The curse has been broken! Last night the Cubbies ended a 108-year drought by defeating the Cleveland Indians with a wild 8-7, 10-inning Game 7 victory that has been dubbed one of the greatest baseball games of all time. It lasted a whopping 5 hours, and who is to thank for that? Rajai Davis (#13 FCIR) of the Indians, who hit a homer in the bottom of the 8th to tie the game. Who did he hit the ball off of? Yes, the young #9 FCAR we wrote about yesterday, Aroldis Chapman. Granted, Chapman is human, so we’re not here to disparage him. What we will say is that we have little doubt Chapman’s nerves were certainly on edge. Since some 90% of his pitches were (easier to control) sliders when they are almost always fastballs, he knew he’d have a tough time even hitting the side of a barn only throwing darts.
Let’s recall what we wrote yesterday.
“Chapman’s arm will be plenty strong, but his brain is what remains vulnerable, especially if it’s a close game down the stretch.”
Yes, it was certainly a “close game down the stretch,” being the bottom of the 8th, the Indians down two scores, and a man on base. The situation could not have been more frightful for a #9. We guarantee you Chapman was mentally stewing inside, knowing a lone home run would change everything. It certainly did, yet the Cubs were still able to push the game to 10 innings and win themselves a Championship.
Did you catch what transpired during the rain delay? It was only all too Type-related. As one article put it, “Aroldis Chapman was reportedly crying in the clubhouse during the rain delay of Game 7 of the World Series between the Cubs and the Indians.” And another, “Chapman experienced such a major malfunction in World Series Game 7 he wound up crying in the visitors dugout at Progressive Field. Yet he settled down, his teammates bailed him out and the former (and future?) Yankees closer wound up celebrating with his teammates.” Says Chapman himself, It’s hard for me to find words to express how I feel after this roller-coaster of emotions that I’ve had … I was emotional. I thought that I had been given the opportunity to win the game and then it got complicated. I got complications. And because of those complications, once that hitter got that ball out, it was difficult for me. It was a very emotional time for me.” And remember what we said about fatigue yesterday and the #9 energizer bunny? When asked if he was tired, Chapman replied, “No, no. I just kept working. I didn’t feel tired. It’s just that they hit a few pitches. But I felt confident. I still felt that I could get out of the inning. I still felt that I could continue to work. I still felt that I could continue to pitch. I had no issues in terms of fatigue.
What also brought the Indians back from the grave was a wild pitch by John Lester (#6 BEIR) that went to the backstop and allowed Cleveland to score two runs, making the score 5-3. Nerves were likely a bit high for Lester as well. Niednagel dedicates a significant portion of his sports book teaching BEIRs how to relax. They are intense players, and he writes, “A calming influence in their lives will yield tremendous dividends … If BEIRs do not relax, they can perform poorly in the field and at the plate.”
What’s more, BT students know #6s are fine motor dominant! When anxiety levels rise, #6‘s wrists turn into vice grips; they’ll snap hook a golf shot, get the Ben Hogan (another #6) yips when putting a reason in modern golf that most pro #6s putt cross-handed or use the claw anything to take the dominant hand out of the putt. Now consider this in baseball!
Remember Steve Sax, the outstanding second baseman of yesteryear? Recall how the 5-time, #6 BEIR All-Star suddenly developed the Steve Sax Syndrome, confusing everyone, including psychologists? How could this possibly occur in a proven and tough-minded superstar? Well, BTI wasn’t perplexed. We wrote of it way back then as we’ve written of Cubs ace and John Lester in recent times. Though it’s not a common issue with #6s, it occurs way too much especially when it could be easily prevented by some BT counsel and a few dietary/ nutritional changes. Once again, no one needs to stay in the Dark Ages, mentally or physically.
Congrats, Cubbies!
Written by: Staff
(click for source)