Each and every living Chicago Cubs fan will never forget where they were on October 22, 2016!
For the first time since 1945, the Chicago Cubs won the National League Pennant, advancing to a World Series date with the American League Champion Cleveland Indians.
As crazy as the fans were inside and outside of Wrigley Field on Saturday night, the fact of the matter is there’s still a World Series to be played!
It’s been 108 years since the Cubs last won the World Series and 68 years since the Cleveland Indians last won theirs. One streak will end, and one team will be hoisting the 2016 MLB World Series Trophy!
It all begins on Tuesday October 25th at 8:00pm, but without further ado, here are my bold predictions for this years Word Series:
- Kyle Schwarber Will Return in a Big Way
Before game six of the NLCS, the news of 23-year old slugger Kyle Schwarber possibly returning for the World Series went viral.
It certainly seems a bit far-fetched, especially considering the fact that Schwarber hasn’t played competitive ball since the third game of the 2016 season when he tore two ligaments in his knee during the teams season-opening series against the Arizona Diamondbacks, but Schwarber has been medically cleared and the Cubs are weighing their options on the matter.
Obviously Schwarber won’t be starting in left field anytime soon, but should the Cubs add him to their World Series roster, expect Schwarber to be available as a pinch-hitter or even as the designated hitter on the road in Cleveland.
He won’t bat .300, but Schwarber will appear in at least one big pinch-hit situation, and of course he’ll deliver in the clutch, and perhaps in a moment that might just define the World Series.
Related Story: Will Kyle Schwarber Return For the World Series?
- The Former Yankees Relievers Will Shine
The Yankees made two franchise altering trades at the 2016 trade deadline.
One trade sent their setup man, the southpaw Andrew Miller to the Cleveland Indians for Clint Frazier, Justus Sheffield, Ben Heller and J.P. Feyereisen.
The other trade sent their closer, the flame-throwing Aroldis Chapman to the Chicago Cubs for Gleyber Torres, Adam Warren, Billy McKinney and Rashad Crawford.
Both relievers were viewed as the final piece of the puzzle for both the Indians and Cubs, and both have played an incredible role in helping their teams to the World Series.
Andrew Miller was crowned the 2016 ALCS MVP and has pitched 11⅔ innings this postseason, striking out 21 batters, coughing up just five hits and walking none. He became the first pitcher in post-season history to strike out 20 hitters through 27 at-bats, which is an incredible feat considering it was all against the Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays, two of the more complete lineups in all of baseball.
While Chapman hasn’t been as dominant as Miller so far this October, his triple-digit fastball continues to melt the radar gun and get the job done when it matters most. He’s recorded some key saves for the Cubs in both the NLDS and NLCS, including a five-out save in the Cubs pennant-clinching win over the Dodgers on Saturday night.
Expect both Miller and Chapman to continue to shine under baseballs brightest lights during the World Series. One of them might just mimic the World Series dominance of the great Mariano Rivera… just not in pinstripes.
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- Anthony Rizzo Will Be Named World Series MVP
Every World Series has a hero.
At just 27-years old, Anthony Rizzo is the longest tenured Cub on their current roster. He was with the Cubs through their entire rebuild, from 2012 when they lost 101 games to 2016 when they won 103 regular season games.
Theo Epstein hand-selected Rizzo to lead the Cubs back to the top, and it’ll be the very same Anthony Rizzo who leads the Cubs to their first World Series since 1908!
Key at-bat after key at-bat and clutch-hit after clutch-hit, Epstein’s unwavering faith in Anthony Rizzo will forever pay off!
- The Chicago Cubs Will Win It all in Five
Dominant bullpens have paved the way in recent years for World Series winners, and the tribe certainly have the upper edge over the Cubs when it comes to the ‘pen, but Chicago Cubs fans have waited long enough!
For the first time since 1908, the Chicago Cubs will hoist the World Series Trophy right at home in Wrigley Field after five thrilling games!
Theo Epstein will go down in history as the brilliant mind behind the reverse of the Fenway curse and the reverse of the billy-goat curse!
David Ross will retire a World Series champion!
John Cusack will party with the city of Chicago like he did in Hot Tub Time Machine!
The 2016 Chicago Cubs will forever be etched in baseball history!
Next: The Chicago Cubs Are Headed to the World Series!
Get ready folks! This is going to a World Series for the ages!