Maddux Throwing A Gem in Cincinnati Tonight

[CheeseHead Cubs Fan]

Maddux pitching another great game. He has given up two hits to the Giants' hitters after seven innings. Both hits were given up in the first inning. Currently, the score is 0-0.

 

Edit to add: He has only thrown 60 pitches through 7 innings.

 

personally, I am sitting here spitting nickels. amazing how he finds an extra 4-5 mph on his fastball after changing uniforms. amazing how he's hitting all his spots. amazing how he's not shaking off his catcher to get to that crappy looping curveball.

 

suddenly, Greg Maddux cares again.

 

Yep, I was coming here to post this exact thought.

 

It makes me wonder if Maddux was really giving it 100% each time out in Chicago. Heck, sometimes I would wonder if he would make it through 5 while hoping he wouldn't give up 3 in the 1st.

[bhogg]

Well, you know it helps to play on a team that cares, etc. . .

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Because Maddux has never turned it on in the second half before?

[Laura]

July - August - September are usually his better months. This year was a bit anomalous, given his strong start.

 

In 2 starts with the Dodgers:

 

1-0, 2 GS, 12IP, 7H, 2R, 5/4 K/BB, 0.67 ERA, 0.92 WHIP....we're not cursed.

 

3 starts with the Dodgers:

 

1-0, 3GS, 20IP, 9H, 2R, 2ER, 9/4 K/BB, 0.82 ERA, 0.59 WHIP

[bhogg]

The dodgers told him that Pacific Standard Time was actually 4 months behind Central Standard Time.

[Laura]

It was a rare and wonderful thing to see two starting pitchers throw strikes. 16IPs and 1BB between them.

 

I muted the volume. :)

[Soriano12]

Good for Maddux.

 

I personally did not want to see him leave.

 

 

Thanks for that trash in return, Iszturis, Hendry.

 

YOu freakin bum.

[jjgman21]

Because Maddux has never turned it on in the second half before?

 

it's one thing to get better late in the season. it's another to turn on the light switch when at your audition and then pour it on instantly once changing uniforms.

 

edit - and that doesn't explain the 4-5 mph on the fastball that has been missing for two and a half years.

[Laura]

Or maybe he's traditionally just better in the second half.

[Sammy Sofa]

Like people are pointing out, Maddux has always done significantly better after the ASB, all throughout his career, including his latest stint with the Cubs. I wouldn't be surprised if moving to a competing team out west where he wants to be is putting a little extra "oomph" in his game, but overall he's just doing what he does as the year winds down...which is why the deal Hendry got for him is moronic. Maddux is a guy that heats up as the season goes on AND he has a ton of playoff experience. I know know a lot of people in Cubdom like to rag on him for getting older and slipping a bit, but I think Hendry could have spun dealing Maddux for a much better trade, quite possibly to even better teams.

[Larry Horse]

What I don't get is how Hendry went from demanding a top prospect to accepting Itzuris..........

[YearofDaCubs]

What I don't get is how Hendry went from demanding a top prospect to accepting Itzuris..........

There's a reason why Hendry is the worst GM in baseball.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Because Maddux has never turned it on in the second half before?

 

it's one thing to get better late in the season. it's another to turn on the light switch when at your audition and then pour it on instantly once changing uniforms.

 

edit - and that doesn't explain the 4-5 mph on the fastball that has been missing for two and a half years.

 

I watched the Royals-Indians for an inning today and their gun said Luke Hudson and Todd Wellemeyer both hit 100 in that first inning. I doubt that Maddux has had a significant change in velocity. 2 of his last 3 starts as a Cub were quite good.

[jjgman21]

Because Maddux has never turned it on in the second half before?

 

it's one thing to get better late in the season. it's another to turn on the light switch when at your audition and then pour it on instantly once changing uniforms.

 

edit - and that doesn't explain the 4-5 mph on the fastball that has been missing for two and a half years.

 

I watched the Royals-Indians for an inning today and their gun said Luke Hudson and Todd Wellemeyer both hit 100 in that first inning. I doubt that Maddux has had a significant change in velocity. 2 of his last 3 starts as a Cub were quite good.

 

if there were significant gun disparity, I would think Schmidt would have been hitting 97-99 instead of the 93-96 range the gun showed. Maddux routinely was hitting 88 on the gun and I think reached 89 a couple times. the gun might have been a mph or two off, but Maddux definitely had more juice on his pitches than at any point I have seen the past two and a half years.

[Laura]

 

if there were significant gun disparity, I would think Schmidt would have been hitting 97-99 instead of the 93-96 range the gun showed. Maddux routinely was hitting 88 on the gun and I think reached 89 a couple times. the gun might have been a mph or two off, but Maddux definitely had more juice on his pitches than at any point I have seen the past two and a half years.

 

I admit I wasn't watching non-stop; I was following the game in the background. It looked to me like his pitches ranged around 83-89 and he sat around 84-86, which is maybe one tick higher than usual. It wasn't like he was throwing only in the high-70s before July 31.

 

I think any slight increase may be due to things like gun discrepencies, warm August nights, a guy who for whatever reason pitches better in the second half, and, yeah, perhaps being in a playoff race gets the pulse going a bit more.

 

What's your reasoning? That caring can add 4-5mph to a fastball over the course of a ballgame? Or that, now that he cares, he can dial it up to 90 consistently from here on out? I'm confused.

 

I think he cared about winning with the Cubs. Unfortunately, the ballclub pretty much collapsed around Z and around him in various ways, and the two of them -- even as incredible as Z is -- couldn't pick it back up by themselves. And yeah, Maddux sucked at various key points. Sadly, so did everyone else. Maddux isn't super-incredible anymore; he isn't the Maddux of ten years ago. He's still capable of pitching gems for short stretches of time and well-enough for longer stretches of time. He wasn't a good fit for the Cubs anymore. He was a very good fit for the Dodgers and an excellent pickup for them.

 

I know there was a lot of debate here about having signed him. Now he's gone and we get the kids pitching, which is great. I still think the Cubs got the better end of the deal in signing him, and I'm glad he hung out here for 3 years, even if it wasn't a happy ending. Reading Z's quotes today about him being the Ace of the Rotation made me consider that again and come to the same conclusion.

[jjgman21]

 

if there were significant gun disparity, I would think Schmidt would have been hitting 97-99 instead of the 93-96 range the gun showed. Maddux routinely was hitting 88 on the gun and I think reached 89 a couple times. the gun might have been a mph or two off, but Maddux definitely had more juice on his pitches than at any point I have seen the past two and a half years.

 

I admit I wasn't watching non-stop; I was following the game in the background. It looked to me like his pitches ranged around 83-89 and he sat around 84-86, which is maybe one tick higher than usual. It wasn't like he was throwing only in the high-70s before July 31.

 

I think any slight increase may be due to things like gun discrepencies, warm August nights, a guy who for whatever reason pitches better in the second half, and, yeah, perhaps being in a playoff race gets the pulse going a bit more.

 

What's your reasoning? That caring can add 4-5mph to a fastball over the course of a ballgame? Or that, now that he cares, he can dial it up to 90 consistently from here on out? I'm confused.

 

 

not sure what your question is. my point is simply this - - where was that 88 to make his changeup more effective during the past two and a half years? I think we were all under the impression he wasn't capable of it anymore, but suddenly a change of uniform brings it out of him. combine that with his comments about wishing he was with the Dodgers all along, and I think his effort with the Cubs is open to scrutiny.

[Laura]

I've seen him throw 88 since he's been with the Cubs.

 

I don't know where you were when he did.

[Laura]

I find a 3-year-conspiracy theory wherein Maddux was dogging it out of forlorn hopes of joining the Dodgers and immediately gaining 5mph on his fastball to be a little out there.

 

 

 

But if you believe it, look on the bright side -- with cancers like Maddux out of the way, the clubhouse is sure to be much cheerier these days! :D

[jjgman21]

I find a 3-year-conspiracy theory wherein Maddux was dogging it out of forlorn hopes of joining the Dodgers and immediately gaining 5mph on his fastball to be a little out there.

 

 

 

But if you believe it, look on the bright side -- with cancers like Maddux out of the way, the clubhouse is sure to be much cheerier these days! :D

 

conspiracy theory? a conspiracy by it's very nature takes at least two people. I think you are taking a jab at me, and that's not like you.

 

I for one think Maddux is exactly the type who would dog it for a couple years if he didn't particularly give a damn. he's as aloof as any player in baseball.

 

maybe you did see him hit 88 here and there. consistently for an entire game at any time during the past three years? not that I saw. I'm sure he'll have another start on national tv soon. maybe tonight was just a fluke, but if his velocity is still up like tonight, I'm sure it will be more than just Cheesehead and I expressing these sentiments.

[Butterscup1679666578]

I'm sorry, but I don't think a player with as much respect for the game and for himself would just dog it to get traded.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Maddux in August, 2003-2005

 

2.94 ERA

1.08 WHIP

3.27 K/BB

 

 

This isn't unusual.

[Laura]

 

conspiracy theory? a conspiracy by it's very nature takes at least two people. I think you are taking a jab at me, and that's not like you.

 

I think you are relying on the arguement that someone who "cares enough" can improve their performance dramatically without any evidence demonstrating that.

 

If "caring enough" affects pitching, how does it affect hitting?

 

Can we make Neifi care enough to hit better? Or should we just trade him to a contender?

 

I for one think Maddux is exactly the type who would dog it for a couple years if he didn't particularly give a damn. he's as aloof as any player in baseball.

 

Maybe your emotional reaction is influencing your analysis, rather than Maddux's emotional reaction giving him a constant +5mph on his fastball.

 

maybe you did see him hit 88 here and there. consistently for an entire game at any time during the past three years? not that I saw. I'm sure he'll have another start on national tv soon. maybe tonight was just a fluke, but if his velocity is still up like tonight, I'm sure it will be more than just Cheesehead and I expressing these sentiments.

 

So you've seen him throw 79-83 constantly over the past 3 years?

 

We all have friends. I have one who works at Elias. I'll see if he can dredge up velocity reports on Maddux over the past 3-5 years.

[Laura]

Maddux in August, 2003-2005

 

2.94 ERA

1.08 WHIP

3.27 K/BB

 

 

This isn't unusual.

 

That's been posted a number of times.

 

It's an emotional reaction.

 

Just like Corey. He must not have cared when he was with the Cubs. You could tell.

 

Now he cares.

[A New Era]

What I don't get is how Hendry went from demanding a top prospect to accepting Itzuris..........

There's a reason why Hendry is the worst GM in baseball.

 

(firmly) WE WANT YOUR TOP PROSPECT!!

 

(murmur on phone) shama phaphum phaloc pharphanugen

 

Ok we'll take Izturis!!!! YES WE GOT IZTURIS!!

[10man]

Apparently Jedi Mind Tricks work on Hendry