Greg Maddux

Even though I think John Thomson will have a better year statistically than Greg Maddux this year - I don't think Maddux has slowed down. What prompted this post was reading what Bryan Smith wrote in The Hardball Times today regarding Maddux and the Cubs. Two points that I think Bryan overlooked regarding Maddux:

1. Maddux was one of the pitchers who was very adversley effected by the QWESTEC system last year. It took Maddux about half a season to adapt. The QWESTEC effect is real mainly because the pitcher believes it is real.

2. Maddux actually had a very productive second half in 2003. Pre All-Star game last year Maddux was 7-8 with a 4.63 ERA *cough* QWESTEC* cough*. In the second half - Maddux was 9-3 with a 3.03 ERA. Maddux was obvioulsy older in the second half of the season vs. the first half - so I think some of the "age catching up on him" criticism isn't as valid as it might seem at first blush.