Cubs News: Anthony Rizzo discusses his back injury |
The Chicago Cubs placed first baseman
Anthony Rizzo on the 10-day disabled list with lower back tightness on Tuesday morning before the home opener.
Rizzo spoke to the media before today's game and expressed his disappointment in the injury. "It stinks, especially to not play in the home opener," he said. "It's a long season. It's a marathon, and you have to stay smart, so that's what we are doing." He was asked if the cold weather had anything to do with his back and if he could have likely played in warmer weather. "I think if it was 80 degrees right now, it doesn't matter; it's just a matter of getting it right for the long haul." Rizzo thinks that his back is getting better and he hopes to be ready to play on Monday against the Redbirds. "I feel like it is and tested it today but it's a lower back. It felt good yesterday and it felt good today. The plan is for me to be back Monday." The DL stint is retroactive to Friday, April 6 as he would only have to sit out six more games (Pirates and Braves) and would be eligible to play Monday against the St. Louis Cardinals. He will more than likely miss at least 9 of the first 15 games this season. Rizzo has been very durable the last few years with playing at least 155 games in each of the previous three seasons and he has only been on the DL once (2004) in his entire career. For the season in 28 at-bats, Rizzo is batting only .107 (3-for-28) with a homer and three RBIs. Youngster Victor Caratini and utility man Ben Zobrist have been filling in at first base during Rizzo's absense.
