MILWAUKEE - Anthony Rizzo strolled into the visiting clubhouse at Miller Park Thursday morning and immediately heard it from his teammates:
"Rizzo, how was your night off?"
"Rizz, you only played like three innings last night, right? You should be feeling fresh!"
"Rizz, why are you so late? KB played like 30 positions last night and he's here already."
It was all in good fun, obviously, pointing out how Rizzo came out of the game in the top of the ninth for pinch-runner Javy Baez and then was forced to stay on the bench for the four extra innings.
It was only the second time all season Rizzo has not played a full game.
Meanwhile, Kris Bryant started the game in left field, then came in to act as a fifth infielder in the bottom of the 12th when the Brewers loaded the bases with nobody out.
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During the course of that inning, Bryant moved all over the infield, including actually switching gloves with Baez to play first base for a bit, too.
"There were so many things going on," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said before explaining his thought process in detail, explaining why he decided to switch Bryant to first base in the middle of the inning.
"Javy at third base was very appealing. I went back in and looked and thought, 'I gotta do this for the next hitter if we get to him.' Then, when it gets to two outs, if there's a throw going to first base, who's gonna pick it? Who's gonna make the play at first base?
"KB can do that. But I have a lot of faith in Javy at handling the the baseball."
In spring training, Maddon said Baez was the backup option at first base if Rizzo ever got hit with a pitch in a bad spot or needed an extended break..
Baez has filled the Ben Zobrist role for Maddon this season, playing all four infield positions plus left field. He has been at first base all seven innings Rizzo has been on the bench in 2016.
But the Cubs manager also likes the 6-foot-5 Bryant over at first base and Baez's slick glove at the hot corner.
"[The plan behind Rizzo is] probably KB or Javy," Maddon said. "Just depends on who's pitching, where you think the ball's gonna be hit. I mean, truly, you think at that level.
"When you have guys that are that versatile, you're always looking for the edge. Who's giving you the edge at a particular position? You're looking for an edge, however small it might be.
"Javy can play there, but so can KB. There are two guys beyond Rizz."