MESA, Ariz. - Joe Maddon had an extra month to work out his standard slogan for the new year ahead, but he probably didn't need it.
Maddon's phrase for 2019 - "own it now" - could've been hatched in mid-October and that's not at all critiquing the slogan. It's just that the main narrative around the Cubs hasn't changed since the first hour of the offseason when stunned players hung around at their lockers and talked about the lack of urgency at times throughout the season.
The Cubs' main talking point all winter has been trying to find that "urgency" and "edge" every single day in 2019 and showing up to the ballpark every morning/afternoon with a mission in mind.