He just had this question come in at Ask Bill....
My wife and I were dancing around the living room after Cain's perfect game last night. Suddenly she got a serious look on her face and said, "Poor Timmy. Do you think he'll ever come back? Ask Bill James." So, She Who Must Be Obeyed. The debate here in SF is whether all the doomsayers were right after all (ie he's too small to dominate for a long career) or whether it's a psyche problem.
Asked by: renny
Answered: 6/16/2012
Well... .are those the only two options? I don't think it's psychological; something's wrong. I certainly think it is POSSIBLE he will snap back, and I doubt that his size has much to do with it. I would kind of put him, intuitively, in the group with Wes Ferrell, Jim Maloney, J. R. Richard, Dizzy Dean, Denny McLain, Doc Gooden. . .pitchers who were dominant for a few years as young men, and then fell off the mountain for some reason. There are pitchers like that who are able to re-invent themselves and get back on top (Luis Tiant), although I think there are more who aren't.