Chicago Cubs’ Joe Maddon talks about players sent to Triple-A

The Chicago Cubs are feeling better after two wins at home and Cubs Manager Joe Maddon is feeling a little homesick for his players sent to Iowa.

Most everyone will agree that the Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon is a unique coach. He’s old-school that has learned all the new tricks as well. One thing he doesn’t talk much about is the players that have been sent down to Triple-A Iowa like Cubs Outfielder, Ian Happ or pitcher, Carl Edwards Jr.,  Bruce Miles of the Daily Herald recently reported that Maddon is still concerned for his former players.

"“I normally don’t check in with guys that are sent back, but I may check in with those two guys,” Maddon said. “I haven’t yet with Happy but I will soon enough. Just been kind of a crazy schedule obviously to this point. But I will.”"

Maddon has seen many players sent down in his time as a manager, so this is nothing new for him or any manager in baseball to experience, but you get the feeling that Maddon has had his latest “rejects” in his sights the whole time.

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Maddon understands that he can’t go running to the media sobbing, “I really miss those guys, we want them back right away,” and set up a false expectation. It may even impact their field play. He understands that he must almost give the impression that he ‘doesn’t’ care or is uninterested in the situation.

Usually, that business-like approach by a manager helps fuel the intensity of the player to ‘come back’ and make a splash for their team.  The one sure way to get back to the show is to perform. Maddon knows that all he can do is wait for his players to perform at the level needed to win the title once more and then will be back because they are young with bright futures, as he told Miles.

"“It’s up to them to perform well. Then it’s up to (the Cubs) having a need here so there. They could both add a lot to us as they do get back in the flow up here. You don’t ever set timelines in situations like that. You don’t dangle a carrot like two weeks, three weeks, whatever. Go play. Go play and go play well. They’re still young players. They have a tremendous future ahead of them, but you’ve got to get things done right, right now, before you’re asked to come back.”"

Right about now, the Cubs need some help with Cubs pitcher Jon Lester recently injured.  Maddon will look to shuffle the schedules of his current hurlers to make it work. The worst thing he could do is bring back Edwards too early to the show.

One thing is for sure, Maddon didn’t expect these many headaches so early in the season.