Gregor: Cubs' Maddon makes it interesting

On Monday, the Cubs became major-league baseball's most interesting team.

Club president Theo Epstein's gutsy rebuilding plan is still evolving, and the Cubs probably aren't playoff caliber until 2016 unless they spend big for some top-end starting pitching this winter.

But they became incredibly interesting as soon as Joe Maddon took over as manager and delivered a news conference as entertaining and energetic as you'll ever witness.

The 60-year-old Maddon started off by explaining how he first met with Epstein and general manager Jed Hoyer at a trailer park in Florida to talk about the Cubs opening. Along with his wife, Jaye, Maddon and his RV named "Cousin Eddie" (a "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" movie reference) were parked in Pensacola at the start of a cross-country trip to California.

Maddon is fired up to work at Wrigley Field, which he described as a "cathedral" and "magical."

As for the Cubs not winning the World Series since 1908, not a problem.

"The challenge is so outstanding," Maddon said. "How could you not want to be in this seat?"

Maddon ended the press gathering by offering to buy the first round of drinks. "A shot and a beer," he said, like they do it back in his hometown of Hazelton, Pennsylvania.

If you think this was a one-act show, stayed tuned for even more good times once Maddon gets to work in the Cubs' dugout and clubhouse.

As he showed during his nine-year run with the Tampa Bay Rays, Maddon knows how to win.

Taking over a moribund franchise that averaged a staggering 97 losses in its first eight years of existence, Maddon steered the Rays to the World Series in his third season and got them to the playoffs three more times despite paltry team payrolls and a flagging fan base.

Along the way, Maddon also showed he knows how to take a marathon season and make it as fun as possible.

Walking past Tampa Bay's clubhouse at U.S. Cellular Field from time to time the last few years, the Rays often celebrated wins over the White Sox like a college or high school team.

It all starts with Maddon.

This past season he has his players dress up like hippies before heading out on a West Coast trip.

Costumes are typically reserved for rookies on one road trip late in the season, but Tampa Bay's entire roster also has dressed as cowboys, golfers, hockey players and in pajamas on past trips.

In 2013, Maddon bought beers for fans wearing Rays gear after an important game at Anaheim, California.

Back home at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida - far and away the worst stadium in baseball - Maddon continued his offbeat approach by bringing exotic animals, strobe lights and merengue bands to the clubhouse.

Realizing the pressures that come with the long season, Maddon has become a master at finding diversions to keep his players loose and productive.

"Don't ever permit the pressure to exceed the pleasure," he says. "That's on the top of my lineup card every night. Don't ever forget that. Don't ever forget why we're here.

"This is baseball. This is a game, and it's entertainment. Simplify things and play the same game regardless of the date on the calendar."