Steve Campbell has a good breakdown of how close Bud Norris is to being something special:
FanGraphs calculates Norris’ slider to be the most effective in the NL (12.9 runs better than the league average). What has gotten Norris in trouble this season is mistakes with his fastball and changeup. FanGraphs ranks Norris dead last in the NL in changeup effectiveness (minus-5.6 runs) and in the bottom five with the fastball (minus-6.7). Cleaning up those things is easier said than done, but Astros pitching coach Brad Arnsberg has to love his chances of that happening.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
