Levine: Cubs Stay Calm During Storm
By Bruce Levine–
CHICAGO (CBS) — The writing on the video board in the Chicago Cubs' locker room had a common theme to it late Saturday: "Dressed at 5:30 -- game at 7:15."
That was it. For a team down to a win-or-go-home situation, you might expect a full array of information and directions from the manager and staff. That's not the case as the Cubs trail 3-1 against the Indians entering Game 5 of the World Series on Sunday night.
That's the beauty of this Cub team and the people who run it. Since manager Joe Maddon took the job in November 2014, he has delivered the same message to his players and staff -- "We will treat you like we would want to be treated."
Maddon has optional batting practice during the season. The thought process is if someone like Kris Bryant is happy with his swing, neither he doesn't need to venture onto the field prior to that day's game. No one had ever heard of optional BP for an entire season until Maddon arrived. That type of trust and consistent message has worked great in the past seven months for Chicago.
On the biggest stage, trailing in the championship series on the last day of baseball in Chicago this season, Maddon's calmness and belief in his people remain a constant. It's been a major reason for his team's success.
Of course, it helps to have great players. The Cubs and Maddon have an abundance of them. Now in a must-win situation, the organization has shown no panic.
"This is not the ideal situation," said left-hander Jon Lester, who will start Game 5. "You of course would like to be on the other side of it. Our guys are confident and ready to play."
Lester spoke those words before the ugly 7-2 loss in Game 4, but after that, the players still stood tall and exuded confidence in each other going forward.
"That message is a normal day in Chicago," Jason Heyward said of the "report at 5:30" sign in the clubhouse. "We are going to be the same and not going to change a thing."
While there's no panic, there's certainly an awareness of what's at stake after 176 games. The Cubs will face Indians right-hander Trevor Bauer, who they beat in Game 2.
"We don't change a thing," Bryant said. "We know it's a must-win game. Why would we change anything we have done all year? We had a pretty good regular season, so why would we change anything now?"
The Cubs are hitting .204 in this series. They're a home run hitting team but have only one blast in the four World Series games played so far.
"We can't worry about what Cleveland does," first baseman Anthony Rizzo said. "We must concentrate on what we do, one pitch at a time. That is what it comes down to."
The message stays the same for this Cub team: win or go down fighting. Calmness is still the watchword for this tight-knit group.
"The formula all year has been trust," Rizzo said. "You know batting practice has been optional for us every day the last two years. We will come in and do what we normally do. We will be ready to face Trevor Bauer from pitch one."
Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score and CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.