Editing Greg Maddux (section)

==Pitching profile==
{{MLBBioRet
|Image  = Cubs 31 Maddux.svg
|Name   = Greg Maddux
|Number = 31
|Team   = Chicago Cubs
|Year   = 2009
|}}
{{MLBBioRet
|Image  = Bravesretired31.png
|Name   = Greg Maddux
|Number = 31
|Team   = Atlanta Braves
|Year   = 2009
|}}
Maddux has been credited by many of his teammates with a superior ability to out-think his opponents and anticipate results. Braves catcher [[Eddie Pérez (baseball)|Eddie Pérez]] tells the story of Maddux, with an eight run lead, intentionally allowing a home run to the Astros' [[Jeff Bagwell]], in anticipation of facing Bagwell in the playoffs months later. Maddux felt Bagwell would instinctively be looking for the same pitch again—an inside fastball—which Maddux would then refuse to throw.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iconoduel.org/archives/2004/08/000417_mad_dog_300.php|title=Iconoduel - Mad Dog 300?|website=www.iconoduel.org|access-date=March 28, 2009|archive-date=July 29, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090729185828/http://www.iconoduel.org/archives/2004/08/000417_mad_dog_300.php|url-status=dead}}</ref> Maddux did face Bagwell in the playoffs that year, and struck him out with the bases loaded using three changeups.<ref>{{cite AV media |people=Pérez, Eddie |author-link1=Eddie Pérez (baseball) |date=2024-08-23 |title=Greg Maddux's former catcher tells a WILD story about the Hall of Famer |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s68apYwrPQE |publisher=[[MLB Network]] |access-date=2025-05-16}}</ref> On another occasion while sitting on the bench, Maddux once told his teammates, "Watch this, we might need to call an ambulance for the first base coach." The batter, Los Angeles' [[José Hernández (infielder)|José Hernández]], drove the next pitch into the chest of the Dodgers' first base coach. Maddux had noticed that Hernández, who'd been pitched inside by Braves pitching during the series, had shifted his batting stance slightly.<ref name="bleed"/> On another occasion, a former teammate, outfielder [[Marquis Grissom]], recalled a game in 1996 when Maddux was having trouble spotting his fastball. Between innings, he told Grissom, "Gary Sheffield is coming up next inning. I am going to throw him a slider and make him just miss it so he hits it to the warning track."<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Crouthers |first=Tim |url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1998/07/06/the-book-on-maddux-with-greg-maddux-on-his-way-to-an-unprecedented-fifth-cy-young-award-si-asked-the-few-hitters-who-have-fared-well-against-the-braves-ace-to-share-their-secrets |title=THE BOOK ON MADDUX WITH GREG MADDUX ON HIS WAY TO AN UNPRECEDENTED FIFTH CY YOUNG AWARD, SI ASKED THE FEW HITTERS WHO HAVE FARED WELL AGAINST THE BRAVES' ACE TO SHARE THEIR SECRETS |magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]] |date=1998-07-06 |accessdate=2022-08-08 }}</ref> The at-bat went as Maddux had predicted.

[[File:Greg Maddux in the dugout.jpg|thumb|upright|Maddux in the dugout in 2008]]
Early in the 2000 season, Maddux was asked by sportswriter [[Bob Nightengale]] what had been the most memorable [[at-bat]] of his pitching career. Maddux said it was striking out [[Dave Martinez]] to end a regular season game. Nightengale was surprised Maddux hadn't picked a postseason game, or a more famous player. Maddux explained: "I remember that one because he got a hit off me in the same situation (full count, bases loaded, two out in the 9th inning) seven years earlier. I told myself if I ever got in the same situation again, I'll pitch him differently. It took me seven years, but I got him."<ref name="bleed"/>

Publicly, however, Maddux is dismissive of his reputation, saying, "People think I'm smart? You know what makes you smart? Locate your fastball down and away. That's what makes you smart. You talk to [[Sandy Koufax]], [[Bob Gibson]], or [[Tom Seaver]]. They'll all tell you the same thing. It's not your arm that makes you a great pitcher. It's that thing between both of your ears we call a brain."<ref name="bp1">{{cite news |last=Anderson |first=R. J. |url=https://www.baseballprospectus.com/news/article/16919/painting-the-black-living-low-and-away/ |title=Painting the Black: Living Low and Away |work=[[Baseball Prospectus]] |date=2012-05-15 |accessdate=2022-08-08 }}</ref>

To this day, Maddux maintains Koufax, Gibson, and Seaver are the three best pitchers of the "live ball" era of baseball.<ref>''Sports Illustrated'', January 2000</ref> Informed by ''The Sporting News'' he had been voted best pitcher of the 1990s, he replied, "It [the award] could have gone to Glavine or Smoltz just as easily and each would have deserved it. They're both great pitchers."<ref name="bp1"/>

Maddux never walked more than 82 batters in any season of his career, averaging fewer than 2 walks per game. In 1997, Maddux allowed 20 walks in 232+ innings, or 0.77 per nine innings. In 2001, he set a National League record by going 72{{fraction|1|3}} innings without giving up a walk.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-aug-13-sp-33710-story.html |title=Maddux Loses Streak as Braves Fail Badly |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=2001-08-03 |accessdate=2022-08-08 }}</ref>

Maddux's low walk totals also kept his pitch counts down, enabling him to go deeper into games. In 31 starts, Maddux threw nine innings with 100 or fewer pitches. Ten of those starts were under 90 pitches, including a 78-pitch complete game in July 1997,<ref>[https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN199707221.shtml July 22, 1997 Atlanta Braves at Chicago Cubs Box Score and Play by Play] ''Baseball-Reference.com''</ref> the most efficient start by any pitcher since 1979. In recognition of this, the [[Maddux (statistic)|statistic]] describing a complete game shut-out thrown in less than 100 pitches was named after him. Maddux is the career leader for this stat, having pitched thirteen such games.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/glossary/idioms/maddux|title=What is a Maddux? {{!}} Glossary|website=Major League Baseball|language=en-US|access-date=May 6, 2019}}</ref>

He is also known to finish the game quickly. On June 27, 1998, he pitched a complete-game shutout against the Toronto Blue Jays in 102 pitches, but it was his fastest game in terms of time: 106 minutes, or 1 hour 46 minutes. This is including the customary 6th-inning timeout and mound visit.<ref>{{cite news |last=Davis |first=Bryan |url=https://www.enterprise-tocsin.com/columns-national-state-state-sports-top-stories-videos/night-champs |title=A Night With the Champs |work=The Enterprise-Tocsin |date=2021-11-05 |accessdate=2022-08-08 }}</ref>