# Thank God. Greg Maddux signs with the CUBS, and NOT the Yankees. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 18, 2004, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-god-greg-maddux-signs-with-the-cubs-and-not-the-yankees/229795 "2004-02-18T15:10:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![najniran](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/958977/32.png) [@najniran](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/najniran)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2004, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-god-greg-maddux-signs-with-the-cubs-and-not-the-yankees/229795/21 "2004-02-23T00:42:36Z")
I was hoping that Maddux signed with the Giants. But I guess he wanted to end his career where it began. _sigh_ ---
**Author:** ![Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimmy_Chitwood)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2004, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-god-greg-maddux-signs-with-the-cubs-and-not-the-yankees/229795/22 "2004-02-23T00:43:43Z")
> [@iampunha](#): > > Strong hitting? Perhaps, but not as strong as the hitting other pitchers got. One quick note I’d make is to point out that Henry Blaco, not the biggest bat ever to grace the majors, playes catcher when Maddux pitched. Given the year Javy Lopez had, I think that’s due more than small consideration when looking at Maddux’ numbers. I’d be interested in seeing the run support given Maddux as compared with, say, Russ Ortiz, who won 21 games. Ask and ye shall receive. Russ Ortiz was 4th in the NL last year at 6.49 runs/9 innings, Maddux was 24th at 4.91. Maddux was also the only Braves starter not in the top 9 in the NL, so your point about Lopez is well taken. The run support for Maddux wasn’t exactly sparse, mind you, but he didn’t get the full benefit of the Braves machine last year. However, since the point here is to predict Maddux’s success with the Cubs, it should be noted that he got more run support last year than any Cub starter. In other words, Henry Blanco or no Henry Blanco, he is going to a weaker offensive team than he pitched for last year. Personally, I don’t see how adding Greg Maddux to be a third or fourth option could possibly hurt the Cubs. He still doesn’t walk anyone, he still fields his position well, and he’s still one of the most cerebral pitchers ever, which can’t help but rub off on the other young Cubs. The back of that rotation this year is going to have people beating balls into the grass all year long. They still can’t beat my Phils, though, ladies. Billy Wags is in town. ---
**Author:** ![Eo\_Echo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ebca7d/32.png) [@Eo\_Echo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eo_Echo)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2004, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-god-greg-maddux-signs-with-the-cubs-and-not-the-yankees/229795/23 "2004-02-23T01:31:49Z")
So the last wheel finally falls off the Braves machine. Maddux should be a good fit with the Cubs, who will benefit from his veteran presence in the rotation. ---
**Author:** ![JimSox5](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b5a626/32.png) [@JimSox5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JimSox5)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2004, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-god-greg-maddux-signs-with-the-cubs-and-not-the-yankees/229795/24 "2004-02-23T01:46:48Z")
I’d just like to point out that Billy Wagner was in Houston last year, and how well that worked out last year against the Cubs. ---
**Author:** ![TSowell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e8c25b/32.png) [@TSowell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TSowell)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2004, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-god-greg-maddux-signs-with-the-cubs-and-not-the-yankees/229795/25 "2004-02-23T01:48:50Z")
Yankees=lame. I’m glad teams like the Marlins with small payrolls can make it to the playoffs. ---
**Author:** ![Carm6773](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/2bfe46/32.png) [@Carm6773](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carm6773)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2004, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-god-greg-maddux-signs-with-the-cubs-and-not-the-yankees/229795/26 "2004-02-23T02:05:24Z")
I think Mad Dog has gone back to Chicago to end his career where it began as well; I just don’t see many more years in him. This brings up an interesting question: What team will he represent when he is selected to the HOF? Random comments: 1-I’m still pissed that they let Klesko go. He has continued to shine with the Pads; imagine where we would be if we still had him. 2-Anyone else think baseball should have a salary cap? How can my lowly Devil Rays compete against the Yanks? ---
**Author:** ![JimSox5](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b5a626/32.png) [@JimSox5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JimSox5)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2004, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-god-greg-maddux-signs-with-the-cubs-and-not-the-yankees/229795/27 "2004-02-23T02:18:56Z")
Oh, I have no doubt Maddux to end his career in a year or two. Possibly three. As for Hall of Fame, I would think he would still be Atlanta. He won a World Series ring there, and I would say had the better bulk of his career there. I still think of the Braves when I think of Maddux, and as I said earlier, I’ve been a Cub fan since I was three. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2004, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-god-greg-maddux-signs-with-the-cubs-and-not-the-yankees/229795/28 "2004-02-23T04:01:53Z")
> [@JimSox5](#): > > I think you’re a little jealous, **ftg**. How is Maddux going to hurt the Cubs? I mean, yes, he isn’t the pitcher he was in his younger days, but he did win, what, 15 or 16 games last year. Chump pitchers don’t turn in numbers like that. You may say the Braves had much better offense than the Cubs did, and you would be right, but the Cubs are no longer some scrub team. This is now a serious World Series contender. We were five outs away last year, and have only gotten stronger. This move is going to work out just fine, **ftg**. Jeez, reread the post: The issue is “What could the Cubs have done _instead_.” They’ve taken a lot of money out on one player that is not worth _that_ much. Cf. A-Rod and the Rangers, Junior and the Indians, and on and on. It’s about a _finite_ budget. Secondly, _Maddux_ didn’t win most of those games. The other guys saved his butt a lot of times. There were plenty of ugly, ugly wins for him. You have to look past the simple numbers. ---
**Author:** ![fizzestothetop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e79b87/32.png) [@fizzestothetop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fizzestothetop)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2004, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-god-greg-maddux-signs-with-the-cubs-and-not-the-yankees/229795/29 "2004-02-23T05:33:03Z")
> [@Jimmy Chitwood](#): > > Personally, I don’t see how adding Greg Maddux to be a third or fourth option could possibly hurt the Cubs. He still doesn’t walk anyone, he still fields his position well, and he’s still one of the most cerebral pitchers ever, which can’t help but rub off on the other young Cubs. The back of that rotation this year is going to have people beating balls into the grass all year long. Would be completely unsurprised if he moved from being in the rotation to being the pitching coach when he retires. He’s got more baseball knowledge in his left butt cheek than more’n a handful of coaches. ---
**Author:** ![iampunha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/74df32/32.png) [@iampunha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iampunha)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2004, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-god-greg-maddux-signs-with-the-cubs-and-not-the-yankees/229795/30 "2004-02-23T05:54:21Z")
That would be me, not her. ---
**Author:** ![terd\_ferguson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@terd\_ferguson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terd_ferguson)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2004, 8:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-god-greg-maddux-signs-with-the-cubs-and-not-the-yankees/229795/31 "2004-02-23T08:12:23Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > Jeez, reread the post: The issue is “What could the Cubs have done _instead_.” They’ve taken a lot of money out on one player that is not worth _that_ much. Cf. A-Rod and the Rangers, Junior and the Indians, and on and on. > > It’s about a _finite_ budget. > > Secondly, _Maddux_ didn’t win most of those games. The other guys saved his butt a lot of times. There were plenty of ugly, ugly wins for him. You have to look past the simple numbers. Um…what else could they have done? He is pretty much the last available FA of any significance, aside from Urbina maybe. I can’t see how this will hurt them. I have read that they are pretty close to resigning Wood, so it doesn’t sound like he will be costing them anybody important. And where are you getting your information? I don’t know how you would define ugly, but Maddux didn’t give up more than 2 earned runs in any of his 16 wins last season and 3 earned runs or less in 26 starts last year. He did have his share of ugly losses, though. Another factor to take into consideration is that he has been the ace for the braves and with the cubs he is probably going to be the #3 guy. So he won’t be facing the best pitcher of the opposing team. That should help his cause, a bit. And I think you meant Junior and the Reds. He is in Cincinnati. Those types of signings are completely different. This is just a two year deal with an option. Maddux has been on the dl exactly once in his career, and that may not have been entirely necessary. If he misses any appreciable amount of time in the next two seasons, his third year will not vest. It’s not like they have him locked up until he is 50. You just make it sound like signing him is going to turn them into the Mets or something. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-god-greg-maddux-signs-with-the-cubs-and-not-the-yankees/229795.md?page=1)