Houston Astros pitcher Framber Valdez is facing allegations of misconduct during a game, and surprisingly, there are no trash cans involved this time.
Former MLB player Dallas Braden and others claim that Valdez intentionally let catcher César Salazar get hit by a pitch before Trent Grisham hit a crucial grand slam on Tuesday night, leading to the Yankees’ 7-1 victory.
Braden tweeted, “Definitely intentional. Just terrible behavior.” His strong stance reflects a broader sentiment among some fans and analysts.
Valdez, however, denied any intention behind the incident, expressing remorse through a translator and stating he accidentally hit Salazar. “I hit the wrong button on Pitchcom,” he clarified.
After the game, Valdez maintained, “It wasn’t on purpose,” despite giving up six runs in five innings.
“I specifically asked for a sinker. That was my call,” he said, attempting to explain the miscommunication caused by noise in the stadium.
The pivotal moment occurred with a 2-0 score and the bases loaded as Grisham stepped up to bat. Valdez, seemingly unsure, shook his head just before throwing the pitch, prompting Salazar to try and signal him off the mound.
But Valdez committed, delivering a 96-mile-per-hour sinker that Grisham took full advantage of for a game-changing grand slam.
The awkward aftermath unfolded as Valdez appeared visibly shaken after allowing the home run.
Shortly after, he threw a pitch that clearly surprised Salazar, hitting him in an unexpected manner.
Braden commented on the complexities of using Pitchcom technology, which is intended to streamline communication between pitcher and catcher. “We should be on the same page,” he noted.
Valdez, when pressed about the communication mishap, stated, “It didn’t seem necessary.”
He elaborated, mentioning, “I wanted to throw a sinker, even though he asked for a curveball. That’s what I aimed for and, well, that’s what ended up happening.”
After the incident, Salazar confronted Valdez, and later in the clubhouse, Valdez took responsibility, saying they “just crossed signals.”
Salazar downplayed the situation, attributing the chaos in part to a crowd of Yankees fans at the stadium. “It was kind of loud after that grand slam; maybe my Pitchcom was off,” he reasoned.
Valdez’s recent performance has raised eyebrows, as he now stands at 1-4 with a 5.66 ERA in his last seven starts, although his season stats show a 12-8 record with a 3.40 ERA.
Despite the turbulence, the Astros still hold a three-game lead over the Mariners in the AL West, securing the third seed in the American League.
Salazar concluded on a positive note, saying Valdez apologized, and asserting, “There’s nothing wrong with that. I just pressed the wrong button and expected a different pitch.”
