There are moments in the season that you can always look back on and think, “Now THAT was a turning point.” Despite being only three games into the 2017 postseason, the Cubs had another one of those special moments during today’s game.
With the NLDS series tied at one, the Cubs and Nationals were in the midst of a very tightly contested ballgame. With the game knotted at one in the bottom of the eighth and a runner on second base, the Nationals decided to bring in lefty Oliver Perez to pitch to Anthony Rizzo instead of intentionally walking the Cubs first baseman to get to Willson Contreras.
Washington Nationals manager, Dusty Baker, once again proves he has no idea what he’s doing. We saw Dusty choose to pitch to Rizzo with an open base in Game 2 and Rizzo promptly smacked an RBI double. You’d think after seeing it happen in Game 2 that good ol’ Dusty would have just put Rizzo on.
Nope.
Dusty is gonna Dusty.
Like clockwork, Baker’s decision to pitch to Rizzo backfired as the Cubs slugger hit a bloop single to drive in Leonys Martin to give the Cubs a 2-1 lead (and eventually the game). Rizzo tried taking second base on the play and was tagged out but on his way off the field, cameras picked up on Rizzo screaming, “RESPECT ME” as he walked back to the dugout.
.@ARizzo44’s got this. pic.twitter.com/aFX77LmnGb
— MLB GIFS (@MLBGIFs) October 9, 2017
Rizzo said post game that he was surprised Baker decided to pitch to him with an open base.
“I believe I’m a really good hitter. I believe I’m one of the best hitters in the game, and you have to believe that.”
Trust me Anthony, every Cubs fan on Earth believes you.
