Whatever the Brewers decide to do with Chad Patrick for the playoffs, it has been one impressive rookie season for the 27-year-old right-hander. Pitching on four days’ rest in San Diego, he gave the Brewers three scoreless innings and whiffed six before turning it over to Eric Fedde and the bullpen. In a variety of roles this season, Patrick has done whatever the team has asked of him. While there have been some bumps and bruises, his overall numbers paint a clear picture of success: 3.56 ERA in 118.2 IP, 125 Ks, 1.9 WAR. After setting up a 3-1 Brewers win, Patrick shared the winner’s mindset that has allowed him to grow as a pitcher throughout Year 1.
Patrick started strong, finished strong – give the man his flowers
“I think there’s a lot of positives to take away from this year,” Patrick said. “There’s a lot of growth. We’re always developing. Instead of just being a fastball guy, I think I proved to myself today that I can add other pitches. I think you just take what you’ve learned through the year and you take into the next outing every time.”
Patrick showcased his curveball – or slurve, take your pick – more often against the Padres, but some fans might raise an eyebrow at the “growth” terminology. That does not fit the narrative of his mid-season fall off following a strong start to the year.
Granted, his stat line as a whole doesn’t look quite as pretty considering that he owned a 2.84 ERA through his 15 outings. In reality, though, that narrative largely stems from three mid-season starts against the Braves, Cubs, and Pirates that, as far as blow-up outings go, don’t really fit the bill.
Those outings, five innings each: five runs, seven hits; four runs, six hits; four runs, nine hits. His ERA rose to 3.72 and his Rookie of the Year case faltered.
Certainly Patrick got knocked around, but a quick glance at his game log reveals a marvel of consistency. That Braves start was the only time all year that he allowed five or more earned runs. The other two? The only times he allowed four or more. With one possible appearance remaining, Patrick’s season covers 26 outings and 23 starts.
It’s never too late to tinker. In outing 26, Patrick said he experimented with more breaking balls to introduce something “going to the bottom of the zone.” Most of the year, he has worked laterally across the plate and climbed the ladder with fastballs.
Not that his heater is a bad pitch. Categorized by pitch type, Patrick’s fastball ranks in the 89th percentile in pitcher run value. Still, though. “You always want to challenge yourself and pitch with conviction,” the young hurler said. “The more you pitch with conviction, the more confidence you’re going to have. I think that’s a plus.”
Standing by that mantra has helped Patrick rebound after his fall from favor. His demotion in early July helped seal his demise in the eyes of some, but that was more about making room for Jacob Misiorowski than Patrick’s shortcomings.
Indeed Patrick had chased his rough patch in June with 10 innings of two-run ball averaging a strikeout per inning. Misiorowski may have the higher ceiling, but a side-by-side of where the two rookies stand now leaves little doubt as to who had a more successful season.
Since being sent down, Patrick has occupied a variable role. He reappeared for a pair of starts in August. Including yesterday, he has made three more in September. In the interlude between them, he was used an inning at a time in relief.
Any way you spin it, Patrick has had very similar success on either side of his mid-June funk. Since then, he has pitched to a 3.18 ERA in 34 innings with a 1.18 WHIP and a strikeout rate of 10.6 per nine. That isn’t far off from the 2.84 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, and 8.1 K/9 that he put up in 69.2 IP leading up to it.
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