NAILED IT!

Why the timing is just right for Framber Valdez and the Houston Astros

Why the timing is just right for Framber Valdez and the Houston Astros
It's time for Framber to get his bag. Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images.

What is the holdup, better why is there a holdup in the Astros signing pitcher Framber Valdez to a long-term contract?

Sure Justin Verlander won the American League Cy Young Award and was the ace of the Astros staff last season. But who was the Astros best pitcher down the stretch through the World Series? Who’d you rather have for 2023 and especially beyond – Verlander or Valdez?

Valdez had, by any measure you choose, an absolutely fantastic season in 2022. He finished with a 17-6 record and 2.82 earned run average. But, as Ron Popeil would say, wait there’s more!

Valdez made 31 starts and led the American League with 201.1 innings pitched. He led the league with three complete games. He made 25 consecutive quality starts, a Major League record for a single season. That’s a workhorse by modern baseball standards. It’s nothing new for Valdez, he also led all of baseball in innings pitched in 2020.

When the chips were down, Valdez was at his best. He won two games in last year’s World Series, including the critical Game 2 after the Phillies won the opener. Then he slammed the door shut with a 2-hit performance over six innings in the Game 6 clincher. He has a career 7-2 postseason record.

By comparison, Verlander got a no decision in Game 1, although surrendering five runs in five innings. He eventually earned his first World Series win, giving up four hits and four walks over five innings in Game 5.

Valdez has a rubber arm. He looks like he’s playing catch in the backyard when he pitches. If it’s his day to throw, he’s on the mound.

Last month, the Astros signed Valdez to a one-year, $6.8 million deal to avoid arbitration. He may be the best bargain in baseball. There have been reports this month that the Astros were putting the finishing touches on a long-term deal to keep Valdez in Houston. However, Valdez’s agent squashed those rumors on Tuesday, saying there’s been no discussion between the Astros and Valdez about an extension.

Why not? Keeping Valdez in an Astros uniform for years to come should be job No. 1 for owner Jim Crane and general manager Dana Brown. It’s important that Valdez knows the Astros are committed to him. We want him to be happy in Houston.

Of course $6.8 million isn’t exactly chump change, but you can make an argument that we’re talking about the most reliable pitcher in the American League. Right now, if you had to win one game, who’d you rather have on the bump? I’d take my chances with Valdez.

Yes, the Astros loathe to offer stupid money, long-term deals. But five years for Valdez might be a safe investment. He’s 29 years old and signed for 2023. A five-year extension would bring him to 35 years old. That’s the meat of a pitcher’s career.

As that famous baseball analyst Goldilocks would say, Framber Valdez is not too old, not too young, he’s just right.

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Kikuchi does it again! Photo by Jack Gorman/Getty Images.

Yusei Kikuchi pitched seven innings of three-hit ball in another sharp start, and Yordan Alvarez homered and drove in two runs in the Houston Astros ' 5,000th victory, 5-3 over the Los Angeles Angels on Friday night.

Alex Bregman hit an early two-run homer and Alvarez added his 33rd in the ninth inning for the first-place Astros, who opened a six-game Southern California trip with their second straight win after a three-game skid.

Mickey Moniak homered for the Angels, who have lost five of six.

Kikuchi (9-9) overcame early trouble and struck out six Angels while keeping the Astros unbeaten in all of his starts since joining Houston in a trade with Toronto. Kikuchi is 5-0 in an Astros uniform, and Houston is 8-0 when he takes the mound.

Josh Hader pitched the ninth for his 30th save as the Astros became the 18th big league club to reach 5,000 victories.

Rookie Samuel Aldegheri (1-2) couldn’t get out of the third inning in his third major league start for the Angels, yielding four runs on six hits and five walks while recording only six outs.

Houston scored twice in the second with two singles followed by two walks and Alvarez's sacrifice fly.

The Astros then got three hits on Aldegheri's first three pitches in the third inning. After Kyle Tucker singled, Bregman hit his 23rd homer and Jeremy Peña doubled.

Kikuchi issued back-to-back walks to begin the third, and Los Angeles scored on Zach Neto's groundout and Nolan Schanuel's single.

Moniak's solo shot to right in the fourth was just his second career homer against a left-hander. It was also the former No. 1 overall pick's 14th homer of the season, matching his career high.

Alvarez's homer was a line drive that went in and out of Moniak's glove when the center fielder leaped at the wall to attempt what would have been a spectacular catch.

Hader recorded 30 saves for the fourth consecutive season and the fifth time in his career.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Astros: INF Jose Altuve returned from a one-game absence with discomfort in his right side. He drove the first pitch of the game into left field, but was easily thrown out at second while trying to stretch it into a double.

Angels: 2B Brandon Drury sat out after leaving Wednesday's game in the fifth inning with hamstring tightness. ... RHP Ben Joyce is still awaiting the results of his MRI exam Thursday. The 105-mph hurler hasn't pitched since Sept. 6 after reporting shoulder discomfort.

UP NEXT

Justin Verlander (3-6, 5.30 ERA) takes the mound for Houston after struggling in his past two starts in September. Los Angeles sends out All-Star Tyler Anderson (10-12, 3.50 ERA), who beat the Astros earlier this year for his only victory in nine career starts against them.

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