ERST LESEN! » ed running back. They put themselves in

CHICAGO -- The steady breeze from four, large portable fans whooshed through the Chicago Cubs luxurious new digs, sucking away whatever moisture lingered from the just-shampooed carpets.They missed a spot, laughed reliever Mike Montgomery, sitting at his locker. The left-hander lifted the sole of his shoe to show it was wet. You can still smell the champagne here.On the morning after the Cubs clinched a playoff spot, few members of the team with the best record in baseball had wandered back into the clubhouse ahead of an afternoon start still three hours away. Manager Joe Maddon, though, was already in his office and focused on what mattered next: breaking a century-and-counting World Series hex.I see now what everyone was talking about, said Montgomery, who arrived from Seattle in July as part of a four-player trade. Joe knows so much about baseball -- situational play, what the data calls for, what makes guys tick -- but he makes it look easy. So you dont always see how he works.Indeed, Maddons fingerprints are all over this team. With the playoff opener looming Friday at Wrigley Field, plenty of the credit for assembling this sudden juggernaut goes to Theo Epstein, the Cubs president of baseball operations. He helped assemble the lineup and has added complementary parts like Montgomery, closer Aroldis Chapman and outfielder Jason Heyward in a timely fashion.But its Maddons job to fit those pieces together. More impressive still is how hes made nearly every one of them better.Take the steady improvement that has second-year star Kris Bryant battling teammate Anthony Rizzo for Most Valuable Player. Or starter Kyle Hendricks breakout campaign and Cy Young candidacy.In Bryants case, it involved teaching the much-touted third baseman to cope with expectations. Maddon accomplished that by encouraging Bryant to take a few shifts in the outfield and even at first base, giving the youngster another skill to learn instead of obsessing over every at-bat. In Hendricks case, it might have involved a deep data dive alongside pitching coach Chris Bosio, seeing whether the right-handers pitch sequence, location or delivery needed tweaking.But it might have been something as simple as this. A few weeks ago in Pittsburgh, Hendricks saw Maddon heading in his direction in the dugout. Hendricks expected Maddon to question his decision to stop at second base after Chris Coghlan singled behind him.Instead, Maddon asked him about the mascot at Dartmouth, where Hendricks went to college.When youre known as the Big Green, is that like Gumby? Maddon asked. Is he your guy? What does the mascot look like?Hendricks smiled at the memory. Nearly every other player on the roster has a similar story to tell.I got maybe 10 career at-bats. I couldnt remember the last time I batted in a game, Montgomery recalled. But I got a hit the other night and it was one of the happiest moments of my career. ...So Joe comes up to me the next day and starts discussing hitting with me and we have this long conversation about it, like I actually know what Im doing. He probably knows thats not the case. But now, Montgomery chuckled, Im already thinking, `Maybe Ill get another one.In an interview room just off the new clubhouse, Maddon parked behind a bank of microphones. Instead of the big picture, reporters wanted to know where he went after the party in the clubhouse broke up. In addition to being one of the best managers in baseball, Maddon is one of the most entertaining.I did not go out last night, he said.Why not? came the follow-up question.I had nothing, Maddon said smiling, sliding his elbow along the table and pretending he was about to nap.Dont believe it.This is one guy who always has something up his sleeve. 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CORAL GABLES, Fla. -- Miami coach Mark Richt had one meeting after another after another on Thursday afternoon, and none of them was related to the game plan for the Hurricanes trip to Notre Dame this weekend.Nostalgia wasnt on the schedule.As such, there hasnt been much time to reflect on what was likely Richts biggest game in his short time as Miamis starting quarterback -- a 16-14 loss at Notre Dame in 1982, an outcome he blamed himself for -- or the storied rivalry between the Hurricanes and the Fighting Irish.The tasks at hand keep Richts mind far too occupied to take any long walks down memory lane.Its not very hard for me to focus on my job, to focus on what Im trying to get accomplished, Richt said. Its just always been that way for me. When I get nostalgic or when I reflect on things, Ill have times in the middle of the summer when something may hit me, but on game day you just focus on your job and your responsibility and all the things a head coach needs to do.Miami (4-3) is trying to stop a three-game slide. Notre Dame (2-5) is seeking to merely hang on to some realistic hope of being bowl-eligible at seasons end. Neither team is ranked, the first time thats happened in a regular-season game between the Hurricanes and Irish since 1979.Some of the details from Richts lone time as a starter at Notre Dame have gotten fuzzy. The pertinent ones, they remain indelibly etched in his mind.It was a close game that Notre Dame won, Richt said. We had the lead towards the end of the game, I think. Had a chance to keep a drive going and got stuffed on a short-yardage play, quarterback sneak, and then I think we punted it away. And if Im not mistaken, Blair Kiel was the quarterback who drove the team down ... like the lasst drive of the game, got them in position, and made the kick.ddddddddddddAll correct.Richt threw a touchdown pass in the fourth quarter to put Miami up 14-10. The quarterback sneak was later in the game, a play where he called an audible and got suckered by Notre Dame having its tackles and linebackers set up wide. By the time Richt realized they were all pinching toward the middle, it was too late and he got stopped. And Kiel got Notre Dame down to the Miami 15 with 11 seconds left, setting up Mike Johnstons winner for the Irish.This time, Richt gets to call all the plays, and Irish coach Brian Kelly lauded what hes done in Year 1 at Miami this week.Theres a specific pattern to what theyre doing offensively, Kelly said. I think their system works very well. Theyve got talented receivers. Theyve got a talented running back. They put themselves in good position. ... Theres a clear stamp what Mark wants to accomplish on offense.Plenty of past Notre Dame-Miami games -- in the 1980s, that is -- have decided who will or wont play in the national championship game. This one wont be added to that list.But for the winner, it could serve as a step.For Notre Dame, it would be a rivalry win to help stop a disastrous season. For Miami, it would be the first taste of a postgame celebration in a month.Theres been great games throughout the years, Miami defensive coordinator Manny Diaz said. And our players need to understand its fun to come to The U in recruiting, but you have to understand what made The U, `The U. And those battles, that went both ways back in the 80s, is really what made The U, `The U. ' ' '