When he pitches well, he supposedly has "great stuff." When he pitches poorly, it's because he's scared. So what to make of an average outing (7 IP, 4 runs, 5 hits, 2 walks)?
Joel Sherman is not impressed.
There seems to be an implicit consensus that it's the pressure of NYC which is his biggest problem. For no reason whatsoever, Vic Ziegel thinks three good innings against the Rockies changes everything.
Like everybody else, Torre and Flaherty are obsessed with his mental state of mind and confidence on the mound. Flaherty calls him a "work in progress" and Torre is pleased that he "didn't fall apart."
Contreras is out of shape, he can't hold runners on, he walks too many and gives up too many homeruns, he can't pitch out of the stretch, he obviously ignores scouting reports, and he's probably closer to 42 years old than 32 years old.
His "stuff" is vastly overrated. An occasional 95 mph fastball is not great "stuff." All these homeruns he is giving up? Players like Choo Freeman are not turning around 96 mph cheese. Besides, control and consistency count, too. It's control and consistency that separates Roger Clemens from Lance McCullers.
This is the Majors. It's not AAA and it's not Cuba. Nobody is swinging at that wack-ass splitter that bounces in front of the plate.
Jose Contreras is actually not that complicated or mysterious. He's just not very good.
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