You knew this day was coming, for a very long time, Chicago Cubs fans. However, it still really hurts, maybe more than we thought it even would, to see an era come to an end. Team Captain, first baseman and forever club legend Anthony Rizzo is gone. And that means Bryzzo is no more.
Aside from his vaccine ignorance and the dangerous recklessness that stance inspires, it’s almost impossible to say anything bad about #44, a man who represented himself and the organization very well.
“Hey, the Cubs still have Zach Davies and Jason Heyward!” pic.twitter.com/rXJbIqMAtJ
— The Tomfoolery of Professor John Frink (@Frustrated_Fan) July 30, 2021
He was dealt yesterday to the New York Yankees for minor leaguers RHP Alexander Vizcaíno and OF Kevin Alcántara. The fire sale had long already started, but this was the first major piece to be sold off- the first of the major building blocks that signify the end of the era.
Let’s take a look at the specific numbers, stats and details pertaining to this trade, as we intersperse that data with some of the more memorable tweets relating to this deal and the subsequent fallout.
Vizcaíno is the ninth-ranked prospect in the Yankees farm system according to Major League Baseball’s official site. The Dominican has posted a 4.95 ERA in 62 career minor league games (53 starts) and a 12-21 record.
He has averaged just over one strikeout per inning pitched.
He was named a South Atlantic League All-Star in 2019 with Low A Charleston, and for the season, between Charleston and High A Tampa, he was 6-6 with a 4.37 ERA with 38 walks, 128 strikeouts and a 1.31 WHIP.
As we say could goodbye to Bryzzo, w/ Anthony Rizzo leaving yesterday, Kris Bryant inevitably soon following, I reflect on interviewing you guys at dreadfully dull branded "events."
You guys did a great job, despite obviously not wanting to be there #CubTogether @IBWAA pic.twitter.com/erg4YcEy3t— Paul M. Banks (@PaulMBanks) July 30, 2021
Alcántara is the 12th-ranked prospect in the Yankees farm system according to MLB. He owns a .269 batting average with nine doubles, three triples, two home runs and 22 RBI in 49 career minor league games.
Alcántara this year has batted .360 (9-for-25) with a double, a home run and three RBI in eight games for the Florida Complex League Yankees. As opposed to the Florida Simplistic League Yankees.
Since joining the Cubs in 2012, Rizzo has amassed 242 home runs, 784 RBI, 276 doubles, a .272 average and a .372 OBP in 1,308 games for Chicago.
He leaves the North-Siders ranked sixth on the club’s all-time home run list, 10th in extra-base hits (538) and 13th in doubles.
When the Cubs front office claims to be losing money, they're lying. They intentionally fail to mention the increasing (constantly) value of the franchise. They paid $850million for the team in 2009. The Cubs are now valued at $3.35Billion. Quadrupled their money in 12 years.
— Michael (@Schmutzie_) July 29, 2021
A three-time N.L. All-Star, four-time N.L. Gold Glove winner and a N.L. Silver Slugger Award winner, Anthony Rizzo was the also the recipient of the 2017 Roberto Clemente Award, which recognizes distinguished off the field service and good works.
Rizzo was acquired by Chicago from San Diego on January 6, 2012, with minor league pitcher Zach Cates in exchange for pitcher Andrew Cashner and minor league outfielder Kyung-Min Na. He was the very first true building block put in place by Theo Epstein to build up the team from bottom feeders to champions.
Anthony Rizzo also finished in the top four in NL MVP voting twice (fourth in both 2015 and 2016) and he caught the final out in the 2016 World Series.
NEW: #CubTogether #MLBTradeDeadline Preview.
Should be an emotional week, or maybe a cathartic one, or maybe a long overdue one.
Or maybe all of the above.
We cover it all with @PaulMBanks and then learn more about the great @Javiipeno.@IbwaaPodcast @IBWAA https://t.co/MGI56iH2sb
— Jason Takefman (@JasonBTakefman) July 28, 2021
He was also drafted by the Boston Red Sox (so he’s now played for three of the biggest brand name franchises in baseball) in the sixth round of the 2007 Draft out of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.
Since 2014, Anthony Rizzo ranks second among all National League hitters in games played (1,061) and runs batted in (656), third in home runs (204), sixth in on-base percentage (.382), tied for sixth in walks (521), eighth in OPS (.884) and 10th in slugging percentage (.502).
Since his first full season in 2011, his .995 fielding percentage is the fifth-best at the position (min. 650 games).
question for the panel:
The tweet length answer for why the mid-1980s #Bears only won 1 Super Bowl because Buddy Ryan and Mike Ditka couldn't coexist.
What will be the short length answer for the 2010s #Cubs only winning 1 World Series? #CubTogether
I'll hang up and listen— Paul M. Banks (@PaulMBanks) July 30, 2021
Anthony Rizzo is one of seven Cubs with six-or-more seasons of at least 25 home runs, joining Sammy Sosa (12), Billy Williams (10), Ernie Banks (10), Ron Santo (eight), Aramis Ramirez (seven) and Ryne Sandberg (six). He’s also the club career leader in times being hit by a pitched.
While we knew this was coming for weeks, maybe months, it’s still a shame it had to end like this. It didn’t have to be this way, but well, Ricketts just didn’t care anymore. No matter he said, to quote Phil Collins, “it’s all been a pack of lies.”
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank, partnered with News Now. Banks, the author of “Transatlantic Passage: How the English Premier League Redefined Soccer in America” and “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry,” has regularly appeared in WGN, Sports Illustrated and the Chicago Tribune.
Follow him on Twitter and Instagram.