June 17, 2025 • 12 mins
A standout season has arrived in Houston for Astros reliever Bennett Sousa. With a 1.82 ERA and 32 strikeouts, a resurgent year has come for the longtime reliever. What's changed since the offseason? Sousa joins The A-Team with Wex and AC to dicuss his return to the mound and dominance in 2025 as Houston looks to repsond on Tuesday night against the A's!
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Mea am Amina right now.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
Now it is the A team Sports Talk seven ninety
Space City Home Network at the top of the hour.
But in the meantime, Bennett SUSA joining us on the
phone lines as promised Astro's relief pitcher. Uh, I hate
that we're having to talk to you after a type
of loss such as the one you guys suffered last night,
(00:25):
But let's just start right there. When it's a game
like that, do you do you enjoy those games as
a pitcher where it's more of a and obviously a
pitcher's matchup for the majority of that kind of evening.
Speaker 3 (00:37):
Yeah, guys, Well, first off, thanks for having me on.
I appreciate it. You know, Yeah, last night was a
tough one. Uh. You know, we're in this thirteen game
stretch right here, you know, flying to California last night.
You know, the boys are just you know, we're trying
out there give it her all. But as a pitcher, yeah,
you love that, especially with our bullpen. You know, we
feel like, you know, if the game is decided by
(00:59):
our we're gonna come out on top. Most of the times.
Last night just wasn't our night.
Speaker 1 (01:04):
That was a very good answer, saying you like those
type of games, considering that seems like all that you
guys play recently, Yeah, I.
Speaker 3 (01:12):
Mean for sure. I mean they're a lot of fun. Obviously,
you know, we we like to win by ten runs,
you know, all the time. But that that, you know,
that's not baseball. And you know, like I said before,
we like having the game in our bullpen's hands.
Speaker 1 (01:26):
Well, now that you and the team have made their
way to George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa and now
to Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento, what are your
thoughts about playing Major League baseball at an exhibition stadium
and a minor league ballpark.
Speaker 3 (01:41):
You know, it's it's definitely an adjustment to say, but
you know it's it's it's part of it. Like we
we got to get over it. These games count, they matter,
the stats matter. We gotta go out there and and
play and win these games.
Speaker 1 (01:58):
So, if I asked the simple question with maybe a
complicated answer, what's the simplest reason you would say you're
enjoying your most success thus far as a Major leaguer
this year?
Speaker 3 (02:07):
Oh, I mean the guys in the bullpen. I can't
say enough about him. I mean, we just have such
a tight crew down there that is just a lot
of fun. We keep it super relaxed, you know me personally,
Like I'm a pretty relaxed guy. So it helps out,
you know, when things can get pretty stressful in that bullpen,
just having the guys support and the coaches support, and
(02:31):
just going out there and really just showing what I
can do. Well.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
I can tell you the part of last night's game
that I enjoyed the most, and that was Jose al
Tuve coming up to the plate, getting booed all of
maybe two pitches and then taking that ball just rocketing
it over into the over the fence and left field.
I have to ask you a question, because you know,
you haven't been here very long, but a lot of
us have and we see that. Does that make someone
(02:58):
like you who's kind of new to this relatively speaking,
as mad as it does everyone else who knows what
kind of guy in that clubhouse Jose Altuve is and
probably the you know, the least participant if you will,
during that whole cheating scandal, just because you know who
he is. Does that kind of irritate you as much
as it does a guy like me?
Speaker 3 (03:19):
Yeah, I mean it's kind of just funny. I mean
it's he's the only guy left from that that era
of Houston Astro baseball, and we hear it all the
time in the bullpen. I mean it's it's the number
one shirp we get right, the trash can trash can uh.
And you know, Jose, I can't say enough good things
(03:39):
about him. He's one of the best teammates I've ever had.
He talks to everybody in the locker room. He's such
a big part of this team, and he has been
for so many years. You know, it sucks going to
away stadiums and hearing him get boot all the time,
But I think at this point, you know, he he's
used to it, and he enjoys it, and when he
gets his revenge like he did last night, it's even sweeter.
Speaker 1 (04:01):
Well, let me take you back, I guess on the
long way too, when you first got to to see
what kind of team Jose al two they had twenty
twenty three when you joined the Astros. But I want
to ask you about your twenty twenty three year. First,
does it seem even possible that you were bouncing around
as much as you were that year with the Reds
(04:21):
and White Sox and Brewers and Tigers and Astros ultimately
pitching really really well for a month month with the Astros.
Speaker 3 (04:30):
Yeah, I mean that was a that was a crazy
year for me. I I always, you know, you got
to believe in yourself, obviously, in this in this sport
with so many highs and lows. And I always knew
because I had I had really good numbers in the
minor leagues always going through I always knew that if
I just got a steady opportunity and chance and took
advantage of it, that that, you know, my career could
(04:52):
really take off. And I just always believed in that
and and and never straight away from that. And then
when I got to the Astros at the end of
that twenty three season, you know, I had some early success,
and I had some some coaches that really that really
believed in me, and and and saw my potential and
and you know, I only I know, I only threw
seven innings that year, but I was battling injuries for
(05:14):
like two years with with the thorscic outlet stuff, and
I felt finally kind of normal at that time. You know. Obviously,
the following year I ended up having to get the surgery.
But I just knew that, you know, if I just
had my steady chance and took advantage of the opportunity
that that good things could happen.
Speaker 1 (05:31):
I certainly want to pick Bright back up there, But
I had already asked, what what did you think of
this clubhouse and jose L Twovey's role in it when
you first arrived that last month of the regular season
in twenty three.
Speaker 3 (05:42):
Well, immediately I knew why the Astros have been so
good for so many years. And it's that locker room.
I mean, you know, it's changed now a little bit
since twenty three to now, but but the the idea
and the culture is still there. And it's just, you know,
we played for each other. We're all we're all a
tight knit group.
Speaker 1 (06:03):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (06:04):
There's not one personal locker room that you know is
going against the grain. It's it's really it makes it
fun when you're playing for your brothers. Uh. And that's
what I really enjoy about this team in this locker room.
Speaker 2 (06:15):
Well, and in that van. It kind of sets me
up for this question. You know, you talked about what
a leader Altuve is from a pitching perspective. Is there
anybody that you gravitated towards. Is there anybody that kind
of helped you out, maybe even you know, unprovoked. I
don't know how it goes, obviously, and everybody's different. Is
there somebody that you can point to, some buddies that
have kind of taken you under their wing, helped you out?
Speaker 3 (06:37):
What have you? Yeah, I mean there's a couple of
guys for sure. The first one is Josh Hater. I
mean he's my catch play partner, being the best lefty
in the reliever in the league. Uh, you know, I
try to I try to do everything that guy does
(06:58):
because I want to know, I want to be like him.
And he's just he's he's an open book. He's always
trying to help. Uh, He's picks my brain, I pick
his brain. And and he's just a great leader for
that bullpen, especially, you know, a bullpen with four lefties
in it. Him leading us all is awesome. And then
(07:19):
last year, you know, I was rehabbing a lot, and
I was here in Houston for half the year, and
I spent a lot of time with Lance because he
was rehabbing as well, and just seeing how that guy,
you know, because he was real, he was rehabed for
a long time and just going through you know, just
seeing what he was doing, trying to you know, come
(07:41):
to the park with a with a positive attitude every
day even though you know you can't contribute to the team.
That helped me a lot last year. So Lance was
a big part of that for me.
Speaker 1 (07:50):
What was it like when I assume this happened, when
one of your pitching coaches Josh or Murph came to
you and said, we got some data on your slider.
Speaker 2 (07:59):
They don't hit it.
Speaker 3 (08:00):
We'd like you to throw it more. You know, It's
funny because because every team, every stop that I've had
like that, that is the that's the one thing they
always say, like, hey, throw your slider. But with these guys,
for some reason, like they really they really trusted it
that like you know, this is a really good pitch
(08:22):
and and you know it might take some time for
us to for it to really play on the big leagues,
but like when it does, it's gonna be worth the wait.
And uh, you know, I love Josh and and and Murph.
They're they're they're the two best pitching coaches for me personally.
They keep things light, uh, and they really know how
(08:42):
to to the scoutter reports and things like that. Uh,
for us to all succeed.
Speaker 1 (08:47):
Well, I feel like we keep getting the opportunity to
ask this question of our astros pitching guests.
Speaker 2 (08:53):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (08:53):
And it's the first time in all of our years broadcasting,
we've ever been able to ask it. What's it like
having a a pitching staff and a bullpen so overrun
with left handers.
Speaker 3 (09:03):
I mean, guys, it's amazing. You know, you don't see it. Uh.
You know, we we we take a lot of pride
in being left handed in that bullpen. Uh, and now
in our starting rotation as well. Uh. But you know,
we gotta give some love to our right he's down
there in the bullpen too, you know, Brian and Bray
who's Brayhe? I know, he he. He had a tough
(09:25):
one last night, but he's been unbelievable all year long. Uh.
You know, just it feels like the eighth and ninth
ending are just lockdown endings for us every time. Uh.
And then you know, we got Sean Duban, who you know,
I know he was hurt the first couple of months
of the year, but I mean he's been he's been
a workhorse for us. Uh, out of that bullpen and
(09:45):
and those innings you know might go unnotice to some people,
but to us in that bullpen, I mean, we see
what he's doing, and it's incredible.
Speaker 2 (09:54):
As a fellow left left handed person. Uh, in in
an erow where everybody wakes up and figures out something
they need to come complain about it every single day.
Are you with me that you feel like we are
more discriminated against than most people in society with things
like spiral notebooks with the binding on the left hand side.
That's crap, isn't it?
Speaker 3 (10:13):
Yeah? Yeah, one hundred percent. Uh, you know, we get
I think Josh Josh is a fake lefty, and I
think DK is a fake lefty too. I think I
think Steve and I are the only true lefties where
we do everything left handed. So you know, I I
hear you on that. With with all the the other
stuff that we got to deal with, makes.
Speaker 1 (10:32):
Me curious, is Chaz or or Jake are they fake
lefties or real lefties?
Speaker 3 (10:38):
I you know, I think, well, Chaz Bat's right handed,
so you know, but but uh, you know, I don't know.
Speaker 1 (10:48):
I mean they go left and Bat right. I'm just
trying to dump both those. I'd call him fake lefties.
Even if I don't know the answer.
Speaker 2 (10:55):
We know that Bennets Susa is a true lefty.
Speaker 3 (10:57):
That's all that matters, all right. Yeah, but hey, I'm
not I'm not as weird as most lefties.
Speaker 1 (11:02):
I'll tell you that, No me, neither are you asking
us to ask you who the weirdest lefty on the
team is?
Speaker 3 (11:07):
Sounds like it, I mean, I mean, that's an easy answer.
It's Steve. I mean oker, He's the he's the clown
of the bullpen. We love him a lot. You know,
he's been such a such a great addition to this team.
He's kind of I mean, he's a leader on the team.
He really is. He keeps everything light and he's definitely
(11:29):
he's our He's our clown lefty for sure.
Speaker 1 (11:31):
I have to admit his body language when he hums
his way through a three pitch, three swings and misses strikeout,
it's legendary. Oh okay, I did it again, back to
the dug out.
Speaker 2 (11:41):
Yeah, well, Bennett, we we appreciate the time, especially the
left handed conversation.
Speaker 3 (11:47):
I appreciated that the most.
Speaker 2 (11:49):
You are welcome on the show anytime, good luck the
rest of this season, and we're happy to have you
here in Houston.
Speaker 3 (11:54):
Appreciate it, guys, Thanks so much, The A team on
Sports Talk seven ninety
Mea am Amina right now.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
Now it is the A team Sports Talk seven ninety
Space City Home Network at the top of the hour.
But in the meantime, Bennett SUSA joining us on the
phone lines as promised Astro's relief pitcher. Uh, I hate
that we're having to talk to you after a type
of loss such as the one you guys suffered last night,
(00:25):
But let's just start right there. When it's a game
like that, do you do you enjoy those games as
a pitcher where it's more of a and obviously a
pitcher's matchup for the majority of that kind of evening.
Speaker 3 (00:37):
Yeah, guys, Well, first off, thanks for having me on.
I appreciate it. You know, Yeah, last night was a
tough one. Uh. You know, we're in this thirteen game
stretch right here, you know, flying to California last night.
You know, the boys are just you know, we're trying
out there give it her all. But as a pitcher, yeah,
you love that, especially with our bullpen. You know, we
feel like, you know, if the game is decided by
(00:59):
our we're gonna come out on top. Most of the times.
Last night just wasn't our night.
Speaker 1 (01:04):
That was a very good answer, saying you like those
type of games, considering that seems like all that you
guys play recently, Yeah, I.
Speaker 3 (01:12):
Mean for sure. I mean they're a lot of fun. Obviously,
you know, we we like to win by ten runs,
you know, all the time. But that that, you know,
that's not baseball. And you know, like I said before,
we like having the game in our bullpen's hands.
Speaker 1 (01:26):
Well, now that you and the team have made their
way to George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa and now
to Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento, what are your
thoughts about playing Major League baseball at an exhibition stadium
and a minor league ballpark.
Speaker 3 (01:41):
You know, it's it's definitely an adjustment to say, but
you know it's it's it's part of it. Like we
we got to get over it. These games count, they matter,
the stats matter. We gotta go out there and and
play and win these games.
Speaker 1 (01:58):
So, if I asked the simple question with maybe a
complicated answer, what's the simplest reason you would say you're
enjoying your most success thus far as a Major leaguer
this year?
Speaker 3 (02:07):
Oh, I mean the guys in the bullpen. I can't
say enough about him. I mean, we just have such
a tight crew down there that is just a lot
of fun. We keep it super relaxed, you know me personally,
Like I'm a pretty relaxed guy. So it helps out,
you know, when things can get pretty stressful in that bullpen,
just having the guys support and the coaches support, and
(02:31):
just going out there and really just showing what I
can do. Well.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
I can tell you the part of last night's game
that I enjoyed the most, and that was Jose al
Tuve coming up to the plate, getting booed all of
maybe two pitches and then taking that ball just rocketing
it over into the over the fence and left field.
I have to ask you a question, because you know,
you haven't been here very long, but a lot of
us have and we see that. Does that make someone
(02:58):
like you who's kind of new to this relatively speaking,
as mad as it does everyone else who knows what
kind of guy in that clubhouse Jose Altuve is and
probably the you know, the least participant if you will,
during that whole cheating scandal, just because you know who
he is. Does that kind of irritate you as much
as it does a guy like me?
Speaker 3 (03:19):
Yeah, I mean it's kind of just funny. I mean
it's he's the only guy left from that that era
of Houston Astro baseball, and we hear it all the
time in the bullpen. I mean it's it's the number
one shirp we get right, the trash can trash can uh.
And you know, Jose, I can't say enough good things
(03:39):
about him. He's one of the best teammates I've ever had.
He talks to everybody in the locker room. He's such
a big part of this team, and he has been
for so many years. You know, it sucks going to
away stadiums and hearing him get boot all the time,
But I think at this point, you know, he he's
used to it, and he enjoys it, and when he
gets his revenge like he did last night, it's even sweeter.
Speaker 1 (04:01):
Well, let me take you back, I guess on the
long way too, when you first got to to see
what kind of team Jose al two they had twenty
twenty three when you joined the Astros. But I want
to ask you about your twenty twenty three year. First,
does it seem even possible that you were bouncing around
as much as you were that year with the Reds
(04:21):
and White Sox and Brewers and Tigers and Astros ultimately
pitching really really well for a month month with the Astros.
Speaker 3 (04:30):
Yeah, I mean that was a that was a crazy
year for me. I I always, you know, you got
to believe in yourself, obviously, in this in this sport
with so many highs and lows. And I always knew
because I had I had really good numbers in the
minor leagues always going through I always knew that if
I just got a steady opportunity and chance and took
advantage of it, that that, you know, my career could
(04:52):
really take off. And I just always believed in that
and and and never straight away from that. And then
when I got to the Astros at the end of
that twenty three season, you know, I had some early success,
and I had some some coaches that really that really
believed in me, and and and saw my potential and
and you know, I only I know, I only threw
seven innings that year, but I was battling injuries for
(05:14):
like two years with with the thorscic outlet stuff, and
I felt finally kind of normal at that time. You know. Obviously,
the following year I ended up having to get the surgery.
But I just knew that, you know, if I just
had my steady chance and took advantage of the opportunity
that that good things could happen.
Speaker 1 (05:31):
I certainly want to pick Bright back up there, But
I had already asked, what what did you think of
this clubhouse and jose L Twovey's role in it when
you first arrived that last month of the regular season
in twenty three.
Speaker 3 (05:42):
Well, immediately I knew why the Astros have been so
good for so many years. And it's that locker room.
I mean, you know, it's changed now a little bit
since twenty three to now, but but the the idea
and the culture is still there. And it's just, you know,
we played for each other. We're all we're all a
tight knit group.
Speaker 1 (06:03):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (06:04):
There's not one personal locker room that you know is
going against the grain. It's it's really it makes it
fun when you're playing for your brothers. Uh. And that's
what I really enjoy about this team in this locker room.
Speaker 2 (06:15):
Well, and in that van. It kind of sets me
up for this question. You know, you talked about what
a leader Altuve is from a pitching perspective. Is there
anybody that you gravitated towards. Is there anybody that kind
of helped you out, maybe even you know, unprovoked. I
don't know how it goes, obviously, and everybody's different. Is
there somebody that you can point to, some buddies that
have kind of taken you under their wing, helped you out?
Speaker 3 (06:37):
What have you? Yeah, I mean there's a couple of
guys for sure. The first one is Josh Hater. I
mean he's my catch play partner, being the best lefty
in the reliever in the league. Uh, you know, I
try to I try to do everything that guy does
(06:58):
because I want to know, I want to be like him.
And he's just he's he's an open book. He's always
trying to help. Uh, He's picks my brain, I pick
his brain. And and he's just a great leader for
that bullpen, especially, you know, a bullpen with four lefties
in it. Him leading us all is awesome. And then
(07:19):
last year, you know, I was rehabbing a lot, and
I was here in Houston for half the year, and
I spent a lot of time with Lance because he
was rehabbing as well, and just seeing how that guy,
you know, because he was real, he was rehabed for
a long time and just going through you know, just
seeing what he was doing, trying to you know, come
(07:41):
to the park with a with a positive attitude every
day even though you know you can't contribute to the team.
That helped me a lot last year. So Lance was
a big part of that for me.
Speaker 1 (07:50):
What was it like when I assume this happened, when
one of your pitching coaches Josh or Murph came to
you and said, we got some data on your slider.
Speaker 2 (07:59):
They don't hit it.
Speaker 3 (08:00):
We'd like you to throw it more. You know, It's
funny because because every team, every stop that I've had
like that, that is the that's the one thing they
always say, like, hey, throw your slider. But with these guys,
for some reason, like they really they really trusted it
that like you know, this is a really good pitch
(08:22):
and and you know it might take some time for
us to for it to really play on the big leagues,
but like when it does, it's gonna be worth the wait.
And uh, you know, I love Josh and and and Murph.
They're they're they're the two best pitching coaches for me personally.
They keep things light, uh, and they really know how
(08:42):
to to the scoutter reports and things like that. Uh,
for us to all succeed.
Speaker 1 (08:47):
Well, I feel like we keep getting the opportunity to
ask this question of our astros pitching guests.
Speaker 2 (08:53):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (08:53):
And it's the first time in all of our years broadcasting,
we've ever been able to ask it. What's it like
having a a pitching staff and a bullpen so overrun
with left handers.
Speaker 3 (09:03):
I mean, guys, it's amazing. You know, you don't see it. Uh.
You know, we we we take a lot of pride
in being left handed in that bullpen. Uh, and now
in our starting rotation as well. Uh. But you know,
we gotta give some love to our right he's down
there in the bullpen too, you know, Brian and Bray
who's Brayhe? I know, he he. He had a tough
(09:25):
one last night, but he's been unbelievable all year long. Uh.
You know, just it feels like the eighth and ninth
ending are just lockdown endings for us every time. Uh.
And then you know, we got Sean Duban, who you know,
I know he was hurt the first couple of months
of the year, but I mean he's been he's been
a workhorse for us. Uh, out of that bullpen and
(09:45):
and those innings you know might go unnotice to some people,
but to us in that bullpen, I mean, we see
what he's doing, and it's incredible.
Speaker 2 (09:54):
As a fellow left left handed person. Uh, in in
an erow where everybody wakes up and figures out something
they need to come complain about it every single day.
Are you with me that you feel like we are
more discriminated against than most people in society with things
like spiral notebooks with the binding on the left hand side.
That's crap, isn't it?
Speaker 3 (10:13):
Yeah? Yeah, one hundred percent. Uh, you know, we get
I think Josh Josh is a fake lefty, and I
think DK is a fake lefty too. I think I
think Steve and I are the only true lefties where
we do everything left handed. So you know, I I
hear you on that. With with all the the other
stuff that we got to deal with, makes.
Speaker 1 (10:32):
Me curious, is Chaz or or Jake are they fake
lefties or real lefties?
Speaker 3 (10:38):
I you know, I think, well, Chaz Bat's right handed,
so you know, but but uh, you know, I don't know.
Speaker 1 (10:48):
I mean they go left and Bat right. I'm just
trying to dump both those. I'd call him fake lefties.
Even if I don't know the answer.
Speaker 2 (10:55):
We know that Bennets Susa is a true lefty.
Speaker 3 (10:57):
That's all that matters, all right. Yeah, but hey, I'm
not I'm not as weird as most lefties.
Speaker 1 (11:02):
I'll tell you that, No me, neither are you asking
us to ask you who the weirdest lefty on the
team is?
Speaker 3 (11:07):
Sounds like it, I mean, I mean, that's an easy answer.
It's Steve. I mean oker, He's the he's the clown
of the bullpen. We love him a lot. You know,
he's been such a such a great addition to this team.
He's kind of I mean, he's a leader on the team.
He really is. He keeps everything light and he's definitely
(11:29):
he's our He's our clown lefty for sure.
Speaker 1 (11:31):
I have to admit his body language when he hums
his way through a three pitch, three swings and misses strikeout,
it's legendary. Oh okay, I did it again, back to
the dug out.
Speaker 2 (11:41):
Yeah, well, Bennett, we we appreciate the time, especially the
left handed conversation.
Speaker 3 (11:47):
I appreciated that the most.
Speaker 2 (11:49):
You are welcome on the show anytime, good luck the
rest of this season, and we're happy to have you
here in Houston.
Speaker 3 (11:54):
Appreciate it, guys, Thanks so much, The A team on
Sports Talk seven ninety
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
The Breakfast Club
The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy And Charlamagne Tha God!
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.