As Joe Maddon Wished For, Cubs Have Fewer 3:05 P.M. Home Starts In 2016

(CBS) In the push-pull of what's best for the business operation and what's best for baseball side in the Cubs' organization, it appears manager Joe Maddon has gotten his way on a minor-though-notable request.

A year after often starting home games at 3:05 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays in the summer months, the Cubs only have two 3:05 p.m. contests at Wrigley Field on the 2016 docket, as Bruce Miles of the Daily Herald first pointed out. Maddon disliked the 3:05 p.m. starts because it was an unnecessary wrench in the routines of players, who are often creatures of habit.

"It's awkward," Maddon told the Tribune last year. "I'm not going to deny it's awkward. You get used to playing at 1 p.m. or 6 or 7 (p.m.)."

All Friday games at Wrigley Field this year are set for 1:20 p.m. There are two 3:05 p.m. starts on Saturdays: May 7 and Sept. 17. Most Saturday games will begin at 1:20 p.m.

The business department liked the 3:05 p.m. starts times because it appealed to fans in that -- typically on Fridays -- they could work most of a work day, hop out a bit early and still make the Cubs game.

The decision to do away with most 3:05 p.m. starts was "easy" once Maddon shared his view, team president of business operations Crane Kenney told the Daily Herald.