Joe Maddon is a man of peace. The groovy hippie-cum-hipster preaches a gospel of inclusiveness, togetherness and kindness. He rarely has a bad word to say about anyone.
So seeing him get thrown out of a game, as he was the other day, feels like watching a Peace Corps volunteer pricing shoulder holsters. It looks all wrong.
The Cubs manager was angry because first base umpire Tripp Gibson had ruled that the Diamondbacks’ Paul Goldschmidt checked his swing, when it looked to most people with full use of their eyeballs that he had struck out. Maddon walked out of the dugout with a simple question (“What happened?’’), which was followed by a few declarative sentences that probably weren’t very nice and the next thing you know, he was ejected for the first time this season.
“I was really upset,’’ he said.
Maddon obviously thinks his biggest role is that of protector. He absorbs whatever slings and arrows come his players’ way, not that there are many when you have the best record in baseball. And he is unfailingly complimentary of his troops. Have you ever heard him say anything that could be remotely construed as negative about one of his players? No, you have not.
When the Cubs put Jorge Soler on the disabled list with a hamstring injury Tuesday, his sixth trip to the DL in less than three seasons, Maddon was quick to defend his outfielder against suggestions he might be injury prone.
Defend, but not with anger. Protect at all costs, using peaceful methods.
The reporters who are around the team daily can’t recall Maddon ever losing his temper over a question. There have been a few instances in which perhaps there was a hint of a whisper of a sliver of annoyance. But that’s it.
So it’s fascinating to watch him argue with umpires because he does what he always does – back his players – while doing what he almost never does – raise his voice.
Last season, his first with the Cubs, he was ejected five times. He comes in peace. Just make sure your strike zone is fair.
