North: Cubs loss to Phillies was on Joe Maddon
I watched the Cubs play Friday against the Philadelphia Phillies.
I'm a big fan of manager Joe Maddon and believe he usually gives the Cubs an edge, but in this particular game, he lost his focus. Maybe he just checked out early because his decisions late in the game were costly, and the Cubs lost 5-3 in extra innings after leading 3-2 going into the ninth.
His infatuation with catcher David Ross is a little puzzling to me. I know he calls a good game for pitchers, is strong defensively and is a good teammate. But with a .185 batting average, I think it's safe to consider him almost an automatic out.
Late in the game with the bases loaded and two outs, Ross put down a beautiful bunt to the left side of the mound, but he was thrown out because he lacks foot speed. Maddon defended his catcher, and that was fine.
But in the 10th, the Cubs were down 5-3 with two outs and a man on base. Maddon, inexplicably, had Ross bat against closer Jonathan Papelbon (1.59 ERA and 17 saves). Ross struck out and the Cubs lost.
When I read the paper and looked at a few websites the next day, I didn't see anything mentioned about the 10th inning. I reached out to two sources who cover the Cubs, and they said it was overlooked, but it shouldn't have been.
Why did Maddon have a .185 hitter, who hadn't hit a home run since September, bat in that situation?
Granted, Ross just hit a home run in Sunday's game, but that was his first of the season. Why not pinch hit Jonathan Herrera, who hit a 2-run homer July 2 against the New York Mets, and have Taylor Teagarden come in to catch?
But Maddon lets Herrera continue to rot on the bench, and the Cubs not only lost that game but the next two to the Phillies.
I know people will say it's only one game, but the fact remains the media gave Maddon a total pass.
I wondered why and was told because the media didn't even see it happen. One source said it was missed because the writers already were downstairs waiting to hear what Maddon had to say about the game. No one asked him about the 10th inning.
Jon Paul Morosi, senior baseball writer for Fox Sports, said it's harder than ever for local and national writers to do the job because of increased demands and deadlines.
Hey, I have an idea. Maybe the best writers should be able to cover the game and not be running around trying to do too many things.
I tweeted about Ross batting in the 10th, and the fans were more aware than anyone in the media. I am not sure what Maddon was thinking, but it wasn't about winning that game.
That loss is on him.
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