Greg Maddux to Retire?

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  • USCTrojan83
    Pro
    • Mar 2005
    • 591

    #1

    Greg Maddux to Retire?

    Manager Dusty Baker casually mentioned Thursday morning that Cubs right-hander Greg Maddux was contemplating retirement after the season, a revelation that came as a surprise to almost everyone but Maddux himself. The 39-year-old Maddux conceded he would take some time over the winter to consider whether he wants to return in 2006.
    -- Chicago Tribune

    What are your thoughts? I personally love the guy and what he did for the Braves. But this may be the first year since 1988 that he hasnt wont atleast 15 games. While Cubs have been hurt by inuries and inconsistency by everyone but Derek Leehis ERA I hope he stays one more year and tries to get another ring. Class Act. Sure fire HOF
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  • Misfit
    All Star
    • Mar 2003
    • 5766

    #2
    Re: Greg Maddux to Retire?

    Does his contract expire at the end of the season? If it does, he should see if he can get onto a team with a shot at winning (the Cubs may be a contender next year as well). If he can't get onto a team that looks like it has a real shot at winning the division and beyond, then retirement might be best. He's certainly proven he can still pitch and pitch effectively.

    Comment

    • bravosfan
      All Star
      • Jul 2002
      • 5184

      #3
      Re: Greg Maddux to Retire?

      Maddux has an option for next year that vests if he pitches 30 more innings this season, which is almost assured.

      ESPN had a story up a couple days ago about this. From reading some of Maddux's quotes, it doesn't sound like he's ready to retire.


      http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2132345

      "I'm not getting any younger," Maddux told the Tribune. "I really want to finish out strong and I want to come back and play next year, as long as I feel like I can play. Obviously I'm not going to play it like I did 10, 15 years ago. But as long as I can feel like I'm one of the best five guys we can put in the rotation, I'm looking forward to coming back."

      According to the Tribune, Maddux has an option for 2006 that guarantees $9 million if he pitches 400 combined innings in 2004 and '05. With about 10 starts left, he is 30 2/3 innings short. Although hitting 400 is almost guaranteed, Maddux said money wouldn't be a factor in his decision.

      "When you negotiate, it's about the money," he told the Tribune. "But you don't play the game for the money, at least not now. I've had my day where I played for the money. Believe it or not, I do like the game. ... I look forward to coming to the park the days I'm not pitching just as much.

      "Sit down, look in the mirror, and if you're good enough to play, you play. If you're not, you quit. It's that simple. If I'm deserving enough to come back and play and wear a shirt with my name on the back, believe me, I want to do it," he said.
      Last edited by bravosfan; 08-13-2005, 02:18 PM.

      Comment

      • TheMatrix31
        RF
        • Jul 2002
        • 52924

        #4
        Re: Greg Maddux to Retire?

        If only he could come back to Atlanta...

        Comment

        • jt45
          All Star
          • Apr 2003
          • 5074

          #5
          Re: Greg Maddux to Retire?

          Originally posted by TheMatrix31
          If only he could come back to Atlanta...
          I personally wouldn't want him back. He left for money, let him get his money and be on a losing team. It serves him right...

          Comment

          • Bamafan3723
            THE Standard in CFB
            • Jul 2003
            • 7287

            #6
            Re: Greg Maddux to Retire?

            Originally posted by TheMatrix31
            If only he could come back to Atlanta...
            I don't want him back. I personally think he's kind of a jerk. He was great in the mid and late 90's but things have changed. He's no longer dominant like he once was. I was glad when both he and Glavine left. I don't know why everyone thinks they're still great, they're not.
            "The best thing about being a football player at Alabama...winning...winning." -Mark Barron

            Comment

            • dacubys
              Rookie
              • Nov 2004
              • 433

              #7
              Re: Greg Maddux to Retire?

              Originally posted by Bamafan3723
              I don't want him back. I personally think he's kind of a jerk. He was great in the mid and late 90's but things have changed. He's no longer dominant like he once was. I was glad when both he and Glavine left. I don't know why everyone thinks they're still great, they're not.
              sour grapes
              2005 UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVLLLE CARDINALS FINAL FOUR 2005
              CHICAGO CUBS
              THE NEW LOOK VIKINGS GET ON THE BOAT BEFORE SHE SETS SAIL!!!!

              Comment

              • Bamafan3723
                THE Standard in CFB
                • Jul 2003
                • 7287

                #8
                Re: Greg Maddux to Retire?

                Originally posted by dacubys
                sour grapes
                You must be joking. He would be the 4th or 5th starter in our rotation right now. Face it, we got the best out of him, and you got what was left over.
                "The best thing about being a football player at Alabama...winning...winning." -Mark Barron

                Comment

                • rsox
                  All Star
                  • Feb 2003
                  • 6309

                  #9
                  Re: Greg Maddux to Retire?

                  One reason i could see Maddux considering retirement is that he is not pitching the way we are accustomed to seeing him pitch. At 9-9 his streak of consecutive seasons with at least 15 wins may come to an end this season and he has a realistic chance at having his first losing record since 1987.
                  Maddux is still an effective starter and a lot of teams would like to have him, but he is also a great competitor and if he feels he can't pitch at as high a level as he would like then i think he will walk away.

                  Comment

                  • TheMatrix31
                    RF
                    • Jul 2002
                    • 52924

                    #10
                    Re: Greg Maddux to Retire?

                    It's not more of production, just of novelty. I love Maddux. He's my favorite pitcher right now and has been for quite some time. Thats more of the reason.

                    Comment

                    • Tomahawk
                      MVP
                      • Feb 2005
                      • 1593

                      #11
                      Re: Greg Maddux to Retire?

                      Originally posted by jt45
                      I personally wouldn't want him back. He left for money, let him get his money and be on a losing team. It serves him right...
                      Not true about Maddux leaving for more money. The Braves following the 2002 season didn't make Maddux a contract offer and only offered him arbitration so they could get a draft pick because they didn't figure he would accept arbitration. Once the 2003 season was over the Braves made no contract offer to Maddux and didn't offer him arbitration. Glavine left for the money, but I think Maddux would still be a Brave if AOL/Time Warner would have made him a contract offer.

                      If Maddux was all about the money he could have made much more when he left the Cubs because the Yankees offered him a boat load more than the Braves.

                      Maddux has probably done more with less physical ability than any pitcher in history. Not too many guys who are 6 foot tall with an 88 mph fastball win 300 games.
                      • LETS GO RED SOX!!!
                      • LETS GO HOKIES!!!
                      • GO PACK GO!!!
                      • LETS GO BRUINS!!!

                      Comment

                      • jt45
                        All Star
                        • Apr 2003
                        • 5074

                        #12
                        Re: Greg Maddux to Retire?

                        Originally posted by Tomahawk
                        Not true about Maddux leaving for more money. The Braves following the 2002 season didn't make Maddux a contract offer and only offered him arbitration so they could get a draft pick because they didn't figure he would accept arbitration. Once the 2003 season was over the Braves made no contract offer to Maddux and didn't offer him arbitration. Glavine left for the money, but I think Maddux would still be a Brave if AOL/Time Warner would have made him a contract offer.

                        If Maddux was all about the money he could have made much more when he left the Cubs because the Yankees offered him a boat load more than the Braves.

                        Maddux has probably done more with less physical ability than any pitcher in history. Not too many guys who are 6 foot tall with an 88 mph fastball win 300 games.
                        Maddux wasn't hurting when he left Chicago. He signed a very lucrative contract with Atlanta.

                        My understanding was that Schuerholtz made Maddux an offer, but it was not to his liking. He knew that the Braves were dealing with cutbacks in salary, but I guess he thought he was the one guy they would splurge for.

                        Comment

                        • Tomahawk
                          MVP
                          • Feb 2005
                          • 1593

                          #13
                          Re: Greg Maddux to Retire?

                          Originally posted by jt45
                          Maddux wasn't hurting when he left Chicago. He signed a very lucrative contract with Atlanta.

                          My understanding was that Schuerholtz made Maddux an offer, but it was not to his liking. He knew that the Braves were dealing with cutbacks in salary, but I guess he thought he was the one guy they would splurge for.
                          No doubt that he signed a lucrative contract with the Braves when he left the Cubs, but the point was if it was all about the money with him he could have signed with the Yankees who offered him substantially more following his Cy Young season with the Cubs.

                          Schuerholz never made Maddux a contract offere prior to him returning to the Cubs.
                          • LETS GO RED SOX!!!
                          • LETS GO HOKIES!!!
                          • GO PACK GO!!!
                          • LETS GO BRUINS!!!

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