Chicago Cubs: Maddon’s bullpen usage reason for lack of extension?

Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon is still without a contract beyond this season. Could his bullpen usage cost him another contract?

Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon has lead the team to four straight post-season appearances and a World Series title in 2016. He turned 65 years young earlier this season and is managing the team is in final year under contract. While most would think that Maddon is worthy of a contract extension, could the way he manages his bullpen ultimately cost him his job?

Stay with me here. I am a big fan of Joe Maddon but I know I am not alone with the way he utilizes relief pitchers. He also has the tendency to become a fan of certain guys in the bullpen that aren’t necessarily the highest level of talent.

Look at this year for example. He continues to trot Brad Brach out there in games that are still within reach. In the loss to Colorado on Tuesday night, Maddon brought Brach in a 4-1 ballgame. Still very doable, especially in that ballpark. However, Brach quickly ended that hope when he allowed 4 earned runs in just 0.2 innings.

Brach was signed to a one-year deal in the offseason hoping to be a major contributor to the bullpen but he been nothing short of awful. Still he continues to see playing time. He’s appeared in 24 games this season and has a 6.39 ERA to show for it.

Another guy that Maddon seems to love that drives everyone crazy is Kyle Ryan. He is a lefty specialist for matchup purposes but has appeared in 27 games this season to the tune of a 4.57 ERA. Opponents are batting 0.259 off him this year and 0.304 since May 1.

Look back to 2018 and it was Luke Farrell and Brian Duensing. Everyone knew Farrell was bad but still saw 31.1 innings of work and took home a 5.17 ERA to put on the refrigerator for mom. As for Duensing, I’ll just say he had a 7.65 ERA last year in almost 40.0 innings.

In 2017, it was Justin Grimm and Hector Rondon. You get the idea.

Maddon falls in love with these guys and it’s costing the team games. Could it cost him another contract as well? We’ll soon find out.