Since becoming manager for the Chicago Cubs, Joe Maddon has led the team to three straight postseasons and right now he's on pace to win a third division title in a row. Plus, you know, winning the 2016 World Series. So yes, I will call any report that suggests Joe Maddon is on the hot seat, or even gives the slightest credence to that thought, bullshit.
That's what USA Today's Bob Nightengale wrote about on Monday, breaking down salaries for MLB managers and he included this laugh out loud report from his sources.
Via USA Today.
Joe Maddon helped lead the Chicago Cubs to the Holy Grail of sports, with a consistent level of success they haven’t seen in a century, but there are whispers his job could be in jeopardy if they don’t play deep into October. ... Maddon wants to continue managing, but if the Cubs fail to make the playoffs, or go out quickly, his fate is tenuous, several baseball executives told USA TODAY on the condition of anonymity. The executives did not want to speak publicly about Maddon's situation.Give me a second... HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA So, if I have this clear, the Cubs, who are on the verge of going to the postseason for the fourth year in a row, which would be a first in franchise history, all under Joe Maddon, would decide to fire him despite there being one year left on his deal? Again, this is yet another time that Cubs fans should be happy that those unnamed executives from other teams aren't the ones making decisions for the Cubs. I mean, let's forget about the success during the first three years that includes three trips to the NLCS and a World Series title, but you can argue that Joe Maddon has done his best job managing in 2018. A year that has included Yu Darvish making eight starts, Tyler Chatwood being in the rotation for the majority of the year and sucking, Kris Bryant out for almost half the year, Anthony Rizzo sucking for most of the first two months, losing your closer for almost all of the second half, Addison Russell being bad since June, the rotation underachieving for the majority of the year and despite all of that, the Cubs have the best record in the NL and are on their way to the playoffs. And again, Maddon has one more year on his deal. But the Cubs would fire him if they lose in the NLDS? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA Does this sound like Joe Maddon is on the hot seat?
“He’s done the same great job that he’s done since he’s been here,” Epstein said. “We’ve got a deep roster, and he’s managed to use the whole thing and keep guys in spots where they can succeed. He’s been real steady. You can’t tell with him whether we’re on a hot streak or whether we’re struggling. He creates an environment that gives guys a lot of freedom and allows them to sort of be themselves and thrive.”C'mon! And for the "he got lucky they won in 2016," crowd, guess what, every single manager gets lucky. Oh, and that year must have been such a fluke because the Cubs have only won the most games in baseball since the start of 2015. And the thing is, I could even accept a report saying that Maddon might not return after 2019, but to suggest he'd be gone before his contract is up? That's just stupid, but the meatballs who hate Joe Maddon will eat it up I guess. Also, this is coming from Bob Nightengale, so I guarantee you that Joe Maddon's job is safe.
