Big crowds bring the energy, Maddon says
The weekend series between the Cubs and Cardinals drew 122,875 fans at Wrigley Field, all of whom found something to get excited about, whether it be game-saving plays or hit-by-pitch controversies.
Cubs shortstop Addison Russell felt it when he made a spectacular diving stop to start a game-ending forceout to preserve Saturday's 5-4 victory.
"It's awesome; it's electric," Russell said Sunday. "If you get a basehit or you make a diving play or anything like that, they're up on their feet, hands up in the air. It makes you smile."
Joe Maddon is in his first year as Cubs manager. He managed previously at Tampa Bay in a domed stadium that didn't have nearly the atmosphere Wrigley does.
"The Tampa Bay fans were great to me," Maddon said. "This particular ballpark was build 100 years ago, and the fan base has had a chance to grow exponentially since then. The fact that there is a legitimate rivalry between the two clubs - the Pirates, we just played over there (in Pittsburgh) - this whole Central corridor from Milwaukee all the way down it's different. It's just different, in a good way. We're very fortunate to be included."
Maddon pointed to the Aug. 24 makeup game against Cleveland as an example of what he was talking about.
"When you say you have a makeup game on Monday and almost 40,000 people show up at 1 o'clock, I think that says it all," he said.
The actual crowd that day was 36,283, but either way, Maddon said it all helps.
"There's energy in that," he said. "The best way I can describe that is energy. You feel that little boost there. That can get you through the day. For the group that doesn't want to believe and understand that, I'm telling you, this matters.
"It matters when you walk out here on a Monday at 1 o'clock and there's 40,000 people and you came in here a little bit groggy and by the time you walk out there you're going to be feeling pretty good. The adrenaline's going to pump in. So don't underestimate the importance of the fan base in regards to how we feel when we play."
A day at the beach:
As he promised, Joe Maddon gave reliever Pedro Strop the day off Sunday after Strop pitched Friday and then earned a save Saturday, coming in after Hector Rondon was ejected for hitting a batter.
On Saturday, Maddon said Strop would get a "beach day." In front of Strop's locker Sunday morning was a beach lounge chair and a small swimming pool filled with sand.
"I wanted to really make it emphatic that he was not playing today," Maddon said. "Strop is not available. Day at the beach. I did listen to Jimmy Buffett on the way in today. It all makes sense."