Houston Astros Ace Valdez Says Jersey Color a 'Crutch' Going into Game 6
Houston Astros starting pitcher Framber Valdez is known to favor throwing in the Astros’ blue jerseys, which they typically wear as an alternate.
In Game 2 of the ALCS against the Texas Rangers he wore that jersey and ended up taking the loss, as he went just 2.2 innings and allowed five runs (four earned) on seven hits. That came on the heels of his Game 2 in the ALDS against Minnesota, in which he went 4.1 innings and gave up five runs on seven hits. The Astros lost that game, too.
On both occasions, the games were at home and the Astros were wearing those blue jerseys that Valdez favors.
Could winning Game 6 be as easy as convincing Valdez to wear the orange jerseys the Astros wore in their last three games in Arlington, all of which they won?
Astros manager Dusty Baker didn’t know what the Astros might wear as of Saturday afternoon.
“I don't know. I haven't even talked to Carl (Schneider, clubhouse manager),” Baker said. “I know Framber likes to wear the blue. And so I've got to talk to Carl and Framber.”
At this point, whatever works, right? Valdez is 0-2 this postseason with a 11.57 ERA. This from a left-hander who was an integral part of last year’s World Series run and, before this postseason, was 7-2.
Valdez said on Saturday that he doesn’t care what jersey he wears, saying that using that an excuse for performance, good or bad, is a “crutch.”
“I think some people try to use the jersey as a crutch,” Valdez said. “Oh, the team played well in (the orange). Because really I think about it when you do wear that jersey, you had that one thing and things don't go the way you want, then what? It doesn't matter to me what jersey we use, whether it's the navy, the white, the orange, just go out and compete.”
Well, after all the questions, the Astros will wear the orange jerseys that they wore for Games 3, 4 and 5 in Arlington.
2023 ALCS schedule (FOX/FS1)
Game 1: Rangers 2, Astros 0
Game 2: Rangers 5, Astros 4
Game 3: Astros 8, Rangers 5
Game 4: Astros 10, Rangers 3
Game 5: Astros 5, Rangers 4 (Astros lead series, 3-2)
Game 6: Sunday at Houston, 7:03 p.m. (FS1)
Game 7*: Monday at Houston, 7:03 p.m. (Fox/FS1)
*If necessary
