St. Louis Cardinals: Mike Maddux is the new pitching coach

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 27: Mike Maddux #51 of the Washington Nationals looks on as the Washington Nationals play the St. Louis Cardinals at Nationals Park on May 27, 2016 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 27: Mike Maddux #51 of the Washington Nationals looks on as the Washington Nationals play the St. Louis Cardinals at Nationals Park on May 27, 2016 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /
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The St. Louis Cardinals failed to fire their embargoed manager after the 2017 season, but are making changes already to make the team 100 percent better.

News was just released that the St. Louis Cardinals are adding Mike Maddux as their pitching coach to replace Derek Lilliquist into the 2018 season. Maddux is just one of a few new or returning names to the Cardinals coaching staff surrounding Mike Matheny.

In addition to Maddux, the St. Louis Cardinals are bringing their “Secret Weapon” back to his one-time-regular post as third base coach and returning the great Willie McGee as a coach in some, yet released coaching title. The return of Jose Oquendo was the best news in my opinion.

Another coaching change to hit the Cardinals dugout is the reassignment of Mike Shildt from third base to bench coach replacing the departing David Bell. Shildt, who managed the AAA-affiliate to many accolades, joined Matheny’s coaching staff in 2017. His move to bench coach puts him in line for managerial duties if Matheny is ejected (from games or from the organization at any point).

But let’s take a look at the great Mike Maddux in his pitching career:

Standard Pitching
YearAgeTmLgWLW-L%ERAGGSGFCGSHOSVIPHRERHRBBIBBSOHBPBKWPBFERA+FIPWHIPH9HR9BB9SO9SO/WAwards
198624PHINL37.3005.421616000078.0885647634444324351724.071.56410.20.73.95.11.29
198725PHINL201.0002.6572000017.0175505015001721641.991.2949.00.02.67.93.00
198826PHINL43.5713.762511400088.2914137634459524380953.641.4109.20.63.56.01.74
198927PHINL13.2505.15164121143.2522925314326213191693.561.51110.70.62.95.41.86
199028LADNL01.0006.53112300020.22415153401110288584.361.35510.51.31.74.82.75
199129SDPNL72.7782.466412700598.27830274273571053881553.081.0647.10.42.55.22.11
199230SDPNL22.5002.375011400579.27125212244600143301522.511.1928.00.22.76.82.50
199331NYMNL38.2733.605803100575.06734303277574143201123.231.2538.00.43.26.82.11
199432NYMNL21.6675.112701200244.0452525713432002186824.631.3189.21.42.76.52.46
199533TOTMLB51.8334.10444700198.210049455184692064091182.971.1969.10.51.66.33.83
199533PITNL101.0009.008010009.01499031400142493.211.88914.00.03.04.01.33
199533BOSAL41.8003.61364600189.28640365153652053671352.951.1268.60.51.56.54.33
199634BOSAL32.6004.48237200064.176373212272325012951136.091.60110.61.73.84.51.19
199735SEAAL101.00010.1360100010.2201212182710159465.552.62516.90.86.85.90.88
199836MONNL34.4293.725102000155.25024233151331132281143.521.1688.10.52.45.32.20
199937TOTNL11.5003.775302100059.26326256222455012601164.291.4259.50.93.36.82.05
199937MONNL009.004020005.0955130410026536.532.40016.21.85.47.21.33
199937LADNL11.5003.294901900054.25421205192414012341314.091.3358.90.83.16.82.16
200038HOUNL22.5006.26210600027.1312019612017200128806.281.57310.22.04.05.61.42
15 Yrs3937.5134.05472481492120861.287342838867284405643284136851023.761.3439.10.73.05.91.99
162 Game Avg.55.5134.056261900311311456519375744154821023.761.3439.10.73.05.91.99
WLW-L%ERAGGSGFCGSHOSVIPHRERHRBBIBBSOHBPBKWPBFERA+FIPWHIPH9HR9BB9SO9SO/WAwards
PHI (4 yrs)1013.4354.5164335211227.124813111415871114410512994833.651.4749.80.63.45.71.66
NYM (2 yrs)59.3574.1685043007119.0112595510401189416506983.751.2778.50.83.06.72.23
LAD (2 yrs)12.3334.186022200075.17836358232525033221004.161.3419.31.02.76.22.26
SDP (2 yrs)94.6922.421142410010178.1149554865171171197181532.821.1217.50.32.65.92.29
MON (2 yrs)34.4294.155502200160.25929284181372132541033.761.2698.80.62.75.52.06
BOS (2 yrs)73.7003.9759118001154.0162776817425977066621254.261.3259.51.02.55.72.31
PIT (1 yr)101.0009.008010009.01499031400142493.211.88914.00.03.04.01.33
SEA (1 yr)101.00010.1360100010.2201212182710159465.552.62516.90.86.85.90.88
HOU (1 yr)22.5006.26210600027.1312019612017200128806.281.57310.22.04.05.61.42
NL (13 yrs)3134.4773.98407371402119697.06913393084923433460248342964993.621.3278.90.63.05.91.97
AL (3 yrs)83.7274.3765119001164.21828980185071048077211134.341.4099.91.02.75.72.08

A 15-year career ERA just over the 4-mark is impressive for sure. Additionally, Maddux’s experience will bode well for the youth movement that is happening with the St. Louis Cardinals pitchers. Just imagine this powerful pitching mind working with Luke Weaver and Alex Reyes and Jack Flaherty!

More from St Louis Cardinals News

In addition to his own pitching career, Maddux has served as the pitching coach for the Brewers where he worked with C.C. Sabathia, pitching coach for the Texas Rangers where he worked with the likes of Yu Darvish and C.J. Wilson, and- most recently- pitching coach for the Washington Nationals where he worked with the likes of Stephen Strausberg and Max Scherzer.

All-in-all, Maddux brings 14 years of coaching to join with his 15 years of playing for an impressive 29 years of experience to the St. Louis Cardinals dugout. No other coach on staff- save for the great Oquendo- has more experience. This, if used correctly, should add immense value to Matheny’s decision making.

To make matters even sweeter, after seasons of the St. Louis Cardinals coming up as also-rans for players and other big names, it has been reported that Maddux chose the Cardinals over five other offering teams.


This is all great news. I think this is a great addition to the squad and look forward to the work that Maddux can do with the St. Louis Cardinals pitching staff.

Next: Cardinals need a bat

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