Maddon drops protest, 'though I still don't agree'

WASHINGTON -- Cubs manager Joe Maddon said before Sunday’s game that the team had dropped its protest of Saturday’s 5-2 loss to the Nationals.

Maddon and the Cubs were upset because Washington closer Sean Doolittle tapped his foot on the ground during his delivery in the ninth inning, which they felt was illegal based on what had transpired with Carl Edwards Jr. earlier this season.

The Cubs were informed on April 2 that Edwards could no longer put his foot on the ground during his delivery, and Maddon said he was basically standing up for his pitcher when he saw Doolittle do something similar.

“We went through the whole process, and our guys in the office spoke to MLB, and I talked to Mr. [Joe] Torre. The whole thing I wanted to get done was to protect Carl,” Maddon said. “I really didn’t anticipate a whole lot to be done with it, even though I still don’t agree with the conclusion.

“They called [what Doolittle did] a graze as opposed to an actual foot being on the ground,” Maddon said. “Again, I don’t know how that differentiates, I really don’t. They’re just saying Carl put his whole foot on the ground, and that, somehow, is different.”

Maddon said there’s still a gray area that exists and the issue will come up again somewhere, and he just wants to draw the line to say what’s legal and what isn't.

When asked about Doolittle’s comments saying Maddon just did this to rattle him and remind people of how smart he is, the skipper just smiled.

“I have no issue with that whatsoever,” Maddon said. “We’re all emotional. I think if he understood the entire context, then he might have had a different opinion.”

Doolittle shared some of his thoughts in a Twitter thread after Sunday's game.

Hendricks lends his voice to Hooton Foundation

Right-hander Kyle Hendricks will serve as the Cubs’ representative on the Taylor Hooton Foundation’s advisory board, a group that is widely acknowledged as the leader in the advocacy against the use of performance-enhancing drugs by the youth of America.

The members of this advisory board participate in the 2019 public-service campaign, All Me, which will appear in a number of ways throughout Major League Baseball this season. Also, All-Me-themed print public service announcements are going to be in the All-Star Game plus League Championship Series and World Series programs.

Hendricks likes the Hooton Foundation and its goals and said he’s happy to play a role in it.

“It’s awesome," he said. “That’s what this game should be about, and I definitely stand for it. Everyone in this clubhouse [does also]. It’s an honor and a privilege just trying to keep the game the way it is -- natural. That’s how we all want it.”

Hendricks also believes it’s important to get positive messages like this to children on a regular basis.

“You always try to do anything you can to get ahead and some things just aren’t right,” Hendricks said. “So, it definitely teaches the right path and just stay true to yourself and focus on your game and what you do.”