Is any amount too much for Maddux?

by ben nevis on Mar 29, 2008 3:50 PM EDT

Here's the report from the Padre's website for yesterday's game against the Angels:

Greg Maddux certainly looked in midseason form Friday, as he needed just 24 pitches -- including 19 strikes -- over three scoreless innings. He did not allow a hit or a walk.

It reminded me of his 68-pitch, 8 inning performance against the Giants on Aug 13, 2006. About a month later he threw 68 in 7 innings against the Padres. And a quick glance at his '07 numbers and he never threw over 100 pitches all last year and finished 14-10 with 4.14 ERA.

Now, I know he's clearly one of the best pitchers of this generation, let alone history. My question is this: is it too early to start talking to him about becoming the pitching coach of the Reds once he retires? And could you just promise him, like, $7m/yr? Whatever he knows about pitching, it's worth a lot of money.

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The 'New' Roger ?

Change is so exciting. I never know what the hell is going on. I love Chaos,

by Madville on Mar 29, 2008 3:59 PM EDT reply actions

Is he interested in coaching after

he retires? And yes there are dollar amounts that are too high for a pitching coach.

Hope Springs Eternal! Go Reds

by Caleb on Mar 29, 2008 5:20 PM EDT reply actions

I think

$7M qualifies as "too high for a pitching coach".

Also, the road is littered with great players who were terrible coaches/managers, in every sport. Meanwhile, the great coaches generally were mediocre players (Don Nelson and Lenny Wilkins being notable exceptions).

by sidnancy on Mar 29, 2008 9:19 PM EDT up reply actions

Wanna bet?

by Fat Vegas Alan on Mar 29, 2008 9:41 PM EDT up reply actions

I was staring at that pattern

for a while trying to figure out what in the hell it was...then it dawned on me that I had been staring at Pete Rose's crotch all that time and decided I really didn't need to know that badly.

"I'd walk through hell in a gasoline suit to play baseball" - Pete Rose

by Officer Dibble on Mar 30, 2008 12:15 AM EDT up reply actions

I agree that there is no guarantee that Maddux will be a good coach

but by all accounts that I've read from teammates, he's a very good communicator and he sees the game very clearly. The one quality that gets in the way typically for coaches is competitiveness. It's why guys like Jordan and Bird will never make great coaches. Nobody can ever meet their standards of drive. Greg Maddux seems to have a similar drive. I'd have to wonder if he can proper channel that as a coach.

I still think he'll give coaching a try, but I wouldn't give him more than $1.5 million to be a pitching coach, and even that is a steep.

Don't talk back to Darth Vader or he'll getcha!

by Slyde on Mar 30, 2008 7:51 AM EDT up reply actions