It may be of little consolation for fans of the Cleveland Indians the day after losing a dramatic Game Seven of the World Series, but the 2016 Tribe defied the odds, defied the experts, and defied a good deal of conventional baseball wisdom to come so close to winning a championship.
History suggests that the story for the franchise may be far from over, too. Just look at the now-World Champion Chicago Cubs, who last year got their first real taste of postseason play, only to be swept in the National League Championship Series by the New York Mets.