Joe Maddon

Heyward has stunk all year. It would have been a big deal if not for the rest of the team carrying him. But this is the world series and that huge contract is something the Cleveland pitchers are not going to be intimidated by. He earned his spot on the bench. So not a mistake but rather an example of good management decision.

That decision by the way was made not only by Madden but by Epstein and the rest of the top brass. No reason to have Schwarber on the WS roster unless he was going to start at DH. Schwarber is merely taking the role of DH which with the Cubs being a NL team is an add-on bonus. It really has no relevance to why Heyward was not in lineup. No reason to connect the two unless trying to make some stupid race reference.

So the real question is why Zobrist in LF and Soler in RF. Baez with his play has earned second base. That moves Zobrist to LF. That means either bench Soler or Heyward since only one can play RF. With Heyward being such a poor hitter ALL season this to me is an automatic and easy decision. Heyward plays the only role he deserves which is defensive replacement.

If there is any doubt cubs were right to start Schwarber at DH need look no futher than this slash line in the 2 games.
.429 .556 .571 1.127

Clearly Cubs know what they have in Schwarber and had faith in him. This is why they refused to include him in any trade talks at the deadline. The kid can hit. Nothing more needs to be said.

This thread never was about starting Schwarber at DH, this was about who should have started in RF, and that question has obviously been answered. Maddon was foolish to leave Jason Heyward on the bench the first several games versus RHP. Heyward is better at EVERY aspect of the game than that stiff Coughlin, and he showed why the last two nights.

The comment, "Schwarber is overrated" has also been proven by his inability to play the field. Fat boy is overrated, they could have had Andrew Miller for him. Sorry 'bout your luck Cub's fans.

Per usually old white guys in their 60s blow a gasket when I suggest race MAY have played a roll, I never called anyone racist, that is you projecting. What other possible reason could there be for Maddon to start that stiff over Heyward? Stupidity I suppose.

Yeah, racism, what is that, it doesn't exist in baseball. Okay. Sometimes racism is sub conscience. Sometimes old white guys like to see the guy who looks a little more like they do, over a player with much better ability.

Heyward's swing looked just fine last night,as did his defense, and base running.

And Schwarber is still fat and with an iron glove. Would I start him at DH, maybe. Would I have traded him for Andrew Miller, absolutely.

How silly of me to have thought racism could exist in 2016. With half the electorate lining up to vote for Trump, yeah racism is dead. Just ask Chipper Kelly and LM Bombers.

Speaking of LM, for someone who seems to spend his whole life playing this game, he doesn't win very often. At least not in the leagues I am in. Sorry 'bout your luck bra.

Steve F., what did you think of Jason Heyward's swing last night? And his defense? And base running?

So, if not racism, what stupidity? Which is worse for a MLB manager?

First , I never doubted his defense or baserunning. As for the swing, it's still a mess despite hitting a couple balls hard. Any pitcher not busting him high and tight with fastballs is missing the picture

Joe Maddon screwed up in game 7. I was rooting for the Cubs but they deserved to lose after his boneheaded 5th inning quick hook of Hendricks. Hendricks got screwed by the umps. He threw four strikes to Carlos Santana who walked because the ump called two strikes balls. Hendricks was pitching masterfully and had thrown something like 63 pitches according to the Buck/Smoltz. So Maddon, who was clearly anxious to yank Hendricks, brings in Lester who could barely find the plate and gives up two runs immediately.

It was an exciting game for sure, but it shouldn't have been. It was only made exciting because of bad calls by the home plate ump and a really bad decision by Maddon to quick hook Hendricks.

Joe Maddon screwed up in game 7. I was rooting for the Cubs but they deserved to lose after his boneheaded 5th inning quick hook of Hendricks. Hendricks got screwed by the umps. He threw four strikes to Carlos Santana who walked because the ump called two strikes balls. Hendricks was pitching masterfully and had thrown something like 63 pitches according to the Buck/Smoltz. So Maddon, who was clearly anxious to yank Hendricks, brings in Lester who could barely find the plate and gives up two runs immediately.

It was an exciting game for sure, but it shouldn't have been. It was only made exciting because of bad calls by the home plate ump and a really bad decision by Maddon to quick hook Hendricks.

I could not agree more! I was going to post something along these lines but you beat me to it!

A buddy of mine called Madden, Joe Panic...to bad its already taken. Madden has to have some form of ADD, he just couldn't stop tweaking things. This whole series while compelling, exciting...made me throw up in my mouth every time a starter was yanked 1-3 innings early. Let them pitch, jeez.

Oh and we didn't even get into his overuse of Chapman, I think Chapman has a workmans comp claim or something.

Agree with Druid that yanking starter when he was dominating was bone headed mistake. Almost cost them the game. I think they were so focused on using Lester and having him start an inning that it dictated their entire pitching strategy. I would have waited for Kyle to get in trouble, used a regular reliever to get out of inning and then went to Lester. As it is they had him up almost from the beginning of game and by the 5th he had thrown so many warm up pitches it was either bring him in or sit him down and not use him.

Though at the end I was rooting for Cubs, especially for CJ to get the save. Former Rangers start and then close the game.

I also thought in game 6 with a 5 run lead they should have tried to get an inning or two from other relievers before handing over to Chapman. It worked out in the end, but in my opinion in spite of their choices and not because of. It was clear Chapman was overworked and fatigued during that game 7 stint.

I also noted that a couple Cubs players credited Heyward for calling a team meeting during that rain delay with getting team in right mental approach. I have been hard on Heyward but that bit of leadership have to give him due props.

It looks like to me from looking at all of the comments that quite a few of you should be getting a call from the Cubs to replace Maddon...Just sayin