Arrieta's Dominance

Jake Arrieta.

Dominant.

Those two words have been used together frequently lately. Arrieta is on a tear that is unmatched in all of recent baseball history. His second half numbers tell a story of an untouchable pitcher. Since the All star break his ERA is 0.80, he is 11-1, 106 strikeouts in 101.1 innings pitched.

He also has two complete games including a no-hitter against the Dodgers. That is a playoff team he shut down there on national TV. On that note, it seems that the national spotlight suits him as he just threw six perfect innings yesterday night on National TV against the Pirates who are another playoff team.

While Many pitchers have great years and great pitches Arrieta has taken a unique path to stardom. He was in the Orioles system and considered their next big pitcher. He had all of the junk a pitcher could wish for but none of the control.

He struggled his way through his days as an Oriole with a lack of command that was startling. He got his change of scenery when the Cubs dealt Scott Feldman to the Orioles for Arrieta and bullpen arm Pedro Strop. The Orioles were competing and figured that giving up on Arrieta was worth half a season of Feldman. (This was a hugely lopsided trade, but that is for another post).

Arrieta immediately responded with solid starts for the Cubs in the second half of the season. He continued to improve last year with a whole year of starting and looking good. He shored up his command and now he has been able to showcase all of the junk especially his cutter with his command. One of the biggest reasons for his turnaround is Cubs pitching coach Chris Bosio.

Bosio may be the person being most overlooked during the Cubs recent turnaround. Think back to how many one year pitchers the Cubs exchanged for good young players. How many of them were nothing until they came to the Cubs for half a season? Well, the constant thing has been Bosio helping them improve and then you see them leave and not be as successful.

While every pitcher has seemed to improve, Arrieta is obviously in a different category. He has evolved into a Cy young candidate that teams are afraid to face. Arrieta has also credited being a creature of habit and routine that has prepared him for every start.

I cannot wait to see him in a one game playoff and beyond. He is only now realizing his potential and if it continues he could be the ace the Cubs need to end the infamous World Series drought.

Arrieta. Ace.

That has a nice ring to it.

The Mission and Vision

I just created this blog so that I can help express my views of the sports world from baseball to soccer to college basketball and beyond.

A little about me: As this is a sports blog I need to share my teams: Cubs, Purdue, Liverpool, Fire, Bulls, Bears, and Blackhawks. While these are my main teams I will analyze all teams and focus mainly on baseball and college basketball. I grew up in Aurora IL and now live in Fort Wayne IN.

Mission of this blog is too share a perspective on the sports world using stats and a general fans view of daily sports.

Vision is for followers to share what they love about it and create an environment of fan support and collaboration on teams ideas and performances.

Thanks and hope you enjoy!