1) First of all, Moe, the comparison to Cuellar is inspired--that's EXACTLY who he reminds me of. Cuellar didn't get a rotation spot until he was 29. After three very good years at Houston they traded him for a slugger wannabe named Curt Blefary (he stayed there only a year). Oops. Cuellar won the Cy Young his first year as an Oriole (with 6.6 WAR), and averaged 3.7 WAR over seven seasons. Did not strike out people...walked more than you'd want...but somehow kept getting hitters out. Let's hope.
2) All hail the changeup. If there's any justice, Hendricks wins the Cy Young in the NL this year. Love him. Leading the league in ERA, FB averages less than 90, #2 in percentage of changeups thrown. Even more last night to take the no hitter into the 9th. There are 40 guys who average 97+ this year. Velocity is not the difference maker anymore. Maybe the changeup is the new undervalued asset? You know who else this profile fits? The new Felix: FB velo 90.4 this year, throwing 28% changeups (slightly more than Hendricks). Maybe next year there's a three day seminar in spring training on throwing the changeup--led by Felix. Kuma has the splitter instead. Walker throws it almost 20% of the time. Paxton 9%. Miranda not at all.
3) Euphemistically, you could say our chances for the postseason are 'hanging by the fingernails'. Which may be why I foresee, in true Mariner fashion, Paxton starting the last game of the season with the wild card on the line...while still nursing that fingernail!