going out on top

i wasn't expecting it, but wasnt fully surprised when news broke today that greg maddux is going to announce his retirement on monday at the winter meetings.

i'll be honest. i was never a big fan of the mad dog. in hindsight, im going attribute that stupidity to superficiality (cos he always looks awful in his roster pic) and general lack of understanding of the nuances of the game.

it was years before i realized that maddux was a true artist, that he didn't always get the strike out when a ground ball was more valuable. hitters got the hit when he let them. he rarely lost his cool (unless it was with a cooler in the marlins dugout in 2004 when the cubs were playing absolutely horrifically). and he was never a prima donna, despite the fact he's played with some grade-A douchebags. apparently if asinine behavoir was catching, maddux was immune. (are you listening chipper jones?)

this is a great espn article on all the reasons why maddux is irreplacable to the game. and no doubt will be a 1st ballot hall of famer in 5 short years. i wonder if the cubs will retire number 31 before that happens. they should. they knew before 2006 they were going to retire the number, otherwise they would have let lilly wear 31.

thanks mad dog. for everything.