Jason Schmidt was one of baseball’s best pitchers from 2002-2004. In 2003, he might have been the very best. But all those high pitch counts finally caught up to him last year. He had to spend some time on the DL in May, and when he returned, it was not the same pitcher as before. Diminished velocity made Schmidt become more of a “pitcher” and not rely purely on his stuff. The results were mixed, as he finished with his worst ERA in a Giants’ uniform and entered this year mired in question marks.
Despite it all, the Giants picked up his $10.5 million option and hoped he regained ace form. Fantasy owners wished for the same, and many took the cautious approach. Schmidt went from being picked in rounds 2-3 to around 4-7. It was the right idea, as no surgery during the offseason was going to make Schmidt magically regain his velocity, and without it, Schmidt gave little in the form of confidence. An offseason full of rest was the only remedy prescribed.
The early returns were not good, as Schmidt turned in a 4.76 ERA and 1.35 WHIP in April. The fastball was still in the low 90s, which is even more important in Schmidt’s case, as he is primarily a fastball/changeup pitcher. The occasional curve is thrown, but that’s more so to steal a strike and isn’t a plus pitch by any means. Additionally, Schmidt’s changeup is sometimes thrown as high as 90 MPH, so the difference in speeds was way too small to matter at this point, and the results verified this. Throughout it all, Schmidt kept saying he felt great and better than any point the year before. Results were soon to follow he promised. I thought he was just about done.
I couldn’t have been more wrong because in May, something clicked. Schmidt has been the best pitcher in baseball since then. His velocity has crept back up into the mid-90s, and his changeup is better than ever. Now, all of a sudden we are looking at a pitcher who has learned how to pitch without his best stuff, yet regained the stuff he had to begin with. It’s a combo that’s turning Schmidt into a Cy Young candidate.
Schmidt won National League Pitcher of the Month for May, and in his last eight starts, is 6-0 with a 1.31 ERA. Tuesday saw him strikeout a career-high 16 batters in his third complete game of the year already. In his last 55 innings, he has a remarkable 51/8 K/BB ratio. He’s officially back, and there’s nothing to suggest it’s not here to stay (save a groin injury). Fantasy-wise, make sure fellow owners are taking notice. The Giants’ offense is not a bad one with Bonds and Alou now healthy. Pitching in AT&T Park and the NL West gives Schmidt top-5 SP ability. In midseason leagues, he will go back to being a second round target. In other words, Jason is the Schmidt.
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