Fact check: Greg Maddux claimed that Barry Bonds was the easiest guy to pitch to because if it mattered you just walked him.

1. Summary of the results

The statement is accurately attributed to Greg Maddux. Multiple sources confirm that Maddux did indeed claim Barry Bonds was the "easiest guy to pitch to" because he would simply walk him in important situations ^{[1] [2]}. This strategy is backed by statistical evidence: Maddux walked Bonds at a rate of 15.3%, which was triple his career average of 4.9% ^[2]. In total, Maddux walked Bonds 24 times in 157 plate appearances, more than double the walks he issued to any other hitter in his career ^[3].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original statement omits crucial context that paints a more complex picture:

• Despite Maddux's "easy" strategy, Bonds still maintained impressive stats against him, hitting .265/.376/.508 ^[2]
• In their 157 matchups, Bonds hit 8 home runs while striking out 16 times ^[4]
• Maddux's characterization of Bonds as "easy" was more of a pragmatic survival tactic than a dismissal of Bonds' abilities ^[2]
• Maddux actually considered Bonds "so much better than all the other hitters in the game" ^[1]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The statement, while technically accurate, could be misleading without context:

• The word "easiest" might suggest Maddux had success against Bonds, when in reality it reflected a strategy of intentional avoidance
• The statement could be interpreted as diminishing Bonds' abilities, when Maddux's actual comments show profound respect for Bonds' hitting prowess ^[1]
• The strategy wasn't about Bonds being "easy" to pitch to, but rather about Maddux's calculated decision that facing other batters was preferable to challenging arguably the most dangerous hitter in baseball history ^[2]