Cubs' Anthony Rizzo: 'Only People Panicking About This Team Is The Media'
By Bruce Levine--
CHICAGO (CBS) -- The Cubs' vocal leader stepped up his game Friday and called out the media for its negative view of the team's recent play leading into the All-Star break.
All-Star first baseman Anthony Rizzo felt the tenor of the team's 6-15 slide was overblown.
"Honestly, I think the only people panicking about this team is the media," Rizzo said before the Cubs hosted the Rangers at Wrigley Field. "No offense to you guys. It's been pretty negative, all the comments coming out of everyone's mouths, except in this clubhouse."
The Cubs began the season on a record pace, going 25-6 and more recently sitting at 47-20 before their first extended struggles of the year. Since leading the NL Central by 12.5 games on June 19, the Cubs' division lead has been trimmed to seven games over the Cardinals and 7.5 games over the Pirates.
As the second half gets started, Rizzo and Co. are ready to return to their high-level play.
"We feel great, and everybody feels great to be back together and we're ready to go," Rizzo said.
"I just think it's July, whatever date it is, and you need stories to write about. What better story not to write about than why are the Cubs struggling? The only people worrying about it are outsiders. That is not going on inside this clubhouse."
The upfront Rizzo did admit that winning the first-half finale in Pittsburgh was important.
"This is the time we took off last year," Rizzo said, referring to the Cubs' 2015 surge that began a couple weeks after the All-Star break. "This is time we need to take off this year. We were not going to boat race the entire year. We are in a good position to win our division. That is our ultimate goal."
The Cubs had played 24 straight games to end of the first half, a tiring stretch that they believed played at least a minor role in their struggles.
Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score and CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.
