Chicago Cubs Superstar Anthony Rizzo Talks MLB The Show 16

Chicago Cubs superstar Anthony Rizzo took a few minutes out of his spring training prep work in Mesa, Arizona to talk to me about his involvement in this year’s MLB The Show 16.  Rizzo, who is coming off of a career year in which he hit .278 with 31 home runs and 101 RBI, still says he has a lot of work to do on the field to garner a higher rating in the game. He also gave Sony some feedback on his player model.

Rizzo and the Cubs' 2016 season kicks off against the Anaheim Angels next Monday at 9 p.m. CT.

Teammate Kris Bryant helped you set up a David Ross parody account on Instagram that mocks his “Grandpa Rossy” age. The only question you need to answer for me is does Ross look too young in The Show?

I haven’t seen him yet. I need to. That’s going to be on my to-do list.  I’ll play it, take a picture of him, and we’ll see.

What involvement do you have with Sony and the game itself?

In the game itself, they featured me in Franchise mode. That’s pretty cool to go in the main options and see myself there. It’s really surreal.

What’s that like seeing yourself in the game? Do you have feedback for Sony on the way you move or what you wear?

It’s so realistic that it’s kind of scary to me. I was just playing the game here and I saw I had sunglasses on. I told Sony I don’t wear sunglasses so they are going to fix that. I remember playing games when I was younger, but now that I’m in them, and featured in them, it’s crazy. Hearing the commentators talk about you in the game is crazy.

What games did you play pre-baseball career?

Back in the day it was the Ken Griffey games on Super Nintendo. Those were always fun, but I played everything when I was young.

You say your player model looks realistic. How close is Sony coming to authenticating the experience on the field?

It’s the best. We paused the game and flew over Wrigley Field and I was in awe how realistic everything looks – from the ivy to the scoreboard to the bleachers.

One thing I noticed 15 games into my franchise mode is that you haven’t been hit by a pitch yet. That doesn’t seem realistic to me. Why did you get hit by so many pitches last year?

[Laughs] I stand right on top of the plate. It’s very uncomfortable for pitchers to throw inside. It’s uncomfortable for me too, but it is what it is.

Did you take a look at your player rating in the game, and give Sony any feedback on whether it should be…I don’t know…higher?

I did! They got it pretty good. I’m a 92.

Were you originally a 92, or did you ask for it to be higher?

Um… I think I was a 92 when I first saw it. [Laughs] I like it. I have a lot of work left on the field to get that rating higher.

Do you and your teammates play games in the clubhouse?

Yeah, we do. Guys are playing different games in there at all times.

You play baseball for a living, and devote your days to getting ready for games. Do you have time to play games like The Show?

I used to play a few years ago. I haven’t really lately. My gaming skills have diminished over the years. I think everyone is just way better than me now. Before that, I had a copy of every year of it.

Joe Maddon says he has a group of players he calls “lead bulls.” Are you one of them? And what they hell does that name mean?

[Laughs] Yeah, last year and this year Joe brings in a few guys to make the “rules.” That’s that. We address family policy, clubhouse access, what we can wear and what we can’t. We come to an understanding and it’s up to us players to police it and make sure everything goes accordingly and nothing is ever an issue.

After making it a fair ways into the playoffs last year, adding a bat like Jason Heyward has turned the Cubs into a pre-season favorite for the World Series. What does Heyward add for your team, and more personally, how does having a bat like his in front of you do for the pitches you see?

He’s just another really great at bat for us. Every pitcher we face now is going to have to grind through our lineup. We’ll see high intensity pitches every time. There won’t be pitchers cruising through our lineup. That’s the plan at least. He brings a lot to our time. He has all of the tools. He’s a really nice addition for us.

I always get a kick out of watching pitchers bat. I thought Jon Lester’s 0-66 streak at the plate was enjoyable for all of the wrong reasons. It sounds like baseball might be losing that aspect of the game with the DH rule potentially coming to the National League. What’s your take on that?

I like the DH, but it’s also fun watching pitchers thinking that they can hit. I can go either way on it. If it happens it happens, if it doesn’t it doesn’t.

What can we expect from the Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation in 2016?

The goal is to raise $1 million dollars this year, and we’re pretty much on track for that. We have a couple of events coming up, including a cook-off for cancer. The goal is to keep raising money and dishing it out to organizations, hospitals, families, and keep raising awareness.