Joe Maddon to Cubs biz ops: No more 3:05 start times in ’16

ST. LOUIS – The Cubs’ tentative 2016 schedule released Tuesday listed 7:05 and 1:20 p.m. game times for many games, but showed TBD on every Friday and Saturday home date from May 27 through August – a result of manager Joe Maddon’s efforts to persuade business operations eliminate as many 3:05 p.m. starts as possible.

“We have talked,” said Maddon, who raised the issue more than once this season. “The thing I talked about with them, straight-up, is just to have consistent start times, that’s all, so that players can get into a regular routine. That was the request. Let’s see how it plays out.”

Said general manager Jed Hoyer: “It’s a tough one, because there’s obviously business considerations, and it does matter.”

The Cubs open and close next season on the road, opening in Anaheim April 5 against the Los Angeles Angels – the team’s first interleague opener. After that two-game series, they return to Arizona for four games before their 7:05 p.m. home opener Monday, April 11, against the Reds.