Diamond gems: Maddux Masterful

(Updated: Thursday, May 15, 2008 9:10 AM CDT)

Jim Sandoval, Madison Record

Craftsman. Wizard. Technician. Able to make the baseball do things that seem scientifically impossible. High School fastball speed. All of these could describe the amazing Greg Maddux, now in his 24th season.

Maddux earned the 350th win of his long major league career Saturday when he pitched the San Diego Padres to a 3-2 win over the Colorado Rockies. He is the 9th major league pitcher in history to reach this mark.

With a well below average fastball, Maddux continues to befuddle major league hitters. He is a master of location, pitching the ball to an exact spot to prevent a hitter from making solid contact. He uses finger pressure and other techniques to make the ball move in and out, up and down.

Scouting reports on Maddux from his Valley (Las Vegas) High School days as recorded in the book Scouting Reports: The Original Reviews of some of baseball's greatest stars by Stan Hart relate the following information: average velocity on sinking fastball, good control for high school pitcher. Curve is sharp. Guess those scouts have an idea what to look for.

Maddux made his major league debut in 1986 with the Chicago Cubs, pitching there seven seasons before coming to the Atlanta Braves. In his 11 seasons as a Brave Maddux was in a rotation with John Smoltz and Tom Glavine, all of whom have an excellent chance to be selected for baseball's Hall of Fame. He then moved on to pitch three more seasons as a Cub. After one season with the Dodgers he moved on to the Padres for 2007-08.

Currently Maddux's career record is 350-217 with a 3.17 earned run average and 3,299 strikeouts (No. 11 on the all-time list).

Greg's older brother Mike, a former major league pitcher as well, is the pitching coach for the Milwaukee Brewers.

Sandoval can be reached at casandman@aol.com

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