☆ 2016 ALCS ☆ Toronto Blue Jays vs CLEVELAND INDIANS ☆

mjp28

Can we actually hope for 6 full then the Cleveland Nasty Boys? Unreal.

letsgojackets

Why'd Merrit get taken out?

LondonBrown

Nerve racking stuff this!

LondonBrown

PHEW

mjp28

Have you noticed that the Toronto fans are cheering long fly outs?

Just wait now.

LondonBrown

Miller time!

mjp28

Oh yeah another DP to start Miller time......

mjp28

Six outs from the WORLD SERIES. OMG.

gumby73

@letsgojackets said:
Why'd Merrit get taken out?

Think Fran wanted kid to only be able to get W only. But i thought he should have stayed facing lefty on lefty. but not a Saunder's was the tought of Fran, imo

wargograw

@mjp28 said:
Six outs from the WORLD SERIES. OMG.

Don't talk about it you jinx!

LondonBrown

Why no Miller

letsgojackets

@gumby73 said:
Think Fran wanted kid to only be able to get W only. But i thought he should have stayed facing lefty on lefty. but not a Shaffer was the tought of Fran, imo

Good thinking.

letsgojackets

WHO'S JUST WAITING TO TYPE LOL

Jump around jump jump jump

gumby73

WE WILL SEE YOU IN THE WORLD SERIES CLEVELAND!!!!!!!!!YES YES YES OH HAPPY DAY!!!!!!!!

LondonBrown

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

gumby73

@londonbrown said:
Why no Miller

they were loaded up with right handed bats & Allen gave them a seat.........Good Night & Good MORNING in london

letsgojackets

You'd think if your cousin is a MLB manager you'd get some WS tickets right...right?

Tour2ma

@gumby73 said:
You may want to order that Merritt jersey now before the rush..Great move by Fran. hell i don't even know what Merritt throwing..BUT STRIKES!!! SanTanna BOOOOMM---2-0

Love our young arms in the playoffs... Merritt and Clevinger.

Roberto Perez was our MVP. Called great games.

One series to go...

mjp28

This is an incredible accomplishment by the CLEVELAND INDIANS in 2016.

I can't believe it and can't wait for next week CLEVELAND vs ___________ in the World Series, it just hasn't sunk in yet.

And ALCS MVP MILLER TIME, good luck NL.

mjp28

☆ THE CLEVELAND INDIANS ARE THE AMERICAN LEAGUE CHAMPIONS ☆

TORONTO -- This was not how the Indians would have imagined it. Then again, that fits this unbelievable, improbable season of theirs. Against all odds, defying all expectations in the wake of so many setbacks, this Indians team is going to the World Series. Believe it, Cleveland.

The circumstances surrounding the clinching game on Wednesday were as incredible and unfathomable as everything else has been for the Tribe. In a 3-0 win over the Blue Jays in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series, rookie Ryan Merritt -- with only one Major League start to his name -- blanked Toronto's lineup and lasted deep enough for ALCS MVP Award winner Andrew Miller and Cleveland's bullpen to apply the clamp.

On the final out, Troy Tulowitzki popped up a pitch from closer Cody Allen, sending the baseball drifting into foul territory in front of the Indians' dugout. First baseman Carlos Santana camped under the ball, squeezed it with his glove and dropped to his knees. As Santana lifted both arms into the air, his teammates formed a mob all around in him in celebration.

What is it about this team?

"I think 'it' is the right word. We just have 'it,'" said Miller. "Nobody's scared. We started a guy that had one career start today, and we had confidence in him, and I think that's special. It's just top to bottom, like I said, there's 25 guys, the staff, top down from ownership, the way they treat us is unbelievable. There's a good reason why we're here."

Game Date Matchup

Gm 1 Oct. 14 CLE 2, TOR 0

Gm 2 Oct. 15 CLE 2, TOR 1

Gm 3 Oct. 17 CLE 4, TOR 2

Gm 4 Oct. 18 TOR 5, CLE 1

Gm 5 Oct. 19 CLE 3, TOR 0

For the first time since 1997, the Indians are the champions of the AL. This marks the sixth pennant for the Cleveland franchise, which has not won the World Series since the days of Bob Feller, Lou Boudreau and Larry Doby in 1948. The 68-year drought is the second longest in the Major Leagues, trailing only the Cubs, who have not won it all since 1908.

As it happens, Cleveland could be awaiting the Cubs, who are currently battling the Dodgers in the National League Championship Series.

》》On the eve of Wednesday's game, Blue Jays slugger Jose Bautista quipped that Merritt would be "shaking in his boots" more than Toronto's hitters. Indians manager Terry Francona laughed at that comment, but then did not disagree. Merritt is 24 years old, a wide-eyed rookie, and he was nervous. Rogers Centre houses eight times the population of Celina, Texas, where the lefty went to high school. It gets loud under the closed roof, and Toronto's bats can make the decibel level climb in a hurry.《《

Merritt pounds the strike zone, though, and he did so again vs. the Blue Jays, keeping them guessing over 4 1/3 shutout innings. With a fastball that sat around 86 mph, the southpaw was perfect through 10 batters before allowing a single to reigning AL Most Valuable Player Award winner Josh Donaldson in the fourth. Merritt moved on unfazed, creating a double-play grounder off the bat of Edwin Encarnacion to end the inning. The left-hander struck out three, scattered two hits and walked none.

"The only guy that really got in his way was probably me," said Francona. "He gave up one hit, but I thought where he got us, we could turn it over to our bullpen, the guys that have been doing it all year. But for him to do what he did under those circumstances -- he may not look the part, but he is beyond his years, and it's one of the most phenomenal things I've ever seen."............