Chicago Cubs: Jake Arrieta returns to Wrigley Field, not starting in series
Jake Arrieta, perhaps one of the most beloved Chicago Cubs pitchers of the decade, will return to the friendly confines Tuesday with the Phillies. However, he isn’t scheduled to start against his former team.
Jake Arrieta or Yu Darvish? It was a question many teams were asking themselves during the past offseason. Many teams had the resources and needed to outbid the rest of the league, but just never pulled the trigger. The Chicago Cubs were the team to answer that question loudly; they signed Yu Darvish to a six-year contract guaranteeing Darvish $126 million.
It was a symbolic bookend to Arrieta’s tenure with the Cubs. On Tuesday, Arrieta will once again be watching his team play at Wrigley Field, but this time, it’ll be from the visiting dugout.
Early regret in Chicago
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Darvish is cursed with the unfortunate burden of having every pitch he makes compared to Arrieta. And so far, those comparisons are pretty ugly if you’re looking at them from Chicago.
Darvish won one game, Arrieta has five wins. Darvish’s ERA is just under five while Arrieta’s is a comfortable 2.66. Darvh has a negative WAR, and Arrieta is two wins above replacement. Darvish is on the DL, Arrieta is not.
The results thus far are frustrating for Cubs fans, but these are two long contracts, and neither pitcher is very far into them. A change could happen at any time. However, Cubs fans may be looking at the deal the Philadelphia Phillies have with Arrieta in envy for now.
Anticipating Arrieta’s reception at Wrigley
It’s always bittersweet seeing a former player return in an opposing uniform. Cubs fans experienced it just last season with Dexter Fowler, and he got a standing ovation despite wearing a shade of red much more offensive to Cubs fans than Arrieta’s Phillies red.
The same can be expected of Arrieta: a standing ovation and perhaps a video board tribute. But after that, Arrieta will become another opponent.
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Arrieta’s work in Chicago won’t be forgotten anytime soon. Chicago Cubs fan will recognize that on Tuesday. But that won’t stop the Cubs from treating him as an opponent when the time comes.