Here's what injured finger could mean for Framber Valdez, Astros
INJURY UPDATE
04 March 2021
Framber Valdez injured the ring finger on his pitching hand on Tuesday, and the results of an X-ray showed a "slight fracture in that finger," according to Astros manager, Dusty Baker, who spoke about the injury on Thursday. You can see the play that caused the fracture in the video above. MLB Network's Jon Heyman reported on Thursday that surgery has been recommended to repair the finger, and that could cause Valdez to miss the entire season.
With Valdez out, the Astros will explore all options, likely including free agents. Other options include in-house pitchers with good arms like Luis Garcia and Forrest Whitley. They had guys including Valdez emerge last year and may employ an “all hands on deck" approach to start https://t.co/oupF3wtPyU
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) March 4, 2021
For now, it looks like the Astros and their doctors are still evaluating the situation, and perhaps they will know more after the swelling goes down. Valdez was able to stay in the game after sustaining the injury on Tuesday, so there's a possibility this isn't a worst-case scenario for Valdez and the Astros. Either way, this is a big blow for Houston as Valdez looked like the best pitcher in the rotation by the end of the ALCS last year, and this will clearly impact his preparation for the season and possibly cause him to miss some time.
How Astros surging ace raises key questions about Houston's short, long-term rotation moves
Jul 25, 2024, 5:39 pm
It's no secret to Astros fans that the ascension of Hunter Brown is one of the primary reasons the team was able to rebound from a disastrous start to the season.
Astros manager Joe Espada has seen enough from Brown to start throwing around the word “ace” when talking about him.
Joe Espada on Hunter Brown: "He's having that ace feeling to him. We are expecting him to go out there and deliver what he just did. We knew all along that is in him and now he's starting to turn the corner. He's starting to have that swag where he knows 'my team needs a win.'"
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) July 24, 2024
And it appears the biggest key to Brown's turnaround was mixing in a two-seam fastball to keep right-handed hitters honest. Brown needed a pitch that could command the inside of the plate, which allows his other pitches to be more effective.
We learned just recently, from Chandler Rome of The Athletic, that Alex Bregman was the one that suggested the addition of the two-seam fastball to Brown's arsenal.
Come to find out, Bregman often shares advice on how to attack hitters. Or he'll ask pitchers why they chose a certain pitch in a specific situation.
This just goes to show that veteran leadership can make a big difference. Especially on a team with so many young pitchers and catchers. Bregman was able to help Brown when no pitching coach could.
For Brown, this small tweak could be the catalyst that changes the course of his career. And the Astros season for that matter.
However, some will say the difference in Brown is more about confidence than anything else. But confidence only builds after repeated success. Nobody knows where Brown would be without the two-seam fastball.
Looking ahead
If the Astros do make the playoffs, where will Espada slot Brown in the playoff rotation? Framber Valdez has the playoff experience, so he'll probably be penciled in as the number one starter.
Justin Verlander (neck) still isn't facing live batters, so it's hard to count on him. Ronel Blanco has been an All-Star level pitcher this season, but he doesn't have any experience pitching playoff games for the Astros.
So it wouldn't be surprising at all if Brown is the team's number two starter. In all likelihood, whoever is pitching the best at the end of the season may get the nod. But it's fun to discuss in the meantime.
Finally, how does Hunter Brown's arrival impact the Astros' plans at the trade deadline? And how could that affect Justin Verlander's future with the club?
Be sure to check out the video above for the full conversation!
Catch our weekly Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast. Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and Charlie Pallilo discuss varied Astros topics. The first post for the week generally goes up Monday afternoon (second part released Tuesday) via The SportsMap HOU YouTube channel or listen to episodes in their entirety at Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
