MESA, Ariz. – Cubs manager Joe Maddon said he plans to have a sit-down with Edwin Jackson over the veteran pitcher’s late arrival for his start Tuesday against the Athletics – something Jackson attributed to outdated Google Maps information that sent him to the A’s former spring ballpark instead of the one they moved to this year.
“I wasn’t happy with it, to be honest with you,” Maddon said. “That was obviously not good. You have a lot of time to prepare and understand where you’re going as a major-league person, speaking the language extremely well and being aware.”
Jackson, the $52 million right-hander on the fringe of the rotation picture, showed up before game time, but not with enough time to do his pregame work. He entered the game to start the second and couldn’t get through two innings – allowing eight runs on nine hits, including five doubles and a homer.
Jackson, who had pitched well this spring before Tuesday, said the delay had nothing to do with the performance. Maddon disagreed.
“Where the two games before that I thought he did a nice job of mixing things up, [Tuesday] he was much more predictable,” Maddon said. “I think that just speaks to preparation. … I would have been real surprised if he nailed it down under the circumstances.”
Jackson would have two more scheduled starts this spring, including one more potential road start, Sunday against the Royals in Surprise, Ariz.
“I believe that will never happen again, I really do,” Maddon said. “Because he’s a great kid. He’s not a good kid – he’s a great kid. He’s awesome. And I love the guy. But that just can’t happen.”
