Joe Maddon is a funny guy. He makes people laugh with his one-liners and his ability to talk pop culture. Joe Pesci would probably say he's funny like a clown _ a nice way of saying he is a clown.
That's not nice, I know, but how can anyone take this guy seriously after the stupid things he said about rules designed to protect players from bad slides? His latest came Saturday night after the Cubs lost to the Cardinals, 5-3. Maddon and ace pitcher Jon Lester were furious over an umpire's ruling on a slide at second by Ian Happ as he broke up a double play. The play caused Maddon to absolutely lose his mind after the game _ assuming he had a mind to lose in the first place.
"The rule has no place in the game," Maddon said. "I would like to see that rule ejected. They have no place in our game. I have no idea why these rules are part of our game. It has nothing to do with safety and protecting the middle infielder."
Maddon also said the rule protecting catchers at the plate needs to go. It's hilarious that Maddon claims he has "no idea" why these rules exist. He had a front row seat to one of the most egregious examples of why these rules are needed. Does anyone else remember why the Pirates had to finish the 2015 season and start the 2016 season without third baseman Jung Ho Kang? Here's a refresher. That was one of the final straws. The powers that be understood something needed to change. It's very similar to the rule that doesn't allow catchers to block the plate, known as the Buster Posey rule because it was implemented after Posey had his leg broken in one of those idiotic collisions at the plate.
It doesn't surprise me that Maddon is clueless as to why this rule is necessary. Not only did he think Chris Coghlan's slide was clean, he was convinced the reason Kang had to be carried off the field was due to plantar fasciitis. That was one of the more ridiculous things I've ever heard a manager or coach say about an opposing player's injury, but, of course, he's lovable, laughable Joe Maddon of the lovable loser Cubs, so he didn't catch any heat for it. It was dumb and insensitive then and dumber every time it's brought up. It's even dumber that Maddon now is acting like he has no recollection of the Coghlan play or why these rules exist.
Of course, now players like Lester _ "old school tough guys" who long for the days when the games weren't played by pansies _ have joined in. These are the same cavemen who whine about rules protecting players from helmet-to-helmet hits in the NFL, flagrant fouls in the NBA and fighting in the NHL.
Player safety is and always should be the No. 1 concern in any sport. It isn't about making the game "soft," it's about making sure athletes avoid injuries on plays that have nothing to do with the actual sport. A cornerback can play defense without trying to take a defenseless receiver's head off. An NHL game can be exciting without a bunch of slobbering goons trying to settle scores with a bunch of fights. And baseball is just as fun and exciting to watch now as it was when baserunners could lower their head and barrel over catchers.
Don't believe me? Ask yourself when the last time you missed having collisions at the plate was. The Maddons of the world don't seem to understand these plays have nothing to do with baseball, which is sad because the sport is better off without those plays. Of course, Maddon couldn't help himself Sunday and doubled down on his idiocy from the day before.
"We should eliminate the headfirst slide," he said. "That is a dangerous slide. Your hand could (get hurt), your eye could get poked out. All these different things can occur on a headfirst slide. I think facemasks should be mandatory for all hitters, and pitchers have been hit in the head by line drives several times, so pitchers should be forced to wear helmets."
You see that? He really is a funny guy.
Give me a break. I'm for any rule that protects players, makes games safer and eliminates plays that have nothing to do with the actual competition. The fact that Maddon isn't on the same page is sad. The fact that many people find his shtick amusing is sadder.
