Needed to talk about Maddux

Chicago Cubs pitcher Greg Maddux turned 40 today. He may not be the best pitcher in the game anymore, but ESPN's Tim Kurkjian calls him the 6th-best pitcher of ALL TIME!!!

Few things are as entrancing to me as a pitcher who has control of his pitches and the game. I still remember Kerry Wood blowing 20 strikeouts on the Houston Astros in just his 5th major league start. His curveball was insane. I still remember Kevin Brown pitching the San Diego Padres into the 1998 World Series. And Greg Maddux. Wow. Leo Mazzone, who was his pithcing coach in Atlanta for about a decade, said Maddux is the smartest pitcher he has ever seen and will ever see. He plans out a game in his head and has even said he would get a certain guy to pop out to third base in the third inning. And he did, of course.

Anyway, check out Kurkjian's article. Very nice.