Chapman, Lester give Cubs another life
By HAL McCOY Joe Maddon knew exactly what to do, no ifs, no ands and no buts about it. His Chicago Cubs faced extinction, another long winter’s hibernation if they didn’t win Game 5 of the World Series Sunday night. So, with his team leading the Cleveland Indians by one run with one out in […]
Tribe one win away from ‘The Trophy’
By HAL McCOY The managerial wizardry of Terry Francona continues and his concert pianist’s touch has his Cleveland Indians one victory away from the 2016 World Series trophy that will put black clouds over Chicago once again. It will be 109 years since the Chicago Cubs cashed a World Series winner’s check. Francona made two […]
Tribe pitchers paint a masterpiece
By HAL McCOY Masterpiece Theatre couldn’t come close to matching the 3½ hours of lip-chewing, teeth gnashing drama enacted in Game 3 of the 2016 World Series Friday night. The Cleveland Indians won it, 1-0, but the perspiration level was at drench level until the final out. The Chicago Cubs had the potential tying run […]
Cubs show they aren’t going away
By HAL McCOY The Chicago Cubs showed they are not going to go quietly into the night, even a very cold and drizzly night against a very hot Cleveland Indians team in Progressive Field. After getting shut out in Game 1 Tuesday, the Cubs came out swinging in Game 2 Wednesday night and returned the […]
Tribe tramples Cubs in Game One
By HAL McCOY ‘The city of Cleveland is like our team. It has been pushed around and now it’s time to push back.’ — Cleveland Indians Manager Terry Francona. And the Cleveland Indians gave the first shove Tuesday night in Game One of the World Series, with large pushes from pitchers Corey Kluber and Andrew […]
Can the Reds do what the Tribe did?
By HAL McCOY Fans keep asking: “If the Cleveland Indians can do it, why not the Cincinnati Reds?” Yeah, why not? Well, they can. It is not why, it is when — if the planets align and the creek don’t rise. And let’s not invoke the small market-big market excuse. THE CLEVELAND INDIANS payroll and […]
Of the Cubs, Kershaw and Curses
By HAL McCOY And now ‘The Curse’ faces the Chicago Cubs— ‘The Curse of Clayton Kershaw.’ That’s the obstacle the Cubs face Saturday when the National League Championship Series continues in Wrigley Field. But the Cubs do have a cushion. Even if they lose to Kershaw and the Los Angeles Dodgers, there will be a […]
Unknown pitches Tribe to the World Series
By HAL McCOY If there is a Merit Badge for chutzpah, Cleveland Indians pitcher Ryan Merritt won his Wednesday afternoon, a gold-plated one. Chutzpah is defined as audacity, guts, cheeky, nerve, boldness, temerity. Those all could be Merritt’s middle name after the 24-year-old left hander, helped pitch the Cleveland Indians into the 2016 World Series. […]
Who is that wearing Cubs uniforms?
By HAL McCOY Who are those impostors wearing Chicago Cubs uniforms? The Chicago Bears? The Minnesota Twins? OK, the Cincinnati Reds? Once upon a time, the Chicago Bears football team was known as the Monsters of the Midway. This year, the Monsters of the Midway were the Chicago Cubs. On their way to 103 victories […]