Old Time Family Baseball

Last week I made a tongue-in-cheek post after Jason Marquis had pitched another solid game and picked up two hits because I didn’t think it could last. But after last night’s performance, I must now admit that perhaps Jason Marquis, using Livan Hernandez as a guide and spiritual mentor, has tapped into some pitching essence: a life force that creates darting fastballs, killer breaking balls, and the physical strength of a full grown silverback gorilla. Essentially flubber.

Against the defending champion San Franisco Giants, Jason Marquis threw a complete game shutout, his first since 2009. Marquis struck out seven, allowed only five hits, and walked no one as he he outdueled Tim Lincecum in the Nationals 3-0 victory.

Not only that, but Marquis singled and drove in a run to help his cause and is hitting .385 on the year. I keep wanting to say that something has to give for a pitcher that has a career FIP of 4.82, but going into last night Marquis had a sub-3.00 FIP and an xFIP right around his 2011 performance.

Marquis is using his four seam fastball less than ever before, essentially becoming a sinker, slider pitcher and so far the results are paying off. His HR rate will surely rise, but the days of Jason Marquis being the punching bag of the league may be over. Or we’re still enjoying the waning days of small sample sizes.