FIRE MADDON? SERIOUSLY?
MANAGER NOT TO BLAME FOR MANY THINGS TROUBLING CUBS
For all the debatable reasons behind what’s ailing the Cubs most during this disappointing first half, know this:
Whoever fires manager Joe Maddon as the solution needs to look in the mirror and fire that guy, too.
President of baseball operations Theo Epstein’s thinly veiled shot across the bow a few days ago on his weekly radio hit on the Cubs’ flagship station can’t hide or distract from the bulk of this team’s shortcomings that have nothing to do with Maddon.
When asked about Maddon’s responsibility, Epstein prefaced his comments Wednesday by saying he’d rather ‘‘lump us in collectively.’’
But then he went on to say: ‘‘Joe has a unique challenge, too, because it’s his fifth year with this team, and he’s remarkably consistent. But we all contribute to the environment, including the manager. So when players aren’t responding to the environment, I think sometimes you have to sort of do the impossible, which is try to find a new approach and new ways to reach guys while also maintaining one of your greatest strengths, which is your consistency and your ability to be the same guy whether things are going well or poorly.’’
In other words, change but don’t change? If Maddon comes off annoyingly glib or nonchalant during rough stretches early in seasons, the larger context is a managing style that has been as successful as anyone’s in the game during his 14 years as a big-league skipper — and one that continues to work in the clubhouse.
‘‘He’s done such an amazing job here, creating this winning culture for five years now,’’ said AllStar third baseman Kris Bryant, who indicated a sudden change in demeanor to, say, an in-yourface or kick-in-the-ass style would be unsettling and detrimental.
‘‘I feel like that would only have a negative impact on us going out there. We play with more pressure [already] because we want to win. I think he’s been super-consistent, and I’ve appreciated that.’’
Fire Maddon? Be careful what you wish for. He justifiably has been criticized at times, including when he almost cost the Cubs the 2016
World Series with how he managed Game 7, specifically his use of the bullpen leading up to and during that game.
But this was also the right manager at the right time for a team about to go on a run with rookies and other young talent. The magical 2015-16 run likely wouldn’t have happened with a different management style.
And the so-called disappointments during the last two postseasons had a lot more to do with declines in the quality of the rosters than anything involving the field management.
And for all that has gone wrong this season, Maddon still has a team that plays hard for him, that remains behind him. That can’t be said of previous managers, even under the Epstein regime.
Rick Renteria, Maddon’s predecessor, lost several of the veterans in spring training in his lone season with the Cubs before reinventing and reestablishing himself on the other side of town.
‘‘I’ve always been a believer that coaches get all the blame and not enough credit,’’ said veteran left-hander Jon Lester, who has played for five big-league managers with three organizations and has three World Series rings. ‘‘Just because we played bad doesn’t mean it’s the manager’s fault.’’
Maybe another manager would find that theoretical extra victory or two Epstein sought after the Cubs’ quick wild-card exit last season. Then again, this is a team that boxed itself into a position of doing little last winter because of a $220 million-plus payroll full of fat.
The manager didn’t whiff on $164 million worth of rotation busts in Yu Darvish and Tyler Chatwood. The manager didn’t commit a twoyear contract to a career injury case in Brandon Morrow, which led to a roster without a closer for a calendar year.
How many victories were left on the table in May and June because of that alone?
‘‘I think Joe’s done a great job of managing, controlling our guys as usual, controlling the starting pitching, the bullpen, the personnel, the changes — everybody,’’ Lester said. ‘‘I think it’s just an easy thing to point out. He’s an easy target.’’