Cubs win 102nd as Maddon balances workload, rest
CINCINNATI — Way back when, about the time the Chicago Cubs clinched the National League Central, manager Joe Maddon was asked about the differences between clinching early and clinching at the wire.
Maddon tabled the discussion at the time, saying he needed to experience clinching early.
Now that Maddon has had a couple of weeks to digest things, he can give a better assessment.
“I think you eventually know when you start playing the (postseason) games,” he said Friday, before the Cubs beat the Cincinnati Reds 7-3 at the Great American Ball Park and improve to 102-57. The Cubs got a pair of homers from Ben Zobrist. “The differences are like I've been talking about, really juggling lineups and getting guys playing time and getting guys rest and at the same time still trying to keep them sharp.
“The game on a nightly basis doesn't have the same flavor as it normally would just because that's the truth. But we've still been playing well, with the lack of playoff motivation. We're already there. So right now, it's almost like reverse, where you're not in it at all and you're in it so firmly that you have the same kind of feeling going on about it. We'll know better how well we've done once we actually start playing.”
Zobrist seemed to agree.
“I think all of our guys, if not physically, then mentally at least, we feel like we've been able to take a little breather,” he said. “That helps, especially at this time of year. You're not having to press and push. Sometimes I think that can be a dangerous thing, too. We're trying to make a concerted effort these last three games to really stay in that competitive frame of mind and go out there and play good baseball and get ready for next Friday (Game 1 of the division series).”
Maddon added that now is not the important time.
“I'm not concerned about his moment right here as much as those four days before (the division series starts),” he said. “That's the part where you really have to fill those gaps. We're still playing the game. Guys are still getting their at-bats regardless of the motivation or not. We're still playing the game and playing it well. It's just that four days prior to and you're watching everybody else.”
The Cubs are getting closer to making playoff roster decisions for the first round.
The makeup and order of the starting rotation have been big talking points. Many observers feel Jon Lester will start Game 1 followed by Kyle Hendricks, Jake Arrieta and John Lackey.
“We haven't had that final conversation with Theo (team president Epstein) and Jed (GM Hoyer) and everybody else and our coaches,” Maddon said. “We have an idea what we want to do. But what I like to do under these circumstances is talk to the players first before they have to read it in the newspaper.”
The Cubs got a spot start Friday from Jake Buchanan. He was subbing for Jason Hammel, who is experiencing elbow tightness. Buchanan acquitted himself well, working 5 scoreless innings, giving up 2 hits.
Cubs batters didn't reach against Reds starting pitcher Josh Smith until Zobrist homered to right field leading off the fifth. It was Zobrist's 16th home run of the season. He added a 2-run homer in the eighth, as the Cubs broke the game open with 4 runs.
• Follow Bruce's Cubs and baseball reports on Twitter @BruceMiles2112.