Joe Maddon Says Jake Arrieta's Early Struggles Are On Purpose

The Cubs Jake Arrieta has been noticeably slower to start 2017. And when I say slow, I don't mean Arrieta has struggled this season - he's been classic Jake through three starts - but I mean it literally. He's been throwing a lot slower to start 2017, compared to what we are used to seeing from the whiskered-righty, close to four or five miles per hour slower actually. His first start of the season, Cubs twitter was quick to point out that Arrieta's fastball looked less-than-average, coming in at about 90-91 mph. However, his stuff was still solid and he would go on to pitch six innings of four hit baseball, allowing only one single run. While he had calmed the nerves of the Cub faithful, Arrieta had the full attention of the baseball-statistical savvy as they saw one of the game's most explosive pitchers struggling to throw harder than his 38-year-old teammate John Lackey. The news of Arrieta and his low velocity exploded after Fangraphs writer Jeff Sullivan wrote this story titled, " What on Earth Happened With Jake Arrieta?" The story dives into Arrieta's velocity and while losing speed on your fastball is never good, it's not the end of the world either. Arrieta was asked about his lack of high velocity after his win against the Brewers on April 9th, and he even referenced the article to CSN Chicago's Patrick Mooney in a quote.

“Everybody wants to talk about this,” Arrieta said after Sunday’s 7-4 win over the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park. “There’s FanGraph articles. I don’t care about that. “I know that kind of stuff can come and go from time to time. I had periods last year where I was at the same spot I am right now. I had one in June, near the All-Star break. It is what it is. I still have good feel for everything. Movement is really good. The command’s good. “When the 95-to-97 comes back, it’s going to be tough for teams. And it still is.”

Arrieta seems content with where he is at right now, however, his declining velocity combined with his lack of control throughout 2016 is reason enough for some early concerns. Personally, I brushed off the comments and concerns initially, knowing that the league was making the switch from their old velocity tracking system, PITCH F/X to using the MLB's very own Statcast system. But once I discovered that most pitchers velocities were being increase by the new system, ala Carlos Martinez and his constant 100 mph fastballs, I started to grow more wary of the the former NL Cy Young award winner.

Interesting to see Jake Arrieta's velocity slowly drop on his pitches as the game is progressing pic.twitter.com/6JWuR7sRgb

— Daren Willman (@darenw) April 15, 2017

But just yesterday, Cubs skipper Joe Maddon shed some light on the situation, as he explained why exactly Arrieta's fastball looked so lackluster to start 2017. Jake Arrieta is trading velocity for enhanced control of his pitches, according to Joe Maddon via Tony Andracki's tweet thread below.

Maddon explained a bit on why Cubs pitchers' velocity is down, particularly Arrieta's. Sacrificing velo for command right now with Jake.

— Tony Andracki (@TonyAndracki23) April 15, 2017

It also sure seems by design for Cubs to work up to higher velocity numbers as season progresses. All part of that long game with pitchers.

— Tony Andracki (@TonyAndracki23) April 15, 2017

Essentially the velo dips seem to be similar to pacing SPs in spring training after last year's long championship run and in anticipation...

— Tony Andracki (@TonyAndracki23) April 15, 2017

...of another long playoff run in 2017. Cubs are more worried about Sept/Oct/Nov than April right now.

— Tony Andracki (@TonyAndracki23) April 15, 2017

So, the plan apparently is for the Cubs to allow Arrieta to focus on his command and location of his pitches, while slowly working his fastball back into the high 90's that were accustomed to seeing. The murmurs of Arrieta having real issues on mound have been quieted for the moment, and it helps when the Cubs filthy right-hander shows he still has some nasty stuff despite the lower velocity.

Yeah, I'm gonna choose not to be concerned with Jake's velo if he has nasty movement like that...

— Sahadev Sharma (@sahadevsharma) April 15, 2017

Jake is still Jake, he's just not in mid-season form quite yet, but if the velocity doesn't return for Arrieta the Cubs might be in some trouble going forward in 2017.