Kyle Drabek was ranked as the top prospect for the Toronto Blue Jays entering 2011 by Baseball America yet so far in his brief Major League career he has been inconsistent at the best of time. Drabek was awarded a September call-up and made 3 starts at the end of last season and although he had a record of 0-3 it was evident that he has big league stuff. What was most impressive was his ability to throw strikes and willingness to challenge hitters as he walked only 5 batters in 17 innings of work, while compiling 12 strikeouts for a strikeout to walk ratio (K/BB) of 2.4 and although he gave up 18 hits and finished 2010 with a 1.35 WHIP it was clear that Drabek was heading in the right direction.
The 2011 season has been a different story one of two different pitchers at times as Drabek has shown flashes of brilliance and at others looks completely lost and overmatched on the hill. To date Drabek has made 14 starts compiling a record of 4-5 in 72.2 innings of work on average lasting 5.1 innings per start. What is most alarming is the fact that he currently leads the majors in BB with 52 and wild pitches with 10, while striking out 48 for a K/BB ratio of 0.92 and has given up 78 hits as his WHIP sits at 1.79.
So what has lead to his inconsistency during games and from one game to the next? Of the 14 starts catcher Jose Molina caught the first 6 starts where Drabek had a record of 2-1 with 21 BB and 25 K or a K/BB of 1.19 while surrendering 31 hits over 32.1 innings pitched with a 1.61 WHIP. In the other 8 starts that were caught by J.P. Arencibia, Drabek has a record of 2-4 with 31 BB and 23 K or a K/BB of 0.74 while allowing 47 hits over 40.1 innings with a 1.93 WHIP. It was clear throughout the game on Sunday versus the Boston Red Sox that Drabek and Arencibia were not always on the same page and it would make more sense to have Molina catch Drabek due to his veteran presence behind home plate. Drabek has displayed in the past that he is an emotion competitor who needs to channel his emotions in a more positive way rather than beat himself up on the mound thus improving his focus during the game.
The Blue Jays have to consider all of the options available to them when it comes to the long term development of Drabek even if that means sending him down to triple-A Las Vegas for 4 or 5 starts so he can regain both his pitching form and confidence. All young pitchers experience growing pains and it is more difficult at the Major League level with the additional pressure of winning and increased media attention.
One just has to look at the development of Roy Halladay as a prime example of refining not just the physical elements of the game but more importantly the mental side of the game. What took Halladay to the next level of his game and placed him among the elite starters in the game today is his preparation and work ethic in between each start something that comes with experience.
Drabek needs to go about his day to day business while controlling the little things that he can, while learning not to take everything so personally, as more often than not it is the little things that will ultimately lead to success or failure. No one questions the stuff in the arm of Drabek and at the age of 23 he still has a bright future ahead of him as he continues to mature and learn the nuances of what it takes to be consistently effective at the Major League level.
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