(Courtesy of The Sports Xchange) Even though veteran Greg Maddux is drawing interest from other teams, Cubs manager Dusty Baker hopes the Cubs don't pull the trigger on a deal and part ways with the 40-year-old.

"It's my preference (to have Maddux stay)," Baker said. "Not for just this year but for the future of this organization. So that the young guys can absorb all they can while he's here."

Maddux is in the third and final year of his contract and doesn't have a no-trade clause. He has a handshake agreement that the Cubs will consult with him on any serious trade possibilities.

Baker believes Maddux has served as a great mentor to the young starting pitchers on the staff.

"He's probably been as big of a benefit to (rookie Carlos) Marmol and definitely (rookie Sean) Marshall," Baker said. "They are on a much faster track than they would have been just by talking to him. It's a lot easier when you have players who can show you and tell you, 'Hey son, don't do this or don't do that.' Someone who will show you why not to do something or show you why to do something."

REPLAY: With time apparently running out on manager Dusty Baker, the Cubs are back into an offensive funk as they dropped a 2-0 contest to Milwaukee on Thursday night at Miller Park.

Since scoring 15 runs against the White Sox on Sunday, the Cubs have scored a total of five runs in the next four games. Juan Pierre and Aramis Ramirez each had two hits, and the Cubs had just six on the night. Brewers left-hander Chris Capuano is 3-0 against the Cubs this year and hasn't allowed a run in 26 innings.

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NOTES

 --RHP Greg Maddux allowed just two runs in six innings, but it wasn't enough as he lost for the ninth time in his last 11 decisions in a 2-0 defeat at Milwaukee.

--3B Aramis Ramirez, who was 1-for-16 in his previous four games, had two hits on Thursday against Milwaukee after having a meeting with manager Dusty Baker earlier in the day. Baker feels Ramirez is trying to do too much and wanted him to relax more. Ramirez tried to stretch a double into a triple in the seventh inning but was gunned down at third base.

--CF Juan Pierre had two hits on Thursday against Milwaukee, giving him 15 over his last seven games. He also added his 26th stolen base of the season. Last year, Derrek Lee and Corey Patterson were co-leaders of the Cubs with 15 stolen bases each.

--RHP Kerry Wood will not throw a bullpen session until after the All-Star break. Wood, who is on the disabled list with stiffness in his right shoulder, hasn't thrown out of the 'pen since June 19. He is currently working on his strength and playing catch.

--RHP Jae Kuk Ryu, who had two stints with the parent club this year, sprained his right ankle covering first base in Triple-A Iowa's game Wednesday against New Orleans.

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