Chicago Cubs: Anthony Rizzo and the Reds have history

Chicago Cubs: Chapman teases Rizzo & Cubs

The Cubs came into the series losing two games to the Washington Nationals before their arrival in the Skyline Chili state. After losing four of the five games, tensions were high during a tied fifth game of the set, as Aroldis Chapman (at the time with the Reds) was called in during the ninth inning and threw the Cubs out one after another.

Chapman was pumped up as the crowd got on its feet to cheer for the 100+ mph hurler. Every time the speed rate of Chapman’s pitches flashed on the scoreboard, the fans cheered with excitement as if in a carnival show. On one particular pitch, Chapman’s faulty release just about hit one of the Cubs batters. The wild pitch brought Rizzo and other teammates to the edge of the dugout to let Chapman know their displeasure. Chapman shrugged off the rowdy Cubs dugout and finished his out with a 103 mph fastball. After delivering the pitch, he stared into the Cubs dugout as if to say, “take that.”

The Cub’s announcers even commented at the time that Chapman should not have stared into the dugout after finishing the out. A more professional approach would have been to turn his back and wait for the next batter. Instead, he alienated an already beat down Cubs team that was on the edge of breaking.  The next batter for Chicago walked and the final batter grounded out. As Chapman finished he waved his glove in the direction of the Cubs dugout as if to say, “There, now little Cubbies, what are you going to say?”

This infuriated the Cubs even more as they grabbed their gloves to take the field.