I didn't get the chance to watch the game last night, so you guys will have to help me on the scouting report, but here are my quick impressions after watching the highlights.
Drabek struck out five using three different pitches. Three of his Ks (the 1st, 2nd and 5th) came on a hard breaking ball that looks like a curve, but is so fast - 86, 86 and 84 on the Ks - that I'm not sure it can really be called a curve. The broadcasters seemed to alternate between calling it a curve and a breaking ball, at least in the short clip I was able to watch. Fangraphs doesn't have the pitches classified yet. Oh, and it looks like a great pitch.
The third strikeout came on what looked like a slider - a 90 MPH pitch with side to side movement and not much downward break. That sounds like the definition of a cutter as well, but I thought it looked a little loopier than an average cutter. To be honest, I can't really see this pitch being a staple of Drabek's arsenal going forward. It could be useful on the outside corner against righties (which is how he used it on this K).
The fourth strikeout was the one that really stood out to me. It was a 95 MPH fastball on the outside corner to a left-handed batter, and it moved away from the batter. A lot. Seriously, click on that link and watch that fastball. I can't remember the last time I saw a fastball move that much in the screwball direction, not to mention the fact that it was 95 miles per hour. If Drabek gets control of that pitch, does he even need a change-up?
Speaking of change-ups, I didn't see any and heard that he only threw one all night - it's a "work in progress". That could be the sticking point that prevents him from making the rotation next year, but what do I know? This is all speculation. As I wrote in the intro, give me your impressions. There were probably plenty of interesting tidbits from the broadcasters that I missed out on, and certainly anyone who watched the game has a better feel for his stuff than I, having seen only six or seven pitches.
Drabek struck out five using three different pitches. Three of his Ks (the 1st, 2nd and 5th) came on a hard breaking ball that looks like a curve, but is so fast - 86, 86 and 84 on the Ks - that I'm not sure it can really be called a curve. The broadcasters seemed to alternate between calling it a curve and a breaking ball, at least in the short clip I was able to watch. Fangraphs doesn't have the pitches classified yet. Oh, and it looks like a great pitch.
The third strikeout came on what looked like a slider - a 90 MPH pitch with side to side movement and not much downward break. That sounds like the definition of a cutter as well, but I thought it looked a little loopier than an average cutter. To be honest, I can't really see this pitch being a staple of Drabek's arsenal going forward. It could be useful on the outside corner against righties (which is how he used it on this K).
The fourth strikeout was the one that really stood out to me. It was a 95 MPH fastball on the outside corner to a left-handed batter, and it moved away from the batter. A lot. Seriously, click on that link and watch that fastball. I can't remember the last time I saw a fastball move that much in the screwball direction, not to mention the fact that it was 95 miles per hour. If Drabek gets control of that pitch, does he even need a change-up?
Speaking of change-ups, I didn't see any and heard that he only threw one all night - it's a "work in progress". That could be the sticking point that prevents him from making the rotation next year, but what do I know? This is all speculation. As I wrote in the intro, give me your impressions. There were probably plenty of interesting tidbits from the broadcasters that I missed out on, and certainly anyone who watched the game has a better feel for his stuff than I, having seen only six or seven pitches.
