Greg Maddux Interview with PitchingNinja 

BEST. INTERVIEW. EVER. Second time watching it.

Dude threw an 83 pitch complete game in under two hours. Mind blowing.

When Maddux was up for the Hall of Fame vote, there were a couple of writers who didnt vote for him. They should be banned from voting again.

Maddux was the first pitcher that made me realize how important weak contact is for a pitcher. Not that he didn't have his share of Ks. He was the best pitcher of the early to mid 90s.

Clayton Kershaw and Rich Hill are the only two of Maddux's teammates still active. Makes me feel sad and old. It really doesn't seem that long ago that I was watching Maddux, Glavine, and Smoltz on TBS everyday. Great interview, best one I've ever seen with Maddux.

Maddux was the master of control. You always felt like he could locate any pitch anytime he wanted to. My favorite of all time personally

What a great interview. Mad Dog was and is the greatest pure pitcher we will ever see.

His philosophy on beating lineups instead of players is right on the money and very insightful

Maddux and glavine were so dominate that as a kid watching them I had no idea how amazing they were. I just figured every team had pitchers like them and I was wrong

The interview where Greg talked the most. Amazing!

Maddux understood real velocity vs perceived velocity vs effective velocity before anyone knew what it was.

Time stamps would revamp your whole channel so much! Big fan btw

Phillies fan- this guy is the Einstein of pitching

I've been dying to see an in depth interview like this. Thank you

In my opinion the best pitcher in history

Life long Rangers fan since ‘87, but whenever local PBS had the Braves on I watched: Maddux and Chipper. That 90’s Braves team was epic

braves of the 90's were so fun. i remember crying when i had to go to bed and couldnt watch the games on TBS. Awesome awesome interview!

The Atlanta Braves team in the 90s was a super team it shows how hard Baseball is by how little World Series they won! Great interview Pitching Ninja!

I recorded Greg Maddux on VHS and went frame by frame to mimic his windup in the late 90s/early 2000s. Probably helped more then anything I learned growing up as a pitcher.

Huge Cardinals fan growing up, and I hated when we had to play this guy; I think that’s the ultimate compliment. People who didn’t get to watch him don’t understand how good he really was, good argument for being the perfect pitcher imo. You expected to lose every time you faced him.

I’m a Chicago guy who played in college in the early 70s and then was on the equipment side of baseball for 20 years. I never got over that the Cubs let him get away, but never stopped being a Greg Maddux fan. Congrats to the interviewer to get him to open up a little about pitching. We loved watching a typical Maddux post game interview when he gave them maybe a minute or two of words, but absolutely nothing to hit. Game after game. I was interested he brought up Hershiser and not surprised. I was at a sales meeting when someone asked Orel did he ever think he could throw 60 consecutive scoreless innings (or whatever it was close enough). He said he never thought about it that way he just knew if he could get his elbow in the right place he could throw a great pitch and then do it again. A Maddux style answer if there ever was one. Thanks for posting this terrific interview.

oh wow. What an absolutely phenomenal session. My god this was so enlightening. Not just about baseball but about life.

This is the kind of knowledge that I love learning about. Maddux was so smart with how he pitched and so glad I got to watch him growing up from little league in the late 90’s

The pitching intricacies Maddox mentioned and how he managed them was phenomenal.

Can you imagine prime randy johnson as a full time closer? That mullet and that 7 foot lefty sidearm fb/sl combo? Omg 😲

Awesome! My dad loves Greg Maddox sooo much. They have the same birthday and I can see why, Greg is awesome!

One of, if not THE best finesse pitchers ever. So glad I got to see him pitch for my cubbies and, even though it was hard to see him leave, I'm glad he went to the braves where he was able to get a ring. He deserved it!! Thanks for all the great pitching, Greg!!

As a former pitcher myself, I can tell you that what this guy accomplished is amazing. One of a kind

I would like to thank Greg Maddox for all the short games he threw.

Great interview, Rob. Listening to the Professor is like sitting in on a pitching masterclass!

Greg Maddux is my all time favorite player EVER. No one will ever be better. Brilliant pitcher, great player. Ridiculously smart. In a world where people kinda pitch "ok" Maddux was a step above heavenly.

Something about that control, that confidence, that...smirk. It enraged me at that time, but now I look back with nothing but grudging respect. Damn, what a pitcher.

This is why I'm here. I will watch this again and again

My goodness he was so fun to watch.

Wow! You got to interview a legend!

The guy's an absolute genius. Great interview.

Mr. Friedman, thank you sincerely for maybe the best interview on RU-vid. I have to admit I have completely lost almost all my interest in the four team sports since about 2015, and I might only see a video of yours once a month, but you put out good content. When I was a boy, I remember it seemed odd when grown men would cry after meeting Mickey Mantle. I like to think I wouldn't cry over seeing Greg Maddux, I hope. He once said his favorite fictional character was Hannibal Lectar, (obviously, in intelligence only). There was this mythology about his brain that was so fascinating. Put simply, in a world of muscle bound Indiana Joneses I was rooting for the Dow Jones with him. I remember in 1995, SI saying he was so smart that in an 8-0 game, he gave up a home run just to set a trap for someone up so he could strike them out the next time he faced him in a playoff game. As expected they didn't even bother to fact check it, but I did. Years later, I went to BaseballReference (when that was a chore) and found out it was all BS, and I thought, "He's laughing at me. He speaks in anagrams He said that just to set something else up." I would tape every start just to see what he did, and I would never miss the Braves going to Coors Field even though I had no money. I hope I get to meet him one day. I think he's the only living person I really want to meet. In a world with no magic left, it's nice to see that the greatest magician I've ever seen doesn't have a million Instagram followers, keeps his mouth shut, and he's not doing a million interviews. His 1994-1995 seasons are, in my opinion, the most underrated seasons in sports history, which I'm sure he is happy about.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen an interview where Greg Maddox said very much. This is the most I’ve heard him talk in 30 years. This was great.

I remember him well. His 2-seamer was awesome. Lefties would jump back and Righties would give up on it as way outside. That, and he could dot an i, and change speeds so well.

absolute legend.. thank you for this, Greg

Idk what to say about this interview other than LEGENDARY

What a great interview. I got to see Greg Maddux in person when I went to Rangers spring training, possibly for the first time since I was in the stands at RFK Stadium when he faked out Lastings Milledge, but I was too awestruck to say anything to him. My favorite (possibly apocryphal) story involving Greg Maddux was when he told somebody that said he looked familiar his name was "Jeffrey Dahmer." Anyways, I'm hoping for a Randy Johnson interview someday.

Incredible insight out of dozens of Maddox interviews I’ve seen before

I remember trying for years to get my 2 seam to move like his. By the time i got it close, my arm was done and I couldn't pitch any more. I never missed a game when Maddux pitched. Awesome interview, thanks for this!

Saw this and told my wife I’ll mow the lawn in an hour

My favorite player ever. Grew up watching him. Texas Legend.

Really enjoyed this excellent interview with a true legend...hated Maddux back in the day because he was so good and not on my team but have grown to really love this guy's attitude

Watching Maddox pitch gave me a greater appreciation of baseball. He was an artist.

Compliments to you. YT suggested this video to me, didn't think I'd watch much of it, but stayed and enjoyed it. Good questions, friendly banter, interesting information on the game. Well done!

This was a great interview, took notes and everything!! Greg Maddux, what an awesome person and pitcher!!

Takashi Saito was with the Dodgers the same time as Maddux and he said that he would sit next to Maddux in the dugout talking about pitching and it was like going to pitching college.

CAN NOT WAIT TO WATCH THIS. maddux is one of my all time favorites, and i will be watching this with my dad. we love maddux over here! (lincecum interview soon?)

Pitching ninja doing big things. Good for you man 🤙🤙

Amazing conversation with perhaps my favorite pitcher of all time.

I've heard so many great Maddux stories, but the bit around @25:00 where he says that for the last few years he only gave the catcher pitch location and not pitch type is now my favorite. What an absolute madlad.

I hated low scoring games as a kid. But I could watch Maddox pitch and would often only watch his games and I wasn’t a pitcher and knew nothing about it but his control was mesmerizing and entertaining.

This is wonderful! Thank you for sharing.

Thanks for a great interview. I could listen to you guys talk baseball all day. And thanks Greg for the memories,

The Cutter comment is absolute gold

Pitching Ninja, thank you for this. What a wonderful interview.

Fun fact: The ONLY MLB player to have 10 straight years with at least 1 stolen base without ever being thrown out is Greg Maddux. So not only was he the best ever on the mound he was also greased lightening on the base paths.

What a great interview! Thank you, Pitching Ninja. I was grateful to hear Maddux say what he said about PED users. I'm in a baseball group on Facebook. It seems like half the members see no reason why the PED guys shoud be banned from the HOF. There used to be this idea of "the integrity of the game." It's depressing that so many people have the "win at all costs" mentality. Baseball is the best game, and it's beautiful when it's played honorably.

The professor! Absolutely a wonderful interview… great questions with very insightful answers from the best! My 11yr old who is a pitcher will be watching this entire interview… so many gems 💎! Thanks 🙏

GREAT INTERVIEW! Thanks for the content

I can say a million good things about Maddux. To sum it up. He is the reason I love baseball and pitching is my favorite position.

Great interview with the Master Technician!

Great Stuff! I wanted to be this guy so bad when I was playing ball as a kid. great to hear him talk about the game!

Wow- thanks! Gregg is so brilliant with his insights (especially the pitchers calling there own games / conviction!!!!)

Thank you so much for this fantastic interview with one of my favorite pitchers!

What a great interview! Thanks to Ninja and Greg!

I’m from the UK and I been a baseball fan since 2001/2002 ever since my sister came back from a holiday to Florida with a devil rays hat and cup for me. I’ve followed the rays ever since that day. Catching glimpses and snippets of their games on the family computer whenever I could.. about 7/8 years ago I finally had the funds and resources to follow baseball fully (mlbtv subscriptions, wider access to the internet etc) back then when I discovered who Greg Maddux was and the way he pitched and his attitude to the game it totally revolutionised the way I see baseball. He is one of my favourite players of the game ever. The guy is a genius. Breaks the game down and the “science” behind the game down so simply. By no Means a simple game. So complex and takes absolutely outstanding reactions. Physical skill and also acute mental analysis to get ahead. This interview is amazing having expended every Greg Maddux reference, video and resource I can find this is an hour of pure bliss!!!! Thank you so much.

my favorite player growing up was Will Clark. he had some epic at bats against Maddux (one in particular hehe) Great interview!!!!

It was a privilege to have watched mad dog pitch. Probably the greatest

Glad to see Greg would approve my coaching, love hearing him speak.

"If somebody peed on somebody in the shower..." God I love Greg Maddux. He was the GOAT on the field, and an all-timer off the field. Great interview. Thanks so much.

That was fantastic! Thank you!

Great interview Rob 👍 Thank you Mad Dog for doing this.

I loveed Maddux growing up. So good

My One and only son name after this legend..... Maddux....My favorite Mlb pitcher of all Time.... Mabuhay Greg Maddux.....

From my personal experience as a mens league sinkerball pitcher. It's one of the hardest pitches to control. Like a good day for me was just to throw strikes, here it is, try to hit it. A bad day was walking the bases loaded and trying to get out of it. It was amazing to see Maddox control a sinker/screwball that broke 18" inside out up down. Why I put him as a modern day Cy Young, Grover Cleveland Alexander. Pitchers who pitched with poise and control.

His 1994 season and Pedro in 2000 were two of the greatest pitching seasons I've ever seen

The answers are so in depth Pitching Savant

This is great. This is simply a great mind. Proof that man was made before the machine.

Rob, we’ll done with the “starters” question. You probably realized as soon as Greg said “Andruw Jones” that you hadn’t been specific enough, but you let the interviewee continue, without interrupting, and made him look good with how graciously you followed it up without letting it show. 👌

Love this. Thank you for this interview. Love to hear The Greats speak their thoughts. Very interesting.

I learn more in this interview with Maddux than the last 12 years , I forward the video to young pitchers growing up as pitchers .

How is this only 38k views. Maddux is a pitching GOAT

what a great interview, thanks for sharing

I’d love to see more in depth on his pitch grips, release, and cues to get the pitches to work like you want.

The best interview I’ve ever listened to. Great questions and answers. I love Greg. Good stuff thank you!

Fantastic!!!

My childhood memory of a great pitcher is Jim Palmer moving infielders and then the batter hitting the ball directly at the infielder.

Excellent interview

Being from Pittsburgh, I’m a diehard Cubs fan because in 1988 on August 5 the Cubs played the Phillies in Wrigley field, and Greg Maddox was the pitcher. Andre Dawson’s first at bat. I stood up and said home run and he hit a home run. It was sad to see Greg Maddox go to Atlanta, but even going to Atlanta he was still and still is my favorite picture of all time. It was nice to see him go back to Chicago before he retired. Greg Maddox is the 🐐 this was my first ever baseball game.

My favorite player as a kid!

Great interview!!

Amazing stuff

Absolute legend. The surgeon.

AMAZING!!!

There was a three or four year period in the 90s when it was a shock when Maddux didn't win. I almost expected him to go like 28-0 with 2 or 3 three walks a season. He was just so precise and consistent.