Anthony Rizzo's winning ways a perfect fit for Yankees
New York Yankees first baseman Anthony Rizzo reacts as he flies out to end the sixth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays in an MLB baseball game at Yankee Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
Even with a $205-million payroll, it always helps to have something money can’t buy on your roster.
In the Yankees’ case, for Tuesday night’s wild-card showdown at Fenway Park, it was karma, which happened to be wearing No. 48, playing first base and batting leadoff.
That would be Anthony Rizzo, a three-time All-Star the Red Sox drafted in 2007 but traded three years later to the Padres in a multi-player swap for Adrian Gonzalez. While there is no lingering Rizzo Curse on Jersey Street -- the Sox have won three World Series titles since his departure -- he was a key player in the Cubs’ ending their own 108-year championship drought, so there is some magic to him.
And now, after the Red Sox failed to orchestrate a Rizzo homecoming at the trade deadline, he’s become a major obstacle to their advancing in these playoffs, suiting up for Boston’s biggest nemesis. It’s the stuff of book chapters, or at least an historical footnote in this century-long feud.
"Being on the other side, I think this is great," Rizzo said before Tuesday’s do-or-die playoff. "This is the greatest rivalry in baseball ... hopefully we win by a lot."
Maybe this is Rizzo’s first exposure to the Yankees-Red Sox phenomenon, but he’s not some starry-eyed first timer when it comes to the pressurized October stage. Rizzo, who hit a solo home run in the sixth Tuesday, made five trips to the postseason with the Cubs, including the ’16 curse-buster, when he batted .360 (9-for-25) with a three doubles, a home run and five RBIs in that seven-game victory over Cleveland.
There’s no substitute for that kind of experience, and it’s an incredibly valuable asset to have when moving to the Yankees from anywhere else on the planet. The Cubs are right up there, too, and you can see it in Rizzo, who comes across with sort of a relaxed intensity, no small feat in these ultra-hyped environments.
"It is another tool," Aaron Boone said before the game. "He has that way about him, that presence. I’ve loved having him here. He’s a low-maintenance gamer, likes to play when it’s big. He’s kind of himself all the time, funny and laid-back, look around, enjoy this.
"But also has a lot of confidence, and I think like a lot of our guys, really likes playing when the stakes are high. So I think there’s no question that he’s had a positive impact outside the lines in our room with our group and has really been entrenched in our culture."
Just as Joey Gallo -- his fellow deadline acquisition -- seems to squirm some beneath the Yankees’ spotlight after spending his career with a non-contending franchise in Texas, Rizzo is the polar opposite. And when the playoffs arrive, the thing that can separate the October heroes is a bounce from being there before. Boone entrusted Rizzo to hit leadoff Tuesday night, and he has better numbers there (.321 BA, 14 HR, .961 OPS in 66 games) than any other spot in the lineup during his career.
"I’ve enjoyed it when I do it," Rizzo said.
From the moment Rizzo showed up in the Bronx, he’s looked unusually comfortable for an out-of-towner. The only thing that slowed his adjustment was getting COVID-19, but Rizzo returned like he was wearing pinstripes all year, hitting .249 with eight homers and 21 RBIs in 49 games. In addition to finally restoring some lefty pop at Yankee Stadium, Rizzo’s two Gold Gloves have brought some stability to first base, where Luke Voit’s defensive lapses had previously been covered up by his brute strength at the plate.
"The guys were really, really welcoming to me," Rizzo said. "So being able to fit in right away was my biggest thing. Just being able to come in and be myself. The core had been here a little while together, so it was fairly easy, especially coming from Chicago where we had that similar situation, with the high expectations and being in a big franchise. So the transition was kind of seamless."
To the point where it’s only natural to suggest Rizzo sticking in the Bronx beyond this season. He’ll be a free agent when this playoff run ends, and the oft-injured Voit isn’t a viable solution. With Gleyber Torres switching back to second base, and the Yankees presumably in the market for a shortstop this winter, first base remains an option for DJ LeMahieu. But for what Rizzo has brought to the Yankees in a relatively short period of time, it’s awfully tempting to keep him.
"As far as staying here long term, that’s out of my hands," Rizzo said. "This game is crazy. And you never know what’s going to happen. I’m just looking forward to tonight and really enjoying this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."
Rizzo did pretty well in his last one with the Cubs. The Red Sox may regret he’s getting another on the Yankees.
David Lennon is an award-winning columnist, a voter for baseball's Hall of Fame and has covered six no-hitters, including two perfect games.
