Maddon was gone the second the FO decided not to add on another year to his deal. He's a lame duck manager. If they win the WS, he can use the "I'm going out on top" excuse. If they flame out and either miss the playoffs or get bounced quickly, they'll say they're looking for a new voice in the clubhouse or some other [expletive] line. Don't know what excuse they'd use if the Cubs make the NLCS or WS and lose but I'm sure they'd have something.