Postseason baseball has always been a crapshoot. So many things have to go “your” way in order to win a World Series, and even then the baseball gods could frown on you. Ask Jose Mesa about that in the 1997 World Series in Miami or Trevor Bauer when he wrecked his pinky finger before the 2016 World Series, costing the Tribe a title.
This year, the Guardians are making an unlikely run at a World Series championship. This is the same Guardians team that was below .500 as late as August. So, what exactly has turned a mediocre team into a club two wins away from a World Series appearance and six wins from their first championship since 1948? For starters (pardon the pun), Foster Griffin has been a godsend to the starting rotation. His presence gives the Guardians three REALLY GOOD starting pitchers. Jo Adell and Nathan Lowe, both acquired along with Griffin at the end of the trade deadline, have stabilized the everyday lineup. The Guardians are no longer below average offensively against left-handers.
The Guardians front office should be commended for an unbelievably successful series of trade deadline deals. They have turned this Guardians team from a 61-66 product on August 19th, to a team that is six wins away from ending a seventy-eight year World Series championship drought.
Here’s hoping the baseball gods continue to shine on the Guardians!!