Baseball: Maddux going for 300th win today vs Phils

Even if Nomar Garciaparra makes his Chicago Cubs debut, he might not get the biggest ovation of the day at Wrigley Field.

That could end up going to Greg Maddux.

The four-time NL Cy Young Award winner will try to join one of the most exclusive clubs in sports, taking his first crack at 300 victories when the Cubs close out a three-game set against the Philadelphia Phillies.

Though Roger Clemens joined the 300-win club last season with the New York Yankees, no NL pitcher has done it since Steve Carlton with Philadelphia in 1983.

While most of Maddux's wins came with Atlanta, his 105 with Chicago includes the first of his career at Cincinnati on Sept. 7, 1986, when he was a skinny and unassuming 20-year-old rookie.

His demeanor, style and uniform are the same, but a win this time will make him the 22nd pitcher ever to reach 300 victories. Of the 21 to achieve that milestone, the last one to do it with the team for which he got his first victory was Walter Johnson with the Washington Senators in 1920.

He may end up being the last pitcher to reach 300 for quite some time. Though former Braves teammate Tom Glavine - next on the active list - is within striking distance at 259 wins, he's also 38 years old and has totaled just 17 wins over the last season and a half. The only other active pitcher with more than 210 wins is Randy Johnson, but he's 40.

www.sportsline.com...@CHC


I hope the Phillies ruin ALL the fun!!!


300 wins is quite an accomplishment. They are different then, say, homerun totals because you can't get more than one a game. And with hr's it's all up to you but to get a win you have to pitch well but also hope that your offense scores more runs than it gives up. I'm not much of a Maddux fan since he's been a rival for so long, but he is an awesome pitcher and also an unbelievable fielder. He's not a big guy, he doesn't overpower hitters like Unit or Schill, but he has good stuff and most important, he's smart.

Second pitch of the game by Maddux, Jimmy Rollins knocks it out of Wrigley, right over Sosa's head! :bounce:

Go Phillies!!!

He he.....

Well it's only the first innings, so a long way to go yet and with the cubs line up anything can happen yet..

2 batters later, Bobby Abreu takes Maddux deep to centerfield for his 24th homer and a 2-0 lead in the top of the 1st. Jim Thome is up now.

They did get one out, Nomar with his first infield putout, got a nice applause from the Cubs faithfuls.

Standing ovation for Nomar as he makes his way to the batter's box for his Cubs debut.

Result.....

DOUBLE PLAY!!!! :bounce:

Bottom of the 2nd inning

Sosa and Aramis Ramirez go back-to-back off Randy Wolf to tie the game at 2.

The winds are blowing out today, could be a high scoring affair.

Told ya....don't get too excited yet

Marlon Byrd knocks in Jimmy Rollins on Sammy Sosa's fielding error, Phils lead 3-2 in the top of the 5th.

IMO a 300 win career is far more impressive than a 500-600 home run career

Ryan Dempster replaces Maddux in the top of the 7th with the Phils up 3--2. Maddux can either lose the game or get a no-decision.

His next attempt at his 300th win will be next Saturday in San Fran against the potent Jason Schmidt.

I hope the Phils can hang on to win this game, they have some ground to make up to catch Atlanta.

Atlanta are just holding on to a 6-5 lead...

Looks like the cubs just hit 4 so far in the 7th....6-3 cubs now.

Cubbies bat around in the 7th, knock Wolf out and take a 6-3 lead.

Atlanta beat the Mets too.

Thome doubled to start the 8th, need a late Phils rally!! :bounce:

Burrell walks, Thome to second, no outs.

Tying run coming to the plate, David Bell.

Kyle Farnsworth on the mound.

YES!!!!

Bell hits infield single, bases are LOADED, NO OUTS!

Mike Lieberthal steps to the plate with his awful batting average with runners in scoring position.

Just pictures PA dancing around his room in ectasy

Until the Cubs bring in Mike Remlinger and he puts them down 1-2-3.

No runs after loading the bases with no outs, thats why they're not in first place anymore. They need to get back to fundamentals, you dont have to swing for the fences just because the bases are loaded.

Awful.

Hrmm you would have thought they would have capitialised beings the bases were loaded....

2 outs, top off the 9th, Phils down to last out, down 6-3.

Pat Burrell up, Rollins on third and Thome on second.

Here's something new, Pat Burrell strikes out. He sucks.

I dont know what's wrong with this team.