A trip down Memory Lane as Cubs return to Cleveland for 2-game series
When the Cubs step into the visiting clubhouse at Progressive Field in Cleveland on Tuesday, some of them might experience a few flashbacks.
For the players who were members of the 2016 World Series team, it will be their first return to Progressive Field since the champagne-soaked celebration following Game 7.
“I feel like once we get there and get in the city, I'm sure there will be a little bit of reminiscing,” Cubs pitcher Kyle Hendricks said. “When you're in the middle of your career, you kind of save that reminiscing until your done (playing).
“It will be cool to go back there and remember some of it.”
The Cubs are in Cleveland for a two-game series before returning to Wrigley Field for four games against the Milwaukee Brewers. The Cubs and Indians did not face each other in 2017, and both teams still have many of the major contributors from 2016 on their rosters.
The Cubs, of course, have fond memories of how that World Series ended. Even so, not all their memories of Progressive Field are good ones.
“It was stressful,” Cubs reliever Mike Montgomery said. “In the moment, you don't think about it too much. There's families involved, the logistics of trying to get everyone to the game and tickets, and then when the game started every pitch mattered.”
Progressive Field holds an extra bit of nostalgia for Montgomery because it was the site of his first big-league road trip when he was called up with the Seattle Mariners in 2015.
Albert Almora Jr. had been in the majors four months when the Cubs won the championship. Almora played a key role in Game 7, pinch running in the 10th inning, tagging up from first base on a flyout and later scoring the go-ahead run.
Almora doesn't believe there will be too much nostalgia being back at Cleveland. He is just grateful he had the chance to play a part in the championship run.
“A little part, but such a key moment,” he said of his Game 7 trip around the bases. “We have a lot of great memories, and some tough games as well that we played there.”
Hendricks and Montgomery also played key parts in Game 7. Hendricks started the game and pitched 4⅔ innings. Montgomery was on the mound for the final out.
“It might be a little weird,” Montgomery said of returning to Cleveland. “For the guys that were there, it'll forever be a good memory. I don't think you can erase that.”
The players who were members of the 2016 Cubs will never look at the Progressive Field visitors' weight room the same way again.
“That's the place where the magic happened,” Montgomery said.
“That was one (heck) of a meeting,” Hendricks added.
The weight room is where outfielder Jason Heyward brought the team together for a meeting during the 17-minute rain delay after the ninth inning. In the months since, that meeting has been talked about as much as any play on the field that night.
Led by Heyward, the Cubs gave themselves a pep talk before going out and winning the game in the 10th.
“I say right now that we're not going to think about it, but maybe when we get there it will bring back memories,” Almora said. “Obviously, it's a special place for all of us that were there and we'll always think about that.”
Hendricks agrees.
“It's definitely emotional,” he said. “It should be fun just to kind of ride the roller coaster again when we walk into that clubhouse or that weight room.”
2016 World Series: then and now
Players remaining with each organization from 25-man World Series rosters
Cubs: 14
Indians: 21
<b>Notable departures</b>Cubs: P Jake Arrieta, P Aroldis Chapman, P John Lackey, C David Ross, OF Dexter Fowler
Indians: DH/OF Carlos Santana
Worth noting: Indians 1B Mike Napoli and OF Rajai Davis played with different teams in 2017 before returning to Cleveland in 2018.