March 4, 2025 • 10 mins
Taking on the Miami Marlins yesterday afternoon, the Houston Astros continue to showcase a bit of their talent and prospects picked up from the offseason as spring training continues to roll on. With another glorious day for himself following a phenomenal performance Sunday against the Nationals, Cam Smith completes yesterdays afternoon with one hit followed by three RBI's in the Astros victory over the Marlins. Noting Cam's production thus far over the past couple of spring games, lots of chatter has begun in regards to rather or not Cam should be added to the 40-man roster. Sean and Brian take a moment discussing and reviewing all the prospects that the Astros have and are showcasing during these spring games and with Cam standing out production wise in the lineup the guys pose the question to listeners, should Cam Smith be on the Opening Day 40-man roster?
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Kbm E Houston, a TV HD two Houston, The Astros,
the Rockets, Rockets Basketball.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Your home for your home teams.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
This is Sports Talk seven ninety make Houston Sports Done,
number one precpt on your car radio and the new
it improved iHeartRadio app free never sounded so good.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Saulisbury Salsbury, Houston. Okay, let's do this.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
Sean Salisbury to usc Troupes.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
Longtime friend, Shawn Salisbury, Ryan Lima, go Lobos.
Speaker 1 (00:39):
This is the Sean Salisbury show.
Speaker 3 (00:45):
Rockets fell to the Oklahoma City Thunder. They play the
Pacers tonight, six o'clock tip off, five o'clock launch. Better
right here on seven ninety your home for Rockets basketball.
Houston beats Kansas in Big twelve Conference play. Talking about
these Astros seven to one, three two, one ninety is
the number to join.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
What's up, bandy, hey?
Speaker 4 (01:06):
Before we get to the ass. Here's we're talking about
Bob Gibson. The other day.
Speaker 1 (01:11):
There's a quote I.
Speaker 4 (01:11):
Found for him. He said, I hated all the All
Star games. I hated having to talk to guys that
I spent the rest of the season trying to kick
their ass.
Speaker 2 (01:21):
They were the enemy to me.
Speaker 4 (01:24):
And then I've found another quote about hate ahead and
telling uh, some rookies in the age is how to
approach Bob Gibson.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
He said, don't look at him, don't.
Speaker 4 (01:35):
Look at him, don't dig in, do none of that,
because they'll knock you down. I missed those days. Oh yeah,
And you know, Sehn thinking about that attitude and then
thinking about the attitude that Bruce Matthews shared about every practice,
every preseason, regular game he played as if if he
(02:01):
didn't play well, he could lose his job. I missed
that in professional sports, that kind of attitude, and not
many people have that kind of attitude.
Speaker 5 (02:10):
They make more than the cod They all make more
than the coach that cut they can cut them.
Speaker 2 (02:14):
That's why. Yeah.
Speaker 5 (02:15):
Yeah, the player empowerments at an all time high. Everybody
else goes, the player goes last.
Speaker 2 (02:20):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (02:21):
Yeah, the golden days of professional sports are long ago,
real quick. If the astro had to start today, yeah,
this is my lineup two Ayon left Cam Smith and
right field out res d H Walker, first base, DS
(02:44):
Catching Paradas, third base, Penius shortstop Dubon centerfield.
Speaker 5 (02:55):
I like that. I mean, you know what, you don't
have to tell me that one twice. I'm all in
without two Vay Dubon and Cam Smith. I got no
issue there. And then Jake Myers and Chas mccormacker are
your fill ins. Yeah, now unless Chads McCormick can prove
that he's going to get back to hitting the ball
to right center field and pushing the ball the other
way and regained two years ago.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
I put it this way.
Speaker 5 (03:19):
I say this this way, I always say, and you'll
let you also finish, Andy, whether it's football or anything.
When people talk to me about quarterback or a receivers,
he ready to plays a rookie, soa well, let me
ask you this also, I'll stick to quarterback. Is the quarterback? Hey,
turn your put your mute on for a second. There, Andy,
you got, we can hear all that noise.
Speaker 2 (03:36):
Thank you. There you go, Just mute until it's time
for you to talk. There you go.
Speaker 5 (03:41):
Is that when they say, well, why would you play
the rookie? And if I said, well, is the veteran
playing like a rookie? Play the rookie. If the rookie's
doing the same thing, making the same mistakes and also
doing the same thing that veterans do, guess what guess
what play the rookie play the same thing here? If
(04:03):
let's just say cam Smith beats him out? Yeah, yes,
who you play? You play cam Smith?
Speaker 2 (04:09):
Right?
Speaker 5 (04:09):
That's Spring Tainting's not just there for everybody's uh fun
and games. Spring trains there to get better and compete.
Didn't we hear that they were going to compete? People
were gonna give guys a chance. Some guys are just
built different. I know the routine is go single A,
double A, triple A and let's go play.
Speaker 2 (04:23):
Right. Sometimes that double A guy is just better?
Speaker 5 (04:28):
Is this better? He's just different? And if you're built different,
let me build you on the major league roster. And
I don't know it is early, but the point is
if you're just talking about on paper the thought process
for optics, Andy, and I know Andy, well, we appreciate
your insight too, brother. I love that lineup. Uh, that
lineup's better than the one you that they're proposed going with.
I don't have a problem with the hitting order. Cam
Smith in the two hole, that kind of pop you
(04:50):
can actually you could probably flip cam Smith and Jordan
as well, and Christian Walker sitting in the four hole
gives me I'm good there, yeah, and on yer, and
so I'm with I think Andy's lineup is pretty We're
not going to get that lineup, yeah, but that's that's listen.
I'd rather grow and learn with somebody who's gonna I
(05:11):
think some days got superstar written all over him, then
hoping that it works out the other way. Now. And
you know what, we both like Chazz, give me Chaz
from two years ago, and I got a solid player
in the outfield, and we've said that, but I think
Cam Smith's gonna make it miserable to keep him.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
Out of the lineup, so we off the big league
club for that matter.
Speaker 3 (05:29):
We always talk about how we judge players and what
we judged not judge, judged them on. Well, Cam Smith,
this is so far what we can judge him on.
He's hitting five seventy one a triple, two home runs,
six RBIs, four walks, one strikeout. He's had seven at bats,
he's got an on base percentage of seven hundred and
(05:51):
an OPS of two thousand and four to fourteen. Twenty
four to fourteen is his OPS. Again, it's just spring training.
Judge base exactly all we're judging on and so far
in these what seven or eight at bats. He has
looked really good. So if he's got seven at bats,
he's got four walks, so that's eleven plate appearances, maybe
(06:14):
twelve plate appearances.
Speaker 2 (06:15):
He's only struck out once, and he showed the power.
Speaker 3 (06:19):
He missed a Grand Slam yesterday by like literally a foot,
and he cleared the bases.
Speaker 2 (06:24):
Why are we afraid to let him play through this? Why?
Speaker 3 (06:28):
I know that you and I would play. I would.
I would, man, it'd be I need a wow factor movement,
it would. It would be really hard for me to
keep him off the opening day roster. I know he's
not going to be because that whole clock thing. They
don't want to start the service.
Speaker 2 (06:41):
Time all that.
Speaker 5 (06:42):
Right, that's that's a problem. That is a problem, and
quite frankly, it's unfair to the player.
Speaker 2 (06:46):
I think.
Speaker 3 (06:46):
I agree it's gonna be really hard for him to
make this opening day roster, but I don't think he'll
be far off. Dude, he and they say he's gonna
start in double A. He's already been assigned to double A.
Like when when they got him. If he goes in
there and rakes for three weeks, move him.
Speaker 2 (06:59):
Dude, i't even start him in double A. I'd start
him straight up in triple A. Yeah. I always say,
Adam to that, let me feel, let me feel against
the good guys first.
Speaker 3 (07:06):
Yeah, man, well they they they, I don't know if
you saw yesterday, they already reassigned Jacob Melton.
Speaker 2 (07:10):
He's back in triple A.
Speaker 3 (07:11):
He's not making the open day roster, but camp Smith
hasn't been reassigned yet, so obviously they like seeing what
he's doing so far. Early in spring training, we're about
what halfway through, no.
Speaker 2 (07:24):
Little bit more. It'll be the like this time next week,
we'll be halfway through.
Speaker 3 (07:28):
They're going to give him as many abasts as possible
in spring training. And I again, I don't think he
starts up at the big I would love to see
it because I'm like you, why not? But then you
got to think about the the admin side of things,
if you will, the clock, the service time, all of that,
making the forty man, then having to move somebody off
of it, so forth and so on. He's going to
(07:48):
start in I don't see how he starts in double A.
Speaker 2 (07:51):
I really don't. I know. When did it ever have that?
You're one of my best twenty six? Yeah? Here you go, Yeah,
here's your spot. I just don't. I don't understand, but
you mean I understand, but it bugs me. I guess.
Speaker 3 (08:02):
But imagine this a scenario where the Houston Astros traded
Kyle Tucker, a full, a for real five tool player,
which is very rare in today's game. They traded him
because they weren't going to be able for him, and
they got Cam Smith who blossoms into like a Jordon
type hitter.
Speaker 5 (08:18):
Well, he's got more raw power, not that Jordon I'm
talking about, right, and Tuk Tucker.
Speaker 2 (08:22):
He does just pure raw power.
Speaker 5 (08:25):
Yeah, imagine that, Well I have, and I can't wait
to see it.
Speaker 2 (08:29):
It's gonna be hard for him make field.
Speaker 5 (08:31):
See for me, I think the pressures on the guys
that are veterans here, not on the young guy. I
think he's just going out and raking and do what
he does playing baseball. Those guys got to be feeling.
Speaker 2 (08:38):
Man.
Speaker 4 (08:39):
Live.
Speaker 5 (08:39):
I I stubbed my toe two times. That dude's playing
starting in left to right or he won't be left.
They move out two bay back to second, starting the
right field right, and we don't have a try. Frankly,
we don't have a legitimate right fielder right now, No,
because in truth, Chas McCormick's a left and a left fielder. Yeah,
and Kaspatch in centerfield. We there're no right field arm
on those three, that's for sure.
Speaker 3 (09:00):
Depending on who plays second base, whether it's Dubon Brendan Rodgers,
if he does well, depending on those let's just let's
just talk about those two. Let's just say that they're struggling.
June July, early August. Camp Smith's is in Triple A
and he's playing well. I wouldn't be surprised if they
bring him up. He's playing third base, Estoc Breatus is
over at second base.
Speaker 5 (09:20):
Well, it also wouldn't be bothered if he kept Dubon
as the If that happens and he's your still your
Swiss Army and you had the Zenzo and left field
and Camp forget about this now, give me that corner
out feels pretty good. Yeah, if you're looking at young
studs that and go to Baltimore Orioles route right, and
then you're you're in, dude, you're looking to Letter, just
get to Rake and.
Speaker 3 (09:38):
And then if and if if you're the Houston Astros.
You know I heard the KBO is looking for outfielders,
so Jake Myers might be available.
Speaker 2 (09:45):
Really, Yeah, while you're down on Jake.
Speaker 3 (09:47):
Because he he's a two twenty hinter, I don't care
if you got to.
Speaker 5 (09:52):
Your third derogatory, is it?
Speaker 3 (09:57):
That's exactly what you saw the wheel st to two twenty hitters.
Speaker 2 (10:01):
Yeah, he is
Kbm E Houston, a TV HD two Houston, The Astros,
the Rockets, Rockets Basketball.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Your home for your home teams.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
This is Sports Talk seven ninety make Houston Sports Done,
number one precpt on your car radio and the new
it improved iHeartRadio app free never sounded so good.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Saulisbury Salsbury, Houston. Okay, let's do this.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
Sean Salisbury to usc Troupes.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
Longtime friend, Shawn Salisbury, Ryan Lima, go Lobos.
Speaker 1 (00:39):
This is the Sean Salisbury show.
Speaker 3 (00:45):
Rockets fell to the Oklahoma City Thunder. They play the
Pacers tonight, six o'clock tip off, five o'clock launch. Better
right here on seven ninety your home for Rockets basketball.
Houston beats Kansas in Big twelve Conference play. Talking about
these Astros seven to one, three two, one ninety is
the number to join.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
What's up, bandy, hey?
Speaker 4 (01:06):
Before we get to the ass. Here's we're talking about
Bob Gibson. The other day.
Speaker 1 (01:11):
There's a quote I.
Speaker 4 (01:11):
Found for him. He said, I hated all the All
Star games. I hated having to talk to guys that
I spent the rest of the season trying to kick
their ass.
Speaker 2 (01:21):
They were the enemy to me.
Speaker 4 (01:24):
And then I've found another quote about hate ahead and
telling uh, some rookies in the age is how to
approach Bob Gibson.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
He said, don't look at him, don't.
Speaker 4 (01:35):
Look at him, don't dig in, do none of that,
because they'll knock you down. I missed those days. Oh yeah,
And you know, Sehn thinking about that attitude and then
thinking about the attitude that Bruce Matthews shared about every practice,
every preseason, regular game he played as if if he
(02:01):
didn't play well, he could lose his job. I missed
that in professional sports, that kind of attitude, and not
many people have that kind of attitude.
Speaker 5 (02:10):
They make more than the cod They all make more
than the coach that cut they can cut them.
Speaker 2 (02:14):
That's why. Yeah.
Speaker 5 (02:15):
Yeah, the player empowerments at an all time high. Everybody
else goes, the player goes last.
Speaker 2 (02:20):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (02:21):
Yeah, the golden days of professional sports are long ago,
real quick. If the astro had to start today, yeah,
this is my lineup two Ayon left Cam Smith and
right field out res d H Walker, first base, DS
(02:44):
Catching Paradas, third base, Penius shortstop Dubon centerfield.
Speaker 5 (02:55):
I like that. I mean, you know what, you don't
have to tell me that one twice. I'm all in
without two Vay Dubon and Cam Smith. I got no
issue there. And then Jake Myers and Chas mccormacker are
your fill ins. Yeah, now unless Chads McCormick can prove
that he's going to get back to hitting the ball
to right center field and pushing the ball the other
way and regained two years ago.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
I put it this way.
Speaker 5 (03:19):
I say this this way, I always say, and you'll
let you also finish, Andy, whether it's football or anything.
When people talk to me about quarterback or a receivers,
he ready to plays a rookie, soa well, let me
ask you this also, I'll stick to quarterback. Is the quarterback? Hey,
turn your put your mute on for a second. There, Andy,
you got, we can hear all that noise.
Speaker 2 (03:36):
Thank you. There you go, Just mute until it's time
for you to talk. There you go.
Speaker 5 (03:41):
Is that when they say, well, why would you play
the rookie? And if I said, well, is the veteran
playing like a rookie? Play the rookie. If the rookie's
doing the same thing, making the same mistakes and also
doing the same thing that veterans do, guess what guess
what play the rookie play the same thing here? If
(04:03):
let's just say cam Smith beats him out? Yeah, yes,
who you play? You play cam Smith?
Speaker 2 (04:09):
Right?
Speaker 5 (04:09):
That's Spring Tainting's not just there for everybody's uh fun
and games. Spring trains there to get better and compete.
Didn't we hear that they were going to compete? People
were gonna give guys a chance. Some guys are just
built different. I know the routine is go single A,
double A, triple A and let's go play.
Speaker 2 (04:23):
Right. Sometimes that double A guy is just better?
Speaker 5 (04:28):
Is this better? He's just different? And if you're built different,
let me build you on the major league roster. And
I don't know it is early, but the point is
if you're just talking about on paper the thought process
for optics, Andy, and I know Andy, well, we appreciate
your insight too, brother. I love that lineup. Uh, that
lineup's better than the one you that they're proposed going with.
I don't have a problem with the hitting order. Cam
Smith in the two hole, that kind of pop you
(04:50):
can actually you could probably flip cam Smith and Jordan
as well, and Christian Walker sitting in the four hole
gives me I'm good there, yeah, and on yer, and
so I'm with I think Andy's lineup is pretty We're
not going to get that lineup, yeah, but that's that's listen.
I'd rather grow and learn with somebody who's gonna I
(05:11):
think some days got superstar written all over him, then
hoping that it works out the other way. Now. And
you know what, we both like Chazz, give me Chaz
from two years ago, and I got a solid player
in the outfield, and we've said that, but I think
Cam Smith's gonna make it miserable to keep him.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
Out of the lineup, so we off the big league
club for that matter.
Speaker 3 (05:29):
We always talk about how we judge players and what
we judged not judge, judged them on. Well, Cam Smith,
this is so far what we can judge him on.
He's hitting five seventy one a triple, two home runs,
six RBIs, four walks, one strikeout. He's had seven at bats,
he's got an on base percentage of seven hundred and
(05:51):
an OPS of two thousand and four to fourteen. Twenty
four to fourteen is his OPS. Again, it's just spring training.
Judge base exactly all we're judging on and so far
in these what seven or eight at bats. He has
looked really good. So if he's got seven at bats,
he's got four walks, so that's eleven plate appearances, maybe
(06:14):
twelve plate appearances.
Speaker 2 (06:15):
He's only struck out once, and he showed the power.
Speaker 3 (06:19):
He missed a Grand Slam yesterday by like literally a foot,
and he cleared the bases.
Speaker 2 (06:24):
Why are we afraid to let him play through this? Why?
Speaker 3 (06:28):
I know that you and I would play. I would.
I would, man, it'd be I need a wow factor movement,
it would. It would be really hard for me to
keep him off the opening day roster. I know he's
not going to be because that whole clock thing. They
don't want to start the service.
Speaker 2 (06:41):
Time all that.
Speaker 5 (06:42):
Right, that's that's a problem. That is a problem, and
quite frankly, it's unfair to the player.
Speaker 2 (06:46):
I think.
Speaker 3 (06:46):
I agree it's gonna be really hard for him to
make this opening day roster, but I don't think he'll
be far off. Dude, he and they say he's gonna
start in double A. He's already been assigned to double A.
Like when when they got him. If he goes in
there and rakes for three weeks, move him.
Speaker 2 (06:59):
Dude, i't even start him in double A. I'd start
him straight up in triple A. Yeah. I always say,
Adam to that, let me feel, let me feel against
the good guys first.
Speaker 3 (07:06):
Yeah, man, well they they they, I don't know if
you saw yesterday, they already reassigned Jacob Melton.
Speaker 2 (07:10):
He's back in triple A.
Speaker 3 (07:11):
He's not making the open day roster, but camp Smith
hasn't been reassigned yet, so obviously they like seeing what
he's doing so far. Early in spring training, we're about
what halfway through, no.
Speaker 2 (07:24):
Little bit more. It'll be the like this time next week,
we'll be halfway through.
Speaker 3 (07:28):
They're going to give him as many abasts as possible
in spring training. And I again, I don't think he
starts up at the big I would love to see
it because I'm like you, why not? But then you
got to think about the the admin side of things,
if you will, the clock, the service time, all of that,
making the forty man, then having to move somebody off
of it, so forth and so on. He's going to
(07:48):
start in I don't see how he starts in double A.
Speaker 2 (07:51):
I really don't. I know. When did it ever have that?
You're one of my best twenty six? Yeah? Here you go, Yeah,
here's your spot. I just don't. I don't understand, but
you mean I understand, but it bugs me. I guess.
Speaker 3 (08:02):
But imagine this a scenario where the Houston Astros traded
Kyle Tucker, a full, a for real five tool player,
which is very rare in today's game. They traded him
because they weren't going to be able for him, and
they got Cam Smith who blossoms into like a Jordon
type hitter.
Speaker 5 (08:18):
Well, he's got more raw power, not that Jordon I'm
talking about, right, and Tuk Tucker.
Speaker 2 (08:22):
He does just pure raw power.
Speaker 5 (08:25):
Yeah, imagine that, Well I have, and I can't wait
to see it.
Speaker 2 (08:29):
It's gonna be hard for him make field.
Speaker 5 (08:31):
See for me, I think the pressures on the guys
that are veterans here, not on the young guy. I
think he's just going out and raking and do what
he does playing baseball. Those guys got to be feeling.
Speaker 2 (08:38):
Man.
Speaker 4 (08:39):
Live.
Speaker 5 (08:39):
I I stubbed my toe two times. That dude's playing
starting in left to right or he won't be left.
They move out two bay back to second, starting the
right field right, and we don't have a try. Frankly,
we don't have a legitimate right fielder right now, No,
because in truth, Chas McCormick's a left and a left fielder. Yeah,
and Kaspatch in centerfield. We there're no right field arm
on those three, that's for sure.
Speaker 3 (09:00):
Depending on who plays second base, whether it's Dubon Brendan Rodgers,
if he does well, depending on those let's just let's
just talk about those two. Let's just say that they're struggling.
June July, early August. Camp Smith's is in Triple A
and he's playing well. I wouldn't be surprised if they
bring him up. He's playing third base, Estoc Breatus is
over at second base.
Speaker 5 (09:20):
Well, it also wouldn't be bothered if he kept Dubon
as the If that happens and he's your still your
Swiss Army and you had the Zenzo and left field
and Camp forget about this now, give me that corner
out feels pretty good. Yeah, if you're looking at young
studs that and go to Baltimore Orioles route right, and
then you're you're in, dude, you're looking to Letter, just
get to Rake and.
Speaker 3 (09:38):
And then if and if if you're the Houston Astros.
You know I heard the KBO is looking for outfielders,
so Jake Myers might be available.
Speaker 2 (09:45):
Really, Yeah, while you're down on Jake.
Speaker 3 (09:47):
Because he he's a two twenty hinter, I don't care
if you got to.
Speaker 5 (09:52):
Your third derogatory, is it?
Speaker 3 (09:57):
That's exactly what you saw the wheel st to two twenty hitters.
Speaker 2 (10:01):
Yeah, he is
Popular Podcasts
NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal
Gregg Rosenthal and a rotating crew of elite NFL Media co-hosts, including Patrick Claybon, Colleen Wolfe, Steve Wyche, Nick Shook and Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic get you caught up daily on all the NFL news and analysis you need to be smarter and funnier than your friends.
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!
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com