Series dreaming across the USA
Dodgers, Indians, Nationals vying to supplant Cubs
The Washington Nationals have been here before, favored to not only win their firstround series but also capture this city’s first World Series championship since 1924. This year is no different. The Nationals are heavily favored to knock off the defending World Series champion Chicago Cubs when they meet in the best-of-five National League Division Series beginning Friday at Nationals Park.
The team is talented, deep and perhaps the finest one the Nationals have ever had entering the postseason, devoid of weaknesses.
Well, except for that colossal one, the elephant in the room the Nationals can’t ignore, the one tarnishing their four division titles in six years.
They have never won a playoff series.
Here they are again with a chance to exorcise their demons, not only winning their first postseason series in franchise history, but advance to the World Series, cementing manager Dusty Baker’s legacy as a Hall of Fame manager, providing Jayson Werth the ultimate going-away present and vaulting Bryce Harper and Stephen Strasburg permanently into franchise lore.
This could be the greatest time of all their lives, or a time that haunts them forever, resurrecting their excruciating October history.
It is a familiar theme across these playoffs, which kick into gear Thursday with the start of the American League Division Series. The Cleveland Indians, while still the toast of their town, still bear the burden of a titleless history since 1948.
The Los Angeles Dodgers, who looked like the ’27 Yankees until an August-September tumble, would settle for looking like the ’88 Dodgers now, a plucky underdog that claimed the city’s last World Series title.
And then there’s the Nationals, losers of two division series Game 5s but now armed with their best team ever. That may or may not matter.
“I definitely think there’s probably a little bit more pressure on them,” Cubs infielder-outfielder Ben Zobrist told Chicago reporters Tuesday at Wrigley Field. “They haven’t been out of this first series yet. Obviously, they’re very motivated to try to do that. They know it’s a very, very big moment for them and their organization.”
This is the final year of Baker’s contract, with talks on hold until after the postseason. General manager Mike Rizzo has one year left on his deal. This is Werth’s final year in Washington. And in a year, Harper, All-Star pitcher Gio Gonzalez and All-Star second baseman Daniel Murphy all are free agents.
“There’s pressure, no doubt about it,” Rizzo told USA TODAY Sports on Wednesday. “Just like last night’s (wild card) game. There’s anxiety. There’s pressure. It’s how do you handle it.
“Do you thrive on it? Do you embrace it? Or do you go into a shell?
“I think we’ve got enough good players with ability that if they just be themselves and let their ability shine through, we like our chances.”
While the Nationals might indeed have the most pressure to win the division series, the Dodgers’ pressure is more enduring. They’ve won five consecutive division titles and 104 games this year.
Now, they’re itching to prove that their financial clout, star-studded front office and their combination of sabermetrics and scouting will finally pay off.
“Spin it out how you want,” Werth says, “it doesn’t change anything. Anything can happen.”
The Indians came within two wins in 1995, a Jose Mesa blown save in 1997 and possibly a rain delay last year of winning their first World Series title since 1948.
Now, here they are again, winners of 22 consecutive games during one stretch this season, needing to win only 11 more games to finally bring Cleveland that title.
For the rest of the field, well, there’s not much to lose.
The Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies had miserable seasons a year ago.
The New York Yankees are back in the playoffs for only the second time in five years, but this is still a team that’s rebuilding, waiting for Harper and Manny Machado to hit the free agent market after the 2018 season before they really get serious.
The Boston Red Sox were supposed to win the American League East this year, and Chris Sale more than lived up to expectations, but with the rest of their rotation shaky and David Price relegated to the bullpen, the biggest surprise will be if they’re still around in late October.
It brings us to the team that faced the most pressure of any team in baseball last year, trying to erase 108 years of failure and appease a fan base that feared they would never live long enough to see a World Series on the North Side of Chicago.
One year later, the Chicago Cubs might be the least-stressed team in October, knowing that no matter what happens this month, they can live off their glory of a year ago for perhaps a generation.
“We’re playing with house money,” Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo said. “No one expected us to be here. We’ve got no pressure at all.”
Well, it could be a bit of an exaggeration considering the Cubs were picked by the world to win the NL Central again, only creating a little drama with their World Series hangover.
Now, they’re back for the third consecutive year, not nearly as imposing or intimidating as last season but still with a swagger, reminding everyone that the World Series still goes through Chicago.
“The thing that feels different,” Cubs manager Joe Maddon says, “is we know how to do this. Once you’ve done it before, you’re not as intimidated by the moment.”
The Nats insist they won’t be bullied, either, and fear no one. They have the best starting pitching of any postseason team, finally have a formidable bullpen, and an offense that can scare the daylights out of anyone.
“We know we can do this,” Baker says, “and we have positive thoughts that we will. The way we look at it, it’s our time.
“I’m telling you, we’re going to be just fine. Just fine.”