HOUSTON (SportsRadio 610)- On Wednesday morning Jake Odorizzi texted Astros general manager James Click. He wanted to speak after voicing his displeasure with being removed from his start on Tuesday despite allowing just two runs in five innings on 66 pitches. The two men met with Astros manager Dusty Baker and pitching coach Brent Strom also taking part.
"We had that conversation, we got everything out there," Odorizzi said. "Just explained to them where I was coming from. It's good to have those conversations."
Odorizzi sailed through four scoreless innings on just 43 pitches Tuesday night against the Mariners, before running into trouble in the fifth. He allowed the inning's first two batters to reach, but nearly escaped without any damage only to see J.P. Crawford line a two-run double in center field. He was allowed to finish the frame, though it was his last, with Yimi Garcia taking over.
Tuesday was Odorizzi's tenth start since the All Star Break and he has not been allowed to complete six innings in any of them, despite allowing three or fewer runs in seven of those outings.
"We talked about it like men," Baker said. "I want all these guys to go as deep as they can in the games, but as a manager you're full of tough decisions. I have to do what I think's best for the team now and for the long run. I can't blame him for wanting to go more, I want him to go more."
Baker said he's tried to get Odorizzi deeper into games, but the right-hander hasn't been able to get over the hump. In 20 starts this season, he's held opponents to a .609 OPS the first time through the order and a .717 OPS the second time through, but that number has shot up to 1.365 the third time he's faced hitters, which is when Crawford's double occurred.
"I know what the numbers are," Odorizzi said. "Everyone acts like I don't understand, like, I know. The only way to get better at something is by doing it and you can't be better in the sixth if you don't go to the sixth. It's just math. There's only one way to get better, it's by going through it."
Baker only had to use one reliever during the Astros 11-2 win over the Mariners on Monday, so he had a rested bullpen on Tuesday night and insisted Odorizzi doesn't have a two times through the order limit.
"There were times when I trying to get him that third time through and it didn't work, and it frustrated him and it was kind of bewildering to me at the same time. I was trying to help him get over this hump, big time, and we're going to do everything we can to win games and to get him past this point."
In the first year of a two-year contract with the Astros that has a club option for a third, Odorizzi's ERA sits at 4.28.