On the latest episode of Yahoo Sports’ “Baseball Bar-B-Cast,” hosts Jordan Shusterman and Jake Mintz delved into the chaos surrounding Framber Valdez’s recent actions on the mound that got him a five-game suspension, a moment that could have significant implications for a Detroit Tigers team already reeling from injuries and setbacks.
Here’s a breakdown of what happened, why it matters and what it means for the Tigers moving forward.
What happened with Framber Valdez?
During a rough Tuesday night outing against the Boston Red Sox, Valdez let his frustrations spill over. After being roughed up by the Red Sox for 10 runs (seven earned), including surrendering back-to-back home runs to Willson Contreras and Wilyer Abreu, Valdez plunked Trevor Story with a fastball. The intentional nature of the pitch was clear to most watching, and as Shusterman put it, “This is one of the more obvious intentional hit by pitches we've ever seen.”
Despite Valdez’s postgame denial, Tigers manager A.J. Hinch all but confirmed the egregiousness of the act:
“We play a really good brand of baseball here,” Hinch said, via the Detroit News. “That didn't feel like it. I'm not judging intent, but I know when you go out on the field in those confrontations, you usually feel like you are in your right. It didn't feel good being out there.”
This rare admission from Hinch, stopping just short of naming Valdez’s intent outright, underscores how out-of-line the moment was.
It should be noted that Tigers broadcaster Andy Dirks, hilariously, didn’t see what the fuss was about:
Why Valdez’s plunking decision hurts more than Trevor Story’s shoulder
The Tigers, once seen as the AL Central frontrunner, suddenly find themselves on shaky ground. Valdez’s suspension exacerbates a pitching rotation already decimated with injuries.
Tarik Skubal, Detroit’s ace, is sidelined after elbow surgery with an uncertain return. Other starters — Casey Mize, Reese Olson, Troy Melton, Justin Verlander and Jackson Jobe — are also dealing with injuries.
With so many arms down, Valdez was supposed to be the stabilizer. Now, with a five-game suspension, Detroit faces another hole.
“For a Tigers team right now that cannot afford to lose anybody ... he’s going to get suspended long enough to miss at least one start,” Shusterman said. “And that’s just the last thing the Tigers need right now.”
The pitching staff has become a liability in the AL Central race. And one of the reasons isn’t due to injury.
Mintz pulled no punches in criticizing Valdez.
“It’s embarrassing and it’s selfish and it’s stupid and it doesn’t accomplish anything … There is nothing to come of this. For Framber Valdez, there is only negatives. That is why it is such an irrational decision. If I’m on the Tigers, I’m so frickin’ steamed about it.”
Hinch, who vouched for Valdez in the offseason, will serve a one-game suspension.
In a season already teetering because of injuries, Valdez’s poor decision to throw at a batter could haunt the Tigers well beyond a single game. As the dust settles, Detroit must now manage not only a battered pitching staff but also the fallout from a moment of anger that may have lasting consequences.
As Shusterman succinctly put it:
“It’s just so disappointing … It’s a really crappy feeling for him. And really disappointing moment for the Tigers. Made an ugly week.”