Believe it.
The Chicago Cubs are World Series champions.
Let us repeat that, in case it didn’t sink in the first time:
The. Chicago. Cubs. Are. World. Series. Champions.
The Cubs needed an improbable comeback after digging themselves a 3-1 series hole. That 3-2 nail-biter in Game 5 at Wrigley Field seems like it was a lifetime to go, especially after a convincing win in Game 6 and a dramatic clincher in Game 7 on Wednesday. (Did you really think it would go any other way?) It was the first time since 1985 that a team rallied from a 3-1 deficit to win the World Series.
“It’s one of the best games anyone will ever see,” Kris Bryant told Fox after the game. “This trumps everything. … I can’t even put into words how this feels.”
Just like that, no more “lovable losers,” no more “curses,” no more waiting until next year.
3 UP
Worth the wait
At 11:20 p.m. Central time, after a freaking rain delay in the 10th inning, Ben Zobrist delivered the RBI double that made all Cubs fans’ dreams come true. That was quickly followed by a Miguel Montero RBI single. After that, it was all over but the happy crying.
He goes, they go
The Cubs didn’t get all that much mileage out of their #YouGoWeGo hashtag this series; it refers to Dexter Fowler propelling the team’s offense from the leadoff spot. Well, clearly he was saving his best for last. He took Corey Kluber’s fourth pitch of the game and launched it just out of Rajai Davis’ reach in center to give the Cubs a 1-0 lead. It was the first World Series Game 7 leadoff homer.
Green light!
Davis had to think there was no way Bryant would try to score on such a short fly ball to center field in the fourth inning. The Indians center fielder was wrong. So very, very wrong. Bryant hustled home and slid just under the tag of catcher Roberto Perez as Davis’ throw was high, reclaiming the lead for the Cubs.
Bryant one-upped himself later in the game (with help from his third-base coach, surely) by scoring on a single to right by Anthony Rizzo. What was so impressive is that he covered the distance from first to home in 9 seconds, at 20 mph (according to Fox). Must be nice to be 6-foot-5.
BONUS: Drop the hammer
One guy is at the beginning of what should be a long, spectacular career. The other hit his first career home run off Mark Grace, of all people (the former Cubs first baseman was pitching in garbage-time relief for Arizona at the time), and just played in his final game in the major leagues.
Like Fowler, both 23-year-old Javier Baez and 39-year-old David Ross will go down in Cubs history with solo home runs in the Cubs’ championship-clinching victory. Consider: Baez had struggled mightily in the series until that point. And Ross likely would not have even played Wednesday if Jon Lester had not been called in from the bullpen. What a time to be a Cubs fan, eh?
DOUBLE BONUS: Can’t wait until next year!
Do we really have to wait until April 10 to see the Cubs in action at Wrigley Field again? Oh, darn. Guess the party of the century will have to last until then. No problem.
3 DOWN
That’s what glove is for
We don’t want to be too hard on Baez because he is such a wizard defensively. However, he put his team in a precarious position when he tried to barehand a feed at second from Addison Russell with one out in the third. Instead of taking the sure out and setting up a two-out, one-on situation, he caused a one-out, two-on jam for his pitcher. Luckily, Kyle Hendricks pitched over it, with the inning ending on a line-drive out to Bryant at third. Whew!
Work on that, maybe?
Again, we’re nitpicking here considering the Cubs just broke a 108-year World Series title drought, but bear with us. Cubs manager Joe Maddon brought in Lester, who started two games in this series, from the bullpen to relieve a sensational Hendricks. He ended up throwing a wild pitch that allowed the Indians to score not one but two runs, increasing Chicago’s collective blood pressure a few notches.
The bright side? Beyond that, Lester was terrific, striking out four in three innings.
Not cool, Mother Nature!
Game 7 was tense enough as it was, and then you throw a 10th-inning rain delay on top of it? Maybe the universe wanted to call it a tie and send everyone home? What in the hell did Cubs fans do to deserve that?
BONUS: Chin up, Cleveland
We’re not heartless. Take a moment to salute Cleveland on a fantastic series, Cubs fans. Offer Indians fans a bro-hug if you get a chance, too, as their World Series title drought just hit 69 years. Then, get back to celebrating!
PRESENTING … OUR WORLD SERIES MVPS
We weren’t going to let MLB’s “official” choice influence our picks for the Cubs who stole the show in the final series of the season.
Jake Arrieta
The right-hander took a no-hitter into the sixth inning of Game 2, which the Cubs won at Progressive Field. He gave up only two runs in his Game 6 start, which the Cubs had to win at Progressive Field. And they did All told in the Fall Classic: 11 1/3 innings, three earned runs allowed, 15 strikeouts. He wasn’t the Arrieta of 2015, but he was as stunning as they come on baseball’s biggest stage.
Kris Bryant
Truth be told, there were plenty of directions we could have gone with the offense. Ben Zobrist was the Cubs’ most consistent hitter in the World Series. Addison Russell was tremendous with his six RBIs in Game 6. Anthony Rizzo drove in important runs. But Bryant gets the nod because of A) his home run that tied it in that must-win Game 5 and B) his hustle that scored two runs in Game 7.
Aroldis Chapman
Yes, despite the fact he gave up the lead in Game 7, he was fantastic in his four World Series appearances before that. Chapman was especially magnificent in Game 5, when he got the last eight outs for the Cubs as they faced elimination. Hats off to his tireless effort.
@redeyesportschi | chsosa@redeyechicago.com
Cubs win series 4-3
Game 1: Indians 6, Cubs 0
Game 2: Cubs 5, Indians 1
Game 3: Indians 1, Cubs 0
Game 4: Indians 7, Cubs 2
Game 5: Cubs 3, Indians 2
Game 6: Cubs 9, Indians 3
Game 7: Cubs 8, Indians 7 (10 innings)
