World Series Therapy: Where It Went All Wrong for The Cleveland Indians

The World Series is history, but few Cleveland Indians Indians fans want to think about its ending. FoS writer Joe Russo begins our therapy by examining what went wrong in Game 7.

It’s time. Take a deep breath, choke down the tears, and understand that it’s OK to talk about your feelings. We’re Clevelanders and we’re a tough lot, but it can be liberating to admit out loud just how much it hurt.

Now a week removed from watching another Game 7 heartbreaker, one nearly as painful as the Tony Fernandez error in Miami, we need to look at what happened and how we can move forward.

There were easily far too many strikeouts at the top of the lineup, a total of 33 K’s between Carlos Santana, Jason Kipnis, Francisco Lindor, and Mike Napoli. Napoli was the leader with 11 and Kipnis not far behind with nine. It’s tough to generate offense when the key components of your lineup miss that often.

Those swings and misses are the main reason why Mike Napoli hit only .167 and Carlos Santana hit only .217, far below their respective season averages.

Tyler Naquin also struggled mightily all series. He was a big reason why the Indians hit their stride in the summer and is a finalist for AL Rookie of the Year, but he also had exactly as many hits as Corey Kluber in the World Series, which is exactly one more than I had.

There were a total of five Indians that hit .217 or lower in the series (Santana, Perez, Napoli, Naquin, and Chisenhall), and only three full-time players that hit over .227 (Ramirez, Kipnis, and Lindor).

The pitching for the most part, was fantastic. Corey Kluber went on a historic run before he ran out of gas in Game 7. Cody Allen didn’t allow a run all series. Unfortunately, the rest of the news isn’t great. Trevor Bauer and Josh Tomlin, while performing OK, were just that. They had a 5.40 and 7.71 ERA, respectively. For anyone questioning why Kluber pitched three times in the series, this is exactly why.

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But we still need to talk about Bryan Shaw. Even with Andrew Miller looking human, the pain of the 2016 World Series begins and ends with Bryan Shaw. He had been lights out all series. He had looked so good, like the one Terry Francona had trusted so much all year to lead the team in appearances. None of that mattered as Shaw, hindered by a 17 minute rain delay, surrendered two runs in the top of the 10th inning in Game 7 of the World Series.

It was a moment reminiscent of 1997. I still have vivid memories of the Tony Fernandez error in that game. More than The Drive, The Fumble, or Red Right 88, The Error from that game was ESPN’s most painful sports moment in Cleveland sports history. Shaw’s two run outing in extra innings just might join Fernandez in the pantheon of painful Indians moments.

I know it’s like ripping off a scab too soon. I know it doesn’t make the result of the game any different. With the 2017 offseason already starting, it still has to be discussed, if only for the sake of closure. We’ll get to what’s next for the Tribe and the decisions not to extend qualifying offers to Rajai Davis, Mike Napoli, or Coco Crisp. For now, though. it’s ok to admit it hurts.

Next: 5 Potential Landing Spots For Rajai Davis

It’s only going to get better from here.

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World Series Therapy: Where It All Went From For The Cleveland Indians

By Joe Russo | Nov 8, 2016

The World Series is history, but few Cleveland Indians Indians fans want to think about its ending. FoS writer Joe Russo begins our therapy by examining what went wrong in Game 7.

More from Factory of Sadness