Cesar Izturis Comes to the Cubs with a Hitch

The Dodgers acquisition of 40-year-old pitcher Greg Maddux and his balooning 5.00 ERA has been roundly criticized at coming at too high a price as the team to get him has given up highly accomplished middle-infielder Cesar Izturis. Not only had Izturis been envisioned as the team's shortstop for years to come, he was under contract for three years while Maddux can walk at the end of the season. What Dodgers GM Ned Colletti downplayed, however, is that while Izturis has fully recovered from Tommy John surgery, and should be fine, in point of fact his throwing arm remains at less than 100 percent strength and accuracy.