The Legend of Cesar Valdez

[Three Run Homer]

Where did this guy come from?  Has he been pitching in Mexico or overseas all these years?  According to BB-Ref he pitched in MLB as far back in 2010 and as recently as 2017, without much success and never more than a cup of coffee.  

He's great fun to watch.  I don't think he ever throws a fastball.  Everything is slow or slower, but he gets lots of movement and throws strikes.  He seems unflappable, befitting a 36-year old baseball lifer who's probably seen it all.    

I see no reason not to give him the chance to win the closer job for the rest of the year and going into next season.  He strikes me as a folk hero in the making.  

[section18]

I could not have said it better. He gets the job done and it appears Hyde likes him. 

[Frobby]

Fun to have a guy like this.    Hopefully the league doesn’t catch up to him.  

[now]

In the mold of Nelson Cortes but with better stuff and more command and experience. Let's hope it continues to play.

[luismatos4prez]

Shades of DD pulling Gonzo and Lew Ford from the brink of obscurity. Valdez is pitching very well and I like his demeanor on the mound. He's a passionate guy out there.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WvQEGOMHMa0&ab_channel=TURULECOSRD

[Aristotelian]

1 hour ago, now said:

In the mold of Nelson Cortes but with better stuff and more command and experience. Let's hope it continues to play.

You mean Nestor? I don't see much comparison beyond not throwing too hard. Cesar is right handed and throws the changeup 80% of the time. Changeup is not even the right word because he plays the FB off the CH instead of vice versa. This guy is unlike any pitcher I have ever seen. He reminds me more of a knuckleballer in his approach and the action on his "changeup". Remains to be seen if he can sustain his success but I can't wait to see him pitch again. 

[Too Tall]

Stu Miller returns? Showing my age, but an Orioles closer who Chuck Thompson said had three speeds - slow - slower - and hoooooo boy! Fun to watch. May he be as successful!!!!!!

[oriole]

I’m glad to see him having some success. I was excited for him when he was signed just because of the underdog factor. Considering he is most useful when going multiple innings I doubt he will be the closer though. 

[bobmc]

10 hours ago, luismatos4prez said:

Shades of DD pulling Gonzo and Lew Ford from the brink of obscurity. Valdez is pitching very well and I like his demeanor on the mound. He's a passionate guy out there.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WvQEGOMHMa0&ab_channel=TURULECOSRD

Mucha gracia para esto!  Como quiere Dios!

[now]

10 hours ago, Aristotelian said:

You mean Nestor? I don't see much comparison beyond not throwing too hard. Cesar is right handed and throws the changeup 80% of the time. Changeup is not even the right word because he plays the FB off the CH instead of vice versa. This guy is unlike any pitcher I have ever seen. He reminds me more of a knuckleballer in his approach and the action on his "changeup". Remains to be seen if he can sustain his success but I can't wait to see him pitch again. 

Oops, you're right: Nestor. What I was thinking of was not only the soft assortment, but the variable funky arm angles. The key as with any soft tosser is command, and Valdez seems to have nailed it.

[Filmstudy]

In terms of slow, slower, slowest, the recent pitcher he reminds me of is Sergio Romo.  But Sergio Romo maintained an impressive K/BB ratio for many years and Valdez has done it for the last 9 innings of his career.

Incredibly, Sergio Romo is just 2 years older than Valdez.

[interloper]

Love watching him pitch. Not only is the stuff just slow, but it's got nasty movement and break. Credit to Elias and Co. for finding this guy and saying the heck with how old he is. 

[OFFNY]

o

 

(vs. YANKEES, 9/12)

 

Valdez threw 3 shutout innings in a 1-1 game.

He ceded 1 Triple, 0 Walks, had 1 Strikeout, and threw 42 Pitches )(28 )Strikes, )14 )Balls.)

 

o

[OFFNY]

o

 

(vs. BRAVES, 9/16)

 

Another shutout inning tonight for Valdez.

I hope that he finished the season with a 0.00 ERA.

 

o

[OFFNY]

On 9/16/2020 at 10:14 PM, OFFNY said:

o

 

(vs. BRAVES, 9/16)

 

Another shutout inning tonight for Valdez.

I hope that he finished the season with a 0.00 ERA.

 

o

o

 

Well, he won't finish the season with an 0.00 ERA, but Valdez did nail down a much-needed win against an excellent Rays team this afternoon ...... it was the first time this season in which the Orioles won a game that their offense scored 3 runs or less (they were previously 0-20 in such contests.)

 

o