PITTSBURGH – Joe Maddon knew Bryan Price before the Cincinnati Reds manager went viral with a bleeping meltdown that dropped 77 F-bombs on reporters.
The Cubs didn’t give Maddon a five-year, $25 million contract just to manage the team for nine innings at a time. They also needed a ringmaster for the Wrigleyville circus.
The Cubs wanted someone to be a public face of the franchise, selling their vision to the fans. A big personality could entertain the easily distractible Chicago media, deflecting pressure from young players already viewed as saviors.
Maddon isn’t paranoid or defensive and his freewheeling style appears to be working for a team that left for Cincinnati after Thursday’s 5-4 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park.