The Cardinals are set to hire veteran pitching coach Mike Maddux to replace Derek Lilliquist, who was let go after the season, per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic (on Twitter). Maddux has spent the past two seasons as Dusty Baker’s pitching coach with the Nationals but was not renewed after his two-year contract with the Nationals expired.
Maddux, 56, has been a big league pitching coach dating back to the 2003 season. He spent six seasons in that role with the Brewers (2003-08) before moving on to occupy that position with the Rangers (2009-15) and Nationals (2016-17). The older brother of Hall of Famer Greg Maddux, Mike has developed a reputation as one of baseball’s best pitching minds after a successful 15-year playing career and now another 15 years as a big league pitching coach.
I really like this move.
Both Maddox brothers seemed to be very analytical during their pitching careers and Maddux has been high on analytics as a coach as well. With him spending time with Scherzer and Strasburg in Washington and what he was able to get out of their staff, I think this is a great move.
Loved it when he was with the Rangers. Great coach and just a cool guy to boot.
Garry Maddox? Who is his brother? And why would an OF be coaching pitchers?
Hehe
Literally the worst thing was getting rid of Maddux for the rangers. Great pitching coach.
I concur. The best pitching the Rangers ever had was when Maddox was coach. Ever since he left they haven’t been the same. Great hire by the Cardinals
Great hire – wish ATL moved on this, if they had their act together.
I doubt he would have went to Atlanta. I read the Cardinals were his first choice.
Agree Great hire! This was one of the hottest pitching coaches on the market— and for good reason.
Its a shame by going so slowly in hiring a manager the Phillies missed out on possibly hiring him. And other coaches.
I loved maddux in Texas, I’m happy to see him go to a team he’ll be able to thrive with young talent!
Fantastic move. Very proud of the Cardinals.
You know someone people will hate it no matter what..
Of course, we’ll hear that Hickey is better or they liked the previous coach or something. Its just irrational.
Great move. Maybe just maybe the Cards are going to be active thus off season. With Oquendo, McGee and now Maddux thus coaching staff is much better. Time to bring in a middle lineup bat and a true closer.
Big move for the Cards!
With all those years as a pitching coach, has he been offered a manager’s position and he turned it down? Maybe he doesn’t want all the headaches that go along with being a manager. Glad the Cardinals got him.
Yes the Cards made the staff a lot better than it was last year. Mo is doing a good job so far now he needs to focus on a hitter and a reliever. TBH tho I would have liked to see the Cards get a new hitting coach to
Exactly my thoughts. Mabry should have been the first coach fired. Mechanically was a bad hitter, and he had a sub .265 average…
mabry’s career as a hitter was about like maddux’s pitching career. neither was anything to brag about. maddux made a name for himself as a top notch pitching coach.
Thank you. On field production has NOTHING to do with ones ability to teach.
june jones, a former nfl quarterback comes to mind. not a great qb, but a great coaching record.
In fact, more often the players who sat on the bench or weren’t as talented are the better coaches. They can slow the process down to teach it, whereas a lot comes naturally to the greats, making it harder for them to teach.
Throwing the names of all the managers and coaches into a hat and picking them randomly is sounding more and more like a realistic plan.
Great move MO
He sure would pair well with Joe Girardi…
Unfortunately, if they haven’t fired Matheny by now he’s here for 2018.
Surprised to see him last this long in the open market. Great move by the Cards. Y’all got the best pitching coach in the majors. Hope y’all can find a new manger soon.
Hopefully this means that Matheny won’t ruin the bullpen next year.
Eversgerd is now the bullpen coach as well.
Cards making some good moves in the coaching dept. Maddux should help that young staff a lot! Now bring back Matt Holiday as the hitting coach.
You made a whole lot of sense then lost me at Holliday as a hitting coach…
I concur.. lol..
The Giants’ front office should be kicking themselves if they didn’t try to get him.
Strange the Cardinals weren’t more widely linked to Maddux before today.
The Cardinals make a practice of mot releasing what they are doing.
Maddux wasn’t available to interview until this past week. Most of the reports on the Cardinals’ coaching searches came early in the week at the latest. Given how quickly things turned, with Maddux leaving the Nationals, four other teams apparently pursuing him, and the Cubs suddenly firing their pitching coach to possibly open the door for Hickey, it probably caused the Cardinals to pivot and make their decision quickly.
This is probably going to rank as one of the most significant moves the Cardinals make this offseason. If you’re not going to change Matheny, surround Matheny with guys with the experience you want him to have.
Maddux has always been a Pitching Coach I have admired and I’m glad he is here now. This makes me think they’ll be going after a solid starting pitcher now too.
I certainly hope they go after a difference making pitcher, such as Archer. They have the pieces/cash, and they won’t be able to battle with other teams for other huge name next offseason.
That should be huge names*.
Archer? Probably not. My guess is that they wanted Maddux with the likes of Reyes, Flaherty, Weaver, and Hudson on their way soon, and with Martinez still young and working toward his potential.
Great move if your a Cardinals fan.
Welcome to the team Mike!
Another one of those I didn’t see that one coming moves by the Cardinals. Good job Mo!