VIDEO: Cubs' Anthony Rizzo Ruthlessly Trolls Astros While Mic'd up During Spring Training At-Bat
By Mark Powell
Frankly, we shouldn't be surprised it took the MLB this long to figure out mic'ing up their best personalities is a good idea. Most casual sports fans couldn't pick Mike Trout out of a lineup, and he's THE talent of this generation. In Monday's Cubs-Angels game, which featured Joe Maddon's first contest against his former team, Anthony Rizzo was mic'd up and delivered some tremendous content. He became just the latest major leaguer to take a shot at the Houston Astros, and in this case did so on air.
Anthony Rizzo taking shots at the Astros mid game on live television is awesome. ? (Via @brian_donley34) pic.twitter.com/qgqFNBKQut
— Cubs Live (@Cubs_Live) March 2, 2020
Rizzo, while trying to figure out what the Angels pitcher was going to throw him, jokingly asked the ESPN broadcast booth to bang a trash can to help him out. This, of course, is a reference to the Astros sign-stealing scandal, in which players would be alerted to breaking pitches by a loud trash can bang from the dugout. While such a method seems simplistic and easy to pick up on, it was backed up by months of data.
Rizzo: I'm doing some math in my head about what he's gonna throw.
— Bleacher Nation (@BleacherNation) March 2, 2020
Mendoza: What do you got?
Rizzo: No idea. Somebody bang for me.
Considering the Astros get to hang on to their 2017 Commissioners' Trophy, a few jabs from rival players is a pretty minimal punishment.