Q.  What makes Beavan anything more than one more AAA schlub trying to hit spots?

A.  Beavan is special -- compared to the 20,000 AAA guys -- in several respects.

First of all, his mechanics are uncommonly clean and quiet, as Fister's were.  You'll remember that SSI bet into the pot on Doug Fister based on three things:  (1) sweet mechanics, (2) track record of exceptionally few BB's, and (3) makeup.

Beavan does indeed have these three things to an unusual extent.  (He does not have them to Fister's magnitude.)

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Q.  What's special about Beavan's mechanics?

A.  Beavan's mechanics are stripped-down, with almost no moving parts -- and therefore nothing to go wrong from one pitch to the next.

He carries a very high CG, which I hate ... but in this case it's only because he's got a "having a catch with your sister" windup.  Almost reminds me of Jim Kaat.  Also Greg Maddux kind of did this.

The head stays super quiet, his eyes don't move around as he comes through ... it's a dart-thrower's motion.  An outstanding motion as it relates to command in the zone.

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Beavan can apparently get away with this because --- > he's got a 1st-round pitcher's arm.  Beavan used to throw 95+.  Now he arm-throws 92.  It's kind of a cool solution.  Sandy Koufax jelled when he cut down to 90% velocity...

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Beavan frequently finishes with his body way too high, like Daniel Cortes does, and the right leg kicks up awkwardly.  But the difference is, Beavan finishes bent over, then bobs right back up for the awkward finish. So Beavan's release is fine.

Beavan's arm release is terrific and he gives a loose, easy impression.  Like we say, he's a 94-97 guy who decided to just have a catch with his sister, dart the ball into the catcher's mitt at 91.

I enjoy watching him pitch.  There's something to be said for using your brain instead of your muscle, and here's a guy who simply chose not to use the muscle.

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Q.  Point 2 was, a track record of low walks?

A.  Ja vunderbar.  Beavan had 1+ walks at Tacoma before coming up.

This intersects with the super-clean motion, and with the command he showed Sunday, to give the same kind of resume going forward, that Fister had.

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Hey, check this out.  Beavan had 6.2 strikeouts and 1.9 walks in AAA with this template.  Doug Fister, when he was called up, had 7.0 strikeouts and 1.0 walks (!) at the time.  Do you see why that was such a rare, and exciting, result for a guy who throws that kind of game?  ("Here's the fastball.  Hit it.")

And, it is why you shouldn't get your hopes up too awfully much.  Blake Beavan is not Doug Fister.  He really isn't.  He's not that sharp.

But don't sell Beavan short.  He really can throw 4 fastballs in an AB, in, out, up, down, hit the spots.  And that will get anybody out.

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Q.  And the makeup?

A.  Before the game, Jack Zduriencik said they chose Beavan for this start because "he's a good kid, has good poise, throws strikes."

Beavan stepped right into a three-deck stadium and threw his game.  Had very little body language of nervousness.

Showed good pitchability, too:  third hitter of the game, fastball, change fouled off, then 93 up the ladder for swinging strike three.  He had his head about him from the get-go.  Zduriencik also said, "He's learned a lot," and that type of AB is probably what he's talking about.

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