Scott Maine not taking recovery for granted

MIAMI -- There was a time when medics said Scott Maine would never pitch again. The Cubs rookie thought of that when he warmed up in the seventh inning on Friday night, a nod away from putting a big exclamation mark on his full recovery.

The nod never came, because Ryan Dempster recovered to end the Marlins' threat. But Maine still has hopes of being used sometime in the series' final two games Saturday and Sunday.

The former University of Miami player has dreamed of pitching in a Major League game before close family and friends. About 15 of them were in the Sun Life Stadium stands Friday night, and most will be back.

Maine's career -- and life -- appeared in jeopardy following an Aug. 5, 2009 auto wreck that left him with head injuries and a wrecked left elbow. He was in a coma for days and in the hospital for a month.

Doctors said he shouldn't expect to pitch again, but he didn't believe them. He had Tommy John surgery and was back on the mound the following year.

The Cubs called him up from Iowa on Aug. 24, and he has appeared in seven Major League games thus far. He has a 3.86 earned run average.

Realizing he hasn't yet proven himself over the long haul, Maine doesn't plan to celebrate his Major League status any time soon.

"I've been here a month," he said. "I want to stay here for years to come. Once my career is over, then I'm going to pinch myself and say, 'Did that really happen?'"

Maine pitched the ninth inning for the Cubs on Sunday, walking one and striking out two. Maine has a 3.38 ERA in eight games this season after making his big-league debut Aug. 27.



(mlb.com)