Addison Russell"s World Series Grand Slam | 2016 World Series | November 1, 2016
CLEVELAND On this ultra-talented Cubs team, he can be an afterthought.
If the Cubs finish off the Indians in Wednesday nights World Series Game 7, though? Addison Russell will receive the promotion of a lifetime:
From afterthought to October legend.
Everyone ready? This heavily hyped Fall Classic officially has reached its high bar, courtesy of the Cubs 9-3 thrashing of the Indians in Tuesday nights Game 6 at Progressive Field. The Cubs have won two straight to tie this at 3-3, and theyre looking to become the first team to successfully climb out of a 3-1 hole and win the last two games on the road since the 1979 Pirates accomplished that feat against the Orioles.
Russell, whose offensive production has swayed to and fro in this postseason, put together the night of a lifetime with some help from the Indians defense, to be fair. His six RBIs tied the Yankees Hideki Matsui (2009) and Bobby Richardson (1960) and the Cardinals Albert Pujols (2011) for the World Series one-game record, and he hit the first Fall Classic grand slam since the White Soxs Paul Konerko did so in 2005.
This is just me figuring it out right now, Russell said of his RBI record. Thats pretty cool, you know? Tomorrow there is obviously an opportunity to break that record.
If you were to lay odds on who in this Cubs lineup would put together such a night, be it in Game 6 or Game 7, Russell would be what? Your fifth choice, at best?
Yet that serves far more as a testament to the depth of this Cubs group than to any of Russells shortcomings. Remember the excitement surrounding Russell when the Cubs got him from Oakland in the July 2014 trade for pitchers Jason Hammel and Jeff Samardzija? Russell has done nothing since then to alleviate the excitement; to the contrary, he has produced two very good big league seasons out of the chute, playing strong defense at the hardest position and providing solid offense.
In those two years, however, Kris Bryant won the 2015 National League Rookie of Year award and is arguably the favorite for this years NL Most Valuable Player honor. Anthony Rizzo continued to produce at an MVP level. Kyle Schwarber became a folk hero thanks to his power and his perseverance. And highly respected veteran Ben Zobrist came aboard, too. Its easy to get lost in that crowd.
Maybe not to his teammates, though.
Just watching him, hes unbelievable, man, Bryant said. Hes 22 years old, Gold Glove, hitting homers in the World Series. Hes a pretty special player.
Russells historic night might never have been if not for a first-inning mishap in the Indians outfield. Center fielder Tyler Naquin and right fielder Lonnie Chisenhall couldnt collaborate on a very catchable flyball to right-center, and the ball fell in for a two-run double that extended the Cubs lead to 3-0.
They didnt put a glove on it, Russell noted. Therefore, it counts as a hit, which I was totally stoked. It pushed me for the next at-bat, as well.
In his next at-bat, with the bases jammed and Cleveland manager Terry Francona lifting starter Josh Tomlin for reliever Dan Otero, Russell connected on a 2-and-0 sinker, sending it 434 feet and over the center-field wall for his third homer of the postseason. He didnt just put the Cubs comfortably ahead, 7-0. He accomplished the rare feat of making a Francona move backfire.
They key to that at-bat was to not swing at the first two pitches, Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. Thats what weve been talking about the whole time. He was patient enough to get a pitch that he could work with.
When the Cubs flew from Chicago to Cleveland on Monday night, Russell celebrated his nerd holiday Halloween by dressing up as a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle. On Tuesday, he provided more than enough heroics in his everyday costume.
This was not the work of an eternal afterthought. This was someone bound to break out, with exceptional timing.
Source: http://nypost.com/2016/11/02/addison-russell-from-cubs-afterthought-to-october-legend/
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