Maddon Allowed To 'Be Myself' During Tampa Years

Joe Maddon came into his first full-time Major League managing gig well-organized. Before being hired to pilot the Rays at Tropicana Field for the 2006 season, there were three separate seasons where Maddon filled in as the Angels' bench boss.

For a combined 52 games, over a nine-season span and for a variety of reasons, the future Rays' manager had a taste of what the job entailed. The decades of scouting, instructing, coaching, and motivating future MLB players and those who wouldn't see their dreams of putting on a big league uniform fulfilled, all went into Maddon's being ready to run the Rays.

As a sidebar to discussing his newly released biography - The Book of Joe: Trying Not to Suck at Baseball & Life, Maddon is eager to dwell on his nine seasons in Tampa. Replacing the popular Lou Piniella as Tampa's manager for the 2006 season, the steps in which Maddon was hired should be a detailed chapter in and of itself.

The pride of Hazelton, Pennsylvania was way ahead of his time, where analytics is concerned.

It was during the 2005 World Series (Chicago White Sox and Houston Astros) when Maddon had his initial interview with the then Tampa Bay Devil Rays management.

At a Houston hotel, Maddon arrived for his meeting with team president Matt Silverman and Andrew Friedman who was head of baseball operations. It's what the future Rays' bench boss was carrying with him that impressed the team's brass.

" This was my first job interview with them," Maddon recalls of his Houston visit. " I brought with me a binder that had all the information in it on how I did my thing in evaluating players."

At the time Maddon remembers his computer being too big to carry around, so his backup (binder) would do.

" In my mind, I was well organized on what I wanted to do. My binder was my safety net; all the points I wanted to cover were in it," said Maddon of his method of operation.

Looking back at his introduction to coming aboard Tampa baseball, Maddon fondly looks back at his then-bosses. He says Friedman permitted him to be who he is as a leader, and Maddon never felt judged.

"They (Rays) let me be myself,".

Maddon received word of his being hired to be the team's fourth manager in an informal way, as opposed to an in-person, sit-down office appointment.

"Andrew called me as I was driving. He says, "How would you like to be the fourth manager of the Devil Rays?" I said thank you, and called my mother."

Maddon, who prior to getting the Tampa job had five previous managerial interviews (Boston, Arizona, Seattle, and the Angels twice), was "emotional" during his conversation with his mother and was anxiously looking forward to the challenge ahead.

Upon his arrival, Madon remembers sending a clear message to his players on February 17, 2006, prior to their first spring training workout.

"Please be yourself. Stay true to yourself, and you will succeed."

Along with Tampa's management having the necessary patience to rebuild the franchise, Maddon produced. A rookie manager at 52 years old, Maddon took control of a team with no history of success and little expectation. During his third season handling the roster, the Rays ( after the 2007 season the club changed their name simply to Rays), Maddon lead his troops to an American League pennant.

The Rays, under Maddon's leadership, went from collecting 61 wins during his initial season to capturing 97 victories in year three, and a trip to the World Series with the Philadelphia Phillies. Although Tampa came up short in five games, they earned something that fall that, up until then, they didn't have: an identity.

When asked about his championship rings earned on the MLB level, Maddon doesn't seem to gush over his symbols of success. As for the Rays' American League championship ring, he doesn't have it. Jaye Maddon, his wife, has ownership of it.

" I know how we (Rays) did it. Through achievement, it was a job well done."

Coming to Tampa was the job Maddon was working towards since breaking into pro ball - even if he didn't know it at the time. Getting to do things his way, without interference, it was the journey that kept his baseball batteries recharged.

From team managing general partner Stuart Sternberg on down, Maddon, when going back in time about his days at the Trop, tells of nothing but good times. He believes not being hired by the Red Sox in favor of Terry Francona for the 2004 season was the best thing for his career.