Aug. 07--One night after Joe Maddon's decision to yank Jason Hammel in the fifth inning of a three-run game, the Cubs send Jon Lester to the mound against the Giants in the second game of the clash between wild-card contenders.
The calendar says it's August, but the Hammel decision suggests Maddon is well into his October mode, especially knowing the wild-card race could come down to the final game of the season.
"You don't want to give anything away, especially when you have a lead like that," Maddon said. "That was just that game, August 6th, the way the game was playing tonight. You get off to such a quick lead like that, to relinquish that and lose that game is a very difficult loss, especially to this particular team right now. So I just thought we did not want it to slip away."
Hammel was unhappy about the decision, but he'll live.
The atmosphere at Wrigley was electric after the Cubs grabbed a 5-0 lead on Kyle Schwarber's three-run homer, but the crowd began to fade during the long fifth inning, especially after Hammel walked two men. Maddon made the right call, and Hammel said afterwards he was over it.
If the Cubs do make the postseason, it could be a night they can look back as a catalyst.
"It was entertaining in the dugout," Maddon said. "Almost too entertaining in the dugout."
Care to elaborate, Joe?
"It was beautiful, man," he said. "That's what it's supposed to feel like. That's what it's supposed to look like. That's what everybody is looking for. I love that kind of a moment. I think it's great. And I want the guys to embrace it also."
