Ten moments that fueled the Cubs run to the World Series

Has it sunk in yet? For the first time since 1945, the Chicago Cubs are going to the World Series.

Now all that stands between them and ending a 108-year championship drought is four wins against the Cleveland Indians.

That will be easier said than done, of course. Then again, nothing seemed more improbable than the Cubs actually winning a pennant to begin with. They’ve cleared that hurdle with relative ease thanks to a 103-win regular season and four- and six-games victories in the NLDS and NLCS respectively. Now it’s theirs for the taking, but since the taking doesn’t begin until Tuesday in Cleveland, we might as well spend some time reflecting on the season it’s been so far.

Here’s one word that comes to mind: Juggernaut.

The Cubs have been a relentless force all season long. The offense finished third in MLB in runs scored (808). The pitching staff finished first in ERA (3.15). The bullpen may have been a weakness, but then Jed Hoyer added Aroldis Chapman and Mike Montgomery to the mix. The bottomline is, they had every detail covered, to the point where guys like Javier Baez and Jorge Soler struggled to find playing time.

As a result of their talent and depth, the Cubs also produced a lot of great moments. Moments that propelled them to heights not experienced in generations. There were literally dozens, but we’ve narrowed it down to roughly 10 worth acknowledging.

Kyle Hendricks’ pitches Cubs to World Series
As our own Kevin Kaduk wrote, Hendricks did something Rick Sutcliffe, Greg Maddux, Kerry Wood and countless others never could in a Cubs uniform. He pitched and won a pennant-clinching game. It’s not just that he won though, it’s that he defeated Clayton Kershaw, a three-time Cy Young award winner. And even beyond that, it’s that he did it without ever wavering. At one point, he retired 21 straight Dodgers. It was, without question, a performance for the ages.

Re-signing Dexter Fowler
The Cubs received a huge gift on the eve of spring training when Dexter Fowler elected to re-sign rather than take a deal with the Baltimore Orioles. That decision would become even more important on April 7 when Kyle Schwarber went down with a knee injury, ironically in a collision with Fowler. He gave them more than depth though. He gave them stability atop the order and in the outfield. His .393 on-base percentage was the fuel that made the offense go.

Jake Arrieta’s no-hitter
Yeah, it happened on April 21 and yeah, that’s a long time ago. Nonetheless, it was the only no-hitter in MLB this season and it was another reminder just how dominant these Cubs can be on a given day. The Cubs would win that game 16-0, making it the most lopsided no-hitter in franchise history.

Javier Baez’s postseason breakout
There’s no better example of how deep and talented the Cubs roster is than Javier Baez. The 23-year-old infielder had flashed talent over parts of three MLB seasons. He’s put it all together at the absolute best time, because he’s honestly looked like the best position player in the postseason, save for possibly Francisco Lindor. From his home run in NLDS Game 1, to his steal of home in NLCS Game 1, to his series of defensive plays that have defied physics and sometimes even logic, he’s been a difference maker.

The comeback in San Francisco
The Cubs have overcome their share “this can’t be happening again” moments in the postseason. The biggest happened in San Francisco during the NLDS. Just when it appeared the Giants were going to force a decisive Game 5 and potentially continue their even-year run with two big wins at home, the Cubs offense erupted with a history-making four-run ninth inning rally to seal the series and provide more evidence they were nothing like previous Cubs disappointments.

Travis Wood’s catch in the vines

Manager Joe Maddon is as creative as he is unique. That’s why fans weren’t totally surprised to see him put relief pitcher Travis Wood in left field during a July game against Seattle so that he could resume pitching later. What happened during that stint though no one saw coming. Wood was forced to track a fly ball to the wall, and actually crashed into the brick and ivy to make a catch. For most teams, that decision might spell disaster. For the Cubs, it was just another rallying point.

Winning NLCS Game 4
Game 4’s have been the big ones for Chicago this postseason. The comeback in San Francisco was NLDS Game 4. After being shutout in Games 2 and 3 of the NLCS, they bounced back in a big way to win 10-2 in Game 4. That game included much-needed breakouts from Anthony Rizzo and Addison Russell, who each collected three hits after coming into the game in a 3-for-53 combined slump.

Kris Bryant’s historic 5-for-5 game
On June 27, Kris Bryant destroyed the Cincinnati Reds. He finished the game 5-for-5, and became the first player on record since 1913 to collect three home runs and two doubles in a single game. If that’s not enough, Bryant also set a franchise record with 16 total bases. That’s a lot of damage, and it’s just another reason many people feel Bryant is the National League MVP.

Every moment involving David Ross
The man know as “Grandpa Rossy” has one series left in a Cubs uniform. He’ll be retiring at season’s end, and though he hasn’t been honored in the same manner as a David Ortiz around the league, he’s been cherished by his teammates and by Cubs fans. He’s not a big producer, as his .229 average in limited playing time indicates. He’s just a great guy who’s left a lasting impression and brought the house down by homering in his final regular season game at Wrigley Field.

Dorothy and her Jägermeister
OK, so maybe this didn’t fuel the Cubs run to the World Series, but the long time Cubs’ fans’ celebration and postgame interview may fuel their run through it.

Do it for Dorothy!

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Mark Townsend is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at bigleaguestew@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!

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