The playoffs always come with their fair share of shocks and surprises. However, this year’s MLB postseason was as sure a thing as anything in quite some time.

In the American League, the Cleveland Indians were essentially already placed in the Fall Classic. Members of the media had them penciled in, as did fans across Major League Baseball. Then came the remembrance of the old adage “Don’t count your chickens before they hatch.” The Indians took the first two games of their American League Division Series against the New York Yankees, but would go on to lose the following three games and the series. This collapse, and shocking upset simply begs the question: what went wrong for the Cleveland Indians?

Looking at Cleveland as they entered the postseason, they had all the makings of a team that should go on to win a World Series. Balanced offense that included Francisco Lindor, Jose Ramirez, Edwin Encarnacion, and Jason Kipnis. In the rotation, they had an ace in Corey Kluber, plus another quality starter in Carlos Carrasco. Out of the bullpen, the team brought back all the important pieces of last postseason’s super bullpen, which consisted of Bryan Shaw, Dan Otero, Cody Allen, and Andrew Miller. Moreover, the Indians are managed by arguably the best skipper in the game, Terry Francona.

So again, what exactly went wrong for Cleveland? What could have possibly happened to the juggernaut that broke the record for most consecutive wins? Well, to be frank, the pitching became a problem. Trevor Bauer turned in a good game in game one, but not much after that. Kluber went 0-1 in his two starts, while posting a 12.79 ERA. Carrasco pitched well, but at that point, the ever-important momentum had shifted into the favor of the young and hungry Bronx Bombers.

What the series between Cleveland and New York showed the world is the importance of gaining momentum. There was a considerable shift between Game 2 and Game 3, where the most pivotal moment of the series occurred. Yankees Manager Joe Girardi was crucified by the New York media for his decision not to challenge a hit-by-pitch call that benefited Cleveland. That play allowed the Indians to come back and tie the game at eight after trailing 8-3. Somewhere in there, Girardi held himself accountable, taking the pressure off his players and allowing them to have fun, and just simply play baseball. New York would go on to win the next three games, totally altering the postseason landscape.

The Indians simply fell victim to a team that went on a run. The Yankees were not only playing for themselves, but for the job of their beloved manager. The Indians were playing for, apparently, just an overstated World Series drought in a city that only cares about its teams when convenient. The Indians were, and, arguably, still are the best team in the American League, but this year they lost sight of who they were. Last season, Cleveland succeeded with their underdog identity. Perhaps a humbling moment like this is exactly what Cleveland needs to prepare them mentally for another postseason run in 2018.