MESA, Ariz. (670 The Score) -- Walking back into the spring training ballpark that he called home for five years brought a shade of nostalgia and a larger sense of accomplishment for Angels manager Joe Maddon on Monday afternoon, when his team visited the Cubs at Sloan Park for a Cactus League game.
"It's wonderful coming back," said Maddon, who managed the Cubs from 2015-'19. "It was five years. There was nothing to lament. It was life-altering for me and my family with this organization. Hopefully, I left something for the organization too."
Ahead of the game, Maddon waved to Cubs fans and exchanged hugs and pleasantries with his former players, who remain so appreciative of what he meant to the organization. Their bond included winning a World Series in 2016.
"In this game with all the robots walking around, Joe brought a human element to the game," Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo said. "So this game is 99 percent mental, and Joe understood that with the best of them. He would talk to you as a human being, and he would talk to you about your family. He would ask about my wife Emily every time we talked. He would say, 'Send my love to Emily. The little things like that get lost, and he was so good at being normal in a game that is so mentally challenging."
New Cubs manager David Ross, who played for Maddon in 2015 and 2016, was excited to see Maddon again.
"I was so excited about this day," Ross said. "It's a nice little homecoming for him and those other guys (former Cubs infielder Tommy La Stella, former third-base coach Brian Butterfield and former strength and conditioning coach Tim Buss). He confirmed the idea of how to treat players and how to go about your business. His quirkiness when he was with Tampa Bay, you would say, 'What is this guy all about?' You kind of secretly hate him, and then you get to know him and you love him. He was a real father-like figure for me."
Maddon sent high praise back to Ross, whom he believes is the right fit for the Cubs.
"There was not a better candidate than David," Maddon said. "The only thing over the last couple of years was I encouraged him to go to a rookie ball and become a scout for a bit. But in today's generation of creating the next managers, is the broadcast booth more important than the field? I don't know. David is like (Yankees manager Aaron Boone Yankees). They have a great foundation. He and I are real close. I think he will do a great job. I really do wish them nothing but the best. I would love to meet them in the World Series and beat them. I have so much invested here (in Chicago). I just want to see them have nothing but success."
Maddon wasn't retained after the Cubs' disappointing 84-78 season ended last September. He understood it was time for him and the Cubs to move on.
"There is nothing wrong with change." Maddon said. "I am into change also. Theo (Epstein) and I and the boys all agreed it was time to do something different. At the end of the day, it's all about the players. We can talk methodology or analytics, but it's about the guys on the field. When you have good baseball players, you have a chance to win. And when you don't, you don't."
Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.
