A Hello to Arms Is the Main Feature

PHOENIX —  The spotlight is on starting pitching in a National League championship series that opens with a marquee matchup.

Greg Maddux of the Atlanta Braves and Randy Johnson of the Arizona Diamondbacks are the leading men today in Game 1 at Bank One Ballpark, though other cast members are headliners too, and contrasting styles will be on display.

The Braves soon will turn to Tom Glavine and the Diamondbacks to Curt Schilling, but the curtain rises with Maddux trying to extend Atlanta’s postseason run and Johnson eager to end his record losing streak.

“They each go about their business in their own way,” Arizona Manager Bob Brenly said. “Randy is more of an overpowering, challenge-you-with-his-best-stuff kind of pitcher. Greg Maddux will tease you, change speeds, move the ball in and out and up and down. But both have had tremendous success.

“My old broadcast buddy, Tim McCarver, [put it this way]: ‘With Randy, you dread the intimidation. With Maddux, you dread the inevitable.’ It is quite a contrast in pitching styles. Generally, though, they get pretty much the same results.”

At least during the regular season.

Maddux and Johnson have seven Cy Young Awards combined, and Johnson could win his fourth this season after going 21-6 with a 2.49 earned-run average and 372 strikeouts in 2492/3 innings for the NL West champions. The left-hander has been selected the league’s top pitcher the last two seasons, and also won the American League award in 1995 as a member of the Seattle Mariners.

Maddux was 17-11 with a 3.05 ERA in 233 innings for the Braves, whose 88 victories were the fewest of any playoff team. The right-hander struggled in September, with a record of 0-3 and a 5.19 ERA in five starts, but still contributed to the Braves’ 10th division title in a row as they held off the Philadelphia Phillies in the NL East.

Johnson outdueled Maddux in their only meeting while Johnson was with the Houston Astros in 1998.

In a 4-2 victory at Turner Field on Sept. 2, Johnson gave up four hits and one run in an eight-inning, 10-strikeout performance. Maddux pitched seven innings in the loss, giving up 10 hits, four earned runs and three home runs.

“What I remember the most is hitting off him,” Maddux said. “If he wanted to slap me on the side of the head when he let go of it, he could. He seems to let the ball go a lot further out in front of the mound than anybody I’ve ever faced.”

Maddux pitched well in a no-decision in Atlanta’s opening victory against the Astros in the 2001 division series, giving up four hits and three runs (two earned) in six innings. The Braves swept the Astros in three games.

Although Maddux is only 10-11 in the postseason, he has a solid 3.11 ERA. He also has limited opponents to a .249 batting average.

Johnson has not fared as well in losing a record seven consecutive playoff games, though his 2-7 record is misleading. He has a 3.67 ERA, 82 strikeouts in 682/3 innings and opponents are batting .228 against him.

Johnson worked eight innings but lost in the second game of the division series against the St. Louis Cardinals. He gave up six hits, including Albert Pujols’ two-run home run in the first inning, and three runs with nine strikeouts with two walks in a quality outing.

The Diamondbacks said that performance was indicative of the Big Unit’s so-called playoff problems.

“If people really want to do their homework and look at the numbers, he’s certainly pitched well enough to win the overwhelming majority of those ballgames,” Brenly said. “This is a team game. It involves offense, defense and pitching. No matter how well you pitch, if your teammates don’t score runs for you, you get hung with the loss and answering all the questions.

“In reality, he’s probably pitched well enough to win most of those games. I understand it’s all part of it, and some guys get the tag as a great big-game pitcher, and other guys don’t get that tag. I like my chances with him out there on the mound. I know that.”

Atlanta Manager Bobby Cox said the competition has more to do with the playoff records of Johnson and Maddux than their ability.

“You’re always matched up against another [star] pitcher and the best hitters,” he said. “When you reach the playoff level, you’re playing against the very best. I can remember some of the games, groundballs hitting bags and things like that.”

Johnson said he’s unfazed by his subpar playoff mark.

“It’s nice that people would count on you or expect something from you when you go out there, opposed to, ‘What are we going to get from him today?”’ he said. “I would much rather have the expectations put on me, and have them put on me by my teammates and myself, because those are the only two elements that really matter--my teammates counting on me.

“I count on going out there and pitching a good game. As far as pitching better, [how he has pitched in the playoffs] might have been a game good enough to win during the regular season, but we all saw some of the games this postseason. It really comes down to pitching. My job will be to set the tone; no better place to do that than at home in front of my fans.”