Cubs make history with 7 all-star selections
If you're going to send seven players to the All-Star Game, you might as well make a little history.
The Chicago Cubs did that Tuesday, as they placed seven on the roster for next Tuesday's All-Star Game at San Diego.
Their entire infield will go as starters: first baseman Anthony Rizzo, second baseman Ben Zobrist, third baseman Kris Bryant and shortstop Addison Russell.
The only time one team's infield started a Midsummer Classic was 1963, when the St. Louis Cardinals sent Bill White, Julian Javier, Ken Boyer and Dick Groat. Second baseman Javier was a sub for the injured Bill Mazeroski of the Pirates.
In addition to the infield, other Cubs going to San Diego are center fielder Dexter Fowler and pitchers Jake Arrieta and Jon Lester.
Rizzo is the first Cub to lead the NL in fan voting since Derrek Lee in 2005. The Cubs have never had five players named to start the All-Star Game and are the first team to do so since the 1985 San Diego Padres. This is the biggest Cubs contingent to make the all-star team since eight were named in 2008.
“It means a lot,” said the 22-year-old Russell, making his first all-star appearance. He had a 2-homer day in Tuesday's 9-5 loss to the Reds. “Ever since I was a little kid, that's all I wanted to do, was make the All-Star Game. Just to be able to do that in a short amount of time that I have in the big leagues makes it a little bit better. Hopefully it's the first of a few.”
It's also the first All-Star Game for Arrieta, who won the Cy Young Award last year and just may find himself the starting pitcher in the Midsummer Classic.
“There you go,” he said. “I think it's up for grabs, maybe. I think there are several guys that could be deserving of starting the game, whether it's me or not. It's not a huge deal one way or another. It would be great to start. It would also be great to pitch in the game, just to be a part of the three days or so in San Diego. Either way they go, it's still going to be a really good experience for all of us.”
Arrieta was chosen by the players while Lester was chosen by NL manager Terry Collins. This is Lester's fourth all-star team but his first in the National League.
Fowler is on the disabled list, but he's hoping his hamstring heals in time for him to play in his first All-Star Game.
“Yeah, it's awesome,” said Fowler, who didn't have a team all winter until re-signing with the Cubs early in spring training. “Definitely a blessing. I worked hard this off-season and endured a lot this off-season. Fortunately I came back here and had the start I did.”
Zobrist, a two-time American League all-star, gave a tip of the cap to Cubs fans, who got out the vote.
That's cool,” he said. “I think what that says is we have an incredible fan base that's in our corner as players. For that, we become the (beneficiaries). That's why people want to play for the Cubs.
“Sure, there are plenty of guys who have earned that, who don't have those same votes. I think for that fact, we're glad we're Chicago Cubs right now. That's why a lot of players really want to be here.”
Bryant and Rizzo went together as the Cubs' all-star representatives last year. Bryant, an MVP candidate this year with 25 homers, was a rookie last season. Rizzo will be making his third all-star appearance.
“Last year, I didn't even think was going to go, just because it was my first year,” Bryant said. “Everything was going crazy. Looking back on it, it was an awesome time. It's an honor. To have a lot of my teammates there with me would make it even more fun. It's a huge honor to be an all-star. It's hard to put into words how cool the All-Star Game was last year.”
Rizzo echoed that.
“It's fun,” he said. “It's where you want to be every single year.”
Manager Joe Maddon lauded his players and the organization.
“I think it means a lot,” he said. “First of all, individually, I've talked about it before, what it does for your own personal self-esteem is very valuable. There's a lot of fan acceptance within that. There's some peer acceptance within that. You've wanted to play since you're a kid. You're an all-star, man. That's pretty sweet stuff.
“Organizationally, it just speaks to what's been done here the last several years. I've been talking about that. I take zero credit for that. It's just great.”
Of course, the Cubs may have some extra incentive to do well in the All-Star Game as the winning league gets home-field advantage in the World Series. Of course, the Cubs have to get there first in October.
“I don't have any strong opinions one way or the other, I really don't,” Maddon said on the game determining homefield. “The only fact that I do like about it is that it makes the game actually more competitive. I think that sets our All-Star Game apart from, like, a Pro Bowl or an NBA All-Star Game.”