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Cubs' Rizzo worried about playing into December

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James Tubb
April 17, 2020  (11:47)
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With Major League Baseball still trying to come up with ideas for how to resurrect its postponed season and the reported plan to play all or part of the season secluded in Arizona while under strict quarantine has been met with mixed reactions from players and staff.

Chicago Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo has shared his skepticism, but he believes the Arizona scenario could work if it clears some big hurdles. But, he is also concerned about the effect that extending the season into December could have on the 2021 season.

"I think you're going to have a hard time telling grown men with established lives to stay in a hotel and not be with their families," he told The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal. "You're going to tell Kris Bryant that he's not going to see his baby for 4 1/2 months?"

In the interview, Rosenthal suggested that the secluded part of the season may only last for six weeks.

"Six weeks, I think that can work," Rizzo said. "It's just the logistics of it. Hotel workers and grounds crew and cameramen. … It can be pulled off. I think it could. But health and salaries, how do you work through all that? They can't pay us full pay, right? Then playing into November, December, you're jeopardizing getting ready for next season. I want to play. But we don't want to jeopardize two years of baseball."

With baseball on pause, Rizzo has kept himself busy and not just staying in shape for the season to start.

The Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation has delivered approximately 3,500 meals to frontline workers at 23 hospitals across Florida, Arizona, New York, New Jersey and Maine. The organization was also delivering supplies like medical gloves and hand sanitizer to hospitals on Friday.