July 28--Manager Joe Maddon wouldn't be goaded into admitting the Chicago Cubs' three-game series against the Colorado Rockies represented a sense of urgency with the San Francisco Giants holding a 2 1/2-game lead for the second wild card berth in the National League.
"Every day is critical," Maddon said Monday night before sending Kyle Hendricks to the mound against left-hander Jorge De La Rosa. "I don't do this weight kind of thing. I've been involved in a team 13 games up in Aug. 10 and didn't do it. I've been on a team that was down by nine on Sept. 1 and did it. You just got to keep playing."
Maddon said he's maintained his focus on the day-to-day workings of the team and not become obsessed with updates on whom the Cubs might acquire before Friday's 3 p.m. trade deadline.
"For me, the best thing I can do to be good for everyone else is to keep my brain in order and stay with my routine," Maddon said. "If I can do that and demonstrate that to the rest of the group, hopefully they'll stay on their routine also."
