Padres Fans Finally Have Something to Cheer About

In a season full of lack luster offense and empty Petco Park seats, the Padres finally had something to cheer about last weekend. On Sunday, Padres veteran pitcher, Greg Maddux notched win number 350 against the Colorado Rocikies. The struggling Padres are a meager 13-24 on the year with little to look forward to this season. But fans did get a chance to see history Sunday as Greg Maddux reached 9th on the all time wins list.
The 42 year old Maddux has enjoyed 23 seasons in the majors where he has composed a hall of fame worthy resume. Maddux who has never been known as an over powering pitcher has out smarted batters and painted the corners on his way to 8 All-Star appearances and 22 postseason starts. When asked why Maddux has been so good for so long Hall of Fame great and baseball analyst Joe Morgan said this about Maddux, “Greg Maddux could throw a baseball through a lifesaver if you asked him to.” That pretty much sums it up, Maddux has had dominating command of his pitches for over 2 decades. The 170-pound pitcher with the goofy science teacher appearance won four straight Cy Young Awards in the 1990s, leading the Atlanta Braves to11 straight post seasons from 1993-2003. Four times in his career he posted an ERA two runs below his league’s average, and Maddux won at least 15 games in 16 consecutive seasons, tying a mark held by the man on the top of the all time wins list, Cy Young. In five World Series starts Maddux has an ERA of 2.09, did I mention that he has 17 gold glove awards on his seemingly enormous mantle? When asked about his newest achievement the reserve Maddux said this, “Three hundred was cool, getting a win in the playoffs was really cool. I don’t want to make it out to be about nothing, but it’s May and we’re not doing too well.” A quality player on a sub par team and after all this time, he still just wants his team to win.
The Padres will try and ride their 42 year old future Hall of Fame hurler out of the basement in the west NL West, but the Padres hitters need to produce some runs. Maddux is just four wins behind Roger Clemens for 8th on the all time wins list.