With the MLB postseason in full swing, every team and its fan base vying for the World Series trophy is hoping that their superstars can rise to the occasion and get the job done.
asserted
job → vie → occasion
However, every great team who has hoisted the hardware at the end of a grueling season knows it takes more than just those All-Stars to win it all.
asserted
it → hoist → it
In fact, it takes every single person from the top down.
asserted
it → take → top
Just ask World Series champion and three-time All-Star first baseman Anthony Rizzo, who helped the Chicago Cubs break its 108-year streak without winning a World Series in 2016 after defeating the Cleveland Guardians in Game 7.
asserted
Cubs → ask → Game
Of course, it was stars like himself, Kris Bryant and others celebrating on the field after he secured the final out at first base.
asserted
he → celebrate → base
But Rizzo can’t help stressing the importance of every player, coach, clubhouse attendant and more during October baseball.
asserted
Rizzo → help → baseball
"I just think that on every team you have the stars, the middle-of-the-tier players, and your role players.
asserted
you → think → players
Everyone’s so important to a team," Rizzo told OutKick, while highlighting PAYDAY’s "Low Key Legends" initiative, which emphasizes the importance of the unsung heroes within an organization.
asserted
which → ’ → organization
"It takes all 26 guys, it takes your entire staff.
asserted
it → take → staff
So, in order for the superstars to win their championship – let’s say Aaron Judge.
asserted
’s → win → Judge
He’s the MVP of the Yankees, of the whole league.
asserted
He → ’ → league
For him to win a championship, it’s going to take every single guy on that roster.
asserted
it → win → roster
It’s not just one guy who carries you.
asserted
who → ’ → you
"It’s the small things.
asserted
It → ’ → ?
It’s the baserunning, the pickoffs, the relays.
asserted
It → ’ → ?
It’s all the lowkey things that maybe don’t look as glitzy and glammy, but that’s what it takes to win a championship."
asserted
it → ’ → championship
We asked Rizzo who his "Low Key Legend" would be, and he didn’t even hesitate when thinking back to his career.
"In the baseball world, I would definitely say Danny Mueller," he responded.
asserted
he → ask → Mueller
He always had me high-energy, ready, and always a bundle of joy when I walked in.
asserted
I → have → joy
Whatever I needed, he was there.
asserted
he → need → Whatever
They are just behind the scenes doing their scouting reports, knowing everything I’m thinking, so when I walk in, I don’t have to think.
asserted
I → do → everything
They just have everything ready for me, knowing what I want so I can go out there and play effortlessly.
"
asserted
I → have → what
Those are the guys behind the scenes that are just fueling this greatness you see on the field."
asserted
you → fuel → field
At this stage of the season, teams have completely bonded into a family rather than just colleagues, if they didn’t do so during spring training and the early-season grind.
asserted
they → bond → training
Rizzo enjoyed every "family" he was a part of in the bigs, where October baseball brought out that team chemistry.
asserted
baseball → enjoy → chemistry
"I think we’re together forever.
asserted
we → think → ?
We’re together for 200-plus days a year," he said.
asserted
he → ’re → days
"In October, win or go home, you’re still saying to each other, ‘In a few weeks, I get to pick my own friends.’
asserted
I → win → friends
So, we’re like family in the clubhouse.
asserted
we → ’re → clubhouse
Guys know when to get on guys, when they need a little more love, when to back off – maybe they’re a little more sensitive.
asserted
they → know → love
That’s the family and bond that’s created in a season.
asserted
that → ’ → season
Every year is unique, but for me over my career, Danny’s been a low-key legend for me forever, and my hitting coaches I’ve always had a good relationship with them where they always had my dialed in."
asserted
my → have → them
Then, when it’s time to play ball, it’s not just the clean-up hitter or the ace that carries the load of winning a postseason game.
asserted
that → ’ → game
It takes a village, and the Milwaukee Brewers gave a prime example of that in Game 2 of their NLDS series against the San Diego Padres.
asserted
Brewers → take → Padres
Of course, the highlights will capture the moment Jackson Chourio walked it off in the bottom of the ninth inning with bases loaded and two outs against the Padres’ dominant closer, Mason Miller.
asserted
bases → capture → closer
That grabs the headlines and fan appreciation.
asserted
That → grab → headlines
However, Rizzo pointed to an unsung hero – a "Low Key Legend" – that helped make it all possible.
asserted
it → point → hero
It’s a team of destiny because they’re a smaller market, but this is how they’ve been all year.
asserted
they → ’ → destiny
To stay on brand with Payday and low-key legends, Gary Sanchez in the at-bat before, pinch hitting, taking the walk to get the bases loaded.
asserted
bases → stay → walk
That’s the low-key legend moment of the game.
asserted
That → ’ → game
The superstar moment is when Jackson Chourio coming up and getting that base hit."
asserted
moment → come → ?
…and 2 more, not listed.
The Aporia
