The Chicago Cubs Joe Maddon needs to light the fire

In his 16 years as a manager and five years at the helm of the Chicago Cubs, Joe Maddon has been tagged with the nickname of  “Cool Joe.”

From the suave outfits and sunglasses to the Binny’s sponsorships and offseason life in an RV, the Chicago Cubs’ Joe Maddon himself has become an enigma. And, of course, he is one of the most successful managers of this generation.

Maddon helped the Tampa Bay Rays become relevant and orchestrated one of the greatest single-season turnarounds in MLB history, leading the 2008 Rays to the AL Pennant after going just 66-96 in the year prior.

In his first season in Chicago, the Cubs won 97 games (a 24-game improvement) and made it to the NLCS. Then he would go on to lead the team to their first World Series title in 108 years.

And yet–despite a 187-138 record throughout the next two seasons–frustration has mounted over Maddon’s performance as a manager. Why is this?

Maddon has continued to live up to his “Cool Joe” moniker, professing faith in the process and insisting that the team’s young talent will speak for itself.

But after their first losing month since 2017, the Cubs need more than faith…they desperately need a spark.