A Maddux Retort to Al

I don’t buy the “power pitching in the playoffs” argument. Winning baseball is winning baseball . . . this sounds a bit Joe Morgan-esque (no offense intended).

I see that Maddux is 10-11 in the postseason? Wins—well whatever, a nice 3.34 ERA

http://www.baseball-reference.com/m/maddugr01.shtml

Yes, I admit it’s partly sentimentality, but I also think there are values to having a Maddux on your team beyond his performance on the field. As I said, just ask the 2006 Dodgers. (They declined after he left, incidentally.)

Your saying “get a #2 starter” borders on the ridiculous. How many of those guys are even available, or will be in July? I’d say very few, if not none, and the price for getting such a pitcher would be extremely high.

About his postseason record, throw out his two terrible games in the 1989 NLCS and the postseason ERA drops to 2.94.

As I said in the original post I made about this topic, he is not the best pitcher available. But he is the RIGHT pitcher available.

Maddux will always be dear to all Cubs fans’ hearts. He is a class act and one of the best pitchers to ever put on a uniform. But sentimentality is playing a significant part in this desire to acquire him.

I am not against bringing him over really,but if we have an opportunity to get someone better suited for the playoffs I say we do so even if it costs us a little more. I like the idea of Derek Lowe if the Dodgers fall out of it.

In any case, this team is the strongest contender I can remember in my lifetime and if the opportunity presents itself then the higher price would be worth it.

with not getting Maddux. I love the guy, but I just don’t think he will be good enough.

I’m not trying to be soft here but why do you think the Cubs have such a large, diverse and loyal fan base. It’s certainly not all those world series titles. I’m not advocating losing, but one must admit that having Maddux back in a Cub uniform would be a great story, especially in the midst of an anticipated historic achievement. I want the Cubs to win the whole thing, but not if we have to become the Yankees. I like this team. I think they can win the world series right now. A #2 starter would be nice, but Ted Lilly may make a good run at that like he did last year. If you look at some of the head problems in our rotation right now (Zambrano fighting his catcher, Lilly’s glove slams and fighting his manager, and Jason Marquis balking with the pitcher on first) a guy like Maddux might be able to help coach some of these guys into better performance.

BTW, does anyone think that Maddux has a long reliever potential?

think that if we get Maddux, we won’t also go after another pitcher? Heck, don’t even PLAY Maddux. Just have him sit in the dugout and call the freakin game, pitch by pitch, for whoever’s on the mound…

...I think some are getting too worked up about this. Ultimately, it doesn’t matter what we think. Its up to Hendry, Lou, Maddux, and whoever the SD GM is. A better time to argue such a thing would be after he became a Cub, IF that ever happens… which I really doubt.

He’s not a coach. He’s a pitcher. He won’t just sit on the bench. And how would we acquire another pitcher? If we get Maddux, then your rotation is Z, Lilly, Dempster, Maddux and Marquis, and they’ve already proven they can’t or won’t move Marquis. More likely can’t. You going to have two long men in the pen with Lieber and Marquis?

Not looking for someone to cheer cause he “trys” and leaves in the 5th inning.

He isnt the Best pitcher, and he isnt the Right pitcher either.

To bring a pitcher in who’s good in the playoffs. But, Maddux would bring some veteran experience. I’ve heard Carlos Zambrano talk about how much he taught him, think of what he could do to Gallagher, Dempster, Hill, or Marshall. You could also move him to the bullpen and give Lieber another shot. My point is, if you bring him in, it doesn’t mean you have to start him.

It seems to be a popular opinion on this site that C.C. Sabathia will be available to trade from Cleveland. Is there some particular reason that he will be so easily available? Unhappy in Cleveland? End of contract? Team struggling? I’m just not convinced that Cleveland will readily trade their (arguably) best pitcher away.

There’s really no need to exaggerate to make your case. (Maddux has gone more than five in 10 out of 13 starts).

Your argument would still be pretty good if you said he averages 5.9 innings per start – and it would be more honest.

Good luck getting those guys. Maybe IF Cleveland falls out of the race the Cubs get to compete with 9 other teams to give up there whole farm system for Sabathia who will be a free agent
Anyone see the Cubs offering him say 6/120 contract ?

I don’t have much interest in Hardin or Millwood as they are not going to be #2 either.

I actually think the most interesting guy to go after is Wolf. He is pretty damn good and
should not cost a ton and will DEFINATELY be shopped.

I don’t know what annoys me more folks who think Maddux is totally washed up and worthless or those who think it is SO easy to acquire a top of the line starter ( Um ok
some believe both)

Maddux is a solid 3-5 guy who will give you reliable innings. It is SO unlikely that he
would come to the Cubs it is probably a waste of time to discuss the merits but basically
you get him if A. He wants to come. B You want a reliable back of the rotation guy who
is an extraordinary assett to a team. Those of you looking for a top of the line starter
keep dreaming.

Maddux would be a great addition to the regular season rotation in place of Marquis which I think could be packaged with a AAA player like Murton or E Patterson and provide each club with something, Cubs would have to use about $4.5M+ in $$ where the Padres would get a pitcher who could be as effective as Maddux in Petco and have another year on contract.

Maddux would be the #4 in this rotation, and because the Cubs have a significant road schedule to August 1st not have to pitch but a few games at Wrigley. He would add sage advice to Gallagher and possibly to Hart and Cotts. But in a playoff situation Maddux in his current career status would be at best a long reliever when one has to pull a starter in the early innings.

That said the Cubs still will need to find a true top of the rotation starter to frame next to Zambrano. CC is the obvious choice but I don’t think he is leaving Cleveland. AJ Burkett is my choice but Seattle, KC, Oakland, Detroit, LAD, ChiSox, and even NY (both teams) might be offering to cash in their hands. The Sox appear on the verge of a crying jag with Ozzie’s bipolar management style, Minnesota might want to grow.

throw you #’s out,state your cases blah blah blah but maddux pitching in wrigley in october would be nothing short of magical. I want him,hendry go get him—god please!

But put that aside, a better questions is whether he is better than one of the Cubs’ 5 starters? The answer to the latter is “Yes!” But I seriously doubt that the Cubs try to get him.

The Cubs are going to walk to this title? I know it’s just an opinion but these are the Cubs and this team is hardly that good.

I would try and get him but not necessarily go all out to get him if that makes sense.

Like him or not you know Hendry will at least put in a call to San Diego if he thinks it’s a good fit.

I do think it’s funny though how people keep saying that he’s better than Marquis at this point in his career. More consistent maybe, but they’re very similar pitchers in terms of actual value.

Both have ERA+ that hovers around the 100 mark.
Both provide very valuable “intangibles” – Marquis’ ability to pinch hit / pinch run, and Maddux’s coaching.

Frankly, neither are particularly good. If we’re going to trade for someone, I don’t see why it should be a 40-something pitcher that hasn’t had an ERA+ over 100 since 2002.

People are too infatuated with Maddux to be objective about him. Put simply he wouldn’t improve our team.

AFTER the season. There is no reason at all he would go to the
Brewers. They are barely in the race and would not want to spend at least 3.5 million on him.