☆ 2016 ALCS ☆ Toronto Blue Jays vs CLEVELAND INDIANS ☆
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UPCOMING SCHEDULE in OCTOBER PART II .......
Welcome to the American League Championship Series from Cleveland, Ohio.
Friday 14 - 8 pm Estrada vs Kluber
Saturday 15 - 4 pm TBA vs Bauer
Monday 17 - 8 pm Tomlin vs TBA
Tuesday 18
Wednesday 19
Friday 21
Saturday 22
Starting times and pitching matchups provided when available.
GO TRIBE...."If you watch the way they go about their business every day, we might not be the most talented team in this league, I don't know," Indians manager Terry Francona said.
"But that doesn't mean we can't win. And I think everybody in here believes that. We get to keep playing. That's the best thing I can say. We get to keep playing. Hopefully, when it's time to go home, it can be on our terms."
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The words are printed on yellowed pages of history books. The reams of new-age statistics flood into apps and computer programs. Heck, even the unexplainable phenomenon known as the gut feeling roils the stomach. A big part of the reason we love baseball so much is that it's so consistently undefinable. But at this time of year, one thing rings true: If you're going to win in October, you'd better get hot.
While the weather on the shores of Lake Erie isn't expected to be particularly balmy on Friday for Game 1 of the 2016 American League Championship Series, which is set for 8 p.m. ET (on TBS and, in Canada, SportsNet and RDS), the hometown Indians and the visiting Blue Jays are.
In fact, they're smoldering.
Neither club has lost a game this postseason heading into this showdown for the AL pennant and a shot at the World Series. Both have looked brilliant in dispatching their foes. Both are getting it done in all phases of the game and have shown the incessant hunger that comes with a talented roster that's been grinding all year to get to this point.
"We definitely feel good with where we're at," Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson said shortly after dashing home for the winning run in Toronto's 7-6 victory that clinched its AL Division Series sweep over Texas on Sunday. "We're pitching well and we're playing good defense, and right now we've been able to hit the homer. And that's big."
It's been huge for Toronto, which also had to win the AL Wild Card Game against Baltimore to get here. And it's been huge for the Indians, who closed out the Red Sox at Fenway Park on Monday night, winning 4-3 and silencing a Boston crowd that wanted to see retiring franchise icon David Ortiz play in at least one more autumn game.
Now, these two teams face each other Friday at Progressive Field, and someone will lose a game, whether it takes the regular old nine innings or more. And don't be surprised if there are some extra frames along the way. They already tangled in a 19-inning game on July 1. That's how evenly matched they are.
Cleveland (94-67 in the regular season) earned home-field advantage in this series by virtue of winning the AL Central, while Toronto (89-73) finished in second place behind Boston in the AL East. But in seven head-to-head meetings over the course of the 162-game schedule, the Tribe won four and the Blue Jays won three.
They've got potentially seven more games with a pennant on the line, and neither team comes into this series at full health, which makes it even more intriguing with how well they've played.
Toronto, for example, lost pitcher Francisco Liriano to a concussion in the ALDS, and while the left-hander is improving, his availability for the ALCS is not certain. Second baseman Devon Travis has been dealing with a bone bruise in his right knee since being a late scratch in the Game 2 win over Texas. Donaldson has been battling hip problems since September, although you'd never guess it by watching him play or hearing him talk about it lately.
Cleveland has been without star outfielder Michael Brantley for most of the year and has made its October run without two of its best starting pitchers: Carlos Carrasco and Danny Salazar. Both have been out with injuries, although there's a chance Salazar could be back this series.
There are more similarities. Take the front offices of the two teams, for example. The Blue Jays got the nickname "Cleveland North" after former Indians president Mark Shapiro left Cleveland last year to become Toronto's president. Shapiro then hired Indians executives Ross Atkins and Andrew Miller to become his general manager and vice president of business operations.
In other words, these teams know each other very well. Cleveland is well aware of how powerful the Blue Jays' lineup can be.
Toronto finished fourth in the bigs with 223 homers and feature eight players with double-digit dingers: Edwin Encarnacion with 42, Donaldson with 37, Troy Tulowitzki and Michael Saunders with 24 each, Bautista with 22, Russell Martin with 20, Justin Smoak with 14 and Travis with 11. The Jays kept bashing the ball against the Rangers, tying an ALDS record by having seven players homer. Overall this postseason, Toronto has 10 homers and its opponents have three.
"What we do -- we get criticized a lot for it -- we rely upon that home run ball," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. "You know what? Whether you like it or not, that's the kind of players we have."
Cleveland, meanwhile, has relied on every bit of its roster to produce wins. The Indians have gotten spectacular play from Jose Ramirez and rookie Tyler Naquin, who weren't expected to be everyday players when the season began. Late acquisitions Brandon Guyer and Coco Crisp have chipped in, with Crisp's home run helping spark the team to the Game 3 win in Boston on Monday.
Starter Corey Kluber, who figures to get the ball in Game 1 of the ALCS against Marco Estrada for the Blue Jays, has been the steady staff ace, as usual, and the midsummer trade for reliever Andrew Miller, a true stopper, has solidified the bullpen for this stirring run.
"If you watch the way they go about their business every day, we might not be the most talented team in this league, I don't know," Indians manager Terry Francona said.
"But that doesn't mean we can't win. And I think everybody in here believes that. We get to keep playing. That's the best thing I can say. We get to keep playing. Hopefully, when it's time to go home, it can be on our terms."
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Tried to get tickets for Saturday's game, kept giving error message that the volume of transactions was too high.
Oh well
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My happy ass will be downtown on Saturday with a 90% chance on the forecast of being hammered drunk.
Fuck Toronto, we'll go through them again on the way to another championship.
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Toronto will be a better challenge than Boston was in the short series -but- the Indians have a few things going for them which must come through :
1. Home field - huge! Ask Boston who blew it, should have had it.
2. Kluber must win his games vs Toronto's best, he can do it.
3. Bauer and Tomlin must continue to stay hot at the right time.
4. The offense might have to out slug Toronto in a few games as a team not just a few guys.
5. The bullpen shuts Toronto down.
6. Play solid defense, run the bases, out manage anyone, oh yeah they can do that.
Do that and they have a shot, but then again it is baseball and strange things can happen. I can't wait.
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ALCS PITCHERS ANNOUNCED
Toronto Blue Jays
1.Marco Estrada (Postseason Stats: 8.1 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 6 K)
2.J.A. Happ (Postseason Stats: 5.0 IP, 9 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K)
3.Aaron Sanchez (Postseason Stats: 5.2 IP, 6 ER, 4 BB, 5 K)
4.Marcus Stroman (Postseason Stats: 6.0 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 6 K)
Cleveland Indians
1.Corey Kluber (Postseason stats: 7.0 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 7 K)
2.Trevor Bauer (Postseason stats: 4.2 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 6 K)
3.Josh Tomlin (Postseason stats: 5.0 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 4 K)
4.Mike Clevinger (Postseason stats: N/A) ?
The Cleveland Indians, coming into 2016, were seen as having one of the best rotations in all of baseball. Now, with the injuries to Carlos Carrasco and Danny Salazar, the rotation has gone from one of the best to one that is just pretty good. However, with Corey Kluber being the only real source of consistent excellence, the rotation is one bad outing from Bauer or one too many home runs given up by Tomlin away from imploding. However, if the ALDS was any indication, the rotation for Cleveland should be nails going forward.
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ALCS PITCHERS ANNOUNCED
Toronto Blue Jays
1.Marco Estrada (Postseason Stats: 8.1 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 6 K)
2.J.A. Happ (Postseason Stats: 5.0 IP, 9 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K)
3.Aaron Sanchez (Postseason Stats: 5.2 IP, 6 ER, 4 BB, 5 K)
4.Marcus Stroman (Postseason Stats: 6.0 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 6 K)
Cleveland Indians
1.Corey Kluber (Postseason stats: 7.0 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 7 K)
2.Trevor Bauer (Postseason stats: 4.2 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 6 K)
3.Josh Tomlin (Postseason stats: 5.0 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 4 K)
4.Mike Clevinger (Postseason stats: N/A) ?
The Cleveland Indians, coming into 2016, were seen as having one of the best rotations in all of baseball. Now, with the injuries to Carlos Carrasco and Danny Salazar, the rotation has gone from one of the best to one that is just pretty good. However, with Corey Kluber being the only real source of consistent excellence, the rotation is one bad outing from Bauer or one too many home runs given up by Tomlin away from imploding. However, if the ALDS was any indication, the rotation for Cleveland should be nails going forward.
ALCS PITCHERS ANNOUNCED
Toronto Blue Jays
1.Marco Estrada (Postseason Stats: 8.1 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 6 K)
2.J.A. Happ (Postseason Stats: 5.0 IP, 9 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K)
3.Aaron Sanchez (Postseason Stats: 5.2 IP, 6 ER, 4 BB, 5 K)
4.Marcus Stroman (Postseason Stats: 6.0 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 6 K)
Cleveland Indians
1.Corey Kluber (Postseason stats: 7.0 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 7 K)
2.Trevor Bauer (Postseason stats: 4.2 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 6 K)
3.Josh Tomlin (Postseason stats: 5.0 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 4 K)
4.Mike Clevinger (Postseason stats: N/A) ?
The Cleveland Indians, coming into 2016, were seen as having one of the best rotations in all of baseball. Now, with the injuries to Carlos Carrasco and Danny Salazar, the rotation has gone from one of the best to one that is just pretty good. However, with Corey Kluber being the only real source of consistent excellence, the rotation is one bad outing from Bauer or one too many home runs given up by Tomlin away from imploding. However, if the ALDS was any indication, the rotation for Cleveland should be nails going forward.
Game 4 was 'written in pencil' which means subject to change. If they are behind (hopefully not) they could pitch Kluber .
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On a related note.......a rookie for the Toronto Maple Leafs just scored 4 goals in his very first ever NHL game.
Sidney Crosby has never had 4 goal game.
Wayne Gretsky only had one in his entire career.
Point is: I would root for Toronto to win the NHL......but leave winning baseball to us here stateside.
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On a related note.......a rookie for the Toronto Maple Leafs just scored 4 goals in his very first ever NHL game.
Sidney Crosby has never had 4 goal game.
Wayne Gretsky only had one in his entire career.
Point is: I would root for Toronto to win the NHL......but leave winning baseball to us here stateside.
I followed Lemieux who had about 11 regular season plus the great one Gretzky had 9 regular season 4 goal games plus 2 playoff.On a related note.......a rookie for the Toronto Maple Leafs just scored 4 goals in his very first ever NHL game.
Sidney Crosby has never had 4 goal game.
Wayne Gretsky only had one in his entire career.
Point is: I would root for Toronto to win the NHL......but leave winning baseball to us here stateside.
Gretzky most three-or-more goal games, career: 50 -- 37 three-goal (hat trick) games; nine four-goal games; four five-goal games
And 5 goal games have been done 60 times by 44 different players but Lemieux was the ONLY one to do it 5 different ways....and I saw it on TV in 1988!
But Syd the Kid? Too much concussion time for him to challenge the two above, Lemieux was the best all around in my opinion.
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Now the Indians will need a few hat tricks from guys that need to get hot....Napoli?
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I followed Lemieux who had about 11 regular season plus the great one Gretzky had 9 regular season 4 goal games plus 2 playoff.On a related note.......a rookie for the Toronto Maple Leafs just scored 4 goals in his very first ever NHL game.
Sidney Crosby has never had 4 goal game.
Wayne Gretsky only had one in his entire career.
Point is: I would root for Toronto to win the NHL......but leave winning baseball to us here stateside.
Gretzky most three-or-more goal games, career: 50 -- 37 three-goal (hat trick) games; nine four-goal games; four five-goal games
And 5 goal games have been done 60 times by 44 different players but Lemieux was the ONLY one to do it 5 different ways....and I saw it on TV in 1988!
But Syd the Kid? Too much concussion time for him to challenge the two above, Lemieux was the best all around in my opinion.
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Now the Indians will need a few hat tricks from guys that need to get hot....Napoli?
I followed Lemieux who had about 11 regular season plus the great one Gretzky had 9 regular season 4 goal games plus 2 playoff.
That is counter to what I heard on the radio today....they said Gretsky had ONE 4 goal game in his career....but, in double checking I see that must be wrong....because I see that Gretsky had 4 game in which he scored at least 5 goals
Gretzky most three-or-more goal games, career: 50 -- 37 three-goal (hat trick) games; nine four-goal games; four five-goal games
And 5 goal games have been done 60 times by 44 different players but Lemieux was the ONLY one to do it 5 different ways....and I saw it on TV in 1988!
It says on Wiki that a guy named Joe Malone is the only person to have 5 goals in a game 5 times. It says Lemieux and Gretsky each did it 4 times.
But Syd the Kid? Too much concussion time for him to challenge the two above, Lemieux was the best all around in my opinion.
Again, the radio says that Crosby has never had 4 in a game. He is not on the list I see of guys that scored 5 goals...so perhaps that is so.
FYI....only 1 American....Mark Pavelich has ever scored 5 goals in a game.
4 Swedes, 2 Russians, 2 Slovakians, 1 Finn, 1 American, all the rest Canadians.
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Now the Indians will need a few hat tricks from guys that need to get hot....Napoli?
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Staying up late for it tonight and very much looking forward to the 9pm kick off time on Saturday!
GO TRIBE
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My happy ass will be downtown on Saturday with a 90% chance on the forecast of being hammered drunk.
Fuck Toronto, we'll go through them again on the way to another championship.
My happy ass will be downtown on Saturday with a 90% chance on the forecast of being hammered drunk.
Fuck Toronto, we'll go through them again on the way to another championship.
A friend who I went to Cleveland with last year text me to say how much he wished we were going to be there this weekend. Place should be be rocking.
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ALCS GAME 1 LINES (vegasinsider.com)
10/14 8:05 PM
901 Toronto open +135 consensus now +125
902 Cleveland open -145 consensus now -135 - the home team favorite
Total open 8 consensus now 7' low number with Kluber pitching
Pitchers: (TOR) Marco Estrada
(CLE) Corey Kluber TV: TBS | FAIR, WIND OUT TO LEFT 5-10. GAME TEMP 56, RH 50%
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Kluber pitches lights out. Tribe romps 4-0. Kluber goes 8 then the pen flips the shutout switch.
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It's a beautiful fall evening. Light breezes and mild
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