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Emma: Maddon's Madness Keeps Cubs Cool In Long Wait For October

By Chris Emma--

CHICAGO (CBS) -- Country music played through the Cubs' vacant corridors some three-and-a-half hours before first pitch.

Eventually, Kris Bryant stepped into the nightclub clubhouse with no teammate to be found -- just a herd of reporters and the musical styling of Jon Lester. Fresh off a doubleheader sweep of the Brewers the night before, the Cubs took their time arriving to Wrigley Field on Wednesday.

Manager Joe Maddon has proclaimed it "American Legion Week" once again, where the dog days of summer are countered by showing up whenever -- just some time before 7:05 p.m. Maddon is bringing back his days of playing American Legion ball, which then entailed clocking out of work, throwing on a uniform, arriving just before first pitch and playing.

Snacks and beverages will be served, too.

"Beer sausage is really important to me," Maddon said. "It's very important."

The Cubs took their manager's offer to heart.

Well before the game, there were few Cubs to be found. John Lackey arrived for treatment on his sore shoulder, Jake Arrieta was doing, well, Jake Arrieta things, and Bryant just loves the Cubs' new clubhouse amenities.

"Who wouldn't want to come here early?" Bryant asked. "There's so much stuff. You can take a nap, play video games. There's so much to do here."

There's nobody in baseball quite like Maddon, the second-year Cubs skipper who just gets it.

Many managers in baseball would prefer to have their players arrive by a certain time. There are fines to punish tardiness. Heck, Marlins manager Don Mattingly doesn't allow facial hair for his players. The Cardinals on Wednesday requested pitcher Carlos Martinez clip his hair that was dyed platinum.

Maddon once said, "If it looks hot, wear it."

Players arrive at the ballpark and typically follow a team-structured routine, with meetings, batting practice, more meetings and maybe a few spare minutes. Maddon allows the players to create their own routine. He encourages it to not involve actual baseball work. In fact, Maddon believes batting practice is overrated.

"The pregame thing, to me, the more I've been around, the more I find it non-sensical," Maddon said. "Especially in the latter part of the year.

"I love the word grind, but I prefer they do that during the nine innings of the game and not get here so early and take so much extra work."

Preparation should decrease dramatically as the season progresses, according to Maddon. Players shouldn't focus on their routine; they should do whatever to remain comfortable. Veterans like Ben Zobrist appreciate days off that Maddon suggests. In fact, Zobrist even requested a weekend off in July to remain fresh. He knows that preservation is needed for the long run.

Maddon's madness tends to work. Last season, the Cubs were red hot from the end of July on. They were 42-18 from Aug. 1 to the end of the regular season, finishing a 97-win season with a trip to the NLCS. These current Cubs entered Wednesday at 12-2 in the month of August.

The Cubs entered Wednesday 12.5 games ahead of the Cardinals for first place in the NL Central. A two-game losing streak (gasp) on Saturday and Sunday dropped their chances of winning the division from 99.9 percent all the way down to 99.8 percent, according to Fangraphs. A pair of victories in Tuesday's twinbill returned those odds back to 99.9 percent, much to the relief of some nervous Cubs fan, probably.

While this Cubs season has brought countless thrilling moments, it has basically become a long wait for October. Their magic number is at 32, and a clincher could come in the first half of September.

Fortunately, Maddon's methods click with the Cubs. They truly do stay within each moment. Nobody in that clubhouse is looking toward the postseason.

"I don't find myself looking ahead, because we haven't done anything yet," right fielder Jason Heyward said.

Added center fielder Dexter Fowler: "You just keep that focus. If you start looking towards the playoffs, it's going to take longer to get here."

Management views it differently, naturally. Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer can begin to plan their playoff roster knowing the clincher is coming soon. Important decisions to round the roster are ahead, with names like Tommy La Stella, Chris Coghlan, Trevor Cahill, Justin Grimm and maybe even the struggling Miguel Montero on the bubble.

Maddon hasn't dared to think about a playoff rotation, but where would Kyle Hendricks fit into a playoff series? His 2.19 ERA is third in baseball behind only Clayton Kershaw and Madison Bumgarner. But that's a question for later.

These Cubs have just been so darn good from Opening Day and now into the dog days, yet October still feels far away, even with a clinching coming soon.

During what should be a time of discomfort, the Cubs are playing terrific baseball. They aren't looking ahead, instead living comfortably within each day.

"It doesn't feel like the dog days at all," Fowler said. "We know how to pace ourselves."

Maddon's tactics have been well documented -- the zany suits for road trips, appearances from Simon the magician and even a pregame petting zoo in left field. During spring training, Maddon brought out actual cubs for his Cubs. His greatest impact outside of those nine innings each day simply comes from prioritizing the concept of comfort.

Soon enough, the playoffs will arrive. The Cubs remain on pace for more than 100 wins and the top spot in the National League, which would secure an NLDS matchup with the wild-card winner. Then -- finally -- the push for a World Series in Wrigleyville truly begins.

August's dog days are part of the long wait for the postseason, where this Cubs team can reach for its goal.

Maddon knows best how to keep his Cubs cool, just like the American Legion days. Beer sausage is important.

Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago's sports scene and more for CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670 and like his Facebook page.

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