Maddux captures 18th Gold Glove
Age is no issue for Greg Maddux when it comes to fielding his position.
The 42-year-old pitcher won his record 18th Gold Glove on Wednesday while outfielder Shane Victorino of the World Series champion Philadelphia Phillies was among five first-time winners in the National League.
Slick shortstop Jimmy Rollins joined Victorino from the Phillies, winning for the second consecutive season. The New York Mets also had two winners: outfielder Carlos Beltran and third baseman David Wright, both of whom repeated.
Other first-time honorees for defensive excellence were St. Louis catcher Yadier Molina, San Diego first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, Cincinnati second baseman Brandon Phillips and Pittsburgh outfielder Nate McLouth.
Rawlings has presented Gold Gloves annually since 1957. Managers and coaches vote on players in their own leagues before the regular season ends, but they may not select members of their own teams.
American League winners will be announced today.
Pondering retirement after 355 wins, Maddux has been the NL recipient for pitchers every year since 1990 with the exception of 2003, when Mike Hampton interrupted the streak.
"I can't imagine winning two, much less 18," Wright said. "But I think it goes to show you how much pride he takes in winning."
Last year with the Padres, Maddux snapped a tie with third baseman Brooks Robinson and pitcher Jim Kaat for the most Gold Gloves.
Maddux spent most of this season in San Diego before an Aug. 19 trade to the Los Angeles Dodgers. He struggled in 7 starts down the stretch for the NL West champions, going 2-4 with a 5.09 ERA to finish the year 8-13 with a 4.22 mark overall.
The four-time Cy Young Award winner may have lost a yard on that pinpoint, tailing fastball, but his reflexes are still quick as a cat's on the mound. At 6 feet, 170 pounds, his simple windup has always left him in perfect fielding position after each pitch.
"I've seen some balls hit pretty hard right back at him," Wright said. "Those kind of reactions at 42, you just don't see that."
Baseball back in Olympics? With Barack Obama in the White House, baseball officials think their sport could have a better chance of getting back into the Olympics.
"If the perception internationally of the United States improves by virtue of his election, then I think the U.S. stature in international sport of every type will be enhanced," San Diego Padres chief executive officer Sandy Alderson said Wednesday at the general managers' meetings in Dana Point, Calif. "I don't think the United States has the international stature in sport that it once had."
Baseball was added as a demonstration sport in 1984 and 1988, then was a medal sport starting in 1992. The International Olympic Committee voted in July 2005 to drop baseball and softball following the 2008 Beijing Games. When a vote for reinstatement took place the following February, baseball lost 46-42 and softball failed 47-43.
"President-elect Obama's interest in sports and specifically in baseball, combined with the efforts of other world leaders, is the kind of thing we need to return baseball to the Olympic program," said Harvey Schiller, the president of the International Baseball Federation.
Around the horn: Brad Penny's $9.25 million option was declined Wednesday by the Los Angeles Dodgers, making the 30-year-old right-hander eligible to become a free agent.
Penny (6-9, 6.27 ERA) receives a $2 million buyout. ... Attorneys for Barry Bonds urged a federal judge Wednesday to toss out charges accusing baseball's all-time home run king of lying to a grand jury about his alleged steroid use. They said the questions asked during his testimony were too ambiguous.