Astros' Josh Hader sets record straight on pitching restrictions, closer role

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Astros Josh Hader, Ryan Pressly
Hader goes on the record about pitching restrictions. Composite Getty Image.

After the Houston Astros signed Josh Hader to a 5-year $95 million contract, several questions started surfacing about how he will be used on his new club.

He and Ryan Pressly have said all the right things regarding who will pitch the 9th inning. It seems both players just want to win and appear okay with however manager Joe Espada plans to deploy them.

Hader shed even more light on his usage when he joined MLB Network this week. When asked about his pitching restrictions, Hader said the arbitration system is why he chose to “protect” himself and only pitch one inning per outing.

The arbitration system told me the traditional role of a closer is where the value is [with] relievers… I was told to my face what you’re doing is not worth it. So at the end of the day I had to protect myself, because if I don’t, the team isn’t going to protect me for the long term.”

Hader also went on to say the “playoffs are a different beast,” so workload wasn't something he was concerned about in the postseason, “it's all hands on deck.”

Now that we got that out of the way, be sure to watch the video above as Hader talks in-depth about joining the Houston Astros and the one thing missing from his resume, a World Series title.

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Is the interior of the Texans' defensive line a liability? Photo by Tim Warner, Getty Images.

The Houston Texans might be flying under the radar, but are they quietly building one of the NFL's best rosters? In this episode, we dive into why the Texans could have the third-best defense in the league, and whether the hype around stars like Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr. is justified.

We also question Pro Football Focus and other ranking systems: Is Will Anderson being graded fairly among elite edge rushers?

Weak interior?

Are the Texans really in the low 20s for interior D-line rankings?

Plus, we talk about the latest on Juice Scruggs. Is he still in the mix, or just holding a spot with no reps? And don’t miss our take on whether the Texans have the best combo of offensive and defensive players in the NFL right now.

Watch the video below as ESPN Houston's John Granato and Lance Zierlein break it all down!

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