Chicago Cubs: Joe Maddon is running out of excuses

Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon needed hitters and closer to round out his club. Now that Maddon has received everything he’s needed, can he put it together to produce another championship team?

Chicago Cubs closing pitcher Craig Kimbrel made his debut at Wrigley Field against the Atlanta Braves, serving up a win for the Northsiders. In his first post-game interview, Kimbrel said this was the beginning of the season for him. Chicago Cubs manager, Joe Maddon might be thinking the same thing.

Maddon played the part during off-season using the same talking points as management;

We think we have what we need to win…

We need to get more productivity out of our current players…

As spring training concluded, Maddon’s tune changed as closing pitcher Brandon Morrow was still questionable. To make matters worse, the productivity from batting wasn’t fully realized by the Cubs as well.

As the season kicked off, personnel issues began to creep into the dugout with shortstop Addison Russell’s suspension and utility player Ben Zobrist’s marital issues. Fans and dare I say, sportswriters, littered the airwaves and papers with messages for Chicago Cubs President of Baseball Operations, Theo Epstein to sign a closer.

Mr. Epstein, we are so glad you were listening.

Maddon gets his wish list

Epstein’s first move toward bringing the bats back and a bit of senior leadership was signing utility player Daniel Descalso to the roster. Descalso was to be the new David Ross for the team. A player that could hit, advise, and lend support to the Cubs.

To plug the considerable leak left by Chicago Cubs 2016 World Series MVP, Ben Zobrist, the Cubs brought on Venezuelan right fielder Carlos González. González told Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune back then,

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"“I feel strong; physically, I feel good,” he said. “The past two years the numbers have not been the same as everybody was used to — the .300-plus (average), the 30-plus (home runs). That just shows baseball is a lot of ups and downs.“But I’m positive there is a lot of baseball ahead of me. That’s where I want to be. I want to be able to help a club win ballgames, and this is a good opportunity for me.”"

Not only an opportunity for González but for Maddon as well. Maddon is hoping that the introduction of few new bats might be the offensive spark the Cubs were looking for as reported by Sullivan.

"“Hopefully he’ll create a little bit of buzz within the group.”"

Although that buzz has recently been silent, Maddon will continue to look for a good bat from González.

Of course, no better boost could be given to manager than to land a seven-time All-Star closing pitcher who is the youngest pitcher in MLB history to have earned 300 saves. When Maddon found out pitcher Craig Kimbel was heading to his bullpen, he knew it was put up or shut up time.

The focus for fans has changed from Epstein and management’s frugal spending to:

“What have you done for us lately, Joe?”

If the excitement at Wrigley Field during Kimbel’s debut is just a slight indication of the buzz in the clubhouse, maybe the season ‘has just begun’ for Maddon, Kimbrel and the Cubs.