Different kind of playoff hunt -- Maddon turns Wrigley into zoo
Joe Maddon is at it again.
The man who is no stranger to costume-themed road trips and bizarre clubhouse activities as manager of the Chicago Cubs (and previously with the Tampa Bay Rays), brought a pink flamingo to his pregame news conference before Tuesday's matchup against the Milwaukee Brewers.
Joe Maddon brought a Chilean flamingo named Warren to his pregame media briefing. So, typical afternoon at Wrigley. pic.twitter.com/ajR7UtBMqr
— Brian Costa (@BrianCostaWSJ) September 22, 2015
Joe Maddon brought a flamingo named Warren to his press conference today. pic.twitter.com/zIJ5WDPmYb
— Tyler Kepner (@TylerKepner) September 22, 2015
"My goal in life is to own a bar called The Pink Flamingo." -- Joe Maddon pic.twitter.com/CuEPJe83Y3
— Tyler Kepner (@TylerKepner) September 22, 2015
"I'm a big pink flamingo fan," Maddon told reporters. "That's why I really insisted on that."
Then came the real fun ... a small petting zoo was set up in the left-field corner before the game for the players and their families to enjoy. Amont the animals were a sloth, a penguin, a snow leopard -- and that flamingo, who Maddon named Warren.
The animals were brought in by the Columbus, Ohio, zoo and they weren't the manager's first go-round with nature. When he was managing the Tampa Bay Rays, Maddon brought in cockatiels and other exotic creatures for the players.
Now mind you, the Cubs are smack dab in the middle of a playoff chase, entering the day with a magic number of four to clinch their first postseason berth since 2008.
But the trick worked -- the Cubs beat the Brewers 4-0 as ace Jake Arrieta threw a three-hitter to become MLB's first 20-game winner this season.
"This is my first experience with some of the events, little things that he puts on," said Cubs outfielder Austin Jackson, acquired from Seattle on Aug. 31. "It's pretty cool. You get the family and the kids involved. It's something different."
Whatever it takes to keep the mood light in a pennant race. After all, Maddon can't always be challenging the Cardinals and shaking his fist at AC/DC to get off his lawn.
-- The Associated Press contributed to this report
