Anthony Rizzo by no means envisioned the Chicago Cubs would tear every part down so rapidly.
Rizzo endured the Cubs rebuild the primary go-around, turning into a cornerstone piece en path to a World Series title. But there’s a purpose he’s now sporting New York Yankees pinstripes and was sitting within the dwelling dugout reminiscing about his time with the Cubs earlier than his new staff staff eked out a 2-1 win in 13 innings Friday evening.
“I didn’t think that was going to happen the way it did, but in this game it’s really hard to win,” Rizzo stated. “And as a participant, as coaches, I believe as you get a bit farther away from the dugout and also you see it from extra of a pc standpoint, on paper, why didn’t groups win extra? I may see why it’s irritating. But on the sphere and within the clubhouse — I simply suppose it’s quite a bit more durable on the sphere than ever appears off (it).
“We did everything we could do every year with what we had. Those years are going to be some of the best years of my baseball life.”
Rizzo believes baseball is healthier when big-market groups just like the Cubs are at all times competing to win with a excessive payroll.
“It’s just a different year than the normal standard that we created there over the last seven years,” Rizzo stated.
Rizzo appears ahead to returning to Wrigley Field sometime. This weekend sequence being performed at Yankee Stadium makes it much less emotional for Rizzo to play his former staff, a roster that doesn’t characteristic too many acquainted faces after final 12 months’s overhaul. As Rizzo mentioned what it has been like seeing new gamers referred to as up and getting alternatives to impress the Cubs, it’s clear he has paid consideration since departing Chicago. He referenced P.J. Higgins hitting his first dwelling run and Frank Schwindel’s 2021 success and the way he bounced again this 12 months after his quick choice to the minors.
Rizzo’s shut friendships with Ian Happ and Jason Heyward play a task in staying up on happenings with the Cubs.
“It’s fun to see it,” Rizzo stated, “because you have guys that are grinding in this game for a while and they’re getting an opportunity, and opportunities in this game when you get older are not easy to come by.”
Going via one other rebuild after 10 years with the Cubs might need been powerful, and clearly Rizzo landed in an awesome spot with a Yankees staff that at present owns the most effective file in baseball.
As Rizzo mirrored on the timeline of the Cubs’ first rebuild, he recalled how there was a way that the 2014 commerce deadline could be the final time they’d be sellers. In the offseason, the Cubs employed Joe Maddon and signed left-hander Jon Lester.
“I mean, it felt far away until it didn’t,” Rizzo stated. “But we just knew some way, somehow, that in ‘15, we were going to be good and we really got on a roll there and rode that for a lot of years.”
This time subsequent 12 months catcher Willson Contreras may very well be in Rizzo’s spot, reminiscing concerning the group that has outlined his baseball profession. Contreras’ contract scenario for 2022 was lastly settled Thursday when he prevented an arbitration listening to by agreeing to a one-year, $9.625 million contract.
The Cubs reached out to Contreras’ agent Wednesday about making a deal. Contreras stated the arbitration listening to may’ve had an influence on him due to every part each side would have stated throughout it, so he’s glad they struck a deal.
“I’m really happy with the results that we got,” Contreras stated. “I believe each side gained.
“I’m looking forward to seeing (Jed Hoyer) and thank him for how everything went.”
No contract extensions have been introduced up between the 2 sides. As for whether or not the Cubs initiating contact with Contreras’ agent provides him any hope the staff will have interaction him in extension talks, Contreras replied, “Who knows?”
“I’m not focused on that,” he stated. “I’m focused on playing my season the way I’ve been playing, keep helping my teammates, whoever needs my help I’ll be there, lead the team the right way and I’m just going to keep going.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com