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Chicago Cubs: Joe Maddon wasn’t happy with last night’s strike zone
By David Miniel
There’s nothing worse to a big league manager than umpires expanding their strike zone’s, especially if they fail to make the same calls with the opposing team in the batters box.
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This usually leads to a skipper racing from their dugout to give whoever is calling balls and strikes, a piece of their mind. Every once in a while, the guy who was just robbed of a possible big at-bat, will save his manager time by arguing the call himself – which could result in both men being ejected if he decides to join in with some choice words of his own.
Standing up for his players is what manager is supposed to do. Not only will that help the man leading the charge gain respect, but trust as well from the younger guys who haven’t been in the league for very long compared to seasoned veterans on the roster.
Watching either manager exchanging words with umpires comes across as entertaining for those in attendance considering how calm the sport of baseball actually is.
Now according to ESPN Chicago’s Jesse Rogers, Chicago Cubs skipper Joe Maddon had some choice words about umpire D.J. Reyburn’s strike zone after Jon Lester‘s 6-5 win over the St. Louis Cardinals last night. Maddon was arguing with Reyburn in the top of the sixth inning with Starlin Castro at the plate when a high fastball was called for a strike.
"“It was egregiously bad. You cannot permit that to happen. We’re trying to ascend, and we’re not going to take that from anybody, anywhere at anytime.” – Maddon via ESPN"
Despite the Cubs having a 5-2 lead halfway through the game, Joe was shouting at Reyburn who had some sketchy calls in previous at-bats with the Cubs at the dish.
"“I’m not going to put up with anything. I’m not. And I’m not going to allow our guys get shortchanged based on the fact that they haven’t been here a long time. We play a veteran club with a veteran battery against guys with barely two months in the big leagues’ I’m not going to take it. Our guys deserve equal treatment, and I’m not going to take it.” – Maddon via ESPN"
Aside from his comments regarding Reyburn’s poor calls, he did, however, praise his young players for handling the situation extremely well instead of saying anything disrespectful.
This is the same man who doesn’t take kindly to his players who ‘pimp’ home runs – which hasn’t happened since Welington Castillo went deep during Cactus League play.
While Maddon was ejected during yesterday’s contest, he managed to keep his cool today but suffered his second consecutive series loss as the Cubs fell to the St. Louis Cardinals, 5-1. The Cubs will continue their road trip with a three-game weekend set with the Milwaukee Brewers before heading back home this coming Monday.