In an odd turn of events, Clay Buchholz (he of the astronomical ERA last season) did what Cy Young Award contender Josh Beckett could not: tame the mighty Blue Jays in their roost.

Here’s an interesting little factoid for you to digest: on average, Buchholz’s fastball last night was exactly the same speed as Beckett’s, right up to 1/100th of a mile per hour.  They also topped out at the exact same speed, with nearly identical strike percentages and very similar break physics (data courtesy of Brooks Baseball):

These guys went to battle with nearly the same fastball, and produced very, very different results.  We can’t really blame this one on Jason Varitek’s absence now, can we?  There difference can likely be found in their timing and command of secondary pitches (Buchholz’s changeup and Beckett’s curveball).  What do we make of this?  I’d say this is can be interpreted as a reason to be impressed/optimistic with Buchholz, as opposed to being worried about Beckett (who appeared to have decent stuff, but simply had shitty command).

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