The Greatest Pitcher of Our Time

[ploaf]

Comments

[vaticanplum]

God, I was going to wax philosophical on Greg Maddux too, and now I don't have to. Very nice.

Over the course of his career, Greg Maddux struck out 3,371 batters. I'm not sure how many of those whiffed, but I'm willing to bet a large percentage of those hitters didn't even swing at strike three.

I am fascinated as to whether this stat exists somewhere. Surely in a world that takes the time on the teevee to tell me shit like how many rainy day games any given team has won since 1892 keeps track of stuff like this?

[ploaf]

There's gotta be something. I'll see what I can dig up. Let me know if you find anything!

[thegreycat]

Best there ever was. I love Greg Maddux. Great post.

[ploaf]

Thanks. He was incredible to watch. I remember one game in the mid-90s when he shutout the Cubs on less than 100 pitches. Afterwards, when a frustrated Brian McRae told reporters:

"I don't understand it. He's a little nerdy-looking guy. And you think, 'I can hit him.' The next thing you know, you're on your way back to the bench."

[kaufie]

Here's to the people who know that it's the work that turns talent into performance. To those who know how to make the best with what they've got. But, especially, those who take what they've got and make themselves the best.

Well put!

[ploaf]

Thanks. It's part of my never-ending quest to prove baseball is more than just a game. You know how Rastafarians smoke weed as a religious experience? Or various Native American tribes took peote to bring them closer to the Spirit World? Some of us follow baseball.

Scary thing is: I'm only half-joking.

[kaufie]

Anywhere that you find inspiration to be a good man or a better person is not scary or silly or anything other than good. A man who learn his ethics and morals from a comic book hero has still learned them, right?

[ploaf]

Excellent point!