Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo have wild ideas to spice up extra innings
Chicago Cubs All-Stars Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo sat down with Paste BN Sports' Bob Nightengale for an extensive question-and-answer session. Perhaps the most surprising response regarded how they might change the game if empowered to do so.
Turns out Commissioner Rob Manfred may have a surprise ally in Rizzo:
Question: If you were commissioner for a day, what would you change?
Bryant: “I love the way the game is, but everybody talks about pace of play. How about if it’s a tie game after the ninth, let’s have a Home Run Derby."
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Rizzo: “Get out of here, you can’t do that. But he raises a good point. I would change overtime. Extra innings. Every sport is exciting in overtime. Football. Basketball, hockey. I would like to see our extra innings more exciting. It would save more guys long term. I like the outside the box. If you start someone on second base and nobody out, there’s a lot of strategy. So start a runner at second for two innings, and then maybe a runner on third beginning in the (12th) inning.’’
Fret not, traditionalists. Both players likely have another decade in their playing career, precluding them from infiltrating the commissioner's office.