Staff in for endurance test
After overachieving in 2020, young starters preparing to handle much bigger workload
PORT ST. LUCIE. Fla. — From his seat behind some netting in the Astros’ first-base dugout, Dusty Baker flashed five fingers.
Part of Major League Baseball’s health and safety protocols allow managers to halt spring training innings if they get too long. Until March 13, frames can stop before three outs are recorded — provided the pitcher has thrown at least 20 pitches.
Cristian Javier was at 15. The righthander yielded consecutive two-out baserunners to the Mets in the third inning. Brandon Nimmo laced a first-pitch double into the right-field corner before Francisco Lindor coaxed a fivepitch walk. Outfielder Michael Conforto came to the plate. Slugger Pete Alonso stood on deck.
Baker activated his bullpen but hoped he could avoid it. Afterward, the manager acknowledged he was one or two pitches away from either pulling Javier or stopping the inning. Baker and his brethren must strike a delicate balance — new ground for almost everyone involved.
The line between getting a pitcher regular-season ready and not overusing him is always tenuous. Circumstances surrounding this season magnify it even more.
Pitchers stopped and started twice last season because of the
pandemic. When they did throw, it was during a season truncated by more than 100 games. Routines for established veterans were thrown out of whack.
Rookies know nothing but the shortened season. The Astros had 10 pitchers make their major league debuts in 2020. How they will handle an actual major league season is the quandary Baker and pitching coach Brent Strom now face.
Many of the rookies transformed their bodies this offseason to prepare. Reliever Enoli Paredes gained 14 pounds for more durability. Andre Scrubb lost weight.
While they worked, Houston’s front office signaled at least some faith in the youngsters. General manager James Click bolstered his bullpen with two veteran additions but did not acquire a durable starting pitcher.
The five returning starters form a formidable rotation, but only Zack Greinke ever has demonstrated any sustained major league durability.
“We’re sort of in uncharted territory,” Baker said after Monday’s 2-0 Grapefruit League loss to the Mets. “We’re going to try to keep an eye on it, but right now, no one knows until you get there.”
Javier might be the most difficult of the bunch to project. Framber Valdez and Jose Urquidy have eclipsed 140 innings in a season. Presuming health, both will be asked to increase that, but not by a massive number. Lance McCullers Jr.’s major league high is 1281/3 innings, but as a rookie in 2015, he threw 164 combined between the minor and major leagues.
Javier has never thrown more than 1132⁄3 innings during a professional season. The Astros might ask him to approach anywhere from 160 to 190 frames this year. Javier dedicated his offseason in the Dominican Republic to strength training with a goal of remaining with the major league team all season.
“I focused on the physical side, just getting healthy (and) staying in shape,” said Javier, who finished third in American League Rookie of the Year voting last season. “My biggest goal is to be with the big league team the whole season, contribute the whole season and help us win a championship.”
Valdez and Javier made their Grapefruit League debuts Monday against the Mets. Valdez sailed through two innings of one-run baseball. Francisco Lindor hit a ground ball that deflected off of Valdez’s pitching hand but left no lasting damage. Valdez made only one mistake: hanging a breaking ball that second baseman Jeff McNeil deposited onto the right-field berm.
“I worked on my physical aspects this offseason, and I just made sure that I was just physically ready to endure a longer season and throw however many innings they need out of me,” Valdez said through an interpreter.
He certainly appears to have his manager’s confidence.
“You’re not as probably worried about him as much as Javier’s workload,” Baker said.
When Conforto came to the plate against Javier on Monday, the righthander used his four-seam fastball to establish control of the count — something missing earlier in the inning. Conforto evened it at two. Houston’s bullpen hurried to get ready.
Javier fired one final fastball — the hardest he threw all inning. Conforto sent it harmlessly into left field. Michael Brantley squeezed it for the third out, saving Javier’s afternoon and affording him another inning. The righthander required just 10 pitches to finish it — a strong ending to his first appearance.
How many more could he or Valdez get this spring?
“We don’t know,” Baker said, “It depends on their health and their endurance and durability.”