Creating Greg Maddux

[yyhy]

The physical part is easy enough. Only thing I'm debating is the repertoire. The 2-seamer and circle change are obvious. He also added a cutter and occasionally threw a curveball and slider. I've also read he threw a screwball from time to time but have no idea on the movement or the speed he threw it with. Problem with Maddux is he threw well over the 5 pitch limit for the game.

I'm talking '94 through '98 Maddux. Can't recall what kind of velocity he threw with back then. Anyone have any ideas?

[DJX619SD]

Re: Creating Greg Maddux

I'd go with:

Running Fastball (I think the movement on the Running Fastball is better than the 2-seam, especially for Maddux. He could make his fastball start on the inside corner and work it's way all the way back to the outside...)

Cutter

Circle Change

Slider

Curveball

[yyhy]

Re: Creating Greg Maddux

Yeah I agree that the runner seems to be more accurate to that pitch he runs back over the inside against lefties, but then there's the pitch he throws against them breaking down and away. Sometimes he would dip it a little and sometimes he wouldn't. Having the 2-seamer allows you to make both pitches, still works when used like Maddux used the runner. Same can't be said for the runner working the same as the 2-seamer running down and away. I wish the game allowed for more than 5 pitches :/

I'm thinking 89-90 for the speed of the fastballs. It'll max out at 92 or 93 like that, but be consistent at 90 or so. What was the speed on his circle change? Slider or Curve?

[DieHardYankee26]

Re: Creating Greg Maddux

from 60ft6in.com scouting report

Greg Maddux, RHP, starter Chicago Cubs, Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres

Maddux used just three pitches the majority of the time; fastball, changeup, and cutter. His fastball got tons of sink and tailing action towards his armside. He had great command of the pitch and consistently painted corners with it, inside and outside. Off of his fastball he used his dropping changeup. The changeup seemed to get some natural cut, not necessarily tailing like the fastball. However, during his dominant years, his changeup got excellent running and sinking action, and none of the 'cut' that his later changeups got. He used the changeup against both LHs and RHs throughout his career. The cutter was primarily used inside to LHs. The pitch didn't move a ton, but it was enough to throw off a batter looking for the tailing fastball, inducing a weak infield out. In his 1996 WS Game 6 start, Maddux threw a bunch of standard sliders, a pitch that looked to be his worst offering. I'm willing to bet he used the slider most often in these younger years, because that pitch was all but shelved in his final few seasons. Lastly, Maddux also threw a very slow curveball, averaging about one per start. 4/1/09 CSJ

*fastball(84-90), changeup(79-82), cutter(83-86), curve(74-75), slider(79-82)

[jf28]

Re: Creating Greg Maddux

Yeah I agree that the runner seems to be more accurate to that pitch he runs back over the inside against lefties, but then there's the pitch he throws against them breaking down and away. Sometimes he would dip it a little and sometimes he wouldn't. Having the 2-seamer allows you to make both pitches, still works when used like Maddux used the runner. Same can't be said for the runner working the same as the 2-seamer running down and away. I wish the game allowed for more than 5 pitches :/

I'm thinking 89-90 for the speed of the fastballs. It'll max out at 92 or 93 like that, but be consistent at 90 or so. What was the speed on his circle change? Slider or Curve?

Yeah, it sucks that they only allow 5, since all things considered, many pitchers throw more than 5 pitches, even if they're only slightly different (for example, a lot of guys that throw sinking fastballs have them flatten out up in the zone, so they should have sinkers and 4 seamers or runners, but guys don't have room).

For Maddux, even though I know he was able to put different amounts of movement and they were 3 distinct fastballs (runner, 2 seamer, cutter), I think you should only include 2 of them, you need the circle change and the 2 breaking balls. The cutter should obviously be one of them. For the other, it should either be a 2 seamer or a runner, I'd say a runner with a ton of movement is probably better, but try experimenting with both and see which is more like him.

[yyhy]

Re: Creating Greg Maddux

I went with the 2-seamer, circle change and curve to start. I think I'll add a cutter and runner to finish out my rtts player.

Something I noticed during my first year was how much the delivery you choose effects how well you field the ball. I know this is true in real life, just didn't think it effected it so much in the game. I played three years with another player/delivery and I'm getting to balls this year (my first) with Maddux's delivery that I wasn't in year three with the other.

The 2-seamer works ok used like a runner, but I'll definitely add the runner later on.

[jczar78]

Re: Creating Greg Maddux

I was thinking of creating Maddux myself, he is one of my favorite pitchers. How is Mad Dog doing in your RTTS.

[yyhy]

Re: Creating Greg Maddux

Yeah, probably my favorite baseball player ever. It sucked missing his late years after leaving Atlanta :/

He's doing really well actually. The delivery really helps on balls up the middle especially with the high number of grounders I've been inducing. Can't wait to get all his attributes up to where they should be.

[jczar78]

Re: Creating Greg Maddux

Yeah, probably my favorite baseball player ever. It sucked missing his late years after leaving Atlanta :/

He's doing really well actually. The delivery really helps on balls up the middle especially with the high number of grounders I've been inducing. Can't wait to get all his attributes up to where they should be.

Yeah Maddux was great, I almost cried when he left Chicago for the first time. Well keep us posted on how your RTTS is going. Did you do go into the draft or did you just put him on the Braves system or (Cubs for historical accuracy:wink. Good luck.

[yyhy]

Re: Creating Greg Maddux

It's really surprised me how true to form this RTTS is going. I've taken 3 or so games into the 7th with a no hitter and my player is only 19. I haven't really worked on anything but control on my 2-seam fastball, circle change and curveball and my BB's aside from stamina, durability and keeping everything else from decreasing. The fastball tops out at 87 and it's amazing how effective it and the circle change are when using them nearly exclusively with nothing but the control of each pitch altered. I took one game into the 9th with a pitch count in the 60's because of all the groundballs and weak fly outs. Right now I'm nearly to the AAA All-Star break in my second season. I've pitched 10 games this season with 9 quality starts, a 2.42 ERA, a .181 batting averadge against and a WHIP at .084 I believe and only 2 BB's. Sadly my teams offense has left me with a 4 - 2 record. I'm pitching better against lefties because I'm able to run the 2-seamer and circle change away from them. In two or three years I'm hoping I'll be to a point where I can add a cutter to run away from the righties.

Having a blast pitching like Maddux :P