The Legendary Greg Maddux Announces His Retirement

We all knew it was coming, but that doesn't make it sting any less. One of the greatest pitchers of all time is hanging up his glove. Greg Maddux announced his retirement at the opening of MLB's Winter Meetings in Las Vegas today. Maddux ends a storied career full of highlights and awards including 4 NL Cy Young Awards, 18 Golden Glove Awards, including one for every season from 1990-2008 except 2003, 8 All-Star seasons, and a World Series Championship with the Atlanta Braves in 1995.

I will never forget watching Greg Maddux dominate the NL East the 90s. TBS was included in our basic cable package, so the Braves were always on. I wanted to dislike Maddux, but I never could. He was just TOO good to hate. The fact that he's remained not only relevant, not only competitive, but CONSISTENT in 23 major league seasons is a testament to his impeccable talent. I will always admire Greg Maddux's passion for the game, and the way he could control a pitch like no one else.

"Greg Maddux could put a baseball through a life saver if you asked him." ~Joe Morgan

Thanks for 23 great seasons, Greg, and enjoy your retirement. You've earned it.

-boogie

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2008 Gold Gloves: Wright, Beltran, Maddux, Victorino...

HELL YEAH, BITCHES!! David Wright AND Carlos Beltran were both honored with 2008 Golden Gloves today. This is the third Gold Glove of Beltran's career and the second in a row for D Dubs. It was hard to watch the Mets this season, considering the way it ended, but I always knew that David and Carlos would take home these awards. David is consistently just too damn good defensively for anyone else to even have a shot. Carlos Beltran had to do double and triple duty in the outfield for the Mets this season. With rookies Daniel Murphy and Nick Evans platooning in left field, and Ryan Church out for a large chunk of the season, Beltran's graceful stride and smart fielding was the team's saving grace many a time this season.

As if there was any doubt, Greg Maddux has one his 18th, and 5th consecutive, Gold Glove. He is without a doubt one of the greatest pitchers of our generation. I remember watching him pitch for the Braves in the late 90s and wishing beyond all wishes that he was a Met haha. I still wish it! I watch him today and I can't believe the command and control he STILL has. He's a machine, an animal, a future Cooperstown staple. Four straight Cy Young Awards ('91-'95), at least 15 wins in 17 consecutive seasons, 3.16 career ERA, the most wins of ANY pitcher in the 1990s, in addition to all the Gold Gloves. The man is a living, breathing, baseball legend.

Oh yeah, and Shane Victorino and a few other people I don't care about won Gold Gloves too. You can read the full list here.

-boogie

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