Five ridiculous things that happened when the Cubs played the Cardinals in 2017

The Cubs and Cardinals were supposed to kick off of the 2018 version of the greatest rivalry in baseball on Monday night, but that has been postponed due to snow (Yes, snow. Not rain. Snow. Yes, it’s April. No, I’m not amused). I’m already going through Cubs baseball withdrawal, so as we wait for that rivalry to kick off on Tuesday (weather permitting) I thought it would be fun to take a look back at some of the more ridiculous moments between the Cubs and Cardinals in 2017.

So here they are, in no particular order. My five favorite ridiculous moments between the Cubs and the Cardinals in 2017.

1) Stephen Piscotty’s eventful trip around the bases

This was really unlucky. I’ve never seen a player hit even twice as they went around the basepaths, let alone three times. Everything about this was weird [VIDEO].

First of all, it appears like the universe is escalating against Piscotty. If you watch this sequence closely, the first hit is sort of questionable. The second hit is harder and on the elbow. But when he stays in, you’re pretty sure everything is going to be okay. The third hit is on the head, and very scary.

None of this is purposeful, but it’s as if the baseball gods are screaming at Piscotty to get off the basepaths because April 4 is just really not going to be his day.

I’m not saying Piscotty should have come to the ballpark with flu-like symptoms that day, but this was a bizarre start to the Cubs-Cards rivalry for 2017.

2) Yadier Molina’s chest protector helps the Cubs comeback

You certainly haven’t forgotten the following moment, but you might have forgotten how it provided a catalyst for the Cubs to come from behind [VIDEO].

The Cubs were down 2-4 when Matt Szczur struck out, but made it to first anyway. I don’t even know how to score this? A wild pitch? A pass ball? An act of the gods?

Whatever it was, the ball wound up stuck to Yadi’s chest protector and the Cubs were in business in the seventh. Honestly, I’ll just leave it at that. You can tell by the look on Yadi’s face. He knows he’s been caught.

Scott Kane-USA TODAY Sports

3) Kyle Schwarber hits a bomb

You’d like to see how that seventh ended up, wouldn’t you? I would too. Let’s take a look at Kyle Schwarberizing a baseball [VIDEO].

The only doubt about this ball is whether it’s fair, but it is, so it’s brilliant. Kyle Schwarber picked up a bat, swung it, and turned a two run Cubs deficit into a one-run Cubs lead. He’s just that type of guy.

Yes, he was going to struggle later in the year, but on April 6 he was just a masher of baseballs. And at that moment, Kyle Schwarber did exactly what we all expected him to do, and I imagine he’s going to do it at least two dozen times this year.

4) Cardinals fans freak out about arm sleeves

The Best Fans in Baseball™ are pretty predictable. So Cubs fans shouldn’t be surprised that they have problems with the Cubs incredible catcher, Willson Contreras. But even by BFIB standards, this one was odd.

With the game tied three to three, Willson Contreras hit a home run to left. It was fantastic as you can see in this [VIDEO].

Most of us thought it stopped there, but Cardinals fans were apparently offended by Willson kissing his biceps as he came around home.

I’d like to point out a few things. Willson is from Venezuela, which has been rocked by some pretty severe political upheaval in the last few years. After this game he was asked about this and explained it was about respecting Venezuela. He wears sleeves that are the Venezuelan flag on his arms.

But leave it to the Best Fans in Baseball to miss that. It’s all in the Sports Mockery link above, and I imagine we have a few more years of this timeline playing out in front of us.

5) Jon Lester picks off Tommy Pham

I wish this video was the Cardinals feed. The Cardinals feed is so much more brilliant. They have this whole discussion about how Tommy Pham is too far off the bag, but it doesn’t matter because Lester never throws.

And then, Lester throws.

It’s one of the most brilliant things I’ve ever seen, and I hope Lester does it a few more times this year [VIDEO] (after all, the bounce throw is already 2-for-2 in 2018).

So there you have them: My five most absurd moments of the Cubs-Cardinals rivalry from 2017. I’m sure I missed one of your favorites, feel free to add it in the comments.

Bring on the ridiculousness of Cubs-Cards 2018. I have no doubt it will live up to expectations.