Chicago Cubs chirpy in dugout? Bryant admits it's true
Last weekend, Cincinnati Reds pitcher Tejay Antone accused the Cubs of excessive chirping from their dugout.
Back from the injured list, Kris Bryant was given a chance to respond Wednesday. Guilty as charged, Bryant admitted.
"Yeah, we might be the most obnoxious (team), but I think we're all embracing it and enjoying that," he said. "I think other teams can go about it the same way. I just think we're doing a really good job of creating our energy in the dugout."
Wednesday was another quiet night in Pittsburgh, at least since there's only recorded crowd noise in empty stadiums. The Cubs and Pirates were delayed by rain for the second straight day, this time at the start.
The Cubs took a 8-2 lead into the late innings, thanks to a 3-run homer by Javy Baez in the fourth and a 2-run single from Anthony Rizzo in the seventh. The Cubs added 3 more runs in a eighth on an error and RBI double by Willson Contreras.
The Cubs were trying to improve to 5-0 against the Pirates this season. The teams play again Thursday, then the Cubs will return to Pittsburgh for a four-game series at the end of the month.
The energy inside the Cubs' dugout has been a topic discussed all season. Some have credited first-year manager David Ross with bringing some infectious energy. Northbrook native Jason Kipnis, who joined the Cubs this year, also has gotten some plugs as a cheer captain.
"I don't think it's disrespectful or anything at all," Bryant said. "We're having fun and enjoying it and when someone does something good on the field, we celebrate it in the way that we see fit. It is loud and obnoxious, but we're having fun doing it."
Bryant said the Cubs don't plan or practice any of their chants. They just happen organically.
"Guys are just expressing themselves in different ways and guys are going with it," he said. "Just saying ridiculous stuff in the dugout. Honestly, it feels like a college team. Anybody who's gone to college, the rallies you do in the dugout, you just say the dumbest things. Not necessarily inappropriate, but just loud and obnoxious, stuff you wouldn't do on the street.
"It's made it fun. That's what we've got to do to get through the game and enjoy it and win and I think it's been working for us. So we'll keep doing it."
Antone made his comments about the Cubs doing a lot of chirping last Saturday after the benches cleared briefly in Game 2 of a doubleheader. Tensions rose when Antone threw a pitch above Rizzo's head, and Adbert Alzolay returned the favor in the next inning, sparking a total of five ejections.
After the game, Antone said the Cubs are more vocal from the dugout than any other team he's seen. With no fans, players on the other side can hear just about everything that's said.
Wednesday's starting pitcher Kyle Hendricks, looking to snap a personal three-game losing streak, got better results this time. The Pirates are not a great offensive team, but Hendricks limited them to 6 hits over 6 innings and a single run on a second-inning homer by Colin Moran.
Since their 13-3 start, the Cubs had only one starting pitcher besides Yu Darvish earn a win heading into Thursday, and that was Alec Mills in Detroit. Hendricks gave up 5 runs and 10 hits in his previous start at Cincinnati.
Cubs starting pitchers recorded 12 wins during those first 13 victories by the team.
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