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July 2, Brooks had the Orioles for 11-of-20 times on base off balls in play against Paxton's (completely awesome) fastball. Which has got to be the 9 hits and 2 errors. This leaves 0 hits off his cutter/slider and 0 hits off his changeup. For the GAME.
June 26, they had the Cardinals as 7-for-11 to get on base off Paxton's fastball. One time, the Cardinals got on base against Paxton's foshball and changeup.
It is not rocket science. If the other guys refuse to swing at anything but fastballs, then you bury them in 0-2 counts and show them the folly of their ways. The only thing in the world preventing Paxton from doing this, is the MLB(TM) conceit that "the fastball is the coin of the realm."
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If and when Paxton throws sufficient sliders and changeups to induce swings out in front, then and only then his fastball will be back to drawing 10+ whiffs per game. Until then, they'll keep playing pepper.
Key to the game, from a fan's perspective? The second, the third swing in front of an offspeed pitch. When you see that, it's the canary in the coal mine for the Royals.
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The young Felix found an antidote that was a little more subtle; he'd throw 50% offspeed pitches and when the fastball came, it was located off the plate or on the edges. There wasn't much of a chance that you'd get a centered fastball, so it became a losing proposition to look for it.
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James Paxton's lack of results is extremely annoying. He is throwing his slider for strikes, and consistently. He's staying ahead in the counts. He's throwing 96-99 MPH. He's done what they've asked. It's time they figured out how to help him.
And figuring this one out doesn't take a rocket scientist. It just takes a willingness to throw enough offspeed to make them adjust.
Your friend,
Jeff