Well in his mind he thinks he's "perfectly fine" where anyone who's actually watching him knows this couldn't be further from the truth!!
So you obviously are not an Astro fan, and if you are, you don't watch them that much. In his last two outings (in the playoffs) he was yanked in the 4th and in the 2nd last night. He's given up SIX earned runs in those six innings so you keep on believing He's "perfectly fine" or that he looked like "Framber Valdez". You keep doubling down but I'm done going back and forth with you because you're clueless!!
You can't point to anything actually being wrong. I'm sorry I actually am a fan and watch the games. There is nothing wrong with him. He's just not an ace, which I guess is what you expect. He isn't having any decline in any meaningful way. He just is what he is.
Pretty sure putting 9 baserunners on in 3 innings is not anywhere close to his normal self and wouldn't be considered "oh, just not an ace". The Chicago start had 8 baserunners in 4 innings. This seems like a weird hill to die on. If this really is what he is, he wouldn't be in the majors. He's not played well. He declined in September as well with a WHIP over 1.4. He's probably pitched more innings this year than any point in his career and might just be out of gas. Who knows what it is, but he's very clearly not been pitching as well as he was prior for a while now.
His velocity isn't down. He's still getting ground balls better than anyone. His walks have been an issue forever. His September numbers are pretty similar to his full season averages. https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.fcgi?id=valdefr01&year=2021&t=p#month https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.fcgi?id=valdefr01&year=2021&t=p#month_extra The end results the last couple of games obviously weren't good, but they also aren't showing a real reason for concern, unlike Garcia that saw a massive spike in BB-rate and decline in K-rate, Valdez hasn't had that happen.
He pitched in the postseason in both 2018 and 2020. In 2018, he was pitching through injury which may have ultimately been what caused him to miss 2019. But bigger picture, yes, he has availability issues - which is the only reason the Astros were able to sign him longterm for so cheap.
Just went to go bump this thread, and I got beat to it. It seems like a long shot, but if Lance could come back for the World Series, he'd be such a huge weapon. And just because of his importance to this team, you'd love to see him on the mound, even if it was just for a relief appearance or two.
After missing the Astros’ entire six-game win in the American League Championship Series, Lance McCullers Jr. said he’s “not sure” whether he could contribute during the World Series. McCullers strained the flexor pronator muscle in his right forearm during Houston’s 10-1 win in Game 4 of the American League Division Series against the Chicago White Sox. Manager Dusty Baker said on Thursday that McCullers has not resumed throwing a baseball and that “nothing’s changed” with his status. “Fortunately we have a couple extra days now to kind of assess and see how that is,” general manager James Click said after Friday’s 5-0 win against the Red Sox. “We’ll see how that is. I hope so. When he’s right, he’s one of the most unhittable pitchers in baseball. Having him in at the front of our rotation, or somewhere in the rotation depending on how much he can build up, would be a real shot in the arm.” McCullers’ continued inactivity does not portend well for his World Series status. Game 1 is scheduled for Tuesday against either the Dodgers or Braves.
