The Houston Astros had high hopes for their new ace, Framber Valdez, going into this season. Valdez was considered a contender for the American League Cy Young award, but things haven’t gone according to plan so far.
In their opening series against the Tampa Bay Rays, Valdez struggled, leaving many wondering if he is truly an ace.
Defining “Ace”
An “ace” in baseball is defined as the best-starting pitcher on a team’s staff. This is the pitcher who typically starts the most important games and is expected to provide consistent success throughout the season.
What Makes a Pitcher an “Ace”?
There is no exact formula for what makes a pitcher an “ace,” but generally, an ace is considered to be a pitcher who consistently performs at a high level and leads the team’s rotation.
They are typically reliable and able to produce strong performances even under pressure. A pitcher can become an “ace” due to their past success, their unique skillset or pitching style, or simply by being the best pitcher on their team.
Criteria for an “Ace”
There are several criteria that can be used to determine whether a pitcher is an “ace,” including:.
Consistency: An “ace” should have a consistent track record of success over multiple seasons, with few dips in performance.
Durability: An “ace” should be able to stay healthy and pitch significant innings over the course of a season.
Dominance: An “ace” should be able to dominate opposing hitters, striking out batters at a high rate and keeping the ball in the park.
Control: An “ace” should have a good command of their pitches and limit walks and home runs.
Performance in important games: An “ace” should be able to perform well in high-pressure situations, such as playoff games or key matchups against division rivals.
Overall, an “ace” is a pitcher who is able to consistently perform at an elite level and lead their team’s pitching staff. While there is no exact formula for what makes a pitcher an “ace,” the criteria listed above can be used to evaluate a pitcher’s performance and determine their status as the team’s top starter.
Valdez’s Stats
The Houston Astros started their 2022 season with high expectations, including the hope that Framber Valdez could be a contender for the American League Cy Young award.
However, in their opening series against the Tampa Bay Rays, the Tigers’ offense continued its struggles from the previous year.
The Tigers’ Offensive Struggles
In 2021, the Tigers scored the fewest runs in the major leagues. Despite some roster changes, their offense didn’t seem to improve in the opening series against the Astros, as they struggled to put up runs.
Valdez’s Statistics in the Previous Season
Framber Valdez had a breakout 2021 season, where he went 11-5 with a 2.86 ERA in 23 appearances (21 starts). He struck out 126 batters in 134 innings pitched, with a WHIP of 1.12.
He was particularly dominant in the postseason, where he went 4-0 with a 1.67 ERA in five appearances (four starts), helping the Astros reach the World Series.
Comparison With Other Pitchers in the Al
In terms of ERA, Valdez’s 2.86 mark was 12th-best in the American League among pitchers with at least 100 innings pitched. His strikeout rate of 8.5 K/9 was right around the league average.
His WHIP of 1.12 was the 10th-best in the AL among qualified pitchers.
Overall, Valdez had a very solid season in 2021, particularly in the playoffs. However, there were other pitchers in the American League who had better regular season statistics.
Nonetheless, the Astros were hoping that Valdez could build upon his success from last year and become a frontrunner for the Cy Young award this season.
Despite Framber Valdez’s strong 2021 campaign, the Tigers continued to struggle offensively in their opening series against the Astros. While Valdez’s regular season statistics didn’t quite match up to some other pitchers in the AL, he was a critical part of Houston’s postseason success.
The Astros hope that he can take another step forward in 2022 and become a true ace.
Valdez’s Strengths as a Pitcher
Houston Astros pitcher Framber Valdez possesses a unique pitching style that sets him apart from other pitchers in the league. He has a signature sinker that allows him to induce ground balls and therefore, keep the ball in the park.
Additionally, he has a deceptive curveball that is difficult for batters to recognize early on, resulting in a high swing-and-miss rate.
Valdez’s strengths lie in his ability to keep the ball low in the zone and induce ground balls. He had a 60.1% ground ball rate in 2021, which was the highest in the league among qualified starters.
This skill is crucial in preventing home runs, which is an essential factor in keeping runs off the board.
Valdez’s sinker has a lot of movement, which makes it difficult for batters to make solid contact. The sinker’s velocity ranges from 90-95 mph, and it has a heavy downward movement causing it to drop out of the strike zone, inducing weak contact or swings and misses.
Another strength that sets Valdez apart is his curveball. He throws it with a sweeping motion that starts above the zone and ends well below it, with a lot of lateral movement, making it tough to hit.
Valdez threw his curveball around 16.5% of the time in 2020, and it resulted in a 40.7% whiff rate, meaning that 40.7% of swings against the pitch were misses.
Framber Valdez’s strengths as a pitcher are his ability to induce ground balls and prevent home runs, plus his deceptive curveball that generates a high swing-and-miss rate.
His unique pitching style has proven to be successful, and with continued development, he could be a contender for the American League Cy Young award this season.
Valdez’s Performance in the Opening Series
Houston Astros’ ace Framber Valdez had a stellar performance in their opening series against the Tampa Bay Rays. He pitched seven innings, allowing only one run on five hits and striking out seven batters, leading his team to a 5-1 victory.
Valdez faced 25 batters and threw 105 pitches, with 71 of them being strikes. His control was impressive, with a strike percentage of 67.6%.
Valdez had a little trouble in the first inning, giving up a double to start it off, but he quickly settled down and allowed only three hits over the next six innings.
His curveball was particularly impressive, and he got many of his strikeouts with that pitch. His fastball also had good movement, and he was able to mix up his pitches effectively.
How Valdez Proved His Worth as an “Ace”?
- Domination of the opposing team: Valdez’s performance in the opening series against the Rays demonstrated his ability to dominate the opposing team. He allowed only one run and struck out seven batters, showcasing his skills as an “Ace” pitcher.
- Impressive curveball: Valdez’s curveball was particularly impressive, as he used it to get many of his strikeouts. Its excellent movement left the Rays batters befuddled and unable to make contact with the ball.
- Powerful fastball: Valdez’s fastball also showcased his skill as an “Ace” pitcher. It had good velocity and movement, making it difficult for the Rays batters to hit the ball with authority.
- Excellent control: Throughout the game, Valdez showed excellent control, throwing 71 strikes out of 105 pitches, with a strike percentage of 67.6%. This helped him keep the Rays batters off balance and limit their ability to hit the ball with power.
- Continuation of impressive form: Valdez’s performance in the opening series was a continuation of his impressive form last season when he posted a 3.14 ERA in 25 starts. His consistency is a key characteristic of an “Ace” pitcher.
- Cy Young aspirations: With his performance against the Rays, Valdez demonstrated that he is looking to build on his success and make a run at the Cy Young award this season. This level of ambition is a hallmark of a true “Ace” pitcher.
Who Are the Astro Pitchers?
The Astro pitchers are the pitchers that play for the Houston Astros baseball team. They are responsible for throwing pitches to opposing batters in order to record outs.
Some notable members of Astro’s pitching staff include Justin Verlander and Gerrit Cole.
The team has had a strong track record of effective pitching in recent years. In the 2019 season, the Astros had the second-best team ERA (earned run average) in the league.
The Astro’s pitching staff utilizes advanced analytics and technology to optimize performance.
The team’s pitching coach, Brent Strom, is highly regarded in the baseball world. The Astros have also been involved in controversial controversies surrounding the use of electronic sign stealing to gain an advantage in pitching.
Despite this controversy, the Astros pitching staff is generally respected for their skill and success. Their performance will be crucial in determining whether the Astros can win another World Series championship.
How Tall is Framber Valdez?
Framber Valdez is a professional baseball player from the Dominican Republic. He was born on November 19, 1993. Valdez is a left-handed pitcher who currently plays for the Houston Astros.
He made his MLB debut in 2018 after spending four years in the minor leagues.
Valdez is known for having a deceptive delivery and a great curveball. He stands at 5 feet 11 inches tall (180.34 centimeters). Valdez started playing baseball when he was just six years old.
He was signed by the Astros as an international free agent in 2015.
Valdez has been a key player for the Astros, helping them reach the World Series in 2019. He continues to impress fans with his skill on the mound and his infectious passion for the game.
Who Has Triple Crown in Pitching?
The Pitching Triple Crown is an award given to a pitcher who leads their league in wins, strikeouts, and earned run average (ERA) in the same season.
Who Has Won the Pitching Triple Crown?
Since the modern era (1900), only 13 pitchers have won the Pitching Triple Crown. The most recent was Clayton Kershaw in 2011.
What Are the Requirements for Winning the Pitching Triple Crown?
To win the Pitching Triple Crown, a pitcher must lead their league in wins, strikeouts, and ERA. This requires consistent dominant performances throughout the season.
How Rare is Winning the Pitching Triple Crown?
Winning the Pitching Triple Crown is very rare. It has been accomplished only 13 times in the modern era (1900) and only three times since 1966. Pitchers must have great individual performances and also receive strong support from their team.
Who is the Only Pitcher to Win the Pitching Triple Crown With Multiple Teams?
Grover Cleveland Alexander is the only pitcher to win the Pitching Triple Crown with more than one major league team. He won his first two Triple Crowns with the Philadelphia Phillies (1915-1916) and his third with the Chicago Cubs in 1920.
To Recap
While it may be too early to make a definitive determination on Valdez’s abilities as an ace, his performance so far has raised some concerns.
It’s clear that he has the potential to be a dominant force on the mound, but he’ll need to work on his consistency and overcome his early struggles if he wants to be considered one of the best pitchers in the league.
Only time will tell if Valdez can live up to the lofty expectations placed upon him, but one thing’s for sure: he’ll have to be better than he was in his opening series if he wants to prove he’s an ace.
