There’s a hashtag #BecauseItsTheCubs. Get to know and love it Chicago Cubs fans. The Cubs token All-Star game choice is ineligible #BecauseItsTheCubs
Yes, Jeff Samardzija was traded on the Fourth of July to the Oakland Athletics. He was named a NL All-Star, but then ruled ineligible. Major League Baseball truly embodies the “everyone gets a trophy” mentality of this generation. It’s a mentality that both myself and Michigan State Coach Tom Izzo DESPISE.
Yes, every MLB team gets at least one All-Star, even the Kansas City Royals. Samardzija will be inactive in the for the All-Star Game, but will receive full honors. Of course, the Cubs did get their token representation on the team:SS Starlin Castro. Oh and Anthony Rizzo is in the final vote, so there’s that.
But what about the big picture? When will we see the Cubs finally contend and compete again? When will the Cubs have multiple All-Stars in the game? Voted in; getting there on the strength of meritocracy. I posed this question to the Fox Sports lead announcing and analysis team yesterday.
In the call FOX Sports Play-by-play announcer Joe Buck, analysts Tom Verducci and Harold Reynolds analyze the Cubs rebuilding project and the potential of Anthony Rizzo. I asked about what the ceiling for Rizzo is and when the grand plan of Theo Epstein will start to take shape. Because basically the goalposts keep getting moved back; and then moved back again. And basically the Cubs will start playing for the Wild Card and the NL Central again when they decide to start adding veteran pieces to complement the kids.
When they do more than just rely on the stellar blue chip prospects, and have proven commodites- things will turn around. Here’s more on the Cubs from Fox:
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