April 1, 2026 • 3 mins
The A-Team’s Adam Wexler shares his thoughts on the Astros’ impressive first week of the season. With a 5–2 start, things are trending in the right direction for Houston. The offense, in particular, looks legitimate, as improved patience at the plate has translated into increased production. Be sure to check out the audio for Wexler’s full breakdown of what’s been working for the Astros through their first stretch of games.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
It's one good week. It's also the only week. It's
(00:03):
all we have, and hopefully there's more of it to come.
Dana Brown, the Astros general manager, is a weekly visitor
here on Sports Talk seven ninety. He does so on
the Morning Drive each and every Wednesday morning. He did
that earlier today, so mentioned a couple of things from
him that I wanted to share with you this afternoon
specific to the offense. First, since that's what we're talking about.
Another six run day for Houston. Got on the board
(00:26):
early against Garrett Crochet, took the lead in the fifth inning,
extended the lead on the Vasquez homer, and giving up
two solo home runs, one in the eighth and one
in the ninth, did not impact the outcome of the game,
just merely the eras for both Tang and a braw
those two pitchers who gave up those homers, A bray
you will, You're a bra you the first of the
two homers off the Astros relievers. And then Anthony who
(00:48):
had nothing going in this series against the Astros, he
actually snapped an zero for fourteen skid and Hunter Brown
absolutely carved him up in yesterday's victory, but he had
a pinch hit home run off of Brian Abrew and
then a braw closed out the game with three consecutive strikeouts,
all of them swinging, and the Astros got the six
(01:08):
to four victory. So Dana Brown's thoughts on maybe some
reasoning behind why the offense is cooking here early in
the season. A lot.
Speaker 2 (01:17):
We're disciplined at bats. You know, we're making the pitchers work.
You know, we're walking when the guys.
Speaker 3 (01:23):
Don't plow strikes instead of chasing. And so this is
leading to.
Speaker 2 (01:28):
Having guys on base and you know, guys getting their
pitch driving the runners in guys seem to be locked
in right down.
Speaker 3 (01:35):
And you know, the hitters are in a good space
right now. I hope they continue, you know, to have
good at bats. It's called quality at bats, and they're
doing a good job at it.
Speaker 1 (01:43):
And the Astros have played one more game than many teams.
The Angels are another team that's played seven. By the
time the Yankees and Mariners wrap up this afternoon, and
it's gotten a little cozy, even though the Mariners have
yet to score. A big dumper is stepp into the plate.
His team's down four, and if it's one of the fence,
it will be tied. They'll wrap up their activities and
(02:04):
get through their respective seventh games of the season. But
the Astros are at the top of near the top,
if not for their own pitching staff walking the Angels
left and right. They're second in the majors in walks
again through seven games, so their walks per game still
has them at the top of the American League. And
on the other side, walking back to the dugout with
(02:26):
shame holding onto your bat because you just struck out.
They're right in the middle of the pack right now,
and I suspect that's going to continue. Both of those things.
If they continue in those directions where they're probably top
ten and fewest strikeouts from their offense and top ten
in most walks from their offense, they're going to be
in a very very very good place offensively this season.
(02:49):
Obviously health needs to go along with it. They have
managed their way through the first seven games, needing Jeremy
Penny in the lineup just three times, and we do
think that's going to change over this road trip. Joe
Spotted is expecting back to back games in the lineup
for Jeremy Pania
It's one good week. It's also the only week. It's
(00:03):
all we have, and hopefully there's more of it to come.
Dana Brown, the Astros general manager, is a weekly visitor
here on Sports Talk seven ninety. He does so on
the Morning Drive each and every Wednesday morning. He did
that earlier today, so mentioned a couple of things from
him that I wanted to share with you this afternoon
specific to the offense. First, since that's what we're talking about.
Another six run day for Houston. Got on the board
(00:26):
early against Garrett Crochet, took the lead in the fifth inning,
extended the lead on the Vasquez homer, and giving up
two solo home runs, one in the eighth and one
in the ninth, did not impact the outcome of the game,
just merely the eras for both Tang and a braw
those two pitchers who gave up those homers, A bray
you will, You're a bra you the first of the
two homers off the Astros relievers. And then Anthony who
(00:48):
had nothing going in this series against the Astros, he
actually snapped an zero for fourteen skid and Hunter Brown
absolutely carved him up in yesterday's victory, but he had
a pinch hit home run off of Brian Abrew and
then a braw closed out the game with three consecutive strikeouts,
all of them swinging, and the Astros got the six
(01:08):
to four victory. So Dana Brown's thoughts on maybe some
reasoning behind why the offense is cooking here early in
the season. A lot.
Speaker 2 (01:17):
We're disciplined at bats. You know, we're making the pitchers work.
You know, we're walking when the guys.
Speaker 3 (01:23):
Don't plow strikes instead of chasing. And so this is
leading to.
Speaker 2 (01:28):
Having guys on base and you know, guys getting their
pitch driving the runners in guys seem to be locked
in right down.
Speaker 3 (01:35):
And you know, the hitters are in a good space
right now. I hope they continue, you know, to have
good at bats. It's called quality at bats, and they're
doing a good job at it.
Speaker 1 (01:43):
And the Astros have played one more game than many teams.
The Angels are another team that's played seven. By the
time the Yankees and Mariners wrap up this afternoon, and
it's gotten a little cozy, even though the Mariners have
yet to score. A big dumper is stepp into the plate.
His team's down four, and if it's one of the fence,
it will be tied. They'll wrap up their activities and
(02:04):
get through their respective seventh games of the season. But
the Astros are at the top of near the top,
if not for their own pitching staff walking the Angels
left and right. They're second in the majors in walks
again through seven games, so their walks per game still
has them at the top of the American League. And
on the other side, walking back to the dugout with
(02:26):
shame holding onto your bat because you just struck out.
They're right in the middle of the pack right now,
and I suspect that's going to continue. Both of those things.
If they continue in those directions where they're probably top
ten and fewest strikeouts from their offense and top ten
in most walks from their offense, they're going to be
in a very very very good place offensively this season.
(02:49):
Obviously health needs to go along with it. They have
managed their way through the first seven games, needing Jeremy
Penny in the lineup just three times, and we do
think that's going to change over this road trip. Joe
Spotted is expecting back to back games in the lineup
for Jeremy Pania
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