Don't watch the games any more. My nerves can't take it. My hands shake, my heart pounds in my chest. Having AFIB, I'm afraid I might have a stroke or a heart attack.
To Rusty's point, Noel could have saved the season. Unfortunately, some really bizarre moments from games 4 & 5 stopped us in our tracks.
First of all, Cade Smith and Emmanuel Clase picked a fine time to have a meltdown. Our two most effective relief pitchers just did not rise to the occasion in game 4. Admittedly, that Yankee lineup is relentless. Not a weak spot in the lineup. Fatigue! The relief corps was task with winning games all season long. Hard to argue with the results, tired or not. Vogt managed this season exceptionally well. Credit Vogt with getting us through the final 5 games of the season. So close, yet so far.
We had the win and let it slip away.
That brings us to game 5. Rocchio and Gimenez, magicians, a dynamic duo covering the middle of our infield, committed the most costly error of the season. They were playing exceptionally well the whole season .They were exceptional against the Tigers. They were exceptional against the Yankees. One mistake ends the season
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A second win so close and yet so far.
Let's face it. This is Cleveland. As fans, we should be used to it. Almost expect it. Doesn't stop the hurt though. It always hurts. Hurts really bad.
I predicted that we would win this series in 7 games. I expected to take one game in New York. I was hoping we would beat Rodon in game 1.
I thought we would take 2 of 3 at home. We should have won games 2 & 3, Should'a, Could'a, Would'a!
Taking either one of games 6 & 7 in New York was not out of the question.
This team is resilient and I really expected that this team, this manager, would be up to the task at hand. I thought we would take down the mighty Yankees. I really do not like the Yankees. They feel like a thorn in my butt.
Let's face it. This was an incredible season. We got help from the players we expected to get it from. We got help from the players we did not expect it from. Players that stepped up and contributed. We had a rookie manager who stepped up big time. Managed against all odds.
The Guardians gave me a season to remember right up there with the Indian teams of the 90's.
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