Maddux is on fire

[Ding Dong Johnson]

All it says is that the Dodgers are a possible destination for him next year if he isn't with the Cubs.

[goonys evil twin]

Anyone have ESPN insider? There is an article about Maddux possibly going to L.A.

 

Without looking, I'm going to guess it's just referring to the Chicago articles (Daily Herald/Trib/SunTimes) that all referred to Boras mentioning that Ned Colletti was one of the Cubs front office people that wanted to keep Greg back in the early 90s. It's not really "insider", just linking to other articles you can get for free.

[daske17]

Without looking, I'm going to guess it's just referring to the Chicago articles (Daily Herald/Trib/SunTimes) that all referred to Boras mentioning that Ned Colletti was one of the Cubs front office people that wanted to keep Greg back in the early 90s. It's not really "insider", just linking to other articles you can get for free.

 

Or, as Boras likes to call it, "establishing a market." How long before Boras says that every team in the bigs wants Maddux based on three starts.

[srbin84]

I wouldn't put it past Colletti to overpay for and sign Maddux simply out of spite.

[Laura]

For anyone who didn't see it, there's an article in the Trib about Maddux's conditioning program this past off-season.

[Soul]

He's amazing. It's so easy to root for him because it's like he's the perennial underdog. I sure hope this continues, because it's already getting national attention and it's keeping the Cubs afloat.

 

Thanks for the article post, Serena.

[RynoRules]

Maddux for 9 million is a waste of payroll!!!!! J/K Eat crow Maddux bashers.

 

eat crow everyone who thought aramis would hit higher than .200

 

oh wait we've only played for two weeks

 

That's the spirit. Spin whatever seems good into something negative.

[Andy]

Maddux for 9 million is a waste of payroll!!!!! J/K Eat crow Maddux bashers.

 

eat crow everyone who thought aramis would hit higher than .200

 

oh wait we've only played for two weeks

 

That's the spirit. Spin whatever seems good into something negative.

That wasn't spin. That's just Treeman's off-color way of saying "sample size".

[Mizzou]

It's great to see Greg pitching like the Maddux of old. I don't expect him to keep his ERA around 1 all year, but I do expect more successful outtings from him and an overall great year.

[RynoRules]

Maddux for 9 million is a waste of payroll!!!!! J/K Eat crow Maddux bashers.

 

eat crow everyone who thought aramis would hit higher than .200

 

oh wait we've only played for two weeks

 

That's the spirit. Spin whatever seems good into something negative.

That wasn't spin. That's just Treeman's off-color way of saying "sample size".

 

Call it whatever you like; I call it ridiculous. Maddux is the one bloody thing that is going right for this team. I say we enjoy it.

[otis89]

Maddux for 9 million is a waste of payroll!!!!! J/K Eat crow Maddux bashers.

 

eat crow everyone who thought aramis would hit higher than .200

 

oh wait we've only played for two weeks

 

That's the spirit. Spin whatever seems good into something negative.

That wasn't spin. That's just Treeman's off-color way of saying "sample size".

 

Call it whatever you like; I call it ridiculous. Maddux is the one bloody thing that is going right for this team. I say we enjoy it.

 

Don't forget Walker, Cedeno, and the bullpen with a couple exceptions.

[JC]

I love Maddux. I'm thrilled he is having a terrific start. Absolutely thrilled. Through four starts, Maddux has pitched like a $9M pitcher.

 

That being said, lets keep the criticism of the Maddux signing in focus. The vast majority of the criticism arose due to the overall terms of the contract. $24M for Maddux at that stage of his career with the alleged arms in the Cub system was the genesis of most of that criticism. I, for one, don't feel like the Cubs have gotten $24M of production from Maddux. Therefore, I stand by my disappointment of the contract.

 

Its spilt milk at this point, though. This is the final year of the contract, he's pitching well, and its a great story. I suppose if people feel better by throwing the ol' "Eat crow" cleverness around because of one great month out of a three year contract, so be it.

[cubfan1955]

All it says is that the Dodgers are a possible destination for him next year if he isn't with the Cubs.

 

St. Louis radio was mentioning today that he reportedly is interested in going to Milwaukee where his brother is the pitching coach...if he leaves the Cubs AND if he thinks Milwaukee has a chance to win.

[Laura]

I've said before that I believe that pitching the innings has been undervalued by the organization and by fans. He hasn't had just one great month.

 

He's lead the Cubs in innings pitched since he's arrived.

 

He had 19 wins '04-'05; Z had 20 in the same stretch.

 

Maybe wins are overvalued. The fact remains that you have to pitch actual innings in order to accrue them.

 

The "alleged arms" quote says it all. In terms of the dollars invested -- not even counting this year -- Maddux has been the least of the Cubs problems.

 

I haven't asked people to eat crow, though others have. I have been steadfast in believing and expressing that the Maddux signing has been worth the money paid straight up -- not even comparing it to the dollars paid out to other players and pitchers who haven't had the oppportunity to play or pitch and put up the stats for people to approve of.

[A New Era]

Prior/Zambrano/Wood/Miller/Maddux.

 

I hope Carlos gets back on track.

 

If I were to put them in order it would have to go. .

 

Maddux

Zambrono

Wood

Prior

Miller

[Knightlife_in_Lubbock]

I love Maddux. I'm thrilled he is having a terrific start. Absolutely thrilled. Through four starts, Maddux has pitched like a $9M pitcher.

 

That being said, lets keep the criticism of the Maddux signing in focus. The vast majority of the criticism arose due to the overall terms of the contract. $24M for Maddux at that stage of his career with the alleged arms in the Cub system was the genesis of most of that criticism. I, for one, don't feel like the Cubs have gotten $24M of production from Maddux. Therefore, I stand by my disappointment of the contract.

 

Its spilt milk at this point, though. This is the final year of the contract, he's pitching well, and its a great story. I suppose if people feel better by throwing the ol' "Eat crow" cleverness around because of one great month out of a three year contract, so be it.

 

I don't know about the eat crow comment but since Greg has come over the stats for the big 4 pitchers:

 

CZ: 68 starts, 455.2 IP, 30 wins, and 3.07 ERA

MP: 48 starts, 385.1 IP, 17 wins, and 3.85 ERA

KW: 32 starts, 206.1 IP, 11 wins, and 3.88 ERA

GM: 72 starts, 465.0 IP, 33 wins, and 3.95 ERA

[TheDude]

I have been steadfast in believing and expressing that the Maddux signing has been worth the money paid straight up -- not even comparing it to the dollars paid out to other players and pitchers who haven't had the oppportunity to play or pitch and put up the stats for people to approve of.

 

Very well said. I too never had issue with the money and contract Maddux was given. The league in the last couple years has established a baseline that says average pitchers with .500 records and average stuff are worth around 7 million a year. Maddux has been slightly better than average for the first 2 years, and so far vastly superior to that average this year, which makes the money pretty much spot on in terms of production per dollar for established pitchers.

[goonys evil twin]

Alou part 2. If form holds, he'll be good again next year.

[USSoccer]

I agree completely with what JC said. At the time, it was a pretty silly signing given the supposed state of the system and the other needs on the team, especially offensively.

 

That said, i'm thrilled he's off to this kind of start, and if he keeps it up, he'll have earned the salary we paid him, albiet at the back end (and in a contract year).

[badgercub]

I agree completely with what JC said. At the time, it was a pretty silly signing given the supposed state of the system and the other needs on the team, especially offensively.

 

That said, i'm thrilled he's off to this kind of start, and if he keeps it up, he'll have earned the salary we paid him, albiet at the back end (and in a contract year).

 

Personally I think the contract year stuff with Maddux is kind of ridiculous. I think his improved performance due to his offseason workouts is a matter of self pride. Maddux was not satisfied with his performance the last couple of years and he did something about it, not because of it being a contract year.

[goonys evil twin]

I agree completely with what JC said. At the time, it was a pretty silly signing given the supposed state of the system and the other needs on the team, especially offensively.

 

That said, i'm thrilled he's off to this kind of start, and if he keeps it up, he'll have earned the salary we paid him, albiet at the back end (and in a contract year).

 

Personally I think the contract year stuff with Maddux is kind of ridiculous. I think his improved performance due to his offseason workouts is a matter of self pride. Maddux was not satisfied with his performance the last couple of years and he did something about it, not because of it being a contract year.

 

Maybe, maybe not. His agent has been all over the place talking money and possible destinations, so that sort of hints at the contract year concept.

[badgercub]

I agree completely with what JC said. At the time, it was a pretty silly signing given the supposed state of the system and the other needs on the team, especially offensively.

 

That said, i'm thrilled he's off to this kind of start, and if he keeps it up, he'll have earned the salary we paid him, albiet at the back end (and in a contract year).

 

Personally I think the contract year stuff with Maddux is kind of ridiculous. I think his improved performance due to his offseason workouts is a matter of self pride. Maddux was not satisfied with his performance the last couple of years and he did something about it, not because of it being a contract year.

 

Maybe, maybe not. His agent has been all over the place talking money and possible destinations, so that sort of hints at the contract year concept.

 

Kind of a which came first, the chicken or the egg debate. His agent is just taking advantage of the situation, if Maddux would have started off horribly there would be no interest. There wasn't any talk of extensions or it being a contract year until after he got off to a good start. I just don't see Maddux as the type of guy who doesn't give maximum effort everytime out. He just wasn't physically able to perform earlier in the season the last two years, but once he got into game shape, he pitched well in the second half.

[USSoccer]

I agree completely with what JC said. At the time, it was a pretty silly signing given the supposed state of the system and the other needs on the team, especially offensively.

 

That said, i'm thrilled he's off to this kind of start, and if he keeps it up, he'll have earned the salary we paid him, albiet at the back end (and in a contract year).

 

Personally I think the contract year stuff with Maddux is kind of ridiculous. I think his improved performance due to his offseason workouts is a matter of self pride. Maddux was not satisfied with his performance the last couple of years and he did something about it, not because of it being a contract year.

 

I find it odd that his self pride kicked in after a subpar season and before a contract season.

 

Also, he should have had a responsibility to do more than play golf the before the 2005 season, given that we were paying him ace money.

Edited April 24, 2006 by USSoccer

[badgercub]

I agree completely with what JC said. At the time, it was a pretty silly signing given the supposed state of the system and the other needs on the team, especially offensively.

 

That said, i'm thrilled he's off to this kind of start, and if he keeps it up, he'll have earned the salary we paid him, albiet at the back end (and in a contract year).

 

Personally I think the contract year stuff with Maddux is kind of ridiculous. I think his improved performance due to his offseason workouts is a matter of self pride. Maddux was not satisfied with his performance the last couple of years and he did something about it, not because of it being a contract year.

 

I find it odd that his self pride kicked in after a subpar season and before a contract season.

 

I think he did the same things he always did in the past just thinking that would be enough. I don't think he slacked the last two seasons I just think he relized he needed to do more knowing that this was possibly going to be his last year, and he didn't want to go out on a sour note. Just my hypothesis What would lead you to believe that because this was his contract year he decided to turn it on? Because Maddux has signed a few contracts over the years and it doesn't seem to be something that he's done in the past.

[USSoccer]

I agree completely with what JC said. At the time, it was a pretty silly signing given the supposed state of the system and the other needs on the team, especially offensively.

 

That said, i'm thrilled he's off to this kind of start, and if he keeps it up, he'll have earned the salary we paid him, albiet at the back end (and in a contract year).

 

Personally I think the contract year stuff with Maddux is kind of ridiculous. I think his improved performance due to his offseason workouts is a matter of self pride. Maddux was not satisfied with his performance the last couple of years and he did something about it, not because of it being a contract year.

 

I find it odd that his self pride kicked in after a subpar season and before a contract season.

 

I think he did the same things he always did in the past just thinking that would be enough. I don't think he slacked the last two seasons I just think he relized he needed to do more knowing that this was possibly going to be his last year, and he didn't want to go out on a sour note. Just my hypothesis

 

As I said in my edit, given that we're paying him borderline #1 starter money, he should have been in shape before 2005. Now all of a sudden he's in shape and 4-0.