We semi-joke about Anthony Rizzo’s status as The Greatest Leadoff Hitter of All-Time thanks to his barrage of leadoff homers and hits and walks when he got a small stint in the role last year, but man … it’s real now. It’s REAL.
Because Rizzo was moved to the leadoff spot tonight, in part to shake him loose from a slump, and he freaking did it again:
.@statcast alleges a 1% hit probability, but our internal metrics gave it a 100% chance of leaving the yard. #GLHOAT #TeamRizzo pic.twitter.com/YBXIUEJcMx
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) May 2, 2018
The homer cut the early deficit to one, since the Rockies themselves got back-to-back leadoff homers to open the game. Suffice it to say, the wind is HOWLING out tonight, and Rizzo’s blast was aided by it.
At 95.5 mph off the bat and a very steep 44 degrees, that ball is a hit just 1% of the time, according to Statcast. That was the one.
Because The Greatest Leadoff Hitter of All-Time will not be denied. And his fans know it:
TFW Rizzo is STILL the greatest leadoff hitter of all time pic.twitter.com/e5RicgpIOW
— Cubs Talk (@NBCSCubs) May 2, 2018
No wonder Dexter Fowler asked his wife to reschedule her C-section so that he could see Rizzo. He must want some tips.