Nice Article on Maddux from Bruce Miles

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Link.

 

I found this quote by Maddux refreshing.

 

“You have to pitch better,” he said. “When your stuff isn’t what it was, you have to pitch better. That’s it. You just got to go out and do it better.”

 

With a little luck here or there, Maddux might have had 2 more wins and extended his streak. He lost 2 of the 3 complete games he tossed, and the Cubs were shut out 2-0 and 3-0 in 2 other starts.

 

“If I got lucky, maybe,” Maddux said of reversing his won-loss total. “But it’s not about being lucky. It’s about being good. I would rather be good than lucky. I’m not buying that lucky but good (stuff) for a second. I had my chances last year, and starting pitchers can blow saves, too. And I blew a couple.

 

“So I don’t look at, ‘Oh we didn’t score.’ I look at the games I blew leads. It kind of goes both ways. Had I pitched better at times last year, I might have done that.”

 

Hopefully Maddux will have a rejuvenated year.

[Mizzou]

I'm actually pretty optimistic about Maddux this year. He looks like he's in much better shape, and I think he was pretty embarassed by the season he had last year. I think he'll be much better than he was last year.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

My expectation is that Maddux will pitch well enough to keep us in ballgames and avoid having too many disaster starts.

 

I would like to see Maddux average 6 IP per start, put up a 4.00 ERA and an ERA+ near 100. If he can do that he'll serve his role on the team.

[Wheelimus]

I might be crazy, but I'm expecting a last hurrah of sorts from Maddux so that he can either retire with dignity or convince the team they need him the next year. I'm hoping his improved conditioning will give him back a little of what he lost, and we just might see a Maddux who can go into the 7th more often, and maybe keep that ERA below 3.50.

 

At least I hope :D

[TB_11]

I might be crazy, but I'm expecting a last hurrah of sorts from Maddux so that he can either retire with dignity or convince the team they need him the next year. I'm hoping his improved conditioning will give him back a little of what he lost, and we just might see a Maddux who can go into the 7th more often, and maybe keep that ERA below 3.50.

 

At least I hope :D

 

He's been a second-half pitcher the past few years. It sounds like this offseason he has been more committed to fitness and staying in shape, so hopefully he'll hit that post-ASB performance earlier on this year.

[bhogg]

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/pics/john_kruk_autograph.jpg

Greg Maddux WILL win 30 games in 2006.

[cjbucks]

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/pics/john_kruk_autograph.jpg

Greg Maddux WILL win 30 games in 2006.

 

Very nice :lol: Look at the sweat stains on the fat boys cap!

[Balsa]

Maddux has always seemed like one of the smarter guys in the club.

 

I do wonder what we'll do with him after this season. We can't exactly re-sign him....maybe two a one year deal with incentives? I'm guessing if he pitches well out of this season, which I expect him to, he'll want about a two year deal. And I'd hate to see him retire anywhere else but Chicago.

 

Although the even more painful fact is that even if he pitches 250 innings and wins the Cy Young, he'll go into the HoF wearing a Braves hat. That hurts.

[bc2k]

I might be crazy, but I'm expecting a last hurrah of sorts from Maddux so that he can either retire with dignity or convince the team they need him the next year. I'm hoping his improved conditioning will give him back a little of what he lost, and we just might see a Maddux who can go into the 7th more often, and maybe keep that ERA below 3.50.

 

At least I hope :D

 

He's been a second-half pitcher the past few years. It sounds like this offseason he has been more committed to fitness and staying in shape, so hopefully he'll hit that post-ASB performance earlier on this year.

 

That is the only theory I think holds any value when predicting Maddux's 2006 success.

 

I guess I'm not as optimistic as most others on this topic.

[Balsa]

I do wonder what we'll do with him after this season. We can't exactly re-sign him....maybe two a one year deal with incentives? I'm guessing if he pitches well out of this season, which I expect him to, he'll want about a two year deal. And I'd hate to see him retire anywhere else but Chicago.

 

Oh my. I just remembered his brother is the pitching coach for the mid-market Brewers. I wonder if that won't be where he's going after this.

[Keener98]

Im not sure if it was this article about Maddux or Mike Kiley's(they are both about the same) today but I liked what I read about Maddux talking alot to the youngsters. Said specifically Hill and Marshall were having a long discussion the other day. I just wish Maddux ability to "pitch" would rub off on all of our guys that can "throw". Imagine Guzmans stuff with Mad Dogs ability to pitch.

[Wheelimus]

If Maddux has a comeback year, I'd definitely want him retained the next year because you just never know when it comes to pitching, and Maddux is just a special player. I'd love to see him kept on a one year contract.

 

What we need to do is get Greg into some sort of contract where he finishes his pitching career in Chicago, and then turns around and becomes a coach. Greg Maddux for pitching coach :)

[ManCrushOnNomar]

I love how now people are clammoring to resign Maddux when last year there was a running count until his option vested with people preaching of the impending doom once he hit 400 innings.

 

I've always liked him, so I'm glad to see him going above and beyond for this season.

[Andy]

I do wonder what we'll do with him after this season. We can't exactly re-sign him....maybe two a one year deal with incentives? I'm guessing if he pitches well out of this season, which I expect him to, he'll want about a two year deal. And I'd hate to see him retire anywhere else but Chicago.

 

Oh my. I just remembered his brother is the pitching coach for the mid-market Brewers. I wonder if that won't be where he's going after this.

Considering Milwaukee is to Maddux what the Generals were to the Globetrotters, I highly doubt this would happen. I'd also expect Maddux to want to play for a legitimate contender if he could.

[goonys evil twin]

I've always liked him, so I'm glad to see him going above and beyond for this season.

 

Just curious, what exactly has Maddux done above and beyond for this season?

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I do wonder what we'll do with him after this season. We can't exactly re-sign him....maybe two a one year deal with incentives? I'm guessing if he pitches well out of this season, which I expect him to, he'll want about a two year deal. And I'd hate to see him retire anywhere else but Chicago.

 

Oh my. I just remembered his brother is the pitching coach for the mid-market Brewers. I wonder if that won't be where he's going after this.

Considering Milwaukee is to Maddux what the Generals were to the Globetrotters, I highly doubt this would happen. I'd also expect Maddux to want to play for a legitimate contender if he could.

 

By next year there's a very good likelihood Milwaukee will be a legitimate contender. Plus, his brother is the pitching coach there.

[anemic offense]

Link.

 

I found this quote by Maddux refreshing.

 

“You have to pitch better,” he said. “When your stuff isn’t what it was, you have to pitch better. That’s it. You just got to go out and do it better.”

 

With a little luck here or there, Maddux might have had 2 more wins and extended his streak. He lost 2 of the 3 complete games he tossed, and the Cubs were shut out 2-0 and 3-0 in 2 other starts.

 

“If I got lucky, maybe,” Maddux said of reversing his won-loss total. “But it’s not about being lucky. It’s about being good. I would rather be good than lucky. I’m not buying that lucky but good (stuff) for a second. I had my chances last year, and starting pitchers can blow saves, too. And I blew a couple.

 

“So I don’t look at, ‘Oh we didn’t score.’ I look at the games I blew leads. It kind of goes both ways. Had I pitched better at times last year, I might have done that.”

 

Hopefully Maddux will have a rejuvenated year.

 

If you ask me Maddux has had MORE than a little bit of luck. For the better part of the last two years it seemed 50% of the Cubs' big run games came when Maddog was on the mound. In about 2/3 of those games Maddux was getting absolutley creamed and should have had no chance to win. However he often came out on the better part of an 8-6 7-5 decision. If it wasn't for that, Maddux probably wouldn't have got to 15 2 years ago let alone last year (in contrast to the Z's and Prior's who have got ZERO run support). That statement is utterly ridiculous.

[Balsa]

I do wonder what we'll do with him after this season. We can't exactly re-sign him....maybe two a one year deal with incentives? I'm guessing if he pitches well out of this season, which I expect him to, he'll want about a two year deal. And I'd hate to see him retire anywhere else but Chicago.

 

Oh my. I just remembered his brother is the pitching coach for the mid-market Brewers. I wonder if that won't be where he's going after this.

Considering Milwaukee is to Maddux what the Generals were to the Globetrotters, I highly doubt this would happen. I'd also expect Maddux to want to play for a legitimate contender if he could.

 

"Krusty, you bet against the Harlem Globetrotters?!"

 

"I thought the Generals were due!"

[Fred Hornkohl]

 

 

If you ask me Maddux has had MORE than a little bit of luck. For the better part of the last two years it seemed 50% of the Cubs' big run games came when Maddog was on the mound. In about 2/3 of those games Maddux was getting absolutley creamed and should have had no chance to win. However he often came out on the better part of an 8-6 7-5 decision. If it wasn't for that, Maddux probably wouldn't have got to 15 2 years ago let alone last year (in contrast to the Z's and Prior's who have got ZERO run support). That statement is utterly ridiculous.

 

Maddux was not your "luckiest" pitcher last year when it comes to run support.....

 

pitcher      RS/G
Mitre        5.43
Zambrano     4.79
Wood         4.70
Prior        4.56
Maddux       4.54
Rusch        4.07
Williams     3.76
Koronka      3.67
Hill         3.00
Dempster     3.00

Overall      4.34

 

In 2/3 of Maddux's starts last year the CUBS scored 5 runs or less. This does not lend itself to winning games 8-6 and 7-5.

 

Gm#    Date       Opponent         Score  Starter
 2  Tue 04/05  @ Arizona       N   4- 5  Maddux        
 6  Sun 04/10    Milwaukee         6- 5  Maddux        
12  Sun 04/17  @ Pittsburgh        4- 2  Maddux        
17  Sat 04/23    Pittsburgh        3- 4  Maddux        
22  Fri 04/29  @ Houston       N   3- 2  Maddux        
27  Thu 05/05  @ Milwaukee         5- 6  Maddux        
32  Tue 05/10    New York      N   7- 0  Maddux        
36  Sun 05/15  @ Washington        4- 5  Maddux        
39  Fri 05/20    Chicago (AL)      1- 5  Maddux        
44  Wed 05/25    Houston       N   1- 5  Maddux        
49  Mon 05/30  @ Los Angeles   N   5- 3  Maddux        
54  Sat 06/04  @ San Diego     N  11- 5  Maddux        
59  Fri 06/10    Boston           14- 6  Maddux        
64  Wed 06/15    Florida           5-15  Maddux        
68  Mon 06/20  @ Milwaukee     N   5- 4  Maddux        
73  Sat 06/25  @ Chicago (AL)      6- 2  Maddux        
77  Thu 06/30    Milwaukee         6-10  Maddux        
82  Tue 07/05  @ Atlanta       N   1- 5  Maddux        
87  Sun 07/10  @ Florida           9- 2  Maddux        
90  Sat 07/16    Pittsburgh        0- 3  Maddux        
95  Thu 07/21  @ Cincinnati        6- 9  Maddux        
100  Tue 07/26    San Francisco N   2- 3  Maddux        
105  Sun 07/31    Arizona           6-13  Maddux        
110  Sat 08/06  @ New York          0- 2  Maddux        
115  Thu 08/11    St. Louis        11- 4  Maddux        
120  Tue 08/16  @ Houston       N   4- 1  Maddux        
124  Sun 08/21  @ Colorado          7- 9  Maddux        
129  Sat 08/27    Florida           1- 2  Maddux        
134  Fri 09/02  @ Pittsburgh    N   7- 3  Maddux        
139  Wed 09/07  @ St. Louis     N   2- 1  Maddux        
144  Mon 09/12    Cincinnati    N   2- 5  Maddux        
149  Sat 09/17    St. Louis         1- 5  Maddux        
153  Thu 09/22  @ Milwaukee         3- 0  Maddux        
157  Tue 09/27    Pittsburgh    N   3- 5  Maddux        
162  Sun 10/02  @ Houston           4- 6  Maddux  

 

Perception does not always equal reality.

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

Fred ownz.

[B]

Fred ownz.

 

He stores all of these stats in his beard.

[ThePenguin11]

I love how now people are clammoring to resign Maddux when last year there was a running count until his option vested with people preaching of the impending doom once he hit 400 innings.

 

I've always liked him, so I'm glad to see him going above and beyond for this season.

 

I think it's fair to say every Cubs fan wants him to succeed while playing on this team. I was, like many others, clamoring for him to miss out on a vesting option because it was very apparent to me that he was coasting through an early retirement. Maddux has been an out-of-shape slouch ever since he joined this team. He's gotten by on every last bit of talent he's got left and it wasn't enough. Not enough to justify the king's ransom he held the Cubs hostage for until the last possible second.

 

And now, since he's in a contract year, we're all supposed to bow down to him and drop rose petals before him because he hired a trainer??? Bull. He should have hired that trainer a year or two ago. I always liked him until he got too big for his britches. He needs to prove it to me and other fans that share my feelings about his lack of effort and prove it on the mound. And - If he does have a great year - and he wants to come back to the Cubs it sure as H better be at a reasonable discount. If not, he can get a job in San Diego for $8MM per year.

[UBlink]

If not, he can get a job in San Diego for $8MM per year.

 

Yeah, that'll show him.

[ThePenguin11]

If not, he can get a job in San Diego for $8MM per year.

 

Yeah, that'll show him.

 

I didn't mean it as a punishment. What I'm saying is he can go get his payday on some other team that is willing to overpay for him. The Cubs don't owe him anything.

[Houston_Cub_Fan]

How many games did Maddux leave with a lead only to lose? Will he be a big beneficiary of an (allegedly) improved pen?