If there was a common theme woven through Joe Maddon’s first season in Chicago, it was that he handled his young Cubs like a Little League team (apologies for the florid language in that one, I went way overboard). And I don’t mean providing snacks after games or having them watch Tom Emanski videos between practices, but in the way he’d move guys all over the field.
Even Kris Bryant, the anointed wunderkind, saw himself patrolling center field within six games of his debut. I remember that game vividly because it took place in the middle of some legit snow in Pittsburgh.