The Cubs have a new game at summer camp: Where’s Rizzo?
No summer camp would be complete without a fun little game to unify all the members.
The Cubs now have their own internal competition beyond the baseball field — a new form of Where’s Waldo called Where’s Rizzo?
Anthony Rizzo sat out of the Cubs scrimmage Thursday evening because he’s been dealing with some lower back tightness and the team wanted to be cautious. He was feeling better, so he had the idea to go track some pitches from his teammates warming up in the bullpen during the intrasquad game.
The next thing anybody knew, there was Rizzo sitting high up in the left field bleachers with his bat in his hands, watching the game from a vantage point he’d never seen before.
Every few pitches, he would move to a different spot.
Manager David Ross didn’t even notice until bench coach Andy Green pointed it out to him.
“Greeny’s like, ‘you see Rizz?’ I’m like, ‘no, what do you mean?'” Ross recounted. “It’s like he’s Where’s Waldo, but Where’s Rizzo? He’s in a different spot in the outfield every time. It was pretty funny, then I started to notice about him walking around the park.”
Last week, Rizzo was in awe of Wrigley Field’s charm and enjoyed taking in the Friendly Confines in a different view from the 228 section during a team meeting at the beginning of Cubs camp.
To a man, the Cubs are grateful to be back at Wrigley Field and getting some time to enjoy the ballpark during workouts.
“You know, that’s kind of a really good idea — you get a chance to take in this beautiful venue and see a game,” Ross said. “We’re never in the stands as players. When I got to come back after retiring and watch a game even from the [press] box and some different areas — I did a game out in left field with ESPN and then being in the bleachers in right as well — it’s a cool perspective, a cool different way to see the park.
“[Rizzo] was talking about how he could see the skyline from left field in a couple seats and how beautiful it was.”
As far as Rizzo’s health, Ross said Friday afternoon “all things are pointing to his back moving in the right direction,” but didn’t know when the slugger would be back on the field for a scrimmage.