Maddux vs. Bonds

One good thing about Bonds pursuit of the record is more baseball on ESPN...more specifically more NL west coast baseball on ESPN.

The Bonds circus rolled into San Diego last night...as the Giants took on the Padres...more specifically--as ESPN was hyping it--Maddux vs. Bonds. With this case, I can get into the hype. I was shocked that the matchup actually led off PTI yesterday evening. But considering that its two future hall of famers going at it with the home run record in reach...in my mind...it is worth hyping it up.

Further adding to the buzz were the comments that Maddux made prior to the game--

“It's easy pitching to Barry because if it matters, you just walk him...I mean, it's not that hard to throw four a couple feet outside...I know he taught me to beat lineups and not hitters. You do what you can to keep him in the park. No disrespect to the other eight guys, but you've got to make sure Barry doesn't beat you.”

It was these comments by Maddux that led to much of the discussion leading up to the game...would Maddux actually pitch to him?

It didn't take long to answer that. With a runner on second in the 1st inning, and Bonds at the plate...Maddux's first pitch set the tone on how he was going to pitch to Barry...and that was that he was going to go right after him (in terms of how Maddux goes after a batter). It was a pretty cool moment that after that first pitch Bonds and Maddux--with a grin and head nod--acknowledged their mutual respect that they have for each other. Certainly that first at bat was the highlight of the game for me. Bonds worked the count full. I told Jenny that Maddux was going to try and get him on the inside corner with that cut/sinking fastball that he throws to lefties. And sure enough he struck out Bonds looking...vintage Maddux. I was pumped.

In Bonds's next two plate appearances against Maddux, Bonds took his licks. Maddux induced him for a ground out and a fly out. In retrospect one could see Maddux's comments as a way to maybe throw Bonds off a little bit. He certainly implied that he was not going to pitch to him, but in fact he pitched to him probably more than he should have. Maddux isn't the pitcher that he used to be...but more times than not he is still one step ahead of the hitters.

As for the rest of the game...Maddux ended up throwing a quality start (6.1 innings/ 3 earned runs) but it was his opponent, Matt Cain, that was the story of the game up until the 8th inning. Cain was simply baffling the Padres hitters as they could muster no offense whatsoever. Finally in the 8th...after a couple of hits...Cain exited the game. Newly acquired outfield Scott Hairston came to bat and belted a game-tying home run. Lo and behold in the tenth inning Hairston belted a walk off solo home run to win the game.

It was an unbelievable finish to a classic ballgame. Hats off to Hairston for hitting not one...but two crucial home runs. No question he was the player of the game. In essence it was just a great game. The Bonds/Maddux hype...with my perspective...lived up to the hype and for a Padres fan the end of the game was simply exhilarating.

(photo courtesy of AP Photo/Chris Carlson)