Javier Vazquez Has Lost His Fastball

Via the Star-Ledger:

"'I reach back, and I see 88," said Vazquez, who was clearly frustrated after allowing six runs in 4 1/3 innings. "The fastball is not there. I don’t have any zip on it."

Also missing: the movement on Vazquez' fastball. According to Pitch F/X, of all the pitches that Vazquez threw that were classified as fastballs, he failed to generate a single swing and miss.

"'I don’t have any life on the fastball," he said. "I get a lot of swings and misses on my fastball. But all the swings and misses I’m getting are on my changeups and curveballs, not on my fastball.'"

Javier Vazquez's velocity has been down all year compared to years past, but it has been even lower of late. The Yankees are calling it a dead arm, and if that’s what it is, then hopefully he gets over it soon. If it’s just age catching up to him, then it’s more important than ever that he is able to locate that fastball the way he needs to. Otherwise it could be April all over again for the rest of the year.

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