CHICAGO -- When Joe Maddon was hired last November, he talked about getting the Cubs to the playoffs, which seemed premature at the time.
"I would say that every year anyways," Maddon said Friday. "Sitting over there [at his introductory news conference], I think you guys know me by now to know I really believed it. I don't understand how you approach a season any other way."
On Friday, the Cubs were on the verge of securing a playoff spot for the first time since 2008.
"There are so many wonderful items already in place here that I was fortunate to lock in on -- the leadership at the top, players on the field, what's going on in the Minor League system," Maddon said.