Four years ago, Greg Maddux figured Yankee...

Four years ago, Greg Maddux figured Yankee Stadium would be his home. He was offered the staggering sum of $36 million for five years, and was ready to accept.

Then, the Atlanta Braves offered five years at $28.5 million. Scott Boras, Maddux’s agent, presented the two options.

Maddux chose the Braves.

Four postseason appearances later, Maddux is considered the greatest free-agent signing in baseball history.

“It’s one of those things where when you’re happy, you don’t think of choices you made years ago,� said Maddux, who won won three of his record four consecutive Cy Young awards with the Braves. “If had bad years, gotten booed, or hated my neighbors, maybe I would have thought about it.

“The only reason I was considering New York in the first place was because Atlanta didn’t have room for me. I wanted five years and there were not many teams willing to give someone like me five years. The Yankees were one. The Braves were the other.

“I knew what I wanted first, and it was Atlanta.�

The rest is history.

*

Brave left fielder Ryan Klesko was the designated hitter for the first time in his career Sunday. Andruw Jones replaced him in left field because of his superb defensive skills.

“I’m not sure I’ll like this,� Klesko said. “If you’re hitting good, it’s great. If you’re not hitting good, it can stink because you’ve got a long time to wait before your next at-bat.�

If you ask Brave Manager Bobby Cox, he would just as soon do away with the whole DH concept.

“I always feel it favors the National League team because the American League team never has a chance to hit or bunt during the year,� he said. “Hopefully, with this new agreement, baseball will do the right thing and get rid of the DH.�

*

Baseball officials hired two New York Police Dept. helicopters to help drain the drenched field. There were 700 gallons of water on the tarp. . . . Brave left-hander Steve Avery, who is eligible for free agency after the World Series, said he would prefer to stay in the National League and pitch for a contender. “I’m spoiled playing for this team,� he said. “I’d like to go somewhere where I can win right.�

The Florida Marlins are quite interested.