Chicago Cubs: Is Joe Maddon’s lineup Jenga a good thing?

Chicago Cubs: What makes Maddon so good as a skipper?

This is ultimately a problem for any manager because every little decision and relationship within a clubhouse can have an enormous effect on what ends up happening once games are played. While it’s easy for fans to say that numbers say everything, they don’t, and the players are all human. One of the feathers in Maddon’s cap has always been that he is a player’s manager and has always had a close relationship with many of his guys.

Is it his rapport with the players, his laid-back personality, the way he defends his troops or his lineup Jenga keeping everyone fresh? There is no way to actually say what is working and what could work better, so most fans accept him for what he is on the whole, quirks and all. It’s also not hard to “accept” 95-win seasons (unless it results in a tie for the division and a Wild Card exit – but that’s a story for another day).

While accepting success seems to be a no-brainer, there will always be fans, media and members of the organization who thirst for more and look for every advantage possible- even in a successful season. Then again, if winning the World Series is the only true measure of success in baseball, it makes sense for everyone to dissect each and every part of the organization to see how it can be improved.

Maddon’s handling of the bullpen, lineup changes and an infamous quick hook with starters was questioned by many even in the 2016 World Series run. Ultimately, questioning is not a bad thing, but it should be tempered with the idea that each and every decision is a proverbial double-edged sword, in that any changes could result in improvements, but also unexpected consequences.