CHICAGO — It is not unusual during a road trip to see Chicago Cubs first base coach Mike Napoli at a table in the visitors clubhouse playing cribbage with a player.
Veteran left-hander Wade Miley has been one of his toughest opponents while infielders Nico Hoerner and Nick Madrigal have started learning to play. Napoli views card games as important relationship builders between players and even coaches. It goes back to his playing career, recalling how he would square off against manager Terry Francona during Napoli’s one season in Cleveland.
Those settings allow for personal connections and bonding where the focus isn’t about baseball.
