Neither snow nor rain, nor miniature drones, a bloody pinkie, or a depleted starting pitching rotation, can stop the 2016 Cleveland Indians.
Amazingly, the journey continues.
The Indians are back in the World Series for the first time since 1997.
As they anxiously await the 112th World Series at Progressive Field on Tuesday, I compiled some stats, facts, and historic footnotes.
As usual, the party is at Napoli’s.
- Indians reliever Andrew Miller threw 7 2/3 innings, with 14 strikeouts and no walks, in the ALCS with 1 save.
- Miller becomes only the fourth relief pitcher to win MVP honors in a championship series.
- The Indians clinched their first World Series appearance since 1997 and 6th World Series appearance overall. The Tribe won their first World Series in 1920; their last in 1948.
- It's been 19 years since the Indians have played in the World Series. It's been 68 years since they won it.
- The Indians 3-0 win over the Blue Jays was the franchise's 4th post-season road shutout and first since Game 1 of the 2001 ALDS against Seattle.
- Game 5 of the ALCS marked Toronto ‘s first postseason shutout loss at home.
- The Blue Jays batted .120/.120/.120 against the Indians Andrew Miller in the ALCS, striking out 56.0% of their plate appearances against him.
- Ryan Merritt, the 24-year-old southpaw, made his first postseason start after making just one start in the regular season. Merritt faced one batter over the minimum after exiting in the fifth inning, allowing just two hits with no walks and three strikeouts.
- Prior to Wednesday's game, Blue Jays slugger Jose Bautista boldly predicted that rookie pitcher Ryan Merritt would be "shaking in his boots" more than Toronto's hitters.
- The Indians are now 5-0 this postseason and 11-0 this year when relievers Bryan Shaw, Andrew Miller and Cody Allen all appear in a game.
- Entering Game 5, Bryan Shaw faced 2 batters with runners in scoring position this postseason, allowing a hit and a walk. In the 5th inning, he faced 2 batters with runners in scoring position and struck them both out.
- It's the third straight year, and the fourth in the last five, that the AL pennant winner has come from the Central Division.
- The Indians are the 9th AL team to win a best-of-7 LCS in 5 games; 7 of the previous 8 went on to win the World Series.
- Carolos Santana has only five hits in 29 at-bats this postseason, two of them were critical solo blasts in the ALCS.
- Francisco Lindor hit .368 in the LCS, the rest of the Indians: .138.
- The Indians .168 BA is the lowest by a team that won a postseason series.
- According to FiveThirtyEight, the Indians have a 43% chance of winning the World Series. The Dodgers have a 32% chance, and the Cubs, 25%. http://fivethirtyeight.com/sports/
- According to SeatGeek, an event ticket marketplace and aggregator of sports, concert, and theater tickets, the average resale price of a World Series ticket at Progressive Field is as follows:
Game 1: $1,113
Game 2: $1,065
Game 6: $1,375
Game 7: $1,685
Source: MLB, ESPN, Elias Sports Bureau, The Sporting News
Compiled by Bill Lucey
October 19, 2016
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