Joe Maddon has worthy Hall of Fame case

CHICAGO — Joe Maddon loved to come up with mantras during his years as one of baseball’s more innovative managers. He would zero in on a theme or phrase that his players could embrace and use to tighten their focus each day while keeping their bigger goals in mind.

The 2008 Rays rallied around “9=8” — nine players working hard for nine innings to become one of the eight teams to reach…