Forbidden Love is a Cubs DNA series where our staff waxes poetic about a player on a team other than the Cubs. Maybe even one you think they should hate. In this installment, Tina shares why White Sox pitcher Lucas Giolito should be on the loving end of a rivalry.
I grew up a Cubs fan in Sox territory, but I don't mind the White Sox. Honestly, I think White Sox fans hate the Cubs more than the other way around, but that's just me.
Lucas Giolito is one White Sox player I wouldn't mind on the Cubs. He showed a lot of promise his rookie year in 2017, had a terrible 2018, then overhauled his delivery to pitch a fantastic 2019 season, coming in 6th in Cy Young voting. I'll admit that I was a little nervous that he was pitching in each series in the Crosstown Classic last year, but he ran into a wall of Cubs bats both times, losing both games. Giolito ended the season with a slashline of 3.41 ERA/134 ERA+/3.43 FIP/1.064 WHIP, had 3 complete games and 2 shut outs.
When the 'Rona hit, Giolito, like many other players, looked online for entertainment. He's a regular on Twitch and (sadly) beat Ian Happ in the semi finals of the Players' League of MLB the Show in May, ultimately falling to Tampa Bay's (and Staci's BF) Blake Snell in the finals. (I <3 GOMER!!!!--Staci)
What impressed me was his engagement on Twitter regarding the murder of George Floyd and racial inequality...
...and his response to the ding dongs taking up oxygen in his mentions:
While waiting out the 'Rona and MLB trying to get it's sh*t together, Giolito has been hanging with our friend The Pitching Ninja talking about social media, mechanics, and pitch grips, among other topics. It's a good watch, and I admire his openness. He's a White Sox'er I'll be rooting for... except against the Cubs, that is!