CHICAGO • One of the statements manager Mike Matheny has made repeatedly this season is the importance of that day's game, that singular game, irregardless of series or time of the season or even opponent.
He has used the urgency of the moment to describe how he manages the game and how he intends for his players to compete in it.
It also apparently goes for giving a player a day off.
Saying that his best chance to defeat the Cubs today was not to press catcher Yadier Molina into duty, Matheny confirmed that he's sitting his starting catcher because he's physically dragging.