Aug. 24--Joe Maddon doesn't believe in curses or Billy goats or any other fabricated peripheral nonsense that has been associated with the Cubs' more than century-long championship futility.
Instead, the Cubs manager firmly believes in his young players and their ability to focus and produce at a moment's notice.
"The big trap is when you get caught up in this rush to the finish line as opposed to just taking care of the moment," Maddon said. "How do you do that? I will be focused on today. And I want my players to be focused on the day also. Win or lose, you go on to the next one. If you are able to maintain that mindset, success follows."
Success followed the Cubs again Sunday when they blitzed the Braves 9-3 in support of Jason Hammel (7-5, 3.35) for a four-game sweep. After the game, the players invited members of the Wrigley Field grounds crew in the clubhouse to celebrate.
It marked the fourth time the Cubs have swept an opponent in four games this season (Mets, Brewers, Giants and Braves). The last time that happened was 1945, which happened to be the last time the Cubs appeared in a World Series.
"I am not the type of guy who looks at numbers like that. But if you sweep one four-game series that's pretty good," rookie third baseman Kris Bryant said. "I think that says a lot about the team that we kept our foot on the gas pedal and we take every game as if it is a one-game series."
The Cubs blasted five home runs Sunday, two by Bryant. Dexter Fowler led off the first inning with a homer, followed by a two-run homer by Bryant three batters later. More were on the way off the bats of Kyle Schwarber in the second inning, Miguel Montero in the third and Bryant again in the sixth.
Maddon is the eternal optimist who disengages from thoughts of failure. The Cubs are a National League-best 19-4 since July 29. Who saw that coming?
"That's the roll we've been talking about. If you believe anything about yourself, you have a much better chance of promoting that," Maddon said.
"They talk about magic, they talk about this time of the year ... this is the part of the year that you really have to fight through talking about post-All-Star break, end of August ... because this is the time you are a little bit fatigued. And that is why we are doing the 'American Legion Week.' If you are able to maintain at this particular moment ... here comes September ... I promise you our guys will be charged up every day in September."
Maddon's unorthodox, relaxed concept of American Legion Week has involved allowing the players to arrive at the ballpark much later than usual. On Sunday, he told his players to use their own discretion as to when to arrive. Instead of having pregame batting practice, his players have been taking their best swings during the game. They stroked 11 hits Sunday.
"Everybody has their own routine to go about it in a certain way," Bryant said. "I agree with Joe. I think batting practice is overrated. You go out there (in BP) and a lot of us try to hit it out every time, and sometimes that can be counterproductive."
The Cubs have mixed come-from-behind wins such as Saturday's 9-7 triumph with decisive performances on Sunday.
"It just indicates where our mindset is at right now," Maddon said. "The guys are not quitting. We don't quit. We have been doing it for a while. It is becoming more recognizable now. But it doesn't surprise me. They are ready to play every day. The coaches do a wonderful job of getting them ready to play every day.
"I stand in my corner and try to do my job and everyone else is doing theirs."
