Reds beat writer for Cincinnati Enquirer, co-host Cubs #ReKap podcast; formerly with Chicago Sun-Times. @GDubMLB
NEW YORK — Anthony Rizzo chose his words carefully.
The All-Star slugger who was the face of the Chicago Cubs for arguably their greatest six-year run in history — the one who many Cubs loyalists believe still should be the face of the franchise — was asked after three years in New York Yankee pinstripes to assess the difference between the two big-market operations.
“Not much of a difference,” Rizzo said with a straight face. “Pretty much when I was in Chicago it was all building toward winning, and here it’s all built to win.”
His very surroundings belied his words as he spoke in the Yankees clubhouse in the Bronx during this recent conversation, his locker next to $300 million slugger Giancarlo Stanton, a few spots from $360 million Aaron Judge and the man expected to be baseball’s next $300 million (maybe $400 million) player this winter, Juan Soto.
In fact, the processes, effort and demands from the highest parts of the two organizations are so dissimilar that consternation simmers in New York over the continued playing time of Alex Verdugo and its half-game deficit to the Baltimore Orioles for the best record in the American League as it opened a weekend series at Wrigley Field — all but assured of its 25th postseason appearance in 30 years.
The Cubs and our resident big fan, David Kaplan, meanwhile, were getting their hopes stirred up again over that recent six-game winnings streak that put them over .500 for the first time since May and had them at a mere four-game deficit in the wild-card standings for what would be a first playoff berth since that 60-game schedule during the pandemic season prevented them from fully blowing an early division lead.
“I mean, it’s what the Yankees have always done, right, my entire life, since I was born,” Rizzo acknowledged of the big-ticket stars in his clubhouse. “To be a part of it and see them paying Judge, bringing in Soto, [$162 million pitcher] Carlos Rodon — those contracts — is nice. It’s guys that have worked hard for it.
“But as far as the difference in baseball and operations, it’s pretty similar.”
Rizzo still has several former teammates and pals in the Cubs clubhouse as he returns to Wrigley for the first time since the emotional 20-hours in the summer of 2021 when Cubs president Jed Hoyer blew up the 2016 World Series core and traded Rizzo, Kris Bryant and Javy Baez.
Demonstrating the kind of tact and diplomacy that made him a go-to frontman for media with the Cubs, Rizzo again chose words carefully to another question about those buddies.
“Do I feel for them?” he said, repeating the question. “I want my friends to do well, so … But at the end of the day they’re playing major league baseball, so. …”
As for whether Craig Counsell has proven or disproven the wisdom of Hoyer’s kneecapping of another Rizzo friend, former manager David Ross, Rizzo acknowledged long-time respect for Counsell and the “shock in the baseball world” of that whiplash, $40 million change in managers.
“It’s a cruel business. That’s what it is,” Rizzo said. “Rossy’s a good friend. You take that out of it, and just look at the business aspect — it’s a cruel business.”
Also, he added, “You can’t look at one year to see if it’s going to make a difference.”
Rizzo, who was the first and lasting cornerstone of that 2015-2020 run for the Cubs that produced nothing but winning seasons, five postseason berths and the franchise’s first World Series title in 108 years.
He’ll forever be remembered and beloved by Chicago Cubs fans, even as he has become a fan favorite of the team his family from New Jersey rooted for as he grew up.
But anyone looking at these two franchises and what they demand from their front office and field bosses, what they demand from their players and how they treat their fans can judge for themselves.
As in Aaron Judge.
And Gerrit Cole. And Soto. And Rodon. And Stanton.
And, yes Rizzo.
