MLB's 2016 World Series: Major League versus Rookie of the Year

The 2016 World Series is officially set for Oct 25, and features two franchises -- the Chicago Cubs and Cleveland Indians -- that are desperately in need of ending championship droughts (actively the first and second-longest in MLB).

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One one side, you have the Cubs chasing history because they have not won the World Series since 1908, and their last appearance was in 1945. On the other side, the Indians have not won a championship since 1948, but have had three other opportunities (1954, 1995 and 1997) to win a

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World Series title since. Either way, both teams have a lot a stake.
So much can be evaluated in this matchup from pitching, all-stars, postseason heroes, managers and even baseball movies from yesteryear.
I meant that last one. Baseball movies have given pop-culture plenty for the sports library, and some are even iconic. Many would reference Field of Dreams, Bull Durham, The Natural, Eight Men Out, A League of Their Own, etc.
But in this World Series the Cubs have 1993's Rookie of the Year, and the Indians have the 1989 classic Major League.

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Even for their respective time, both movies involved teams that had a history of despair as they were the laughing stocks for both films. Baseball fans are well aware of the franchise's misfortunes (the Cubs more so nationally).
So let's use both movies in comparison to make our case for the favorite to win the World Series. I realize this is unorthodox, but humor me for the sake of having a laugh.

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Each team has their star power, and both movies had theirs as well.
Major League had Wesley Snipes (Blade), Charlie Sheen (Two and a Half Men) and Renee Russo (The Thomas Crown Affair). We will even include Tom Berenger (Inception), Corbin Bernsen (L.A. Law), Dennis Haysbert (24) and Bob Uecker (Mr. Belvedere).
Rookie of the Year had Thomas Ian Nichols (American Pie), Daniel Stern (Home Alone), the late John Candy (Planes, Trains and Automobiles), Gary Busey (Lethal Weapon), Dan Hedaya (Clueless), Neil Flynn (The Middle), W. Earl Brown (Deadwood) as well as Barry Bonds and Bobby Bonilla.
Major League gets the check mark here by a hair.

Rookie of the Year had Henry Rowengartner (Nichols), a pitcher throwing fireballs because of an accident during his little league game, and the Cubs have that in Aroldis Chapman.
Major League had a pitcher dealing some heat too in Rick "Wild Thing" Vaughn (Sheen), and though Andrew Miller is not THAT kind of a power pitcher, he has practically been perfect.

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Rookie of the Year wins this battle by a very slight edge.
Most funny moments must play a role in this argument since both movies are comedies.
Major League had Cerrano performing (or at least trying) sacrifices and leaving gifts for Jobu, Doyle drinking heavily or cursing during radio broadcasts when the Indians stunk, the team improvising by creating a whirlpool tub by using a boat engine to agitate the water, etc.

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Rookie of the Year had the hilarious Phil Brickma slapstick moments where his moronic behavior was on full display, Rowengartner breaking his orthopedist's nose causing the doctor to say "funky buttlovin'" and Henry's heckling of an opposing pitcher while on first base (among other less memorable moments).

Major League wins the tiebreaker and the 1990s baseball movie matchup.
Even though this will have zero bearing on how the series will turn out, it still helps some nostalgia remind us of these enjoyable films.
In reality, a Cubs World Series win is more likely, is best for the league and makes for the best story overall.
I picked Chicago to win it all before the postseason began, and I also picked this matchup for the championship series.
Go, Cubs, Go!

Diamondbacks remove Addison Reed from closer role

    The Arizona Diamondbacks made the decision to go with a closer by committee Friday afternoon after the struggles of Addison Reed have not shown any signs of going away.
    The Diamondbacks currently sit in fourth place with a 15-18 record, and are 6.5 games behind the first-place Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West.
    Arizona fans are no strangers to the dramatic ninth innings Reed has experienced since joining the Diamondbacks in 2014, but his 2015 campaign has been concerning, thus the change by first-year manager Chip Hale.
    In the 10.0 innings Reed has pitched so far, he has picked up only two saves to match his two blown saves, has an 0-2 record and has a career-high 7.20 ERA. It is only 33 games into the season, but at some point Hale does need to consider other options to not fall too far behind in the division.
    Perhaps the biggest factor to Reed's inflated ERA is the fact he is allowing runners on base at an alarming rate, and has allowed 19 baserunners (15 hits and four walks) leading to a bloated 1.90 WHIP.
    The move comes at a time when the Diamondbacks will open up a seven-game road trip against the Philadelphia Phillies and the Miami Marlins -- and both clubs are under .500 -- so finding out if the bullpen has a reliever who can do damage control in the ninth inning is something Hale should experiment with at this time.
    According to Nick Piecoro, the Diamondbacks beat writer for AZ Central Sports, Hale said veteran Brad Ziegler "could be an option for the ninth inning but plans to keep his options open in case Ziegler is needed earlier," via Piecoro's Twitter account.
    Ziegler has experience as a closer when he compiled 13 saves in 2013 after taking over for former Diamondbacks closer J.J. Putz.
    Hale does not expect this to be a permanent solution as he stated the reason for Reed's struggles are mechanical because of a short spring training for the 26-year-old reliever.
    Piecoro also tweeted that Hale can see Reed "returning to closer's role once he gets himself back on track."
    Finally, Piecoro tweeted that Reed accepts the change and said, "There's not one part of me that thinks I've been throwing the ball somewhat well."
    Reed has 103 career saves in his five major-league seasons. Before being traded to Arizona in 2014, Reed spent his first three season with the Chicago White Sox.

Information was gathered using outside media sources: espn.com, arizonasports.com, twitter.com, baseball-reference.com, and azcentral.com.