Bryzzo captured the soul of the 2010s Cubs.
Anthony Rizzo was the mainstay from the old Cubs that became the leader. Kris Bryant was the No. 2 overall pick that lived up to the hype as an MVP. Together, the duo served as the anchor of the 2016 World Series-winning, curse-breaking team.
In 2024, Chicago is trying out a new nickname for a new pairing. But this time around, fans aren’t as keen on the joint moniker.
Dansby Swanson and Nico Hoerner are headed into the new season with a new nickname: Nickel and Dimes, with Hoerner being Nickel and Swanson being Dimes, as the Cubs posted on X (formerly Twitter).
The nickname has been decided by the duo themselves 🫡
Say hello to Nickel & Dimes. pic.twitter.com/mpnHPqVCiI
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) February 20, 2024
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On face value, it’s a fun nickname for the team’s long-term middle infield duo.
Swanson, who signed a seven-year, $ 177 million contract with Chicago before 2023, excelled in his first year, winning a Gold Glove at shortstop, hitting 22 home runs and posting a .744 OPS. Hoerner might not yet be at Swanson’s star level, but he’s a first-round pick from 2018 coming off a 5.1 bWAR season in which he had a .729 OPS and earned his first Gold Glove at second base.
There’s just one problem with the nickname: It hits a little too close to home for Cubs’ fans.
While Swanson was a big expense last offseason, the team has spent this offseason for Cody Bellinger’s asking price to drop. The Cubs missed out on other top free agents, including Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and reportedly have not been involved in talks with other available names such as Blake Snell, Matt Chapman or Jordan Montgomery.
The refusal to have another big-spending offseason coming off a 83-79 campaign that landed Chicago in second in the NL Central and just outside the wild-card race has frustrated fans who believe the team could compete in a wide-open division. The Cubs rank ninth in payroll at just under $ 188 million, per Spotrac, but fans are expecting something more along the lines of the top-dollar payrolls of the Dodgers and Braves — both north of $ 200 million.
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Couple the “Nickel & Dimes” nickname with Yan Gomes’ “Gas Money” nickname — which is an anagram of his name — and fans have complained that there’s maybe a bit too many reminders of the fan’s belief the team isn’t spending enough this offseason.
Ricketts inspired name pic.twitter.com/egTTFBBgG1
— Swervin³² (@Swervin32_) February 20, 2024
Nicknaming yourself Nickel & Dimes when you have a penny pincher billionaire like Tom Ricketts as the owner of your team has got to be one of the funniest things I’ve ever seen. Bryzzo walked so Nickle & Dimes could run https://t.co/JajgFxfjbe
— Melissa (@CubsGirlTalk) February 21, 2024
Guys did you see today the Cubs tweeted a photo of Nico and Dansby claiming they nicknamed themselves Nickel and Dimes?? Now that’s ironic because Tom said he has taxes to pay yesterday!!! Did you see? If you didn’t you just had to see it man
— Cody Delmendo (@Cody_CHGO) February 21, 2024
Fitting. Sounds like the game plan for the offseason.
— Mitch (@2Krucial10) February 20, 2024
This is not a picture of Tom and Jed
— Oliver VanDervoort (@itmeolliev) February 20, 2024
Sounds like Cubs spending plan.
— Jason Mighty Core (@jasonbaudendist) February 20, 2024
