MESA, Ariz. — When I asked Ben Zobrist if there were any residual benefits to being the World Series MVP, he didn’t hesitate.
“Yeah, sure, I got one sitting out in the parking lot,” he said Sunday, a few minutes after the Cubs held a rain-curtailed workout.
Zobrist was referring to his 50th anniversary Chevy Camaro convertible he won for being MVP. Of course, there were a whole bunch of honors and privileges that came with helping the Cubs win the World Series last fall.
Among them were a whirlwind trip to Disney World, being the grand marshal of a parade in Franklin, Tennessee, where he and his family reside, and getting the key to his hometown of Eureka, Illinois.
“I’ve got a few extra keys on my key ring now,” he said.
And then there were some pretty big moments on some pretty big stages.
“Getting to go to the White House and meet President Obama and the first lady at the time, and a few weeks after that, I got to go the National Prayer Breakfast events and meet a whole bunch of congressmen and senators and then shake the hand of President Trump and Vice President Pence,” he said. “Being put in arenas that you’re not used to being put in just because you were able to do something as an athlete is pretty special.
“Right near the top is a few events in my hometown where just having them give me a standing ovation and seeing how much it meant to them and how much pride your hometown takes in what you’re doing abroad. It’s special to know that you were able to something that made a lot of people happy.”
As for the present, the 35-year-old Zobrist (he turns 36 in May) is getting ready for another season of being a super-utility player.
Zobrist played in 147 regular-season games last year, seeing action primarily at second base while also playing left field, right field and a game apiece at shortstop and first base. Like most veterans, he’ll be eased into action this spring.
“Body feels pretty good overall,” he said. “We’ll see once we get out there. It will take a little bit to get the legs under all of us, but pretty good. I think it will just take a little bit more time for most everybody just because it was a little shorter of an off-season. Considering all of the things that happened after the World Series, that as a team everybody being pulled in a lot of different directions, doing things in the various places they were from, it was all great stuff, but I think it will take us a little bit more time to get back to business here.”
Manager Joe Maddon said he had a “great conversation” with Zobrist Sunday morning, and the topic of rest came up.
Another factor affecting Zobrist’s playing time will be the continued development of Javier Baez, who earned regular playing time last season at second base because of his exceptional defense.
“He understands that how important it is with the rest component,” Maddon said. “We’re going to continue to talk about it. With the depth, we can do things like that. You could give guys rest and feel as though you’re not giving anything up on the field because that’s also important to the guy that you’re keeping out.
“If you’re taking a regular out of the lineup and they perceive a big drop-off regarding the lack of their presence, they really don’t like to do that. With our guys and the number of really quality players that we have, when you give somebody a day off, the guy getting the day off doesn’t mind as much.”
Zobrist said he’s unsure how things will unfold this year. His versatility is one thing working his favor, so much so that Maddon feels that there should be a category for super-utility player in the All-Star Game.
“Last year I played 147 games; I don’t know what that number is going to look like,” Zobrist said. “You got to stay healthy. There were probably only a few games I missed because there was something physically that was keeping me from playing. So I was fortunate in regard to that last year. The other ones I got off were planned off-days. We’ll play it by ear. I think some of those will have to do with if I’m a little tired and the matchup is right. Maybe they’ll choose to give me an off-day on certain days.”
Zobrist has won back-to-back World Series, in 2015 with Kansas City and last year with the Cubs, for whom he hit .357 (10-for-28), including the go-ahead RBI double in the 10th inning of Game 7 at Cleveland.
“My favorite thing that I experienced from all the celebrations and people sharing their experience of the celebration with me, I think the biggest thing that stuck out to me was how that championship really connected families and family members,” he said. “For so many people, it was almost like a reunion of sorts, even loved ones who have gone before, just a remembrance of times in the past where they had always hoped that the Cubs would win together and it hadn’t happened. For it to finally happen, I think it was a family experience. You realize that it’s not really about us. It’s about families experiencing life together and enjoying the entertainment of watching Cubs baseball together. For them, it’s family time.”
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