Anthony Rizzo calls out MLB over player safety

Anthony Rizzo is not happy with Major League Baseball for how they’ve handled player safety during the shortened 2020 season.

The Chicago Cubs are currently in Cincinnati preparing to play the Reds in the final game of their current series. The weather in Cincinnati isn’t exactly baseball weather, however, and that’s kept both teams contained to their respective locker rooms.

Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo is not pleased at how this situation has been handled and shot off a response about it on Twitter early Thursday evening while waiting for the weather to subside so he and his Cubs could take the field.

During the pandemic, it’s been recommended for players to sit far apart in the dugout and in the clubhouse and to wear masks if possible (though not many have worn them during the game). If what Rizzo is saying is true — and there’s no reason to believe it isn’t — this is not a good look for Major League Baseball.

Earlier this week, the league was sent into a tailspin when the Marlins had an outbreak in their clubhouse, forcing them to postpone their season until further notice. The same thing has happened to the Philadelphia Phillies, who don’t have an outbreak so to speak, but are currently on hold from playing games due to someone in the organization testing positive.

The Reds have been an organization that have seen some positive tests, as Matt Davidson can attest to. Mike Moustakas also felt sick earlier this week, but tested negative and therefore was able to play.

This sounds like a nightmare situation for MLB to navigate and if any Cubs players end up testing positive as a result of spending eight hours together in a clubhouse during a rain delay, Major League Baseball will only have themselves to blame.