Despite a bumpy first half, Greg Maddux has a solid shot atreaching 15 victories for a major-league-record 16th consecutiveseason.
There was a time when the Atlanta Braves veteran wasn't so surereaching double digits in victories was a realistic goal this season.
Things got so bad that Maddux (11-9) found himself rethinking hiswhole approach on the mound.
"No one was used to seeing me get my [butt] kicked,'' Maddux said."There's no magic formula to follow to have success in this game. Youcan't be afraid to try something different."
Maddux, 37, opened the season 0-3 with an 11.05 ERA. His ERA haddropped to 4.84 by the end of June, but his record was 6-8 and hisshot at another 15-victory season looked out of range.
Maddux thought his mechanics were out of whack and fiddled withevery part of his delivery, from his grip on the ball to where hisfront foot landed.
He went 3-0 with a 3.60 ERA in July to rescue his season, but headmits he is a long way from returning to his comfort zone.
When you're doing stuff mechanically wrong but you can't feel it,you don't know what to fix,'' he said. If the ball feels good leavingyour hand but it's not going where you want it to go, now you'reguessing how to fix it."
His string of victories in five consecutive decisions wasinterrupted by a 14-4 loss Tuesday to the San Diego Padres, a teamthat thinks it will land him through free agency this winter.
If this is Maddux's last season with the Braves--and there islittle hope he will return to Atlanta--he plans to go out on top.
Just as soon as he feels like the Maddux of old.
I'm looking like everybody else,'' Maddux said. Sometimes you'researching a little longer than other times. You're always trying topick up where you left off five days ago. I know I'm very satisfiedwith the effort I'm putting into the game. And if I'm pitching in theWorld Series in October, then it's been a great year.''
leading off
"I would love to play the field and run around, but I don't knowif I've got enough gazelle left in me."
Bill Clinton, former president, on what position he would play inbaseball. During a visit to the Giants' clubhouse, Clinton said hewould settle for first base.
clearing the bases
LOST IN A FOGG: Josh Fogg of the Pittsburgh Pirates is relieved hecan put the St. Louis Cardinals in his rearview mirror for the restof the season.
The former White Sox right-hander is 1-5 with a 10.31 ERA in sevencareer starts against the Cardinals. The Pirates and Cardinals captheir season series with three games this week at Busch Stadium, butFogg isn't scheduled to appear in that series.
Fogg's last outing against the Cardinals was simply ugly. Hedidn't retire any of the six batters he faced in his start Tuesday,allowing two three-run home runs that put the Cardinals on the roadto a 10-6 victory.
"It's an awful feeling to know you did as small of a job as youcan possibly do as a starter," Fogg said.
In his previous start, Fogg held the San Francisco Giants to threehits in six scoreless innings. But the pitcher who led the Pirateswith 12 victories last season has been inconsistent in 2003.
Beginning with his start July 13 against the Houston Astros, Fogg(6-7) has allowed 23 earned runs and 35 hits. During that span, hehas lasted four innings or less four times and has lost four of fivedecisions. When he faces the Milwaukee Brewers today, he will bewatched closely.
"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't concerned," manager LloydMcClendon said. "It's something we're going to have to address andtry to get figured out."
REY OF HOPE: The Seattle Mariners were ripped for doing too littlebefore the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline, but they are happy withthe minor deal that brought them infielder Rey Sanchez from the NewYork Mets.
Because of his steady glove, Sanchez was supposed to be a backupat shortstop and second base. But he has worked his way into thestarting lineup behind some surprising offense.
The former Cub hit .207 in 56 games with the Mets, but he wasbatting .340 in his first 14 games with the Mariners.
"I didn't come here because of my bat, that's for sure," saidSanchez, 35. "So it's a plus, and it opens doors. It helps the team,and that's what I'm trying to do: anything that's possible."
Manager Bob Melvin says the heat of a pennant race has liftedSanchez out of his New York doldrums. Sanchez credits his escape fromthe National League.
"It's more focused," he said. "I play better in the AmericanLeague, I don't know why. Plus, it's a good team, a winning team, andthat makes a difference."
MITCH IS BACK: Veteran catcher Mitch Meluskey, who already hadworn out one welcome with the Houston Astros, surprisingly is backwith the organization. Meluskey, 30, was signed to a minor-leaguedeal and assigned to Class AA with the idea he will join the Astroswhen rosters expand Sept. 1.
The Astros dealt Meluskey to the Detroit Tigers in the deal thatreturned Brad Ausmus to Houston during the 2000 winter meetings.Astros veterans had grown tired of Meluskey, whom they claimed wasimmature.
But with free agents-to-be Ausmus and Gregg Zaun not expected toreturn to the Astros next season, Meluskey adds a veteran catcher inthe organization. That's one reason general manager Gerry Hunsickerrelented after originally offering a quick no when Meluskey inquiredabout returning.
"Mitch has had many chapters in his career," Hunsicker said. "Buthe's married now, he has a couple of kids, and I feel like he'sturned the page. And given the lack of options that we have,especially offensively, looking ahead to September, it's worth ashot."
BIG-league buzz
*The Texas Rangers plan to cut their payroll from about $100million to $75 million by next season, meaning Rafael Palmeiro likelywon't fit into their plans. Palmeiro, who rejected a trade to theCubs, would have enhanced his chances of returning to Texas in 2004had he come to Chicago. The Rangers won't take the chance of offeringhim arbitration, which would exhaust their limited finances that theyare saving for something more important than an aging first baseman."Any dollars we have at all to spend, it's going to be on pitching,"general manager John Hart said.
*Brian Anderson has exceeded expectations in Cleveland, but theIndians can't promise him a spot in their 2004 rotation, meaning helikely will leave via free agency this winter. The left-hander isbeing shopped by the Indians, who know his long list of incentivesmight slow interest before Aug. 31.
*The New York Yankees are worried about whether they will getanother start out of veteran left-hander David Wells, whose back isacting up again. The 40-year-old Wells, who has been replaced in therotation by Sterling Hitchcock, will test his back again Monday.
numbers game
0-6
Brad Penny's record, to go with a 7.60 ERA, in seven daytimestarts for the Florida Marlins. The right-hander is 11-3 with a 2.81ERA in 18 starts at night.
EX-FACTOR
Keith Foulke
Oakland Athletics
Chicago connection: Foulke spent 51/2 seasons with the White Soxand was their closer in 2000, when they won the AL Central title, in2001 and for part of 2002.
Catching up: Foulke has been the A's closer all season, but he didsome of his best work during a wild-card showdown Tuesday against theBoston Red Sox in Oakland, Calif.
After being summoned with runners on second and third and no outsin the eighth inning, Foulke was perfect, retiring six consecutivebatters to preserve the A's 5-3 victory.
"When I went [to the mound], I said, 'Look, we can still hit acouple of times, so don't try to be too fine. Minimize the damage,"'A's manager Ken Macha said. "That's as minimized as it can be."
Said Foulke: "Hopefully they had the confidence in me already togo in and do my job. And if not, yeah, hopefully this puts us in theright direction."
In his next outing, Foulke blew his fifth save chance.
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