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If you’ve been watching Cubs baseball for the past week, you should have noticed a brand new trend forming during games at Wrigley Field. The Cubs bullpen has inexplicably turned into a well oiled dance machine in an attempt to help their teammates celebrate big plays on offense or defense during the game.
And it’s pure comedy.
The dancing started harmlessly enough last week during a May 20th rain delay against the Milwaukee Brewers. Since the bullpens have been moved underneath the bleachers, both bullpens were sitting there with nothing to do during the nearly two hour delay. So when boredom strikes — you dance. When asked who started the now epic dance off, Cubs relievers Hector Rondon and Pedro Strop kept it short and sweet.
“They started it,” Cubs reliever Hector Rondon said.
But who finished it?
“We did,” Pedro Strop said.
The Cubs would go on to lose that game 6-3 but the idea of the bullpen dancing was born. The next day, the Cubs offense exploded for 13 runs against the Brewers and fans got their first glance at the entire bullpen in their first group performance. This was immediately following a Kris Bryant home run in the bottom of the third inning.
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Dance like no one is watching. pic.twitter.com/9UZD8yut1L
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) May 21, 2017
What started as a joke within the bullpen has turned into some great entertainment for the entire team. Reliever Pedro Strop took to Instagram to explain the reason why the bullpen dances their asses off after big plays by the Cubs.
“Since cant be in the dugout to celebrate with our teammates after a home run we just find a way to do it in the bullpen.”
The bullpen claims they were unaware that the footage of them dancing could be seen by their Cubs teammates in the dugout on closed circuit television so their “private” dance party turned out to be a very public event for their teammates to watch.
And they love it.
Cubs left fielder Kyle Schwarber explains,
“For them to be doing that out there, it’s always a good laugh when you’re either on the bench or running the bases, and you see the big board and they’re dancing.”
The bullpen was back in action for their second performance during a May 23rd game against the San Francisco Giants. It’s unconfirmed but I’d suspect this celebration came after Kyle Schwarber’s 470-foot cannon shot off Johnny Cueto in the first inning.
Dancing With The 'Pen: Vol. II pic.twitter.com/mslLxWYMdM
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) May 24, 2017
We're dancing to 1 hit wonders today on #InsidePitch.
Bring yours w/ @CaseyStern & @SlidersNSaves54 #Royals Yost, #Phillies Mackanin join pic.twitter.com/mF2VSTTVGC— MLB Network Radio (@MLBNetworkRadio) May 24, 2017
And as a surprise to absolutely nobody, Joe Maddon is a huge fan of the bullpen party after big plays. He was asked his thoughts on his dancing pen and whether or not he thought the dancing was ‘showing up’ opposing teams.
“I absolutely love it. I think it’s great. And if you want to look at the more human side of everything we do, I would absolutely encourage [it]. You’re not showing anybody up.”
Coaches love it, players love it, and fans love it so you may as well prepare yourself for a long summer of dancing at Wrigley Field.
