May 8, 2024 • 9 mins
The Athletic's Astros beat writer Chandler Rome joins the A-Team on Astros On-Deck. He talks about Justin Verlander's start to the season. He also talks about what to expect tonight from Spencer Arrighetti in the Bronx, Alex Bregman being bumped down the order and what's ahead for the Astros.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
No better way to get it startedthan to join our weekly guest here on
Sports Talk seven ninety is obviously ChandlerRoam of the Athletic joins us each and
every week on Wednesdays. And sincewe're doing the on Deck show at this
time and the Astros got blown outten to three last night in the opener
of this series, it's a goodtime to catch up with the rosy disposition
of Chandler Rome. Chandler, howare you, sir? Well? How
(00:24):
are you good? I think thebiggest thing to take away from last night
of a lot of things, isthat obviously Justin Verlander just didn't have it,
whatever it is, and he betterthan anyone, as you were talking
to him last night in the clubhouse, knows that because of what he had
to say. Yeah, and Ithink he probably put it pretty pretty correctly
(00:48):
that there had been warning signs there. He only struck out two guys in
his last start, you know,against the Guardians, a club that the
Guardians don't strike out normally as ateam. Still to see to see him
only have two strikeouts, and thenyou know, he walked for at Wrigley
a couple of starts ago. Sothe command had always kind of been eluding
(01:10):
him. He had not been gettinga ton of swing and miss. And
look, his whiff rates have gonedown just just gradually the last three or
four years. But this is kindof a different level. And he can
usually compensate that with getting weak contact, with getting like weak fly balls.
And you know, I think heput it best last night. He's just
not deceptive right now. You know, he's not getting a ton of swinging
(01:30):
mess on the fastball, didn't getany last night. He had trouble landing
his curveball last night for strikes,and you know, I think that's what
he gave up the home at Overdogoon was that was the curveball. So
there's a lot that he probably needsto go back and kind of kind of
take account of and see what's goingon. And I think it's offers a
reminder that you know, he didn'thave a spring training. He got a
(01:53):
couple of rehab starts, but that'sdifferent. I mean, he's still working
through some kinks and you know,he's justin Berlander's So you never want to
say, like, oh, youexpected this, You kind of expected him
to just kind of defy time,defy odds and come back and be great.
But now he's still working through somestuff, still working through the after
effects of a delayed build up andthings like that, so they obviously need
(02:16):
him to be better. I thinklast night was maybe more of an aberration
than anything. I don't think youcan give it up seven runs a lot,
but because that's always kind of beenhis calling card, right like,
even when he has his bad stuff, even when he doesn't have his great
stuff, he can still go outtheir heat innings and keep you on a
ball game. And last night hejust couldn't do that kind of everything you're
saying to me, I wonder ifyou feel it's a little bit of a
(02:38):
lack of confidence in his stuff,just his ability to get guys to swing
and miss, either blowing them awaywith heat if it's executed correctly, or
getting them fooled with the off speedstuff, and that my question is if
you think that is accurate, ifhe feels that way a lack of confidence.
And a lot was made about thenumber of walks he had, the
fact that he's had a four walkgame, the fact that it's hardly ever
(02:59):
happened with the Astros, and Icouldn't help. But notice is when they
got him back last year from theMets, that is something he actually seemed
to struggle with with New York.He had three four walk games in half
less than half a season with theMets, and now we're seeing more of
that Now. Is it all kindof tied together to essentially the same answer
you already gave. Well, rememberlast year too, he started the season
(03:21):
on the IL last year too withthe Mets, missed the first month of
the season, came back, andthat's what you're looking at. You're looking
at when he came off the IL, and you know was coming back off
of that. Yeah, he struggledwith his command, and I think there's
some parallels here. It wasn't thesame injury, but still like when you're
building yourself back up, when you'reworking your way back to the major league
mad, I'm like, yeah,the command can be, command can come
(03:43):
and go, and I think thereare some parallels there. You know,
I would never accuse Justin Ferlander oflacking confidence at all, just given who
he is, given his demeanor,given his reputation. So I think he's
just judging from his comments last night, I don't think it's one of these
things where he's got to just stripeverything down and go back to the studs
(04:03):
and figure it out. I think, you know, he understands that some
of this stuff's not working, andhe understands that, you know, it
sounds like it's some mechanics stuff,and he's really good at, you know,
diagnosing his delivery, diagnosing what's goingon, and fixing his mechanics.
So I don't necessary anything. It'sa confidence thing. I just think it's
(04:23):
you know, he's been on theI L and he's working his way back,
and you know, I hate,I hate to say it, but
there's a lot of pictures on thisstaff that are going to be in this
exact same predicament, which is whyit's foolhearted and it's false hope to just
presume that once Christian Javier jozer AKhidi and all these guys get off the
I L, they're going to comeback and just be the exact same dominant
(04:46):
shutdown each seven innings, give uptwo runs starters. That that's just not
the case. It's not how thisworks, it's not how pitching works.
And it kind of offers an interestingkind of concerning out over the future.
From start one to start four.Tonight is start five for Spencer Arraghetty.
Do you see a different pitcher andapproving pitcher, a pitcher who's learning on
(05:09):
the fly in Arraghetty who throws tonight. I do, And I really like
just his makeup, Like I mean, I don't think going in the Yankee
Stadium is gonna phase him. Idon't think going against Stanton and Judge and
Soto and Rizzo and the names inthat lineup, like, I don't think
I nothing really phases him. Forme, just watching him pitch, He's
(05:30):
got a presence about him that youknow, he's not a big guy.
I mean, he's not imposing,but you know he's a he's a bulldog.
I mean, he goes out thereand he doesn't care who you are,
where he's pitching anything like that.Nothing has seen to phase him.
And I think that what they likeabout him. They like his makeup.
They like that, you know,he's going to go out there and it
may not be pretty, it maynot be the smoothest ride in the world,
(05:53):
but he's going to find a wayto adjust things like that. I
think tonight he's gonna have to finda way. He's going to have to
find a way to miss a little, to miss some more bats. You
know, he's getting into a lotof two strike counts and he's not able
to put guys away. I thinkhe's gonna have whether it's the cutter,
whether it's you know, he canhe can throw the sweeper, whether it's
the curveball, He's gonna have tofind a way to miss bats and put
(06:14):
guys away a little better than hehas in his previous starts. It's funny
we're talking channel Rum with the athleticbecause you're describing Spencer Arraghetti and you in
a lot of ways, a lotof what you said, I guess you
could be describing tomorrow's starter in RenelBlanco. Uh, well, Renel Blanco's
got better numbers, and I thinkRenel Blanco's got a little bit better stuff
At some point. I think he'sgoing to regress to somewhat of a mean
(06:39):
an average. But until he does, the Astros are just gonna ride this.
I mean, he's been unbelievable andit's pretty the dichotomy is pretty incredible.
That, you know, on baseball'smost disappointing team, it probably has
its best story of the season inRenel Blanco. Just I mean, you
look at what he's been able todo, and tomorrow will be a tough
test. I mean, pitching inthat stadium against that lineup, especially,
(07:02):
you know, if the Ashers losetonight that their backs would be really against
the wall more than they have beenat points this season. So you know,
he's I mean, and again,he's a guy that not much seems
to FaZe him. He's pitched inwinter ball before, and winter ball has
got rabid environments and I don't thinkYankee Stadium is going to get to him.
But the Ashers is going to ridethis way for as long as he's
(07:24):
on it. I mean, he'sbeen. He's been nothing short of incredible.
And look, I know there's beena lot of some of it's founded,
some of it's unfounded. But there'sbeen a lot of criticism lobby toward
Dana Brown and the Asher's front office. But he deserves credit for this one
a guy that you know, Ithink his first Great Fruit League game as
a GM. He's sitting in theat and T Sports at booth and says,
(07:46):
we need to stretch this guy outto a starter. Well, I'm
sure two years later. Now,they're really glad they did. Certainly could
help them if they get a wintonight to have him throwing in the finale
tomorrow afternoon and win a series.Long way from that considering they've lost opener.
But we will get to that lastthing real quick. Bregman finally has
been moved down in the order.He'll bat sixth to night, behind Altuve,
(08:07):
Tucker, Alvarez, Pena, andSingleton against the left handed Rodome.
Anything look any different from Alex reallyat all this season from the beginning to
where we are now. I mean, he had that last night that Verdugo
made the good play on it leftfield. Again he hit I mean when
he's hitting the line drives to hispull side. I think it was like
ninety seven ninety eight off the bat. I mean, there's there's some encouraging
(08:28):
signs. But again they're twelve andtwenty three. No one wants to hear
that. No one wants to hearthat there's encouraging signs that he hit this
ball off the bat. Piss hard. But I mean, yeah, like
you saw last night that that thatcontact was encouraging. But he also struck
out with two guys on in scoringposition in the first inning. So,
I mean it was pretty obvious thatthey had that there was going to be
(08:50):
an inflection point. They were goingto have to do something, and they
gave Joe Spotta, gave him aboutas long as the leash as you could,
just again knowing that he's a starter, knowing that this is kind of
standard for him, he kind ofhad no choice at this point. So
they're firmly into urgency mode, firmlyinto I don't know if they're desperate yet,
(09:13):
the urgency is. They're far moreurgent now than most teams are on
May whatever today is May May.So yeah, it had to happen,
and they're looking for anything to givethem a spark. Maybe Jeremy Payne,
you can give them a spark inthe cleanup spot. But yeah, I
Bregan is not going to be thisbad all year. But it was clear
that, you know, they couldn'tkeep giving him that many at bats,
(09:37):
that many at bats in the topfour of the order. Good stuff,
as always, even on the Astroson Deck show, a little bit of
a different format, but we appreciatethe time as always, Chandler, and
we'll catch up with you next week, all right, thanks
No better way to get it startedthan to join our weekly guest here on
Sports Talk seven ninety is obviously ChandlerRoam of the Athletic joins us each and
every week on Wednesdays. And sincewe're doing the on Deck show at this
time and the Astros got blown outten to three last night in the opener
of this series, it's a goodtime to catch up with the rosy disposition
of Chandler Rome. Chandler, howare you, sir? Well? How
(00:24):
are you good? I think thebiggest thing to take away from last night
of a lot of things, isthat obviously Justin Verlander just didn't have it,
whatever it is, and he betterthan anyone, as you were talking
to him last night in the clubhouse, knows that because of what he had
to say. Yeah, and Ithink he probably put it pretty pretty correctly
(00:48):
that there had been warning signs there. He only struck out two guys in
his last start, you know,against the Guardians, a club that the
Guardians don't strike out normally as ateam. Still to see to see him
only have two strikeouts, and thenyou know, he walked for at Wrigley
a couple of starts ago. Sothe command had always kind of been eluding
(01:10):
him. He had not been gettinga ton of swing and miss. And
look, his whiff rates have gonedown just just gradually the last three or
four years. But this is kindof a different level. And he can
usually compensate that with getting weak contact, with getting like weak fly balls.
And you know, I think heput it best last night. He's just
not deceptive right now. You know, he's not getting a ton of swinging
(01:30):
mess on the fastball, didn't getany last night. He had trouble landing
his curveball last night for strikes,and you know, I think that's what
he gave up the home at Overdogoon was that was the curveball. So
there's a lot that he probably needsto go back and kind of kind of
take account of and see what's goingon. And I think it's offers a
reminder that you know, he didn'thave a spring training. He got a
(01:53):
couple of rehab starts, but that'sdifferent. I mean, he's still working
through some kinks and you know,he's justin Berlander's So you never want to
say, like, oh, youexpected this, You kind of expected him
to just kind of defy time,defy odds and come back and be great.
But now he's still working through somestuff, still working through the after
effects of a delayed build up andthings like that, so they obviously need
(02:16):
him to be better. I thinklast night was maybe more of an aberration
than anything. I don't think youcan give it up seven runs a lot,
but because that's always kind of beenhis calling card, right like,
even when he has his bad stuff, even when he doesn't have his great
stuff, he can still go outtheir heat innings and keep you on a
ball game. And last night hejust couldn't do that kind of everything you're
saying to me, I wonder ifyou feel it's a little bit of a
(02:38):
lack of confidence in his stuff,just his ability to get guys to swing
and miss, either blowing them awaywith heat if it's executed correctly, or
getting them fooled with the off speedstuff, and that my question is if
you think that is accurate, ifhe feels that way a lack of confidence.
And a lot was made about thenumber of walks he had, the
fact that he's had a four walkgame, the fact that it's hardly ever
(02:59):
happened with the Astros, and Icouldn't help. But notice is when they
got him back last year from theMets, that is something he actually seemed
to struggle with with New York.He had three four walk games in half
less than half a season with theMets, and now we're seeing more of
that Now. Is it all kindof tied together to essentially the same answer
you already gave. Well, rememberlast year too, he started the season
(03:21):
on the IL last year too withthe Mets, missed the first month of
the season, came back, andthat's what you're looking at. You're looking
at when he came off the IL, and you know was coming back off
of that. Yeah, he struggledwith his command, and I think there's
some parallels here. It wasn't thesame injury, but still like when you're
building yourself back up, when you'reworking your way back to the major league
mad, I'm like, yeah,the command can be, command can come
(03:43):
and go, and I think thereare some parallels there. You know,
I would never accuse Justin Ferlander oflacking confidence at all, just given who
he is, given his demeanor,given his reputation. So I think he's
just judging from his comments last night, I don't think it's one of these
things where he's got to just stripeverything down and go back to the studs
(04:03):
and figure it out. I think, you know, he understands that some
of this stuff's not working, andhe understands that, you know, it
sounds like it's some mechanics stuff,and he's really good at, you know,
diagnosing his delivery, diagnosing what's goingon, and fixing his mechanics.
So I don't necessary anything. It'sa confidence thing. I just think it's
(04:23):
you know, he's been on theI L and he's working his way back,
and you know, I hate,I hate to say it, but
there's a lot of pictures on thisstaff that are going to be in this
exact same predicament, which is whyit's foolhearted and it's false hope to just
presume that once Christian Javier jozer AKhidi and all these guys get off the
I L, they're going to comeback and just be the exact same dominant
(04:46):
shutdown each seven innings, give uptwo runs starters. That that's just not
the case. It's not how thisworks, it's not how pitching works.
And it kind of offers an interestingkind of concerning out over the future.
From start one to start four.Tonight is start five for Spencer Arraghetty.
Do you see a different pitcher andapproving pitcher, a pitcher who's learning on
(05:09):
the fly in Arraghetty who throws tonight. I do, And I really like
just his makeup, Like I mean, I don't think going in the Yankee
Stadium is gonna phase him. Idon't think going against Stanton and Judge and
Soto and Rizzo and the names inthat lineup, like, I don't think
I nothing really phases him. Forme, just watching him pitch, He's
(05:30):
got a presence about him that youknow, he's not a big guy.
I mean, he's not imposing,but you know he's a he's a bulldog.
I mean, he goes out thereand he doesn't care who you are,
where he's pitching anything like that.Nothing has seen to phase him.
And I think that what they likeabout him. They like his makeup.
They like that, you know,he's going to go out there and it
may not be pretty, it maynot be the smoothest ride in the world,
(05:53):
but he's going to find a wayto adjust things like that. I
think tonight he's gonna have to finda way. He's going to have to
find a way to miss a little, to miss some more bats. You
know, he's getting into a lotof two strike counts and he's not able
to put guys away. I thinkhe's gonna have whether it's the cutter,
whether it's you know, he canhe can throw the sweeper, whether it's
the curveball, He's gonna have tofind a way to miss bats and put
(06:14):
guys away a little better than hehas in his previous starts. It's funny
we're talking channel Rum with the athleticbecause you're describing Spencer Arraghetti and you in
a lot of ways, a lotof what you said, I guess you
could be describing tomorrow's starter in RenelBlanco. Uh, well, Renel Blanco's
got better numbers, and I thinkRenel Blanco's got a little bit better stuff
At some point. I think he'sgoing to regress to somewhat of a mean
(06:39):
an average. But until he does, the Astros are just gonna ride this.
I mean, he's been unbelievable andit's pretty the dichotomy is pretty incredible.
That, you know, on baseball'smost disappointing team, it probably has
its best story of the season inRenel Blanco. Just I mean, you
look at what he's been able todo, and tomorrow will be a tough
test. I mean, pitching inthat stadium against that lineup, especially,
(07:02):
you know, if the Ashers losetonight that their backs would be really against
the wall more than they have beenat points this season. So you know,
he's I mean, and again,he's a guy that not much seems
to FaZe him. He's pitched inwinter ball before, and winter ball has
got rabid environments and I don't thinkYankee Stadium is going to get to him.
But the Ashers is going to ridethis way for as long as he's
(07:24):
on it. I mean, he'sbeen. He's been nothing short of incredible.
And look, I know there's beena lot of some of it's founded,
some of it's unfounded. But there'sbeen a lot of criticism lobby toward
Dana Brown and the Asher's front office. But he deserves credit for this one
a guy that you know, Ithink his first Great Fruit League game as
a GM. He's sitting in theat and T Sports at booth and says,
(07:46):
we need to stretch this guy outto a starter. Well, I'm
sure two years later. Now,they're really glad they did. Certainly could
help them if they get a wintonight to have him throwing in the finale
tomorrow afternoon and win a series.Long way from that considering they've lost opener.
But we will get to that lastthing real quick. Bregman finally has
been moved down in the order.He'll bat sixth to night, behind Altuve,
(08:07):
Tucker, Alvarez, Pena, andSingleton against the left handed Rodome.
Anything look any different from Alex reallyat all this season from the beginning to
where we are now. I mean, he had that last night that Verdugo
made the good play on it leftfield. Again he hit I mean when
he's hitting the line drives to hispull side. I think it was like
ninety seven ninety eight off the bat. I mean, there's there's some encouraging
(08:28):
signs. But again they're twelve andtwenty three. No one wants to hear
that. No one wants to hearthat there's encouraging signs that he hit this
ball off the bat. Piss hard. But I mean, yeah, like
you saw last night that that thatcontact was encouraging. But he also struck
out with two guys on in scoringposition in the first inning. So,
I mean it was pretty obvious thatthey had that there was going to be
(08:50):
an inflection point. They were goingto have to do something, and they
gave Joe Spotta, gave him aboutas long as the leash as you could,
just again knowing that he's a starter, knowing that this is kind of
standard for him, he kind ofhad no choice at this point. So
they're firmly into urgency mode, firmlyinto I don't know if they're desperate yet,
(09:13):
the urgency is. They're far moreurgent now than most teams are on
May whatever today is May May.So yeah, it had to happen,
and they're looking for anything to givethem a spark. Maybe Jeremy Payne,
you can give them a spark inthe cleanup spot. But yeah, I
Bregan is not going to be thisbad all year. But it was clear
that, you know, they couldn'tkeep giving him that many at bats,
(09:37):
that many at bats in the topfour of the order. Good stuff,
as always, even on the Astroson Deck show, a little bit of
a different format, but we appreciatethe time as always, Chandler, and
we'll catch up with you next week, all right, thanks
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