Joe Maddon's really going for it this spring. With the Chicago Cubs entering the 2016 season as one of the favorites to win the World Series, the manager seems hellbent on building a distinct team culture -- one that seems, above all else, strange and mysterious.
The team's strict dress code moving forward -- by which Maddon himself suggested that the team try to look sexy on game days -- is only the most conventional of tricks Maddon's pulled so far. His latest, and maybe greatest, stunt: Bringing in a mime to lead team stretches.
This is not a joke:
#Cubs pic.twitter.com/O9iAYF8y8Y
— Carrie Muskat (@CarrieMuskat) March 22, 2016
What's the strategy here? It's hard to say. Certainly the mime is helping to keep things light-hearted, which might be the reason behind Maddon's move. As the season gets started, the Cubs are going to face enormous pressure from start-to-finish, facing high expectations and a curse they're hoping to break.
Nothing to see here, just a couple of mimes leading stretching at Cubs camp.
Posted by Chicago Tribune Sports on Tuesday, March 22, 2016
So might as well relax while you have the chance. But, here's a thought: Do many people find themselves relaxed in the presence of mimes?
#Cubs pic.twitter.com/99Irmxbsij
— Carrie Muskat (@CarrieMuskat) March 22, 2016
Well, if you expected the Cubs to become a media circus this year, the team beat you to the punch.
