Maddon-Bryant relationship continues to grow

Last spring, Joe Maddon told Kris Bryant how good he could be, and the Cubs’ third baseman won the NL Rookie of the Year Award. This spring, when they met for their annual pre-Spring Training talk, the discussion was more about their offseason adventures and Maddon’s recreational vehicle. Their relationship has grown, and that’s vital to Bryant’s — and any young player’s — development.

Green aims to change Padres’ mindset

When Chip Hale took over as manager of the D-backs last season, he knew the first thing he had to change was what was then a losing culture. It’s the same for Andy Green, a Hale acolyte and Arizona’s third-base coach last season, who’s now taking that same approach in his first year managing the Padres.