Paxton is just good. Has been for a long time. He's likely better now. Funy how we (Servais/Dipoto) only "discover" that when Felix gets dinged up. Paxton may well be a 5.00 ERA guy when he throws against AA guys, I don't know. But when he faces MLB types and when you let him throw every five days, he's a pretty special type of guy. HE's running a 4-1 K/BB rate and hasn't given up a homer in 20 innings.
Doc, how many gazillion times have you reminded the blogosphere that heat-chucking lefties often take a bit of time to get it right? Well, Paxton is at 194 career innings right now. He may take a bit more time to get it right......but he's a dang fine pitcher as is.
Paxton has a career FIP of 3.60. Johnson didn't get a full year at that rate until he was 28 and had 700 career innings under his belt. Then he went all Koufax on the world.
Paxton won't be 28 until November. OK...maybe he won't be a Unit, but I'm just saying.
Just give him the ball.
Moe