The horrifying ankle injury suffered by Anthony Rizzo Sunday not only took one of the Cubs’ best players and the heart and soul of the team out for an indefinite period, but it also took away one of Joe Maddon’s best recent moves — the shift of Rizzo to the leadoff spot.
And yes, it matters. Not just because Rizzo hit .417/.563/.667 (5-for-12) from that spot with a home run and three walks in the four games since he was moved there again (and the Cubs won all four games), but because Rizzo almost always gives a quality at-bat, works counts, and sets a good tone for the rest of the lineup.