Goodbye Greg

The Cubs bid farewell to Greg Maddux, a future Hall of Famer and a pitching icon at the trading deadline yesterday. Although he has a no-trade clause in his contract, I think it’s the competitiveness in him that made him say “OK do it” – which gives him a chance to be in the post-season. He also insinuated he'd likely do it to be closer to his family (home base: Las Vegas). Hmm, let's see. Chicago to Las Vegas: 1780 miles. Los Angeles to Las Vegas: 270 miles. There you go.

It seems like yesterday when he was featured with the rest of the Cubs starting pitchers in 2004 after being a free agent from Atlanta Braves, joining what was then deemed as a formidable rotation composing of Mark Prior, Kerry Wood, Carlos Zambrano and Matt Clement. (Current reality check: Prior still hasn’t won any of his starts since coming back from injury, nor has he been healthy in a full season; Wood has been shut down for more shoulder problems and I suspect he may not be donning a Cubs uniform in the future; Zambrano is the only one that had held up his status: he’s now vying for the Cy Young and aiming to extend his 9-game winning streak; Clement has moved on to the Boston Red Sox after the 2004 season). It also seems like yesterday when nearing the end of the 2004 season with the Cubs leading the Wild Card race, I had a premonition they won’t make it (a nasty thought of Cubs’ collapse nagged through me the entire week I was in Boston for a conference) – and they didn’t.

Maddux is used to playing in the post-season during his years with the Braves (with a World Series in 1995). I would love to see Maddux being a Cub in the post-season. Not going to happen this year (you think?!). And now that he’s with the L.A. Dodgers, it’s never going to happen at all. Unless he re-signs with the Cubs for next year, which I doubt he’ll do.

Best wishes Mad Dog. I hope you do get that elusive 2nd World Series Ring. It would have been extra special if it will happen with the Cubs – wishful thinking, I know.

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Photo from ©cubs.com. Maddux tipping his cap to a standing ovation crowd at Wrigley Field on Saturday after leaving the game in the 6th inning allowing only 1 unearned run. The Cubs went on to secure Maddux's 327th career win against arch-rival St. Louis Cardinals.