CHICAGO _ After surviving some choppy moments to reach the National League Championship Series for a third consecutive season, manager Joe Maddon wants his staff to return intact next season.
"The staff has done a great job," Maddon said Wednesday. "Our staff has been awesome, and they're tight, a tightly knit group. There's a lot of synergy involved. No one knows everything. Everybody helps everybody. There's cross-pollination. Nobody is on their own little island. I like that."
Maddon extended his support to advance scouting coordinators Nate Heim and Tom Hottovy and Jeremy Greenhouse, the assistant director of research and development.
"(They don't withhold) saying something to me that they have on their mind, which I really appreciate," Maddon said. "They don't feel like they can't say it, and that's one thing I wanted to build, that kind of method. Don't hold back. Just say it. You know you can. There's nothing held against you for doing it. There are some places that is the case."
Maddon dismissed speculation about Jim Hickey, his pitching coach with the Rays and a South Side native, joining his staff.
"I have talked to Hick, (but) purely how he's doing," Maddon said. "It surprised me and a lot of us (when Hickey and the Rays parted ways after 10 seasons).
"He's going to turn out just fine."
.png?w=600)
