June 24--The Los Angeles Dodgers-Chicago Cubs series has showcased some of the top young talent in the major leagues.
Kris Bryant of the Cubs has said in past interviews that he played on travel teams with Bryce Harper and Joey Gallo in his native Las Vegas as a youth, and center fielder Joc Pederson of the Dodgers played for the NorCal baseball team that has produced teammate Jimmy Rollins and Troy Tulowitzki of the Rockies.
But Cubs manager Joe Maddon reiterated that he is no fan of showcase baseball and believes there's another element that has enhanced the path of young stars to the majors.
"Is instruction better or is the athlete better?" Maddon said Tuesday. "I'm really anti-showcase baseball. I don't like it at all. When you showcase, all it's about, all the player wants to be is best in the show. Almost like the dog show. You want to be best in the show. Has nothing to do with winning or losing. It has no team component or concept.
"However, there have been some very good players come out. I don't know. There's got to be some correlation to the teaching that's going on, the athlete himself, and probably something that's missing that's more important. I still believe in the team concept. Obviously that is being taught. I don't like this best in show stuff at all. But we're seeing some good players. I don't know what the connection is.I really don't."
