Less is more: Joe Maddon wants to see a change in Anthony Rizzo's pregame routine

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MILWAUKEE — Anthony Rizzo's balky back still wasn't ready to give it a go Sunday afternoon against the Brewers, but it's getting there.

Rizzo said his low back tightness has been getting better each day and right now, it's just a matter of ensuring this doesn't linger throughout the next six-plus months.

The Cubs All-Star first baseman felt his back first tighten up last Monday in Cincinnati, but then the team had back-to-back off-days thanks to a rainout, so they had hoped he'd be good to go for the weekend in Milwaukee. He gutted it out through Thursday's game, but it was tight again Friday, so he opted to take a seat over the weekend and play it safe.

"It's just something that gradually happens," Rizzo said. "Maybe sleeping, I woke up one day and it was just a lot tighter and wouldn't loosen up. Usually it does and usually it just releases, but this time it grabbed on me."

With the Cubs finally set to return home after an 11-day road trip to begin the 2018 campaign, Rizzo really hopes to be able to take the field for the first game at Wrigley, but not at the risk of a setback.

"It's definitely important to me," he said. "I really wanna play [Monday] but at the same time, you gotta be smart. I can't play tomorrow and set myself back 10 days or 5-6 days."

Rizzo has missed a couple games each year with a back issue, though he said most of the time that's been an upper-back problem, not lower back.

In a year where the Cubs hope to be playing into late October again, there's no point in pushing one of their key pieces on April 8.

However, Joe Maddon would like to see a change from Rizzo in terms of how he goes about his pregame routine.

Maddon is a big proponent of giving players rest — like "American Legion Week" — and is always calling for his guys to reduce the amount of batting practice and other stuff they have to do on a daily basis.

"My biggest thing with him is that I want him to do less before games," Maddon said. "Like all these guys, I think some of the injuries that they eventually grow into is by repetitive motion or process that's not necessary.

"Too many swings. Too many ground balls. Just really work smart and not just work. So guys like him, as you get a little bit older, save those moments for the game and that's the message with him and all the guys.

"That's why I don't like BP every day. That's why I don't like a zillion ground balls every day. It's repetitive. It's a long year. So really be wary of that."

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