"I’m beginning my seventh year here and it’s great to hear, based on where we’ve come from,’’ Maddon said. "I’ve already talked to my players about it. I don’t want us ever to run from expectations. I think it’s wonderful to have expectations. I also believe that high expectations should bring out the best in you. I really want to believe that about any performer.

"It’s just a validation of the fact of the last four years being in the playoffs. I believe you have to approach this with the right mindset. Part of it is to accept it. The other part of it is to really work through it, meaning that you don’t always believe what you’re reading, don’t believe all the press clippings. Don’t believe you can just throw your glove out there and do something, because that’s the moment where everything will absolutely fold on you.

"So there’s a certain amount of humility attached to that. Not false humility, but actual legitimate humility, which is a very strong human quality that permeates things like courage. I don’t want any false humility, either. We feel we are good; let’s go out and prove it.’’

Joe Maddon not running from the high expectations - gotta love it.