2016 World Series: Looking At The Cleveland Indians With A 1997 Lens

With the Cleveland Indians playing the Chicago Cubs in the 2016 World Series, Factory of Sadness writer Joe Russo looked back at the last Tribe team to play in the Fall Classic.

Factory of Sadness has given you all of the reasons why the Tribe will win and how insane the national media is for overlooking this year’s Cleveland Indians. With Tuesday’s Game 1 only hours away, it’s helpful to look back at the last time our beloved Indians made it this far back in 1997.

With that view, I looked at what kind of magic has a chance to be repeated and how pain can be avoided this time around.

The 1997 rotation was not nearly what the 2016 group is. Despite injuries to Danny Salazar and Carlos Carrasco, the Indians rotation was easily the strength of the team. There are strikeout arms up and down the rotation. But in 1997? Not so much. Charlie Nagy led the team in punch outs with only 149.

There are four pitchers on the 2016 staff that have more than that this season.

More than Nagy, one of my personal all-time favorite Indians, was the ageless Orel Hershiser, who somehow spun effective innings at 38.

Back in 2016 the bullpen was pretty good, much like it is in 2016. There’s no Andrew Miller, but Mike Jackson, Jose Mesa, and Paul Assenmacher were fantastic. There’s even Paul Shuey and Albie Lopez, who kind of resemble Bryan Shaw this season. The rotation is shorter is shorter in 2016, much like in 1997, where only a handful of guys had Mike Hargrove‘s full trust.

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The offense, though, was something special. The 1997 campaign saw third baseman Matt Williams mash 32 homers and drive in 105 runs. There was no better time to be Jim Thome, who led the team in WAR (5.5) while blasting 40 home runs.

The 1997 season was also the year before Manny Ramirez became the best right-handed hitter in baseball Manny Ramirez.

Even everything Sandy Alomar did at the dish turned to gold. He homered in the All-Star game, which just so happened to be in Cleveland. Then, he took Mariano Rivera deep in the ALDS when the Tribe’ season was on the brink.

All of these great names, and David Justice hasn’t even been mentioned. DJ led the Indians in OPS during the 1997 campaign after the Tribe pulled that mega-deal to send Kenny Lofton to the Braves.

Believe it or not, the Tribe offense flew a bit under the radar in 2016. Sure, Roberto Perez and every other catcher did about .150 batting average points better than John Adams this season, but Mike Napoli had a career year.

Francisco Lindor is hitting better than Omar Vizquel ever did. Jason Kipnis had his best power season ever, while Jose Ramirez completes the best infield in the AL with the most clutch season in memory.

There aren’t multiple 30 home run guys like 1997, but the Indians score runs with the best of them, they just do it differently. They cause chaos on the base paths instead of having their own home run derby every game.

This is a different team than 1997, with more youth and less pop, better arms in the bullpen, and a manager that has been there before.

Next: 5 Longest Active World Series Droughts

That’s why I feel this year could be the year. This year there won’t be the Jose Mesa blown save. or the Tony Fernandez error, easily the most painful moment in Cleveland sports history. This time, it’s Cleveland as the underdog and Cleveland as the team flying under the radar. This time, it’s Cleveland with the home field advantage. It just feels different in 2016. It’s time to #RallyTogether!

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Cleveland Indians: The 2016 World Series Through a 1997 Lens

By Joe Russo | Oct 25, 2016

With the Cleveland Indians playing the Chicago Cubs in the 2016 World Series, Factory of Sadness writer Joe Russo looked back at the last Tribe team to play in the Fall Classic.

More from Factory of Sadness