Nearly three years after Anthony Rizzo charged the Reds bench in defense of his feeble teammates, the Cubs seem on the verge of cultivating a winning attitude bordering on arrogance.
"Go back in history," said manager Joe Maddon, whose 2008 Rays transformed their hapless ways into a formidable American League playoff contender after two fights with the Red Sox and Yankees, perennial American League East contenders.
"I often talked about the Dodgers when I came up in the minor leagues. Their uniforms were whiter than anyone else’s. They thought they were better than everybody else, and they went out and won all the time.
"I kind of liked it. I hated it, but I liked at the same time. The Yankees have developed that kind of culture. Teams that win — whether you want to talk about the Patriots in football — it’s part of it. It’s not that you feel you’re just going to show up and throw your gloves out there, you’re going to win. That’s not the point. You gain this confidence based on winning. There’s something to be said for knowing how to win. What does that mean?"
For Maddon and his players in their quest for their second consecutive World Series title, that recipe is based on not taking their talents for granted, practicing and executing properly and possessing the confidence that they can win late in games based on their preparation and past success.
"So swagger is a part of it, whatever you want to call it," Maddon said. "I’ve talked about that, even in my days as a young instructor, wanting my players to be that way. It’s the residue of winning, no question. But then you have to be able to maintain that."
Anthony Rizzo on spring training, playing for Joe Maddon
Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo discusses how this year’s spring training compares to others and how manager Joe Maddon handles this part of the season on Feb. 16, 2017. (Mark Gonzales/Chicago Tribune)
Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo discusses how this year’s spring training compares to others and how manager Joe Maddon handles this part of the season on Feb. 16, 2017. (Mark Gonzales/Chicago Tribune)
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An older man who rooted for the Red Sox and Patriots presented the challenge of being perceived as a perennial bully to Rizzo this offseason in a gym.
"’Congrats, you guys won one (a World Series),’" Rizzo recalled being told. "’But you haven’t done anything until the whole country hates you.’
"In a way, it’s true. Growing up a die-hard Dolphins fan, I hated Tom Brady because he was the best. And now it’s like I’m almost a Patriots fan because he’s so good.
"(Our) team has a lot of good personalities so it’s going to be tough (to hate the Cubs), but that’s the way it goes. If we just respect the game, it’ll make it hard for people to not like us."
Rizzo was reminded of the challenge during the Cubs’ visit to the White House when he saw a quote on President Barack Obama’s Oval Office desk that read "Hard Things Are Hard."
"There are no shortcuts around it," Rizzo said.
Maddon vividly remembers the Rays’ fights with the Red Sox and Yankees as a turning point for the franchise, although it did help that their young nucleus of Evan Longoria, David Price and James Shields emerged as stars.
"Sometimes it has to work that way," Maddon said of the fights. "Nothing should be given to you. You have to take things, in a sense. You have to take your position. Nobody wants to concede or give you anything, and I don’t anticipate or expect that.
"The earning component of what we do is vital when you earn something, then you realize the value and what it took to get there."
mgonzales@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @MDGonzales
Caption Jake Arrieta on selecting the glove he’ll use during the season
Chicago Cubs pitcher Jake Arrieta talks about his glove at spring training on Feb. 16, 2017. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)
Chicago Cubs pitcher Jake Arrieta talks about his glove at spring training on Feb. 16, 2017. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)
Caption Jake Arrieta on selecting the glove he’ll use during the season
Chicago Cubs pitcher Jake Arrieta talks about his glove at spring training on Feb. 16, 2017. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)
Chicago Cubs pitcher Jake Arrieta talks about his glove at spring training on Feb. 16, 2017. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)
Caption Joe Maddon on earning swagger through winning
Cubs manager Joe Maddon discusses how the Dodgers and Yankees have earned their swagger by creating winning cultures during spring training on Feb. 16, 2017. (Mark Gonzales/Chicago Tribune)
Cubs manager Joe Maddon discusses how the Dodgers and Yankees have earned their swagger by creating winning cultures during spring training on Feb. 16, 2017. (Mark Gonzales/Chicago Tribune)
Caption Kyle Hendricks and Jake Arrieta throw a bullpen session
Cubs starting pitchers Kyle Hendricks and Jake Arrieta throw a bullpen session at spring training in Mesa, Ariz., on Feb. 16, 2017. (Mark Gonzales/Chicag Tribune)
Cubs starting pitchers Kyle Hendricks and Jake Arrieta throw a bullpen session at spring training in Mesa, Ariz., on Feb. 16, 2017. (Mark Gonzales/Chicag Tribune)
Caption Anthony Rizzo on spring training, playing for Joe Maddon
Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo discusses how this year’s spring training compares to others and how manager Joe Maddon handles this part of the season on Feb. 16, 2017. (Mark Gonzales/Chicago Tribune)
Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo discusses how this year’s spring training compares to others and how manager Joe Maddon handles this part of the season on Feb. 16, 2017. (Mark Gonzales/Chicago Tribune)
Caption Pedro Strop on managing expectations, new hairdos
Cubs relief pitcher Pedro Strop discusses managing expectations as the defending World Series champs, as well as new hair colors for himself and his teammates on Feb. 16, 2017. (Mark Gonzales/Chicago Tribune)
Cubs relief pitcher Pedro Strop discusses managing expectations as the defending World Series champs, as well as new hair colors for himself and his teammates on Feb. 16, 2017. (Mark Gonzales/Chicago Tribune)
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