Levine: It's Not Sexy, But Hendricks Keeps Mowing Them Down
By Bruce Levine
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Throwing 88 to 91 miles per hour isn't sexy by today's major league average fastball standard.
So while Cubs right-hander Kyle Hendricks may not be the sleekest car in the luxury pitching show room, he's certainly been the most reliable lately. Throwing 6 1/3 innings of seven-hit, shutout baseball Wednesday, Hendricks won his ninth game in the Cubs' 6-2 dismantling of the New York Mets at Wrigley Field.
With a 2.27 ERA that ranks third in all of baseball and a 1.04 WHIP, the 26-year-old Hendricks has gotten the attention of the baseball world. In his last six starts, Hendricks has allowed just three earned runs in 35 1/3 innings and is 5-0 over that span.
Hendricks boasts a quality groundball rate of about 52 percent.
"He works ahead in the count and keeps the ball down," Cubs catcher Miguel Montero said. "He has really good movement, and he just has to keep the ball on the bottom of the plate."
Hendricks doesn't have the power stuff of Jake Arrieta or the track record of Jon Lester and John Lackey, but he doesn't have to take a back seat to any of his pitching pals on the Cubs. Since June 19, Hendricks has a major-league beat 0.72 ERA.
Should people stop being shocked at the success of Hendricks?
"I would hope so," he said. "I think I have been doing a pretty good job since being up here. I am really just focused on what I can control. Lately that has been keeping things simple. I feel good with my mechanics and the catchers behind the plate. Yeah, overall its been good."
Hendricks has been consistent all season and especially great at Wrigley Field, where he has a 1.36 ERA.
"He has been pitching with a lot of confidence," manager Joe Maddon said. "He is nailing his spots, and everything is working. He overall had good stuff and was in control of what he was doing. He did his job and did it well."
Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score and CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.
