Maddux is back

The Cubs hired Greg Maddux as an assistant to GM Jim Hendry. He will supposedly help evaluate talent, among other things, so let's hope Mad Dog can help Hendry avoid trading away guys like Ricky Nolasco.

Maddux is probably looking to get management experience to work his way into his own GM job, though, as the Tribune reports, he has expressed more interest in coaching than GMing.

Maddux is one of the all-time greats, though he never seemed to show the demeanor and affability of a coach. As a player, he seemed more like a loner than a mentor. All this is from the outsider's perspective, of course, and if he helps Hendry find someone with half the talent he had, this move will quickly pay off.

The Cubs had the bad timing to announce the Maddux hiring on the same day that Mark McGwire admitted using steroids during the great 1998 homerun chase and at other times during his career. That means McGwire's 70 HRs for that year should get an asterisk, and Sammy Sosa should be given the homerun crown and the distinction of being the first to pass Roger Maris unenhanced by steroids--unless of course Sammy has something he wants to tell us.