Major League starting pitchers, however, are not most people. They’re very much creatures of habit. A lengthy rendition of the national anthem has been known to throw them off. They’re into efficiency — get the work done and go home. If MLB installed a time clock in the dugout pitchers would be eager to punch in, then, the second the work in done, punch out.
So when Nathan Eovaldi came off the mound after the bottom of the first inning at Minute Maid Park Saturday afternoon, he had no idea that it would be nearly three-quarters of an hour before it was time to resume his work day for the bottom of the second.