After Maddux, wait might be long for next 300-win man

With two out and none on in the second, for example, Maddux issued a five-pitch walk to San Francisco pitcher Brad Hennessey, who was making his major-league debut.

There was some thought that Maddux did this purposely so that San Francisco leadoff man Ray Durham had to bat with two out rather than start the third inning fresh.

"No," Maddux said quickly. "I just made four horse---- pitches there."

It happens. There never has been a neat, sure path to that 300th win, and what trails are there are becoming ever more camouflaged with overgrown tangles of brush and branches. The dinosaurs have long ago left this earth, but the elements haven't.

Last Sunday, before Maddux's first crack at victory No. 300, Cubs bench coach Dick Pole filled out that day's lineups on 15 different lineup cards that were destined to be keepsake souvenirs for folks from Maddux to Baker and beyond.

In the hours before Maddux's start Saturday, Cubs bench coach Pole was quietly sitting at a clubhouse table filling out only four.

The rest?

Pole had learned his lesson: You can't plan history, but you can wait for it.

"If he wins, I'll pour myself a scotch and sit down and write the rest of them out then," Pole said.

When that was relayed to Maddux later, long after No. 300 was securely tucked away in his pocket, the pitcher grinned.

"That's funny," he said. "That's funny."