CHICAGO -- This is the genius of Joe Maddon:Next week, all four of his infielders will start for the National League at the All-Star Game, a trick no team has turned since the 1963 St. Louis Cardinals. Yet when those Cubs return to Wrigley Field next Friday to face the Pirates, two of them -- Kris Bryant and Ben Zobrist -- could wind up starting in the outfield. They might not be the only ones playing a different position.If you want to know what separates Chicago from the handful of other title contenders at midseason, versatility is a good place to start. And that starts with Maddon.Ive always been about that, he said recently.Maddon has never been shy about testing his players skill sets, either, because hes always challenging himself. He could write a book about turning the tables on decades of received baseball wisdom and whats hes learned along the way. But on this day he limits himself to a list of benefits a manager gets having guys who can play multiple positions: reacting to in-game changes is easier; you can carry an extra pitcher if you need to; more flexibility in scheduling rest days; and it keeps everyone on their toes.But he saves the best argument for the end of his pitch. Its the same one Maddon employs to stick a toe outside his own comfort zone, and how hes talked a few dozen grown men into donning pajamas for charter flights home from West Coast road trips.And the last point, he summed up, is they love it.Most of the time, anyway.A week earlier, in a 15-inning marathon at Cincinnati, Maddon used three pitchers in the field in the same game for the first time in a century or more. Reliever Pedro Strop, the third pitcher to enter, was in the Cubs bullpen that inning when the phone rang, but he knew better than to assume anything.You never know with Joe, he said. The guys not afraid do anything. ... So I was almost kind of ready for that, because I was the only extra player we got.But the other one? Man, he continued. I was like, `Whoa.That was a year ago, just ahead of the midsummer break with the Dodgers in town. The Cubs were already struggling with a manpower shortage in that same infield.Bryant, the third baseman, was wilting in the heat of his first big-league season and Maddon was trying to give him a day off. That plan fell through when shortstop Starlin Castro -- since traded to the Yankees -- headed off to the hospital for the birth of his second baby. It also forced Maddon to move Addison Russell from second to short and pencil in his only other healthy infielder, reserve Johnny Herrera, at second.Thats when Strop noticed the manager eyeing him.Joe comes over and says to me, `So, what position can you play better? he recalled.Strop has been a pitcher since he broke into the majors in 2009, but hed played more than 200 games at shortstop in the Rockies minor league system before a weak bat convinced him to try throwing off a mound. The prospect of a cameo back at shortstop both tantalized and terrified him -- exactly the response Maddon was looking for.But then Starlin drove back from the hospital, Strop recalled, chuckling at the memory.No matter. Point made.Maddon came by the philosophy while working on his managerial chops as an assistant in the Angels organization and then as the boss in Tampa Bay. In both organizations, he saw talented ballplayers capable of contributing stuck in place because the guy in front of them had the position locked down. Maddons first convert to make a splash was Zobrist in Tampa Bay, who eventually mastered four positions, joined him in Chicago this season and will play second base in the All-Star Game.Bryant, who will start at third, has played three different positions in the same regular-season game. Russell, who didnt become a full-time shortstop until after the midseason break in 2015, will start there in the All-Star Game. And Maddon has already convinced rookie Willson Contreras, who was drafted as a catcher, to try left field and first base during his first month in the majors.A few lockers down, Albert Almora Jr., another highly touted rookie, wondered whether hed get the talk. Hes played center field since being called up June 7 from the Triple-A Iowa club, and hasnt received any further instructions from Maddon.I watch him when Im not playing and it seems like hes three, four moves ahead of the game, Almora said. So hes not afraid to try things, even with the rookies. Just about the first thing he said is he doesnt care if you mess up. ...Like if youre in a situation where you think you should bunt, and he says hit and it doesnt work out, hell come up to you right away and say, `Thats on me, he added. He doesnt just say have fun, he shows you how. That means a lot to a young player.Another few lockers over, 39-year-old David Ross, a backup catcher playing his final season, offers the last word on his smooth-talking, sometimes-zany manager.Too many guys want to equate smarts with being uptight, Ross said. Joe doesnt. He just says, `Do simple better.---This story has been corrected to show the 1963 St. Louis Cardinals had four starting infielders at All-Star Game. Don Chaney Jersey .Y. -- Vancouver Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo had little trouble picking up his first shutout of the season against a Buffalo Sabres team thats having trouble scoring goals. Dana Barros Jersey . -- Running backs Darren McFadden and Rashad Jennings were back at practice for the Oakland Raiders on Wednesday despite being hampered by hamstring injuries. https://www.cheapceltics.com/ .Y. - Nelson Mandela will be honoured by the New York Yankees with a plaque in Monument Park. Boston Celtics Gear . Third-seeded Murray had the easiest path to victory on New Years Eve, barely breaking a sweat during his 6-0, 6-0 win over 2,129th-ranked Qatari wildcard recipient Mousa Shanan Zayed. Isaiah Thomas Jersey . Hey!" The lower tier of the School End of Queens Park Rangers Loftus Road was packed solid with a very festive-sounding Chelsea choral section in this particular part of South Africa Road London, W12.Ronald Koeman and Jamie Carragher think Arsenal and Manchester City are out of the Premier League title race following Leicester's 1-0 win against Newcastle. Claudio Ranieris side moved five points clear of nearest rivals Tottenham thanks to Shinji Okazakis 25th-minute overhead kick with just eight games remaining.Victory moved Leicester 11 points clear of Arsenal and 12 points ahead of Manchester City, who both have a game in hand on the league leaders. Ronald Koeman was a guest alongside Jamie Carragher on Monday Night Football However, Southampton manager Ronald Koeman, speaking on Monday Night Football, insists both Arsenal and Manchester City are now out of the title race following Leicesters win.It will be a fight between Tottenham and Leicester, the Dutchman said.In my opinion, thats the difference between before and after this result. Its a new situation for Leicester. Eleven points from Arsenal, 12 points from Manchester City, they are out of the title.Sky Sports pundit Carragher agreed with Koeman, saying both Arsenal and Manchester City are not in good enough form to challenge Leicester and Tottenham.Its not just the points, its how those teams are playing, the former Liverpool defender said. Theyre not playing very well. Arsenal are now 11 points behind league leaders Leicester You look at the difference to Tottenham and Leicester, they are playing well. They look like title winners with the performances they are giving.You look at Arsenal with the cup problem, Manchester City at Norwich. They dont look like teams that are going to go on and win the title.I think that gap now is too far. Theres too much for tthem to do.dddddddddddd Sergio Aguero reacts to a missed chance as Man City dropped points at Norwich Koeman, who was a guest on MNF, is no stranger to success in title races, winning 11 league titles during his time in football, eight as a player and three as a manager.And with a first league title in their history now firmly in their sights, the Dutchman thinks Leicester will be under even more pressure.Tottenham are still close, but its now a fight between two teams, Koeman added. Shinji Okazakis overhead kick sent Leicester five points clear at the top. Before this game, it was still a fight between four or five. Thats the difference and it starts to run in your mind as a Leicester player.When asked if that will pile even more pressure on Leicester, Koeman replied: Yes, because you are closer to winning the title. That makes a big difference.Before today, the manager was still mentioning the Europa League but after the result, they have Champions League. Now its about second or first place. Thats the title and its a different situation to what it was before the game. Get Sky Sports Alerts Breaking news, line ups and goal alerts from your football club - direct to your mobile Also See: Okazaki sends Leicester clear Leicester 1-0 Newcastle recap PL Fixtures PL Table ' ' '
