Bleacher Bums Forum

You were right, I and some others were wrong. 
That said, I don't think the "losing mindset baggage" is or was really driving the in-retrospect-faulty analysis back on June 30 for some.  At least for me, I don't think.  Many Cub fans are quite used to winning teams in other sports.  Blackhawks fans; fans where the Michael Jordan Bulls were always winning.  I'm not Chicago, but as a Wisconsin boy I totally expect the Packers to win.  So, not sure that some of us like P2 and I who back in June saw this as a nice "compete for the playoffs, but probably fall short" year, that our mistake was based on losing baggage.  I think we just underestimated the talent and the character/resilience and the ready-alreadiness of the team.  We knew there is unpredictability in baseball, but didn't expect so much lightning in a bottle. 

A common discussion over the years has been how much difference a manager makes.  Common view has been very little, that it's all about the players and the talent. 

I can't prove it or quantify it, but I think this summer has really testified to how much value a good manager has. 
*The season has had it's ups and downs, but none of the downs have been really enduring.  Pressure, anxiety, failure can press down.  But it's seemed the team has never gotten too down; I think Maddon has been a great contributor.  I think team morale is huge, and Maddon seems to be a master.
*In-game strategy:  Some have questioned certain strategic in-game decisions; but I think they've tended to be really excellent.  Always logical. 
*Lineup construction/player-usage:  I think he's been a master, and super creative.  He's done a really good job, I think, in using guys in situations where they can succeed.  I think Maddon has been fantastic in using guys like Coghlan and Denorfia.  I think the Coghlan-at-2B move was incredibly effective.  What other manager would do that?  I think he's been terrific.  Handling Wood.  The flip of Rondon/Motte for a while when Rondon was out of sync, and then flipping back. 

Overall, I think he's just made so many good decisions, and kept the attitude so good, and enabled so many guys to contribute, it's really been a masterful job. 

I think it is interesting that the Astros have faded over the last month, while the Cubs have continued to play well.  Is it because of Maddon, I don't know how you prove it, but it sure seems that he has helped a lot.

Yeah, the team morale effect or, put another way, the development of a winning culture, has been huge.  Maddon just seems to hit the right notes.

Latest example is the Cardinals series.  One day, Tony Soprano in Cards dugout and, next day, Cards know we can play with them and beat them.  Telling Cubs players, see, we're just as good as they are.  You, the players, have proved that.  Very calculated in boosting his own guys. Think Maddon deserves lots of credit for Castro adapting to his new role.

Maddon has the advantage of being new to the organization.  Think it's harder when he's been around awhile.  He has a very specific kind of "act" and sometimes stuff doesn't wear as well over time.  We'll see.

Uses the whole roster and makes good in-game decisions and he's always flexible. Doesn't care if he goes through his entire bench in 9 innings if thinks he can win game now. 

Yeah, he's a genius---until the next disappointing Cubs season.  Then, he'll be a bum.

"Then, he'll be a bum. "

That's why I cringe a bit at the over the top Maddon praise.   I remember "In Dusty We Trusty" until things fell apart.  And Hendry was the greatest GM in the world, until he made a couple of bad signs and trades.  McFail was praised early on.  Maddon has made mistakes this year; fortunately very few, and I do credit him with changing culture.  That was the most vital thing that had to happen.  A breath of fresh air over the first idiot Theocracy hired. 

I'm sorry to hear that your so ill, Cubsin.

I'm 71, and I've been a Cubs fan since I was nine.

71?  Did you go to school with Curt's grandson?

Yeah, the team morale effect or, put another way, the development of a winning culture, has been huge.  Maddon just seems to hit the right notes.

Maddon has the advantage of being new to the organization.  Think it's harder when he's been around awhile.  He has a very specific kind of "act" and sometimes stuff doesn't wear as well over time.  We'll see. ....Yeah, he's a genius---until the next disappointing Cubs season.  Then, he'll be a bum.

We'll see.  I totally agree that often a voice can get old after a while, and a new guy with a fresh voice can be beneficial.  Still, I wonder if Maddon might not perhaps have more staying power. 
1.  He was at Tampa for what, 9 years?  And seemed to sustain pretty well there.
2.  I think "tough guy" acts can wear thin after a while.  But I'm not sure more positive ones wear out as fast.
3.  Some of his stuff is perhaps rightly termed "an act", but I think there may be deeper enduring qualities that will sustain respect and trust.  Just being smart.  Loving the game.  Being cheerful.  Communicating well.  Being a good decision-maker, such that players tend to trust, for good reason.  Being consistently and perhaps sincerely pro-player, so that players don't distrust or come to think it's all a fake.  Being consistently pro-fun, so that players don't think he's a killjoy.  I think it's possible that he may be both respected and liked and trusted for a pretty long time.

I think a factor may also be the character of some of the lead players may be conducive to sustained success.  Rizzo, Arrieta, Lester, Russell, Bryant, Schwarber, there seems to be a core of guys who seem to be pretty self-motivated.  Not sure they totally need a domineering dictator manager to keep them motivated.  Maddon's not a big rules-guy; success and no-rules can be a problem for some guys, but there are indications that the Cubs could have a pretty strong clubhouse, and may not all fall victim to wine-women-and-song even after they experience success, fame and fortune.