September 3, 2019: The Return of Zo

He rejoined the team on Saturday, but it wasn’t until Tuesday evening did we see the return of Zo.  Ben Zobrist was back in the lineup, leading off, vs the Mariners at Wrigley on Tuesday.

First thing: thankfully Heyward isn’t batting leadoff any more.  I was there the first time he batted leadoff, I believe.  It was against the Brewers and he hit a leadoff HR; great move Joe!  Over the past week plus, he hasn’t got a hit.  I’m glad we stopped banging our heads against the wall with this one, and moved him out of the leadoff position.  Next step, he’s coming off the bench.  Look, I know Jason has had his best season as a Cub this year, but it’s still not enough, right?  It’s not enough to justify all those dollars we’re paying him, and the fact that it’s his BEST year thus far, shows just how bad his other years have been here.  Hey, I love JHey… always will.  I will never forget anyone part of that 2016 team, especially someone who had a big part in that Game 7 curse busting victory.  The rain delay speech will go down in Chicago Cubs lore.  That was 3 years ago, and if you haven’t noticed, one is NOT going to be enough… for Theo, for Joe, for the players, and for us.  This golden era of Cubs baseball needs to include another World Series title.  Will Jason ever live up to his contract?  There are moments when I feel he already has with that speech, but then I look at the numbers, and the constant groundballs to 2nd base, and think… man, I wish he would play better, but he just isn’t… and with Castellanos continuing to play out of his mind, and seeing that guy’s intensity and passion, and watching him play himself into a big payday, I think, I’d much rather be paying Nick that money… that’s a story for another day.  Bottom line, glad to see another warm body at leadoff, especially someone in Zorilla who can play that role to a tee.  7 pitch strikeout, 7 pitch walk, run scored, bunt single… yes, yes, and yes.  Welcome back Benny!

Yes, and his walk off song did NOT change.  Hey, I hope everything works out for him, whichever way it goes.  If he feels like him and his wife can work this out, more power to them.  But, please… whatever route you guys go, please change this walk up song.  It wasn’t good when you guys were going well; it’s not good now either.  I love my wife too, but I’m not going to wear a picture of her around my neck going to my job.  Change it ASAP!  To anything really… anything that she is NOT singing.  Nothing against her singing… well, OK, it’s not good… but if she’s making a career out of it, great.  But please, pick another song.  Make a contest out of it…  vote between these 4 songs for Ben Zobrist’s walk up music.  I like the original song too… yes, I do… just not this remake…  I don’t like fingernails scratching a blackboard either for the record. 

OK, I’m done.  The Cubs won again, so I’m happy.  They better have beat this hapless Mariners team.  Problem is, Cardinals won’t lose right now.  That’s OK though… they will, and we will see them again… 7 times at the end of the season.  On to Milwaukee now for our last 4 games against the Brewers; a split worst case scenario.  Would you trade a Cubs loss on Thursday for a win against the other Wisconsin team on Thursday?  Go Cubs!