Remember the pandemic-shortened 2020 season? That was the last time the Cubs made the playoffs. They finished the regular season with a record of 34-26, but couldn’t buy a win in October, getting swept 2-0 by the Marlins in the wild-card series. And if you can guess, that disappointment ultimately led to the start of a longer journey that laid the groundwork for where they are now.

It took five years, and plenty of frustrating, forgettable seasons in between, but the Cubs are finally back in the postseason. Yes, win No. 88 came on Sept. 17 at PNC Park, which locked them in as the second NL Central team to secure their ticket. And in the middle of the celebration, veteran pitcher Shota Imanaga, soaked in champagne, couldn’t help but deliver a message. Experiencing his first taste of playoff baseball with the Cubs, he made it clear just how much this moment meant.

“I learned with champagne that instead of drinking it, you should absorb it with your skin; it feels better.” Imanaga was at his best delivering his banger in the clubhouse. Well, this is the first time Imanaga has made it to the postseason since joining MLB. Therefore, it’s understandable when Shota and his teammates turned the clubhouse upside-down during the celebrations. And why not? The performance he delivered this year surely deserves a playoff berth.

Notably, he missed a significant time this season due to a hamstring injury, but that didn’t hamper his stats. The Cubs veteran pitcher scored a 9-7 record with a 3.29 ERA and 110 strikeouts from 23 starts this year. And there’s more about Imanaga in Cubs. For instance, he is the only Cubs pitcher who is maintaining a WHIP below 1 with a minimum of 50 starts. That shows how effective he was for the Cubs this season.

And with his quirky best, Imanaga is unbeatable both on and off the field.

Imanaga delivers off the field also for the Cubs

Well, if you follow the Cubs clubhouse closely, you know this is not the first time that Shota Imanaga was at his funny best. Rather, he is a regular in this space. For example, he calls his coffee Mike. Yes, you heard that right, asking for a coffee means he is asking for Mike. Reason? Nothing, as it just sounds funny.

We still remember his hilarious reactions post his start against the Mets in May last year. After having a 1-0 win over the Mets last year, it was the Cubs’ veteran’s reaction to his first visit to New York that really stole the show. After the game, reporters asked him what it was like to pitch in the Big Apple for the first time. And Imanaga didn’t miss a beat. Guess what, he brought up the city’s most iconic fictional hero. “Well, I recognized the hotel view from Spider-Man.”

So, it’s nothing new for Imanaga to tickle the funnybone of others every time he shares his reaction, and this time it’s no exception. Now, with a larger responsibility coming to start in the postseason, a few successes here would make us witness a few more such antics going forward. And honestly, we would love it.