Maddon finds inspiration in photo from past

CHICAGO -- Joe Maddon hung a new photo in the Cubs' clubhouse for inspiration on Tuesday. It was a color picture of Bauldie Moschetti, who used to run the Boulder Collegians and was responsible for Maddon getting into professional baseball.

Moschetti recruited some of the best college players in the country to play for the semipro Boulder team, and the list included Joe Carter, Burt Hooton, and Larry Gura. Maddon found the photo of Moschetti sitting in a dugout, wearing a navy windbreaker and wing tips -- he never wore cleats -- with no T-shirt.

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"When he puts his glasses on, he looks just like [Vince] Lombardi," Maddon said before the Cubs dropped Game 3 of the National League Championship Series to the Mets, 5-2. "Bauldie is the reason I got into pro ball. He was the guy who brought me to Boulder, I got signed that summer, worked in his liquor store."

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Maddon proposed to his wife, Jaye, in front of Moschetti's Baseline Liquor Store. He was hoping to find the field where they played -- but he couldn't, so instead, he improvised. After all, it was 2 a.m.

Maddon found a slide of Moschetti on eBay and had it enlarged. The photo will have a prime spot in Maddon's new office at Wrigley Field next season.

"Bauldie is up there to support us," Maddon said. "That's my own personal motivation going into these next couple games is Bauldie."

Extra bases

• If there's one pitcher who has changed the Cubs' bullpen, Maddon said it's Trevor Cahill. The right-hander was released by the Braves in June and then released again by the Dodgers in mid-August. He signed a Minor League contract with the Cubs on Aug. 18.

"The fact that Cahill has come on the scene has made a big difference," Maddon said. "He wasn't part of the original maneuvering. He allows us to do more things."

Maddon said he can use Cahill against one batter, he can go long, or he can set up lefty Clayton Richard. In five postseason games so far, Cahill has given up two runs on six hits over 4 1/3 innings.

Cahill, Richard and Travis Wood all were former starters but have accepted roles in the bullpen.

"I'm impressed with these guys -- Travis, Trevor and Clayton -- what they've done in-season to transform the outlook," Maddon said. "None of them complained about being thrust into a different role. They reacted well.

"You didn't expect Wood, Richard or Trevor to be this pertinent at this time of year. That was not even on the radar when we put this thing together. Good for these guys."

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• With the Cubs playing the Mets in the NLCS, Billy Williams has been reminded often of the 1969 season, when the team blew a lead in September and finished second to New York.

"How can you not have flashbacks?" Williams said Tuesday, sitting in the Cubs' dugout. "They talk about it and show pictures of [Ron] Santo standing in the on-deck circle with the black cat running around. That was 40-something years ago. Most of these guys weren't even a twinkle in their father's eyes at that time.

"It's a different ballgame now. The Mets had good pitching then, they have good pitching now."

Williams did have one bit of advice for Maddon regarding the Mets' Daniel Murphy, who has five postseason home runs.

"We have to walk him," Williams said. "Every time we get a chance, walk him. We used to get in a meeting, and we'd talk about Henry Aaron -- 'Don't let him beat you. Try to get the other guys out.' [Murphy] is hot now."

The Cubs didn't walk Murphy in the third inning, and he homered in his fifth straight postseason game.

• Part of Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo's preparations for Game 3 of the NLCS included visiting patients on the oncology floor at Lurie Children's Hospital in downtown Chicago on Tuesday. Rizzo signed autographs, took photos, and brought hats, teddy bears and "W" rally towels to the patients and their families.

On Friday, when the Cubs were in New York, Lurie Children's Hospital honored Rizzo as the 2015 winner of the Champions For Children Award in recognition of his commitment to the health and well-being of the patients. He received the award on Tuesday.