Chicago Cubs: We’re witnessing the end of an remarkable era

If you were watching the Cubs-Cards game on Friday (and if you weren’t, what were you doing??) you saw a remarkable performance from Anthony Rizzo. Against the St Louis reliever, Daniel Ponce de Leon, who got ahead of him with two strikes, Rizzo fouled off eight straight pitches, and then, he homered—while standing on one leg!

If you look at the replay, Rizzo’s characteristic swing from his knees, becomes him hitting off his front foot while his back leg tries to reset itself—and he still homered!

More from Cubbies Crib

• Cubs: Adrian Sampson is forcing his way into the conversation
• Projecting the Chicago Cubs bullpen to open the 2023 season
• Cubs fans are beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel
• Justin Steele has evolved into a frontline starter for the Cubs
• The future of first base is murky right now for the Cubs

Rizzo then ran the bases laughing and bouncing like an exuberant youth. Which was great because his teammate, Joc Pederson, hit his homer earlier, and yes, he did Tatis’ shuffle, and then later doubled in two more Cubs runs.

It was a magnificent game, Wrigley was full, Bill Murray sang ‘Take Me Out to the Ballgame’ in his inimitable style, and we came back to beat our biggest after being down by four in the middle innings.

Chicago Cubs: Wait, there’s more – and it isn’t good

Oh yeah, I forgot, Rizzo is still unsigned for next year. Do you think any of the other owners watched that performance with its insane crowd reaction, and weren’t rubbing their money-stained hands together in glee?

Today Rizzo did what his infield counterpart Kris Bryant has been doing all year: he auditioned for his next team. Next team? We shouldn’t even be considering such a thing. This is his team – and should be the only one he plays for during the rest of his career.

Leaving this all to chance is a really bad idea. This Chicago Cubs team has shown it can be a force in the National League. The team’s management needs to get off their hands and start signing our stars, so we can keep getting moments like those we witnessed on Friday.