Miles: Maddon, Cubs believe they'll keep winning
The calendar says June has arrived even though it felt more like November on Sunday at Wrigley Field.
With a hawk wind of 21 mph howling from the north, the Cubs and Kansas City Royals went 11 innings before Cubs catcher David Ross dunked a bases-loaded single into short left field to score Kris Bryant with the winning run in a 2-1 victory.
Speaking of the calendar, Saturday's game was rained out and rescheduled for Sept. 28. That got Cubs manager Joe Maddon talking about wanting few off-days in September because teams catch a “second wind” during the playoff run.
What a minute. Playoff run? Cubs?
“That's just the way I am, yes,” said Maddon, whose team is 26-22. “We don't plan on watching anybody else play in October. We want to be there ourselves. How do you get there? It's the daily grind of the season. You have to believe that you can. It's like the Henry Ford thing. If you believe you can, you can. If you believe you cannot, then you cannot.
“I choose to believe that we can. There are different things we've got to do to get to that point. I'm really eager to see how June unfolds because we've been able to get certain things together. Our players understand what we're trying to do right now. I understand the players better. So let's see how June plays out. Then we can make some determinations after that. But I'm not going to back off. I really believe we're a playoff-caliber team. And that's our goal.”
Some of the things Maddon would like to see the Cubs do are make fewer errors and strike out fewer times.
The Cubs were second-to-last in fielding entering Sunday, and their 41 errors were second-most to Milwaukee's 44. Their hitters have struck out 476 times in 48 games.
“Defensively, again, I'll defend our team,” Maddon said, not at all defensively. “We've made some really routine mistakes, I agree. We've also done some really good things. I'm happy it's the routine stuff, because we can fix that. We've showed great range at different moments. We've made some wonderful plays, at all positions. But we've booted some really routine stuff, and that's what we've got to stop doing. I'm not discouraged defensively.
“Offensively, I really just believe it's a matter of time. What is it that I'm talking about? Pitch recognition. Understanding what the pitcher is trying to do to not expand your strike zone, to make him come over the plate. We do accept our walks to a certain extent. But as we gain more experience and you start to see our guys not chasing that ball down and away out of the zone, heads up. We're really going to get hot.”
Maddon said he believes playing teams such as the defending American League champion Royals, as well as Washington on the homestand, can get his team tempered for tougher times ahead.
Sunday's hero Ross has been through it before as a member of the Red Sox, and he said he feels games like this can pay off.
“We played really well; we really needed this win,” he said. “It swings the homestand with a little more confidence as you go on the road. We played good baseball, but if we lose today and get one win out of a homestand, it's not really going on the road with a lot of confidence. The win was a really, really big win.”
Cubs scouting report
Cubs vs. Miami Marlins at Marlins Park
TV: Comcast SportsNet Monday and Tuesday; WPWR Wednesday
Radio: WBBM 780-AM
Pitching matchups: The Cubs' Jason Hammel (3-2) vs. Jose Urena (0-1) Monday; Kyle Hendricks (1-1) vs. Brad Hand (0-1) Tuesday; Jon Lester (4-3) vs. Dan Haren (5-2) Wednesday. All games 6:10 p.m.
At a glance: The Marlins have been a mess all season, but they're ahead of the last-place Phillies in the NL East. Dan Jennings replaced Mike Redmond as manager May 18. Giancarlo Stanton entered Sunday tied for second in the NL in home runs (15), and he led the league in RBI (44). Former Cubs farmhand Justin Bour has provided some pop, and ex-Cubs utility man Jeff Baker is with Miami. The Cubs and Marlins are tied at 86 wins apiece in their all-time series. This is the beginning of a three-city, nine-game road trip for the Cubs.
Next: Washington Nationals at Nationals Park, Thursday-Sunday
— Bruce Miles