Joe Maddon: The Man Behind the Glasses

[SKO]

It's always a risky strategy with the state of the Cubs pen, but I approved of the quick hook for Wada. Norris/Kemp/Upton crush lefties and Wada was garbage vs the third time through the order last year. Good work, Joe.

Not on Joe, but it'd be nice if they had more than three starters who could sometimes make it through 6 innings. Maybe Wada and Hendricks should go 4 each every 5th day.

SomethingsomethingColeHamelssomething

Still thinking Scott Kazmir looks nice and Oakland sure seems like they might be sellin' right quick.

Worthless fake trade proposal: Torres and Vogelbach for Kazmir and Josh Reddick.

That sound you heard was PenFoe dropping his free-range vegan craft beer on the floor in horror.

I really didn't intend it as a Pen-poke. I thought about McKinney, but Torres is exactly the kind of trade chip a team like the Cubs should cash in right now. He's high-floor/low-ceiling, at a position of organizational strength and far away from the majors. He's less valuable to them than most other clubs.

I've never even bothered to get attached to Gleyber because he had future trade chip stamped on him from the day he was signed. There will be outrage when he's inevitably traded and it will still mystify me.

[PenFoe]

It's always a risky strategy with the state of the Cubs pen, but I approved of the quick hook for Wada. Norris/Kemp/Upton crush lefties and Wada was garbage vs the third time through the order last year. Good work, Joe.

Not on Joe, but it'd be nice if they had more than three starters who could sometimes make it through 6 innings. Maybe Wada and Hendricks should go 4 each every 5th day.

SomethingsomethingColeHamelssomething

Still thinking Scott Kazmir looks nice and Oakland sure seems like they might be sellin' right quick.

Worthless fake trade proposal: Torres and Vogelbach for Kazmir and Josh Reddick.

That sound you heard was PenFoe dropping his free-range vegan craft beer on the floor in horror.

I really didn't intend it as a Pen-poke. I thought about McKinney, but Torres is exactly the kind of trade chip a team like the Cubs should cash in right now. He's high-floor/low-ceiling, at a position of organizational strength and far away from the majors. He's less valuable to them than most other clubs.

I've never even bothered to get attached to Gleyber because he had future trade chip stamped on him from the day he was signed. There will be outrage when he's inevitably traded and it will still mystify me.

I'm actually cool with this trade because the Cubs can just get Gleyber back from Billy Beane in two years for Duane Underwood.

[SKO]

It's always a risky strategy with the state of the Cubs pen, but I approved of the quick hook for Wada. Norris/Kemp/Upton crush lefties and Wada was garbage vs the third time through the order last year. Good work, Joe.

Not on Joe, but it'd be nice if they had more than three starters who could sometimes make it through 6 innings. Maybe Wada and Hendricks should go 4 each every 5th day.

SomethingsomethingColeHamelssomething

Still thinking Scott Kazmir looks nice and Oakland sure seems like they might be sellin' right quick.

Worthless fake trade proposal: Torres and Vogelbach for Kazmir and Josh Reddick.

Since you proposed this trade Torres, Vogelbach, and now apparently Kazmir have all gotten hurt. What foul magic is this?

[PenFoe]

It's always a risky strategy with the state of the Cubs pen, but I approved of the quick hook for Wada. Norris/Kemp/Upton crush lefties and Wada was garbage vs the third time through the order last year. Good work, Joe.

Not on Joe, but it'd be nice if they had more than three starters who could sometimes make it through 6 innings. Maybe Wada and Hendricks should go 4 each every 5th day.

SomethingsomethingColeHamelssomething

Still thinking Scott Kazmir looks nice and Oakland sure seems like they might be sellin' right quick.

Worthless fake trade proposal: Torres and Vogelbach for Kazmir and Josh Reddick.

Since you proposed this trade Torres, Vogelbach, and now apparently Kazmir have all gotten hurt. What foul magic is this?

Gleyber came back 2 days later and started instantly killing it again.

Stop trading him - he's probably the best SS in the organization.

[SKO]

It's always a risky strategy with the state of the Cubs pen, but I approved of the quick hook for Wada. Norris/Kemp/Upton crush lefties and Wada was garbage vs the third time through the order last year. Good work, Joe.

Not on Joe, but it'd be nice if they had more than three starters who could sometimes make it through 6 innings. Maybe Wada and Hendricks should go 4 each every 5th day.

SomethingsomethingColeHamelssomething

Still thinking Scott Kazmir looks nice and Oakland sure seems like they might be sellin' right quick.

Worthless fake trade proposal: Torres and Vogelbach for Kazmir and Josh Reddick.

Since you proposed this trade Torres, Vogelbach, and now apparently Kazmir have all gotten hurt. What foul magic is this?

Gleyber came back 2 days later and started instantly killing it again.

Stop trading him - he's probably the best SS in the organization.

Based on what do you say he's the best SS in the organization? He's got 10 errors already this year. I don't think you should really overreact to Baez slow defensive start this year or Russell fucking up a few times after playing 2B for the first time and just automatically declare the guy on the cover of Tiger Beat as the best SS in the org.

[Eli]

It's always a risky strategy with the state of the Cubs pen, but I approved of the quick hook for Wada. Norris/Kemp/Upton crush lefties and Wada was garbage vs the third time through the order last year. Good work, Joe.

Not on Joe, but it'd be nice if they had more than three starters who could sometimes make it through 6 innings. Maybe Wada and Hendricks should go 4 each every 5th day.

SomethingsomethingColeHamelssomething

Still thinking Scott Kazmir looks nice and Oakland sure seems like they might be sellin' right quick.

Worthless fake trade proposal: Torres and Vogelbach for Kazmir and Josh Reddick.

Since you proposed this trade Torres, Vogelbach, and now apparently Kazmir have all gotten hurt. What foul magic is this?

Gleyber came back 2 days later and started instantly killing it again.

Stop trading him - he's probably the best SS in the organization.

Based on what do you say he's the best SS in the organization? He's got 10 errors already this year. I don't think you should really overreact to Baez slow defensive start this year or Russell fucking up a few times after playing 2B for the first time and just automatically declare the guy on the cover of Tiger Beat as the best SS in the org.

I assumed Pen was trolling.

[SKO]

It's always a risky strategy with the state of the Cubs pen, but I approved of the quick hook for Wada. Norris/Kemp/Upton crush lefties and Wada was garbage vs the third time through the order last year. Good work, Joe.

Not on Joe, but it'd be nice if they had more than three starters who could sometimes make it through 6 innings. Maybe Wada and Hendricks should go 4 each every 5th day.

SomethingsomethingColeHamelssomething

Still thinking Scott Kazmir looks nice and Oakland sure seems like they might be sellin' right quick.

Worthless fake trade proposal: Torres and Vogelbach for Kazmir and Josh Reddick.

Since you proposed this trade Torres, Vogelbach, and now apparently Kazmir have all gotten hurt. What foul magic is this?

Gleyber came back 2 days later and started instantly killing it again.

Stop trading him - he's probably the best SS in the organization.

Based on what do you say he's the best SS in the organization? He's got 10 errors already this year. I don't think you should really overreact to Baez slow defensive start this year or Russell fucking up a few times after playing 2B for the first time and just automatically declare the guy on the cover of Tiger Beat as the best SS in the org.

I assumed Pen was trolling.

I can never tell with him and Gleyber, but I suppose you're right. Dagnabbit I been had.

[Chuck to Chuck]

Still thinking Scott Kazmir looks nice and Oakland sure seems like they might be sellin' right quick.

He left in the 3rd inning today. Sat in the dugout pointing at his shoulder.

[SKO]

Still thinking Scott Kazmir looks nice and Oakland sure seems like they might be sellin' right quick.

He left in the 3rd inning today. Sat in the dugout pointing at his shoulder.

Sigh:

It's always a risky strategy with the state of the Cubs pen, but I approved of the quick hook for Wada. Norris/Kemp/Upton crush lefties and Wada was garbage vs the third time through the order last year. Good work, Joe.

Not on Joe, but it'd be nice if they had more than three starters who could sometimes make it through 6 innings. Maybe Wada and Hendricks should go 4 each every 5th day.

SomethingsomethingColeHamelssomething

Still thinking Scott Kazmir looks nice and Oakland sure seems like they might be sellin' right quick.

Worthless fake trade proposal: Torres and Vogelbach for Kazmir and Josh Reddick.

Since you proposed this trade Torres, Vogelbach, and now apparently Kazmir have all gotten hurt. What foul magic is this?

[PenFoe]

It's always a risky strategy with the state of the Cubs pen, but I approved of the quick hook for Wada. Norris/Kemp/Upton crush lefties and Wada was garbage vs the third time through the order last year. Good work, Joe.

Not on Joe, but it'd be nice if they had more than three starters who could sometimes make it through 6 innings. Maybe Wada and Hendricks should go 4 each every 5th day.

SomethingsomethingColeHamelssomething

Still thinking Scott Kazmir looks nice and Oakland sure seems like they might be sellin' right quick.

Worthless fake trade proposal: Torres and Vogelbach for Kazmir and Josh Reddick.

Since you proposed this trade Torres, Vogelbach, and now apparently Kazmir have all gotten hurt. What foul magic is this?

Gleyber came back 2 days later and started instantly killing it again.

Stop trading him - he's probably the best SS in the organization.

Based on what do you say he's the best SS in the organization? He's got 10 errors already this year. I don't think you should really overreact to Baez slow defensive start this year or Russell fucking up a few times after playing 2B for the first time and just automatically declare the guy on the cover of Tiger Beat as the best SS in the org.

I assumed Pen was trolling.

I can never tell with him and Gleyber, but I suppose you're right. Dagnabbit I been had.

I don't think there's actually any question that Addison Russell is the best SS in the organization.  

At least until Alex Bregman gets busted for a DUI the week before the draft and falls to the Cubs and IAN declares him "his new guy."

[SKO]

My Maddon boner deflates a touch every day that he bats Castro cleanup

[Tonker]

My Maddon boner deflates a touch every day that he bats Castro cleanup

Except, to all intents and purposes, he's batting him fifth.  Not that that's a whole lot better.

[SKO]

My Maddon boner deflates a touch every day that he bats Castro cleanup

Except, to all intents and purposes, he's batting him fifth.  Not that that's a whole lot better.

It's less that he's the cleanup hitter and more that he's the guy asked to drive in Bryant and Rizzo. If they were 3 and 4 I wouldn't want him 5th either

[CubFaninHydePark]

Can I first guess the hook on Wada today? And it's not Joe's call, but why is Travis Wood still on the roster?

[SKO]

It's not Joe's fault Wood is on the roster but there's no fucking excuse whatsoever for using him in that spot.