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The Skipper
There have been a number of Managers at the helm of the Chicago Cubs in the last couple of decades. Some, who will be a part of future Hall of Fame conversations down the road.
On November 3rd, 2014 the next in line stepped up to the microphone for the first time, and announced his intentions as the Cubs brand new general manager.
Just one day after Kris Bryant was named the Baseball Writers’ Association of America’s unanimous pick for the NL Rookie of the Year Award, the Cubs skipper, Joe Maddon was named the NL Manager of the Year.
The 61-year-old Maddon, who has also won Manager of the Year honors twice in the American League, was the only NL manager to appear on all 30 ballots. He earned 18 first-place votes, Mike Matheny was the runner-up with nine votes.
Maddon is the seventh manager to win the award three times, as well as the seventh to win in both the American and National leagues.
“It’s a little bit staggering, actually,” Maddon said, surrounded by family and friends in Tampa at his Italian restaurant, Ava. (mlb.com)
Respect
It is clear, that Maddon is well respected by his players. He is after all, the ultimate players manager. He cares a great deal for his team, the organization as a whole, and the fans that come out to support them threw thick and thin.
Big shout out to @CubsJoeMadd & @KrisBryant_23 on their well deserved accolades! Sorry for the delay guys, been in a tree stand! #LetsGo
— Jon Lester (@JLester34) November 18, 2015
NL Manager of the Year, congrats to @CubsJoeMadd! An absolutely incredible guy to play for!
— Kris Bryant (@KrisBryant_23) November 18, 2015
Congratulations skipper! Well deserved, you've led us since day one! @CubsJoeMadd
— Anthony Rizzo (@ARizzo44) November 18, 2015
His players adore him, and they are willing to leave everything on the field for their manager. He has brought the fun back, along with his locker room full of young guns, and they have embraced his laid back approach; They have adopted his belief in the Cubs talent, their systems, and most of all, their ability to overcome anything that stands in their path.
Zen Approach
Maddon has always adopted a unique brand of management. After the Cubs dropped the first two games in the NLCS series against the Mets, Maddon carried a speaker through the clubhouse blaring the “Rocky” theme. He believed in his team, no matter how deep a hole they were in, and he wanted them to believe, too.
Months prior, in the Mets Citi Field clubhouse, Maddon had brought in a magician to help snap a losing skid. In fact, he was known for a slew of bonding experiences such as pajama parties (after Arrieta’s no-hitter in Los Angeles), Zoo Animals, and even a little Sunday brunch served on the field at Wrigley, while the team enjoyed the Chicago Bears game.
All of this may have seemed ridiculous to teams with a more business like approach, but there isn’t a manager out there who wouldn’t give merit to Maddon’s unique style. After all, it has worked well for him.
@D_Ross3 @Cubs No-hitter pajama party, of course! #RossTix pic.twitter.com/2Gbjbl3uZm
— Brooks Thomas (@brooksethomas) October 11, 2015
Photos: Brunch and batting practice at Wrigley: The Cubs returned to Wrigley on Sunday for a little brunch, Bears… http://t.co/tzuISegbi6
— Breaking Chicago News (@breakingchinews) October 11, 2015
Belief
Many stood incredulous when Maddon stated his belief that the Cubs were a team ready to make a run at the post-season in Spring Training. They simply felt that the Cubs had a lot to do on the back of their fifth losing season, and no matter how good Joe Maddon was they didn’t believe.
They do now. In fact, the Post-Season is exactly where Maddon’s club ended up, after the Cubs improved by 24 regular-season wins over their 2014 season. It was the biggest such jump in baseball.
They won 97 games in the regular season, beating the Pirates on the back of Arrieta’s dominant shut-out performance in the National League Wild Card Game, and defeating the heavy weight St. Louis Cardinals in the NL Division Series.
The Cubs looked unstoppable, before they ran out of gas against the New York Mets in the NL Championship Series.
While many might have been disappointed, the Cubs, their architect, Theo Epstein, the fans, and the organization have every reason to look ahead to a very bright future. The future was supposed to be just that, but it became clear in October that the future is now.
And Joe Maddon is the author who plans to re-write the Cubs history. A history that doesn’t wait, and has no curses or goats in sight. For Maddon, there will be no excuses, just wins.
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