Despite an Unhappy Ending, It Sure Was Good to See Anthony Rizzo in the World Series Again

[Bailey Hall]

Did it have to be with the Yankees? Yes? Well, then, so be it. Even in a diminished role and at an advanced age, the former lion of the Cubs got another chance to roar in October.

Image courtesy of © Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images

In the climactic World Series that concluded Wednesday night, there was one player Cubs fans watched more closely than any others: Anthony Rizzo. As not only an integral player for the 2016 World Series-winning Cubs (with 5 RBIs in 7 games and so many big moments during the team's postseason run), Rizzo became the face of the Cubs’ marketing strategy, and his legacy in Chicago lives on in many of our hearts. His departure from Chicago to New York was a sorrowful one; and for me, as an avid Yankees hater, there was a slight sense of betrayal: he had traded his soul to the devil of baseball. Regardless, we’ve kept a close eye on him in his post-Cubs career, lovingly or not, and this World Series was no different.

Rizzo has appeared in eight postseasons: 2015-2018, 2020-2022, and now this year. His career postseason batting average is .225, but that doesn't capture all the hits, plunkings, and big plays in which he was involved. In this year's World Series against the Dodgers, Rizzo had an anemic .125 batting average, with two singles to show for his 16 at-bats. With four walks and two times hit by pitches, though, he did get on base at a solid rate from the sixth place in the batting order.

As he was often the cleanup hitter for the Cubs, batting 6th is a change, but not necessarily for the worse. Known for his close-to-the-plate stance and tendency to choke up after the second strike, Rizzo gave the Yankees tough at-bats and lengthened their lineup. This is one of Rizzo’s most honorable and noteworthy qualities, because seeing a batter who doesn't swing for the fences with every pitch is rare, and it has led to much of his success not only in the postseason but in his career as a whole. For example, in Game 2, he was hit by a pitch in the 9th inning, leading to one of the few scoring opportunities the Yankees had all night. With broken fingers sapping his power, he fought to keep the line moving and give his team's stars more chances to win.

Not only known for his skills at the plate, with the Cubs, Rizzo was a great fielder who would stretch (it often seemed) halfway to second to catch a short-hop throw from third. However, this cannot entirely be said for his career with the Yankees. Since 2021, the year the Cubs dealt him away, he has -9 DRS (Defensive Runs Saved), indicating that his fielding has been a liability for the Bronx Bombers. As a four-time Gold Glove winner, a statistic like this is surprising, but the Yankees have struggled with their infield defense all season. We saw Rizzo's capacity for that long stretch diminished a bit by his balky back, and he wasn't able to change direction quickly enough to beat Mookie Betts to the base on a crucial play in Game 5, but that was the fault of a pitcher who failed to cover the bag.

In multiple bunting situations, we saw how tenacious Rizzo still is as a playmaker, as he charged to within five yards of batters to hunt an out on the lead runner. In Game 1, he also raced far back down the right-field line to catch a pop fly far out of the reach of right fielder Juan Soto.

His abilities on the field are fading, but that is not all he has to offer. With his signature, classic baseball look and charming smile, he was the face of the Cubs, and even among the big names on the roster of the Yankees, Rizzo is still one of the most beloved players and leaders. He gave a pregame speech to the team before Game 3, and at several critical junctures during the Series, he went over and calmed down flustered Yankees hurlers, acting as an extra coach on the field.

You can only stay mad at him for going to the East Coast devil for so long, before you remember it is Rizzo, after all, and how can you hate a guy like that? It didn't end with a World Series ring this fall, but Rizzo's time with the Yankees afforded us all a chance to remember and celebrate the contributions he made to the Series eight years ago. He's now a free agent, and will keep trying to find another ring elsewhere.

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