A STORIED BATTLE
Many layers to possible World Series preview between Yanks, champs
ARE WE getting a World Series preview this weekend at Wrigley Field? A 2017 Fall Classic pitting the Yankees against the Cubs, a dream scenario for many a Major League Baseball and FOX officials, has graduated from remote to not crazy in a month’s time, thanks to the Yankees’ 17-9 burst out of the gate.
If you don’t buy it, this series, starting Friday afternoon, features plenty more. You’ve got matchups global and granular, physical and intellectual, introductory and long-held.
In order of importance and excitement, this list of YankeesCubs intrigue goes to 11.
1) Brian Cashman vs. Theo Epstein: The Cubs, defending World Series champions, stand as the class of baseball, stocked with talent and aiming for a dynastic run under the leadership of Epstein, whom Cashman and the Yankees know all too well from his success last decade with the Red Sox. The Yankees own the same aspirations, which seem more likely to reach fruition thanks to the youth movement Cashman marshaled into The Bronx last summer.
2) Aaron Judge vs. the streets of Chicago: That youth movement’s current poster boy is the gentle giant Judge, whose 13 home runs lead all of baseball. Let’s be honest: It’ll be a disappointment if Judge doesn’t hit at least one ball out of Wrigley, be it onto Waveland or Sheffield Avenue or even into the apartments across the way.
3) Aroldis Chapman vs. Joe Maddon: Likewise, we all want to see Chapman, the Yankee-turnedCub-turned-Yankee, get some action. He got plenty of action last October — too much, in his estimation, as he totaled 7²/₃ innings over five World Series games. That led to the closer criticizing his Cubs manager Maddon as he returned to the Yankees.
4) Starlin Castro vs. the Cubs: To know Castro is to be both fond of him and exasperated by him. The Cubs gave him to the Yankees in December 2015 in what has amounted to a salary dump, and they don’t regret it — with Javier Baez now manning their keystone. Nevertheless, expect a big standing ovation to welcome back Castro, who currently is raking for the Yankees following an uneven 2016.
5) Kris Bryant vs. the Yankees: The reigning National League Most Valuable Player will be facing the sport’s most successful franchise for the first time.
6) Kyle Schwarber vs. the Yankees: As will the lefty-swinging stud Schwarber, whom the Yan-
kees tried unsuccessfully to get for Chapman last July.
7) Joe Girardi vs. the Cubs: The Yankees’ manager grew up a Cubs fan in Peoria, Ill. He made his professional and big league debuts with the Cubs, and returned to play for them after spending four seasons with the Yankees. He interviewed for their managerial opening in 2006, losing out to Lou Piniella, and if he and the Yankees hadn’t agreed on new contracts after 2010 and 2013, he surely would’ve pursued the Cubs’ openings at those junctures. Girardi’s contract expires after this year … but the Cubs don’t figure to have an opening.
8) Girardi vs. Maddon: Straitlaced and funky, baseball’s Sergeant Hulka and John Winger (what, you haven’t seen “Stripes”?), the two men get to match wits for the first time since Maddon left the Rays for the Cubs after 2014. Maddon owns a 70-64 edge, including Girardi’s stint as the 2006 Marlins skipper. 9) Jon Lester vs. the Yankees: The last time the Yankees faced this highly respected southpaw (on June 28, 2014 ) — Lester pitched for the Red Sox then — their lineup featured more players who are now retired (Derek Jeter, Brian Roberts, Alfonso Soriano and Mark Teixeira) than who are still Yankees (Jacoby Ellsbury and Brett Gardner). Jake Arrieta, a potential Yankees target this coming winter, won’t pitch this weekend.
10) Gary Sanchez vs. Judge: The catcher hopes to return from the dis- abled list Friday, and during his time away, Judge surpassed him on the phenom scale. Can he team up with Judge to give the Yankees the game’s most dynamic offensive duo? 11) Babe Ruth vs. Charlie Root: You shouldn’t watch these two teams face off in the Friendly Confines without appreciating this is where the Babe blasted his famous, disputed “called shot” off Root during the 1932 World Series. The Yankees own a 2-0 edge in Fall Classic clashes over the Cubs, prevailing in ’32 and ’38. Would anyone object to a resumption of this rivalry after a 78-year hibernation? Consider this weekend an appetizer for the best that just might come — if not this year, then soon after.