Maddon: Wrigley ‘like no other place’

CHICAGO — Former Cubs manager Don Zimmer used to talk about Wrigley Field I and Wrigley Field II, saying that the ballpark changes dramatically depending on the weather, especially the wind. A perfect example is the difference between Friday’s and Saturday’s conditions. On Friday the wind was blowing out, which is more favorable for hitters. On Saturday the wind was blowing in.

“Going from yesterday to today, you expect an entirely different game,” skipper Joe Maddon said on Saturday. “It’s like no other place. There’s no other ballpark I’ve been involved with anywhere, anywhere, that can change so dramatically from day to day. That’s what it is, and it’s a beautiful thing.”

The Cubs have emphasized the importance of making contact since Spring Training, which works no matter which way the wind is blowing, Maddon said.

“You can still puncture the wind once in a while, but you’ve got to be able to move the baseball and force the defense to play and execute, and I think we’ve done that,” Maddon said. “That’s a part of what we got done in Spring Training. That’s something you’d want to continue moving forward. It’s definitely a different thought process.”

Maddon’s only experience at Wrigley before he took the …

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