... rodent Angels 1
PROPS TO BASEBALL'S BEST STARTING PITCHER ... well, we may be exaggerating, but only a little. In Erikkk's last nine starts -- since he kicked the rust off -- have you recognized anybody?
- 8+ strikeouts, 1+ walks, 0.3 homers, 1+ ERA ... Erikkk
- 7+ strikeouts, 1+ walks, 0.6 homers, 2+ ERA ... Cliff Lee, 2008-10
Cliff Lee has always had one (1) edge on Erik Bedard: innings pitched. But if there were a 6-7 inning Cliff Lee with health questions, that would be Erik Bedard.
As a matter of fact, when Bedard's right, he's probably even a skosh better than Lee is. Of the two of them, Erik Bedard is the man with an "80" plus-plus-plus strikeout pitch (Erik's curve, of course).
Or, to flip that, Cliff Lee is what Erik Bedard would be, if Bedard were a workhorse (and an amiable-sheriff type from Rawhide). He ain't, but that don't mean I don't want him on my side in October.
Any team with Erik Bedard on the mound can beat the Yankees in Game 7.
***
This week we'd gone back and listed to some audio podcasts from April, just taking the edge off the boredom as we did some mindless work. Everybody and I mean EVERYBODY agreed that Erik Bedard's April problem was that he'd lost his good velocity.
Sigh. Fortunately for those good amigos, they had it pegged wrong. Eric Wedge had it pegged exactly right: it was fastball command.
***
Erik Bedard threw 89-92 tonight, and his command was so tear-jerking that (we kid you not) he did not even BOTHER to hit the knees or the letters. He was every blinkin' inch the painter that Greg Maddux or Tom Glavine EVER was.
***
PROPS TO EL SID and ALL 90 MPH, 10 STRIKEOUT LEFTIES.
Maybe it's just me, but Erikkk reminds me more and more of an old fave, Sid Fernandez (who, by the way, was THIS close to coming to Seattle for Randy Johnson one time). Erikkk comes more and more sidearm -- to LHB's he finishes with the wide tripod foot plant. He works that outside corner to LHB's, leaving them totally helpless.
The swings that hitters were taking -- they reminded of swings against Randy Johnson's 97 fastball. Erikkk hides the ball that well, he sets it up with the yakker so well, that when he reaches back he just detonates them.
In, out, up and in, drop the yakker, out, out, yakker, in, in.... he's a Rob-O-Tronic death machine.
***
Bobby Abreu was 1-for-3 with a strikeout. This wasn't the K, but it illustrates Bedard's new El Sid shtick against tough lefties:
Forget 8 and 10 for a second. The first pitch is a tempting FB up the ladder; Abreu is trying to force Bedard to throw something else, and the ump blows the call. 1-and-0.
Pitches 2, 3, and 4, Bedard drops down a bit and crossfires 91-92 fastballs to HAIR-FINE spots on the black. BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! And from that angle, they might as well be 97...
On 1-2, if Abreu is leaning out to get them, here's a jam pitch that not only in -- but UP just a few inches. That pitch, gentlemen, cannot be hit. By anyone. Not with that setup.
Pitches 6, 7, and 9 were also crossfire FB's on the black ... actually starting outside and, due to armside fade, coming back in and nipping the outside corner as if they were backdoor sliders at 90 mph.
Pitch 10, Bedard meant as a 3-2 jam pitch, four inches farther over, to ensure against the BB. But that's another story.
If you'd like to enjoy the GameDay animation of this convincing example of Bedard's craftsmanship, here's the link. This Abreu AB was in the 6th inning.
Anybody like to bet whether LHB's will hit .200 against Erik Bedard this year?
Here's the video. On the first K, you can see the crossfire effect as he fans Abreu. On the third one, you can see the Randy Johnson 97 mph effect as a good RH fastball hitter is miles behind a high fastball.
***
We remember in 2008 or 2009 asking, "Is Erik Bedard THE best starter in baseball?" To which Sandy didn't hesitate: "It's not a question, Doc. He is."
Erikkk needed 4 starts to loosen up the arm. Since then, his last 9 consecutive starts:
- 9 GS, 4-0, 1.85 ERA
- 58.1 IP
- 41 H
- 53 K, 12 BB, 2 HR
Translate that to 6-odd complete games and there is your 8+ strikeouts, 1+ walks, and 0.3 homers. Not in a hot month, gentlemen, but as Erik Bedard's standard game. Cliff Lee, but better.
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PROPS TO BRANDON LEAGUE. He's mixing pitches completely to my satisfaction now. In case you were wondering. Somebody please text him and put his mind at ease.
Be Afraid,
Dr D