Maddux

[NCCubFan]

I know it's just one game, but I was very impressed with his gem. His offseason workouts look like they paid off. With his recent trend of struggling during the first half of the season it's great to see him get off to such a good start. When the injured starters return, Zambrano, Prior, Wood, Maddux, and Miller (in whatever order) could be a filthy, nearly unbeatable rotation.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I know it's just one game, but I was very impressed with his gem. His offseason workouts look like they paid off. With his recent trend of struggling during the first half of the season it's great to see him get off to such a good start. When the injured starters return, Zambrano, Prior, Wood, Maddux, and Miller (in whatever order) could be a filthy, nearly unbeatable rotation.

 

I wasn't impressed. I'm not trying to take anything away from him because he earned his performance today, but going forward that same outing is going to be a disaster start without the wind howling in. It's not a stretch at all to see 2 or 3 balls leaving the yard that didn't, at least one to my memory with people on base.

[MPrior]

I was real impressed too. He got a TON of groundouts. The problem was, if it weren't for the wind, it might not have looked like that great a start - there were a few hard-hit fly balls there. I suspect that, even if he does pitch much better this season, the longball will still be a big problem. Which is not to say that I'm not hoping like hell to have the same filthy rotation you just mentioned.

[Andy]

I'm closer to TT's side here. It WAS refreshing to see Maddux get all those ground balls, but there were at least 3 balls that would've been out without any wind. He certainly looked better than most of last year, and if he can cut down on those home run balls he will be an above-average 4th starter behind Z, Prior and Wood later in the year.

[snoodmonger]

I was impressed. We can complain about hard-hit flyballs, but I'm sure Maddux was aware of the conditions and more willing to let guys hit the ball in the air. I'm not saying he won't be homer-prone this year, but Maddux locating today and, IMO, using the conditions to his advantage.

[CUBZ99]

Maddux did pitch incredibly and it will be interesting to see how his season turns out. With the big two out of the rotation for now, Maddux has to put in efforts like todays to keep the Cubs in a close race.

[mhuber92211]

I think that Maddux knew that if he pitched to contact today he wouldn't get hurt like he would later in the year, hence the hard hit balls staying in the park.

 

What I liked was all the movement he had today. Being 1st game out and hard to grip the ball in cold weather, his movement was amazing.

[Stu]

I was impressed. We can complain about hard-hit flyballs, but I'm sure Maddux was aware of the conditions and more willing to let guys hit the ball in the air. I'm not saying he won't be homer-prone this year, but Maddux locating today and, IMO, using the conditions to his advantage.

 

Exactly. Maddux is smart enough to pitch to the conditions.

[BigbadB]

I won't discount that a pitcher can be smart enough to change the way they pitch given the weather patterns, but if that is true, why did this not take place last year?

 

Did he just become a smart pitcher? I don't think so. I was impressed that he got all those ground balls yesterday as well. But, some of those balls were hit hard, and probably would have left the park on a typical day, just like they left the park on a typical day last year.

 

Maddux surrenders home run balls much more than he used to. His skills are diminishing. He's still going to throw a gem on occasion, but he's clearly not the same pitcher he was when he was younger. This coming from a huge Greg Maddux fan.

 

I hope he goes 20-0 this year. But, it's not going to happen. All he was really expected to be was a good pitcher that kept us in ball games. We can't really ask for more than that. The horses are supposed to do the rest.

[donobr]

He is smart and knows how to pitch in Wrigley with the wind blowing in.

[bhogg]

If you guys weren't impressed with Maddux, you must think Suppan is the worst pitcher in the NL.

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

Maddux knew the wind was blowing in a took advantage of it. I'm not sure how you can slam him for that saying that if the wind would've been blowing in, his numbers would be different. Different conditions call for adjustments.

[Laura]

Best start so far, hope Z surpasses it today.

[Derwood]

Pujols had two shots that would've been homers on a warmer day, but I give credit to Maddux for pitching to the conditions

[jjgman21]

lot's of talk about pitching to the conditions, but another factor is Maddux pitching with a lead. as alluded to by Len and Bob during the game, with a 5-0 lead and the wind blowing in, Maddux is going to be a lot more willing to give pitches to hit.

 

I'm replaying the game right now, and going into the fourth inning, Maddux had a four run lead and had surrendered exactly 1 hard hit ball, Rolen's double down the line. that inning he gave up a hard hit foulball to Pujols. while the wind helped on Edmonds fly to left, on a neutral day that ball would have been at best a basket shot, and we all heard the stats on the Cubs record with the wind blowing in v. out. despite reputation, the wind generally blows in more than out at Wrigley.

 

furthermore, Edmonds fly came on a 2-0 pitch with a man on first in front of the only guy who had hit the ball hard on him previous to that inning, Rolen. to me that's smart pitching.

 

in the sixth, JRod hit the ball hard, but on a neutral day, the ball is probably caught. no other balls were hit hard that inning.

 

then came the seventh. Cubs up 5-0, Maddux about at his pitch limit. so he give ups a solo dinger. big deal.

 

saying Maddux suffered alot of hard hit balls and his fate would have been worse on a different day is akin to trying to predict how an inning or outcome would be but for an error or blown call. you never know what would have happened had conditions and situations been different.

 

overall, Maddux showed his mastery on this day and dominated the Cardinals lineup. seeing things otherwise is just being hyper-critical.

[snoodmonger]

saying Maddux suffered alot of hard hit balls and his fate would have been worse on a different day is akin to trying to predict how an inning or outcome would be but for an error or blown call. you never know what would have happened had conditions and situations been different.

 

exactly

[jjgman21]

Pujols had two shots that would've been homers on a warmer day, but I give credit to Maddux for pitching to the conditions

 

you're just making things up. I'm watching the replay right now.

 

the flyout in the first was caught about 35 feet in front of the warning track by Pierre.

 

the flyout in the fourth was caught about 150 fee behind short by Murton

 

in the seventh he popped up to second.

 

no foul balls stood a chance of leaving the yard if fair.

 

and, for what it's worth, in the ninth, Pujols ground hard to third.

 

not sure what game you watched, but Pujols didn't come close to hitting a homerun yesterday.

[CubinNY]

Maddux looked pretty impressive to me.

 

He had the hitters out in front all day long. He hit all of his spots. It was vintage Maddux. He was in control the entire game.

[Laura]

Maddux knew the wind was blowing in a took advantage of it. I'm not sure how you can slam him for that saying that if the wind would've been blowing in, his numbers would be different. Different conditions call for adjustments.

 

"Just because the wind's blowing in doesn't mean you don't have to pitch."

[Jon]

I'm not sure you can really pitch to the wind blowing in unless it's blowing in over 30 mph. Even then, though, you risk having balls dropped in the outfield. For the most part, hard hit balls are still going to do damage. You can't just let them hit it hard. If you do, you're not going to last too long.

 

Maddux was fortunate that Edmonds got his flyout up in the air. If Edmonds got on top of that one a little bit more, it would've been a 2-run HR and not a 7-3 DP. As a pitcher, you just can't rely on the wind to do your job for you.

 

Greg pitched very well yesterday to everyone else, but he could have left with a 5-3 lead instead of 5-1.