Chicago Cubs: Joe Maddon wishes more players had Buds with buds

Chicago Cubs: Maybe Bryzzo needs to do more celebrating

Isn’t it ironic that a team assembled to be “character guys” might find one of their largest flaws in a group that doesn’t wanna party? It may sound crazy, but when you sign people to your team who volunteer their time to children’s hospitals and other foundations, raise families conscientiously, and make good decisions, you just might get a team who doesn’t want to go out and party on the road.  No strip joints, no bars til 3 am, no late night Taco Bell runs.

One particularly troublesome character (the one most Cub fans would want to jettison from the team) aside, this team is filled with great guys and do-gooders.  From the outside looking in, there don’t seem to be any agitators or problem children. So, when Maddon asserts that the guys may not be spending enough time building chemistry and having fun together on the road, it’s actually fairly easy to understand, yet also easy to shake off as being inconsequential.

Still, the problem remains: the Cubs played terribly on the road and need to get better if they want to get back to the playoffs next year. Might a change of philosophy or lack of stressors and ultimatums work better with this group ? It’s altogether possible, although sipping bottles of red from Maddon’s personal collection wouldn’t necessarily seem to be the key to unlocking ultimate potential and eternal winning.

Chicago Cubs: Here’s to hangin’ with the boys

Guys hanging out, telling stories, joking around and belching up the tasty aroma of a nice kolsh or lager every once in a while after games could do a lot for team morale and chemistry. In essence, it would create a world of change in something you can quantify (wins) but not qualify (chemistry).

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And that didn’t happen a lot this past season for whatever reason according to Maddon. Whether it’s guys getting older, getting married, staying away from potential social media snafus or eschewing drinks and fast food as ordered, it just didn’t happen.

This brings to mind two old sayings we’ve all heard before: “everything in moderation” and “be careful what you wish for.” Currently, the Cubs are moderating too well, and being too careful. Perhaps they do need to go out and have a few beers.

Maybe the front office shouldn’t have been worried about fast food and beer last year. This could just be the natural pendulum swinging of beer and chicken in a baseball clubhouse, a ring coming two years after the initial problem (see Red Sox, Boston- c. 2013).

Then you have Epstein and Maddon supposedly meeting over drinks last night in attempt to take over the world and decide the fate of the Cubs franchise for the next few years. Strange, right; or, maybe just ironic? Regardless of the word, the Cubs certainly have had a few run-ins with beer-related stories this season. Heck, Maddon wishes they had had more run-ins with beer in person. If it means another ring, I’m all for it too.

I don’t personally care whether the players are playing video games or going out to the bar, but friendship and camaraderie is an enormous part of chemistry in a clubhouse. You don’t need everyone to be best friends, but it wouldn’t hurt either. Perhaps they bring back John Lackey as a Beverage and Social Interaction Consultant for the 2020 season and see how things go. After all, he didn’t come for a haircut, so maybe a beer would work just fine.