Cubs News: Joe Maddon jokingly threatens to beat up sports writers who were critical of him |
ST. LOUIS — Chicago Cubs manager
Joe Maddon was relieved of his duties on Sunday, with the Cubs' 9-0 loss at Busch Stadium to the St. Louis Cardinals marking the end of his tenure. Maddon's contract was set to expire at season's end, and Maddon and Cubs President of Baseball Operations
Theo Epstein announced in a pregame press conference that Maddon would not return as Cubs manager for the 2020 season.
While the pregame presser was very amicable and polished, the postgame presser was much more lighthearted. Although the Cardinals were the ones who won the National League Central on the day, the Cubs had themselves a locker-room party, too, with the team celebrating the Cubs careers of Maddon and impending Cubs free agents Pedro Strop and Ben Zobrist, who might not be back with the club next year. Maddon chatted with reporters in a hallway outside the visiting locker room for his final postgame media session as the Cubs' skipper. While holding a bottle of Corona, Maddon was jovial, reflective and upbeat when speaking with the Cubs' beat reporters for the final time in 2019. However, in typical Maddon fashion, the conversation ended with a bang. One last time pic.twitter.com/VjMDyFaURm Joe on Zo pic.twitter.com/AMThMPOrVJ Maddon did his final Cubs media presser with a Corona in hand. pic.twitter.com/kuZpJJMXOd Although he was assuredly joking, Maddon promised any of the reporters who were critical of him at any point during his stint as Cubs manager that they would have had their asses kicked if they were in the other dugout and made those remarks toward him. Maddon passionately defended himself, saying that he believes in his decisions and knows why he makes them. The veteran skipper shook each and every reporter's hand before departing, though. Joe’s farewell to @MDGonzales and @GDubCub pic.twitter.com/UJUfXsO8iz Whether he intended to or not, Maddon might have ultimately revealed why the Cubs decided to move on from him, as his unwavering commitment to doing things his way and his way only may have been what ended his Cubs tenure. Maddon and the journalists who covered him in the Windy City shared a hearty laugh before parting ways, but, via his hypothetical threat, Maddon made it clear that he had no regrets for how he managed the Cubs for five seasons, regardless of how it turned out. Maddon ended final presser by shaking each reporter’s hand. Said he enjoyed the exchange over the years.
Then had a message for anyone who has criticized his in-game moves: “I know what I believe, I know what I think and I know why I do things.”
And he went out with a bang... pic.twitter.com/vPfvPK3IiW