Joe Maddon is an engaging character and had a good run as manager with the previously woebegone Tampa Bay franchise. He used an out in his contract to leave the Rays and could be the very well-paid manager of the Chicago Cubs within a few days.

Maddon was given much credit for his motivational techniques. He also embraced the lineup suggestions made by Andrew Friedman's statistical wizards.

And at age 61, he was also smart enough to get out while the getting was good, and find a huge payday while still considered a managerial savant.

As unlikely as was Maddon's success in Tampa Bay, the real source of his success was the same as it has been for managers throughout time: pitching.

One manager can use a bullpen better than the next, and he can see something in a pitcher or two that another does not, but basically managers are stuck with the dozen or so best pitchers provided to them by the front office.

And they win or lose based on the ability (or lack thereof) of those pitchers.

This was Maddon's nine-season run in Tampa Bay:

2006—Rays had a 4.96 ERA, 12th in the 14-team American League, and they finished 61-101, worst in the league.

2007—5.53 ERA, last in league, and 66-96, also last in league.

2008—3.82 ERA, second in league, and 97-65, also second in league. The Rays went to the World Series and lost to Philadelphia in five games.

2009—4.33 ERA, sixth in league, and 84-78, eighth in league.

2010—3.78 ERA, second in league, and 96-66, best in league. Lost in ALDS.

2011—3.58 ERA, second in league, and 91-71, fourth in league. Lost in ALDS.

2012—3.19 ERA, first in league, and 90-71, fifth in league.

2013—3.74 ERA, fifth in league, and 92-71, fifth in league. Won play-in game vs. Texas, won wild-card game vs. Cleveland, lost in ALDS.

2014—3.56 ERA, fifth in league, and 77-85, 10th in league.

The Rays underachieved on their pitching this season, but mostly Maddon did as a manager would be expected to do: He had good teams when the front office provided him with good pitching.

You think that makes Maddon unique? Here's abbreviated look at the Ron Gardenhire's 13-year run with the Twins:

2002—6th in AL in pitching, 4th in record, made playoffs. 2003-7th in pitching, 5th in record, made playoffs. 2004—First in pitching, 3rd in record, made playoffs.

2005—5th in pitching, 7th in record. 2006—2nd in pitching, 2nd in record, made playoffs. 2007-4th in pitching, 8th in record. 2008-7th in pitching, 6th in record. 2009-11th in pitching, 5th in record, made playoffs. 2010—5th in pitching, 3rd in record, made playoffs.

2011—13th in pitching, 14th (last) in record. 2012—13th in pitching, 14th (last) in record. 2013—14th in pitching, 13th (out of 15) in record. 2014—15th (last) in pitching, tied for 13th in record.

Bottom line: Joe Maddon was a good manager when he had good pitching. So was Ron Gardenhire. And Connie Mack.