 2015, splitting 4 decisions (1-1 in each city)...that season included a memorable trip to the North- side, as a June 15 rainout coincided with Game 6 of the 2015 Stanley Cup Finals - that same night, the Blackhawks defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-0 to win Lord Stanley on home ice for the first time since 1938 and then brought the Cup to Wrigley Field the next day for a pre- game warning track lap prior to first pitch between the Indians & Cubs.
YOU DON’T LOVE ME | INTERLEAVE PLAY
» Cleveland went 13-7 against the National League during the 2016 regular season, going 7-3 at home with the DH and 6-4 on the road... secured club’s first winning season in N.L. parks since 2005 (7-2)...out- scored N.L. opponents by a 113-77 (+36) margin...offense batted .277 (195-703) with 15 HR, a .763 OPS (.346 OBP/.417 SLG) and 5.7 runs- per-game (3rd in A.L., 4th in MLB), while pitching staff registered a 3.68 ERA (74 ER/181.0 IP), the A.L.’s 4th-lowest Interleague figure in 2016... Cleveland is 183-180 all-time in Interleague Play (1997-2016), going 103-77 vs. N.L. teams at home and 80-103 on the road in N.L. parks.
WASTED WORDS | MISC. NOTES
» The Indians have scored first in 8 of their 11 Postseason games thus far, going 8-0 in those contests; club is 1-2 when opponent scores first. » The Indians have struck out 8-or-more batters in 12 consecutive Postseason game dating back to the 2013 A.L. Wild Card Game, establishing the longest such streak in Postseason history (previ- ously mark was held by the Los Angeles Dodgers, who had an 11-game stretch that spanned 2014 NLDS Game 4 - 2016 NLDS Game 5)... Cleveland’s pitching staff has racked up 112 strikeouts across just 98.0 innings during the 2016 Postseason (10.29 SO-per-9.0IP), 2nd-most K’s by any team in the playoff field behind only Los Angeles-NL (113 in 96.0IP)...record for a single Postseason is held by the 2015 Kansas City Royals, who fanned 160 batters across 148 innings.
CLEVELAND ROCKS | THIS DAY IN MUSIC...
» 1971: Duane Allman was killed at the age of 24 following a motorcycle
accident in Macon, Georgia.
» BORN ON THIS DAY: (1946) Peter Green, founding member of
Fleetwood Mac; (1955) Roger O’Donnell, keyboards, The Cure; Kevin DuBrow, Quiet Riot; (1965) Peter Timmins, drummer, Cowboy Junkies; (1970) Toby Smith, keyboards, Jamiroquai.
WHY MUST YOU SHUT ME OUT?
The Chicago Cubs tonight play game four of the best-of-seven World Series against the Cleveland Indians after last night falling in game three, 1-0 ... Chicago, down two-games-to-one, was blanked for the second time in the Series (also a 6-0 setback in game one) and for the fourth time this postseason.
© Last evening marked Wrigley Field’s first World Series game since October 10, 1945, when the Cubs hosted the Tigers in game seven of the 1945 Fall Classic (a 9-3 Tigers win).
© According to ESPN Stats & Info, since Wrigley Field last was the site of a World Series game, 45 other ballparks have hosted a World Series contest.
© Chicago’s most recent World Series win at Wrigley Field was game six of the 1945 World Series, on October 8 ... that was an 8-7, 12-inning win over Detroit.
PITCHING IN
Cubs pitching has held opponents to one or no runs in three of their last four playoff games, including each of the last two games of this World Series ... Cubs starting pitchers have a 2.30 ERA (4 ER/15.2 IP) in the first three games of the Fall Classic.
© Jake Arrieta on Wednesday spun 5.1 innings of no-hit ball, which was the longest no-hit bid in a World Series game since Jerry Koosman of the New York Mets spun 6.0 innings of no-hit ball in game two of the 1969 Fall Classic.
FEAST OR FAMINE: The Cubs have plated five or more runs in eight of their 13 post- season contests this month, but have scored just one run combined in the other five games, including four shutouts.
© Chicago has averaged 6.0 runs per game in its eight post-season victories this
month while averaging 1.0 run per game in its five setbacks ... the Cubs are 8-1 when scoring at least one run this postseason.
QUITE A RETURN
Kyle Schwarber, who missed a majority of the season recovering from a left knee injury, went 3-for-7 (.429) with a double, two walks and two RBI as the team’s DH in the first two games of the World Series ... he is now hitting .343 (12-for-35) with a double, five homers and 10 RBI in 12 career post-season games.
EXPERIENCE ON THE BUMP
John Lackey tonight makes his 23rd career post- season start, the most for any active pitcher in baseball ... tonight’s outing will move him past Whitey Ford for the sixth-most starts in post-season history ... John Smoltz is fifth with 27 career post-season starts while Andy Pettitte holds the all- time record with 44 post-season starts.
© A win this evening would make Lackey the first pitcher in MLB history to record a post-season victory with four teams (Angels, Red Sox, Cardinals, Cubs).
YOUTH MOVEMENT
Wednesday night’s Cubs starting lineup featured six players under the age of 25: Kris Bryant (24), Kyle Schwarber (23), Javier Baez (23), Willson Contreras (24), Jorge Soler (24) and Addison Russell (22) ... that sets a World Series record for one team, surpassing the previous mark of five, done eight times (last by Cincinnati in game four of 1970 World Series).
BACK IN THE FALL CLASSIC
The Cubs this season have captured their first N.L.
Pennant since 1945, and now make their 11th appearance in the World Series ... Chicago won the Fall Classic in both 1907 and 1908.
© According to Elias Sports Bureau, no team in the four major North American sports had ever gone longer than 71 years without an appearance in a championship game/series.
© Including this year, Chicago’s 11 World Series appearances are surpassed by only six franchises: the Yankees (40), Giants (20),
Cardinals (19), Dodgers (18), Athletics (14) and Red Sox (12).
© Chicago now has won 17 National League Pennants ... only three Senior Circuit teams have won more: the Giants(23), Dodgers(21) and Cardinals (19).
A LOOK AT GAME FOUR
The Cubs are 8-10 in game four of post-season series, including a 2-0 record this year and a 1-1 mark in 2015 (won game four of the NLDS vs. St. Louis, 6-4; lost game four of the NLCS vs. the Mets, 8-3) ... Chicago is 4-6 all-time in World Series game fours.
NLCS CO-MVPS
Cubs pitcher Jon Lester and infielder Javier Baez were named co-MVPs of the NLCS ... they are the first NLCS Co-MVPs since Rob Dibble and Randy Myers in 1990 for Cincinnati.
BACK IN THE POSTSEASON
Chicago, who last season advanced to the NLCS, makes consecutive post-season appearances for just the second time since 1909 ... the Cubs made consecutive NLDS appearances in 2007-08.
FLY THE W
The Cubs compiled a 103-58 regular season record, tops in the majors and the team’s most since going 104-50 in 1910.
© With 103 wins, the 2016 Cubs are one of just three major league teams to win 100 regular season games within four seasons of losing 100 contests ... the Cubs, who went 61-101 in 2012, join only the 1969 Mets (100-62 after going 50-112 in 1965 and 61-101 in
1967) and the 1995 Indians (100-44 after going 57-105 in 1991) ... thanks to STATS, Inc.
© The Cubs have now reached 100 regular season wins six times in their 141 seasons dating to 1876 ... they’ve done so in 1906(116-36), 1907 (107-45), 1909 (104-49), 1910 (104-50), 1935 (100-54) and now in 2016.
O CAPTAIN, MY CAPTAIN
Manager Joe Maddon is only the second skipper in club history to reach the postseason in his first two seasons ... he joins Lou Piniella, who led the 2007-08 Cubs to the playoffs ... this is his sixth postseason appearance as a manager, having taken Tampa Bay to the playoffs in 2008, 2010, 2011 and 2013.
START ME UP
Jon Lester is making his fourth-straight trip to the playoffs ... during the regular season, he went 19-5 with a 2.44 ERA (55 ER/202.IP), the second-best mark in baseball.
© Lester recorded a quality start in all 15 of his home appearances, setting the franchise record (since at least 1913) for the most
home starts in a single season without throwing a non-quality start.
© Kyle Hendricks, the owner of an MLB-best 2.13 ERA (45 ER/190.0 IP), and Lester combined to notch baseball’s top two ERAs,
becoming the first teammate pair to do so since Roger Clemens (1.87) and Andy Pettitte (2.39) did so with the 2005 Astros.
ROUSING ROTATION
Cubs starters combined to allow only 6.91 hits per nine innings, the third-lowest mark all-time and the lowest mark since 1968 ... the Cubs are the first team to have four or more starters win 15 or more games in one season since the 2004 Cardinals ... Elias notes the Cubs have five pitchers with more than 10 wins for the first time since 1945 when Hank Wyse (22 wins), Claude Passeau (17), Paul Derringer (16), Ray Prim (13) and Hank Borowy (11) turned the trick.
THIS IS OFFENSIVE
The Cubs, with 808 runs scored in the regular season, have surpassed 800 runs for only the fourth time since 1938 (855 runs in 2008, 831 in 1998, 806 in 1970) ... overall, the Cubs have reached 800 runs only nine times in modern franchise history starting in 1900.
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