Lately the Chicago Cubs have been in a downward spiral, Joe Maddon is slowly losing his mind, and the St. Louis Cardinals are reaping all the benefits.
Now with that Wedding Singer reference out of the way, we will get down to business on what is ongoing between the Cubs’ skipper, and his division rivals. First, you may recall that the St. Louis Cardinals went into Wrigley Field this past weekend and dealt the Cubs a crippling blow.
However, that isn’t going to stop Maddon from turning right around and giving his starters an expected early start on winter. Indeed, Maddon plans to not play his best guys. Furthermore, this has really felt like a trend in September more than ever before.
While one can certainly appreciate a fair degree of gamesmanship and rivalry, the Cardinals are the Cubs main rival. Then, there’s that whole footnote in existence that St. Louis just ended the Cubs’ season days ago. My question here is what happened to pride and playing spoiler?
Cubs manager Joe Maddon makes it clear he doesn't care what Brewers fans think of his lineups vs. the Cardinals https://t.co/8TmIpwGMU3
— CBS Sports MLB (@CBSSportsMLB) September 26, 2019
Here is the quote that should circulate this weekend around baseball. This is brought to us by Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune.
“Of course they’re going to b—h, and I get it, but quite frankly, there are certain things I really don’t give a s–t about, and that would be one of them,”
Just a single game separates the Brewers and Cardinals in the division standings. Therefore, with a division crown at stake; Maddon wants to rest his guys. Furthermore, reasoning wasn’t provided by the Cubs’ manager other than they’re out of contention.
Again, Maddon is coming off as the ‘if I can’t have her, no one can’ guy at the party. It’s likely that he will be fired by Theo Epstein at the conclusion of the season after coming up short in 2019. And he’s okay with his final act being something of a lay down act to spite the Brewers.
Finally, don’t be shocked if the Cubs’ scrubs go out and win a couple for the skipper. Let’s be honest, baseball is so weird; it’s not entirely out of the realm of possibility that a lineup full of September call-up players beats up a veteran Cardinals squad by accident.