Cubs' Maddon still fending off second-guessing about Game 7 decisions
If you recall, the Chicago Cubs won the World Series just over a month ago, and a good time was had by pretty much all.
That hasn't stopped the second-guessing of Joe Maddon's managing, particularly in Game 7, when the Cubs lost a 3-run lead in the eighth inning, as the Cleveland Indians rallied against closer Aroldis Chapman.
The Cubs regrouped during a subsequent rain delay and went on to win their first world championship since 1908.
Maddon's moves in Game 7 raised eyebrows, beginning with him lifting starting pitcher Kyle Hendricks in favor of Jon Lester (the ace of the starting staff) after 4⅔ innings and 63 pitches. Lester looked poised to finish and perhaps earn Series MVP honors until Maddon pulled him with two outs in the eighth inning, after Jose Ramirez reached on an infield single. In came Chapman, who gave up a run-scoring double to Brandon Guyer and a game-tying homer to Rajai Davis.
Chapman finally got out of the inning before working a 1-2-3 ninth. Carl Edwards Jr. opened the 10th after the Cubs took the lead, but he gave way to Mike Montgomery, who finally earned the save.
In the press box at Progressive Field that night, reporters asked each other what fans were asking all across Cubdom: What was Maddon doing?
To his credit, Maddon never backs down from second-guessing, and he does not get combative or defensive about such questions. Game 7 came up again Tuesday, as Maddon met with reporters during the winter meetings outside of Washington.
"It's fascinating to me regarding the second-guessing because the only reality I know is that we won," Maddon said. "That's the one reality that I do know. We have oftentimes talked about outcome. If you had done something differently, would it have turned out better? But better than winning, I don't know what that is. And furthermore, y'all know me, the people that are on me all the time, the way we worked that last game was prepared before the game began.
"When it comes down to Jon Lester, he did a great job. Not just a good job, he did a great job during his time in the game. Aroldis gives up a homer and it wasn't based on velocity, it was based on location. Those are the kind of things - you can't control the narrative when the game is in the progress. And I have talked about the barroom banter and I definitely know that I was able to fill up, based on my decision making in that game, a lot of barroom banter throughout the Chicago area or nationally, internationally.
"But the point is when you work a game like that, there is not an eighth game, there is only a seventh game. Everything you saw us do that night I planned out before the game began and felt strongly about it and still do. Just take away one hit by Davis and it worked out pretty darn well."
A four-star review:
If you know a Cubs fan and haven't completed your Christmas shopping, you can only go right with the Blu-ray/DVD movie, "The 2016 World Series," from Shout! Factory and Major League Baseball.
The movie, which is now available in stores, chronicles the Cubs' run to the World Series title.
Through music, stunning camera work, interviews and narration by Vince Vaughn, this movie rivals anything NFL Films - the standard-setter in capturing sports drama - has done.
And just as he was for his World Series play, Ben Zobrist is the MVP of this film for his insight during interviews that took place in whirlwind fashion after the Series.
One caution: If you're a die-hard Cubs fan, you may find it hard to keep your emotions together while you're watching this production. I recommend a lot of tissues.
• Follow Bruce's Cubs and baseball reports on Twitter @BruceMiles2112.