In a Game 7, when the opposing pitcher (who is their ace) just had a stretch through the 1st-2nd-3rd inning where he set 8 straight Cubs down, you have a 1-0 lead and the game appears to be a pitchers dual, and your pitcher goes out in the 3rd inning and gives up a lead off double, sacrifice, and single, and the 2, 3 and 4 hitters are due up...yes you have issues, and in a winner take all game, there is no question you get the pen going.
Bottom line...he put Lester into the game not because Hendricks was struggling, but because if he didnt put him in soon, Lester was not going to be able to go in the game at all. If you waste Lester, you have to run the gamble of Hendricks giving you at least 7 innings, and thats way to big of a gamble for Game 7.
Again, Maddon decision was made before that game that he was only going to use three pitchers, Hendricks, Lester and Chapman. I wont argue that the plan was not good, and we had other capable arms that could of been trusted and used, but Maddon didn't trust anyone else, and with what was on the line, I cant fault him. Maddons explanation to Game 7 makes perfect sense to me, and I think his only fault was having zero trust in his bullpen. Hopefully the Cubs help him fix that this offseason.
