CHICAGO – John Rizzo put his hands on his son Anthony’s shoulders and screamed “Unbelievable!” The Cubs had just eliminated the 100-win Cardinals with a 6-4 Game 4 win. Anthony had hit a home run. (“He’s a good boy,” John said.) And on the subject of unbelievable, we should clarify:
This was not unbelievable.
Heck, Anthony Rizzo predicted something like it publicly in January, when he said the Cubs would win the National League Central. They didn’t win it, but they are heading to the National League Championship Series as the only NL Central team left in the playoffs.