Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Calm down, Chris, Cubs almost done
The Chicago Cubs aren’t done handing out their glitzy 2016 World Series rings, and at least one talking head said he thinks they are enjoying themselves a little too much after winning their first championship since 1908.
Noted New York-based loud talker Christopher “Mad Dog” Russo has been particularly vocal about the Cubs overdoing their celebration and the absurdity of them including an image of a goat on their rings that includes 108 diamond studs.
The so-called goat jinx dates back to 1945, when an area bar owner tried to bring his goat into Wrigley Field for a World Series game against the Detroit Tigers, was denied entry, and supposedly inflicted a curse that would prevent the Cubs from ever making it back to the World Series.
If you believe that mumbojumbo, the curse lasted 71 years.
But that wasn’t all that got Russo riled up. He could not believe the audaciousness of the Cubs using two separate nights last week to raise the championship banners and hand out the rings.
“Enough already,” Russo said last Friday on High Heat, his daily MLB Network shoutfest. “And nobody cares about that goat except people in Chicago. It’s a Chicago thing.”
Hey, Chris, it ain’t over yet. Monday, three members of the 2016 team — Jason Hammel, Travis Wood and Jorge Soler — now employed by the American League Kansas City Royals, were flown in to Chicago, by the Cubs, to get their rings in person before the Cubs’ game with the Milwaukee Brewers on what was an off day for the Royals.
Wood, from Bryant, played for the Cubs for five seasons before signing a two-year free-agent deal with Kansas City.
Then, there’s the matter of Aroldis Chapman and Dexter Fowler.
Chapman, a 6-5 lefty with a fastball that routinely tops 100 mph, is now a member of the New York Yankees after playing a pivotal role as the Cubs’ closer during their title run.
Chapman, who signed with the Yankees in the offseason, is expected to receive his jewelry when the Yankees make a rare interleague appearance at Wrigley Field on May 5.
Fowler, now a member of the St. Louis Cardinals, the Cubs’ arch rival, is expected to get his when the Cardinals come to Wrigley Field for the first time June 2.
Maybe then, Chris, the Cubs will stop celebrating.
Sticker shock
The baseball that curiously stuck to Yadier Molina’s chest protector during a game this month was sold for $2,015 in a St. Louis Cardinals online auction. There were 58 bids for the ball, and the winner was declared when the auction closed Sunday night.
By now, most fans are familiar with the bizarre play: Cardinals reliever Brett Cecil struck out pinch-hitter Matt Szczur of the Chicago Cubs on a pitch in the dirt April 6. The ball bounced up and somehow stuck to Molina’s chest protector as the Gold Glove catcher looked around trying to find it. By the time he did, Szczur was safe at first base.
Major League Baseball looked into the play and determined there was no rules violation. Molina said he had no idea how Cecil’s pitch clung to his equipment. He was asked after the game if he put something sticky there and dismissed it as a “dumb question.”