Dear Mr. Maddux

He did.

"I threw OK, but I got outpitched," Maddux said. "Their guy didn't make many mistakes and pitched a very good game. He shut down a team that's been swinging the bats really good the last few games."

"He had a good idea up there for being a Triple-A guy," Cubs second baseman Todd Walker said of Duke. "He held us down and Greg threw a good game, too, but you're not going to win if you can't score."

Ya think Todd??

Game Story

Dear Todd,

He is not a Triple-AAA guy.

He is a MLB pitcher - who just shut down your sorry a**

Get the lingo right - Todd

LOL

DUUU-U-U-U-U-U-U-U-UKE!!!!!!!!

First - Wonderful/magical as always Zach! - Still am puzzeled however why the Pirates waited so long to call you up.

Second - The comment by Walker is "punkish" and in my mind clearly illuminates who the real "bush league" player is.

Third - Of all the nice comments from Baker, he said "The main thing was he threw strikes"

Young pitchers out there should be modeling their approach to games after Zach.

From the Pittsburgh Post Gazzette:

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05198/539299.stm

Opp,

It would be cool to hear about the phone call Zach said he was going to make to you last night. Sounds like he is pretty proud of his hitting right now - and rightfully so.

...fun ain't it?

ClevelandDad,

Todd Walker, not Todd Helton.

Way to go Zach!

I corrected the post above to properly indicate that Todd Walker is the bush league player. I apologize to all the Todd Helton fans out there.

quote:

First - Wonderful/magical as always Zach! - Still am puzzeled however why the Pirates waited so long to call you up.

They wanted to see if he could handle AAA for a while. Secondly, it was a business decision. If he would have been called up before June 1, he would have been a free agent a year earlier and a restricted free agent a year earlier. This way they get to keep his rights longer and cheaper.

After all, it is a business!

I think you guys are getting Walker's meaning wrong. I didn't take ith that way at all. What he was implying is that most guys from AAA aren't that competent and have to take time to learn the big league hitters. jmo

MLB is a game of adjustments. Not to diminish Zach's accomplishments, but first time around the teams don't know him yet. Big league hitters will adjust and the more they see him, the more they will adjust and then Zach will have to adjust as well. That is what makes Zach so good in my opinion is his advanced understanding of what he needs to do. He also studies tape as much as he can. Smart kid.

I got to watch the game, and it was a lot of fun for me. Zach pitched so well, and the strikeout of Lee with a runner on 3rd was when he really showed his stuff. Two fastballs in great locations followed by a curve in a great location. He could not afford to make a mistake in that situation, and he didn't.

Big,

Whatever the explanation, Todd should either give credit where credit is due - or shut his yapping mouth.

Snide slaps at the pitcher are obvious - and unappreciated.

I hope Toddie goes 0 for 300 the rest of the season.

You need to be careful when you open your yapper in the press - IMO.

Bottom line - Toddie lost - the Dukie won.
Perhaps Todd should be back in AAA - LOL

He did compliment him. He said that Zach held them down. Regardles of how you read what he said. Remember that it is a quote from the CUBS website. Why should a player gush on another teams player? He said he threw well. He was probably surprised that a guy straight from AAA was doing so well. Veterans are not going to kiss a rooks behind until he proves himself for a little more than 3 outings.

Itsinthegame speaks again before he thinks.....This is getting to be normal for him.......

Big,

I hear ya - but - needless to say - I am not a Todd fan.

Not after that snide comment.

Todd hasnt hit .300 in 6 years - and this year - he is currently a bit over .300 - so he is getting uppity.

I am now hoping that Todd ends the season at around .175 - and uses some crazy glue on his yapper LOL

The doggie - LOL

quote:

Todd hasnt hit .300 in 6 years - and this year - he is currently a bit over .300 - so he is getting uppity.

See what I mean?...

Actually - no - I dont.

LOL

Then again - I never really see what you mean - so all is as normal as it has ever been.

Woof

quote:

Then again - I never really see what you mean

Good, I'd worry if you did....And, completely revamp my thinking.....

Dont ever change doggie. Not even for me.

You are a fountain of baseball wisdom.

I watched it, too. Great game, Zach!!!
Congratulations!!!