The best thing about the news conference introducing Shu014dta Imanaga as the newest member of the Chicago Cubs was his opening statement, in which Imanaga said several sentences in English, including reciting a few phrases from Steve Goodman’s “Go Cubs Go.”
Whether Imanaga knew of the song previously or was told of it by Cubs folks on arrival in Chicago, that’s a great way for him to ingratiate himself with Cubs fans. He seemed genuinely happy to be in Chicago and excited to play at Wrigley Field, and later said through his translator Shingo Murata, “I try to be a funny guy on and off the field.