Rizzo rips MLB's safety protocols while waiting out rain in clubhouse
A prolonged rain delay tested Anthony Rizzo's patience with Major League Baseball's COVID-19 protocols.
While inside the clubhouse during a storm that eventually postponed Thursday's game between the Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park, the first baseman aired his grievances with MLB's approach to player safety during the pandemic-shortened season.
Player safety? @mlb let’s sit around for 8 plus hours inside the clubhouse.. I’m sure I can find that somewhere in the 113 page player safety protocol.
— Anthony Rizzo (@ARizzo44) July 30, 2020
Thursday's contest was due to start at 6 p.m. ET, and the storm left both teams stranded inside their respective clubhouses while awaiting word on whether they'd play.
About an hour before the game was called, Rizzo chirped the Reds - and took another indirect shot at MLB - with a screenshot of the local weather report that wasn't optimistic.
Hey @Reds when do you think the window is? Asking for some friends... maybe check at @HomeDepot for one? pic.twitter.com/302NfTuKvw
— Anthony Rizzo (@ARizzo44) July 30, 2020
MLB's attempt to play a season amid the pandemic was shaken up by the Miami Marlins' COVID-19 outbreak over the weekend. The Marlins are shut down until next week, while the Philadelphia Phillies - who played Miami last week - postponed an upcoming series after two positive tests in their organization.
The city of Cincinnati is currently experiencing its own outbreak, and the Reds had some scares over the past few days. Rizzo said the health and safety of both himself and his teammates was on his mind even before Thursday's weather delay.
"It's definitely something to be concerned about; if a clubhouse guy went over to their locker room, things like that, and making sure that locker room's deep cleaned," Rizzo told Gordon Wittenmyer of NBC Sports Chicago on Sunday, before the Cubs arrived in Cincinnati. "I'm definitely going to be paying attention to the (Reds' previous opponent) Tigers now to see if a couple guys pop positive.
"It's a little nerve-wracking. But I'm sure MLB and the Reds will do everything they need to do to make us feel safe there."