A recent MLB spring training game between the Los Angeles Angels and Chicago Cubs featured the usual, borderline unwatchable exhibition baseball that is normally a part of spring training.

It also featured some of the best sports entertainment available when the ESPN broadcast mic’d up Cubs stars Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo.

Throughout the game, Bryant and Rizzo were available for conversations with the broadcast team of Jon Sciambi and Jessica Mendoza and provided plenty of audio from on the field and in the dugout.

The pair of players was even patched in with their former manager Joe Maddon (now with the Angels) and current manager David Ross.

Whether it was Rizzo telling childhood stories about heckling Hall-of-Famer Chipper Jones or Bryant attempting to call his shot in the batter’s box, the broadcast was fun and original.

Players have been mic’d up on baseball broadcasts several times in the last few seasons, but in-game interviews have been exclusive to spring training games and the All-Star game.

But it is hard to ignore just how much fun in-game interviews are, and although seeing them in regular season games is very unlikely and unrealistic, it sure is fun to think about the possibilities.

Have the pitcher and batter connected during at bats so they can play even more mind games with each other. Max Scherzer would probably snarl and growl at his opponents until they leave the box shaking and crying.

He might threaten to kill somebody in the heat of the moment. That guy is completely insane.

Also having every catcher mic’d up would be outstanding entertainment. The conversations between catchers, umpires and batters have long been intriguing and mysterious, and it would be so much fun to know what they say and how often they actually speak.

This season would be the best season to unveil in-game interviews due to the aftermath of the Houston Astros cheating scandal.

Imagine the possibilities of every opposing team being able to talk to the Astros during games. Think about the relentless banging of trash cans into microphones that would then echo around each Astros player’s helmet.

Maybe even allow a few fans to enter the chats, perhaps the winners of online contests can grab a mic for an inning or two and really unleash on Jose Altuve.

It is very unlikely that regular season games would allow in-game interviews, and even Bryant said after the spring training game that he does not think it is a good idea for the regular season.

But it is fun to dream about.

Adam Tumino is a junior journalism major. He can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected]