Maddux is not thinking about hanging them up.

[UK1679666180]

http://www.dailyherald.com/sports/rozner.asp?id=151838

 

He's never been about velocity and he'll be in better shape hopefully as his conditioning pays off.

 

I think you'll see the 15 or so wins and the ERA in the low to mid 4s.

 

I just wish some of his mechanics could rub off on the Cubs.

[kente777]

heck, with mechanics...how 'bout his attitude. What a frickin' team player he is!

 

Ken

[ThePenguin11]

http://www.dailyherald.com/sports/rozner.asp?id=151838

 

He's never been about velocity and he'll be in better shape hopefully as his conditioning pays off.

 

I think you'll see the 15 or so wins and the ERA in the low to mid 4s.

 

I just wish some of his mechanics could rub off on the Cubs.

 

He's won 15 games and had an ERA in the low 4's in his woman body the last couple years. If he's in shape, which he had better be, he should be capable of at least 15 wins and an ERA in the middle to high 3's. He owes it to his teammates to get into shape, otherwise he's been stealing $24 Million dollars to take his early retirement on the way to Cooperstown.

[ThePenguin11]

“I just told my wife (Kathy) yesterday that I need to have a good year so someone will give me a job and I can play again next year."

 

Gee, thanks Greg. Way to get in shape in time to get your next payday. How thoughtful. What a team guy.

[goonys evil twin]

Is it me, or does Rozner moonlight as Greg's agent?

[UK1679666180]

Is it me, or does Rozner moonlight as Greg's agent?

 

I think Rozner has had a very relationship w/Maddux over the years and it translates into his articles.

 

There's nothing that Maddux has done that would leave a sour taste in any of the writers in the city, Rozner has developed a friendship w/him.

 

If that friendship gives the potential reader greater access to him, then I have no problem w/Rozner writing about Maddux in the manner that he does (which is favorable).

[TB_11]

http://www.dailyherald.com/sports/rozner.asp?id=151838

 

He's never been about velocity and he'll be in better shape hopefully as his conditioning pays off.

 

I think you'll see the 15 or so wins and the ERA in the low to mid 4s.

 

I just wish some of his mechanics could rub off on the Cubs.

 

He had a 4.24 ERA last year, but he was a bit unlucky (according to Hardball Times defense-independent numbers). If he's in better shape this year, I expect a high 3 to low 4 ERA out of Maddux.

[Blizzau]

Some of you may have misinterpreted Greg's quotes in this article. I read his comments about having to get in shape for another year and putting on a shirt next season if offered one as humorous, with humble overtones.

 

Ballplayers are allowed to have senses of humor, aren't they?

[biittner77]

Does anyone think the Cubs might bring Maddux back next year? Considering the uncertainty around Kerry Wood and legit concerns about some of their younger pitchers (Hill, Guzman, Williams) resigning Maddux might not look like that bad of an option.

[TB_11]

Does anyone think the Cubs might bring Maddux back next year? Considering the uncertainty around Kerry Wood and legit concerns about some of their younger pitchers (Hill, Guzman, Williams) resigning Maddux might not look like that bad of an option.

 

Depends on the price and how he looks this year. If he can pitch 200+ IP at near to sub-4 ERA in 2006, I definitely be for signing him for another year at $6M, although I imagine he'd want something closer to the $9M he'll make this year after that type of performance.

[Warren Brusstar]

Rozner is the same columnist who ran a story while Maddux was a free agent two years reporting that Maddux had a 4 year, $40 million offer on the table from another team.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Does anyone think the Cubs might bring Maddux back next year? Considering the uncertainty around Kerry Wood and legit concerns about some of their younger pitchers (Hill, Guzman, Williams) resigning Maddux might not look like that bad of an option.

 

I think it depends on the cost and how quickly he signs. The Cubs would not risk offering arbitration. If they did, Maddux would accept and the Cubs would be on the hook for another year of him at 9-11 million. That means for him to return to the Cubs the deal would have to be done by early December. If both Maddux and the Cubs want it to happen, it could. In all liklihood, the Cubs offer will not be in the ballpark of where Maddux and Boras want it and the arbitration deadline will force the Cubs and Maddux to part ways.

[ThePenguin11]

Some of you may have misinterpreted Greg's quotes in this article. I read his comments about having to get in shape for another year and putting on a shirt next season if offered one as humorous, with humble overtones.

 

Ballplayers are allowed to have senses of humor, aren't they?

 

“I just told my wife (Kathy) yesterday that I need to have a good year so someone will give me a job and I can play again next year.

 

“If someone will give me a shirt to wear, I’ll be there,’’ Maddux said. “Why not?’’

 

I'm not sure, but I think you've misinterpreted the quotes. It sounds to me like he's saying 'I better get in shape so I can get another contract.'

 

The second quote never insinuates that he's too fat to fit the jersey.

 

I understand the fact that he hasn't come right out and said that he's only getting in shape to get paid again, however, why is he waiting until now to do it? He's spent two years dragging ass for the Cubs, begging out of games, and now that his contract is up he wants to get back into shape??? Fine. I hope he's in great shape and helps us go to the playoffs. I hope he wins 15-20 games and recaptures past glory. But let me be the first to say no matter how well he does in 2006, he won't deserve a contract worth more than $5 Million dollars for more than a year. He'll just regress back to fat-out of shape Greg so you'd have to pay him for the type of numbers he put up in 2005.

[UK1679666180]

I viewed it as humor, not playing for his next contract. He's an older pitcher who has to take better care of himself to get ready for each year. Nolan Ryan had to work much harder in the off-season compared to when he pitched with the Mets.

 

Him improving his conditioning program has nothing to do with him being "lazy" his 1st two years of the deal. I think he's in very good shape, you don't pitch the amount of games and IP at his age he does w/out being intelligent and in shape.

[goonys evil twin]

I don't put much stock in the fat Maddux talk, the contract year stuff, or the begging out of games.

 

I've read before that Maddux at his best did whatever he could to not have to face a guy more than 3 times in a game. When you're dominating, it's pretty easy to go 7-8 innings without having to face anybody the 4th time, which he apparantly views as the time when guys can figure you out. If you aren't walking guys, and holding teams to just a couple hits a game, you're going to go deep. Maddux just isn't that good anymore. I don't think any level of fitness would change that. Besides, Roger Clemens has been taking himself out of games for years. He never goes deep. I think he went like 4-5 years without pitching into the 9th. He's not out of shape.

 

My problem with Maddux is the percentage of payroll allotted for him in comparison with the level of production he provides. His age and declining pattern makes it difficult to believe he can change that pattern. I don't think his workout habits, attitude or desire to succeed has anything to do with the problems he faces.

[don_kessinger_was_good]

I love Greg Maddux, but I don't want him back in 2007. Nor Kerry Wood. I'd much rather go after a quality FA starter like Zito, and give a job to either Rich Hill or Angel Guzman, whichever one is ready. It's time for one of our vaunted minor league pitching prospects to step up to the plate for 2007--and at the major league minimum salary, not $9MM like Greg Maddux or $12MM for Kerry Wood.

 

If Maddux wants to talk about a $5MM/year deal to replace Dusty as manager for 2007 though, now I'm interested. Player-manager, let Maddux be the spot starter and long reliever? I could live with that.

[Soul]

heck, with mechanics...how 'bout his attitude. What a frickin' team player he is!

 

Ken

 

That's great. I can't wait until August when he starts to pitch well 8)

[goonys evil twin]

I love Greg Maddux, but I don't want him back in 2007. Nor Kerry Wood. I'd much rather go after a quality FA starter like Zito, and give a job to either Rich Hill or Angel Guzman, whichever one is ready. It's time for one of our vaunted minor league pitching prospects to step up to the plate for 2007--and at the major league minimum salary, not $9MM like Greg Maddux or $12MM for Kerry Wood.

 

The Cubs don't really have vaunted pitching prospects right now. Prior and Zambrano were the last ones. The rest are all second class prospects. I'd like to see one of these guys given the 5th starter job instead of some 5+ ERA journeyman veteran, but I'm not counting on much from the farm helping the rotation next season.

[kente777]

heck, with mechanics...how 'bout his attitude. What a frickin' team player he is!

 

Ken

 

That's great. I can't wait until August when he starts to pitch well 8)

 

for what it's worth, I wasn't talking about Maddux's mechanics. It was in reference to Maddux's influence. That's why I was referring to his team attitude. :)

 

Ken

Edited February 8, 2006 by kente777

[Transmogrified Tiger]

heck, with mechanics...how 'bout his attitude. What a frickin' team player he is!

 

Ken

 

That's great. I can't wait until August when he starts to pitch well 8)

 

If you read what I responded to, I wasn't talking about Maddux's mechanics. It was in reference to Maddux's influence. That's why I was referring to his team attitude.

 

Read the post in its entirety before you quote someone out of context!

 

Ken

 

Looked like he agreed, but was just pulling your leg there. Hence the smiley.

[kente777]

heck, with mechanics...how 'bout his attitude. What a frickin' team player he is!

 

Ken

 

That's great. I can't wait until August when he starts to pitch well 8)

 

If you read what I responded to, I wasn't talking about Maddux's mechanics. It was in reference to Maddux's influence. That's why I was referring to his team attitude.

 

Read the post in its entirety before you quote someone out of context!

 

Ken

 

Looked like he agreed, but was just pulling your leg there. Hence the smiley.

 

thanks, I missed the smiley. Ken

[Neuby]

I think were gonna get a big year out of Maddux this season. Maybe the retirement talk from baker lit a fire under Maddux? Either way I love this talk about Maddux begging out of games. You guys complain all the time about Dusty not handling his pitchers well this is one card where Dusty has played his cards well not over extending him. Maddux is a student of the game and a warrior on the mound he knows what he has left in the tank when Dusty asks him.

[frostwyrm]

Maddux is one of those athletes who will have to have the ball pried out of his hands and a security guard kick him out of the locker room before he quits.

[goonys evil twin]

I think were gonna get a big year out of Maddux this season. Maybe the retirement talk from baker lit a fire under Maddux? Either way I love this talk about Maddux begging out of games. You guys complain all the time about Dusty not handling his pitchers well this is one card where Dusty has played his cards well not over extending him. Maddux is a student of the game and a warrior on the mound he knows what he has left in the tank when Dusty asks him.

 

I agree with the sentiment, but disagree with your "you guys" inference.

[goonys evil twin]

Maddux is one of those athletes who will have to have the ball pried out of his hands and a security guard kick him out of the locker room before he quits.

 

I doubt it. I think he'll know when to quit.