Indians vs Cubs, who will win game 7?

[klinder]

Game 7 of the World Series is one of the most exciting events in all of sports. Which team will win? It comes down to mental focus. Which team can stay relaxed, execute, and make adjustments.

As I watched game 6, it was impressive how the Cubs played more relaxed with better at bats than they did in previous games. Their hitters made adjustments and did not chase as many pitches as they had been. Pitch selection made all the difference for them offensively. The Cubs got into an offensive comfort zone and quit pressing. The Indians did not play as loose as they have been. You could see it in their faces, in their body language, and in their dug out. Their lack of communication in the outfield cost them in the first inning and the entire team never recovered. We didn't see the happy faces in the Indians dug out as we had in previous games. We saw Indians hitters looking at good pitches. Conversely we saw the Cubs being more relaxed and having fun leading to better execution.

Early in the series you could see the Indians being the hunters, going on the attack and scoring early. Last night the roles reversed and the Indians became the hunted. They did not handle it as well, especially when the Cubs scored early. It is interesting to see how the underdog mentality has benefited both teams. Early in the series it benefited Cleveland as Chicago was picked to win. Later in the series it benefited Chicago as it became win or go home.

The team that wins game 7 will be the team that can stay loose and focused and will play to win as opposed to not playing to lose. The Cubs played to win yesterday as their backs were against the wall. The Indians did not respond with the same looseness that got them to game 6. Some teams need and handle that pressure better than others. It will be interesting to see how the Indians respond tonight. Getting your butt kicked puts a team in a different mind set, now they have to come out with something to prove, show the world they are better than their game 6 performance. Having that mentality puts them in a better position to win than thinking we let the series slip away. Will they be able to flush the loss and come back as the hunters or will they play like they are being hunted? Will they play with the confidence that got them here or will doubt creep into their thinking?

Which Cubs team will show up tonight? Which Indians team will show up tonight? There was an obvious mental shift in game 6 with the Cubs having to win and the Indians not being ready for the attack. Clearly the team that scores early has had the upper hand throughout most of the series. Will we see the same tonight or a back and forth game? I can't wait to see the battle.

The World Series is such a great illustration of how mind sets and emotions impact performance. How quickly confidence levels and mental focus can change from one game to the next, from one inning to the next, from one pitch to the next. This series has shown that controlling focus and emotion one pitch at a time is the key no matter who you are or what level you play at.

Bottom line is the team that can stay relaxed, focused, and execute without cracking is the team that will win. Who is going to step up to the challenge? Who is going to play relaxed? Who will handle the pressure? Who has the confidence to come through when the game is on the line? Which team will win this battle?

WHAT A GREAT WAY TO END THE WORLD SERIES WITH A GAME 7

GO TRIBE! BELIEVELAND IN CLEVELAND!

www.aspirehighersports.com

 

[MD 20/20]

I think it all depends on if Kluber can be Kluber. I'm most nervous that the Cubs bats have really heated up. They did in game 2, then the off day cooled them for games 3 & 4, but they heated up again for 5, and the day off didn't seem to bother them this time. Their bats are red-hot, and Kluber is pitching on short rest AGAIN!!!!! If the Tribe can get to the 5th with the Lead and Kluber still on the mound, you can book it. Anything short of that and Cleveland becomes the butt of the 3-1 Lead jokes.

 

[spartansd]

Well if Kluber brings his A game I do not see the Cubs winning unless it goes into extra innings and Kluber is out of the game.

A great pitcher is so tough to beat when they are throwing their best. And Kluber is at his peak right now.

But at some point he has to leave the game and that is why they play 9 innings.

I really have no idea who will win this. Cubs look relaxed and ready to play, and the Indians will likely come out of the fog with their Ace on the mound and no more stress about locking it up. This is the last game no matter what. Kind of like a hitter with 2 strikes. They are ready to swing and are aggressive.

I am hoping for a nice epic game that goes 10-11 innings. Something of legend with these 2 clubs in the finals, it seems fitting that this game 7 becomes one of if not the best game 7 of all time.

Hard for me to root against either team. But lets face it, 108 years is a long drought. Hard to not want the Cubs to end this and it should also allow Bartman to have a life again.

I am looking forward to this one.

 

[wow]

I am a firm believer this was meant to go 7 games. Not saying its pre-ordained but think of the money being made by both local economies! Last night was almost like the Indians fell asleep. Naquin in the outfield was a mess. How does that happen? Your in the world series for heavens sake. And then his strike out spinning into the ground with bases loaded. He choked. So good thing he is sitting tonight. Its a one game, winner take all, game. 4 of the 6 games so far were over on the first few innings. As the starters go, so does the rest of the game. Gotta feel good with Kluber on the mound.

 

[HITTER23]

Cubbies, Chapman shuts the door.

 

[okiedad1961]

Cubbies, Chapman shuts the door.

Go jump in the river,It'll be a long time till your Reds see a series.lol

 

[klinder]

What a great game and an emotional roller coaster ride! Got to take hats off to the Cubs for regaining their mojo after the rain delay. I hate to see the Indians lose but the Cubs were better offensively. They made better adjustments at the plate. What an epic battle. Got to be proud of the Indians. They kept fighting to the end.

 

[coachjwb]

Spartans ... you got your wish for sure ... epic, extra inning game. Disappointing for us Tribe fans, but proud of the team, and even a little happy inside for the long-suffering Cubs fans ... us Cleveland fans can certainly relate. While I saw a few Cubs (and Indians fans) who were not so nice to each other, there were others who were shaking hands of Indians fans on the way out and congratulations going back and forth both ways, and that took the sting off just a little ...

 

[wow]

As I stated earlier.. As the starters go, so does the rest of the game.. Kluber just did not start off right. I mean a lead off HR to start Game 7? That's gotta rattle any pitcher. He just never recovered. Too big a hole to early. Cant play from behind the WHOLE game! Kluber was left in too long.

Too bad... At least the clowns are playing sundys

 

[coachjwb]

Kluber is a stud pitcher, but I am assuming that between the two consecutive starts with only 3 days rest, and facing a good-hitting, well-coached Cubs team for the 3rd time was just too much. His pitches were up the entire game, not to mention that the ump had a low strike zone. Yeah, he might have ideally pulled him earlier, but the Indians pitching staff was too decimated by injuries and too thin to turn things over to someone else so early in the game. Francona pulled the right strings all year, so I'm not going to second guess him in game 7 of the World Series.

Not to change the subject, but having been at the game and not having had a chance yet to hear the commentary, can someone please explain to me why the Indians had to use a challenge on the flip to second base that glanced off of the infielder's hand? If the 2B ump was blocked from seeing it, isn't it the job of the other 5 umpires to say "hey, you missed that ... he never caught the ball"? I've never even seen a rec ball youth ump miss a call so obvious? Or has the replay challenge somehow eliminated the opportunity for the umps on the field to consult with each other??? I thought maybe I had missed something when the play happened, but when they showed the replay later, it just couldn't have been more obvious ... really confused and was furious last night ...

 

[Dougk30]

Not to change the subject, but having been at the game and not having had a chance yet to hear the commentary, can someone please explain to me why the Indians had to use a challenge on the flip to second base that glanced off of the infielder's hand? If the 2B ump was blocked from seeing it, isn't it the job of the other 5 umpires to say "hey, you missed that ... he never caught the ball"? I've never even seen a rec ball youth ump miss a call so obvious? Or has the replay challenge somehow eliminated the opportunity for the umps on the field to consult with each other??? I thought maybe I had missed something when the play happened, but when they showed the replay later, it just couldn't have been more obvious ... really confused and was furious last night ...

It was my understanding that the second base ump called him out and that was why they had to review. None of the commentators I was listening to seemed to think it was a big deal, but even my daughter who was half watching and half on her cell phone notice that he never caught the ball.

 

[TheSoftballZone]

Jeff what was it like to actually be there watching the game? I'm sure it was a one in a lifetime opportunity for you. My other question with the ticket prices thru the roof, what could you have made if you sold your tickets? You don't have to reply to my second question.

 

[coachjwb]

Re: the play at 2B, did perhaps Francona make a mistake in not talking to the ump first, and asking him to check with the other umps, before challenging? I mean there is no reason you can't still do that, right?

Ricky, it was an incredible experience. As you know, I got my tickets because I was a partial (20 game) season ticket holder (2 seats), and that entitled me to buy a full strip of post-season tickets, and so I bought 2. I had to pay upfront in early September for all 12 possible post-season games. I know some of those season ticket holders also bought more tickets and sold some of their tickets, but I did not. I attended every game, with my adult son and daughter alternating going with me. My seats were literally right next to the Indians bullpen, so "average" priced tickets ... about $24-25/game each for the regular season, and an average of $130/game each for the playoffs. I could have easily sold the seats for $1000-2000 each per game but, to be honest, I can't imagine selling any of them. It may be a once in a lifetime experience, and I would have regretted robbing myself and my kids of that experience. Knowing what I do now, I could have and would have bought more tickets ... but I still wouldn't have sold them on the open market. I would have had both my son and daughter go to all of the games, and either my brother or a friend as well.

Again, it was an amazing experience. From all of the TV cameras, the Fox Sports booth which was set up very near me right behind the bullpens, the pregame festivities, the cheers of the fans from both sides throughout the games, and literally standing for every pitch in game 7. When Rajai Davis hit the home run in the 8th inning of game 7 to tie it and complete the comeback from the 5-1 deficit, we were jumping up and down, screaming and yelling, dancing, laughing and crying at the same time, and hugging people I've never met in my life ... and that was priceless.

And I made my deposit for next year's tickets long before we even knew for sure that the Indians would be in the playoffs this season. I can't wait for next season, but know full well that this game is very fickle and the opportunity to get back to the playoffs, let alone the World Series may not happen.

 

[MD 20/20]

The teams each get 2 challenges to get wrong. As long as you challenge and the call is reversed, you keep your challenge. I thought it was as clear as it could be that he never had the ball, so I would have challenged it as well, knowing (in my mind) that I would not be losing that challenge.

 

[coachjwb]

Yes, but why use up that first challenge at all if a simple conference between the umpires would have cleared it up. What if there had been 2 more calls during the game that the Indians wanted to challenge??

 

[TheSoftballZone]

I'm happy for you Jeff. I hope you get to enjoy going back in 2017 and seeing another WS at Cleveland.