Maddux to Cubs (Or back to Cubs)

[Cuckoo]

Getting sick of going back and forth between the various homosexual marriage threads, let's talk sports! So Cubs fans, what do you think? Best rotation in baseball? Is he washed up? Are they still the best rotation in baseball even if he is washed up? Discuss...

[Chubby]

I don't think he can hurt the Cubs staff. Maddux has always relied on location, location, location. Until that goes, he's still a solid starter. No, he won't be a #1 or #2 on the Cubs staff but I don't think Chicago needs him to be. Great pickup IMO.

[Cuckoo]

Hey Chubby, we agree! Now see how sports can bring us all together.

[NoMyths]

But what if Maddux wants to marry Mark Prior?

[Cuckoo]

On a more serious note, my only problem with this deal is that they apparently gave him a 3 year deal with the third voidable if he doesn't reach certain performance criteria. I'm just worried that this will hinder the Cubs from signing guys like Wood, Prior, Zambrano, and Patterson long term when their times come in the next couple of years or keep the Cubs from picking up an important FA while Maddux is 41 years old and not pitching up to his usual standards.

That said, I think he'll be a tremendous influence on the young pitchers and will probably win 15 again this year.

[Cuckoo]

But what if Maddux wants to marry Mark Prior?

:D

[Chubby]

I don't think his contract will keep them from siging the studs they need to resign for the future. Hell, cut him if that's the case. Agreed that I think he can also help the maturity process of the young starters the Cubs have already in ADDITION to being a solid pitcher this season.

[Neuqua]

I would've been happy with our team with or without Maddux. However, signing him just puts a big exclamation point to what was a very successful offseason in my opinion.

I can't wait for opening day.

[mauchow]

Maddux will only help the Cubs, whether it be on the field, or off the field(developing the youngsters a little faster). Who wouldn't want to learn a thing or two from Greg? One person I know who will be asking tips everyday is Matt Clement? Why do I know that? He named his kid Maddux, after his favorite pitcher. Hmm. This is a very good deal for the Cubs. If Maddux doesn't perform for whatever reason, I think it will be just fine. Move him to the pen and try to make him effective out of the pen, and if he doesn't like it there, fuck 'em. The Cubs know they have plenty of backup in case Maddux doesn't come through like all the Cubs fans want him too.

[mauchow]

pssst... don't tell the Texans here...

but I think the Cubs/Astros race for the Central could be one of the best races we've had in recent memory. Boy, did both teams really load up this offseason.

And I think the Yankees/BoSox could be something as well..

I don't mind the Red Sox but the Yankees piss the hell outta me.

[INDalltheway]

I am very happy about this addition. Like most everyone else said, he will be a great influence for all of our young pitchers. I can see him having another season like he had last year for the Cubs this year. If he does struggle the Cubs, I would love to see Juan Cruz get a chance to start again.

[hukarez]

Great place for Maddux to end his grand career, that's for sure.

[mauchow]

Great place for Maddux to end his grand career, that's for sure.

Now which team does he go into the HOF in with?

J/k

If he even considered the Cubs, I'd laugh.

[MizzouRah]

That just put the final nail in the Cardinals coffin this season. I was really hoping we could land Maddux, it would have brought us at least a little closer to the Astros and Cubs starting pitching staff. Ack, we are in trouble. My prediction, the Cardinals are so far out of it by the all-star break, they have a fire sale that includes LaRussa resigning.

Maybe not, heck look at the Marlins, but Chris Carpenter?


Todd

[hukarez]

That just put the final nail in the Cardinals coffin this season. I was really hoping we could land Maddux, it would have brought us at least a little closer to the Astros and Cubs starting pitching staff. Ack, we are in trouble. My prediction, the Cardinals are so far out of it by the all-star break, they have a fire sale that includes LaRussa resigning.

Maybe not, heck look at the Marlins, but Chris Carpenter?


Todd
Not to get too far away from the whole Maddux issue at hand, but didn't the Astros lose their closer Billy Wagner to the Phillies?

[tucker342]

Great pick up by the Cubs! It's really close between the A's and the Cubs for who has the best 1-2-3 punch in all of Baseball...

It doesn't get much better than having Greg Maddux as a number three starter:D

[MizzouRah]

It doesn't get much better than having Greg Maddux as a number three starterhttp://dynamic2.gamespy.com/%7Efof/forums/images/smilies/biggrin.gif
I was thinking the same thing for the Cardinals! :D

Dotel will do just fine as closer, although it's alot more pressure.


Todd<!-- / message -->

[JeeberD]

All I gotta say is...

Fizzuck da Cubbies. Go Astros!!!!

[Pumpy Tudors]

One person I know who will be asking tips everyday is Matt Clement? Why do I know that? He named his kid Maddux, after his favorite pitcher. Hmm.

Whoa, Mike Maddux is his favorite pitcher?

[Ksyrup]

Not sure if this has been discussed, but Maddux's deal is quite reasonable for the Cubs. In order for the 3rd year option of $9M to kick in, Maddux has to pitch 400 innings over the next couple of years. So, a couple of minor injuries or one major injury, and they can decide not to bring him back. If that's the case, then $6M for 2004 and $9M for 2005 is pretty reasonable.

[Cuckoo]

That's true Ksyrup. I didn't know the specifics of the void clause at the time of my earlier post, only that the AP writer had said something to the effect that they were "very easily attainable." Not that 400 innings is unattainable for a guy like Maddux, in fact quite the opposite. But, at the very least, he'll have to be consistent for the third year to kick in which to me sounds like a solid deal for the Cubs.

[Bubba Wheels]

The Astros just bought the Cubbie fans a long, hot, dissappointing summer.

[tucker342]

riiiight just that the Cubs have the best rotation in Baseball... Their five starters combined for 75 wins, and an average ERA of 3.36!

INCREDIBLE!

[INDalltheway]

Great pick up by the Cubs! It's really close between the A's and the Cubs for who has the best 1-2-3 punch in all of Baseball...

It doesn't get much better than having Greg Maddux as a number three starter:D
I think Maddux might be the 4th best pitcher in the Cubs' rotation. He will probably be in the third spot of the rotation, but I would rate Wood, Prior, and Zambrano ahead of him at this time.

-Estatic Cub Fan!

[hukarez]

I hope this turns out to be a glorious season for the Cubs, at the least. :)

Who knows? Maybe they'll become the next 'Braves' or the like. Still...so long as they have winning seasons, I'll be happy.

[zums]

I just heard that the rotation might look like this:

Wood
Maddux
Prior
Clement
Zambrano

a few things come to mind:

-Prior vs. other #3's?? wow
-Zambrano vs. other #5's?? wow
-somethin i noticed as i was typing this was the 3 hardest throwers and overpowering pitchers are at 1,3,and 5 so maybe that is part of the reasoning behind this theory aka teams wont see two in a row which will increase the impact...

-zums

ps - i do realize that over the course of the season it gets mixed up as far as 1 vs 1, 2 vs 2, etc.....i think any way they set it up they will be stacked it is hard to argue that

[Bubba Wheels]

Here's your problem, Cubby fans. Maddux has been well known to have gotten a 'wide strike' zone in Atlanta. All their starters did. That's all in the past now. Prior and Woods have not shown consistancy year after year. Petitte and Clemens obviously have. It will be interesting, but I still like the Astros.

[Bubba Wheels]

{sarcasm}Yeah, I think Mark Prior is probably just some flash in the pan.{/sarcasm}

Not what I meant at all, just saying as good as Prior is, he really hasn't shown he can consistently win year after year and stay clear of injury. Pettite and Clemens have. Still stick by what I said about Maddux, too.

[Radii]

Here's your problem, Cubby fans. Maddux has been well known to have gotten a 'wide strike' zone in Atlanta. All their starters did. That's all in the past now. Prior and Woods have not shown consistancy year after year. Petitte and Clemens obviously have. It will be interesting, but I still like the Astros.


Zambrano being a 1 year wonder I worry about. Wood and Prior? No worries.

Also, the sentence below should be enough to make any Cubs fan giddy:

"For now, the Cubs continue to pinch themselves about signing Maddux to fill the rotation spot that where Shawn Estes went 8-11 with a 5.73 ERA a year ago."

I was thrillled when Shawn Estes left the team. The fact that Greg Maddux is replacing him is just heaven. Maddux doesn't have to win 20, just 13 or so. I think that's realistic for each of the next 2, and possibly 3 years.

[FishFan]

Not what I meant at all, just saying as good as Prior is, he really hasn't shown he can consistently win year after year and stay clear of injury. Pettite and Clemens have. Still stick by what I said about Maddux, too.

Dude. He's been in the league for two years and has had one injury, unrelated to pitching. He bowled over Marcus Giles on the basepaths. His mechanics might be the best the game has ever seen, which should only help his consistency/injury avoidance. He won games on a consistent basis his rookie season and was virtually unhittable last year. This could very well be the best pitcher we've seen in quite some time.

[Cuckoo]

Dude. He's been in the league for two years and has had one injury, unrelated to pitching. He bowled over Marcus Giles on the basepaths. His mechanics might be the best the game has ever seen, which should only help his consistency/injury avoidance. He won games on a consistent basis his rookie season and was virtually unhittable last year. This could very well be the best pitcher we've seen in quite some time.

As an Astros fan, he won't admit that until Prior goes into the Hall, and maybe not even then. :D

[hoopsguy]

As an Astros fan, he has reason to not be as impressed with Prior. That is one team he has had some difficulties with, relatively speaking. Now Wood, on the other hand, just killed the Astros his first couple of years. I think they finally started hitting him last year, but before that it was lights out for Houston when Wood took the hill.