Chicago Cubs: Joe Maddon believes in his guys to the fifth level

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Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon‘s idioms may soar over the heads of many, but his formula for levels of professional athletes make a lot of sense.

I turned on one of the Chicago Cubs’ last spring games just as the broadcast crew was about to interview Joe Maddon. If there’s one person I just can’t get enough of, it’s Maddon.

When you think about how Maddon led his team to a World Series after a 108-year draught, you start putting the white-haired, noble-philosopher in line with some of the greats. Think Johnny “Red” Kerr, Phil Jackson, George Halas, Mike Ditka, Rudy Pilous, Joel Quenneville, Joe McCarthy, Fielder Jones and all the hallowed Chicago coaches/managers of the past.

That’s a lot of pressure, but Maddon hasn’t changed his tune since his days with the Tampa Bay Rays. Recently he said during a game time interview the Cubs we going to be alright. Why? Primarily due to the team’s abundance of Level 5 players.

It was like déjà vu.

Maddonisms changing the game – and history

From the skip that brought you gems like, ‘The process is fearless’ or ‘Never let the pressure exceed the pleasure,’ Maddon served up the 5 Levels of being a pro for fans like a delicious Lou Malnati’s pizza.

Junior business managers, savoring every Maddon word, took to LinkedIn comparing the corporate ladder to Maddon’s 5 Levels of being a pro. They were just figuring out what we already knew, Maddon is a genius at the management of his talent.

Coach McCreary offered the first posting of Maddon’s levels (he called them stages in 2013) on BaseballByTheYard.com. Maddon’s stages have evolved to levels of professionalism but the meaning remains the same.

A look at the stages

Stage 1 – I’m happy to be here. You see this in mostly new players. At the big league level, some new players get so caught up in the excitement of the big stadiums, the number of fans and the awe they have of players played with and against. They finally reached their dream but unfortunately, some cannot seem to get through the awe in order to move to the next stages.

When one thinks of this stage, much-hyped former top prospects that never pan out may come to mind. Thankfully, since Theo Epstein took over on the North Side, this hasn’t been as big an issue as in the past.

Stage 2 – Survival mode. After experiencing a taste of the big leagues, many players never want to play anywhere else (the minors) again. Everything they do is an effort to stay at their current level. They know that one bad week can result in them being sent down so every at-bat gets magnified in their head. Their emotions tend to exist on the extremes. A good game makes them euphoric. A bad game causes panic. These ups and downs can wreck havic on the mind of a player.

Tommy La Stella two years ago. He was set to head to Triple-A Iowa. Battling personal matters, the organization showed a tremendous amount of flexibility, eventually keeping him on the roster. He, of course, became a fan favorite in recent years for his efforts as a pinch hitter.

(Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) /

Belonging, winning – living the dream

Stage 3 – I belong here. I can do this. This stage is when the player starts to relax and understand that a bad game is not the end of the world. They focus on putting in their work everyday and accept that good and bad days are going to occur. Come what may.

In the last year or so, it seems like guys like Albert Almora, Willson Contreras and Ian Happ have started to hit Stage 3. They go through ups and downs, but, ultimately, put in their work on a daily basis.

Stage 4 – I want to make as much money as possible. When players see that they have a chance to stick around for a while, many start to think that they may just be lucky enough to make this a career. Because they know how quickly someone can leave the game, they start to focus on making as much money as quickly as they can. Too much focus on external parts of their career can create unnecessary distractions. For kids in amateur ball, getting your name in the paper or some other public accolade might be the equivalent.

Jake Arrieta. After nearly falling out of favor in Major League Baseball, the right-hander turned his career around in Chicago. He went from fringe big leaguer to 2015 National League Cy Young winner. With the Cubs, he became one of the best big game hurlers in all of baseball.

Stage 5 – All I want to do is win. According to Maddon, this stage is the most enlightened. Players who get here recognize that consistently doing everything to help a team win will make them 1) more happy to be here, 2) allow them to stay, 3) increase their confidence that they belong there, and 4) make them money.

Assessing the different levels

Joe says this year’s Cub’s roster is full of Level 5 players. They have tasted that victory once and now they want to rack up the wins again. He carefully points out that money hasn’t been the motivating factor for his team but winning has.

This is why I can’t get enough Joe Maddon. A look at his 5 Levels is like a glimpse into how Joe approaches management of his teams. First he determines the make-up of his team. How many 5 Level players do I have? How many 4 Level and the rest? With this basic knowledge, he determines his chances of succeeding or winning.

Naturally, a team full of 5 Level players is going to bring experience and the will to win. A team with an abundance of 2 and 3 Level players is going to bring energy and youth to a team.

Which is better? Which has the best chance to get into the postseason and take the series?

I’m taking the team with the 5th Level Manager, like Maddon.

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Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon‘s idioms may soar over the heads of many, but his formula for levels of professional athletes make a lot of sense.

Maddonisms changing the game – and history

A look at the stages

Belonging, winning – living the dream

Assessing the different levels

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