THE MADDUX CHRONICLES: LEARNING FROM A LEGEND.Byline: JILL PAINTER Cost of a pavilion seat at Dodger Stadium • • [ to see Greg Maddux Gregory Alan Maddux (born April 14, 1966) is a pitcher for the San Diego Padres. He was the first pitcher in Major League history to win the Cy Young Award for four consecutive years (1992-1995), during which he had a 75-29 record with a 1. pitch? $6. Cost of Maddux's new Dodgers jersey on ebay? $69.99. Cost of picking up the rest of Greg Maddux's contract? $1 million. Chatting with Greg Maddux during the game? Priceless. It seems every time a television camera pans to Maddux leaning over the dugout dugout: see canoe. railing during games, 22-year-old rookie Chad Billingsley Chad Ryan Billingsley (born July 29, 1984, in Defiance, Ohio) is a Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Biography As a senior at Defiance High School in 2003, pitched in 11 games and was 6-1 with a 1. is right beside him. Maddux has offered the Dodgers more than just a consistent starter. He has been a teacher for the Dodgers' young guns. Billingsley has made a point to soak in as much information as he can from the future Hall of Famer. Maddux, 40, is old enough to be Billingsley's father but wise enough to provide insight Billingsley could never get from watching film. ``I'm a big fan of his,'' Billingsley said. ``We talk a little bit here and there and go over the thinking process. I'm just trying to keep learning. What better guy to learn from?'' Reliever Jonathan Broxton Jonathan Roy Broxton[1] (born June 16, 1984, in Augusta, Georgia),[2] nicknamed "The Ox," and "The Biggest Man In The World" by former Cub and current Arizona Diamondbacks announcer Mark Grace, is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers. has a locker next to Maddux. It's the stuff Broxton would've dreamed about growing up in Georgia. He started going to Atlanta Braves The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From to the present, the Braves have played in Turner Field. games when he was 6 or 7. ``He's cool to be around,'' Broxton. ``He's a veteran guy and he's been around the game for a long time. My goal was always to get to the major leagues. I never thought I'd be playing with someone I grew up watching.'' He said the best tip he has picked up from Maddux is to keep his head still. Maddux isn't a power pitcher In baseball, a power pitcher is a pitcher who relies on the velocity of his pitches, sometimes at the expense of accuracy. Power pitchers usually record a high number of strikeouts and statistics such as strikeouts per 9 innings pitched are common measures of power. like Billingsley and Broxton, but he still has unbelievable movement on his pitches. Everyone marvels at that. Maddux is a four-time Cy Young Award winner and he's the 22nd pitcher in major-league history to win 300 games. Maddux is 328-200 with a career 3.06 ERA. Maddux, ever modest, said his talks with players during games have been more to do with the weather, golf and family than baseball. Maddux isn't one to meddle med·dle intr.v. med·dled, med·dling, med·dles 1. To intrude into other people's affairs or business; interfere. See Synonyms at interfere. 2. To handle something idly or ignorantly; tamper. with anyone's pitching style. He figures he best helps by not trying to change anything. ``Just stay out of their way,'' Maddux said. ``There's 100 different ways to pitch. You don't want to come in here the first week and start throwing out what works for you because you don't know Don't know (DK, DKed) "Don't know the trade." A Street expression used whenever one party lacks knowledge of a trade or receives conflicting instructions from the other party. what works for them. ``You kind of keep your mouth shut and just try to enjoy the game. The last thing you want to do is confuse someone with your ideas because your ideas may not match their ideas and you may end up doing more harm than good.'' Maddux has done plenty without talking, too. He has an extensive preparation routine that he has developed over the years and everyone, not just the rookies, has benefited from watching him since he was acquired from the Chicago Cubs just before the July 31 trade deadline. ``Pitchers get to work harder because he works very hard,'' Takashi Saito said through an interpreter. ``I am surprised that one player can change the team so much. Nobody but him can do (that). He's great. It's an honor to play with him.'' Saito, a 36-year-old pitcher from Japan, was a bit nervous when Maddux joined the team. The Dodgers were on a road trip and Saito found Maddux's new locker was right next to his. He didn't know a lot about major-league players but he did know a bit about Maddux. Derek Lowe Derek Christopher Lowe[1] (born June 1, 1973 in Dearborn, Michigan)[2] is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He throws and bats right-handed. and Brad Penny Bradley Wayne Penny[1] (born May 24, 1978 in Blackwell, Oklahoma)[2] is a starting pitcher in Major League Baseball for the Los Angeles Dodgers.[3] Early career can learn something from Maddux, too. ``Scouts and GM's still believe he can be helpful,'' Lowe said. ``Obviously, he's huge. His history and knowledge of the game is well-documented. If you watch, you can learn and that's how this game should be. You learn from people who've had success. Everyone still needs to be doing that.'' But Maddux does have a couple of things he believes can help a young pitcher obtain longevity. ``Basically, do what you can to keep yourself healthy,'' Maddux said. ``When it's your turn to pitch, be prepared.'' Maddux knows best. jill.painter@dailynews.com (818) 713-3615 CAPTION(S): 5 photos, 7 boxes Photo: (1) Dodgers pitcher Greg Maddux, left, has been a very popular figure with his new teammates. Francis Specker/Associated Press (2) no caption (Chad Billingsley) (3) no caption (Jonathan Broxton) (4) no caption (Takashi Saito) (5) no caption (Ryan O'Malley Ryan O'Malley (born April 9, 1980 in Springfield, Illinois) is a current pitcher in Major League Baseball who plays for the Chicago Cubs. O'Malley made his major league debut on August 16, 2006 against the Houston Astros. ) Box: (1) THEY SAID IT (2) WHO'S HOT (3) WHO'S COLD (4) ROOKIE WATCH (5) DAILY NEWS/CBS 2/KCAL 9 SPORTS CENTRAL POWER RANKINGS - Matt McHale (6) SERIES OF THE WEEK (7) NOTES |
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