I have never liked Greg Maddux though I have respected his results. The Yankees are hated as a team and people around the country hate Steinbrenner, but they don't hate the bulk of the Yankee players (except Clemens). I am trying to judge if I am biased and I don't think so. There is something about Maddux and Chipper Jones that just seems arrogant. I don't know if it's the set of their faces when they succeed or what. Something they do brings out those feelings in me.

But as much as I loathe Maddux, his terrible start this year has been stunning. His stats the first three games (all losses) are unbelievable: 14.2 innings, 29 hits (29!!), 24 runs (18 earned), 6 homers, 9 walks and 14 strikeouts. Well, at least the strikeouts look good. The NL--before tonights blowout--was batting .347 against him. Highlights of his last game showed a really slow pitcher whose pitches seemed to be hanging on the plate like they were sitting on a tee. I have to wonder if this is a mechanics problem that he will eventually fix, or if this is indeed the end of a remarkable Hall of Fame run.

As long as we are discussing pitching, here is some other news around the majors:
- Mark Prior of the Cubs is the real deal. His two game ERA is under 1 as he got his first shutout today walking none in nine innings and striking out 12. Those are early Clemens like numbers.
- The Yankee starters look as good at the start of this year as they looked bad at the end of last year. Clemens should waltz to 300 wins.
- Mark MacDougal, the Royals new closer has yet to give up a hit while striking out 4 in his three successful save attempts. He throws 100mph!
- Brown and Dreifort look like they are back for the Dodgers. Drefort won tonight. That is bad news for the NL West.
- Pedro Martinez looks fantastic and should win 20 games again with a low ERA. Don't be surprised if he wins another Cy Young.
- AJ Burnett has had two great starts with the Marlins and this could be the year that he arrives on the scene.
- After a stupid injury, Pittsburgh's Benson looks poised to be the ace he was predicted to be. Two brilliant starts.
- The experiment with Kim starting in Arizona instead of closing has had a real bumpy 0-2 start.
- Arizona's pitching is going to be severely tested as the Diamondbacks are not going to score runs for them.
- Despite hopes, Texas Ranger pitching just doesn't look very good. Valdez was lit up tonight and Park has been lit up twice.
- Barry Zito has looked great. Mark Mulder has not.

Ah...it's baseball season and the stats are starting to pile up. What a great time of year.