MLB Tournament of Champions: Championship

Four and a half months. 1,415 games. That's how long it has taken for the MLB Tournament of Champions to reach its apex. 30 teams entered this tournament with dreams of being the greatest team of all time, one representative from each franchise. We're now down to two, who will do battle for the title of Champion of Champions.

As with every series to date, I will end up going through game by game, because after all this time, these two teams deserve the fullest attention I can give them.

On one side of the battle, we have what many people probably would have considered one of the pre-tournament favorites: the 2016 Chicago Cubs. The team that every Cubs fan was waiting for came into this tournament and largely dominated, winning a tournament-high 59 games to secure home field advantage throughout the playoffs. One could argue they've needed it, though they're 3-4 at Wrigley this postseason. It hasn't mattered, as they've done enough on the road, going 4-1 over two series to reach this point. Problem is, in both series they've needed a winner-take-all game to advance, and they've squeaked by in both, needing a walkoff home run by Ben Zobrist to make the NLCS, and requiring some masterful Game 7 pitching by Jake Arrieta to survive and advance to this round. Arrieta has probably been the best pitcher in the tournament, and the Cubs have gotten timely clutch hits from guys like Zobrist, Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant, and even the ageless David Ross. Now, they are just four more wins from another level of immortality.

Standing in their way was a team that was a strike away from winning the World Series in its time: the 2011 Texas Rangers. After dropping heartbreaking Games 6 and 7 six years ago, the Rangers used that defeat to fuel them in the tightest division race in the tournament en route to 53 wins and an AL West title. It ranked them third among American League division winners, meaning they had to start on the road, but it didn't matter. They took the first two games in Boston in the ALDS and knocked off the 2004 Red Sox in four. They also had to start on the road in the ALCS against Cleveland, but took two out of three both there and at home, including the clinching Game 6 to bring them to this title round.

These two titans will play a best of seven series in a 2-3-2 format to determine the Champion of Champions. The Cubs get home field advantage by virtue of the better tournament record, even though they played no interleague games so there are no common opponents to judge these teams by. This means that in Games 1, 2, and if necessary 6 and 7 pitchers will bat for themselves in the National League park. Games 3, 4, and if necessary 5 in Texas will have the benefit of the designated hitter, so both teams will have some lineup tinkering to do here and there. The Rangers had to do it for their three games in Baltimore, but for the most part have had the benefit of the DH all tournament long. For the Cubs, this is new, and unfortunately unlike the 2016 World Series, Kyle Schwarber is not walking through the virtual clubhouse doors.

I have kept stats for the entire postseason portion of the tournament, and you can view those stats both by round and in aggregate here. I will use these stats when all is said and done to pick both a Series MVP and an overarching Tournament MVP. At a later time I will also make a post with some All-Tournament Teams from the entire tournament. For this series, as with all 1,415 games before, all simulations are provided by WhatIfSports.com. Let's crown a champion.

Saturday, August 12th

Game 1
'11 TEX 6, @ '16 CHC 2
W: Wilson (3-0) | L: Rondon (1-1)

The Rangers' offense got going right away in the championship round as Ian Kinsler got hit by a Jon Lester pitch to start the game, stole second, then scored on a single by Elvis Andrus, though Texas left a pair of men on base after that. The Cubs answered in the bottom half with Dexter Fowler reaching on an error, then scoring on a Kris Bryant double, and Bryant came around on an Anthony Rizzo single to make it 2-1 Chicago. The Rangers would tie the game in the third when Kinsler golfed a home run down the left field line and from there, the pitchers went into a duel. Other than Texas, getting two men on with nobody out in the fourth, neither team threatened until the bottom of the seventh, when the Cubs left a pair of men on, and the Rangers made them pay in the eighth when Mike Napoli launched a two run shot to make it 4-2, and Craig Gentry would later add a two run double to make it 6-2. Chicago would manage just one hit the rest of the way, and it was erased on a double play ball in the eighth as the Rangers take the opener.

Texas starter C.J. Wilson threw seven magnificent innings, allowing just one earned run and two total on three hits while walking two and striking out 11. Josh Hamilton and Adrian Beltre each had two hits, with Beltre and Gentry both doubling, and Kinsler and Napoli each homered for the Rangers. Kris Bryant continued his torrid postseason with a three hit game, knocking home a run and scoring one, while Lester pitched fairly well in a no decision, going seven innings allowing two runs on five hits, walking one and striking out eight for the Cubs.

Sunday, August 13th

Game 2
'11 TEX 4, @ '16 CHC 2
W: Tateyama (1-0) | L: Chapman (0-1) | SV: Feliz (2)

This time it was the Cubs who got on the board first, as Dexter Fowler did his "You go, we go" thing and homered to lead off the bottom of the first inning. Kyle Hendricks settled into a groove, and got a little more support in the third when Fowler homered again to make it 2-0. Hendricks was lifted in the bottom of the seventh for a pinch hitter and the Cubs turned it over to the bullpen, who immediately screwed it up. Hector Rondon allowed Mitch Moreland to lead off the eighth with a home run to cut the lead in half, but he followed that up with three straight groundball outs to maintain the lead. The Cubs left the bases loaded in their half, then in the ninth, the bottom fell out as closer Aroldis Chapman, who has gotten next to no playing time this postseason, walked the first two batters of the inning and was immediately pulled. Justin Grimm then promptly coughed up a three run homer to Mike Napoli that made it 4-2 Rangers, put the next two men on, and struck out a pair before he was lifted for Carl Edwards, Jr., who after a wild pitch got out of the frame without any further damage. Texas closer Neftali Feliz went 1-2-3 in the bottom of the ninth, and the Rangers go home up two games to none.

Napoli had the big blow of the game, but it was his only hit, while Moreland went 2-4 with a home run. Starter Alexei Ogando went six frames allowing two runs on seven hits, walking one and striking out five in a no decision for Texas. Dexter Fowler broke out of a slump for the Cubs, going 3-4 with two home runs, while Kris Bryant added two more hits. Hendricks' masterful outing of seven innings of one hit ball while walking two and striking out seven was wasted by a horrible day for the bullpen.

Tuesday, August 15th

Game 3
'16 CHC 5, @ '11 TEX 3
W: Rondon (2-1) | L: Tateyama (1-1) | SV: Grimm (1)

Early on it looked like the Rangers were going to take a commanding 3-0 series lead as the Cubs wasted a pair of first inning walks and the Rangers got to Jake Arrieta in the third with RBI singles by Ian Kinsler and Josh Hamilton sandwiching a wild pitch that allowed a run to come in. Chicago finally broke through in the fifth when Anthony Rizzo singled home Dexter Fowler with two outs, but Chicago left two more runners on and the Rangers kept the lead. In the eighth though, the Cubs broke through again off of reliever Mark Lowe. After Kris Bryant grounded out, Rizzo walked and Willson Contreras, DHing in this game, was hit by a pitch. He was lifted for a pinch runner and both men scored on a Ben Zobrist double to tie the game. Hector Rondon worked a perfect eighth, and the Cubs continued in the ninth when Kris Bryant destroyed a two run shot off of Neftali Feliz to make it 5-3 Chicago. Aroldis Chapman came in to work the bottom of the ninth and struck out a pair, sandwiching a bloop single by Adrian Beltre, when the simulator inexplicably lifted Chapman for Justin Grimm, who got the final out and the Cubs back in the series.

Arrieta had his worst outing of the postseason so far, but still only allowed three runs on four hits with two walks and four strikeouts in seven innings. Rizzo went 1-2 with three walks, a run, and an RBI, Miguel Montero went 2-4, and Zobrist and Bryant each drove in a pair of runs. Derek Holland's steller outing of one run on three hits with four walks and five strikeouts was spoiled by Texas' bullpen, though the Rangers managed just five hits as a team, getting RBIs from Kinsler and Hamilton.

Wednesday, August 16th

Game 4
@ '11 TEX 4, '16 CHC 2
W: Lewis (2-1) | L: Lackey (1-2) | SV: Feliz (3)

Dexter Fowler tripled to lead off the game for Chicago, but was left stranded. His next time up, he didn't let himself get stranded again, launching a solo shot down the right field line to give the Cubs the lead in the third. Texas would tie it in the fourth as Ian Kinsler singled, stole second, advanced to third on a flyout, and scored on a Josh Hamilton single. Both teams missed out on opportunities until the eighth, when the Rangers went small ball to take the lead. Craig Gentry singled to lead off, stole second, then scored on a Kinsler single. Kinsler then stole second again and scored on an Elvis Andrus single, knocking Cubs starter John Lackey out of the game. After Hamilton struck out, Andrus stole second and took third on a Willson Contreras throwing error, then after Mike Napoli struck out, Adrian Beltre doubled home Andrus to make it 4-1. Ben Zobrist homered off of closer Neftali Feliz to lead off the ninth, but Feliz settled in, striking out Addison Russell, then after plunking Jorge Soler, induced Miguel Montero to ground into a game-ending double play, putting the Cubs in a 3-1 series hole.

Colby Lewis was magnificent for the Rangers, throwing eight innings of one run ball allowing just six hits, walking one, and striking out nine. Kinsler went 3-4 with a double, two runs scored, and an RBI, and Beltre went 1-4 with an RBI double. That eighth inning ruined what had been a good start by Lackey, who finished going seven-plus innings allowing four runs on six hits, walking two and striking out six. Zobrist went 2-4 with a solo home run, and Fowler went 2-3 with a triple, solo shot, and a walk for Chicago.

Thursday, August 17th

Game 5
'16 CHC 8, @ '11 TEX 2
W: Lester (1-2) | L: Wilson (3-1)

With their backs against the wall, the Cubs wasted no time getting out in front as Dexter Fowler walked, Kris Bryant grounded into a fielder's choice, stole second, then scored on an Anthony Rizzo single. Back to back walks then loaded the bases, and after Jason Heyward bounced into a fielder's choice that erased Rizzo, Addison Russell broke out of his slump with a two run single that made it 3-0 Cubs. The Rangers put together a nice rally in the third, getting the first two men on, and after a fielder's choice made it runners on the corners with one out, Elvis Andrus hit an infield single to make it 3-1. With the bases loaded and two outs, Adrian Beltre singled home another run, but Lester escaped with no further damage. Both pitchers settled in until the seventh when Fowler hit a one out single, stole second, advanced to third on a Bryant flyout, then scored on a Rizzo double, and Zobrist followed with an RBI single to make it 5-2. Texas loaded the bases with two outs in the eighth, but Lester escaped unharmed to maintain the lead. The Cubs unveiled the dagger in the ninth when Rizzo doubled home a pair and Zobrist singled him home again to make it 8-2. Hector Rondon worked out of a first and third with one out jam in the bottom of the ninth to send the series back to Wrigley.

Rizzo had a monster game, going 3-5 with two doubles, two runs scored, and four RBIs. Zobrist went 4-4 with a run and two RBIs, and Fowler went 2-4 with two runs scored in support of Jon Lester, who went eight innings and allowed two runs on nine hits, walking two and striking out four for Chicago. Beltre led the Rangers with a 3-4 day with an RBI, Andrus went 2-5 with a run knocked in, and Wilson took the loss after going seven innings allowing five runs on seven hits, walking four and striking out three.

Saturday, August 19th

Game 6
@ '16 CHC 5, '11 TEX 1
W: Hendricks (2-1) | L: Ogando (1-1)

The Cubs got on the board quickly once again as Dexter Fowler singled to lead off the bottom of the first, and Kris Bryant launched an Alexei Ogando offering onto Waveland to make it 2-0 Chicago early. Meanwhile, Kyle Hendricks was allowing a few baserunners here and there, but was in command for most of the evening. In the fourth Addison Russell broke out again with a solo home run to make it 3-0 Cubs, and Hendricks helped his own cause in the sixth with an RBI single. That effectively knocked Ogando out of the game, and Kris Bryant greeted reliever Darren Oliver in the seventh with a solo shot down the line to make it 5-0. The Rangers finally got to Hendricks in the eighth with a Moreland double, a wild pitch to get to third, and an RBI groundout by Elvis Andrus to make it 5-1. Hector Rondon worked a scoreless ninth to force a winner-take-all Game 7.

Bryant broke out of a mini slump by going 3-4 with two homers and three driven in, Russell went 2-4 with a solo shot, and Hendricks threw eight innings of one run ball, allowing seven hits, no walks, and striking out four while also helping his own cause with an RBI single for Chicago. Mitch Moreland had a pinch hit double and scored a run, Ian Kinsler went 1-4 with a double, but that was about it for offense as the Rangers couldn't support Ogando, who finished the day after six innings, four runs, three of them earned, on eight hits while walking one and striking out five.

Sunday, August 20th

Game 7
@ '16 CHC 8, '11 TEX 3
W: Arrieta (3-0) | L: Holland (2-1)

Jake Arrieta struggled a little bit early, allowing the Rangers to get two runners on with only one out in the first, but got Mike Napoli to bounce into a double play to end the threat, and Dexter Fowler rewarded him with a leadoff home run in the bottom of the inning to get the Cubs on the board. Texas responded in kind in the second as Adrian Beltre hit one into the basket in left to tie the game, but Arrieta settled in after that. In the bottom of the third, Javier Baez walked, stole second, advanced to third on an Arrieta flyout, then scored on a Fowler double. Fowler came around on a Kris Bryant single, then Anthony Rizzo launched one to the juniper bushes in center to make it 5-1. Ben Zobrist followed with a double, advanced to third on an Addison Russell flyout, then Jason Heyward broke out of his long slump with an RBI single to tack on another run. Josh Hamilton and Napoli went back to back to lead off the fourth, but again Arrieta settled in. Texas' bullpen was able to keep the game within three runs until the seventh, when Bryant came through with a majestic two run shot to left center that made it 8-3. Hector Rondon came in for the eighth and gave up a leadoff double, but stranded Elvis Andrus at third, and Justin Grimm worked a perfect ninth to give the Cubs the tournament championship.

Bryant excelled again, going 2-4 with a home run, two runs scored, and three runs driven in, Fowler went 2-3 with a double, homer, two runs scored and two RBIs, Rizzo went 2-4 with a home run, Baez went 1-3 with two steals and two runs scored, and Heyward went 2-4 with an RBI in the biggest game of the tournament. They did all this in support of Jake Arrieta, who struggled a little bit again allowing three solo home runs, but no other hits while walking four and striking out four over seven innings for the Cubs. Rangers starter Derek Holland couldn't escape the third inning, allowing six runs on six hits with a walk in 2 2/3 frames, while Hamilton, Napoli, and Beltre each hit solo home runs for Texas.

To see the final bracket, click here.

CoCS MVP

Dexter Fowler ('16 CHC): 7 G, .423/.500/1.000, 4 HR, 1 2B, 1 3B, 10 R, 5 RBI, 1-1 SB

I want to note again that this award was strictly for this series, and Dex earned it for his seven game stretch. I considered giving the award to Kris Bryant, but Fowler's numbers were slightly better. With a look at the full postseason stats, I also wanted to name a Tournament Most Valuable Player.

MLB TOC MVP

Jake Arrieta ('16 CHC): 6 G (6 GS), 3-0, 2.05 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, .178/.260/.270, 44 IP, 10 ER, 27 H, 14 BB, 35 K; .308/.375/.385, 1 2B, 3 R, 1 RBI

This was a really tough call. Do I go with Kris Bryant, who finished the postseason tied for second in home runs, tied for third in RBIs, tenth in OPS among all qualified players, and finished second in Championship of Champions Series MVP voting? Or do I take the workhorse who started the most games in the postseason, including three winner-take-all games, where his team didn't lose a single start, and led the tournament in strikeouts while finishing third among all starters in OPS against? Bryant was maybe not even the best hitter in the entire postseason, but Arrieta was probably the best pitcher, and he was no slouch at the plate either. Jake gets the nod.

For the third straight round, the outcome was somewhat in doubt, but the 2016 Cubs were the best team in the Tournament of Champions for a reason, and they overcame another 3-1 series deficit and have been crowned the Champion of Champions! I would have been disappointed had this not been the ultimate result of this tournament, but I am thrilled that it was. Congratulations to arguably the most special team in Major League history, as they add to their legacy with a tournament championship!

The tournament is over, but I will have one final post tomorrow where I will name three All Star Teams: an American League and National League All Star Team, made up entirely of teams that did not make the postseason in their respective leagues, and then an All Tournament Team, made up of players who did make the postseason. Check back tomorrow to see who got named, and one last time, congratulations again to the 2016 Chicago Cubs!