world series | Bottlegate

Cleveland will be the center of attention tonight for sports fans all across the country. It’s an obvious statement, we’ve been hearing about it for weeks now. That phrase, “center of attention,” is usually a subjective distinction. This time it isn’t. This time it’s a fact.

The Indians are one of two Major League Baseball teams still standing and the Cavaliers are one of two teams getting the new NBA season started, and they’re doing so 30 minutes and a couple hundred yards away from each other. So just by the numbers, out of all the people out there that have an interest in sports, a vast majority of them will be watching what happens in the Gateway District tonight.

But it’s a lot more than that.

The Cavaliers were step 1. They famously ended our city’s 52 year championship drought in June, and did so in historic fashion. Just in case any of the rest of the country had forgotten that Cleveland is an NBA Champion or that the Golden State Warriors blew a 3-1 lead in the NBA Finals, there’s going to be a ceremony with a shitload of television cameras everywhere tonight to remind them.

The Indians though, they weren’t supposed to be here. A talented team, sure. But to do what they’ve done, the way they’ve done it, and the players they’ve done it without? If we win the World Series that would be like the Cavs winning it all in 2015 without Kyrie and Kevin. And LeBron. And Joe Harris putting up 20 with a buzzer beater to win the Eastern Conference Finals.

And that makes tonight even sweeter. The Cavs run was absolutely incredible and tonight will be absolutely incredible at the Q. The folks next door will be experiencing something incredible, too. But for reasons a little different.

There’s nothing more satisfying than doing something other people don’t think you can do. The Indians did it all season long, they did it by sweeping the Red Sox in the ALDS, they did it by beating the Blue Jays in the ALCS and they’ve done it by advancing to their first World Series since 1997. They’ve done it without some of their best players, and they’ve done it against some of the best teams. They’ve done it. And now they only have to do it four more times.

Tito said it best. “I just think if you look too far back, or you look too far forward, you miss what’s right in front of you.”

So whether you’re at the game or at a bar or on your couch tonight…try not to be on your phone that much. Give too many high fives. Cheers your Bud Lights with strangers. Scoot over to make more than enough room for your fellow feather heads at The Corner or in the bleachers. Just take some time to look around you and take everything in.

Conventional baseball knowledge tells you the Cubs will win this World Series. Conventional baseball knowledge also told you the Blue Jays would win the Championship series, and that the Red Sox would win the Division Series. Conventional baseball knowledge can go to hell.

We’re playing with house money. A lot of it. And our seat is on fire.

KEEP THE CHIEF

Hype videos obviously aren’t the best part about one of your teams making the playoffs in their sport. Obviously.

But they’re kinda close.

After Mike put more blood sweat and Bud Light into Bottlegate’s Cavs Finals hype video than anything else we’ve ever done on the site, we decided to leave the Tribe in the hands of the people.

They delivered.

Does a great job of recapping the playoff run so far. Also there’s a lot of Hammy. From the same guys that brought you the Indians playoff hype video before the ALDS started.

Same guys, this time with the Cubbies included.

A little wider breadth of clips in this one, from Sandy’s homer in Game 4 of the 1997 ALCS to Frankie’s first major league hit to regular season games from this year all the way to the ALCS. I also like the song choice a little better than the first video that had me feeling like I was back listening to Kiley & Booms.

Little more about the city & Cavs in this one, behind some heavy guitar that’ll get the blood flowing. Some cool 90’s Indians crossovers with Frankie/Omar and Napoli/Thome too.

At first I thought the music choice was curious but then I remembered you could play three minutes of Indians clips over Jim Carrey doing the most annoying sound in the world in Dumb & Dumber and I’d still eat it up. Lots of Miller Time in this one.

Short and sweet here. Great song choice, all substance and no fluff clips, and Jake fucking Taylor. Outstanding.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mkiil_483hc

A World Series hype video featuring Gio Urshela multiple times? Sure, what the hell. Fire it up.

All playoff clips here, other than that gut-wrenching single up the middle from 1997. Appreciate them working in Jose Bautista aimlessly crashing into the outfield wall in this one.