2016 Cubs are WS champions

[ValKehl]

Thomas Boswell of the Washington Post is the long-time dean of sports writers in our Nation's Capital. He begins his column in today's edition by mentioning how every print journalist in the press box had almost completely written two different versions of the 7th game, depending upon which team won, and had them ready to be transmitted to their newspaper immediately after the game ended. Of course, the newspaper readers never see the version written for the team that didn't win. Boswell decided to depart from the norm - in today's column, Boswell gives us "the beginning of the column I had written, but of course never filed, about Cleveland's wonderful world title - and Chicago's almost unthinkable blown lead." Hopefully, this will be a "feel good" read for dismayed Indians' fans. Here's the link to it: https://www.washingtonpost.com/sport...f04_story.html

Be sure to not skip the last few paragraphs of Boswell's column, in which he describes the similarities between this game and the 7th game of the 1924 WS, when the Washington Senators and Walter Johnson won their only WS championship.

Val (1917 is gonna be Washington's year!!)

[ValKehl]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

What on earth happened to Harper this year? It seems he never got his head back together after a few series where the opposing team kept walking him intentionally. Staggering drop-off from 2015.

Peter, my take on Harper (and, I'm not a Harper fan) is that he's not as good as he appeared to be in 2015 and not as bad as he appeared to be in 2016. Don't forget that Harper batted .270, .274, and .273 in his first 3 years before his career year in 2015. My guess is that he will average .280 to .300 and 30 to 35 homers over the remainder of his career - nice numbers, but a borderline HOFer, IMHO.
Val

[clydepepper]

Originally Posted by ValKehl

Peter, my take on Harper (and, I'm not a Harper fan) is that he's not as good as he appeared to be in 2015 and not as bad as he appeared to be in 2016. Don't forget that Harper batted .270, .274, and .273 in his first 3 years before his career year in 2015. My guess is that he will average .280 to .300 and 30 to 35 homers over the remainder of his career - nice numbers, but a borderline HOFer, IMHO.
Val

I believe Harper is actually much closer to 2015 than 2016.

From what I have read, when he did play, it was in spite of some painful injuries to his neck and one of his shoulders.

Everyone is so very hard on him...let's not forget how young he is.

It also does not help to be constantly compared to the best player in the game.

By the way, IMO, when completely healthy, he is very close to that level.

The Nationals will be the Cubs biggest threats to repeat - especially if the 2015 Harper - or anyone close to that - re-appears.

.

[irishdenny]

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I Put THiS Your Other Thread...
Watch'd Every Game til the End!
I'm Very Happy Fir THeM!!!

"The MaGiC BeGiNs NOOOWWWWW!!!!!!!!!!!"

Down 3 Games ta 1!
Hey, The Red Sox Did iT!!!
Why Not Da Cubbies!?!?

I Have BeeN of the Purist MinD,
I Just Love ta Watch Baseball in General...
Sure I Favorite Teams, The METS BeiN my Favorite!
Up Until Now, I Really Didn't Care Who Won...

Til Taday!!!

"Com'on Cubs... Lets Do THiS!!!"
I'm Officially oN Da BandWagoN...