Chicago Cubs, Anthony Rizzo are poised to lead this year

The Chicago Cubs’ Anthony Rizzo is ready to lead the way this year. For the first time in his 30s? It’s the moment he’s lived for.

It’s the Chicago Cubs’ Anthony Rizzo first time in his 30s. What does that mean? Wait, what does it mean? Does it mean he’s going to ask questions later? He’s going to be a ‘clubhouse butt-kicker’? Not so fast. What is it mean to him to be a leader? “My style of leadership is my style.” h/t Gordon Wittenmyer, Chicago Sun-Times

Very well said. And he’s not going to change. He’s not going to start showing at 10 a.m. when he doesn’t have to be here until 2 p.m. That’s not his ‘style.’ Rizzo decides when he’s got something going on, and then he’ll arrive earlier.

“That’s pointless to me unless we’ve got something going on.”More from Cubbies CribCubs starting pitching has been thriving on the North SideMake no mistake: the Cubs are very much about power hittersCubs are giving pitcher Javier Assad a deserved shotCubs: It’s time to start thinking about potential September call-upsCubs: P.J. Higgins deserves to be in the lineup on a daily basis

Rizzo, 30, the face of the rebuild in 2012. He went from the Boston Red Sox to the San Diego Padres, and then to the Cubs in January of 2012. He’s been the poster boy for the franchise–even though he’s played for ‘one’ during his career. From Theo Epstein to Jed Hoyer, and the conglomeration of the two of them with the Cubs.

“I’ve seen a lot,” he said. “I’ve seen this whole operation grow. And it’s like family — from walking into Wrigley Field, to saying hello to the security guards, ushers, to my wife feeling comfortable, my parents feeling comfortable, all of it. That’s what makes it home to me.”

Although ‘family’ is a little deceiving, I mean, they tried to trade the other half of ‘Bryzzo’, Kris Bryant, during the offseason. Now, I don’t know how much they looked into it–but they tried.

“This is a business,” he said in January. “It’s as cutthroat as ever now.”

Winning the World Series, much less the Central Division? It’s hard on the players and coaches. Take the Los Angeles Dodgers. Head and shoulders above the rest of the pack, but no titles. The Red Sox? Won the World Series in 2018. In 2019? Third place, 19 games behind.

“Winning’s hard,” Rizzo said. “It’s hard.”

Winning is hard. The Atlanta Braves we’re good for a decade. One World Series title. One. From 1995 to 2005 they won one title–in 1995. The following nine years? Zilch. Just goes to show, you can have success as the Braves did. But the Braves got tired of the celebrations without the World Series. How about the Cubs?