Joe Maddon could win another World Series before the Chicago Cubs

Chicago Cubs: Joe Maddon will get to manage the best player in baseball

Maddon will have the honor of coaching the best player in baseball in Mike Trout, but he did have Javier Baez, Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo and Willson Contreras in Chicago. After Trout, there’s a serious drop-off in talent, as Shohei Ohtani is your next-best player. While Ohtani could be a really good hitter and pitcher, he’s also coming off a major injury and has to be used a bit differently because of his two-way status.

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The Angels also feature a now way-past-his-prime Albert Pujols, Kole Calhoun and Brian Goodwin, but none of those names match up with the Cubs guys at this point. Their pitching staff doesn’t exactly spark fear in the hearts of anyone, either. Still, advantage Cubs.

I also still think Maddon’s best attributes – dealing with players and getting the most out of guys – could be very useful in Chicago, although the hire of David Ross could have a positive effect on the Cubs as well. Maddon will no doubt get the most out of Ohtani, Trout, and maybe even some other youngsters or veterans-alike, but it still feels like Maddon was a good fit for many of the players on the Cubs roster.

It may not have worked out and may very well have been time for a change, but that doesn’t mean that he had lost the players or their brains/hearts. While a Ross or Joe Espada might be able to right the ship in Chicago, Joe Maddon is a proven winner who has been great wherever he’s been. Advantage- Joe and the Angels.

In terms of the original question – who wins first, Cubs or Angels? I think the answer is still the Cubs if they make the right moves, get a leadoff guy, sign an ace and have things fall their way. However, don’t rule out what Broad Street Joe can accomplish in the right place with the right guys. As Cubs fans, we have already seen that brilliant show.

Regardless of who wins first and how Joe does, there will be no ill will from Cubs fans, who want nothing but the best for the guy who brought us the first title in over a century. Okay, maybe there might be some you can’t please everyone, right?