The Cubs hit the road this week, meaning Joe Maddon will be going home for the first time since Hurricane Irma.
And the third-year Cubs manager has some plans for his first trip in a while to the Tampa Bay area, where he lives in the offseason and where his team begins a two-game series Tuesday in St. Petersburg against the Rays.
“Really eager to get back,” Maddon said. “Haven’t been back there in a bit.”
He said he plans to ride his bike, hopefully catch a glimpse of dolphins in the bay. He also hoped to avoid law enforcement and enjoy a gathering of friends and family at his restaurant, Ava, on Monday night.
“Looking forward to driving over the causeway,” Maddon said. “Hopefully I’m not going to get a ticket. It’s possible on the way back.”
Maddon also will see old friends at Tropicana Field. He led the Rays to the 2008 World Series and managed them for nine seasons — and tried to stay out of trouble for his criticisms of the ballpark.
“It’s primarily surrounded by fish,” Maddon said. “To get there is difficult. I thought it was bad form where they put it. Whenever I’d pop off about that, I’d get in trouble.”
Maddon said the park should have been built in Tampa, which would have helped with the team’s attendance problems. The Rays are last by far in the majors, averaging just over 15,000 per game.
“The building is inept when it comes to baseball,” Maddon said.
What a relief: The Cubs bullpen has been a bit depleted of late. Koji Uehara hasn’t pitched since Sept. 2 because of back soreness, and Hector Rondon has not thrown in a game since Sept. 8 because of right elbow inflammation.
Still, Cubs relievers did not allow an earned run in nine innings during the three-game sweep of the Cardinals.
Arrieta update: Right-hander Jake Arrieta likely will return to the rotation in time to make three more starts, beginning this week against the Brewers. Arrieta, who hasn’t pitched since Sept. 4 because of right hamstring soreness, threw 42 pitches Saturday, and Maddon said he heard good reports.
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