Astros Even Series with Nats, Imai Exits Early, NFL Breakout Candidates

Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
Wednesday edition of the eight Team has arrived. Third straight
show that we will send you into an early Astros
first pitch and a first opportunity to do so during
this series, into a and out of a victory. If
the Astros taking care of business last night, I wouldn't
exactly say behind their starting pitching and their starting pitching

(00:21):
in each of the first two games went about as
expected considering who was out on the mound for the Astros,
one of them no longer an Astro still in the organization,
the other unable to give them four innings, but the
bullpen did their job, and the back of the lineup
for the second straight day did theirs and then some,
with Nick Allen producing three runs at it in with

(00:44):
Christian Vasquez providing two others, each of them with an
RBI single, two coming home on Nick Allen's single, both
with sack flies and the Astros pitching after the starter
certainly got it done. It wasn't a disastrous outing for Emi,
but lasting just three and two thirds is not exactly
helping the ball club very much.

Speaker 2 (01:05):
He has the.

Speaker 1 (01:05):
Same issue in the game yesterday as he's had throughout,
and then he added another by cutting his finger during
his outing. So we'll get into how the Astros did
what they did last night with their six' to three. Victory,
obviously it sends them into an opportunity to continue winning
series a lot more often now a totally different ball,
clubs and starting the year twenty and thirty one first

(01:25):
fifty one games of the, season, well the second fifty
one games of the, season which will come to a
conclusion just after The All Star, break will be a
whole heck of a lot, better and that's why they
have an opportunity to be a five hundred team or
better still when they get to The All star. Break
they're forty six and forty eight now after last night's,
victory dropping The nationals to just a game over five.

(01:49):
Hundred with The mariners extra inning loss last, night The
astros are two games out of the division. Lead marlin's
obviously playing some outstanding, baseball best team in The National
league over the last month and, change so a couple
more with The mariners in their park maybe bodes well
for The, astros possibly for The rangers as, well since

(02:09):
The rangers are playing The angels right now In arlington
and they whooped them last night with a big late
five run. Inning The rangers are still in between The
astros and The, mariners and The rangers still hold on
to the final wild card spot in The American, league
with The astros trailing them just by a game and a.
Half tonight With washington And Spencer, Araghetti tomorrow's final off

(02:29):
day before a bunch of off days for The All Star,
break and of course they'll make their way To arlington
for the final series Pre All Star Break, Friday Saturday.
SUNDAY a little bit of intel on what The astros
might have in store for their first, pitcher their starting
pitcher On sunday afternoon When Dana brown paid a visit
To The Morning drive earlier. Today want to share a
little bit of his conversation on that. Topic coming up

(02:52):
at three point. Thirty Dana brown on some options they.
HAVE i think we know what they, are but his
thoughts on where things stand with them the difficult decision
on Sending Mike burrows To TRIPLE.

Speaker 2 (03:04):
A he has.

Speaker 1 (03:05):
Options it obviously gives The astros options on how to
reshape their starting rotation with him not a part of
it any, longer AND i don't know when that will,
change barring. Injury it might not change at all in
twenty twenty. Six it might seem crazy that the guy
who leads the team an innings pitch and starts might
not make any more starts for a team who's had
as many injuries as they have and he's had none of.

(03:26):
Them but quite, HONESTLY i would expect, somebody at least one,
pitcher if not, two that it's returning from, injury to
be able to handle a starting rotation spot a whole
heck of a lot better Than Mike burrows. Did if
It's Christian xavier beginning On, sunday AND i do believe
it will, be then, yeah he'd be one of the
GUYS i would count on to do. That if It's Renel,

(03:48):
blanco WHO i don't believe will make the start On,
sunday he did pitch yesterday and give you some details
on his, outing BUT i do believe he will be
a part of this rotation opportunities move forward, Well u's
two guys along With Peter, lambert along With Spencer, arighetti
and along With Hunter.

Speaker 2 (04:05):
Brown that's.

Speaker 1 (04:05):
Five, Obviously emi is not likely headed anywhere else to,
pitch as in anywhere else in the. System so that's
six unless somebody gets hurt or is much worse than
the worst starting pitcher arguably in The American, League Mike.
Burrows i'm not sure how he returns in twenty twenty.

(04:28):
Six hope he pitches, Well hope he gives them the
option of maybe there's something he can do for this.
Team maybe there's a spot for him as a lengthy.
Reliever who, Knows but just as things sit right, Now
AND i didn't even Mention lance mcculler's junior's role in
all of, this and he pitched yesterday also for The
Space cowboys in the rain shortened. Game just a lot
of opportunities for other pitchers now that there is clearly

(04:49):
at least one open spot in the, rotation WHICH i
do believe will be taken By Christian xavier second straight,
day With Jose Al tuve hitting one over the, fence
and hopefully in this game today a little bit more balanced.
Offense it's total, gravy except it means more when the
bottom of the order, hits because it's almost like they
can't lose when they do, that and look at what

(05:10):
it took for them to lose On. Monday the bottom
of the. Order you got two hits from everybody in.
It each of your last four hitters had a pair of,
hits and they scored eleven. Runs as, in it's almost
impossible to lose when they, contribute because the likelihood of
them contributing and nobody at the top of the order
bringing them around or also having some sort of a productive.
Day that actually happened. Yesterday most of the guys at

(05:32):
the top of the order really didn't do much of.
Anything Christian walker got on, base so the bottom of
the order could bring him. Around they drove him in two,
times and obviously at Two day's homer at the end
of the game pushed the lead from three to, four
which made a little bit more of a. Cushion even
though The nationals brought the winning run to the plate
in the ninth, inning headed to the ninth inning down,

(05:54):
four ended up losing by three and ended up Needing
Josh hater to step to the mound to close things. Out,
well needing or, not because that's probably a debatable point
whether they needed to go to, him But Joe spott
of felt the need to go to.

Speaker 3 (06:09):
Him he.

Speaker 1 (06:09):
Did he got the final out after facing two Other
batters and The astros did get the six to three.
Victory one day out from activities In Las vegas For Summer,
League rockets taking their mini camp work from here In
houston at their training facility now on out To. VEGAS
a couple of announcements on their draft picks that they
have signed them With copeland's two way deal and obviously

(06:31):
the four year deal they agreed to With Bruce thornton
earlier this, week although only one year is guaranteed or
rather helpful contract certainly For, houston and Hopefully thornton plays
his way into having those other seasons at least year
two meaningful and contractual for his. TEAM a bunch of
other things going on in THE, nba a little bit
lower scale things so far today than. Yesterday there is

(06:53):
no two hundred and seventy three million dollar extension for any.
Players there was the finalization of a six team deal
or very close to. It all the particulars aren't, there
but there's a couple teams of consequence in that sixteen
deal could really matter to The Houston. Rockets so we'll
dive into a little bit of what it means and
how it affects The Western. Conference it's been a good news,

(07:17):
situation at least from my standpoint this PARTICULAR nb off
season For houston in that most of the Talent Extreme
championship chasing talent still wandering around in The Eastern, conference
and one such player went from The west to The Eastern.
Conference talking About Kawhi, Leonard Neither Jalen brown Nor Janna

(07:39):
sonodakumpo were sent to The Western. Conference so a couple
of things that did happen that we will get into.
Here and obviously every day that goes by were one
day closer to training camp's. Beginning we finish up with
media days for The Big. Twelve so a couple of
thoughts from some of the head. Coaches Brett yormark and
The monster. MONEY i can't tell if people think that

(07:59):
the deal they signed With Monster energy was good or,
bad and hearing the reactions of. IT i talked about
it yesterday without getting into the, financials and on the
surface portion of it sounds very. GOOD i found a
way to make the conference more, money but could there be?
More and so that conversation will be held here on the.
Show we'll also let you hear a little bit From
brian Boga sevic on The Houston astros as he played

(08:22):
a visit to The Matt Thomas show With, ross as
he does each and every Week astros analysts FOR. Scchm
we'll do that in just over half an hour on
two forty five this. Afternoon of course two thirty we
hit you with the best OF x and LIKE i,
said in early start time for The astros at five forty,
five so we'll be into The astros On deck show
at four. Thirty their return of THE tds will come

(08:45):
to the. Forefront, also that's The daily Soresby Brendan, soarersby
who probably won't be playing any football Until mini camp
next off season with WHATEVER nfl team decides to put
him on the. Rosters he's not necessarily involved in his
own daily, update but two different stories of, consequence a
one coming From cincinnati head coach and the other coming

(09:07):
From Yahoo, sports With cincinnati the forefront of that particular
report and the last thing to open up the. Show
maybe something of great consequence To astros fans here because
the golden era Of astros, baseball it's debatable whether or
not it is. Over the twenty twenty Six astros certainly
have a say in, that and if they are not

(09:28):
a playoff team this, YEAR i think it's fair to
say that it's. Over that'd be back to back playoff seasons,
missed and obviously the year prior no playoff, victories three
straight seasons without a playoff, win even a single playoff game,
WIN i would say it is, over which means the
era Of Justin verlander and everybody else that was a
part of The Golden era will be magnified and glorified

(09:49):
even more as it should. Be Justin verlander announced today
he is done With Major league baseball after the conclusion
of this. Season it's unlikely that he's got any post
season baseball left in his, arm because it didn't sound
like he would be open to a, deal ALTHOUGH i
don't know what team would be interested in a, deal
and it doesn't look like The tigers are going to the,

(10:10):
postseason especially if they end up moving on from any
of their, players most Specifically Tark, schooble but he is
expected back. Soon he was also named to The All star,
team he will not play because he's unavailable to. Play
Bryce harper on The National league side had the honors
a couple of years. Back the commissioner opened the door
for these types of additions to The All star. Team

(10:33):
it's an exhibition, game it's a couple of days worth
of celebrating the best in. Baseball so having legends that
otherwise wouldn't be, there and a pitcher who's barely pitched
this year clearly doesn't earn the right to be a
part of The All Star. Team but you're there to
celebrate the best in. Baseball his career is far and
away the best in baseball currently among active. Players there's

(10:55):
nobody even sniffing What Justin verlander has done as a
major league active, pitcher and obviously here In, houston in my,
opinion it's the best he's ever. Pitched it's funny how
that is still the same For Garrett, cole who's been
very good as A, yankee AND jv who's been very
good as A, tiger but before he was, here and
then again when he returned, here not quite as good

(11:17):
as a Met but you look at what they did
during their time here brief in the case Of garrett
and obviously length year eight years as an astro over
parts of different. Seasons two of those eight years he was,
here he threw one game game one, year he missed
the entire, year and obviously THE covid year he, pitched
and then that was it inning or a one start

(11:38):
season for, him because obviously that's when he suffered the
injury and ultimately had the surgery that left him out
for a. Year but his time here In houston again
from a production, standpoint in my, opinion much better than
his time anywhere. Else so your thoughts On Justin, verlander
The Houston astro and some of the accolades that were
produced here in some of the moments you might recall
from that era Of astros Base he has Two World series.

(12:01):
Titles The astros have Two World series, titles played a
large role in. That it's a pretty Large Major League
baseball news even in a year where he's barely made
an impact in the majors this year and happens to
be playing for a team that is among the worst in,
baseball certainly among the worst in The American. League so
a boatload of things for us to get into more
specifics details about how The astros got it done yesterday

(12:24):
and hope to do more of that the last four
games before they hit The All star. Break that's where
we begin on the other, side just getting rolling here
on A wednesday edition Of THE E, Team THE A
team On Sports, TENIORS wetx And josh here with you
this Wonderful wednesday. Afternoon you're forty six and forty Eight

(12:44):
astros taking on the forty seven and forty Six. Nationals
an opportunity For Spencer arraghetty to continue point the arrow
in the proper. Direction was fantastic early this, season from
his call up In. April remember he started the year
with The triple aout, fit and all the way Through
may he was The astro's best, starter and he Won
pitcher of The month for the month Of. May and

(13:05):
then he couldn't get anybody out In, june couldn't throw
strikes and sported an era at right at nine nine as.
Disastrous his earned run, average as in the average number
of runs he would give up in nine innings was.

Speaker 2 (13:18):
Nine it was.

Speaker 1 (13:18):
Terrible and then he turned. Around the second game The
astros had in the month Of July july, third he was,
fantastic allowed only two hits to The, rays and unfortunately
The astros didn't, win but he was. Great and now
his second opportunity this month to try to continue doing
what he did back In may. Presents and this is
against an interesting pitcher for how it relates to what

(13:38):
a couple of, teams most notably The astros did this.
Offseason tonight's starting pitcher for The Nationals Foster, griffin a
left handed pitcher who made his major league debut back
in twenty twenty and yet has barely pitched in the
major leagues because for the last three seasons he was pitching,
overseas he was pitching In, japan he was actually pitching

(13:59):
in the. End he was one of a host of
pitchers to be brought over this particular off. Season ponce
was one of the pitchers added to a very lucrative
deal In tampa or In, toronto got hurt almost immediately
and has had no.

Speaker 2 (14:13):
Impact. Obviously Ryan weiss was.

Speaker 1 (14:15):
Another he's one of these six pitchers notably added to
The astros roster that they hope to have potentially as
starting pitching. Options he was since designated for, assignment though
no team claimed, him no deal was made for, him
and he accepted to his reporting to The Space, cowboys
where he's now currently in The astros. Rotation, obviously Tatsu

(14:38):
emi is another such. Pitcher three years fifty four million
is what The astros shelled out for him the option
though For imai both a year two and year three
in advance of those two, seasons he has a player,
option so he could end up being just an eighteen
million dollar one year deal if he opts. Out curious
where he is on that and at what point point

(15:00):
in the season and at what point after his? Outings
are those questions becoming more. Prevalent there's so much in
game stuff to discuss with, him and there's not a
whole lot of in my conversation happening in between the.

Speaker 2 (15:15):
Games but when he goes out.

Speaker 1 (15:18):
There and gives you four outs or two, outs or
as part of a no, hitter or like, yesterday has
a cut on his finger in the first, inning after
the way that the game, started doesn't get out of
the fourth, inning, well most of the questions are about.
That at some, Point i'm curious where things stand with.
Him what does he think about his? Future is it
all about the way he's pitched and the opportunity to

(15:39):
make more, money is the opportunity to Leave america on
the table and go. Back it's a lot of money
to leave on the. Table IS i don't like pitching
In houston on the TABLE i don't like the. Team the,
OPPOSITE i love the. TEAM i would definitely opt in
no matter HOW i. Performed all of those things are
very curious at this point of baseball. Left, clearly it's

(16:01):
only game ninety five, tonight social sixty seven games left
in the season for both The astros and he might
And i'm hopeful that he pitches well enough to earn
all of the remaining starts that sit in front of.
Him last night was only starting number thirteen and as
The astros were Facing Andrew alvarez has been pretty successful

(16:21):
for The nationals this. Year that what he did yesterday
and his twelve twelfth appearance on the mound for, them
that was his worst appearance of the season in any.
Variety basically half of his appearance have been bullpen games
and the other half have been as a. Starter he's been.
Awesome doesn't give them a tremendous amount of, length but
that's not what they're looking for from, him and there's

(16:42):
obviously some. Constraints he gave them length, yesterday but he
also allowed The astros to score a lot of, runs
none in the first, Inning so When emi took to
the mound in the first, inning he did not have the,
lead and The nationals had the lead a whole two
pitches into the.

Speaker 2 (16:56):
Game and this is what that sounded.

Speaker 1 (16:58):
Like and the bells probably went, off, thinking uh, oh
is this another one of those?

Speaker 3 (17:02):
Days wood waiting for an oh. One here it, comes
and that is hammered deep to, right kiss it. Goodbye
eighth leadoff home run this season For James. Wood that
leads the, majors his twenty fifth, overall and The nationals
have a one to nothing.

Speaker 1 (17:20):
Lead you don't always know off the crack of the
bat what's, happening certainly not from the crack of the
bat to the voice in the booth on the radio,
call as you Heard Robert. Ford but he, did and
everybody else in the ballpark, did and em, did And
i'm Sure Christian vasquez, did And i'm sure the fans,
did And i'm sure The nationals. Did one hundred and

(17:41):
eleven point four off the bat four hundred and nineteen feet.
Away he is An All star for a. Reason and
as you, heard he leads the majors in leadoff home
runs for a, reason an absolute rocket off of his
bat on a ball that was eighty three miles an
hour and read it pretty much over the heart of the.
Plate that was the only run they scored in the,
inning Despite emi needing pitch after pitch after pitch after

(18:06):
pitch after pitch another high pitch, inning and that's all
that he seems to be able to. Produce so even
though he got out of that, trouble ended up only
allowing two runs over his pitching into the fourth. Inning
there's only so much you can get from him when
he's about to throw his eighty fifth pitch while in
trouble in the fourth. Inning and it's a very constant

(18:27):
problem for. Him he just does not throw enough. Strikes
he has trouble oftentimes putting hitters away even when he
gets ahead of. Them a lot of full, counts a
lot of, five six to seven pitch at, bats obviously
not necessarily because of a lot of foul. Balls that's
one of the things that Hurt Mike burrows quite a
bit this, year putting guys. Away they were just wasting
his pitches and fouling him off until he made a.

(18:48):
Mistake EMI's got a little of that in his arsenal
or to his, Detriment but most of it is just
non competitive pitches and that was evident again. Yesterday but
he's not giving up a lot of. Hits we rarely
talk about, it but it's a. Fact his batting average
against has been pretty much solid all season. Long he
barely gave up any hits in yesterday's, game only a

(19:09):
couple after that home. Run but he's always pitching from.
Trouble there's always runners on, base and any hit that
he does give up usually results in bad. News not
a surprise that the bullpen did their, job because they've
been the best part of This astros team outside of
the individual performance From Jordn, alvarez for about the last
two and a half, months and it was nice to
see two of them riding a cart into the day's,

(19:31):
Activities Steven okert leading the way And aniel de Los
santo's following. Suit if a cart was, offered you should
take it every single, time every single, time And ochred
even said as much afterwards for the obvious. REASONS i
know these, guys these bullpen, pitchers are world class athletes

(19:52):
and the best shape of their. Lives but if you
don't have to run in for the, bullpen jogg in
from the, bullpen walk in from the. Bullpen don't pitchers
that use energy to get from the four hundred and
ten foot mark to the sixty FEET cid six inches
mark and jog or run out there and one really

(20:13):
foolish pitcher sprinted out. There Don't you don't have to
just take the. Cart every ballpark should have a, cart
especially the ones that don't have. Bullpens still along the foul,
lines which is a very very very very very very small.

Speaker 2 (20:28):
Number Of Major league.

Speaker 1 (20:29):
Ballparks okert De, losantos the properly Deployed Brian king And Brian,
Abreu And i'll explain WHAT i mean by that when
we continue after the break and After best OF x
and then the return Of. Olibersanta he got the first
two outs of the, inning also gave up a home
run and was relieved By Josh hater with one runner on.

Speaker 2 (20:51):
Base two would, follow but.

Speaker 1 (20:53):
With the bases, Loaded Dylan cruz couldn't lay off a
heater up and out of the zone on a two
pitch swings And missus and The astros have evened up
the series with The. Nationals we'll get into the On
deck show at four point thirty and the opportunity for
them to take this series from a team in the
race and a team that when they met was above five.
Hundred if The astros beat them, today they will no

(21:15):
longer be above five, hundred and The astros of the
first time since the second week of the, season will
be within one game of five. Hundred that's if they
get the victory, tonight and then they would be forty
seven and forty. Eight The best OF x makes its
return to the program halfway through our number one as,
usual that's next The best OF x time here on

(21:38):
THE a, Team wax And josh here with you this,
afternoon another day with NO. Ac air conditioning is working.
Fine though there are plenty of places to, go we
usually end up on THE x. Platform instagram is usually
pretty good for some, comments but nothing tops which you
get ON.

Speaker 2 (21:54):
X THE nba.

Speaker 1 (21:55):
Continues to we weave their way through their needed transaction
in the order they need to make, them and the
rumors out there about who it is and isn't available
continues to. Persist in one such. Player if you've been
paying attention to the thirty teams and their, activities during
the last about two, weeks you know the tampering period

(22:15):
basically as it's, called or the moratorium as it's, called
the time now where deals can get. Finalized you saw
a six team deal get made this week where all
these additional sign and trade pieces and second round picks
and trade exceptions were all made a part of. It
and it seems like everybody in THE nba has been
pretty involved except for one. Team and it's not a

(22:38):
very good, team and it's not a very good, roster
and it's pretty heavy in certain, positions and they're not
likely to do much of anything this year because why would.

Speaker 2 (22:45):
They they haven't done anything in. Years it's The New Orleans.

Speaker 1 (22:48):
Pelicans and something caught my eye on the OLD x
platform about that long thought that teams could get their
hands On pelicans players because The pelicans are going. Nowhere
we saw the deal they made last year WITH cj
McCollum and kind of, figured, well why not anybody.

Speaker 2 (23:05):
Else it's a bad basketball.

Speaker 1 (23:07):
Team it's a bad basketball team that's going, nowhere so
why not see if any of their players that seem
like they have, talent even though it's a losing basketball,
team could potentially help your, team just go ahead and
say can we have this? Player won't make the deal
work and make it worth your. While pelicans were one
of the five teams to miss the playoffs last, year
the top ten five teams to miss the play in

(23:29):
tournament and playoffs last year in The Western. Conference they
won twenty six times twenty six and fifty, six same
record as The, MAVs who obviously now Have Cooper flagg
and Likely Kyrie irving this, season and The, grizzlies who
won twenty five. Games grizzlies recognize where they are once
they decided to move on From Desmond. Bane they then

(23:50):
decided to move on From Jaron Jackson, junior and they've
subsequently this offseason moved on From John. Morant they're going.
Nowhere they're not going to, win so they're playing those cards.
Properly and The kings And jazz are doing whatever it
is that they. Do but what is it that The
pelicans are doing. Nothing, EVERYBODY i, think and this particular

(24:12):
fan base was among, them thought that a guy Like
Trey murphy could be hat and would be. Moved his
great shooting long wing player has played very well here In,
houston obviously played some of his college basketball At, rice
SO i think a lot of people are pretty familiar
with his. Game thirty eight percent three point shooter a year,
ago played the most minutes last year for his basketball.

(24:35):
Team on a per game, basis almost thirty six, shoots
eighty nine percent at the free throw, line got effective
field goal percentage of fifty seven. Percent does have some
money coming his, way as he did sign an extension
with The, pels but the team With Trey murphy And
Zion williamson and De Jonte murray And Jordan poole And
Derreck queen. Stinks they won twenty six games or a variety.

(25:00):
Reasons they Have Jeremiah, fears who could fill the gap
at point if they wanted to move From Dejonte murray
or open up more minutes for. Him they've got all
sorts of options if they want to move, players but
they've done next to. Nothing And murphy's name was probably
the most oft, Mentioned But Jake fisher had indicated all

(25:20):
of this stuff was really fan driven and maybe agent,
driven but not really team.

Speaker 2 (25:25):
Driven so they plan to keep.

Speaker 1 (25:27):
Him according to the, latest they plan to, help you,
know try to win with, him WHICH i actually think makes.
Sense he's a very good, player and he is the
type of PLAYER i think would be awesome in a
winning situation because you'd see how much he could impact.
Winning but they just don't have one In New. Orleans
but how does it find its way to best OF?
X some run of the mill report that The, pelicans
who've done nothing this, offseason will continue to do nothing

(25:49):
and not trade one of their. Players, well one of
his teammates decided to quote post that. Information second year
player was a rookie last, Year Derek. Queen he fired
off a quote post and says death. Row and obviously
there are plenty of comments after. That BEFORE i get
to the, Comments, Josh i'm just a couple of minutes

(26:12):
days older than you, are maybe in a different. GENERATION
i don't know If i'm A GEN x Or GEN
z or a millennial or. Whatever does the kids? Say
what do you think the meaning of that quote post
is a player on his, Team Trey murphy is reportedly
not gonna be, moved and it's someone that The pelicans

(26:32):
want to. Keep And Derek queen quote posted that saying death.

Speaker 4 (26:37):
Row i'd purely be guessing out of, context but it's
like almost like Fire bowl, offense like it's that kind of.

Speaker 1 (26:47):
Thing or get me And trey And zion And dejonta
out there on the court. Together next, year look, out
you guys.

Speaker 2 (26:58):
Will be on death. Row you're not going to be
able to beat. Us who? Knows?

Speaker 1 (27:03):
Kids feel free hit me up on the OLD x
platform At Adam Jay wesler if you'd like and, Say, hey, dumb,
dumb this is what he. Means but we'll get to
the comments, now and the first one almost always is the.
Best it says, simply would hate to lose a crucial
part of that legendary twenty six and fifty. Sixteen and

(27:24):
that's kind of WHAT i let into all of this
with what are you?

Speaker 2 (27:27):
Doing who do you want to win?

Speaker 5 (27:29):
With?

Speaker 1 (27:30):
Trey murphy's not in year one with The. Pelicans Zion
williamson is not in year one with The, Pelicans same For,
jones same For. Murray you're Not is it all? Injuries
doesn't feel like it's all. Injuries you got sixty plus
games From williamson last, Year you got sixty plus games
From murphy last. Year he got fifty six more From Herb. Jones,

(27:52):
Obviously murray didn't play a whole lot fears And. Queens
we're out there and healthy all, year SO i don't
know what it is you're, doing BUT i will respect
the fact that it's pretty obvious you're not. Winning and
the year before they won twenty one, games now three years,
ago kind of Before Joe dumars got his hands on
things and ruined that they were a playoff team twice

(28:13):
in the last three years before winning only forty seven
times they were a playoff.

Speaker 2 (28:18):
Team among the other comments that do kind of write in.

Speaker 1 (28:21):
Line at no point was he available fans are idiots
now automatic wrote something THAT i think is right out
in line with WHAT i thought we were. Asking he
just simply said explain and got a response that gave no.
Explanation the explanation, was, yeah they Employed Joe, dumars which
is exactly WHAT i am.

Speaker 2 (28:43):
Saying so fake trade.

Speaker 5 (28:45):
Talk.

Speaker 1 (28:46):
Nothing there questions about Why derek isn't playing In Summer.
League he played well enough last year that he really
doesn't need. TO i Know Ace bailey is playing In
Summer league for The, jazz and a handful of other
second year players often do play In Summer, league and
a lot of them this year are it's not. Mandatory
many times they actually are put on the. Roster they
go to summer, league they practice with the, team but

(29:07):
they don't actually play in the. Games In ace's case
with The, jazz they participate in one of the early
summer leagues they both, concluded The California league and the
one that The jazz were in, first which was played
at The university Of. Utah he actually did play in those,
games got a little court time With Darren, peterson who
has looked fantastic against players that might not even be as.

Speaker 2 (29:29):
Good as the ones that he was playing against in
The Big.

Speaker 1 (29:31):
Twelve every year we're about to start summer, LEAGUE i
will offer this to, you LIKE i do AS i
said every single. Year do not be, Fooled do not
fall for, it do not get sucked. In do not start.
Believing Is Darren peterson a good basketball? Player you better believe.

Speaker 6 (29:47):
It he's.

Speaker 1 (29:47):
Awesome he's going to be very good in THE. Nba
But i'm not going to find out about that because
he dominated not very good basketball. Players AND i only
say that in the context of THE. Nba he will
literally be playing against virtually ZERO nba, starters almost no rotation,
players either it's not the competitive platform of what he

(30:11):
will see in his very FIRST nba, game let alone
his FIRST nba. SEASON i only talk About peterson because
he actually has been very, Good So i'm trying to
help people back it up a little. Bit rockets don't
have any players like that on their. Roster their two
second round picks will be, there and a host of
other players that hope somebody gets. Seen somebody sees them
and they can play their way onto a roster and

(30:33):
not likely to be the one here In houston. Mentioned
we got a visit From Brian bogasvic earlier. Today we'll
check in with some of his thoughts when we come
back here on the Eight, Team.

Speaker 3 (30:44):
THE a team On Sports talk seven.

Speaker 1 (30:46):
Ninety give you a few minutes of the conversation from
earlier today With Brian, Bogasvic astro's analyst over AT. Scchn
we back on it for the evenings game tonight with
The astros And nationals five forty. Five, first the comments
from him With matt And ross begin with the remarkable
turnaround The astros have been. On they were twenty and

(31:07):
thirty one back in Mid. May they've won twenty six
of the forty three games that have, followed and obviously
are on the thick of, things Here's.

Speaker 5 (31:15):
Bogie it's been a pretty incredible turnaround from where it
was the first six weeks of the season and what
it's been to the last six weeks or. So and
the craziest thing to me is just how kind of
methodical and consistent it's. BEEN i, MEAN i THINK i
think over the last twenty ish games or, something you,
know the records like thirteen and seven or twelve and

(31:37):
eight or, something and there haven't been any kind of
winning streaks losing. Streets it's just been like two out of,
three two out of, three two out of. Three and
that's kind of been what they've been talking about all.
Season you, know if we win, series we win, series
will end up where we are it and it you,
know has proven that, way not just from a record,
standpoint but it's proven that way from a how are
we playing standpoint because it has been pretty. Consistent even

(31:59):
when they have a bad game here or, there it
seems like they turn the page really quickly and get
back to playing good.

Speaker 7 (32:04):
Baseball and the realities is the way The American league
is slated this, year especially The. West you don't have
to win nine of. Eleven you can take these series
and get right back in the. Race and that's exactly
what they're. DOING i thought yesterday's game was bizarre for many. Reasons,
one If i'm The, Nationals i'm not happy THAT i
walked as many people THAT i. Did and from The
astro side of, things and especially with guys in the

(32:24):
outfield who have really struggled to have a consistent bat
that to me was one of the underlying thoughts of
the game, yesterday was the ability to take some pitches
again the base pass without having to swing and make
contact with the.

Speaker 2 (32:35):
Baseball.

Speaker 5 (32:36):
No absolutely every rally an The astros had was basically
handed to them with a couple of base runners from
walks and hit by. Pitches but that's been the season
for The. Nationals if you look at, them they've got
one of the, best arguably the best offense in all of.
Baseball they score a ton of, runs they hit a
ton of home, runs they steal a ton of. Bases

(32:57):
they do all these great things, offensively and the pitching
is basically the complete. Opposite and they walk, everybody they
give up a ton of. Runs and that's why you
have a team that's got maybe the best office in
baseball and they're just kind of struggling to stay around five.
Hundred but you, know kudos to The astros because they
took advantage of. It and it wasn't a couple of
walks at the bottom and then here's Jord i'm with
the three run. Homer it was the guys at the

(33:18):
bottom of the order getting it done and getting those
runners in and executing at backs and you, know sacrifice
five productive. Outs they kind of grinded out six runs.

Speaker 7 (33:28):
Yesterday So emon gets into trouble in the first ending
with the bloody blister whatever that, was and couldn't get
your four And burrows get sent, down and you, Know
arraghetti had two good, months one lousy, month and Hopefully
july as a turnaround for him as. Well there's a
lot of it That ross AND i just shake our
heads at. Daily i'm sure you do the same. Thing

(33:48):
how is the team where it is with the fact
that starting pitching macroview of this is an underperforming starting
five or in some case starting.

Speaker 5 (33:57):
Six, yep because they've been pretty consistently very good everywhere.
Else you, know the bullpen has been, great for a
huge chunk of the season now and they continue to
get better and deeper down. There the, offense you, know
they had some ups and downs, early but they've really
leveled off into being a pretty good. Offense certainly when
you have Your dan going out of his mind for

(34:18):
an entire, season that. Helps they've been generally good on
the basis they've been generally good, defensively and they've kind
of covered up for the fact that The stey pitching
has been inconsistent at best and at times has, been you,
know kind of. Detrimental BUT i think once once you
get in an idea of what you are as a

(34:39):
team and know what you can rely on and what
you have to cover up, for you can play a
certain style of. Game and, YESTERDAY i, mean that was
a pretty quick hook On. IMA i know that pitch
count was running up, there but he's good to go
to one hundred plus pitches and to get him out
there in the low, eighties it was kind of, Like,
okay we've seen, enough let's get it to the guys

(34:59):
who each who we can count on to kind of
lock this thing. Down SO i think from the you,
know at the very, least you know what you have
around that starting pitching now as you wait for it
to maybe get a little bit better with some guys getting.

Speaker 2 (35:12):
Healthy what went wrong With Mike?

Speaker 7 (35:15):
Burrows BECAUSE i mean even if you look at his
last year his numbers with The pirate's, okay three ninety four,
era his whip was like one point twenty. Four that's
not you were the thinking was at least is if
he's that is a decent trade and he should be better.

Speaker 2 (35:29):
Here but he's been much much.

Speaker 5 (35:31):
Worse, yeah something something doesn't add up with. Him. Right
if you if you make The Mike burrows scatting, report
you put it down on paper and you just kind
of watch his pitches on, video say without without the
hitter or the, result you would say that's pretty good.
Stuff that's, doable that that stuff is going to. WORK i,
mean fastball, velocity the change, up the movement on the breaking.

(35:52):
Balls but it's been very. Hittable and the last couple
of outings that he had there has not been very
much swinging at. All there hasn't been you, know uncomfortable.
Swings there haven't been the ability to get away with a.
Mistake anything he throws in the middle of the plate gets,
hammered he makes a good pitch down below the, zone
and guys still put a good swing on. That and to,

(36:14):
me from a hitter, standpoint that is all the signs
of just they see the ball really well off of,
him and they've got a long time to see, it
they've got a long time to, recognize and they're always
putting good swings on. It and there's always got to
be some element of deception in a pitcher's, delivery hiding
the ball a little, bit not seeing it right out
of the. Hand and he's tinkered with his mechanics quite

(36:37):
a bit over the course of the. Season he's talked
about different. Armslots he's talked about landing more open or more,
closed and when you start doing, that especially with your
landing and kind of swinging your leg open and, closed
you always risk opening up a little bit earlier and
showing the ball earlier to. Hitters AND i think going
down To TRIPLE, a working on some of those things
and finding out where he needs to be from a

(36:59):
directional stand hopefully he can find a little bit more
of deception because he's not getting the kinds of swings
that he should based on what the stuff out of
the hand is, SO i think he's just lost a
little bit of deception as well as you, know had
some command issues, also.

Speaker 1 (37:15):
Those would do it deception meaning they know what's, coming
you're not fooling, hitters and execution is they're over the
heart of the plate and they're getting. Tattooed to the
tune of ten runs in his last, start seven of
which were, earned should be slotted into the, rotation presumably
unless they want more time off for him to, pitch
potentially On sunday for The Space. Cowboys yesterday you had

(37:37):
a pair of soon to Be astros pitchers on the
mound for The Space. COWBOYS i MENTIONED i would tell
you a few details about. THAT i will do so
when we come back on the other side for the
three o'clock, hour and a very interesting setup for The
astros as they head To arlington and then begin the
Post All Star break portion of their, schedule something that
could be incredibly beneficial to The Houston. Astros i'll mention

(38:00):
that when we return here on THE A TEAM ac,
Today wex And josh here with you for the next
ninety minutes at least until we get to The astros
on deck. Show with The astros And nationals wrapping, up
there's three game series this. Afternoon, astros with an opportunity
to take the, series would be their seventh series victory
in their last, eight losing only the one To, minnesota

(38:22):
but obviously that could go up if they do not
Win today a matchup Between Spencer araghetti And Foster, griffin
and The astros lineup against the Lefty griffin look pretty
similar to the one, yesterday at least in terms of
who's in. It some shuffling around a little bit And
vasquez out And Yaner diaz, in but Al, Tuvey, Albarez

(38:43):
Perettison walker as usual go one through four with the
expected return Of Jeremy pana for their next. Game they
will play On friday In, arlington and unless there are
reports from a negative side About paya's performance, yesterday he
got it for at. Bats, ultimately his last bat delivered
The Space cowboys sixth, run the go ahead. Run they

(39:05):
took a six to five lead on his double down the,
line and then the weather hit and then the game
ended because of, It so it turned out to be
the game winning hit for The Space. Cowboys for it
bats not aware of any issues during his evening's work
with The Space, cowboys SO i would expect he will
be active in batting lead Off friday when they are In,
arlington but Al, Tuo Vey Alvarez Pretis walker go one through,

(39:28):
Four Cam smith bats. Fifth Janer diaz will do the
catching For. Aragedtti LIKE i, mentioned he bats, sixth hit
a couple of home runs over the last handful of,
games and he has hit at about a seven to
fifty ozer ps clip since returning from his. Injury Bryce,
matthews of, course The astros are on the, road he
is the starter in center. Field Zach decenzo gets another
start in left, field bat seventh to, eighth And Nick

(39:50):
allen again gets the opportunity at. Shortstop three runs batted
in in yesterday's. Game For Nick, allen he had six
runs batted in the entire season before. Yesterday, again not
a lot of, opportunities less than one hundred played, appearances
and he also missed a little bit of time on
the injured, list but six going in and three coming

(40:11):
out very important ones a seeing eye single that drove
in two and the earlier opportunity to get the ball
in the air against a heavy heavy heavy ground ball
pitcher That Andrew alvarez. Is he hit one of two
sacrifice flies for The astros in yesterday's. Game two of
the runs driven in of the six came via sacrifice

(40:32):
fly as The astros got the six to three.

Speaker 2 (40:34):
Victories so that's what it'll.

Speaker 1 (40:35):
Look like against the left, hander an all right handed hitting,
lineup just like, yesterday except for the best player in
The American, league hitter in The American, league and that of,
course is Jord On. Alvarez before this road trip, STARTED
i said he will hit his one hundredth or two
hundredth career home run on this road. Trip i'm sure
it'll still be true when he's left with just four

(40:56):
game opportunities to do, So today's game In washington and
the three In. Arlington he does not lead all Three
Triple crown categories as play begins today with A Yandi
diaz sliding past him in the batting. Race jordan's hitting
three thirteen now after, yesterday but still leads by the
same margins in home runs and runs batted, in sixty

(41:19):
seven to sixty six IN rbi Over Nick kurtz and
twenty nine to twenty six Over Junior Cameron aro in
the home run, Department cam And, Narrow Ben, rice and
Today jack cagleone added his name to the. List those
are three confirmed participants in the upcoming Home Run Derby
monday In. Philadelphia Jordan alvarez already mentioned in the media

(41:42):
here In houston he did not expect to be participating
in that says literally would not if, asked and that's
a good. Thing it's a fun, EVENT i think for some,
people and some players and some families and some batting
practice pitchers and all the kids that get to dodge
the lasers hit at them as they shag flies in the.

(42:03):
Outfield the event itself kind of hit or. Miss will
evaluate it On tuesday of next, week as we always
do because they have changed the rules once, again which
before they go and do it. AGAIN i think it
will be a little bit, better BUT i don't know
how much interest will be in, it AND i also
don't know how many people who actually watch it because
it is a streaming. Service for the first time, Ever

(42:25):
netflix has The Home Run. Derby most of the streaming
services that have gotten into sports broadcasting carrying games network packages,
purchased they're not necessarily in it for how many people are,
watching they're in it for how many people do we
now have subscribing to our? Service netflix is among, them,

(42:46):
Obviously Amazon prime very. SIMILAR i think those two at the.
Forefront amazon most specifically is very much more concerned with
that than anything else in terms of who's.

Speaker 2 (42:55):
Watching but we'll see how it's.

Speaker 1 (42:57):
Received and just finished off a weekend's worth of games
where only one of the games was here locally and
two others were on the national. Side gordy AND, i
who was in, yesterday we talked about. That so just
some couple of things to think. About AND i mentioned
something going into the break that could play very well
for The, astros and they haven't said this is what
they plan on, doing BUT i would imagine this is

(43:17):
what they plan on. Doing the rotation for the series
Against arlington is set for the first two. Days still
no announcement out who will get the Ball. Sunday the
spot in the rotation vacated By Mike, burrows who was
optioned to TRIPLE. A Christian xavier has not pitched Since,
saturday his first appearance after reappearing on the roster following
HIS il stint for his shoulder. Injury threw thirty nine

(43:38):
pitches and obviously would be well rested to pitch On.
Sunday don't know that they would be willing to use
him in tonight's game in some capacity as his throwing
program in between, appearances because technically he doesn't really have
a throwing program in between starts because he hasn't made
any in two and a half. Months probably would air
on the side of if he's their chosen star For,

(44:00):
sunday then he's not going to pitch, Tonight friday Or.
SATURDAY I Renel blanco pitched in last night's game for
The Space. Cowboys likely was slated to throw more than
twenty seven, pitches but he had a clean sixth and
a clean seventh and the game was over after. That
because of, weather he only faced six, batters only needed
twenty seven pitches to get through those two, innings and

(44:21):
he was very sharp in doing. So lamce mccullors, junior
who's on the fifteen DAY, Il blanco's on the sixty DAY,
il so a forty man move would have to be
made to get him on the. Roster mccullors through the
first four. Innings his second inning was very, taxing let's
say about half of his seventy seven pitches were thrown
in that inning and most of the damage was, done

(44:43):
but he got his four innings of work. In he
pitched to one batter in the fifth inning through seventy
seven pitches forty three, strikes very similar to the way
he has thrown the ball in terms of results that
he had here In houston this. Year BUT i couldn't
tell you exactly how it looked BECAUSE i didn't watch
the game AND i was not At Constellation field last
night to see. IT i Mentioned Jeremy panna went one for.
Four could also mention AND i will first at bat

(45:07):
For Jake myers with The Space. Cowboys he, homered hit
the ball over the, fence drove in a couple of,
runs and hopefully gets a lot more comfortable at the
plate than he has shown to be over the course
of this.

Speaker 2 (45:20):
Year and if.

Speaker 1 (45:21):
Power becomes a part of his game, again that would be.
Awesome So sunday's start getting back to the rotation is STILL,
tbd but my expectation it will Be Christian javier and
no move will be needed to get anybody on the
roster to take care of. It saturday And, friday Or
friday And. Saturday they Announced Hunter brown And Peter, lambert as,

(45:42):
expected will take their spots their turns in the. Rotation
then the team gets four days, off so four of
the astros next five games after tonight's start From Spencer.
Araghetty four of the five games they will play Starting, Friday, Friday, Saturday,
sunday Plus friday And saturday of their series out The
All Star break against The orioles at Dyke In. Park

(46:03):
four of those five games presumably will be started By
Hunter brown And Peter. Lambert the ace of the staff
obviously hasn't pitched great in the last two, starts But
Hunter brown is the ace of the, staff AND i
don't have any hesitation about having him being the first
pitcher to throw out of The All Star break opportunity
to see him as much as.

Speaker 2 (46:23):
Possible he is your. Ace there's no reason you wouldn't want.

Speaker 1 (46:26):
That he would not have pitched Since, friday so any
further rest after, that BECAUSE i doubt you're very concerned
about his workload this, year and there don't appear to
be any effects from his injury that you should be concerned.
With so his injury and innings, workload they should be
of no. Consequence pitches On friday in two, days and
then pitches again a week later to open up the
second part of The astro, schedule and Then. Lambert while

(46:49):
there may be some concerns about his, WORKLOAD i guess
it's possible they could bump him back a day or.
TWO i really don't see why he's already gonna get
a full week's worth of. Rest he'll Pitch saturday of this,
week then he'd be slotted to Pitch saturday of the following.
Week he's, been AS i said earlier in the, week
The astros Pre All Star break PITCHING. Mvp in my,
estimation he's what's held this team. Together he's had a

(47:10):
host of starts that essentially won the game for The
astro zero, worms allowed one run alout out dueling The
dodgers and show Hey O tani back At Tikan park
earlier this. Year i'd like to see him as often as,
Possible so rather than looking at some scenario that splits
up those two, Pitchers i'd want him to pitch as
often as. Possible i'd want them to be in that

(47:30):
spot if there needs to be a spot in the
rotation later in the, year where you skip a start
With lambert out of fear for overuse or whatever might,
Happen you'll do that when you get. THERE i don't
THINK i would do that coming out of the, break so,
INSTEAD i would take the opportunity to see my best
pitch as often as, possible and SO i do think
The astros will play it that. Way, clearly there could

(47:51):
be altered spots in the rotation depending on how tonight's
start For arraghetti, goes whatever happens On.

Speaker 2 (47:56):
Sunday clearly everybody will get.

Speaker 1 (47:58):
Additional rest regards, list and you could easily build out
extended additional rest by where you slot these guys back
in when you come back from the Break, Monday, Tuesday,
Wednesday thursday of next week no, baseball and The astros
open up with a homestand that begins with The orioles
On friday. Only Yourd On alvarez is set to go
hang out with his old Teammate Justin verlander In philadelphia

(48:20):
For All star, festivities as he obviously is selected as
the starter the designated hitter for The American. League one
thing from last night's GAME i think is worthy of
pointing out That i'm not sure that everybody is aware
Of Brian obre who got the eighth inning last night
in a three run, game which drew a lot of.
Eyebrows Brian king got the seventh inning of last night's,

(48:43):
game and that was a very smart play by the
manager and the pitching coach and everybody involved in those,
decisions because there are pockets in lineups where you want certain,
matchups and at that spot in the, game Having Brian
king come in in the seventh rather than the eighth
that made the most, sense and you kind of saw,
why and you kind of saw with who he might

(49:05):
face or ultimately did. Face it played out that, way
and it worked out in the astros. Favor Brian king comes,
in who does he face? First the best hitter on the,
team the lefty righty stuff probably doesn't matter a whole
lot To Brian, king and if you look at how he's,
performed but facing, me Facing, wood they ended up pinch
hitting For Luis Garcia, junior which also benefits The, astros

(49:26):
and he gave him the shutout. Inning specific to What Brian,
abray who actually did in the eighth, inning and this
month is WHAT i want to get into next when
we come. Back Brian, abray you has finally appeared in
twenty twenty. Six, maybe just maybe we'll hit on that
when we come. Back the eighteen sling with the program this.

(49:48):
Afternoon this is THE a. Team Adam waxley here with,
You Josh shorten as, well a see on, vacation and
we talked quite a bit Of astros thus, far and.

Speaker 2 (49:55):
We'll continue to do.

Speaker 1 (49:56):
So sprinkle in a little bit of THE nba news
of the, day a hilario transaction from The Los Angeles
lakers earlier today if you had missed, that we'll.

Speaker 2 (50:05):
Definitely share that with. You AND i mentioned we'll hear
From Dana.

Speaker 1 (50:07):
Brown we'll do so in about fifteen minutes his visit
With The Morning drive earlier this. Morning, thoughts most notably
from the portion of that conversation we'll share with you
on The astros, pitching very specifically the starting rotation and
the decision made on Optioning Mike burrows back To TRIPLE.
A first for him At TRIPLE a with The. Astros

(50:28):
obviously he's preitched in the minor leagues, before just not
with The Houston.

Speaker 2 (50:32):
ASTROS i mentioned.

Speaker 1 (50:33):
Something specific to how things worked out in the final
three innings for The astros last, night with the lead
throughout three run lead and then a four run lead
when they went to the ninth inning And Brian king
was brought on in the seventh. Inning he is clearly
The astros quote unquote eighth inning. Guy he's the setup
man For Josh hater and yesterday's game called for him

(50:55):
to come in when the top of the order was
due up in a three run. Game that happened to
be the seventh, inning so it was well. Communicated he
was ready to, go and he went out there and
he took care of. Business did give up the double
To Curtis, mead but got a ground out from. Cj
abrams and the inning was over without too much trouble
and they took that three run lead.

Speaker 2 (51:11):
To the eighth.

Speaker 1 (51:12):
Inning Jose altuve made it a four run game Before
Brian Bray you hit the mound for the eighth, inning
and he was warming up knowing that he was going
to come, in and if you missed, it it was
pretty hilarious that he was warming up in The astros,
bullpen which is out in left center, field and he
Caught Jose altuve's home run ball and then went about
his business and got ready to get through The nationals.

(51:35):
Lineup the back half of The nationals lineup would have
done it in one two three, fashion But nuniez was
able to reach on an infield, single which prevented the
third out of the. Inning, however A bray did not
have to roll through the next hitter Because Christian vasquez
Through nunez out Stealing. NUNYEZ i love the confidence and

(51:56):
players when they know it's going to get, overturned and
they could just hang out on the. Base as soon
as he slid in in his mind, safely he immediately
turned to the. Bench they didn't get, me let's review.
It they put it up for review or, wait maybe they, decided,
no there's no reason to waste our review here because you're.
Out and he's, like what went back to the? Bench ning?
Over But BRIAN. A brady's performance needs a little bit closer.

(52:20):
Look did it look like he's doing things a little
bit better or? DIFFERENTLY i tend to believe the answer
is actually. Yes i've kind of pushed against that through
most of his better, numbers because his numbers have quite
clearly from a results, standpoint which is all that really.
Matters they've been noticeably. Better his era is obviously in
a little bit better. Place he's throwing more, strikes he's

(52:42):
not seeing as many innings where we, tried but we
can't keep him out there because he's not going to
be able to even get out of this. Inning those
kind of went, away but he was still not quite
the picture that he. Was, clearly those results haven't been.
Here he's not blowing hitters away with pushing one hundred
mile an hour. Heat he doesn't have our hitters absolutely
flailing at his stuff that's tailing away from them on

(53:05):
the right handed batters because he's put him in bad.
Position but slowly but, surely the offerings the. Stuff it
absolutely looks. Better and in last night's, game, specifically he
threw his hardest pitch of the season on one of
the fastballs to Kber, ruiz a clock dinner to shade
over ninety eight miles an. Hour in, fact three of

(53:27):
the four fastest pitches of his entire season have come
in these seven days Of. July almost all of his
fastest pitches of the, season six of the top seven
have come since the last. Month the last thirty, days
all those things trend to something wildly tremendous and. Hopeful

(53:49):
what if you traded For Brian abreu from twenty twenty
five for the final two and a half months of the.
Season what if That wuo ends up being a part
of The astros bullpen for just the fi sixty five
seventy games of the. Year they're at that point right.
Now tonight's game ninety, five there's sixty seven games. Left
i'm maybe taking a little bit further because he's still

(54:10):
just one appearance removed from giving up another home run and,
yesterday yesterday's appearance is just one night and one, game
but now much more consistently getting it to ninety, seven
getting it to ninety, eight and it still isn't quite
what he has been over his incredibly dominant stretch as
a non closer, reliever the last four years worth of.

(54:31):
It i'd argue there hasn't been anybody better in baseball
is in that. Role very, specifically we can debate how
successful he was as a, closer because it wasn't particularly,
successful but as a setup, man as a seventh or
eighth inning reliever or just simply non, CLOSER i don't
know who would have done more for their team in
as dominant a fashion anywhere in, baseball because he was

(54:52):
constantly out, there constantly going sixty five seventy appearances, regularly you,
know pushing that have any plus innings each of those
seasons and doing it with incredible. Success not the pitcher
they've had this, year but if that's the pitcher they
get closer, to and they're showing signs of getting closer to. That,
obviously his era numbers over the last twenty thirty games are,

(55:15):
better his last forty games are, better much more so
than the one he actually carries into the games because
he was so bad and pretty much unusable for the
first six to eight weeks of the. Season but the
signs of him returning to form again Still.

Speaker 2 (55:30):
I'm not all the way.

Speaker 1 (55:31):
There i'm getting, close But i'm not all the way.
There on saying he's going to be that. Pitcher, Now
i've now opened the. Door it was locked for a,
while then we unlocked, it but we're too afraid to
open it. Now i'm not afraid to open the door
to the best version Of brian a brave but it's
only a. JAR i can see light BUT i can't

(55:51):
exactly walk through it. Yet it'd be awesome if you.
Could the Way Steven oker is, pitched the way That
Brian king has, pitched, clearly the way That Josh haters.
Pitched will probably see an appearance From Bennett's sussa tonight
or tomorrow with The Space, cowboys considering he last pitched
On sunday and is working his way. BACK i don't
know that he'll be the pitcher he was last, year

(56:12):
but if he, is he was unbelievably helpful to this
bullpen last year and on down the. Line what they
may end up getting From santa what if anything they
get moving forward From, uyola who pitched well enough to
not have to be sent down to the, minors but,
obviously with limited number of pitchers that have, options he
was Aj bluebaugh has been fantastic as their long, reliever

(56:34):
and he's had to come into problematic troublesome runners on
base situations as he did two nights.

Speaker 2 (56:41):
Ago they have been.

Speaker 1 (56:42):
Great it's something you heard From Brian bogosevic, earlier or
we'll hear from him a little bit on that in
The On Deck. Show other bullpen's been the best part
of this team during the stretch of baseball where they've
completely turned it. Around they've been the best team in
The American league now for about forty five fifty. Days
they have the best record in The American league over
their last forty three, games and they have three more

(57:04):
wins than. ANYBODY i keep going back to wins because
we just don't have much continuity and how many games
have been played by these. Teams their twenty six wins
are three more than anybody else in The American league
over their last forty three which is about.

Speaker 2 (57:17):
Fifty days worth of.

Speaker 1 (57:18):
Baseball and the other THING i think is worth pointing,
Out i've just about had it with the. Boy The
astros are lucky to be in that. Division have you
not been paying attention to The American league this? Year
whoever is still saying that The American league is. Identical
it's not this division or that. Division it's not this
team or that. Team even The, yankees because they've gone

(57:41):
five and fourteen in their last nineteen. Games they're playing
like everybody else in this. League The astros have forty six.
Wins you know how Many American league teams in any
division have more than one more win than The.

Speaker 2 (57:55):
Astros two two.

Speaker 1 (57:57):
Teams one of them is the team The astros beat
two out of, three The, rays and the others The,
yankees who are at. Fifty those are the only two
teams that are two wins or more clear Of. Houston that's.
It forty six wins is arguably. WELL i know they've
been playing the best baseball in The American, league AND
i keep pointing this. Out they're not only in my,

(58:20):
opinion my bold, prediction if you will not very, bold
they're going to win this division and they're going to
not have a playoff game until the wildcard round is
over because they're gonna have the second best winning percentage
among division. Winners they might not be a better team
than the second place team in The Al, east although

(58:40):
the way The yankees are, playing that's probably back in.
Play The White sox And guardians both have forty seven
wins and games separates them in the. Standings atop The
Central The mariners lost last night and are Playing The
marlins may lose again this. Weekend they are or the
rest of that. Series they're forty seven. Wins ran through

(59:00):
the entire list of teams with more wins Than Houston
rangers have the same number of. Wins twins are a
win behind The jas who already scored five in the
first inning off the Hapless. Giants they're two more wins.
Back and then it's The Red sox are, hot The
tigers are. Hot The a's are fading. Fast now nine

(59:21):
games under five. Hundred, tigers LIKE i said, earlier may
or may not be. SELLERS i still think they should.
Be but in the fact that they've won seven of
their last, ten they're now forty one to, fifty they're
five wins behind the last team in the wildcard. Race
maybe they think, Otherwise but this isn't about The astros
taking advantage of their bad. Division, heck they play one

(59:43):
hundred and ten games outside the, division with only fifty
two among those four. Teams it's a league wide what
bee heroes. Welcome who wants the league anybody can get
it from any. Division because there's virtually no difference between
any of these teams that are still on the race
take advantage of the team's inner division if they, stink

(01:00:04):
and the only one that truly stinks is The. Angels
the answers really haven't taken advantage much of That Dana
brown's appearance from earlier today On Sports talk seven. Ninety
we'll give you a chunk of that, conversation beginning with
the decision to Send Mike burrows To TRIPLE. A that's
next the conversation from earlier this morning with The astros general.

(01:00:27):
Manager he visits the station on The Morning drive With
dan each and Every wednesday morning nine thirty for his.
Visit you can catch that interview in full right there
At Sports talk seven ninety dot com or via The iHeartRadio,
app where you should already be subscribed to each of
our daily, Programs The Morning, drive The Matt Thomas show With,
ross and of course this excellent Program the Eight team with,

(01:00:50):
Myself Adam, Clinton Josh. Jordan the majority of this Interview
i've got for you here centered around The astros starting
pitching last night's starting pitcher to So, emi what might
be in store for The rangers coming up On sunday
with the open spot in The astros. Rotation but the
portion of the conversation aft for you here begins with

(01:01:11):
the decision and discussion With Mike burrows about sending him
down To TRIPLE a to try to get back to
having success that maybe he can translate to the major league.

Speaker 8 (01:01:23):
Level up, Front Mike burrows is still a big part
of our future. Here you, know we still have him
the rest of this. Year we have five more years of.
Control we feel good about his. Future we feel like
he's going to be a starter in this. Organization, uh you,
know he got off to a good start at this.
Spring he's had three quality starts this. Year send them
back To TRIPLE. A he's got some things to work,

(01:01:45):
on you, know you, know from in the middle of you,
know trying to compete for a, division and you, know
we gave him some runway and we felt like now's
the time to you, know send him out and see
if he, can you, know get some more action to.
Us stuff in his own he's, got he's got quality.
Stuff part of the struggle For mike, is you, know,

(01:02:07):
uh he didn't have a lot of action in the
strike zone and so if the ball is, straight guys
are going to hit it a little bit. More the
command of his change up is not as good as
it's been in the, past and so young starters go through,
this you, know from time to. Time and you, know,
well LIKE i, said we still feel positive about his
future here and and this is part of, baseball the

(01:02:29):
grind of one hundred and sixty two. Games you you,
know you have to get quality starts and sometimes guys
have to go out and get fixed and they come
back and they make an. Impact so you, know it's
it's these are tough, conversations of course to, have but
at the end of the, day you, know this is
a winning ball. Club we feel like this club's gonna

(01:02:49):
go to the postseason and we have to do everything
that we have to do uh to get back to the.

Speaker 6 (01:02:54):
Postseason, yeah, consistency that's always kind of what Eluded Mike
burrows and another, guy the guy we saw in The
mountain last, NIGHT tatsuyamai what is it with A maya
that that where he just the consistency just kind of
elludes him at times where he works into those big.

Speaker 8 (01:03:10):
Innings, Yeah so, LOOK i, said this is this is
a winning. Club it's a winning, organization and sometimes it's
tough when guys go, through you, know these downward spiros
and and and you, know we know we got to
get it fixed and we have to get them on,
board and we have to get them going in the
right direction And. Uh, so the big thing with us

(01:03:31):
is we are trying to win a division and this
is not a club where you, know we can wait
around and do all of these. Things but you, know
in my for, example he will have those good quality.
Starts you, know He maya's had you, know thirteen starts for,
us AND i would say eight of them he's given
us a chance to win for. Sure so those were

(01:03:52):
decent and three quality.

Speaker 5 (01:03:54):
Starts and as you.

Speaker 8 (01:03:55):
Mentioned he'll have some dominant. Outings he had the two
outings where he twelve innings and struck out twenty one,
guys and so we need more of, that you, know you,
know when you're trying to be a winning, club and
and and so other than, that you, know we have
to really come down hard and get him going in
the right. Direction we feel good about him eye he's

(01:04:18):
still been he's been up to ninety, seven of, course
and he has those innings where you know he'll kind of,
unravel and so you, know we're we're keeping a close,
watch and you, know we have you, know we have
our pulse on, this and so we we feel good
about him turning the corner because he's shown us a
lot of positives but with those, positives we have also

(01:04:41):
seen some things that are negative and we're trying to work.

Speaker 9 (01:04:44):
Through astros general Manager Dana brown joins us every single
week during the season on the morning Drive Sports talks seven.
Ninety dana Is Christian hobber is still a starter for,
y'all and when we see him back in the rotation, soon,
yeah good.

Speaker 8 (01:04:57):
Chance you, Know hobby is still in For. Burroughs.

Speaker 10 (01:05:01):
Uh you.

Speaker 8 (01:05:01):
Know but but with us Sending burrows back To TRIPLE, a,
uh so we have him as an. Option we may give,
him you, know an inning uh in the next day or,
so and maybe potentially he could start On, sunday, uh
to get him back in a. Rotation so we're having
those kind of. Conversations he potentially could be an option For, sunday.

Speaker 5 (01:05:22):
You.

Speaker 8 (01:05:23):
Know but, yeah he we still see him as a.
Starter you. Know we're we're working through. This we're having
good baseball, conversations and you, know the main thing for
us is we we have to keep a stable. Rotation
we when we get good, sparts this team is really
good and so uh you. Know so it's getting to

(01:05:43):
the point in the season where we have to lock
him down and we have to give ourselves a chance to,
win you, know, uh you know every night out and
the runway with with you, know the starters that, are you,
know having some struggles are not going.

Speaker 5 (01:05:57):
To be as.

Speaker 9 (01:05:58):
Long and then along the same, lines this is obviously
after The All star, break but how do you guys
Profile lance mccullors junior and Even Renel blanco after the?

Speaker 8 (01:06:07):
Break, yeah those are you, know two that good things
to have coming, back you, Know blanco potentially, uh you,
know kick back into this, rotation you, know soon after you,
know The All star. Break, uh there's there's an outside
chance we would consider him For sunday as the. Starter
that's just an outside. Chance but those are some of

(01:06:29):
the discussions we're. Having but make no, mistake you, know
we feel good about.

Speaker 6 (01:06:32):
Him.

Speaker 8 (01:06:33):
Uh you know mccullor's we're still having conversations with. Him,
uh you know about what our thought process is and
we're we're going through. It but it's good to have
these guys coming off the I. L it gives the club,
options particularly in the starting. Rotation. Uh and that's an
area where we feel like we can improve.

Speaker 1 (01:06:53):
A couple of things That dana mentioned there from quality start.
Perspective Both emai And burrows have four quality starts six,
innings three or in runs are less this. Season Only
Peter lambert And Spencer raghetty have more on this staff
for a number of different. Reasons Hunter brown's barely, Pitched
he's got. Two lance And Kaiwai tang each have. Two

(01:07:15):
Jason alexander has. WON i thought that seemed like an
incredibly small, number but it's twentieth in baseball in terms
of quality starts from a pitching, staff twenty, SECOND i
should say in, baseball so it obviously isn't very. Good
it's also quite a bit higher than tonight's. Opponent The
nationals have only seventeen quality starts all, season and considering

(01:07:37):
their bullpen is. Trash that's why even with the league's
number one scoring, offense they're a five hundred baseball. Team
they're one game over despite the fact that they score
pretty much every night and some nights they score twelve
times like they did On Monday. Night but they can't,
pitch and they have a worse pitching staff than The Houston.
Astros the other part of that, statement if it bodes

(01:07:59):
well or trends as it should for the Post All
star break. Portion you presumably get a lot more starts
From Hunter brown after The All Star break than you
did before because of. Injury If Spencer raghetti is the
picture he was five days ago and the picture he
was In may as the season, continues that bodes. Well
Peter lambert maybe a little bit more of a wild.

(01:08:19):
Card but Unlike Brian, abray where maybe your hesitant to,
Say i'm not sure if that. CONTINUES i just have
not been given any, evidence nothing that you're seeing on
a start to start basis that Suggests Peter lambert isn't
going to keep doing this giving The astros a chance
to win every time he takes the. Ball that's what
he's done all season, long no matter what the quality

(01:08:39):
start number. Says he's given the team a chance to
win every time they get the ball to. Him his
track record for his, career maybe that says. Otherwise my
concern Is Peter lambert The, astro and if The Peter
lambert The astro continues this, year then that division title
will be. Theirs the conversation always continuing here on the.

(01:09:02):
Program you can join us at seven one, three two
one two five seven ninety wex And josh here with
you this, afternoon about forty five minutes out From astros on.
Deck get you ready For Spencer arraghetti And Foster griffin
to face off against one Another astros And. Nationals astros
trying to get within one game of five, hundred where

(01:09:23):
they have not been since they were six and. Seven
they lost a bunch of games in a row after,
that and they were six and eleven and they've never
been at five hundred since that point in. Time that
was during the opening road trip of the. SEASON a
few other non baseball items want to get, into but
you want to work some of your phone calls in.
Here those patient and wanted to get in we can

(01:09:43):
do that here and Welcome tom into the conversation here
this afternoon on THE a.

Speaker 2 (01:09:47):
Team what do you got for us? Today?

Speaker 10 (01:09:48):
Tom, hey we's great to be with. You you, Know i've
been listening to you all day And i'm on the
same page as you as this team turning it. AROUND
i want to throw fifty games in the schedule at,
you And i'll do it quite. Simply On may, fifteenth
The astros were negative ten under five. Hundred they beat
The rangers that day once to, nothing but they were

(01:10:11):
still ten games under five hundred since that. Time tonight
is the fiftieth game since that win at negative ten.
Underneath so they've made the turnaround just in that from
That may fifteenth, game and they've made it because they've
been able to do the things that you know that

(01:10:32):
they should be doing as a good ball. Club you,
know you made some comments about is it over for The.
Astros it very well maybe, over because we couldn't hope
to ever have teams like we had in the championship.
Years if we, did, wow we'd be all. Happy but
the stretch of baseball they've played in the last fifty,
games let's look at the. Numbers they are tonight twenty

(01:10:56):
nine and twenty in forty nine games Since april fifteenth
they went, tonight they're obviously third Twenty and to, me
this is the crux of What i'm trying to. Say
you got The rangers coming in AFTER i mean after
The All star, rage you Got, baltimore The Miami, marlins
The White, sox and The angels until they play their

(01:11:19):
division starting in the month Of, august it's there for
them to. TAKE i think it's there for them to.
TAKE i Think they're one of the best teams playing right.
Now they got things going for, them AND i want
to Compliment Joe. ESPADA i was watching that game last
night and we came out and Brought hayter. IN i
jumped for, joy not because of a, bray you because

(01:11:42):
a braid is being. Nursed we can't lose. Him we've
got it, back And Joe espata came out and made
the right move to bring In. Hayter if you're not
going to Bring hayter, in what do you have them?
For so great move By Joe. ASPODA i think he's
made a lot of great. MOVES i give compliments To
Dana brown with what they've done with the, pitching getting

(01:12:04):
guys to fix. THINGS i don't Think borrows is. FINISHED
i think they got to do something with that fastball
he has so he stops serving up four seamer home.
Runs but you, KNOW i like where the team is right.
NOW i think they're the hottest team in, baseball like you,
Said AND i want to throw something out and ask
you what you Think Quick duran from The Red, sox

(01:12:27):
any chance we could get.

Speaker 1 (01:12:28):
Him that's an interesting, thought AND i don't think that
is what's going to, happen ALTHOUGH i do think conversations
between The astros and The Red sox specifically and their
outfield is something that. Will, Unfortunately i'm not sure again
where The Red sox think they. Are they've started to
win enough games that they're not necessarily a team that
knows they should. SELL i know they should, sell And

(01:12:50):
i'm not sure if they. DO i don't know what
they do With Sonny. GRAY i would move on from
a old As chapman because he could probably net use
something he's done been a trade deadline ship in the year's.
Past but Both duran And William abray you are players
that constantly have their names thrown around in potential opportunities
for other teams basically just to. Pounce In duran's, Case

(01:13:12):
i'm not sure what is going on with. HIM i
don't really have an explanation for this particular, player AND
i don't want to be clouded by some of his
performances Against houston over the last couple of, years when
it seemed like if he was at the, plate then
he was going to be on second or third base
in about five, seconds and they just simply could not
figure out how to pitch to him or how to
get him, out because everybody in the league has figured

(01:13:33):
out how to pitch to him and get him. Out
he has been terrible in twenty twenty, six absolutely awful this.
Season he's striking out a, Ton he's not hitting at,
all And i'm not sure what it is that it
would take to get, him but numbers for, numbers he
is not different at all from any of the outfielders

(01:13:56):
The astros are already.

Speaker 2 (01:13:57):
Playing on an everyday.

Speaker 1 (01:13:58):
BASIS i wish he was in each of the past
three years he, was and that's the player when you
trade for you hope you're. Getting because he had back
to back seasons with you, know one hundred and twenty
plus ops plus, seasons eight hundred and twenty plus ops.

Speaker 2 (01:14:13):
Years he's absolutely.

Speaker 1 (01:14:15):
Seems like a much better player than the one that's
been on the field this. Year but the one that's
been on the field this year is arguably the one
that you are, Getting and So i'm not sure that
that's exactly in the cards for The. Astros BRA i
think is maybe less likely to not be a performer moving.
FORWARD i just like as who he is and what he,
does and clearly there's a link to The astros from

(01:14:37):
the fact that he really should still be An astro
but was put into a DEAL i wish they not have.
Made Christian vasquez is, here it's not even from that,
deal the original, deal but he has not had any
seasons under a seven to fifty ops even this year
being his, worst isn't even that. Low very good defensive.
Player i'm not sure what the package would, be and
this is WHY i mentioned one aspect of the true a,

(01:15:00):
deadline very specifically a lot since we still have time
before we get. There if The astros are looking to,
add say will you're a brave from The Red sox
and It's july, thirtieth they have no chance because they
will absolutely one hundred percent be outbid by a host
of other teams because they just don't simply have the
arsenal to battle those. Teams The Red sox would be,

(01:15:22):
smart if they really want to move, him to wait
see where they are and watch the bidding get higher
and higher and higher with more desperate desperate teams as
you get closer and closer to That august third. Deadline
and once you get closer to the, deadline it works Against.
Houston in my, opinion if you're right up against it
and a team has kind of messed things up and
they were unable to trade the player, yet and there become.

(01:15:43):
Desperate we have to get rid of them, now and
we don't have a. Buyer maybe you sneak in on
the late stages of it and you kind of get.
Lucky but, otherwise The astros roster major league, roster forty man,
roster and then their minor league prospect. Lot it's not
as bad as the national people will make it out to,
be but it clearly is lacking in star. POWER i

(01:16:07):
don't think The astros should be putting together a package
that Includes Xavier nine's Or Kevin, alvarez no matter who
they're trying to.

Speaker 2 (01:16:13):
Get that's just my personal.

Speaker 1 (01:16:14):
Opinion and once you get past, THAT i don't know
how lofty on any other GM's list some of The
astros players and their system might. Be there probably are
a few that are very enticing that could push you
over the. Top you just run into teams like The
brewers and teams like The, mariners even The athletics at this,
point if they so were so. Inclined they have so

(01:16:35):
many prospects and so many of them at positions they
don't even necessarily need moving, forward so they can feel
comfortable moving on from. Them it's just hard to believe
That Dana brown and this staff of people could put
together a better.

Speaker 2 (01:16:48):
Package we'll wait and.

Speaker 1 (01:16:49):
See those are two interesting, names AND i definitely will
probably be talking about them quite a bit over the
next thirty plus. Days because of, that or right under thirty,
days The astros can't possibly think the group they have
today is the one they want to finish the year,
with unless somebody in the Outfield Motway, junior or the
return of Low, perfito or something happens With Bryce matthews

(01:17:10):
At Dykin park where he can. Hit the group they
have has had a lot of season to prove they
can help this team, offensively and nobody's been able to do,
it so that will likely change when they get to the.

Speaker 2 (01:17:21):
Deadline we'll flip.

Speaker 1 (01:17:22):
It over to the top the four o'clock, hour couple
OF nfl notes to get to as we continue through the.

Speaker 2 (01:17:27):
Offseason that's next.

Speaker 1 (01:17:30):
Enter our number, three though this one will be half
of the hour with the eight team wex here with
you along With Josh. Jordan the other half of the
hour we will have The astros on deck show for.
You hear a little bit more From Dana brown at that,
time dip into The astros, clubhouse run through all the
particulars of getting you ready for the finale of this
three game. Series both teams definitely in the playoff, chase

(01:17:55):
both teams hovering around five, hundred The astros two games
under at forty six and, eight The nationals one game
over and forty seven and forty, six and the two
teams obviously split the first two games of this, series
The astros losing twelve eleven On, monday winning last night
six to, Three Josh hater picking up the save and
the bullpen doing the lion's share of the. Work they

(01:18:16):
got the final sixteen outs of the, game allowing only one,
run and that came in the ninth, inning the solo
home run on off Of Oli, bersonta his first game
back after he was the player added to the roster
when they Sent Mike burrows TO. Triplea so they gave
themselves a little bit more from an option standpoint in the.
Bullpen he went out there in the, ninth then he
got a pair of, outs left a runner on For,

(01:18:37):
hayter who then loaded the, bases not really by his own,
doing kind of half his own, doing but was able
to Get Dylan cruz and The astros got their six three,
victory and he continues to have an unbelievably successful partial
season after missing the first chunk of the season with the.
Tendinitis so, again both of these teams very much in.

(01:18:59):
It are three and a half back in the wild
card race in The National. League astros are one and
a half half games back in the wildcard, race and
they are in seventh in The American, league so they're
behind only one team and that is The. Rangers The
rangers have a one and a half game lead over The,
astros but both teams have the same number of. Wins my,

(01:19:20):
opinion no matter if you're good or, not it's harder
to win a game than it is to lose a.
Game losing is. Easy you have a bad, day you.
Lose even if you're, great it's still hard to. Win
so the fact that these two teams have the same
number of, WINS i shudder at the line that we
will use incessantly over the final fifty games of a.

Speaker 2 (01:19:43):
Year they're only two back in the lost.

Speaker 1 (01:19:45):
COLUMN i Don't i'm not really into. That you won't
hear me saying. THAT i think it's more about the.
Others and, again that's why we have a games behind.
Column they'll all be equalized at some. Point it's probably
worth noting it's The astros who have played all these extra.
Games The astros are playing game ninety five, Tonight The
rangers are playing game ninety. Two The Seattle mariners are

(01:20:08):
playing again ninety, three the ninety three for The. Mariners
The astros will play two or three more games than those.
Teams it can make it up On thursday when The
astros have an off, day but they're going to have
to make it up the remainder of the, season you,
know barring some unforeseen postponements or. Rainouts For, houston they'll
be in a much better. Position they have more off

(01:20:30):
days lined up and hopefully that will bold well.

Speaker 2 (01:20:32):
For their pitching.

Speaker 1 (01:20:33):
Staff but LIKE i, said we'll get more into The
astros coverage when we get into The astros On Deck.
Show there were a couple of things on THE nfl.
SIDE i JUST i could not resist getting. Into it's
the off, season and even though there's always something going
on in THE. Nfl it's the season where rankings are
very very, prevalent whether it's power rankings or the odds

(01:20:53):
to win the, division the, playoffs the, conference The Super.
Bowl positional rankings which came out over the last couple of,
weeks many of which were probably discussed at least a
little bit during my absence last. Week So i'm kind
of trying to wait to readdress that Until clanton. Returns
but lists are a. Plenty one of THEM i thought
was an interesting one at least to bring up here

(01:21:15):
when The Worldwide leader came out with a list of breakout,
candidates one for each. Team so BEFORE i look at
things like, THAT i will have my own mind made.
UP i might have actually already talked about that, topic
written about that, topic posted something about that. Topic astros
are excuse me The texans breakout player for twenty twenty.
SIX i have my own definition for what that might.

(01:21:37):
Mean so it eliminates a lot of players from the.
CONVERSATION i think there's a very obvious, choice and it
does not match up with the choice listed on a
little write. Up choice for me is an offensive. Player
But i'm gonna start with who they put out. There
It's Kaylin Block texan. SAFETY i don't disagree that expecting

(01:21:58):
him to be awesome this. YEAR i do as the column,
says But i'm not sure that he should be a breakout.
Player if you're covering The texans From, afar a fan From, afar,
yeah you probably don't realize how good he has already,
been and you might realize that he's that far down
the list of unbelievable defensive. Talents the two edge, rushers

(01:22:22):
they're going to rate more highly on a scouting report
or an analysis from a reporter about what they need
to do to win this game this particular. Opponent you
got to figure out a way to slow Down Daniel
hunter And Will Anderson. Junior, next you got to figure
out a way to get your big wide receiver open
Against Derrek Stingley junior or on the opposite side With Kamari.

(01:22:42):
Lasser these are players that have played at A Pro
bowl level and either been A Pro bowler or have
been A Pro bowl. Alternate in both of their, cases
you got a Ziz Al schier who is A Pro
bowl middle linebackers the quarterback of this. Defense you got
to figure out a way to keep him from wreaking
havoc and from you, know getting balls batted, down keeping
your running back and getting to the second level successfully

(01:23:03):
keep your tight end from making. Plays and that's Where
Jalen peatree comes into the. Discussion but it's like you're
not paying. ATTENTION i know they added us safety and read,
blanketship but they didn't add him to take away From Kaylen.
Bulock and very, specifically, statistically the list of players who
have taken the ball away via interceptions over the last

(01:23:26):
couple of years more Than Kaylen, bulock it's a pretty short.
List it's a list of. Three there's three players with
more interceptions Than. Kaylin since he became AN nfl, player
he's been healthy enough to make all seventeen starts both
of the last two, seasons and he's got seasons of
four and five. Interceptions he's got nine. Interceptions it's actually

(01:23:48):
matched by Teammate Derek Stingley, junior but it's only surpassed
by three.

Speaker 2 (01:23:53):
Players that's.

Speaker 1 (01:23:55):
It the whole league the last two, years three players
have more interceptions than. Him so if he's, unknown maybe
you can call it a breakout. Season but if you
look at what he has done and. PLAYMAKING i know
we're talking about nine passes thrown he picked. Off teams
have thrown a thousand passes against The texans eleven hundred

(01:24:19):
passes against The texans the last two. Seasons he picked
off nine of. Them i'm not only looking at, that
but it does, matter and that they lost the ball
on those nine. Plays the return that goes with, it
because he actually usually has very good, returns some of
which result in non penalized, touchdowns others result in real.
Touchdowns he's, been in my, opinion. Unbelievable, yes there have

(01:24:42):
been missed. Assignments, yes balls have gone over his head
and the rest of the. Defense, yes the postseason performance
two years ago Against Kansas city was rather. UNFORTUNATE i
don't disagree with the idea that he's going to be
awesome this. YEAR i only slightly disagree with the notion
that he wasn't already. Awesome he is and will continue to,
be and as an absolute fine By Nick cassario in the,

(01:25:04):
draft than that he was not a top pick eighty five,
players ninety players off the board Before Klen bullock is
A texan and he's played at a great high and
Super Pro bowl caliber.

Speaker 2 (01:25:15):
Level their defense is just loaded with.

Speaker 1 (01:25:18):
Players, so LIKE i, said my choice would actually BE
i think a pretty easy one and a pretty simple
one and one THAT i would imagine many would agree.
With and That's Jayden, higgins second year wide. Receiver last
year in the postseason they played, games there was time
Without Nico. Collins last year during the regular, season there
was time played Without Nico collins due to. Injury and
you look at who The texans have to take that responsibility. On,

(01:25:44):
well he already took it on as a, rookie AND
i just think more of it comes now that he's
in year. Two third most targeted receiver last, season nobody
was in the end zone more than he was last
season for The. Texans he And nico both had six touchdown.
Receptions was also on the field all season last year
when they asked him to. Be still not really sure
why such a slow start For higgins and the rest

(01:26:06):
of the young. PLAYERS i know kind of feels like
it goes without saying why young players get off to slow.
STARTS i don't mean his, PRODUCTION i mean his. USE
i don't know why it took so long to have
him on the field as much as he finally got
on the, field and really they had no reason to
take him off the field once he. Did but the
first few weeks of the season he didn't see the

(01:26:28):
field even half the. Snaps he didn't even see the
field forty five percent of the snaps for four weeks
as AN nfl, player he caught five.

Speaker 2 (01:26:34):
Balls he was targeted six. Times that's.

Speaker 1 (01:26:37):
It the whole rest of the season was basically a
totally different. Story on the field for fifty sixty eighty
percent of the snaps and some the production to go with.
IT i think is absolutely like the exact definition of
why an article is even, written because you have a
player like this on the. Team not sure Where Jalen

(01:26:58):
nole will fit in, again for the same, Reason i'm
not sure why he hasn't been on the. Field more,
SO i hope he's on the field more this. Year
there's No Christian. Kirk you have questions About Tank dell's.
Availability hopefully we get more answers during training, camp which
is less than three weeks away from beginning for The
texans and then The Nico. Collins When Nico collins is out,
there there aren't ten receivers in THE nfl more productive

(01:27:19):
or better than he. Is So i'm not Saying Jayden
higgins takes over any number one role For. Houston But
Nico collins is also missed field time over the last
couple of seasons for a variety of. Reasons concussion was
one of the reasons this past. Year he's had a
hamstring issue previously the year, before so there will be,
opportunities and this team is awesome when both of them

(01:27:41):
are on the. Field you look at one of the
everybody's favorite pick in THE afc this. Year oh my,
god look at the moves That cincinnati made this. Year
all those moves are, great And i'm actually on board
With cincinnati getting back to the playoffs this year and
being a. Threat and it's unfortunate that now another team
is in the mix trying to get In houston's. Way
but what makes them tick, offensively which is what makes

(01:28:03):
this team, good is they have two basically number one.
Receivers they Have Jamar chase and they have T. Higgins you,
Know Jamar chase runs every. Route Te higgins runs every.
ROUTE i think that's how The texans Utilized Nico collins
And Jayden, higgins AND i think we should see even
more of it this. Year so if you want to
break out player for The texans from, Me Jadan higgins
is at the top of the, list And i'm not

(01:28:24):
even sure where you'd go next for, that but plenty
of talent, there as you've seen by some of the
roster evaluation, rankings which we will save for another. CONVERSATION
a couple of times Today i've mentioned there's SOME nba
ITEMS i wanted to get. TO i will get to
them in the very next. Segment some absolutely, wild wild
names hit the transaction wire today in THE, nba AND

(01:28:47):
i can't wait to share them with you. Next a
little bit OF nba here before we get into the
astros On Deck Show nationals and astros From Nationals park
coming up at four point thirty for the on deck
show moves, Today probably not too. Consequential Larry nant's is
gonna sign a deal with The, pacers probably going to
be Releasing Michael potter to save a little. Money Jonas

(01:29:08):
Valen schunis recent report says he is going to be
made a free agent by The Denver. Nuggets undoubtedly he
will draw plenty of. Interests he can start and definitely
is one of the better backup bigs in the. League
we know how he, plays and teams that look for that.
WELL i think there's probably five or six contenders that
we'll be looking to see if they can work out

(01:29:30):
a deal with. Him not sure how much money it would,
be but an interesting player that probably will be playing
for a playoff caliber. Team there's a bunch of other
teams that are not playoff caliber. Teams they were the
ones almost exclusively involved in the sixth team. Trade that's
it's official now because several of the teams have finally
sent out the release on. It but the exact specifics

(01:29:50):
of every little part of that deal none of the
teams individually released, them so piecing it all together from
what did they say they got and what do they
say they got is a a little bit. Complex it
only involves one team that matters, though for twenty twenty,
six and That's. Detroit Detroit, dallas The, Clippers, Memphis, milwaukee
And washington had a six team deal that involves players

(01:30:13):
landed by all of those, teams but The clippers they
get a trade exception as part of a sign in
trade With John. Collins now he's the player that goes To.
Detroit they're also Getting Gary harris And Terrain prince fringe rotation,
players But collins is a player that absolutely can help
put the ball in the basket for The. Pistons Tobias
harris went to The San Antonio, spurs that essentially is

(01:30:35):
the replacement for. HIM i thought he was going to
do much bigger things for The. Clippers i've always liked
his game and like what he brings to a, team
not the primary, score probably not your second, score but
somewhere after. That SO i like the deal For, detroit
even with whatever else they gave up second round picks
and swaps and cash and things like. THAT i bring

(01:30:55):
it up only to bring up what The Dallas mavericks.
Did santi Al dama From memphis and they end up
getting him And Tarak bibovich from The grizzlies draft rights to,
him and they Get Marcus sassar from The pistons as
part of this. Deal, sassar also a fringe rotation, player
had some key minutes in the, postseason some nights more than,

(01:31:18):
others but a nice player for a team that has
got to figure out how many minutes they want to
give To Kyrie. Irving is the point where those other
minutes need to come. From MAVs have not brought Back
Brandon williams, yet SO.

Speaker 2 (01:31:30):
I like that for.

Speaker 1 (01:31:31):
Them but some people are higher On aldama than. Others
you'd like to think he's a guy that can put
the ball in the, basket get to do a little,
rebounding probably doesn't play particularly good defense for the size
player that he is a little bit easy to get
around on the wing with his lack of foot, speed
but a nice player, nonetheless to build Around Kyrie, Cooper

(01:31:52):
flagg and the other assorted young. Players they're going to
continue to. Add but WHAT i wanted to bring up
is what The lakers have. Done you, know The lakers
made the announcement and so the acquisition's official For Jaden,
hardy For soandr Mam Mamu kelishvili And Quintin, grimes and
then They it's usually referred to as as housekeeping, bookkeeping

(01:32:14):
but when you have players that you're holding on to
exception rights with bird exception, rights et, cetera they do
count against your cap at a very small, number but
it does add. Up so eventually you renounce those player
rights and they no longer are considered a cap, hold
and thus they no longer eat up any of your cap,
space even though they haven't been on the, team and
who knows how long The lakers, had like fifteen of them,

(01:32:37):
yesterday they now have won Because Austin reeves was a
free agent after this past, season and they have not
officially inked him to his.

Speaker 2 (01:32:47):
Deal it's been.

Speaker 1 (01:32:47):
Reported we know he's playing there and we know for how,
much but until they announce, it he basically is on
their books as strictly a cap. Hold and now he's
finally all alone on The lakers book as a cap
hold because these are the players they renounced their free
agent exception rights to earlier, Today i'll start with some

(01:33:07):
of the inconsequential Recent laker, Players Drew Timmy, Jackson, hayes
And hayes already has a deal, Elsewhere Marcus smart And Luke,
cannard two starters from last year's Victorious lakers team over
The rockets in the. Playoffs canard has his new two year.
Deal Marcus, smart, unannounced has his new two year deal

(01:33:30):
to come to The. Rockets and, again The rockets have
only announced the signings of their two rookies from the
draft and the deal to Send Dorian Finney smith To
charlotte for, cash and they also sent out three second round.
Picks now the fun part these players were on The
lakers roster quote unquote because of cap hold. Purposes, essentially

(01:33:51):
they weren't on the, roster they were on their cap.
Table Avery bradley didn't do much in THE nba last year.
Year Jared, Dudley, now he did do something in THE
nba last year because he's an assistant coach and has
been for several. Years Wayne, Ellington Markith, Morris Dion. Waiters

(01:34:15):
he had his free agent exception rights renounced by The. Lakers,
Today Dion waiters remember. Him the wing From, syracuse played
with The calves EIGHT nba, seasons won a title with The.
Lakers he last suited up in THE nba in the
spring of twenty. Twenty those aren't even the most fun.

(01:34:36):
Names the most fun names are two Former Houston. Rockets Carmelo.
Anthony they had to renounce his free agent exception rights
to save a little money on the. Cap the cap
hold has now, gone and of course he decided between
The rockets And lakers and free. Agency he chose The
rockets and then ultimately would play for The lakers, too.

Speaker 2 (01:34:58):
Before he called it a.

Speaker 1 (01:34:59):
Career Dwight howard at his free agent acception rights renounced
by The lakers. Today oh, yeah one other, Guy Lebron.
James it's going to be a. SAGA i can see.
IT i think everybody sees. It there will be reports
pretty much every.

Speaker 2 (01:35:15):
Day until a deal is.

Speaker 1 (01:35:16):
DONE i hope he knows he's not at the point
of his career where he should have the Decision part,
two but he.

Speaker 2 (01:35:22):
Might it is going to. MATTER i don't want to
put it in that.

Speaker 1 (01:35:26):
Light Who Lebron james plays for next year matters to
the teams trying to win AN nba. Title he's on
one of. THEM i don't know what team that is,
today but he will be on one of. Them and
as much as you don't think he was on one
of them last year with The lakers once they Added Luka,
doncic he was.

Speaker 2 (01:35:43):
On one of those type teams playing in The.

Speaker 1 (01:35:46):
West, yes they Were lakers were not going to beat
The spurs and they weren't going to beat the Thunder
THAT i. Understand so if you want to say he
was not a, contender that's. Fair BUT i think you
get the Point i'm. Making if you're one of the
teams that, thinks if the chips fall where they, might
and injury luck hits us the right, way then, yes
we have a championship caliber roster under a certain set of.

(01:36:07):
Circumstances that's the type of team he's gonna play for next. Year, Minnesota,
Philadelphia Golden state's on the borderline of that, obviously The Cleveland,
cavaliers because who wouldn't want a team Of Donovan, Mitchell Evan,
Mobley Jared, allen And James harden And Lebron.

Speaker 2 (01:36:26):
James it very well could.

Speaker 1 (01:36:27):
Happen gives me a chance also to get, into, briefly
the unbelievably large contract That Donovan mitchell now has to
continue his career with The calves or just continue to
make a bunch of, money because AS i always, say,
football basketball doesn't really. Matter if it's time to get
paid and the team that can pay you the most
is the one you want your contract, from then you

(01:36:49):
make it, happen and then you figure out the rest
as you move forward over the four year extension for
two hundred and seventy three million that he now has
with The, calves will he be playing all four of
those seasons with THE i don't, KNOW i doubt they're
gonna win a. Title so the idea that he could
be moving, on just Like giannis did and many other
star players who knew they could no longer win where
they were, did and he won one title In, milwaukee

(01:37:12):
but ultimately knew the writing was on the. Wall calves
are in the. Mix calves were in The Eastern Conference
finals last. YEAR i did not expect. That then they
got run out of the building after Blowing game one
to The New York. Knicks it's probably more fair to
say The knicks took it from, them even though they
were way, behind because The knicks did it to everybody
in last year's. Postseason Donovan mitchell, IS i, think often

(01:37:34):
very poorly, analyzed and it's not anyone's fault because it's
just a matter of what you really. See you do
need to watch him play more than just stare at the,
results because the results For Donovan mitchell teams he's been
in the league nine, years he's been in the playoffs
in all of those, seasons they and. Badly last year

(01:37:58):
was the longest playoff run he'd ever, made and it
ended extremely badly with the way they, lost but they
were in the conference. Finals in two three other playoff,
seasons his team has advanced to the second, round but
in five or four other seasons they've they've been out
in the first. Round his individual postseason performances on the,
whole he's probably had two bad postseasons out of.

Speaker 2 (01:38:20):
Nine they're.

Speaker 1 (01:38:21):
Good he put up thirty six points a game one
postseason Against, Houston he's put up thirty in. Another he's
averaging twenty eight points per game in his postseason. Career
that's three points more than he averages in the regular.
Season he has personally. Produced maybe he doesn't have enough

(01:38:43):
flashy winning. Moments his team certainly lacks that, also but
when they, lose especially With, utah and then it's kind
of driven home again now With cleveland because of who
is surrounded, by it's only on him because he's the
best player and the as. Well if they're gonna, win
he's gotta be great and he's gonna be the reason they. Win,

(01:39:04):
well he can't drag everybody with. Him he's not the
best player in the. League he's probably borderline top ten
ALL nba player for, Sure top fifteen but if they're
gonna try to win with Only James harden And Jared
allen flanking he And Evan, mobley they're gonna come up short,
again just like he did In, utah where a second
best player was not a very good playoff.

Speaker 2 (01:39:25):
Player Rudy GOBERT i.

Speaker 1 (01:39:26):
Said at the moment they sent him To, utah or
From utah To, cleveland he will now play with four
or five better teammates than he's ever played with In.
Utah and it's definitely, true and it could get higher
If lebron becomes a. Cav, Lebron, Mitchell, Hardin, Allen mobley
and whatever they put together on their bench absolutely a

(01:39:49):
threat to win The. East you never know what's gonna
happen in the, finals because this, YEAR i don't think
we knew what was gonna happen in the. Finals But
lebron back In cleveland absolutely in, play and he will
play all to follow that story for as long as humanly.
Possible The astros On deck, show if you've been waiting for,
that you have to wait no.

Speaker 2 (01:40:07):
Longer it is next

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