Baker remains confident in Graveman
CHICAGO — Dusty Baker is still “very confident” in setup man Kendall Graveman despite two traffic-filled outings during the American League Division Series.
Baker handed Graveman a six-run lead on Thursday and a five-run advantage on Friday. He responded by allowing five baserunners. Chicago scored a run against him in Game 1 before stranding two in scoring position in Game 2. Graveman needed 52 pitches to procure his six outs.
Graveman allowed three singles in the first two games. None was hit harder than 93.4 mph off the bat, a fact Baker acknowledged Saturday. He’s issued two walks, though, continuing a concerning September trend.
Graveman walked 10 batters and hit another in 101⁄3 September innings. Pitching coach Brent Strom attributed the anemia to a mechanical issue in Graveman’s post foot — the one that remains on the rubber during his delivery. The flaw caused Graveman to miss inside to righthanded hitters.
Baker reaffirmed confidence in Graveman on Saturday, but his actions in a tie game on Friday demonstrated something different.
Baker got closer Ryan Pressly up and warming before the eighth inning, when the fifth, sixth and seventh-place hitters in the White Sox order were due to hit.
Whether Baker would have asked Pressly for six outs is a mystery. Houston scored five runs in the seventh to create separation, so Pressly pitched just the eighth.
Graveman came in for the ninth. Twenty-seven pitches, a hit and walk later, he exited unscathed.
“I’m at the same place,” Baker said. “It’s a matter of one pitch, actually, that kind of has gotten him into trouble or one situation. They’ve also hit some low exit speeds (hits) off of him, which are still hits, but if you make those kind of pitches more than not, it’ll be an out. I’m very confident in Kendall.”