Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo hit back-to-back home runs in the first inning of the Cubs’ 5-1 victory Sunday over the Diamondbacks.
Could it be the last time they do that with the Cubs?
It has been well-documented that the Cubs could go through significant changes by the trade deadline Friday. Both pending free agents, Bryant seems especially likely to depart, while Rizzo also could be on the move.
That’s what made the homers so bittersweet for the crowd of 32,602. The home runs helped the Cubs take two of three from the Diamondbacks, but they came in what looks to be a lost season at the end of the Cubs’ championship window.
Before the game, manager David Ross said the looming deadline has had an impact on the players. Rizzo seems like he’ll just take the situation and any changes as they come.
“This could be it. Yeah, you’re right, and when that happens, we’ll face that when it happens,” Rizzo said. “Until then, we just -enjoy coming in, playing, and it definitely feels good to get a win.”
Bryant and Rizzo have been a matched pair and were two faces of the Cubs’ golden era that resulted in the fabled 2016 championship. Now the countdown to the deadline is on, regardless of Bryant’s two-run homer off Caleb Smith that was followed by Rizzo’s drive, which easily cleared the wall in right.
Over the years, Rizzo has established himself as a part of the city. It’s possible he’ll find himself somewhere else soon, but Rizzo didn’t seem quite ready to look back on -everything.
“It’s just every day I feel like I carry that with me,” Rizzo said. “As far as the sentimental stuff, I’m going to have to save that one for another time, but at the appropriate time I would definitely address all of that. With these next five days, there’s going to be a lot more rumors. I’m sure the whole trade market in general’s going to be heating up, and we’ll see what happens.”
Pitcher Trevor Williams, who had faced the Cubs during his time with the Pirates, saw what the Cubs’ core was at its best. Now he could be witnessing the end of the team’s championship era.
On Sunday, Williams seemed impressed by what he has seen. He said the clubhouse is full of professionals who play for one another.
Yet that clubhouse could look very different soon.
“It’s part of the game that unfortunately exists,” Williams said. “The trade deadline exists every year. We’re professionals in this clubhouse, and we do a great job of — from what I see, from my perspective — we do a great job of tuning it out and knowing that today we have the Diamondbacks and we played a great ballgame from pitch to pitch. We came up with a win, and we came out with a series win. I know the guys are going to show up tomorrow ready to go from pitch one against the Reds.”
Because of the circumstances, it’s possible the final curtain call for Bryant, Rizzo or other core members could be very soon. Rizzo, however, wasn’t thinking about nostalgia.
“As far as all that, we’re just happy to be winning,” Rizzo said. “Win today, and we’ll move on to tomorrow.”
