Rowland-Smith vs Pettitte
=== Andy Pettitte ===
Amusing that, a week after we suggested the RRS-Pettitte comp, here they were book-ending each other in each half of the inning.
Pettitte, the last few weeks, has had a real good cut fastball going. Therefore, he threw fewer curves on Friday -- actually throwing a Jarrod Washburn game, move the FB around the strike zone.
So we didn't see a mirror-image on the mound, exactly; Pettitte was in cutter mode. But still, he and RRS looked similar even on a physical level.
I'm going with the comp. :- )
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It was weird, seeing Pettitte agonize over each pitch when he got in a jam. Stands on the rubber, hitter calls time, back on the rubber, catcher runs out ... I think Posada came out twice during one hitter.
And then Pettitte would deliver a perfect pitch. Reminded me of Jamie Moyer, taking 45 seconds to decide on a pitch -- and then it always being the right one. LOL.
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One of my old high-school friends became a golf pro. I asked him the secret. He said, It's just like any sport, Jeff. You make sure to visualize your shot perfectly before you actually strike it.
Jack Nicklaus did this: stood over the putt until... until he was ready. 10 seconds, 180 seconds, he putted when he had the visual.
Same with Moyer. Same with Pettitte. The men are champions.
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=== Smitty ===
Outpitched Pettite's 10K's and 1BB: Rowland-Smith would have had a shutout had the regular defense been in. He'd have had a shutout with ANY regular defense in, much less Wilson and Beltre.
He didn't, so the game was tied late. RRS might as well have shut out the 1961 Yankees as shut out these guys, this week.
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The yakker was sensational. RRS threw it around 1B and back over the plate. Again and again the Yankees flinched and froze and futzed on the frisbees.
When they guessed curve before the pitch, they swung, but... the ball arrived at an angle as though dropped out of the rafters, and they pounded it into the dirt.
I'd love to see what the run value is on RRS' yakker for the rest of the year. RRS might throw that thing for a CBv lower than Bedard's over the course of one season.
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The FB was running up to 91-93 mph at times. The change (again magnified by the CB/FB whipsaw's dominance) was causing hallucinations -- he threw one up in Swisher's eyes, who swung through it for strike three and then BARKED at himself before slinking back to the dugout.
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Again, if RRS can execute exactly these pitches, he IS a top-30 starter, right now. ANYBODY who could throw exactly these speeds and arcs, even a pitching machine, would be effective.
The question is NOT whether the league will adjust. It will not! You don't "adjust" to a plus-plus yakker backed by a FB 20 mph faster and a change 10 mph faster. Nobody ever adjusted to Andy Pettitte or Jamie Moyer.
The only question is whether Rowland-Smith can keep twirling like this. What say you? Will he?
RRS might be even better than top-30, perhaps ready to put up a few seasons that would ... um .... fit onto Andy Pettitte's baseball card. :- )
Be Afraid. Be Very Afraid,
Dr D