April 29, 2024 • 12 mins
Over the weekend set in Mexico City, the Astros took on the Colorado Rockies in a two game series for the MLB World Tour, both in which they emerged victorious in. Steve Sparks joins in discussion of the Astros weekend along with a few player updates, and what to look for against Cleveland next.
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Episode Transcript
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(00:01):
This Sean Salisbury Show continues on SportsTalk set at ninety nine home for your
home teams that time of the weekevery Monday at eight thirty in the morning,
we welcome in Ashros broadcaster Steve Sparksof the show. We sure do,
(00:22):
and this is no different. Freshoff trip, a road trip in
Mexico City got him back here threewith Cleveland that's up next and he joins
us. Now, Steve, welcomein. My man. Hey, I'm
not a big game to game momentumguy, but i am an in game
momentum guy. But I'm big onconfidence. What can we learn ballpark?
And I know there's great enthusiasm inMexico City. What can we learn from
(00:45):
a team because of the you know, obviously the altitude and the way the
ball was flying. Tell me whatwe should take away from those two games
there, Well, you got fromberback that's that's a huge one, you
know, and he gives you fiveinnings and keep his pitch count low enough
to where he can get you fiveand they can hand it over the way
they drew it up. So Ithink that's what you get out of there.
(01:07):
You get the extra base hits impactingthe baseball more so than they did
the first part of the road trip. It was kind of brutal. You
know, they just hit some singles, they weren't hitting with runners in scoring
position, and it was man,it was a morgue. Before the Astros
went to Mexico, that was tough. Wrigley, Washington, d C.
(01:27):
Both of those places just didn't turnout the way you'd hoped. Some of
the games just fell by the waysidetoward the end. So to salvage those
last two and to play the waythey did, I'm not so sure about
the big momento stuff, but you'relooking for positives right now, and the
team still hasn't won three in arow yet, so I think you know,
(01:49):
they win three out of four,four out of five, you know,
and started doing some things. Evenwith this tough schedule coming up.
You know, the other team shouldbe looking the other way to this.
This is a talented Astros group andgoing forward, I expect them to play
it a good clip. Agreed,Steve. You know, back to this
Mexico City thing is you still haveto put the bat on the ball to
(02:10):
get it out of the ballpark.So you know, driving runners in scoring
position and you also as a pitchingstaff with that, you know, the
altitude, have to keep the ballin the ballpark. So there was a
couple positives there. I mean,you get you know, Trey Caprich coming
hitting the ball the other way inthe gap and driving in a run.
You saw the ball jumped off Bregmant'sbat I think in a buck eight in
(02:30):
one of his bats. I mean, there were some things that you can
kind of take carry over. Butlike you said, Cleveland's we're not playing
in Mexico City, and you gotto almost prove to yourself that what you
saw in Mexico City was real foryou correct, you're exactly right. But
you know you're starting to see somesigns even just mechanically with Bregman that it's
(02:51):
getting closer. It's getting closer whereyou know there's base hits to right field,
you know, and you don't haveto you know, as long as
you keep that front shoulder close asa pitcher and a hitter, you know,
good things will usually happen. Souh more short and more compact.
And it looks like your third baseand looks like he's going to be coming
out of this thing pretty soon,like he like he basically does every So
(03:16):
you know, there's just a lotof good things, you know, just
just just driving the baseball again.And uh, I think the energy,
you know, and Joe, Joetalked about it a lot. Just the
energy there, I think gave theteam a little bit of a boost.
Maybe it's just the right time becauseit was really low going in there.
Steve, did you like to changein the batting order on the road trip?
(03:38):
I like change when when you're notgoing well. I like change no
matter what. And I've told you, I've told you this. I don't
think they can mess up the firstfour in the lineup, no matter where
they are, as long as youdon't stick a fast guy in there just
because he's fast. That's that's mythought process on that. And you get
(03:59):
your fours you know, up there, and whatever order you want, I'm
playing with. Steve continued with theU. Well, first time he hit
Brian a bray you we we sawand the back end of the bullpen started.
It felt like they started to looka little better. Bray you was
ramping it up, and I meanthe back end look better. That's the
one you and I have talked about. There was never going in that was
(04:19):
a strength. We fully expect thatto turn around and be a strength.
Would you see mechanically from a brayyou and that back into the bullpen this
last couple of games. You knowwhat, Sean, it wasn't even mechanically.
I thought it was more, youknow, just as bonding language right
present. For whatever reason, Ithink his first dozen games, I looked
(04:41):
this up before the Mexico tripp andhe pitched both games there. So the
first batter he faced was four forten with two walks. They so they
were on May six out of twelvetimes his first dozen games he got into
it. And that's just I mean, he had so many clean games last
year, whereas one, two,three, and he punches out of apple
and we just didn't see that.And what I saw in Mexico was somebody
(05:03):
that came out with his hair onfire. He wasn't tiptoeing and coming into
the game timid with that first batteror two and trying to work out of
trouble. So, uh, that'sthe Brian Brady that we've come to enjoy
watch in the last couple of years. So somebody more aggressive right when they
come to the ballgame announcing his presenceright away was a welcome side big time.
(05:27):
I mean that that kind of senta message to everybody. Steve Sparks
joins us for his weekly visit herefor a few more minutes on Sports Talk
seven ninety. Always grateful for Mondayat eight thirty Steve to start, since
he's come back from injury and haslooked pretty solid in both it's just a
it's just a world of difference.When he's part of the rotation. Verlander
kind of looks like, well,justin Verlander, and that's a good thing.
(05:49):
Yeah, you know, his curball looks fantastic. I thought it
was almost gonna be a momentum swingin Chicago when the team was playing poorly.
Third game there and he gets basesloaded, nobody out in the first
inning. You know, we talkedabout it a lot of times, especially
in the playoffs. Sean Is,you know, the Astros will make it
great because of play and that carriesover into the dugout and their offensive clothes
(06:13):
for three or four runs. Sodefense, big plays like your guy going
out there and keeping the Cubs offthe board in the first inning even though
they got the bases loaded, nobodyout and he punches out a couple of
dudes. You know, that's astatement and that kind of fires me up.
So it didn't work out that wayin that particular game, and it
just goes to show you what he'scapable of, still being able to go
(06:35):
out there and ramp it up whenhe needs you. I love. And
he's been doing this since he wasyoung, you know. And it's just
a cool thing. Is you know, you can coast along at ninety three
to ninety four miles per hour injuice it up a couple of miles pro
when you need it and go forthat strikeout and he still has that.
Steve sparks for a couple more minuteshere on Sports Talk seven ninety Steve the
(06:58):
low Braffito been called up. He'smashing the ball, I think thirteen home
runs now, striking out at abouta third of the time he comes up.
But you give us an idea,and it's going to be a little
different. It's major league pitching.But what we should expect from him,
and how concerned are you about thestrikeouts? The confidence? Give us a
little like a sketch of what weshould expect from Joey low Perfito at this
(07:20):
level, well, I would expecthe's going to play a lot of first
base. You know. He makeshim very athletic at that position, and
he just drives the baseball thirteen homersalready, but just the gap to gap
stuff and the speed and all thatstuff, but at really a lot of
times not that athletic of a position. So I think it's cool, you
know, and you get another lefthanded bat in the lineup. But I
(07:43):
think he was very popular. Ithink the guys in the clubhouse during spring
training really really like the way hewent about his business. A lot of
people just said just the way hewent around. He worked, he asked
questions, but he listened more thananything else. And I think he fit
right in because of that. Guy'srespected him and he played hard. And
(08:05):
one thing that I've noticed about thisteam in the last five or six years,
Sean, is if these guys geta sense that somebody can help them
win baseball games, and they welcomethese guys, they don't push them off
on the side and let them figurethings out on their own. They're going
to make things as comfortable as theycan for him and see what he can
do to help them get over thehome, Steve to the manager. I've
(08:26):
asked Dana Brown this and I'm curious, and you've mentioned how the players respond
and that, you know, withJoe a spot who's been in baseball a
long time, all those things thatwere positive when he got hired in coming
into this, and I've asked Danaabout learning curve? What is it for
Joe Spott? How long do youexpect a rookie manager who's been here a
(08:46):
while as a bench coach and therest of it running spring trainings, but
those game situations are different, Steve, how long do you expect before it's
like, okay, the learning curvesover and it's right, is it now?
When is it? What should welook for? You know, let's
think about, you know, theway the team's gotten off, you know,
and what you would expect a youngermanager to do, and the things
(09:09):
that he has done I applaud.You know, like he's moved guys up
and down the lineup who are hotand guys that are cold that moved them
down in the order. You know, there's contract situations, there's option situations,
running a bullpen, and I lookthe way that he's handled the bullpen.
You know that It's not that easy, especially for a young guy.
(09:31):
I've seen veteran managers that I thoughtthere were terrible at it. But I
think Joe's doing a fantastic job.The moves he's made. You you just
asked me Bregman back to the twohole. Why not put them back in
a situation where you know, Jordon'sbatt and third and he can watch Bregman's
at bast and take his time beforehe gets in the box. Things like
that I think mattered. You know, he's not just sitting back and just
(09:56):
saying these guys have done it andwe're not paying it. No, he's
making moves and he's moving guys aroundand figuring out what's my best line up
to to get to this starting pitcherand we'll go from there. But the
pitch hit moves, he's pushed theright buttons when he's needed to. You're
not always going to be right onthat stuff, and he's done. I
(10:16):
think he's done an admirable job.I know the guys liking uh. They're
playing hard and they're preparing hard,you know, and I don't think there's
anything else that you can do.They respect him. He's a nice guy.
And uh, I think he's asmart baseball man. I think he's
the right guy for the job.Love it, Steve. How cold was
it in Chicago West Side? Igot to see, you know on the
(10:37):
TV. They showed picture of youup there. I'm just curious how cold
was man? It was cold.But the second day the cold the coldest
day. I'm not gonna lie.We closed the window, close the window,
and it snuck a little crowd micto one of the cracks in that
thing to just to get a littlebit annoyed. But uh, those guys
on the TV side, they worebecause the cameras have to have that open
(11:00):
space there. So we were kindof laughing. I saw I saw blooming
the highway in the hallway. Atone point in the middle of the game.
I asked you if you needed myjacket because I was hot. Oh
they were. They were saying,look at Sparks, man over there,
got the winner. They were havinga blast with it, and I'm thinking,
well, that's that's called high IQ, Steve Sparks knowing close that damn
(11:20):
wind. Now, brother, I'mnot gonna suffer, man. I'm not
playing anymore, you know, AndI don't have to tough it out.
Even the players. Man, they'vegot heaters in their dugout. You feel
sorry for players, man, they'rehot, yes, most of the time
of the dug out. Screw that. When I get to the bench or
sitting on it, I'm going tobe my ass is warm. I'm not
telling you listen, tough guys stuffyou know. No thanks, I'll save
that for somebody else who wants torun. And I'm wearing sleeves when it's
(11:43):
cold and not going bare armed.Okay, I got to put ego aside.
Great stuff, man. Uh,let's hope this is a successful six
games and then six more on theroad. The next four series are pretty
tough. But it's good to beback home with a little confidence. And
we always love having you on.And thanks for all the good insight,
brother, We appreciate it all right. Thanks. I think they're turning the
corner. Let's let's go get it. Yep, there you go, hope,
(12:05):
So and uh some good signs atleast, and that's a good sign.
But Steve also tempered in it,knowing now you've got to roll off
three in a row. And that'swhere it starts. Sports Talk seven to
nine had come back in discussion
This Sean Salisbury Show continues on SportsTalk set at ninety nine home for your
home teams that time of the weekevery Monday at eight thirty in the morning,
we welcome in Ashros broadcaster Steve Sparksof the show. We sure do,
(00:22):
and this is no different. Freshoff trip, a road trip in
Mexico City got him back here threewith Cleveland that's up next and he joins
us. Now, Steve, welcomein. My man. Hey, I'm
not a big game to game momentumguy, but i am an in game
momentum guy. But I'm big onconfidence. What can we learn ballpark?
And I know there's great enthusiasm inMexico City. What can we learn from
(00:45):
a team because of the you know, obviously the altitude and the way the
ball was flying. Tell me whatwe should take away from those two games
there, Well, you got fromberback that's that's a huge one, you
know, and he gives you fiveinnings and keep his pitch count low enough
to where he can get you fiveand they can hand it over the way
they drew it up. So Ithink that's what you get out of there.
(01:07):
You get the extra base hits impactingthe baseball more so than they did
the first part of the road trip. It was kind of brutal. You
know, they just hit some singles, they weren't hitting with runners in scoring
position, and it was man,it was a morgue. Before the Astros
went to Mexico, that was tough. Wrigley, Washington, d C.
(01:27):
Both of those places just didn't turnout the way you'd hoped. Some of
the games just fell by the waysidetoward the end. So to salvage those
last two and to play the waythey did, I'm not so sure about
the big momento stuff, but you'relooking for positives right now, and the
team still hasn't won three in arow yet, so I think you know,
(01:49):
they win three out of four,four out of five, you know,
and started doing some things. Evenwith this tough schedule coming up.
You know, the other team shouldbe looking the other way to this.
This is a talented Astros group andgoing forward, I expect them to play
it a good clip. Agreed,Steve. You know, back to this
Mexico City thing is you still haveto put the bat on the ball to
(02:10):
get it out of the ballpark.So you know, driving runners in scoring
position and you also as a pitchingstaff with that, you know, the
altitude, have to keep the ballin the ballpark. So there was a
couple positives there. I mean,you get you know, Trey Caprich coming
hitting the ball the other way inthe gap and driving in a run.
You saw the ball jumped off Bregmant'sbat I think in a buck eight in
(02:30):
one of his bats. I mean, there were some things that you can
kind of take carry over. Butlike you said, Cleveland's we're not playing
in Mexico City, and you gotto almost prove to yourself that what you
saw in Mexico City was real foryou correct, you're exactly right. But
you know you're starting to see somesigns even just mechanically with Bregman that it's
(02:51):
getting closer. It's getting closer whereyou know there's base hits to right field,
you know, and you don't haveto you know, as long as
you keep that front shoulder close asa pitcher and a hitter, you know,
good things will usually happen. Souh more short and more compact.
And it looks like your third baseand looks like he's going to be coming
out of this thing pretty soon,like he like he basically does every So
(03:16):
you know, there's just a lotof good things, you know, just
just just driving the baseball again.And uh, I think the energy,
you know, and Joe, Joetalked about it a lot. Just the
energy there, I think gave theteam a little bit of a boost.
Maybe it's just the right time becauseit was really low going in there.
Steve, did you like to changein the batting order on the road trip?
(03:38):
I like change when when you're notgoing well. I like change no
matter what. And I've told you, I've told you this. I don't
think they can mess up the firstfour in the lineup, no matter where
they are, as long as youdon't stick a fast guy in there just
because he's fast. That's that's mythought process on that. And you get
(03:59):
your fours you know, up there, and whatever order you want, I'm
playing with. Steve continued with theU. Well, first time he hit
Brian a bray you we we sawand the back end of the bullpen started.
It felt like they started to looka little better. Bray you was
ramping it up, and I meanthe back end look better. That's the
one you and I have talked about. There was never going in that was
(04:19):
a strength. We fully expect thatto turn around and be a strength.
Would you see mechanically from a brayyou and that back into the bullpen this
last couple of games. You knowwhat, Sean, it wasn't even mechanically.
I thought it was more, youknow, just as bonding language right
present. For whatever reason, Ithink his first dozen games, I looked
(04:41):
this up before the Mexico tripp andhe pitched both games there. So the
first batter he faced was four forten with two walks. They so they
were on May six out of twelvetimes his first dozen games he got into
it. And that's just I mean, he had so many clean games last
year, whereas one, two,three, and he punches out of apple
and we just didn't see that.And what I saw in Mexico was somebody
(05:03):
that came out with his hair onfire. He wasn't tiptoeing and coming into
the game timid with that first batteror two and trying to work out of
trouble. So, uh, that'sthe Brian Brady that we've come to enjoy
watch in the last couple of years. So somebody more aggressive right when they
come to the ballgame announcing his presenceright away was a welcome side big time.
(05:27):
I mean that that kind of senta message to everybody. Steve Sparks
joins us for his weekly visit herefor a few more minutes on Sports Talk
seven ninety. Always grateful for Mondayat eight thirty Steve to start, since
he's come back from injury and haslooked pretty solid in both it's just a
it's just a world of difference.When he's part of the rotation. Verlander
kind of looks like, well,justin Verlander, and that's a good thing.
(05:49):
Yeah, you know, his curball looks fantastic. I thought it
was almost gonna be a momentum swingin Chicago when the team was playing poorly.
Third game there and he gets basesloaded, nobody out in the first
inning. You know, we talkedabout it a lot of times, especially
in the playoffs. Sean Is,you know, the Astros will make it
great because of play and that carriesover into the dugout and their offensive clothes
(06:13):
for three or four runs. Sodefense, big plays like your guy going
out there and keeping the Cubs offthe board in the first inning even though
they got the bases loaded, nobodyout and he punches out a couple of
dudes. You know, that's astatement and that kind of fires me up.
So it didn't work out that wayin that particular game, and it
just goes to show you what he'scapable of, still being able to go
(06:35):
out there and ramp it up whenhe needs you. I love. And
he's been doing this since he wasyoung, you know. And it's just
a cool thing. Is you know, you can coast along at ninety three
to ninety four miles per hour injuice it up a couple of miles pro
when you need it and go forthat strikeout and he still has that.
Steve sparks for a couple more minuteshere on Sports Talk seven ninety Steve the
(06:58):
low Braffito been called up. He'smashing the ball, I think thirteen home
runs now, striking out at abouta third of the time he comes up.
But you give us an idea,and it's going to be a little
different. It's major league pitching.But what we should expect from him,
and how concerned are you about thestrikeouts? The confidence? Give us a
little like a sketch of what weshould expect from Joey low Perfito at this
(07:20):
level, well, I would expecthe's going to play a lot of first
base. You know. He makeshim very athletic at that position, and
he just drives the baseball thirteen homersalready, but just the gap to gap
stuff and the speed and all thatstuff, but at really a lot of
times not that athletic of a position. So I think it's cool, you
know, and you get another lefthanded bat in the lineup. But I
(07:43):
think he was very popular. Ithink the guys in the clubhouse during spring
training really really like the way hewent about his business. A lot of
people just said just the way hewent around. He worked, he asked
questions, but he listened more thananything else. And I think he fit
right in because of that. Guy'srespected him and he played hard. And
(08:05):
one thing that I've noticed about thisteam in the last five or six years,
Sean, is if these guys geta sense that somebody can help them
win baseball games, and they welcomethese guys, they don't push them off
on the side and let them figurethings out on their own. They're going
to make things as comfortable as theycan for him and see what he can
do to help them get over thehome, Steve to the manager. I've
(08:26):
asked Dana Brown this and I'm curious, and you've mentioned how the players respond
and that, you know, withJoe a spot who's been in baseball a
long time, all those things thatwere positive when he got hired in coming
into this, and I've asked Danaabout learning curve? What is it for
Joe Spott? How long do youexpect a rookie manager who's been here a
(08:46):
while as a bench coach and therest of it running spring trainings, but
those game situations are different, Steve, how long do you expect before it's
like, okay, the learning curvesover and it's right, is it now?
When is it? What should welook for? You know, let's
think about, you know, theway the team's gotten off, you know,
and what you would expect a youngermanager to do, and the things
(09:09):
that he has done I applaud.You know, like he's moved guys up
and down the lineup who are hotand guys that are cold that moved them
down in the order. You know, there's contract situations, there's option situations,
running a bullpen, and I lookthe way that he's handled the bullpen.
You know that It's not that easy, especially for a young guy.
(09:31):
I've seen veteran managers that I thoughtthere were terrible at it. But I
think Joe's doing a fantastic job.The moves he's made. You you just
asked me Bregman back to the twohole. Why not put them back in
a situation where you know, Jordon'sbatt and third and he can watch Bregman's
at bast and take his time beforehe gets in the box. Things like
that I think mattered. You know, he's not just sitting back and just
(09:56):
saying these guys have done it andwe're not paying it. No, he's
making moves and he's moving guys aroundand figuring out what's my best line up
to to get to this starting pitcherand we'll go from there. But the
pitch hit moves, he's pushed theright buttons when he's needed to. You're
not always going to be right onthat stuff, and he's done. I
(10:16):
think he's done an admirable job.I know the guys liking uh. They're
playing hard and they're preparing hard,you know, and I don't think there's
anything else that you can do.They respect him. He's a nice guy.
And uh, I think he's asmart baseball man. I think he's
the right guy for the job.Love it, Steve. How cold was
it in Chicago West Side? Igot to see, you know on the
(10:37):
TV. They showed picture of youup there. I'm just curious how cold
was man? It was cold.But the second day the cold the coldest
day. I'm not gonna lie.We closed the window, close the window,
and it snuck a little crowd micto one of the cracks in that
thing to just to get a littlebit annoyed. But uh, those guys
on the TV side, they worebecause the cameras have to have that open
(11:00):
space there. So we were kindof laughing. I saw I saw blooming
the highway in the hallway. Atone point in the middle of the game.
I asked you if you needed myjacket because I was hot. Oh
they were. They were saying,look at Sparks, man over there,
got the winner. They were havinga blast with it, and I'm thinking,
well, that's that's called high IQ, Steve Sparks knowing close that damn
(11:20):
wind. Now, brother, I'mnot gonna suffer, man. I'm not
playing anymore, you know, AndI don't have to tough it out.
Even the players. Man, they'vegot heaters in their dugout. You feel
sorry for players, man, they'rehot, yes, most of the time
of the dug out. Screw that. When I get to the bench or
sitting on it, I'm going tobe my ass is warm. I'm not
telling you listen, tough guys stuffyou know. No thanks, I'll save
that for somebody else who wants torun. And I'm wearing sleeves when it's
(11:43):
cold and not going bare armed.Okay, I got to put ego aside.
Great stuff, man. Uh,let's hope this is a successful six
games and then six more on theroad. The next four series are pretty
tough. But it's good to beback home with a little confidence. And
we always love having you on.And thanks for all the good insight,
brother, We appreciate it all right. Thanks. I think they're turning the
corner. Let's let's go get it. Yep, there you go, hope,
(12:05):
So and uh some good signs atleast, and that's a good sign.
But Steve also tempered in it,knowing now you've got to roll off
three in a row. And that'swhere it starts. Sports Talk seven to
nine had come back in discussion
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