Framber Valdez seemed to be using a foreign substance on the mound in Game 2 of the World Series
The Phillies dropped Game 2 of the World Series on Saturday night after Zack Wheeler ran into some early trouble in the first inning. The game was a frustrating one, but at the end of the night, the Phillies were able to split the two games in Houston and will return home Monday night for three games at Citizens Bank Park.
During and after the game on Saturday night, there were a TON of people pointing out some bizarre things happening with Astros starter Framber Valdez on the mound. Of course, any time something is happening with the Houston Astros, the immediate reaction was that Valdez, removing his glove, rubbing is hands and baseball, was using some type of substance to increase the spin-rate on his pitches.
Was Framber Valdez using a foreign substance on the mound?
Framber Valdez has been a dominant pitcher for the Astros all year, leading the team in innings and strikeouts. Valdez’s two main pitchers are his sinker which he throws 49% of the time and his curveball, which is thrown 28% of the time.
Nick Castellanos had this to say following the game:
“I haven’t seen a curveball break like that in a minute.”
Read more: Phillies will mix up their rotation for Games 3 and 4 >>
If Valdez wanted to make things even more suspicious, he randomly switched gloves during the game.
Valdez was also seen walking off the field, wiping his wrist and glove off on the back of his pants. He was also wiping his forehead all night, then going right to that glove-side wrist before every pitch. Again, the Astros are obviously not new to cheating, so stuff like this really shouldn’t surprise us. Valdez was asked about the claims after the game, and denied everything.
Rob Thomson Postgame on Valdez
Originally tweeted by NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) on October 30, 2022.
Look, I don’t know what was happening with Valdez on the mound but it certainly rubbed (pun intended) people the wrong way on social media. His spin rate was up, and he dominated the Phillies lineup throughout the night. Regardless, if Rob Thomson wasn’t concerned then we shouldn’t be either. It has, and always will be, In Rob We Trust.
The Phillies stole a game on the road and now have a five-game series with home-field advantage. The Astros are now heading to the city of Philadelphia and experience a hostile playoff environment over the next three games.
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