By now, I’m sure you’ve both read my outstanding analysis of Anthony Rizzo’s unadulterated domination of left-handed pitching. But as riveting and expansive as it was, something I heard recently set me on a course to discover more. So, like the Christopher Columbus of statistics, I went in search of new ways to quantify just how awesome the Cubs first baseman has been this season.
While appearing on the Spiegel and Goff show on Tuesday, Joe Maddon praised Rizzo’s two-strike approach. Rizzo, his skipper said, isn’t afraid or ashamed of choking up and shortening his swing in order to make contact and make things happen.