Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
It is the eight team Sports Talk seven to ninety.
Adam Wexler over there, Adam Clanton right here, as we
take you up until five thirty, and then Astros on
deck getting you ready for the second game of three
game set in Milwaukee against the Brewers. In that vein
Steven Okurt joining us on the phone line. Steven, appreciate
the time, and how is Milwaukee this time of year?
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Yeah, thanks for having me. It's yesterday. It was a
little chilly today. It's pretty nice weather. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
I saw Blumber post right now.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
So nice.
Speaker 1 (00:30):
No, I saw that Blummer had posted. It was fifty
degrees out there. So we forget sometime since the summer
is already underway down here south that there is seasons
in other parts of the country, right right, Well, it
hasn't been the best road trip so far, obviously. What's
I guess the mood of the team as you enter
in this second game of this three game set with
(00:51):
the Brewers.
Speaker 2 (00:53):
It's not too bad. I mean, you got to leave
every day behind and move on to the next, you know,
So you know we're out here ready to go and
you know, hopeing for some wins.
Speaker 3 (01:02):
You've obviously gotten off to a really nice start here.
You had a really nice spring training. Tell me about
what the kind of the road to get here, about
the injuries you'd needed to clearly, once you're past them,
this is the kind of pitcher you can be. What
were the last couple of seasons like on your way
to Houston.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
On, shoot, it's been a good journey. You know, wasn't
in baseball there for a year and then got a
chance with Miami and you know, things kind of went
my way, so I lucked out there, and then getting
traded last year was it was a little weird first
time getting traded, but happy to be here.
Speaker 3 (01:36):
I know that do you get to this team and
pitching coaches other people in the organization kind of walk
through some things they like about your stuff. We think
this plays well, the shape of this pitch is maybe
something we should use a little bit more often. And
how do those conversations go as the first couple of
months leading up to opening day.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
Happened for you, Yeah, we kind of had those conversations
in spring. You know, last year was was pretty tough
second half for me. So well, I'm sure you know
why why I wasn't doing very good and my stuff
wasn't playing. And then get here and and have some
like goals meetings and and they like, just like you said,
(02:15):
they talk about, you know, what's going well for me,
and and you know, a lot of a lot of
it came down to I was getting behind hitters a
lot last year. So biggest thing here was getting ahead
of hitters and telling me that when I get ahead,
my stuff plays pretty well and we're gonna you know,
mix in a little more fastball than I had the
last couple of years. And I feel like it's you know,
(02:37):
it's been good so far, So I'm happy with that.
Speaker 3 (02:40):
I love the analysis that's the simplest, most obvious, but
still needs to be executed and listened to and told.
And they're basically, if I can dumb it down for me,
are they essentially saying, hey, man, let's throw some strikes.
Speaker 2 (02:54):
Yeah, you know, and over the course of the season,
you don't you don't realize, Okay, I'm you know, one
two oh to all the hitters. You just remember the
hard hit balls and not getting very many outs. So
coming here, they're telling me that my stuff is good.
I just you know, got to get in pitchers counts
and less hitters counts. So it was, like you said,
(03:15):
a dumb down way of looking at it, but something
I needed to hear.
Speaker 1 (03:20):
We're talking to Steven Oker here on Sports Talks seven ninety.
You've been in several organizations now in your Major League
Baseball career, and I'm always curious to hear what new
guys to the Astros organization think about this organization, this team,
this clubhouse. There's been obviously some big changes just since
last season, but your impressions in your short time as
(03:42):
an Astro so far about how they do things down here.
Speaker 2 (03:46):
I've really enjoyed it. Coaching staff's great, everybody's you know,
it's full of good guys and very positive looks on
each guy. And I mean the team. It's a great
group of guys. As everyone gets along, everyone's pulling for
each other. I mean, I've been very happy here. It's
(04:06):
been a lot of fun so far, and you know,
obviously once we start winning more games, it's gonna be
a blast.
Speaker 3 (04:12):
We know, life out in the bullpen is probably pretty lively.
There's guys that do different things to keep everybody loose
and everybody into the game, and everybody's got their routine
I'm gonna guess in this bullpen. Tell me if I'm wrong,
it is it's really out there, considering there's not one,
not two, not three, but four lefties out there, including yourself.
Speaker 2 (04:33):
Yeah, you don't see that very often. We've joked around
that we have, you know, probably about ten percent of
the league left. He's in our bullet in because I
must carry one maybe two. But I mean, we got
a great group out there. Everybody's pretty chill, not too
much anxiety. It seems like out there everybody talks and
(04:54):
get along with help each other out. But it's been
fun out there so far.
Speaker 3 (04:59):
Are there any specif responsibilities for the younger guys or
newer guys, like coffee and when and who gets it
and how they like it?
Speaker 2 (05:08):
No, none of that. We got. We got a couple
little bags that we bring out, but uh you know
that they got to carry, but really not too much anymore.
You don't. You don't see the pink bull pin bags
like you used.
Speaker 3 (05:19):
To understood, uh what you were just saying a minute ago, Steven.
When we start winning more games, I think things will
you know, it'll be even more fun than it already,
is the assumption. I think from inside the clubhouse, just
like we have out here and the fans do as well.
The team that we see is capable of more. What
do you see when you when you look around your
clubhouse and see this is basically a five hundred team
to date?
Speaker 2 (05:39):
Yeah, I mean we looking at our lineup on paper,
it's it's a great lineup. You know, things are going
to start clicking, getting those timely hits. Guys, are you
going to continue to throw up zeros? And it's gonna
all come together and you know, hopefully we go on
a pretty good run here soon.
Speaker 1 (05:56):
Is there anybody that you gravitated towards in that clubhouse
when you got here? We talked about so much, you know,
this offseason we talked about, you know, during the process
of of Alex Bregman, you know, becoming a Boston Red Sox,
how much he was a part of like mound visits,
that kind of thing, and who is going to be
the leader in that clubhouse? You know, what's your take
on that as a as a new guy to that
(06:16):
clubhouse relatively speaking?
Speaker 2 (06:20):
So yeah, I mean, obviously I wasn't here with with Bregman,
but I feel like, you know, we've got a good
group of bets we got, you know, Walker new v
I mean, paying all these guys that you know, they
kind of take control. And I mean, obviously we have Jose,
so you don't get much more better than him, and
he's a great guy. But I feel like, you know,
(06:42):
there's not just one guy that stepped up and took
that over. It's kind of a team.
Speaker 3 (06:47):
Effort playing Major League Baseball with the Giants and the
Marlins and the Twins and some of the teammates who
have had there obviously for a brief period of time,
Carlos Korea among them. Did you know what to expect
from the kind of person, the everyday regular guy that
Jose Altuve was, and and what do you know, what
were your kind of expectations about knowing he was a leader?
(07:07):
But I just don't know him yet.
Speaker 2 (07:10):
Yeah, obviously, when you're on the other side and he's
beating you up, you're not a big fan of him,
you know, But getting here he's a great guy. Didn't
realize how nice of a guy he was and positive
and you know he'll talk to anybody. He's not too
good for anyone, and that's big for you know, having
your your veteran of the team.
Speaker 1 (07:31):
Any special plans for the old man on his birthday today?
Speaker 2 (07:36):
Not from me, I don't know. Maybe they got him
a birthday cake or something fun. Uh's crazy, you know,
he's well, he's a thirty five now. It seems like
he's been around for forty years. He's it's crazy, but
you know everyone's gonna tell him happy birthday. Maybe. I
know we've had a couple Mariozi mans come through, so
(07:57):
I don't know if that's something they'll do, but.
Speaker 3 (08:00):
I think you can pretty well guarantee he will be
smiling at the ballpark today less just like he has
been for every year of his career, uh, minor league
or at the major league level. And I swing it
that way before we let you go. I'm curious if
there's you know, any place in the OA Kirk closet
with your path through Augusta and Richmond and Sacramento and Jacksonville.
Do you have old volcanoes gear, flying squirrels gear, jumbo
(08:25):
shrimp gear somewhere in the house.
Speaker 2 (08:30):
I think I might have a river cast jersey. But
they don't really let you take much home in the
minor league, so you don't you know, get a ton
of gear and take home a couple of shirts, but no,
no jerseys.
Speaker 3 (08:40):
Really did you have a favorite in name or in
how the organization operated around the fund that you're supposed
to be having as a marketing department in the miners, I.
Speaker 2 (08:51):
Feel like the Giants did a pretty good job with
that through the minor leagues. Only spent you know, half
the year with the Jambo Shrimpson than a couple months
last year with Saint Paul, so obviously having five years
in Sacramento, I experienced it the most, but we usually
had a pretty good time out there.
Speaker 3 (09:09):
Okay, five years in Sacramento, did it ever come to
your mind that this is going to be a major
league baseball city like it is now?
Speaker 2 (09:18):
No? Then, didn't see that, didn't see that move coming.
Speaker 3 (09:22):
Well, trips to.
Speaker 2 (09:23):
Sacramento have been there yet this year. Yeah, they're in
your future. They've renovated it. But what wouldn't have been
a guest that that was going to be a big
league stadium one day?
Speaker 1 (09:32):
Well, pound for pound a Stephen Okirt Rivercats Jersey is uh.
I think that's my best bet for the best value
when it comes to a collector's item. Steven we appreciate
the time, good luck the rest of this road trip
and the rest of the season, and welcome to Houston.
Speaker 2 (09:48):
Thank you, I appreciate it.
It is the eight team Sports Talk seven to ninety.
Adam Wexler over there, Adam Clanton right here, as we
take you up until five thirty, and then Astros on
deck getting you ready for the second game of three
game set in Milwaukee against the Brewers. In that vein
Steven Okurt joining us on the phone line. Steven, appreciate
the time, and how is Milwaukee this time of year?
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Yeah, thanks for having me. It's yesterday. It was a
little chilly today. It's pretty nice weather. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
I saw Blumber post right now.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
So nice.
Speaker 1 (00:30):
No, I saw that Blummer had posted. It was fifty
degrees out there. So we forget sometime since the summer
is already underway down here south that there is seasons
in other parts of the country, right right, Well, it
hasn't been the best road trip so far, obviously. What's
I guess the mood of the team as you enter
in this second game of this three game set with
(00:51):
the Brewers.
Speaker 2 (00:53):
It's not too bad. I mean, you got to leave
every day behind and move on to the next, you know,
So you know we're out here ready to go and
you know, hopeing for some wins.
Speaker 3 (01:02):
You've obviously gotten off to a really nice start here.
You had a really nice spring training. Tell me about
what the kind of the road to get here, about
the injuries you'd needed to clearly, once you're past them,
this is the kind of pitcher you can be. What
were the last couple of seasons like on your way
to Houston.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
On, shoot, it's been a good journey. You know, wasn't
in baseball there for a year and then got a
chance with Miami and you know, things kind of went
my way, so I lucked out there, and then getting
traded last year was it was a little weird first
time getting traded, but happy to be here.
Speaker 3 (01:36):
I know that do you get to this team and
pitching coaches other people in the organization kind of walk
through some things they like about your stuff. We think
this plays well, the shape of this pitch is maybe
something we should use a little bit more often. And
how do those conversations go as the first couple of
months leading up to opening day.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
Happened for you, Yeah, we kind of had those conversations
in spring. You know, last year was was pretty tough
second half for me. So well, I'm sure you know
why why I wasn't doing very good and my stuff
wasn't playing. And then get here and and have some
like goals meetings and and they like, just like you said,
(02:15):
they talk about, you know, what's going well for me,
and and you know, a lot of a lot of
it came down to I was getting behind hitters a
lot last year. So biggest thing here was getting ahead
of hitters and telling me that when I get ahead,
my stuff plays pretty well and we're gonna you know,
mix in a little more fastball than I had the
last couple of years. And I feel like it's you know,
(02:37):
it's been good so far, So I'm happy with that.
Speaker 3 (02:40):
I love the analysis that's the simplest, most obvious, but
still needs to be executed and listened to and told.
And they're basically, if I can dumb it down for me,
are they essentially saying, hey, man, let's throw some strikes.
Speaker 2 (02:54):
Yeah, you know, and over the course of the season,
you don't you don't realize, Okay, I'm you know, one
two oh to all the hitters. You just remember the
hard hit balls and not getting very many outs. So
coming here, they're telling me that my stuff is good.
I just you know, got to get in pitchers counts
and less hitters counts. So it was, like you said,
(03:15):
a dumb down way of looking at it, but something
I needed to hear.
Speaker 1 (03:20):
We're talking to Steven Oker here on Sports Talks seven ninety.
You've been in several organizations now in your Major League
Baseball career, and I'm always curious to hear what new
guys to the Astros organization think about this organization, this team,
this clubhouse. There's been obviously some big changes just since
last season, but your impressions in your short time as
(03:42):
an Astro so far about how they do things down here.
Speaker 2 (03:46):
I've really enjoyed it. Coaching staff's great, everybody's you know,
it's full of good guys and very positive looks on
each guy. And I mean the team. It's a great
group of guys. As everyone gets along, everyone's pulling for
each other. I mean, I've been very happy here. It's
(04:06):
been a lot of fun so far, and you know,
obviously once we start winning more games, it's gonna be
a blast.
Speaker 3 (04:12):
We know, life out in the bullpen is probably pretty lively.
There's guys that do different things to keep everybody loose
and everybody into the game, and everybody's got their routine
I'm gonna guess in this bullpen. Tell me if I'm wrong,
it is it's really out there, considering there's not one,
not two, not three, but four lefties out there, including yourself.
Speaker 2 (04:33):
Yeah, you don't see that very often. We've joked around
that we have, you know, probably about ten percent of
the league left. He's in our bullet in because I
must carry one maybe two. But I mean, we got
a great group out there. Everybody's pretty chill, not too
much anxiety. It seems like out there everybody talks and
(04:54):
get along with help each other out. But it's been
fun out there so far.
Speaker 3 (04:59):
Are there any specif responsibilities for the younger guys or
newer guys, like coffee and when and who gets it
and how they like it?
Speaker 2 (05:08):
No, none of that. We got. We got a couple
little bags that we bring out, but uh you know
that they got to carry, but really not too much anymore.
You don't. You don't see the pink bull pin bags
like you used.
Speaker 3 (05:19):
To understood, uh what you were just saying a minute ago, Steven.
When we start winning more games, I think things will
you know, it'll be even more fun than it already,
is the assumption. I think from inside the clubhouse, just
like we have out here and the fans do as well.
The team that we see is capable of more. What
do you see when you when you look around your
clubhouse and see this is basically a five hundred team
to date?
Speaker 2 (05:39):
Yeah, I mean we looking at our lineup on paper,
it's it's a great lineup. You know, things are going
to start clicking, getting those timely hits. Guys, are you
going to continue to throw up zeros? And it's gonna
all come together and you know, hopefully we go on
a pretty good run here soon.
Speaker 1 (05:56):
Is there anybody that you gravitated towards in that clubhouse
when you got here? We talked about so much, you know,
this offseason we talked about, you know, during the process
of of Alex Bregman, you know, becoming a Boston Red Sox,
how much he was a part of like mound visits,
that kind of thing, and who is going to be
the leader in that clubhouse? You know, what's your take
on that as a as a new guy to that
(06:16):
clubhouse relatively speaking?
Speaker 2 (06:20):
So yeah, I mean, obviously I wasn't here with with Bregman,
but I feel like, you know, we've got a good
group of bets we got, you know, Walker new v
I mean, paying all these guys that you know, they
kind of take control. And I mean, obviously we have Jose,
so you don't get much more better than him, and
he's a great guy. But I feel like, you know,
(06:42):
there's not just one guy that stepped up and took
that over. It's kind of a team.
Speaker 3 (06:47):
Effort playing Major League Baseball with the Giants and the
Marlins and the Twins and some of the teammates who
have had there obviously for a brief period of time,
Carlos Korea among them. Did you know what to expect
from the kind of person, the everyday regular guy that
Jose Altuve was, and and what do you know, what
were your kind of expectations about knowing he was a leader?
(07:07):
But I just don't know him yet.
Speaker 2 (07:10):
Yeah, obviously, when you're on the other side and he's
beating you up, you're not a big fan of him,
you know, But getting here he's a great guy. Didn't
realize how nice of a guy he was and positive
and you know he'll talk to anybody. He's not too
good for anyone, and that's big for you know, having
your your veteran of the team.
Speaker 1 (07:31):
Any special plans for the old man on his birthday today?
Speaker 2 (07:36):
Not from me, I don't know. Maybe they got him
a birthday cake or something fun. Uh's crazy, you know,
he's well, he's a thirty five now. It seems like
he's been around for forty years. He's it's crazy, but
you know everyone's gonna tell him happy birthday. Maybe. I
know we've had a couple Mariozi mans come through, so
(07:57):
I don't know if that's something they'll do, but.
Speaker 3 (08:00):
I think you can pretty well guarantee he will be
smiling at the ballpark today less just like he has
been for every year of his career, uh, minor league
or at the major league level. And I swing it
that way before we let you go. I'm curious if
there's you know, any place in the OA Kirk closet
with your path through Augusta and Richmond and Sacramento and Jacksonville.
Do you have old volcanoes gear, flying squirrels gear, jumbo
(08:25):
shrimp gear somewhere in the house.
Speaker 2 (08:30):
I think I might have a river cast jersey. But
they don't really let you take much home in the
minor league, so you don't you know, get a ton
of gear and take home a couple of shirts, but no,
no jerseys.
Speaker 3 (08:40):
Really did you have a favorite in name or in
how the organization operated around the fund that you're supposed
to be having as a marketing department in the miners, I.
Speaker 2 (08:51):
Feel like the Giants did a pretty good job with
that through the minor leagues. Only spent you know, half
the year with the Jambo Shrimpson than a couple months
last year with Saint Paul, so obviously having five years
in Sacramento, I experienced it the most, but we usually
had a pretty good time out there.
Speaker 3 (09:09):
Okay, five years in Sacramento, did it ever come to
your mind that this is going to be a major
league baseball city like it is now?
Speaker 2 (09:18):
No? Then, didn't see that, didn't see that move coming.
Speaker 3 (09:22):
Well, trips to.
Speaker 2 (09:23):
Sacramento have been there yet this year. Yeah, they're in
your future. They've renovated it. But what wouldn't have been
a guest that that was going to be a big
league stadium one day?
Speaker 1 (09:32):
Well, pound for pound a Stephen Okirt Rivercats Jersey is uh.
I think that's my best bet for the best value
when it comes to a collector's item. Steven we appreciate
the time, good luck the rest of this road trip
and the rest of the season, and welcome to Houston.
Speaker 2 (09:48):
Thank you, I appreciate it.
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