You ever go to another country and tell someone you're from Chicago?
Here's how that conversation usually goes:
GUY FROM ANOTHER COUNTRY: "Where are you from in America?"
ME: Chicago.
GUY FROM ANOTHER COUNTRY: Heh. Al Capone!
Here's how that conversation usually goes:
GUY FROM ANOTHER COUNTRY: "Where are you from in America?"
ME: Chicago.
GUY FROM ANOTHER COUNTRY: Heh. Al Capone!
Weird, right?
It's the first association.
And I can't help it whenever I think of Italy.
"Godfather".
Nothin' to do with actual history, just a movie.
It's the first association.
And I can't help it whenever I think of Italy.
"Godfather".
Nothin' to do with actual history, just a movie.
So Anthony Rizzo is Italian, his parents are both Italian, his great grandparents lived in Sicily.
He's gonna play for his home team with manager Marco Mazzieri and teammates Stefano Desimoni, Alessandro Vaglio, and Luca Panerati.
Exotic, right?
Well, kinda.
Italy starts in Pool D, and they play those games in Phoenix. Then the winner and runner up from that pool move onto Pool 2, and those games are in Miami:
He's gonna play for his home team with manager Marco Mazzieri and teammates Stefano Desimoni, Alessandro Vaglio, and Luca Panerati.
Exotic, right?
Well, kinda.
Italy starts in Pool D, and they play those games in Phoenix. Then the winner and runner up from that pool move onto Pool 2, and those games are in Miami:
Remember the WBC in '09 when Carlos Marmol played for the Dominican Republic?
We were all crazy because we thought he'd get hurt?
I just don't like pitchers to go play in that thing.
But this year I'm not so nervous because Rizzo is a position player.
It's just baseball, man.
But I'll tell you who doesn't like this one bit.
Theo and Jed.
Why?
Because once Rizzo's gone, it'll show just how thin the Cubs are.
Yesterday I read that Steve Clevenger is going to be playing alot of first, along with Brent Lillibridge (this year's super sub who can play any position).
The scenarios that popped into your head the other day when for a fleeting moment of hamstring horror you had to imagine the team without Starlin Castro?
Yeah - not alot of depth.
I mean, it's there, but guys like Javier Baez and Dan Vogelbach just aren't ready yet.
We were all crazy because we thought he'd get hurt?
I just don't like pitchers to go play in that thing.
But this year I'm not so nervous because Rizzo is a position player.
It's just baseball, man.
But I'll tell you who doesn't like this one bit.
Theo and Jed.
Why?
Because once Rizzo's gone, it'll show just how thin the Cubs are.
Yesterday I read that Steve Clevenger is going to be playing alot of first, along with Brent Lillibridge (this year's super sub who can play any position).
The scenarios that popped into your head the other day when for a fleeting moment of hamstring horror you had to imagine the team without Starlin Castro?
Yeah - not alot of depth.
I mean, it's there, but guys like Javier Baez and Dan Vogelbach just aren't ready yet.
Anyway, Team Italy's first game is next Thursday against Mexico.
Don't know exactly when Rizzo hooks up with his new team, but it'll be pretty soon.
And even if it's in Phoenix, he can probably get a good plate of pasta somewhere.
Don't know exactly when Rizzo hooks up with his new team, but it'll be pretty soon.
And even if it's in Phoenix, he can probably get a good plate of pasta somewhere.
Good luck, Anthony, and don't pull a hammie.
