CHICAGO: Indians fans have been noticing a lopsided amount of talk and discussion from national outlets aimed toward the Chicago Cubs in this World Series.
It hasn’t gone unnoticed in the Indians’ clubhouse, either.
The Indians haven’t been favored to win any of their postseason series this year, which didn’t change when they drew the Cubs in the World Series. But with that draw also came a national story surrounding one of the most well-known droughts in sports, and the opportunity to end it.
It’s led to the Indians in some ways acting as “Team B” in the World Series. It’s been the Cubs vs. The Other Guys. Or, at the very least, that’s been the feeling.
“Cleveland against the world” has previously been a rallying cry for fans. It’s also been what the Indians have clung to this postseason, whether because of the expectations of their demise or the difference in attention paid to them.
“ ‘Cleveland against the world’ — that’s kind of been the motto,” Coco Crisp said. “Coming here and seeing all the blue in the stands and all the blue that was at our ballpark, you know the support for the Cubs is worldwide. You know what you’re dealing with coming into the game, and our fans do a great job of supporting us as well.”
The Indians noticed it the first time they worked out at Wrigley Field on Thursday.
“We had our workout and everybody had left,” Francona said. “It was kind of funny. It was quiet, but damn. I had to remind myself we were still here. You know what, they had 103 wins and it’s Chicago. I get it. They’re popular as hell. What I care about is our guys in the room.”
Several players this October have said they didn’t mind the underdog label, or that the expectations were laid at the feet of the Boston Red Sox, Toronto Blue Jays and now the Cubs. They’ve ridden this wave of momentum on that mantra.
“I think we’ve been the underdog coming in to Boston, even when we were up 3-0 to Toronto everyone still said they were going to come back and win, and we feed off that,” Bryan Shaw said. “It lets us play looser. The pressure is on them because everybody is saying they’re going to win, so if we come out and do what we can do, hopefully that’s enough for us.”
Bauer to the plate
Trevor Bauer will take the mound against Cubs Game 1 starter Jon Lester in Game 5 on Sunday night. His lacerated pinkie finger held up through his start in Game 2 and isn’t expected to be an issue while on the mound.
Bauer, however, will have the added challenge of having to bat under National League rules. The Indians have been unsure just what he can do in terms of swinging a bat without opening up his finger, as it would be his top hand rubbing against his bottom hand. Bauer went through his normal batting practice as he would before any game against an NL team and hopes it will at least allow him to not stand at the plate and watch three strikes go by.
“I just went to the cage,” Bauer said before Game 4. “Did what I would normally do before a National League game. Saw some pitches coming in, laid down some bunts and stuff like that. So it won’t be an issue.”
Record-setting staff
The Indians’ pitching staff has now officially had a record-setting October.
With their 1-0 win in Game 3, the Indians became the first team in major league history to record five shutouts in a single postseason. The four teams that had done so prior — the New York/San Francisco Giants in 1905, 2010 and 2012 and the 1998 New York Yankees — all won the World Series.
They also entered Game 4 with a 1.65 ERA as a staff, including a 1.60 ERA by the bullpen. Among bullpens with at least 35 innings pitched in a single postseason, that puts the Indians fourth all-time. The three teams that bested that mark — Oakland in 1973, Boston in 2013, Toronto in 1992 — all won the World Series as well.
Ryan Lewis can be reached at rlewis@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the Indians blog at www.ohio.com/indians. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/RyanLewisABJ and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/RyanLewisABJ