Braves Honor Maddux

AJC - Braves send congrats to Maddux with full-page ad

The Braves sent a note of congratulations to Greg Maddux on his 300th victory -- via a full-page ad in Tuesday's Chicago Tribune.

The ad, placed by the Braves to coincide with the Cubs' first home game since Maddux won No. 300 in San Francisco on Saturday, is believed to have cost around $25,000.

"Cub or Brave, one thing is undeniable: your place in history," the ad read. "Congratulations, Greg, on winning your 300th game. We would especially like to thank you for winning 205 games with the Atlanta Braves. We included your 11 victories in the postseason!"

Maddux pitched for the Braves from 1993 through last season. He rejoined the Cubs, his original big-league team, as a free agent last winter.

A classy thing to do. And, certainly, well earned.
from OTB

Tom Glavine ‘Banged Up’ in Automobile Accident

ESPN - Glavine 'banged up' in automobile accident

New York Mets pitcher Tom Glavine was involved in an automobile accident Tuesday while going from LaGuardia Airport to nearby Shea Stadium in a taxi cab. The accident occurred at about 2:15 p.m., Mets spokesman Jay Horwitz said. Glavine was still hospitalized as of late afternoon.

Glavine was "banged up" and taken to a hospital, according to Horwitz. He said the injuries were not life-threatening but was not more specific.

The Mets were off Monday and Glavine spent the day in Atlanta, Horwitz said.

Hopefully, this isn't anything serious, either from a health or career perspective.

It's interesting that Glavine still spends his days off in Atlanta even though he's well into his second season with the Mets. The negotiations that led to him not re-signing with the Braves were somewhat bitter and, frankly, rather confusing. It's rather clear that both sides would have preferred to continue on together.

Update (2301): ESPN - Not life-threatening, but Glavine to miss start

Mets pitcher Tom Glavine lost his two front upper teeth in an automobile accident Tuesday while going from LaGuardia Airport to nearby Shea Stadium in a taxi cab. Glavine also got stitches for a cut lower lip. He was to be released from a hospital Tuesday night and miss his scheduled start Wednesday night against Houston.

Ugh. Well, it could have been much worse, obviously.

Growing up in Massachusetts, Glavine was a two-sport prep star and was picked by the NHL's Los Angeles Kings in the fourth round of the 1984 draft. Once asked why he picked baseball over hockey, he joked, "I had all my own teeth and I wanted to keep it that way."

from OTB

Greg Maddux Wins 300th Game

ESPN - Maddux first NL pitcher to 300 since Carlton

Greg Maddux relied on guts, guile and his bullpen to win his 300th game because he never quite found the control that has so defined his stellar career. Maddux calmly overcame a shaky start to become the 22nd major league pitcher to reach 300 victories, leading the Chicago Cubs over the San Francisco Giants 8-4 on Saturday. Maddux needed support from his bullpen to ring in No. 300. "Obviously, to win 300 games, you've got to have a lot of help. I've played on a lot of good teams, and a lot of times, you're only as good as the guys behind you. Today was a good example," Maddux said.

He is the first National Leaguer to accomplish the feat since Philadelphia's Steve Carlton in 1983. Roger Clemens was the last to do it on his fourth attempt for the New York Yankees on June 13 last season. Maddux needed just two tries -- he got a no-decision in his first chance last Sunday against the Phillies. "It's pretty special," he said. "I like to look ahead. I've never really looked back. When I'm done playing I'll look back. I'm sure I'll pat myself on the back then."

***

After the final out, Cubs fans held up a large "W" banner, and a graphic recognizing Maddux's achievement was shown on the center-field scoreboard. But Maddux never came back onto the field. He didn't feel it would be right to hold a huge celebration in somebody else's ballpark -- a sign of the humility that his teammates and coaches have come to expect. "It was fitting. Greg meant what he says. He's a sincere man," Baker said. "He pitched well enough to win. You don't win 300 games with your best stuff all the time." The 38-year-old right-hander certainly wanted to get this major milestone over with, and so did the rest of the Cubs -- who knew their star pitcher cared more about bringing the focus back to the their playoff chase. Chicago's potent lineup rallied from a three-run deficit to help Maddux (11-7) win his fourth straight decision and improve his career record to 300-170. "It's more of a sense of relief more than anything," Maddux said. "Hopefully, we can move on. I don't think anybody got too caught up in it to begin with. We can put it behind us and do what we can to get to postseason."

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