Greg Maddux News

Augenstein, a starting pitcher most of his career, is now working out of the bullpen, but being a starter still remains on his radar screen.

SAN DIEGO, Sept. 1 -- Like few other stadiums in baseball, Petco Park imposes its personality. And the place has a quirky one. It likes low-scoring games and exasperated hitters. It is perfectly within reason for two nondescript pitchers -- one with a 5.22 ERA, the other with a 4.85 ERA -- to go back and forth trading their Greg Maddux imitations. If Petco had its way, games would end once the first team scored.

The Nationals have played two games at Petco. The park isn't solely responsible for abducting Washington's offense, but it's aided the disappearance. Managing just four hits on Tuesday, the Nationals lost to the Padres, 4-1 -- a familiar Petco-style defeat with stunted offense and a few head-shaking lost opportunities. In the first two games of this series, the Nationals have scored a total of two runs. They're hitting just .194. Adam Dunn and Josh Willingham are a combined 0 for 15 with eight strikeouts. Hittable pitchers -- Tim Stauffer on Monday, Clayton Richard on Tuesday -- have ceased to be hittable.

Loons left-hander Aaron Miller threw six no-hit, shutout innings and Great Lakes scored seven runs in the first inning against Fort Wayne starter Stiven Osuna en route to a 10-0 shutout win.

If, as an organization the Chicago Cubs had a solitary example of failure, it would be Mark Prior.

When commissioner Bud Selig told us he had faith in the Washington Nationals back at his All-Star Game briefing, it was assumed he was being more hopeful than realistic.

Those of us not smart enough to stop caring, we live for this. The light at the end of the tunnel.

Those of us not smart enough to stop caring, we live for this. The light at the end of the tunnel.

John Smoltz may have thrown the last pitch of his storied career. The Boston Red Sox cut the struggling Smoltz on Friday, a day after the New York Yankees sent the 42-year-old righty to yet another early exit.

Those of us not smart enough to stop caring, we live for this. The light at the end of the tunnel.

Athletes talk frequently about giving 110 percent. For Reds starter Micah Owings, the key to overcoming his recent struggles might be bucking that age-old clich and just relaxing.

Manny Ramirez 's exploding in the National League after getting swapped to Los Angeles-hitting .396/.489/.743-has only added to a legend that didn't seem as if it could become any more compelling after his Fenway days.

In five years Greg Maddux will unquestionably be a first ballot Hall of Famer. The only question in the interim is which cap will be present on his Hall of Fame plaque during the induction ceremony.

YEARS PLAYED 23 TEAMS Cubs, Braves, Dodgers, Padres CAREER RECORD 355-227 CY YOUNG AWARDS Four NICKNAME "Mad Dog" DID YOU KNOW: Friday was the second time Maddux's number 31 was retired this season.

Manager Bobby Cox and Greg Maddux have mutual interest in Maddux serving as an instructor for the Atlanta Braves in spring training next year.

Jair Jurrjens celebrated Greg Maddux's big day with a Maddux-like pitching effort.

Photo by Tim Evearitt Greg Maddux and his son, Chase, threw out the first pitch before the start of Friday night's game against the Mets.

On the day the Atlanta Braves retired Greg Maddux's number, his former manager Bobby Cox led the praises.

BaseballA insiders describe him one way: "The Heath Bell Experience." Whether it's his unabashed honesty, his child-like demeanor, or his lights out stuff on the mound, Padres closer Heath Bell is certainly one of the most entertaining players in the majors today.

Rockies reliever Alan Embree, who got a win out of the bullpen Tuesday night without throwing a pitch after entering the game in relief, on whether he could pitch Wednesday: "I'm not sure I'll be available.

Leading the youth movement, rookie Everth Cabrera has been dazzling on occasion at shortstop and pesky at the plate.