Chicago Cubs: Presenting the top three players of 2019

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Who stood out this season for the Chicago Cubs? Who would Ernie Banks name as the 2019 Top three players of the All-Cub Awards?

I’ve written numerous critical comments and articles about the Chicago Cubs. Then I usually post them to social media. Once on social media, commentary explodes about good players and bad and why this guy is better than that guy and all the rest.

After listening to fans and reading what they’ve posted in these fan groups across social media, going into the New Year, it seems only right that we praise the heroics, play and deeds of three of the Chicago Cubs top players of 2019 in the first annual, “All-Cub Awards”.

This was the criterion I used for selecting this year’s winners:

Plays their heart out and leaves nothing on the field.
Puts up valuable offensive production for the team consistently.
Valuable member of society that gives back.
Demonstrates Cubs spirit

To elaborate on those criterion (hey I’ve got to make a living too) I’ve weighed many fans’ opinions about players and who is deserving of the title of one of the best Cubs of 2019. The player should be out there giving life and limb for the win and at the same time producing offensively if possible (pitchers can hit too… sometimes), is making a contribution back to society and shows that Cub spirit on or off the field.

When we think of these well-rounded players of the year, we think of the type of player Ernie Banks was and know exactly the kind of player we’re honoring. These are the kind of players that if Banks were alive today, he’d call ‘All-Cub’.

On behalf of Cub fans everywhere, here are my fan 2019 All-Cub awards.

Chicago Cubs: the Chicago Cubs Twitter-Pitcher

3. All-Cubs Awards – Pitcher, Yu Darvish

I love it when a player answers his critics and no one did it with more vigor and pure athleticism than Chicago Cubs ace Yu Darvish. This guy could not catch a good headline if he ran down a pick pocket on the L. If the articles of the day weren’t about the size of the fence around his property, then they talked about how we was going to choke during big games.

So how does Darvish answer?

Well it depends how you are attacking Darvish, because he’ll defend his name on the field and in social media. Let’s take a look at some of his All-Cub field heroics.

In Darvish’s first win at Wrigley Field as a Cub, the right-hander pitched six dominant shutout innings. Later in the season against the New York Mets, Darvish pitched eight full innings for the first time since 2017, scattering five hits, one walk and striking out seven.

In August, Jesse Rogers of ESPN wrote of Darvish:

Consider this: Darvish is the first pitcher since at least 1893 to strike out eight or more batters, without issuing a walk, in five consecutive starts. And if he gets through the first inning without giving up a free pass to the Mets on Tuesday night, he’ll own the longest MLB walkless streak of the season.

Then in late August, Darvish introduced the new curveball into his repertoire, the tenth different pitch Darvish had thrown all season. He throws it in a game successfully a week after learning it from Chicago Cubs closing pitcher Craig Kimbrel.

In early September, Darvish made news again striking out 14 batters to lead the Cubs to a much-needed 4-1 victory over the Padres in San Diego. Also in September came a tough-luck loss for the ace pitcher and Chicago Cubs. Darvish allowed three runs on seven hits over 8.1 innings, striking out 12 and taking a loss against the Cardinals. Darvish has left it all on the field this season and has earned the respect of pitchers all over MLB.

Darvish hasn’t had a lot of offense as a pitcher but this year he recorded five hits, two walks, three RBI and one run for the offense. That’s not bad for a pitcher and the best Darvish has done in his career.

Darvish has shown his Cubs spirit off the field while having fun defending himself on Twitter; when attacked he has no problem telling trolls to “eat fried chicken until death”. He’s also not shying away from any controversy online, especially when Milwaukee Brewers MVP, Christian Yelich was being scrutinized along with other teams for cheating and insults Darvish. Darvish had no issues stating his thoughts, even when it caused tempers to flare. In ethical settings, we call that candor and that’s a good part of Darvish’s Cubs spirit.

Many people don’t know that Darvish is one of the most generous sports professionals in the game today. Darvish gives money to fight ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease), help people suffering from natural disasters and help provide clean water for developing countries. The Yu Darvish Water Fund established in 2007 in collaboration with the Japan Water Forum supplies safe water to people who face contamination of water in developing countries and lack drinkable water. Darvish donates 100,000 JPY for every win he records to this fund.

Based on my criteria, Chicago Cubs pitcher Yu Darvish takes this year’s bronze or third place finish in the “2019 All-Cub Awards”.

Chicago Cubs: Played the game like a breath of fresh air

2. All-Cubs Awards – Outfielder, Nicholas Castellanos

Chicago Cubs outfielder, Nicholas Castellanos came onto the Cubs team like a breath of fresh air and never stopped. Listen, we know that the chances of getting Castellanos back in a Cubs uniform are slim but let’s recognize that this guy that came in with two months left in the season, left it all on the field for our team. The fans know it and talk about it daily in groups. They would love to have him back but almost everyone understands that the Cubs don’t have the money for him that he really deserves.

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Castellanos became a leader of the club in a very short time. Fans loved him and especially the 1.002 OPS he had with the team. It was like nothing that had happened all season for the Cubs.

Every time Castellanos was up to bat there was chance this was going to be a home run or he was going to get on base. There was hardly any doubt. In 212 at-bats for the Cubs, Castellanos struck out 47 times but got 68 hits that included 21 doubles and 16 home runs.

This is what Chicago Cubs President of baseball operations Theo Epstein said about Castellanos to NBC Sports Chicago:

“Man, I love everything about Nick Castellanos,” Theo Epstein said in his end-of-season presser Monday afternoon. “What a job he did coming in. I don’t think you can ask more of an in-season trade acquisition than what he did. The production, the consistency, the dynamic at-bats that he had and then the way he went about it — just with a lot of passion, a lot of professionalism, a lot of hard work, a team-oriented approach. Really became invested in the Cubs and his teammates in a short period of time. “

That was evident on 30 August when Castellanos already hit a two-run homer in the first inning against the Milwaukee Brewers but an inning later hits a four-seam fastball to extend the Cubs lead to 5-0. This hit may go down as legend to Cubs fans as Castellanos coffin-slammed the bat against the ground before rounding the bases.

Beside his prowess at bat, Castellanos played humbly among his new-found successes with the Cubs and told the media of his struggle with his father’s brain cancer which many fans related to. Castellanos often repeated how happy he was to be in Chicago.

It didn’t hurt that Castellanos embraced Cubs fans and the Wrigley-way of life. During an interview he stood and listened to the mantra song of “Go-Cubs-Go” just blown away by the fans singing, right after sweeping the Milwaukee Brewers in August. Castellanos looked around him and said,

“Listen to these people.”

He told reporters that it’s like a new boost of energy every time he played in Wrigley Field. That attitude and Cubs spirit endeared Castellanos to fans last season. The only other consideration for the number two spot of the All-Cubs Awards was Willson Contreras for his enthusiastic approach to every game and his heroic stand against the harsh treatment of the people of Venezuela.

However, Contreras just couldn’t match the dynamic spirit and boost that Castellanos brought to the Cubs last season when compared side-by-side. Based on my criteria, Chicago Cubs outfielder Nicholas Castellanos takes this year’s silver or second place finish in the “2019 All-Cub Awards”.

(Photo by Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images) /

Chicago Cubs: the undisputed leader of the team, 2019 Winner

1. All-Cubs Awards – First baseman, Anthony Rizzo

It is with great pleasure and honor that Anthony Rizzo is named the 2019 All-Cub best player awardee. Rizzo is the type of player that does not stop, keeps producing and whose numbers are always getting better.

This season Anthony Rizzo hit 27 home runs, two more than last season. With less times at bat this season than last (512 /566) Rizzo understandably has fewer hits than in 2018 (150/160). However, all the other offensive stats went up for Rizzo from 2018 including: OPS (.924 / .846) SLG (.520 / .470) and on-base percentage (.405 / .376). Rizzo is another player you expected would get a hit every time he came up to bat, especially with only 86 strikeouts for 571 at bats.

Let’s not forget how Rizzo always answers the call when asked to be the leadoff man? Usually, the Cubs win and Rizzo ends up with a hit or home run during those outings. Rizzo is without a doubt the Cubs best leadoff choice – always.

Rizzo will never say die for his team and plays hurt sometimes because he knows that him being out there on the field or batting gives the Cubs a better chance than without him.

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It’s also about time that we recognized how much this guy gives up his body to get us on base. In September, Rizzo broke the record for being hit by the most pitches in Cubs history. Frank Chance held the record formerly but in September Rizzo passed the 108-year record with 139 hits by a pitch. Rizzo finished the season with a Cubs record of 141 HBP.

Looking for the guy that everyone loves? Look no further as confirmed by Chicago Cubs President of Baseball operations, Theo Epstein recently during contract discussions:

“The way I look at him is that he’s a special player and he’s done so much for the organization and the city that we value him very, very highly and we think highly of him as a person,” Epstein said. “He’s closely associated with our organization, our brand and everything that we’re trying to do.”

Just a month ago, Rizzo helped raise $1.3 million for kids with cancer. Of course fans know that Rizzo was once one of these kids himself and so they endorse the first baseman’s cause and always support him around Chicago; he is one of Chicago’s most endearing and loved sports figures. In July, a nine-year-old kid asked Rizzo to hit a moonshot for him as he organized a 5K run for kids with cancer. Rizzo answered Lambert’s request with grand slam against the San Diego Padres. You just can’t make up better stories than this and Anthony Rizzo is part of all of these tales.

Even with a lateral sprain in July, Rizzo couldn’t keep away from the team, driving around in a scooter to get to practice and meetings. The scooter was purple and white with shiny tassels and flowers on the basket made for snacks. If this isn’t evidence of Rizzo’s Cubs spirit which hasn’t died or changed since he joined the club in 2012 than nothing is!

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In all fairness, an honorable mention must be given to outfielder Kyle Schwarber due to his offensive production and work with charity this season. Schwarber is considered a runner-up for the first place spot this year. Schwarber led the team in home runs and no one ever doubts his Cubs spirit. A great All-Cub performance from Kyle Schwarber this year.

Any way you slice it, Anthony Rizzo is the undisputed leader of the club in word, deed, action, play and community involvement. Based on my criteria, Chicago Cubs statesman, Ernie Banks would have been proud to honor first baseman Anthony Rizzo with the 2019 All-Cub Awards Player of the Year is Anthony Rizzo.

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