WTF Maddon

[jumbo]

I want to say that the SF series was by far Maddon's best job of managing during his tenure in Chicago. He pushed all the right buttons and was not afraid to use his guys when he thought the game was on the line. For the first time, I was really impressed with how he managed and I think it made a measurable difference in the outcome.

 

How likely is it that Maddon had to play Castro until after the trade deadline for the sake of not torpedoing his trade value? Once past the break Castro is on a relatively hot streak, but as it starts to wear off Maddon says, forget it, Russell to SS. Does he have to get Theo's permission to bench Castro pre-trade deadline?

[Guest]

I want to say that the SF series was by far Maddon's best job of managing during his tenure in Chicago. He pushed all the right buttons and was not afraid to use his guys when he thought the game was on the line. For the first time, I was really impressed with how he managed and I think it made a measurable difference in the outcome.

 

It was nice to see that Maddon recognized it as a big series, didn't shy away from saying so, and then managed like these games meant more than the others. On the other side of things, I actually also think Bochy rightly (IMO) treated them like any other series with his veteran=championship core. At the end of the day, the young, hungry team who happened to be playing better baseball going in, swept the series and greatly improved their confidence going forward.

 

If Bochy treated these games like they were any other series, then he was mistaken. They were hugely important in playoff positioning (granted, it might not have mattered all that much because the Dodgers got swept, but it does hurt one of their options badly) and, "veteran/championship core" or not, should have been treated as such. The odds swung greatly as a result.

 

I can't think of anything Bochy did poorly that could be attributed to not prioritizing that particular game. He has a weird attachment to Pagan apparently, but that transcends the series. He didn't leave starters out to get pulverized, he used his relievers effectively(Strickland was used against the heart of the order more than once, even in the 6th), but the team just didn't play well. The aforementioned Pagan playing time and stuff like hitting Sanchez instead of Maxwell yesterday paint a picture of someone who didn't manage as well as Maddon did, but not for lack of caring as much about the individual games.

[Guest]

I didn't mean to say he was, FWIW. Was just taking issue with UMFan's post and the idea that the Cubs as a young team did and should have prioritized them more and the veteran championship core shouldn't have and didn't.

[davell]

I want to say that the SF series was by far Maddon's best job of managing during his tenure in Chicago. He pushed all the right buttons and was not afraid to use his guys when he thought the game was on the line. For the first time, I was really impressed with how he managed and I think it made a measurable difference in the outcome.

 

How likely is it that Maddon had to play Castro until after the trade deadline for the sake of not torpedoing his trade value? Once past the break Castro is on a relatively hot streak, but as it starts to wear off Maddon says, forget it, Russell to SS. Does he have to get Theo's permission to bench Castro pre-trade deadline?

 

I doubt he'd need "permission", but could Theo have said, "hey, if Castro plays well in July, it may help net us a TOR SP". Or something else that may have given Joe an incentive to play him. They obviously were trying to move him, seems like one of those situations Joe and Theo have talked about as far as trying to stay on the same page.

[UMFan83]

I didn't mean to say he was, FWIW. Was just taking issue with UMFan's post and the idea that the Cubs as a young team did and should have prioritized them more and the veteran championship core shouldn't have and didn't.

 

Not that the Giants didn't prioritize it enough just that they are a veteran team who won a title last year so he expects the team will rise the occasion when they need to

 

But actually typing this out makes me think that it sounds way too meatbally and doesn't make sense so I retract it. But yes Maddon managed great last weekend

[Guest]

I want to say that the SF series was by far Maddon's best job of managing during his tenure in Chicago. He pushed all the right buttons and was not afraid to use his guys when he thought the game was on the line. For the first time, I was really impressed with how he managed and I think it made a measurable difference in the outcome.

 

How likely is it that Maddon had to play Castro until after the trade deadline for the sake of not torpedoing his trade value? Once past the break Castro is on a relatively hot streak, but as it starts to wear off Maddon says, forget it, Russell to SS. Does he have to get Theo's permission to bench Castro pre-trade deadline?

 

I doubt he'd need "permission", but could Theo have said, "hey, if Castro plays well in July, it may help net us a TOR SP". Or something else that may have given Joe an incentive to play him. They obviously were trying to move him, seems like one of those situations Joe and Theo have talked about as far as trying to stay on the same page.

 

The trade deadline may have had something to do with it, but the biggest problem with benching Castro has always been lack of alternatives. It took Schwarber getting a chance with Montero's injury and killing the ball for there to even be an alternative, and that alternative is the clumsy offense/defense platoon of Coghlan and Herrera. Prior to that point you had Soler and Baez on the DL too(La Stella is also still mostly dead) which cut down on the options further.

[DiamondMind]

Delete this thread. Maddon is a genius.

[JennieGarthAlgar]

Delete this thread. Maddon is a genius.

 

I choose to believe the subject is "Way To Figureitout Maddon"

[Guest]

http://www.tampabay.com/sports/baseball/rays/loving-his-cubs-job-maddon-misses-rays-but-not-trop/2240776

[Banedon]

http://www.tampabay.com/sports/baseball/rays/loving-his-cubs-job-maddon-misses-rays-but-not-trop/2240776

 

Maddon, 61, has brought along most of what worked with the Rays, such as the relaxed and casual atmosphere, themed road trips (Blackhawks jerseys, shorts and sport coats to Miami, pajamas and onesies for an upcoming redeye flight)

[Tracer Bullet]

lifetime contract theo. get on it.

[Guest]

I'm not sure if Piniella seemed older or Maddon seems younger (a little of both?) but it's kinda crazy to me that Piniella was only like 2 years older than Maddon when we hired him.

[Guest]

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=13443025&ex_cid=sportscenterFB&sf11997102=1

 

Maddon segment from SportsCenter

[jumbo]

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=13443025&ex_cid=sportscenterFB&sf11997102=1

 

Maddon segment from SportsCenter

 

His son is sporting quite the neck tattoo

[CincyCubsFan]

Does he dye his hair brown in the winter?

[jumbo]

Does he dye his hair brown in the winter?

 

I think that was old video

[Guest]

he does dye his hair all kinds of things tho

[bhogg]

I'm not sure if Piniella seemed older or Maddon seems younger (a little of both?) but it's kinda crazy to me that Piniella was only like 2 years older than Maddon when we hired him.

 

 

Piniella was more pregnant

[mul21]

I'm not sure if Piniella seemed older or Maddon seems younger (a little of both?) but it's kinda crazy to me that Piniella was only like 2 years older than Maddon when we hired him.

 

 

Piniella was more pregnant

 

http://chrisblattman.com/files/2011/07/facebook_like_button_big1.jpg

[Guest]

I love Maddon, and I'm extremely happy to have him, but I'm really annoyed at the moment at just how much credit he's getting.

 

It's like...idiots who didn't think this team would be good in 2015 need to excuse away their wrongness, so now Joe Maddon is worth 20 wins.

 

Some dude just wrote into the score saying he used to think manager impact was overrated but this year he is convinced they have won 20 games they shouldn't have because of Maddon.

 

EDIT - And then a caller calls in to say that's crazy, and Holmes is like "well, 20 is a LITTLE high"

[sneakypower]

I love Maddon, and I'm extremely happy to have him, but I'm really annoyed at the moment at just how much credit he's getting.

 

It's like...idiots who didn't think this team would be good in 2015 need to excuse away their wrongness, so now Joe Maddon is worth 20 wins.

 

Some dude just wrote into the score saying he used to think manager impact was overrated but this year he is convinced they have won 20 games they shouldn't have because of Maddon.

i actually do think he's had a pretty immeasurable positive impact

 

also it shouldn't be overlooked that no other skipper in baseball conducts the Coghlan @ 2B experiment; hell, we saw 2 other managers ignore his/Junior Lake's potential versatility in completely lost seasons...and that substitution was partially the impetus for our strong 2nd half push

[Guest]

I love Maddon, and I'm extremely happy to have him, but I'm really annoyed at the moment at just how much credit he's getting.

 

It's like...idiots who didn't think this team would be good in 2015 need to excuse away their wrongness, so now Joe Maddon is worth 20 wins.

 

Some dude just wrote into the score saying he used to think manager impact was overrated but this year he is convinced they have won 20 games they shouldn't have because of Maddon.

i actually do think he's had a pretty immeasurable positive impact

 

also it shouldn't be overlooked that no other skipper in baseball conducts the Coghlan @ 2B experiment; hell, we saw 2 other managers ignore his/Junior Lake's potential versatility in completely lost seasons...and that substitution was partially the impetus for our strong 2nd half push

 

i totally agree, but i still think assigning more than even like 5 wins to it is insane.

 

if he's that valuable, he's one of the biggest bargain free agent signings in decades.

[sneakypower]

we're 5 up on our pythag...

also 27-17 in 1-run games, and 11-5 in extras

 

no way of knowing his actual real value as a tactician, much less clubhouse leader/whatever, but i'm sure there's an argument that could be made

[Sammy Sofa]

Maybe it's the cumulative value of him and his RV and his magician and the snake and his disco parties.

[Banedon]

I love Maddon, and I'm extremely happy to have him, but I'm really annoyed at the moment at just how much credit he's getting.

 

It's like...idiots who didn't think this team would be good in 2015 need to excuse away their wrongness, so now Joe Maddon is worth 20 wins.

 

Some dude just wrote into the score saying he used to think manager impact was overrated but this year he is convinced they have won 20 games they shouldn't have because of Maddon.

 

EDIT - And then a caller calls in to say that's crazy, and Holmes is like "well, 20 is a LITTLE high"

 

You're annoyed because talk radio meatballs are being too irrational about their happiness about what this team (and manager) has done this year? That's weird. You almost have to be looking for something to be annoyed about if that's annoying you.