Bleary Yes, Blurry No

Earlier in his career, we never cared much for Greg Maddux. Didnt despise him or anything, but felt his status as a legend was somewhat compromised by the wide berth umpires granted him through the 1990s. One could certainly argue that he facilitated or even earned it, but all the same, that and some visible mound fussiness never sat real well with us. So, like most Diamondback fans, we took particular glee watching the perennial All Star fume as we beat him up on an improbably regular basis.

Well, the old man's beaten us twice in a week now (reliever Cameron was credited with the Aug 29 W),  in the heat of a pennant race, and I have to say, he's really earned some newfound admiration. I know he benefits greatly from Petco, and he still gets calls, and the NL is very weak. But for all the talk about Roger Clemens and Randy Johnson and, more recently, Tom Glavine, this Maddux guy captains this generation's ship of aging mound marvels. All four geezers masterfully screw with hitters' balance and timing, but Clemens and Johnson enjoy the physical advantage of being power pitchers - the two ex-Braves do not.

With Glavine, we hear constantly how he never gives in. Well, Maddux rarely gives in either; the difference is Maddux doesnt give in and stays in the strike zone. And I do mean stays. Forty nine innings without a free pass? Across a wide range of opponents, home plate umps and ballparks?  Not even an intentional one to some "pitch around" power threat? Maddux hasnt walked a single batter... since July!

It's a remarkable accomplishment for a 41 year old pitcher without overpowering stuff; a testament not only to his committment not to beat himself, but also to his physical ability in seeing that through. It's not like he's at a county fair either, just grooving it in there, knockin' down milk bottles. Manager Bud Black:

He's a phenomenal strike thrower. And he's a phenomenal ball thrower, too. I mean, he can throw a ball when he wants and he can throw a strike when he wants. That's what makes Greg Greg, is his ability to command the ball."

And Maddux on Maddux:

"The last thing you want to do is have a meaningless walk streak affect how you go about hitters. "I'm not good enough to just lay it in there and save a walk streak. I think my last one ended when I intentionally walked somebody."

More Captain Marvel?   The other day, at Petco, he pounced off the hill to his right - away from a RHP's natural follow through momenutm - to snare a high chopper and fluidly, calmly throw out a streaking Justin Upton at home. Could even 20% of RHPs, including those half Mad Dog's age, have executed that play?  I doubt it. For one thing, Maddux doesnt have any follow through momentum - he releases the ball perfectly balanced on the mound and has great fielding range in either direction - a big "secret" to those sixteen gold gloves. Earlier in the game, with speedster Chris Young eyeing MLB's worst throwing catcher (Josh Bard) from first, Maddux lulled Young with several throws, finally got him rocking the wrong way, and picked him off - a potentially huge turnaround in what resulted in a very close game.

And yesterday, the old man cruised along in a hitter's paradise with an early lead, in the comfortable knowledge that only walks could beat him, especially against a young lineup that strings together hits like a blind man strings a pearl necklace. And so, true to a winner's form, Maddux didnt issue any walks. He didnt dominate or blow people away. Yielded a homer, a triple, but no real damage. He just didnt beat himself.

Later in the game, the old man hit a double . Not exactly Micah Owings, but all things considered, like pennants for example, one doubts the Padres are itching to go "younger, cheaper, or ostensibly better" anytime soon.  Folks have been waiting for Greg Maddux to fade away. However, if Labor Day was any indication, we saw Greg Maddux and the Padres quite clearly. The only thing fading, at the moment, is "Sedona Red".

( photos courtesy of AP/ Pual Connors )