MADDUX IS GOLDEN

by Jack Cobra, Cobra Brigade

Rawlings handed out the Gold Gloves yesterday and as has been the case 17 times (most ever), Greg Maddux has another trophy for his trophy room. I don't even know if he has a trophy room, but if he does, it must look like the vault in Fort Knox by now. Even after 17 Gold Gloves Maddux was excited:

Known for his quick reflexes on the mound even at age 41, Maddux won his first Gold Glove in 1990 with the Chicago Cubs. Since then, the 347-game winner has taken home the honor every year except 2003, when Mike Hampton broke his streak. "It's cool to win again," Maddux said in a release. "I'm fortunate to still be pitching at this level and honored to be recognized with this prestigious award.

As someone who has had the pleasure of watching Maddux pitch a lot, he certainly deserves this award. He has 'cat-like' reflexes on the mound and pretty much any ball hit around the pitchers mound is an automatic out. Back in the day it used to be the norm for pitchers to be able to field their positions, but with everyone trying to throw harder it seems that this is part of the game that has been forgotten for pitchers.

Maddux just re-signed with the Padres for $10 million for next season, so I look forward to watching him snare liners and snatch ground balls as they come back to the mound once again.