Chicago Cubs: Joe Maddon’s ‘big-boy time’ strategy producing wins

Chicago Cubs: This isn’t Little League, its ‘big-boy time.’

‘Big-boy time’ means stepping up and playing lights-out baseball. Why do you think Cubs leader and pitcher John Lester is so down in the dumps these days with talk of “not pulling his weight’ around the team? He knows Maddon is looking for him to lead the Cubs into the postseason, but Lester’s arm seems to have taken a vacation without him because he isn’t enjoying much of his production of late. Unlike some of the younger Cubbies, Maddon isn’t about to pounce on Lester…yet.

One pitcher that does need to step up and Maddon is hoping will pick up his game, is Steve Cishek. Once, the Chicago Cubs go-to reliever, Cishek has fallen into the abyss formerly ruled by Cubs pitcher Carl Edwards Jr., and we all know where Edwards is these days.

Recently Cishek patrols the mound giving up most if not all of any runs the Cubs have put up on the board. However, putting Cishek into the game to get a single out or two has proven more favorable than turning over an entire side to him. He runs too hot and cold for ‘big-boy time’ ala Edwards.

On the other hand, all the rest of the ‘big-boy’ pitchers have been showing up. And the Cubs have been carving up opponents as of late. So far, the Cubs are winning the games as I laid out here: Chicago Cubs: 60 days and 55 games left until the postseason which is a road-map of sorts to the postseason. While there are still some tough games ahead, one of the keys to the rest of the season is winning as many home game as possible. Not only are the Cubs doing that but they look like they have found something.