Joe Maddon wears catcher's mask to presser after reporters get ‘testy’

After two media members reportedly had a spat during an interview, Cubs manager Joe Maddon showed up to his press conference prepared: he donned a catcher's mask.

After two media members reportedly had a spat during an interview with general manager Jed Hoyer on Friday, Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon showed up to his pregame press conference prepared: he donned a catcher’s mask.

It’s unclear from reports exactly which two reporters got into it with one another during a scrum with Hoyer, but one appears to be Newsradio 780’s George Ofman, who responded defensively to a tweet from CSN Chicago’s David Kaplan saying two reporters “snipe[d]” at each other during the interview. The other was apparently MLB.com’s Bruce Levine.

“I heard things got a little testy today,” Maddon reportedly said from behind his protective headgear.

Leave it to the famously good-humored Maddon to clear the tension. Or at least make fun of it. After all, this is the guy who promised the entire Cubs media contingent a “shot and a beer” after his introductory press conference at the start of the season.

Sounds like they could all use one today.

Maddon prepared in case any Chicago media members get testy again... pic.twitter.com/0QkmCqN725

— Sahadev Sharma (@sahadevsharma) July 24, 2015

2 reporters snipe at 1 another during Jed Hoyer intvw. Joe Maddon says "I heard things got a little testy today." pic.twitter.com/5XCswhMDfi

— David Kaplan (@thekapman) July 24, 2015

@thekapman incorrect Kap. One reporter sniped at another and it wasn't me.

— George Ofman (@georgeofman) July 24, 2015

@ivychat @TheBlogfines nah. @georgeofman and @MLBBruceLevine both wanted to ask a question and it was Bruce's "turn"

— WrigleyWrapUp (@WrigleyWrapUp) July 24, 2015

- Jeremy Woo