Chicago Cubs follow Maddon's lead, keep it simple
SAN FRANCISCO - With manager Joe Maddon's "in the moment" approach to baseball, the Chicago Cubs are being careful to avoid looking overconfident going into Monday's Game 3 of the National League division series.
The Cubs can sweep the Giants with a victory at AT&T Park.
"It's just us, man," said right fielder Jason Heyward. "We keep it simple in that aspect of it."
Heyward is among the veterans Maddon cites when talking about the team's approach every day.
"John Lackey, Jon Lester, David Ross, Aroldis (Chapman), these are the guys that I'm really counting on that they won't permit that to happen," Maddon said of overconfidence. "I can talk all I want.
"Peer acceptance, peer pressure, peer everything is really what makes this thing whole, this entire thing work. We have great leadership within our clubhouse. Guys that have been there, done that before.
"I understand what you're saying, is their ability to relax a little bit more based on 2 wins. I really anticipate the same kind of approach from our guys. I really do."
Pondering the lineup:
Cubs coach Dave Martinez spent time during Sunday's workout hitting flyballs to the outfielders in both left and right fields. Right field is large, and the high brick wall angles outward toward a 421-foot mark in right-center.
With lefty Madison Bumgarner on the mound for the Giants in Game 3, it's possible the right-handed hitting Jorge Soler could get a start in the outfield.
Maddon says he has not finalized his lineup.
"Definitely contemplating," he said Sunday. "Haven't decided yet. And I've been talking to different guys, getting varied opinions. It's one of those things where I don't want to take pencil to paper yet. I have feelings in both ways, and I'm still looking for that thought that pushes you in a different direction.
"But I definitely have strong opinions about tomorrow, and I have been talking to different folks. So you may see something slightly altered."
Doing things right:
Joe Maddon constantly says he doesn't want to coach the enthusiasm or exuberance out of his players. Infielder Javier Baez provides plenty of that.
But Maddon, in his own way, did let Baez know he wanted him to get out of the batter's box more quickly after being thrown out at second base on what should have been a double to the wall in left in Game 2. In Friday's series opener, Baez stood at home plate and appeared to be admiring his home run.
Giants reliever Hunter Strickland also threw a pitch well inside to Baez in Saturday's eighth inning.
"I gave him a fist pump and looked him in the eye," Maddon said. "And he knew what that was all about. We know when we screwed up. I think we all inherently know the difference between right and wrong. And he definitely knows that.
"Even the day before, and then the pitch inside from Strickland probably had a little bit of a Post-it on it somehow. He just needs to go out there and play."