Joe Maddon Says He's 'Optimistic' About Future as Cubs Manager
By Michael Luciano
A year without postseason baseball on a team that was expected to go all the way, or at least close to it, is normally a death sentence for most managers. Most managers, however, aren't Joe Maddon.
The Chicago Cubs skipper who helped break the team's 108-year championship drought is on the hot seat after posting an 82-75 record to this point and struggling mightily on the road. Maddon himself, however, remains optimistic that he'll be back at Wrigley Field next year.
Joe Maddon on his future with the Cubs: "We'll make that over the next couple days and move it on from there. But I'm very pragmatic. I'm very optimistic. I'll just leave it with that. I'm very optimistic right now."
— 670 The Score (@670TheScore) September 25, 2019
He'll forever hold a place in Cubs lore, but his time is just about up.
The Cubs need a shot in the arm as their lackluster bullpen, underachieving rotation, and inconsistent bottom half of the lineup have allowed the Brewers and Cardinals to leapfrog them in the NL Central pecking order.
Maddon totally changed the culture in Chicago, but it doesn't appear that many there will be sad to see him go.
That’s a wrap. Great 4+ years for Joe Maddon’s Cubs. The best 5 years in Chicago baseball history. Deserves your praise not scorn
— Herb Lawrence (@Ecnerwal23) September 20, 2019
The pitching is poor, yes, but the Cubs should have still made the playoffs based on their talent. For this, Maddon is doomed to receive the dreaded pink slip, unless Theo Epstein and company remain blindly loyal.
It seems Joe feels the latter might be the case.