Valdez has a chance to pitch the Astros back into the World Series on Sunday: 'It's my job to be really calm.'
HOUSTON — Emotion can be ’s worst enemy. He has spent so much of his career trying to control it, whether with breathing exercises, extra time between pitches or consultations with one of the sports psychologists prior to each of his starts. Valdez’s maturation since his rookie season is noticeable but nowhere near complete. His lapses are less frequent, and he’s made two consecutive American League All-Star teams as a result.
There will “probably” be carryover from the chaos in Game 5, Astros manager Dusty Baker said Saturday. For Houston to win a pennant, Valdez cannot precipitate the chaos. Harnessing his focus and emotion is always paramount, but this start — with so much at stake and so much angst around it — will be the ultimate test. “I’m just going to try to do what I did in the regular season, just try to throw strikes, try to attack the strike zone and get outs,” Valdez said Saturday through an interpreter.
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