MLB WORLD SERIES: PHILLIES VS ASTROS

October 28, 2022

Framber Valdez

Minute Maid Park

Houston Astros

Pregame 1 Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: We'll get started with Framber Valdez.

Q. You added the cutter this year to help you against left-handed hitters. How do you feel that pitch has evolved for you this year, and how do you feel going into a start tomorrow where you're going to face a good bit of left-handed hitters?

FRAMBER VALDEZ: The cutter's been good for me this year. I've gotten good results with that pitch. When you get good results there you don't change anything. So I'm going to continue throwing it. It's been good.

Q. How have you changed your postseason and plan of attack for tomorrow against the Phillies?

FRAMBER VALDEZ: Biggest thing that's changed is the mentality, just analyzing the hitters, and just the way I practice, just a lot of other things, just try and stay focused on the mound.

For attacking the hitters tomorrow I'm just going to throw as many strikes as I can and attack them inside the strike zone.

Q. What does it mean to you to be in this position starting Game 2 of the World Series?

FRAMBER VALDEZ: It means a lot for me. It means a lot for my career. Honestly, just, I feel good there. Just continue doing what I've been doing, continue doing the work and try to throw a good game for the team.

Q. What did you learn from your two World Series starts last year? Looking back, why didn't they go as well as you had hoped?

FRAMBER VALDEZ: I think last year my emotions got the better of me during the World Series. I think the key for this year is just continue doing what I've been doing, try not to let the game get away from me, and I think we'll get good results there.

Q. First of all, what's the difference between this Framber Valdez from this year to last year's World Series? And how do you feel about your teammates wearing your Framber shirt?

FRAMBER VALDEZ: I think the biggest difference from last year to this year has been the consistency. I think I've been a little bit more consistent this year on everything that I've done. I feel good with the results that I've gotten and hopefully continue to get more.

In terms of the shirt, I feel really happy that the guys feel comfortable wearing my shirt. Obviously, I've accomplished a lot this year and I have accomplished a lot with these guys. So I do feel very proud that they feel comfortable enough to wear my last name on them.

Q. Can you outline the process of adding a new pitch to your arsenal, and how do you decide when it's ready?

FRAMBER VALDEZ: I think the biggest thing is just throwing the pitch, analyzing it, going over it with your pitching coaches and let them decide whenever they think it's ready to be thrown in a major league game. Whether it's a curveball, cutter, split, we got to throw those pitches and see how many times we get it inside the strike zone, and then we come into the determination with our pitching coaches to then say, Okay, we feel comfortable throwing this pitch inside of the game.

Q. Four World Series in the last six years here for you. What makes this team different from the previous ones?

FRAMBER VALDEZ: I can speak on 2018 forward. I think the biggest thing is that this team is united. We try to help each other out, give each other advice. If we see something that needs to be corrected we don't try to wait for a pitching coach to necessarily come to us. We try to help each other out in that regard. And I think that's kind of been one of the reasons why we've been able to be so successful the last couple years.

Q. Talk about the Phillies' lineup and particularly Bryce Harper who is batting above .400.

FRAMBER VALDEZ: I think we all hear about the great lineup that they have. But we feel really comfortable with our lineup and our pitching staff as well. We know what we can do, what we can accomplish there.

We also feel really good that we're all healthy coming into this series and know that we can execute our pitches.