2016 MLB PLAYOFFS

[Midwest Spy]

I just can't resist throwing sports predictions against the wall and seeing if anything sticks.

October baseball is upon us again, and, as it's an even numbered year, sure enough, there's HotD's SF Giants in the mix yet again.

It's go to be different this time around, however.

Here we go:

AMERICAN LEAGUE DIVISION SERIES:

Texas over Toronto
Cleveland over Boston

ALCS:

Cleveland over Texas

NATIONAL LEAGUE DIVISION SERIES:

Chicago over San Francisco
Washington over Los Angeles

NLCS:

Chicago over Washington

WORLD SERIES:

Chicago Cubs over Cleveland Indians (7 games)

Another long sports drought ends this year.

[HairOfTheDog]

Well, MS, you called our match-up right.

What a bummer for the Giants, but amazing 9^th inning rally by the Cubs. I read that Chicago hasn't won the title in 108 years. It would be cool to see them win the World Series.

But, if your prediction is right and the Cubs end up facing the Indians for the league title, it would really be something if Cleveland ended up taking it home in both basketball and baseball this year after so many decades with no major league titles.

Which teams are you rooting for in the rest of the play-offs and the World Series?

[Midwest Spy]

I'm pulling for the Cubbies.

I've been able to go to a couple of games at Wrigley and have always pulled for the underdog.

They're not the underdog this season, but their franchise could be the underdog of all time.

I don't care for the Blue Jays (facing CLE in the ALCS) and I'm not a Nats or Dodgers fan.

So, my prediction of CHI vs CLEVE was really the matchup I'd like to see.

[Duchess]

I'm pulling for the Cubbies.

I don't know anything about baseball but apparently the Cubs going to the World Series is a huge deal. Did you watch this go down last night?

[Midwest Spy]

I'm pulling for the Cubbies.

I don't know anything about baseball but apparently the Cubs going to the World Series is a huge deal. Did you watch this go down last night?

Yes I did.

I only watched the first 3 innings, but CHI had a 3-0 lead at that point against LA's best pitcher, and I had the feeling that it was over.

Now, we get late October/early November baseball in the Great Lakes region. Can you say really chilly nights?

Cubs haven't won the Series since 1908 and the Indians haven't won since 1948. The two longest droughts currently in baseball.

[HairOfTheDog]

The Cubs stayed alive by beating the Indians at home in Chicago last night; fun watching the fans in Chicago go crazy.

So, Cleveland now leads the series 3 to 2 and has the home field advantage in game 6 tomorrow night.

I just read that no team has come back from a 3 - 1 deficit on the road since 1979. I really hope Chicago defies the odds and does so tomorrow night, forcing a game 7.

[Midwest Spy]

Not sure which is true for playoff baseball the last few years:

The pitching is 'off-the-charts' good OR the hitting is beyond anemic.

Either way, scoring runs is not easy to do.

Chicago will be throwing Jake Arrieta and Kyle Hendricks the next 2 nights, while CLE will counter with Josh Tomlin and Corey Kluber.

Combine the starting pitching with relievers that throw in the 95-100mph range, and we could be looking at a pair of 1-0 or 2-1 games.

Would've been fun to be in Chicago over the weekend. I've been to a couple of games at Wrigley and the atmosphere in and around the ballpark is great.

[HairOfTheDog]

Your Cubs are definitely in it to win it, MS!

Snip:
The Chicago Cubs set up a winner-take-all Game Seven of the World Series by crushing the Cleveland Indians 9-3 on Tuesday to level Major League Baseball’s best-of-seven championship.

Facing elimination, reigning Cy Young Award winner Jake Arrieta won his second of the series, backed by 22-year-old shortstop Addison Russell, who smashed a grand slam on his way to logging a World Series record-tying six runs batted in.

Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant, who had four hits, also homered for Chicago, who erupted for 13 hits off six Indians pitchers.

The victory kept alive the Cubs’ quest of winning their first Fall Classic title in 108 years, and for the second time in as many games Chicago put on hold Cleveland’s celebration of a first World Series crown since 1948.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/2016...6eba96df7a

[Midwest Spy]

Game 7, extra innings... are you kidding me?

[Older Than Dirt]

No, it's for real. Long time Cleveland fan. BUT, can't feel too bad the Cubs hadn't won in 108 years.

[Duchess]

Game 7, extra innings... are you kidding me?

And rain!

I only know that because someone was sending me emails throughout the game. I just read the last one - CUBS WIN!!!!!!. He's so happy, I could feel it through the email.

[ramseycat]

I'm very happy for the Cubbs! They deserved the win. I always root for the underdog.

[Midwest Spy]

I just can't resist throwing sports predictions against the wall and seeing if anything sticks.

WORLD SERIES:

Chicago Cubs over Cleveland Indians (7 games)

Another long sports drought ends this year.

4^th overall exactly correct championship prediction made before playoffs start.

Good thing I didn't jinx Cubbies.

Notice how I included '7 games' for some extra credit points?

[Blindgreed1]

I just can't resist throwing sports predictions against the wall and seeing if anything sticks.

WORLD SERIES:

Chicago Cubs over Cleveland Indians (7 games)

Another long sports drought ends this year.

4^th overall exactly correct championship prediction made before playoffs start.

Good thing I didn't jinx Cubbies.

Notice how I included '7 games' for some extra credit points?

How much did you make off of it?

[Midwest Spy]

I just can't resist throwing sports predictions against the wall and seeing if anything sticks.

WORLD SERIES:

Chicago Cubs over Cleveland Indians (7 games)

Another long sports drought ends this year.

4^th overall exactly correct championship prediction made before playoffs start.

Good thing I didn't jinx Cubbies.

Notice how I included '7 games' for some extra credit points?

How much did you make off of it?

I don't gamble any more.

I think you know why.

[Blindgreed1]

I just can't resist throwing sports predictions against the wall and seeing if anything sticks.

WORLD SERIES:

Chicago Cubs over Cleveland Indians (7 games)

Another long sports drought ends this year.

4^th overall exactly correct championship prediction made before playoffs start.

Good thing I didn't jinx Cubbies.

Notice how I included '7 games' for some extra credit points?

How much did you make off of it?

I don't gamble any more.

I think you know why.

Then I guess you have bragging rights.

[Maggot]

CUBS!!!!

[HairOfTheDog]

Notice how I included '7 games' for some extra credit points?

I did notice -- well done, MS.

I'm so thrilled for Chicago.

Bill Murray is one of a handful of famous people who really rubs me right (though I suspect he's nuts). It was fun watching him celebrate a lifelong dream with his fellow Cubs' fans last night. Man, was he emotionally into it.

And, it will be fun to see LeBron donning Dwayne Wade's jersey in Chicago; he's no welcher. I would like to see the Indians make it to the World Series again next year and, hopefully, Wade will have to return the favor.

[Duchess]

This is a lovely story.

A North Carolina man drove back home to Indiana to keep a decades-old promise to his father.

Wayne Williams drove in for the Game 7 of the World Series.

"The gate was open," he says as he drives in.

He's not at the ballpark. He's watching it with his dad.

"Got a W flag. Not supposed to fly until after the actual win," Williams said, going over his supplies.

His dad, also named Wayne Williams, was waiting for him.

Look, dad, here's your son, keeping his part of the bargain.

Williams set up camp in the military section of Greenwood Forest Lawn Cemetery after an all-day drive from North Carolina.

His dad died at age 53 in 1980. A Navy veteran.

Story

[Carsman]

I watched the entire "extra long" game last night.

I was not either an avid Cubs and or Indians fan to start with.

However, around the second inning I found my self starting to root for the Cubs, for whatever reason.

It was an exciting game to me, as history was being made at the same time! Congrats to the Cubs, and all Cubs fans!