Stop bashing Maddux

[AC036198]

I would like to say something about everyone wanting Maddux out. I know Mad Dog has struggled and been inconsistant, but I still like him on the team. He has lead the team in wins since 2004, or is like 1 game behind Big Z, I forget, but the point is, he's among the team leaders in wins. If not for him, think of where we'd have been last year when Wood and Prior were hurt. We would'nt have been in the wild card race.

 

Besides that, he brings a lot of intangibles. He's a veteren presence in the clubhouse, and we've got a lot of young arms. W/ Mad Dog around, they can learn a lot from him. I will never want Maddux out. He should be allowed to retire when he wants. I hope you will at least think about before bashing Maddux.

[LuvChicagoSports]

I don't think people are really bashing mad dog. If they are it is a true shame of the what have you done for me lately era that has made it's what into preofessional sports. It should not ever be forgotten that Maddux is a hall of fame pitcher with over 300 wins and 3000 strikeouts. Besides that his ERA may not be the best in the business, but he is still going to amass between 12-15 wins and coming from the 4th or 5th spot in the rotation that is just fine. Maddux deserves great respect from the fans, teammates, and opponents.

[NCCubFan]

Saying that someone doesn't want Maddux to return next year because they think the money could be better used elsewhere is not bashing. It is stating a legitimate opinion.

[AC036198]

I don't think so. Saying they want the money used elsewhere is sad. I'd like to see what we do w/o Wood, Prior, and Mad Dog at the same time.

[BigbadB]

Glendon Rusch can post a 4.47 ERA for a lot less money.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I don't think so. Saying they want the money used elsewhere is sad. I'd like to see what we do w/o Wood, Prior, and Mad Dog at the same time.

 

I don't understand, that's like saying "I'd like to see what our offense would do without Lee, Ramirez, and Hairston". There's no reason to think Prior will get hurt, unless we're counting on another line drive off him, or another collision on the basepaths. Also, if Mad Dog's money isn't there, then you sign Millwood to be a better pitcher for as much or less than Maddux is making.

[AAApittsburgh]

I don't think so. Saying they want the money used elsewhere is sad. I'd like to see what we do w/o Wood, Prior, and Mad Dog at the same time.

Sad? How is it sad? You think the numbers he is putting up now, which will likely be worse next year, are worth $9 mil/year?

[Magnetic Curses]

I don't think so. Saying they want the money used elsewhere is sad. I'd like to see what we do w/o Wood, Prior, and Mad Dog at the same time.

Sad? How is it sad? You think the numbers he is putting up now, which will likely be worse next year, are worth $9 mil/year?

 

exactly right. i won't bash maddux, but i'll bash hendry and laud his agent.

[Warpticon]

Okay, so did I miss the anti-Maddux-bashing transaction or something?

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Okay, so did I miss the anti-Maddux-bashing transaction or something?

 

No transaction, but we may be close to an anti-Maddux-bashing ordinance.

[Wheelimus]

What I'd like to see out of Greg Maddux is him sign for less money next year. He knows he isn't worth $9 million and I've never thought him a guy who gets a kick out of being extremely overpaid for his abilities. Probably a little insulting to him too. I'd love to see him sign a 1 year, $4.5 million contract with a few million in incentives, and a automatic vesting option to vest for the next year at the same rates. That frees up 3 to 4.5 million extra for a player next year, and gives Greg one last chance to prove he can bring it.

[Brian]

you know what it's pretty apparent that Maddux is really out for another ring. I think if Hendry convinced him a couple of his 9million could really help strengthen the team, mabye he would do it.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

First of all, there's a big difference in bashing Maddux and thinking that his salary for next season could be better allocated to other resources.

 

Secondly, I don't think there's a snowball's chance in hell that Maddux will walk away from nine million, nor do I think he'll agree to reduce his salary for next season unless you agree to an extension. On top of that, once the contract becomes guaranteed, there's no way the players association will agree to it because they don't allow their players to sign a deal that will pay them less guaranteed money.

 

I'm glad Maddux is on the team. I appreciate what he's done for us. I still wish he'd retire because that nine million could be better allocated.

[Wheelimus]

Is there anything to stop him from retiring after the season, and just happen to change his mind once spring training rolls around?

[AC036198]

Maddux has always been a team player. If Maddux thinks his salary can be better used, then he should defer some money. When the Cubs and Cards were in the race to get Mad Dog in Feb. 04, some players on the Cards offered to defer some salary to free up room to get Maddux.

[Roast]

Stop telling us to stop bashing people. :|

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Maddux has always been a team player. If Maddux thinks his salary can be better used, then he should defer some money. When the Cubs and Cards were in the race to get Mad Dog in Feb. 04, some players on the Cards offered to defer some salary to free up room to get Maddux.

 

You think his 4.47 ERA is worth $9 million?

[AC036198]

Maddux has always been a team player. If Maddux thinks his salary can be better used, then he should defer some money. When the Cubs and Cards were in the race to get Mad Dog in Feb. 04, some players on the Cards offered to defer some salary to free up room to get Maddux.

 

You think his 4.47 ERA is worth $9 million?

It's Hendry's fualt for giving him the contract, and allowing him to have a vesting option, which BTW is only 3.2 innings away now.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Maddux has always been a team player. If Maddux thinks his salary can be better used, then he should defer some money. When the Cubs and Cards were in the race to get Mad Dog in Feb. 04, some players on the Cards offered to defer some salary to free up room to get Maddux.

 

You think his 4.47 ERA is worth $9 million?

It's Hendry's fualt for giving him the contract, and allowing him to have a vesting option, which BTW is only 3.2 innings away now.

 

Were you glad to have Maddux last year at 6 million? The only way we were able to get him in 2004 is to sign him to this contract. It's the nature of the beast.

[AC036198]

Maddux has always been a team player. If Maddux thinks his salary can be better used, then he should defer some money. When the Cubs and Cards were in the race to get Mad Dog in Feb. 04, some players on the Cards offered to defer some salary to free up room to get Maddux.

 

You think his 4.47 ERA is worth $9 million?

It's Hendry's fualt for giving him the contract, and allowing him to have a vesting option, which BTW is only 3.2 innings away now.

 

Were you glad to have Maddux last year at 6 million? The only way we were able to get him in 2004 is to sign him to this contract. It's the nature of the beast.

Do you mean Boras?

[treebird]

Maddux has always been a team player. If Maddux thinks his salary can be better used, then he should defer some money. When the Cubs and Cards were in the race to get Mad Dog in Feb. 04, some players on the Cards offered to defer some salary to free up room to get Maddux.

 

You think his 4.47 ERA is worth $9 million?

It's Hendry's fualt for giving him the contract, and allowing him to have a vesting option, which BTW is only 3.2 innings away now.

 

Were you glad to have Maddux last year at 6 million? The only way we were able to get him in 2004 is to sign him to this contract. It's the nature of the beast.

 

so does that mean the sosa deal was good, since we liked having him at the beginning? how about jim thome?

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Maddux has always been a team player. If Maddux thinks his salary can be better used, then he should defer some money. When the Cubs and Cards were in the race to get Mad Dog in Feb. 04, some players on the Cards offered to defer some salary to free up room to get Maddux.

 

You think his 4.47 ERA is worth $9 million?

It's Hendry's fualt for giving him the contract, and allowing him to have a vesting option, which BTW is only 3.2 innings away now.

 

Were you glad to have Maddux last year at 6 million? The only way we were able to get him in 2004 is to sign him to this contract. It's the nature of the beast.

 

so does that mean the sosa deal was good, since we liked having him at the beginning? how about jim thome?

 

It's the nature of long term contracts. We often like them at the time they are signed, but often by the end of the contract, the player isn't producing at the value and we gripe about that.

 

We'll likely see the same this offseason as well. Giles is likely worth 10 million a year, but will he be worth 10 million in the last year of what will likely be a 3-4 year deal? Who knows. If we sign him there will be those glad that we did who likely will then complain if in the last year his skills have declined. At the same time, if we pass on him because of those terms, there will be multiple criticisms that we did nothing. The same will be said of Damon and others this year.

 

On the same front, had we let Sammy walk rather than signing that contract, there would have been numerous complaints at the time. That's why it is easier to do what we do than be a GM.

 

That being said, I'm not all that critical of the Maddux contract. I'd prefer not to have him at 9 million next year, but that was an effect of having him for 2006. To criticize it now when I didn't then to me is a bit hypocritical. It's why I never criticized the Sosa deal. I would have signed the same thing. I felt Thome's deal was too long and for too much money at the time. I feel the same about Beltran's deal as well. In the same vein, there have been those critical because we didn't sign those deals either, but I'm also sure that some of those same people would be critical of the deals in the back-end had we signed them.

 

The truth is there will always be a risk factor involved in those contracts. Most long term deals turn out bad in the long run, yet there are those saying if Hendry sticks to his policy of deals that rarely exceed 3 years, we'll be severely hampered in signing FA. At the same time, if he does sign long term deals, more likely than not, we'll have deals that we aren't happy with at the backend.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Maddux has always been a team player. If Maddux thinks his salary can be better used, then he should defer some money. When the Cubs and Cards were in the race to get Mad Dog in Feb. 04, some players on the Cards offered to defer some salary to free up room to get Maddux.

 

You think his 4.47 ERA is worth $9 million?

It's Hendry's fualt for giving him the contract, and allowing him to have a vesting option, which BTW is only 3.2 innings away now.

 

I can't criticize Maddux for signing that contract, but I can and will criticize him whenever he grooves an 84 mph pitch for a 450-foot HR.

[neely crenshaw]

Glendon Rusch can post a 4.47 ERA for a lot less money.

 

rusch has a 10+ era since july 1, maddux has around 3.33. he has had two poor starts 6 er out of 11 since july1. without those starts he has a sub 2.50. if rusch was in the rotation all year he could not post a 4.47. maddux 's era has steadily dropped, just like last year. he should have his 15 wins already. he has lead us in wins and innings all year. zambrano has one more turn in the rotation. he has not missed a start in two seasons. when this season is done he will have his 32 starts. he will have had about 4-5 poor ones. and i will guess that in his other starts his era will be mid 3's or lower. which is real nice for your no.4. 9 mil is alot for a 3rd or 4th starter but if you ask people to take less money upfront to help the team then undoubtedly you will have to pay more than they are worth at the end. blame hendry for not doing anything when the money was lower!