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Rays broadcaster Freed shares good omen with Cubs' Maddon

 
Andy Freed cutline going here.
Andy Freed cutline going here.
Published Oct. 31, 2016

CHICAGO — Cubs manager Joe Maddon got some inspiration going into Sunday's game from an old friend, Rays radio broadcaster Andy Freed.

As he often does on weekends, Freed was listening Sunday morning to SiriusXM's '70s channel reruns of the old Casey Kasem countdown shows.

This week it was featuring 1979, and that got Freed — who grew up in the Baltimore area — thinking about that year's World Series. That's a tough one for him to forget as the Pirates trailed three games to one — as the Cubs did going into play Sunday — but came back to beat the Orioles, winning the last two on the road.

Knowing Maddon is also a big Kasem fan, Freed shot him a text about the coincidence. Maddon appreciated the long-distance dedication.

"The synchronicity in the world is always coming together," Maddon said. "So I'm taking solace in the fact that Andy gave me that information."

Further drawing on his Rays days, Maddon said the experience of going through the 2008 World Series — a five-game loss to Philadelphia — helped him forge his philosophical base this time.

"I think I'm more certain, maybe, that I think it's the right thing to do," he said. "Maybe having not gone through it before, I might not be as certain about it. I'm just thinking that right now.

"You guys know me. I feel very strongly about what we do and how we do it. And even if sometimes a thing doesn't work, that doesn't mean it was the wrong thing to do."

ANOTHER DAY: The Indians took the field Sunday night playing for the most they ever could, one victory from clinching the World Series championship. And the Cubs faced the ultimate challenge in needing to win the game to keep their season alive.

Naturally, both managers wanted their players to treat it like any other day.

"That's our biggest challenge, I think, as you get into the postseason, is fighting to have a sense of normalcy," Indians manager Terry Francona said. "Because in our game you can't give them the Knute Rockne speech every day. It's not like you can hit longer because you're going to be better. We're 200 games into the season counting spring training."

Francona wasn't that relaxed, though, tossing and turning Saturday then ordering $44 of room service ice cream around 3:30 a.m.

SERIES SCENE: Cubs Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg threw out the first pitch. … Pearl Jam lead singer Eddie Vedder, a regular at Cubs postgame parties, sang Take Me Out to the Ball Game. … Former Cubs PA announcer Wayne Messmer, a fan favorite, sang God Bless America and the national anthem. … Among celebs on hand were actors Bill Murray and John Travolta, singer Lady Gaga, comedian Amy Schumer and Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh, who brought a glove.

MISCELLANY: Seven steals tied a Series mark set in 1907; Cleveland's Rajai Davis had three. ... Indians pitchers struck out 14, making it 13 games this postseason with at least eight. ... Of the previous 64 Series that were 3-2, the team leading won 43 times. ...

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Former Rays OF Brandon Guyer started in right for Cleveland. … Acknowledging it was somewhat counterintuitive given the Cubs' offensive struggles, Maddon opted for defense, with Jason Heyward in right. … Among different tactics to inspire their team, Cubs fans took to writing messages on the exterior brick walls of Wrigley Field. … First-pitch temperature was 50 degrees.