Did Framber Valdez Intentionally Cross Up His Own Catcher So That He Could Drill Him In The Chest With a 93 MPH Fastball? Certainly Seems That Way

Houston Astros. Getty Images.

Tuesday night in Houston I think I saw something for the very first time in a baseball game, and it came at the expense of the Astros to boot. 

To set the scene the Yankees loaded the bases in the 5th inning of a two run game. With Trent Grisham at the plate, catcher Cesar Salazar urged pitcher Framber Valdez to step off the mound and reset just moments before delivering the pitch. Framber ignored that, possibly too committed in his mind in delivering the pitch, and served up a game-breaking grand slam. 

What happened right after is the story. On the first pitch of the next at bat, Framber sailed a changeup wide of the zone. On the next pitch he pumped a 93 mph sinker down the middle, leading to a cross up. Clearly a breaking ball was called as Salazar had no idea a heater was coming. He proceeded to take it off the chest. Not fun for a catcher!

The reactions from both Framber and Salazar tell me this was 100% an intentional cross up on Valdez's hand. No pitcher accidentally fucks up like that and hits his catcher in the chest without showing some kind of remorse immediately after. Salazar almost didn't know what to do. Dude just looked like he was over Framber's bullshit and couldn't believe what just happened. 

After the game they were both called into the manager's office to hash things out. 

Framber denied the cross up was intentional, blaming the crowd noise. He claims he called for a sinker while Salazar wanted a curveball. The reporter did a great job of pressing on this, reminding him that he doesn't have a pitchcom so how would he have called for the sinker. Framber's response was basically he had a sinker in mind so that's what he threw. He was halfway to a decent answer and then completely veered off the road. We're blaming this on telepathy now? None of that made sense or made him look in the right. 

It's entirely possible Framber just said "yeah of course I hit him on purpose, fuck that guy for distracting me" only for the translator to try and save his ass. I always wonder if that ever happens with these long, rambling answers in another language. 

Cesar just went with the company line that it was very loud with Yankee fans in the park and tough to hear, leading to the cross up. Clearly that's what the manager told them to say so it would blow over. 

Salazar is a 29 year old catcher who has played less than 60 games in his big league career. Dude is doing everything he can to stay up with the team so he's not going to be the guy to start shit. This is on guys like Altuve and Correa to step in and defend their guy. 

At the end of the day intentionally crossing up your catcher like that is an all-time scumbag move. Never seen that shit in my life. What's the equivalent to this in another sport? Like an offensive lineman letting a defensive end go by so his own QB can get lit up? Would have been incredible if Salazar charged the mound and fought his own teammate. Imagine Framber could throw triple digits? Might have seen a different reaction from the catcher. 

Honestly if I'm the manager I'm probably suspending Framber for a few days and telling him to get away from the team. Acting like this isn't a big deal will just make the clubhouse awkward. He's also been awful for a month now and is hurting the team in more ways than one. Good timing with him set to be a free agent in the offseason. Maybe this pours over into tomorrow and they just give up on the season. I'd be in full support. 

P.S. Great win for the Yankees as they start this gauntlet stretch of Houston, Toronto, Detroit, and Boston. 12 games to show us what they're made of. Tuesday night was a complete team win. Now do it again on Wednesday. 

P.P.S. It's so funny that none of this happens if Anthony Volpe doesn't watch a sinker down broadway go right by him.