Joe Maddon blames Starlin Castro's error on AC/DC concert at Wrigley

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Joe Maddon has enough clout inside the organization to basically say whatever he wants. The Cubs manager has that five-year, $25 million contract, a talented young team on the verge of clinching a playoff spot and a fawning press corps in Chicago. 

During the middle of Monday night’s postgame media session inside Wrigley Field’s interview room/dungeon, Maddon listened to a big-picture question about how different this September must feel for Anthony Rizzo and Starlin Castro and turned it around on Crane Kenney’s business-operations department.

[MORE: Questions about Cubs playoff rotation begin with Jason Hammel]

“Right now, Starlin is remarkably into the moment, and I love it,” Maddon said after a 9-5 win over the Milwaukee Brewers. “That error today was not his fault. That was a bad hop.

“Since the AC/DC concert, we’ve had a little bit of trouble. I don’t know if they were out there taking groundballs before the game or they had like nine-inch heels or spikes. But they have totally messed up our infield.”

Whether Maddon was hinting at the franchise’s business-vs.-baseball tension, trying to protect a player who had been a lightning rod for last-place teams or having fun with the media, no one expected him to go there.

The Cubs pulled up at least their outfield grass and put in a new playing surface after the AC/DC concert, all part of the Ricketts family’s vision to turn Wrigleyville into an even bigger entertainment zone and generate more revenue for the team.

[NBC SHOP: Gear up, Cubs fans!]

“It has nothing to do with the groundskeepers,” Maddon said. “I’ve seen a bad hop at third. I’ve seen a bad hop at second. But prior to (that), I haven’t seen one bad hop all year.   

“We just got to get that ironed out, because I think Starlin’s done a nice job at second base, so I don’t want anybody blaming him on that error. That was a weird hop.”

Castro’s third-inning error wouldn’t have registered otherwise on a night where he went 2-for-2 with two doubles and two RBI. Since being bumped off shortstop, Castro has excelled as a part-time second baseman, hitting .419 (31-for-74) with 17 RBI in his last 25 games. 

“The infield is OK,” Castro said. “The grass in the outfield is bad.”

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