He needs 50 more wins to get to 400 and he's only won 3 games this year. He's 42 years old. Considering all of that it seems very unlikely.

But the reason he's winning so few games this year (his record is 3-5) is not because he's become an ineffective pitcher, in fact his ERA is a solid 3.31 which is good for 12th in the NL. It's because he's pitching for a team with an awful offense (the San Diego Padres.) It's the Padres fault that his streak of 20 consecutive seasons with 13 or more wins will likely be coming to an end this year.

If Maddux can pitch three more seasons after this one (through 2011) for a team like the Chicago Cubs (why not go back one more time?) it seems quite possible he could add 50 more wins to his career total. And it doesn't seem entirely unlikely he could pitch well to age 45 or 46 considering the high level he is pitching at now at age 42. Other pitchers have done it before him.

Some examples: Nolan Ryan 46, Roger Clemens 45, Phil Niekro 48, Tommy John 46, Charlie Hough 46, Jamie Moyer 45, Gaylord Perry 45, Jack Quinn 50, Satchel Paige 46.

Labels: Greg Maddux, San Diego Padres

Pedro Martinez finally made his 2007 debut tonight for the New York Mets. After allowing 2 runs in this first inning he settled down on got the victory as the Mets beat the Reds 10 to 4. Martinez struck out 3000th career batter and won his 207th career game.

Greg Maddux won his 11th game of the season as the Padres went into first place in the NL West with their 10-2 win over Arizona in Arizona. It was actually Maddux's first career win pitching in Arizona (in 11 career starts there.)

Maddux extended his streak without a walk to 49 1/3 innings proving that at age 41, he still has the amazing control that has made him so successful throughout his career. The NL record for innings without a walk is 72 1/3 by Maddux in 2001. That streak ended with an intentional walk. Bill Fischer holds the MLB record (and AL record of course) with a streak of 84 1/3 innings in 1962.

The win was 344th of Greg Maddux's career.

Labels: Greg Maddux, Pedro Martinez