May 16, 2025 • 26 mins
On this edition of the Crawford Boxcast, Chris Gordy and Ross Villarreal are talking about the Astros front end starters dealing like Hunter Brown and Framber Valdez. But the offense is slumping, led by strikeout king Christian Walker. Also, is Jose Altuve declining now as he turns 35 years old? The guys also talk about the stellar bullpen and the AL West race.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:09):
Astros fans cheers, fucking lucky. Welcome to the Crawford Box Cast.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
By Houston Astros.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
Proud leadboard for you by Crawford Bach from Carmack Brewy.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
You're getting there, Oh my godness.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
The Crawford Box Cast starts now here we go. Here's
Chris Gordy and Ross via Real.
Speaker 3 (00:36):
And it is an all new edition of the Crawford
box Cast, presented by Carbok Brewing and the Crawford Bach.
Make sure you guys are loading up on plenty of
Crawford Bach watching your Houston Astros and as of right now,
the Astros man, it just feels like one step forward,
one step backward every time, like you just kind of
the hamster on the spinning wheel, if you will. As
(00:57):
the Astros finish off, they take a series against the Reds.
This past weekend, they take two out of three against
the Royals at Daykin and then, as of this recording, Ross,
the Astros get blanked up in Arlington, losing one to
nothing to the hated Texas Rangers who have now won
six in a row. And even despite your ace cy,
(01:20):
young candidate Hunter Brown does his best, gives up one
run and takes the loss terrible. It's baseball, get it together.
It's pretty rough, man, But what do you make of
this team right now? Like we said, come in, take
in two out of three the last couple series. But
to me, this feels like they gotta find a way
to split this series if they can.
Speaker 4 (01:39):
If they could split two two, great.
Speaker 5 (01:42):
Yeah, at this point that would be you would take that.
With where they are, you would really really like to
have gotten the win with Hunter Brown and the Hill.
I understand it was Jake de Gram and he's amazing
and he was very good in his start. They also
got some great plays out in the field from Adulas
Garcia and having Carter, so it was what it was
(02:03):
to have Hunter Brown have to take the loss in
just one swing from Jake freaking Burger. But the way
that you said it at the beginning there, up and down. Yeah,
you're twenty two and twenty one. It's been up and down.
It's not like you've been down and went on a
huge winning streak like the Minnesota Twins did. But it
is frustrating, especially because although the bats have been inconsistent.
(02:26):
You scored nine runs on Saturday, but Lance Perculler's junior
only got one out and got sheld. You scored down
five runs on Monday against the Royals, but Ryan Gusto
had his worst start of the season. So even when
you're kind of starting to see some signs of life
at that moment from the bats, it felt pretty good.
But then of course you get shut out and you
have to scratch out back to back comeback wins with
(02:49):
just two and four runs against the Kansas City Royals.
It's what we've talked about all season. It's what we've said.
It's early, it's gonna turn. It's early, it's gonna.
Speaker 2 (02:57):
Turn, and it's those Astros bats not being consistent.
Speaker 3 (03:03):
Yeah, it's it's it's the bats. So we're gonna get
into it. By the way, that was first time ever
in a regular season game the Astros faced Jacob de grom.
I didn't realize that.
Speaker 2 (03:13):
He saw him a lot in the Grapefruit League.
Speaker 3 (03:15):
Yeah, it's with the Mets for for so long, but yeah,
it's And here's the bad news ross for those listening
ahead of the Friday night game, which will be an
Apple TV Plus game, which means you will listen for
free on the iHeartRadio app. Also, I think I'm out
of my free trials on Apple. I think I'm exhausted those.
Speaker 2 (03:32):
You run out of emails, Yeah, sign up with I've.
Speaker 4 (03:35):
Tried another one.
Speaker 3 (03:36):
But regardless, I mean, you talk about a pitching mix
mismatch as good as Nathan Evaldi was or I'm sorry,
Jacob de Grom was last night, Avaldi has an even
lower eerra. I want to say, it's like one seventy two.
Speaker 2 (03:50):
Yeah, he's been great.
Speaker 4 (03:50):
He's on my fantasy team, so I know how good
he's been.
Speaker 2 (03:53):
But there we even talk about who's throwing.
Speaker 3 (03:55):
For the lance freaking mccullors has got to show something, man.
And here's the deal, Like, bro, I don't care if
you go four earned and you give four innings, you
give him four runs. He's got to eat up some innings,
Like he's got to get deeper into a game. You
know that first time I was encouraging he only got
through what was it just under four innings, but.
Speaker 5 (04:16):
He got squeezed on a should have been a strike three.
He was three and two thirds should have been four
innings pitched.
Speaker 3 (04:21):
But the bigger part of that game, Ross was it
was a scoreless outing. Like he didn't give up a run. Yes,
and he had some strikeouts, I want to say, three
or four strikeouts, So there were signs and glimpses of
the old lands MC Colors. And then this past weekend
against the Reds, Oh my god, it was just an
absolute disaster. All the storylines of the Colors back at
(04:42):
Dyke And Park, first time, you know, back on the
mount in Houston in years, and it was just an
abject disaster. He could not get it out to save
his life. And hard contact, I mean literally just no
break on the ball. It was just sitting up there
on the zone. They're just coming after it. And then
when he did try to throw some stuff, the movement
it was all outside the zone. It was walk walk,
(05:03):
So he has got to show something tight. Now, the
good news is Rangers offense hadn't been they haven't been
world beaters this year, so maybe it's a you know,
catching them at the right time. But yeah, I mean
you talk about pitching matchup the Colors first.
Speaker 5 (05:16):
Of all, the yeah, Astro's rightfully like two to one
Dogs and tonight's game and we'll see how it plays.
You know, if you're listening to this after the game,
lancemer Colors was great. Lance were Colors was gotchelled, like,
we'll we'll find out what That's the beauty of all
we talk sports podcasts. I love obviously living in a
sports radio world.
Speaker 4 (05:33):
And right now, Ross no chance.
Speaker 2 (05:39):
Ball, it's just not gonna happen. I like that.
Speaker 5 (05:41):
Yeah, But the fun part about it is at some
point the talking is done and you shut up and
you watch and you see what happens.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
And that was we're gonna see with Lancewick Colors Junior.
Speaker 5 (05:49):
So uh, obviously confidence at an all time low for
me right now.
Speaker 2 (05:53):
He could bounce back and you're not asking for him.
Speaker 5 (05:56):
To go out there and throw six shut out or
seven one innings, a one run ball or something like that. Honestly,
if he can give you close to what Colton Gordon
did in his major league debut, what was at four
and a third three earned runs, Like, just give give
you something because Hunter Brown had the complete game yesterday,
so your bullpen is fresh there.
Speaker 2 (06:13):
That was much needed if you as you're on this.
Speaker 5 (06:15):
Stretch of seventeen games in seventeen days, so if you
can just give you a little something and you could
piece something together Nick a run or two off of
Nata Valdi and win a game. It would be huge
for really the psyche of everyone, right for Lansma Coullors
Junior first and foremost, he's been through so much, but
for Joe A. Spotted to have confidence, for Dana Brown
(06:37):
to have confidence and not have to make some sort
of roster move, and then for all of us as
fans who watched the team, it would be such a
relief to see him go out there and at least
look competent because.
Speaker 2 (06:50):
You need him in this series to get outs.
Speaker 5 (06:53):
You're gonna need him this season now once we get
the Hayden Wesnsky news that probably it's gonna be Tommy
John surgery, you're gonna need him for for the rest
of this year as a practical matter right now, it's
not all the all these narratives and all this lancecmer
Colors Junior stuff and Willie your Woni.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
You need him as on the mound to perform for
you this year.
Speaker 4 (07:11):
Yeah, here's the thing.
Speaker 3 (07:12):
The way Hunter Brown's pitching right now, and fromber for
that matter, Rombert has been awesome back to being awesome lately.
Runout Blanco has had a couple of good I mean
a shutout against the Reds last time. Out. I mean,
he's showing signs, so those are that's your one two three.
All you're asking for is what call is to be
a four or five, and you know the reality is
Spencer Orghetty.
Speaker 4 (07:33):
We heard an update on him. Is he throwing?
Speaker 5 (07:35):
Getting like Joe Spotta wouldn't give a timeline on Thursday
when he was asked to excuse me a Wednesday when
he was asked about.
Speaker 3 (07:44):
It, Yeah, I mean you got to think he's at
least maybe getting close to starting thorough base.
Speaker 2 (07:48):
He's throwing, and we're in the middle of May. We're
talking probably a month minute.
Speaker 3 (07:51):
I mean, the prognosis a couple of weeks ago is oh,
it's not as bad as he thought, and we think
this thing will heal quickly and all that. So anyway,
we'll visit him when he comes back when when Erica
he gets back. Shoot if the one two three is
pitching like they are, the great Spencer's sliding that four.
Speaker 4 (08:05):
Spot and hold that down.
Speaker 3 (08:06):
But yes, the news you mentioned on Hayden was nesky
and and another one where we hadn't gotten much details.
Joe spot is saying yesterday they're still in a holding
pattern with Hayden was Nesky, who was with the team
in Arlington, Dana Brown saying the team should know more
in the next thirty six hours.
Speaker 4 (08:24):
Uh, I mean read between the lines.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
What does that mean? Like they got to get the deductible. Uh,
they gotta get the surgery approved by well done.
Speaker 3 (08:30):
It sound like second opinion that they didn't like what
they heard the first doctor say.
Speaker 5 (08:34):
It sounds like they're crossing all the t's and dotting
all the eyes for Tommy John surgeries.
Speaker 3 (08:39):
And not to say he was he was setting the
world on fire, but he was giving you good out.
You know, as a number five pictuer in your arsenal,
that's what you're asking to be. And he's a hometown
kid getting a picture for the Astros. You just you thought, Okay,
he's gonna be great and you don't have to worry
about him all year. And unfortunately that's that'd be a
(08:59):
massive hole to fill without him. Ryan Gusto has been
the first candidate who's had a couple starts here and
he's been just okay, I mean, it is what it is.
The hope is if he stays in this rotation, he
just gives you a chance to win. That's all you
can ask out of your number five guy, and then
Colton Gordon again wasn't great, wasn't terrible, you know, his
first outing. Hopefully he can build off it. I do
(09:22):
like he does pitch the contact, throws strikes, so yeah,
that's to me.
Speaker 2 (09:25):
I like his attitude and his demeanor. Just hearing him
talk to the media as well.
Speaker 4 (09:28):
Yeah, so we'll see.
Speaker 3 (09:29):
But you almost look at it ROSSI go, Gusto, Gordon, mccullors.
Speaker 4 (09:35):
Do y'all have to step up? I'm sorry too. You
have to rise to the occasion.
Speaker 5 (09:40):
Yeah, it's something we talked about spring training is like, okay,
we like our one through five, what is it going
to be after that? And unfortunately this has come to
pass that you've run into these injury issues as we
know is going to happen with guys and pitching injuries
that have been cropping up over the last several years.
So you're here and yeah, you need performances least replacement
(10:01):
level to us, hopefully slightly above from those guys. And
it especially hurts the way that the bats have been struggling.
This would be much less of a worry if the
guys would be putting it together at the plate. And
Jordon can get back healthy, which hopefully he will this
weekend or at least by the start of the Tampa
Bay series.
Speaker 3 (10:22):
I'll tell you this and this is where I want
to pivot. You mentioned the hitters. First off, update on
Juron Alvarez. This was from yesterday with Joe Aspata quote,
he's better, He's really close.
Speaker 4 (10:35):
I feel like I could hear Joe spot say that
he's really really close.
Speaker 3 (10:37):
He's really close. Okay, great, what's close? I mean the
days go by like you keep saying that. But they
said he was hitting in the cage yesterday. Again, good,
he's a few days away. Good Phil, I really feel
today was one of the best days I've seen from him.
So you know, maybe some point this weekend we see
because because inter the thing with jord On, he's shown
(10:58):
this when he's come back from little dinks and injuries.
He hates going to the miners. So a lot of
times Jordan doesn't need a minor league start, rehab start.
He literally picks up a back goes I'm ready yeah,
and they put him back.
Speaker 5 (11:11):
If he's swinging he's a designated hitter and I'm like, yeah,
I just put him in there.
Speaker 3 (11:14):
Bell but it is wild ross And when we talk
about getting Jordan back, great, but he was batting two
ten on the season before he left. It's not exactly
like you're getting a huge shot in the arm of
one of your best hitters back, like he just he
wasn't really producing.
Speaker 5 (11:30):
Yeah, your hope, of course, was that this injury was
hampering him. They kind of hinted at it. I think
at first they tried to say, no, this is a
new injury, just popped up on the day that he
went on the eel. But then they kind of backed
off of that, like, yeah, something he's been trying to
deal with, trying to play through, so it kind of
get it out of the way, get him back one
hundred percent healthy to where he can be swinging the
(11:50):
bat like we know he has. Even with that, as
ineffective as he he had been, he was still getting
a lot of hard hit contact. So hopefully that can
continue the days off whatever, because they need him this.
This team is not winning this division if Jordan Alvarez
isn't hitting like one of the best players in the planet.
Speaker 3 (12:07):
But here we are, almost two months into the season
and I'm flabbergasted by this. I know you lose Alex Bragman,
you lose Kyle Tucker. It is what it is. But
the fact there were only two hitters ross batting two
sixty five or better. One is Jake Myers and the
others Jeremy Paine. Ge Paine is batting three to thirteen.
He is having I don't know that it goes as
(12:30):
far as saying MVP type season, but he is having
it an all.
Speaker 4 (12:33):
Season type type season.
Speaker 2 (12:34):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (12:34):
I mean, Bobby Wait Junior is going to be the
starter obviously in the American League, but he's been very good.
Speaker 3 (12:38):
And then Jake Myers batting two ninety three, and I
just keep saying, keep squeezing that juice as much as
you can as.
Speaker 4 (12:44):
Long as he's giving me.
Speaker 3 (12:45):
Sound great, But what do you make of I mean,
do Zenzo's actually been halfway decent. He's two sixty four,
Karattini's two sixty two, and then Eastak paratus has come
around to two sixty, but he got Altuve dropping by
the day he's down to two fifty and everybody else
on the steam is batting below two fifty.
Speaker 5 (13:02):
Yeah, it's a case by case basis. I mean, we
can go through the list. It's nice to see the
Jeremy Paine your breakout. I think I have more confidence
in faith that that is going to sustain over Jake Myers.
Even as president of the Jake Myers Fan Club, We're
not going to say that dude's just going to be
a career two thirty hitter and all of a sudden
he's gonna hit three hundred. Number is probably gonna go down,
and probably a little bit to some extent for Jeremy Penny,
(13:22):
but I think he'll still be able to stabilize.
Speaker 2 (13:25):
But as far as those guys that you mentioned in
the back end of the lineup, yeah, Christian Walker's got
to be better.
Speaker 5 (13:29):
Dude's on an zero for sixteen right now. That is
that is not acceptable. And then jose Al Tuve, we
got to figure out what's going on there. He declined
last year to a seven to ninety great number ops
from over nine hundred the year before, and he started
off the season hot, but he has cooled significantly to
(13:49):
where what he's at like six fifty five, six sixty
five something like that, and he's obviously not providing.
Speaker 2 (13:55):
A whole lot of value in the field.
Speaker 5 (13:57):
So he's got a hit and he's got to turn
it around at some point because his other type of
numbers like average exit velocity and XBA and bat speed,
all those numbers are down from last year. And I'm
starting to get a little concerned as he just turns
thirty five to what he still has left in the tank.
Speaker 3 (14:18):
And it's crazy too, because Ross his defense actually hadn't
been bad and left field, Like if you'd have told
me too much in the season that we'd be talking
more about al two vas bat than his defense.
Speaker 5 (14:29):
He left field, he made a guice catch I think
it was like sixty five feet he had ran from
making a bit pulling it up sixty seven feet that
he ran tracking down a nice grab in the field yesterday.
So yeah, he hasn't completely embarrassed himself. And then that's
totally okay. Arm strength isn't there, but that's all right.
You got to put him somewhere, and he's supposed to produce.
Speaker 2 (14:51):
At the plate.
Speaker 3 (14:51):
Yeah, and he's actually played a couple games back at
second here as late as well.
Speaker 2 (14:55):
But some DH with jord On out as well.
Speaker 3 (14:57):
Yeah, so you know, again, he's got to pick it up.
I feel like he will, though, like his just track
record to be in a three hundred hitter. I feel
like he will pick it up, but I'm worried about
and let's get to it. The guy who currently ranks
dead last on the team and hitting one of your
prized off season acquisitions is Christian Walker, and the batting
average is down to two oh three and the OPS
(15:19):
is down to six'. Ten this is a guy who
just went over fifty strikeouts on the season. Already, again
we're not even two months into the. Season fifty one
strikeouts and he continues to bat fourth every. NIGHT i
JUST i look at it and, Say Joe, SPOT i get, it,
man you gotta let a guy break, through get let
a guy break out of this. Whatever but at what, Point,
(15:42):
rosster they decide to slide him down in the lineup
at least a spot or.
Speaker 2 (15:45):
Two, well because he's killing you for who?
Speaker 4 (15:49):
Anyone that's the.
Speaker 2 (15:51):
Problem, look everyone.
Speaker 3 (15:52):
Else has better batting, average everybody.
Speaker 4 (15:55):
Else Cam smith ahead Of aim.
Speaker 5 (15:58):
Is, Terrible kartini And decenzo's been. Fine Jake myers is
not a cleanup. Hitter Mauricio dubon, like, yeah in, Theory
i'm with. You this guy's not a cleanup. Hitter he's
not hitting like a cleanup hitter at. All but it's, like,
yeah move him down for who He you want to
keep him up, there you want him to kind of.
Speaker 2 (16:16):
Continue it's not like a necessarily confidence thing or.
Speaker 5 (16:18):
WHATEVER i, mean he's got to produce and AND i
guess the good thing for him is he's not gonna
get slid down because it's not like anybody is just
banging the drum and banging the door down to get
moved up in the. Lineup Jeremy pania was at the
start of the season and he's been your leadoff guy
and he's been.
Speaker 2 (16:33):
Good so you can shuffle.
Speaker 5 (16:35):
Around these uh these car decks of cards however you,
want but at the end of the, day The astros
are holding a bad.
Speaker 3 (16:41):
Hand yonderdaz is abouting three twenty this, month so his
numbers have come, up SO i would ALMOST i mean flip. Flop,
okay you Put Yondard diaz four And walker from.
Speaker 5 (16:51):
Wherever you put, him if you put him four or
four or, five and that's not really going to change
the complexion of the game that.
Speaker 2 (16:56):
Much he's. Got they both have to turn it, around
and they don't both have to.
Speaker 3 (16:59):
Produce but the problem is what's happening more often than
not is. Ross how many times have you watched An
astros game in the last couple of weeks where it's
it's middle of an inning and it's two men on
one out And Christian walker comes.
Speaker 5 (17:11):
Up he's been horrible with. That since caring, position he's
been horrible to do. ANYTHING i think we went through
the number one was it forty one abs and twenty.
Speaker 2 (17:17):
Strikeouts that's.
Speaker 3 (17:18):
Unacceptable, Yeah so that's WHERE i, say you, say are
you going to put up there anybody? Else because everyone
else is at least hit getting more hits than. You
so That's that's just simply WHAT i would. Say and,
Again i'm not saying he's a bust of a. Signing
i'm not saying he's the Next jose Of Bray. You
i'm just saying he needs to, uh he's gotta gets confidence.
(17:39):
Back and remember he missed basically almost all spring training
with the uh what was the pull the latte?
Speaker 5 (17:45):
Oblique, yeah the oblique, injury and he, honestly he came
back pretty quickly from. That and it's a it's an
injury that's hold held him out for dozens of games
before and is it concern for. Me it is in
the back of my. Mind here's the.
Speaker 3 (17:57):
Catch if that is, alien aren't you better served him
take a month off get yourself, right as opposed to
putting him out every day and.
Speaker 4 (18:06):
Struggling, yes, YES i MEAN i think that's where we.
Speaker 5 (18:09):
Are AND i don't, know if you, know we don't.
Know we don't know is is he heard and he's
not saying? Anything do they know that he's hurt and
they're trying to monitor, him and maybe they're trying to
hold on hold water until your gun comes back and
put him. OUT i, mean there's any one hundred or
maybe he's one hundred percent healthy and he's just stinking
up the.
Speaker 2 (18:25):
Joint we don't. Know we don't.
Speaker 5 (18:26):
Know those are conversations that are happening in the, clubhouse
and those are in the heart and mind Of Christian.
Walker so we just have to speculate and, say we see,
this these data points That Christian walker is, struggling and
then we have to go from there and kind of
work our way backwards and figure out.
Speaker 4 (18:42):
Why. Yeah, well, LOOK i just HOPE i hope he
turns it.
Speaker 3 (18:46):
AROUND i, mean he had a couple of moments here
about a week and a half ago and we, Went,
okay maybe he's turning the. Corner and then the very next,
night oh for five with three. Strikeouts it's, like, man
he just cannot find any. Consistency but he just has.
To he's gonna have to be because it's not exactly
like there's a bunch of dudes In TRIPLE a knocking
at the door wanting to get their opportunity to up,
here come show what they can. DO i, mean even
(19:07):
one of the guys who was playing very well this
year At TRIPLE, A Bryce, MATTHEWS i THINK i saw
just one on the. Il so again it's you, know
if he was a guy you were hoping to movie
call up at some, point he's.
Speaker 4 (19:20):
He's out for. Now SO i JUST i don't.
Speaker 3 (19:24):
KNOW i just look at this lineup and, say they
have to find a way to produce. Runs the pitching
has been good, enough at least your starting you, know
the front end of your starting rotation has been good.
Enough and then how about some most of the BULLPEN i,
mean this might be the best bullpen ross collectively they've.
Speaker 2 (19:38):
Had, yeah and.
Speaker 4 (19:39):
How they're producing since the twenty twenty Two World.
Speaker 5 (19:42):
Series TAK i, looked, WELL i guess it would be pretty. Consistent,
YESTERDAY i THINK i looked and they had the second
best bullpen in terms OF era and, baseball behind maybe The.
Speaker 2 (19:49):
Giants so, yeah it's been one of the best. Best,
yeah and we've been worried about.
Speaker 5 (19:53):
It, hey and we talked, about oh what about this
guy and that guy and that. GUY i, Mean Brian
king's been really. Good Josh hater has and absolutely nails
and bray you and then those other guys stepping. Up
you just Released Taylor, scott one of the guys.
Speaker 4 (20:06):
Got pouring out for Homie, Taylor san.
Speaker 2 (20:08):
Guy we appreciate, you thank you for your service last.
Speaker 5 (20:10):
Year for, look The astros probably don't win the division
Without Taylor scott doing what he. Did it was like
sixty two games of two point two to three e.
Speaker 2 (20:18):
Light he was.
Speaker 3 (20:19):
Huge you look at his. Career, yeah that was the.
Outlier he will never have a season like.
Speaker 5 (20:23):
That he flew above the clouds and he was going
to come back down at some, point and unfortunately it
did and he's off the. Team so wishing him well
and all that type of. Stuff and but the, otherwise the,
bullpen even with those numbers Of Taylor scott being. Poor
you're one of the best bullpens in.
Speaker 3 (20:38):
Baseball but but guys Like Steven, okert what a. FIND i,
mean he's a guy that was not good last. Year
AND i want to Say, minnesota but he's been.
Speaker 2 (20:46):
Awesome BUT i think two years ago he was good
somewhere else In.
Speaker 4 (20:49):
MIAMI i can't.
Speaker 2 (20:50):
Remember, YEAH i can't keep track all these.
Speaker 3 (20:52):
Journeymen and Then Brian king is a guy that you
found a gem in last year and he.
Speaker 4 (20:56):
Seems to only have gotten.
Speaker 3 (20:57):
Better it's, Awesome and that's great when you have A
Brian abreu who's been nails as your eighth inning, guy
And Josh hater has been every bit of what you
paid top dollar for for one of the best closers
in the. League so you got all that working for.
You you just have to find ways to manufacture. Runs
and that's WHERE i go to the. WHOLE i, mean
(21:18):
if we got a butt for a, week let's butt
for a. Week do something we gotta do to do
that cut a man on butt him over Sackfly like
remember who was it they played earlier in the, year
had a bad, offense but they scored some.
Speaker 4 (21:31):
Runs it was like.
Speaker 2 (21:32):
Oh The White socks had a bad offense and scored
some runs against The, Astros.
Speaker 3 (21:36):
White sox Or cardinals or. Something it was somebody who played,
hard probably. Too they get a man, on they butt
him over sor.
Speaker 2 (21:42):
Right this is this is not nineteen twenty.
Speaker 3 (21:45):
Six But i'm just, saying when the pitching is so
to waste A Hunter brown eight, inning one run ball,
starting he takes an L.
Speaker 2 (21:51):
Yeah well it's the. Problem, yeah The gram was really.
GOOD i, mean let's be.
Speaker 5 (21:54):
ON i, mean he's one of the best pitchers of
all time when he's actually. Healthy they and out there
on the. Mound so, yeah De gram spun a.
Speaker 2 (22:02):
Gym it was bad.
Speaker 5 (22:03):
Luck you really would have liked to get that, one,
because as we, mentioned you have The Nate avaldi Versus
lance mc colors junior matchup later, today and THEN i,
Mean Renewe Blanco Tyler maylee has been really good this
year so far for The rangers as.
Speaker 2 (22:17):
Well and THEN i.
Speaker 5 (22:19):
Can't remember This sunday matchup and who's supposed to pitch
for The astros, there but.
Speaker 4 (22:23):
It's probably gonna Be, gusta, Right, YEAH i think, So.
Speaker 2 (22:27):
And he was not good at his last. Start it
would have been nice to Get Hunter brown on the
mount and get a.
Speaker 4 (22:30):
DUB i want to, Say Jack, lighter he started off, well.
Speaker 5 (22:33):
He, Did he's, yeah he's backed off a. Little he
got a. BLISTER i think it. Was it hasn't been you,
know it hasn't been as effective as he was early
in the. Season but he's shown some flashes and he
WAS i think at one point one of the top.
PROSPECTS i get my lighters mixed.
Speaker 3 (22:48):
Up last time out he went six ivingk a one
on the, ball but it was The, rocky so you can.
Speaker 2 (22:52):
Count The rockies are.
Speaker 3 (22:54):
Terrible but, YEAH i mean this is just a big.
Series here's the big. One you cannot get swept this.
Serious if you get swept this, YEAR i don't even
say that you were talking about The Ale West. RACE i,
mean it's it's already The. Mariners how they've. Played The
mariners have built up that lead ross in the, division
and now they've lost seven in the last, ten so
they've they've kind of come back to the to the.
(23:14):
Field The rangers are half a game behind, them The
asters are one and a half games back in.
Speaker 5 (23:18):
Them that tells me even if you get, SWEPT i
Mean it's not gonna be a. Disaster, obviously you don't
want it to. Happen but it's so.
Speaker 3 (23:23):
Much of last, season, right it was every time that
it was like two and a, half bind The, rangers
three and a, half bind The rangers two and a
half by the, range.
Speaker 2 (23:29):
And last year they still won the.
Speaker 5 (23:30):
Division, now of course you. Did it took a little
second of your, FLAPS i mean The. MARINERS i think
that was a little bit underplayed storyline is how hard
The mariners collapsed to help The astros make up all
those games so. Quickly but it can. TURN i still have.
Confidence you get Yord on, Back Christian walker turns it
around to some.
Speaker 2 (23:48):
Degree to they we'll.
Speaker 5 (23:51):
See But Jeremy, payne you keep it, Up Jake myers
to a certain, extent keep some of that, up and
this lineup will be, okay not gonna be, great not
gonna be top five like they have been in years,
past but coming into, today sixteenth and team, ops if
they can get that number up to like twelfth to,
tenth and then with the pitching they, have they can
win this.
Speaker 2 (24:09):
Division i'm with.
Speaker 3 (24:10):
You let's see what happens, here and after this weekend
you get a quick three games out In, tampa and
then you come home for a nice extended home stand
with four Against, seattle two Against, oakland four Against tampa, again.
Speaker 2 (24:25):
Ten game home stand tied for the longest all season.
Speaker 3 (24:28):
Long, yeah so that should Be this should be a
place where again find a way to just you know
What i'm going to say out of May, ross stay
above five.
Speaker 4 (24:36):
Hundred, okay that should be the goal for the stay
above five.
Speaker 2 (24:39):
Hundred that's a good.
Speaker 3 (24:40):
Goal i'd love for you to be jumping to THE
Al west lead and grab a hold of this, thing
BUT i just don't think that's realistic right. Now, so but,
GOD i just hate those of Those. Rangers they just
hate The. Rangers by the, Way i'll pose this question to.
You somebody asked me this yesterday, collectively would you rather
The Houston Pro sports teams right now or The Dallas
Pro sports teams right?
Speaker 2 (25:01):
Now, well they're Getting Cooper Flag Anthony, Davis SO i
Think Kyrie everying's going to. Stay we don't have any
word on, that do, We, Cowboys Dak, Prasca i'm Taking.
Speaker 4 (25:09):
Houston, yeah good, answer good.
Speaker 2 (25:12):
Answer all The stars did they make the playoffs.
Speaker 4 (25:14):
Or, yeah they're good went. Deep they're, good BUT i
don't can't count them off hockey.
Speaker 2 (25:18):
Here i'm In, Houston. TEXAS i don't follow. Hockey i'm.
Speaker 3 (25:20):
Sorry, Yeah, Rockets, Texans astros all playoff. Teams question, Mark
we'll see Us astros better break the, playoffs all? Right
that is gonna do it for this edition of The
Crawford Box. Cast appreciate you. Guys relicion makes make sure
you grab a high School crawford back while you're watching The.
Astros it pairs perfectly With astros. Baseball whenever you're eating, peanuts,
popcorn hot, dogs cracker, jack whatever it, is grab yourself
(25:42):
At Crawford back and.
Speaker 4 (25:44):
Look do drink.
Speaker 3 (25:45):
Responsibly but if you're doing it at, home enjoy watching
The astros or listening on sports talks and ANY a
reminder for those who are listening to This, Sunday this Coming,
sunday what's the DATE i get lost in the? Days
the twenty, eighteenth Eighteenth may, eighteenth the astor is doing
A fishal watch party out Of Carbock brewing once. Again
former Astor Chris sampson is going to be in the.
(26:05):
House i'll be there doing the pregame show starting at
eleven and then noon game On. Sunday because it is
A roku. Game roku picked it, up so it's a
twelve oh Five central first pitch On, Sunday APPLE tv game,
Tonight roku game On, sunday and, again if you're looking
for something to do with the, family coming out To
Carbock brewing and enjoyed ig, school, Cruffer, bock, drinks, specials family,
(26:28):
fun all kinds of fun stuff going on for you
over there the beer garden At Carbock.
Speaker 4 (26:32):
Brewing I'm Chris.
Speaker 3 (26:33):
Gordy he Is Ross vreel'll talk to you next week
for an all new edition of The Karl Box, cast
presented By Carbock brewing
Astros fans cheers, fucking lucky. Welcome to the Crawford Box Cast.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
By Houston Astros.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
Proud leadboard for you by Crawford Bach from Carmack Brewy.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
You're getting there, Oh my godness.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
The Crawford Box Cast starts now here we go. Here's
Chris Gordy and Ross via Real.
Speaker 3 (00:36):
And it is an all new edition of the Crawford
box Cast, presented by Carbok Brewing and the Crawford Bach.
Make sure you guys are loading up on plenty of
Crawford Bach watching your Houston Astros and as of right now,
the Astros man, it just feels like one step forward,
one step backward every time, like you just kind of
the hamster on the spinning wheel, if you will. As
(00:57):
the Astros finish off, they take a series against the Reds.
This past weekend, they take two out of three against
the Royals at Daykin and then, as of this recording, Ross,
the Astros get blanked up in Arlington, losing one to
nothing to the hated Texas Rangers who have now won
six in a row. And even despite your ace cy,
(01:20):
young candidate Hunter Brown does his best, gives up one
run and takes the loss terrible. It's baseball, get it together.
It's pretty rough, man, But what do you make of
this team right now? Like we said, come in, take
in two out of three the last couple series. But
to me, this feels like they gotta find a way
to split this series if they can.
Speaker 4 (01:39):
If they could split two two, great.
Speaker 5 (01:42):
Yeah, at this point that would be you would take that.
With where they are, you would really really like to
have gotten the win with Hunter Brown and the Hill.
I understand it was Jake de Gram and he's amazing
and he was very good in his start. They also
got some great plays out in the field from Adulas
Garcia and having Carter, so it was what it was
(02:03):
to have Hunter Brown have to take the loss in
just one swing from Jake freaking Burger. But the way
that you said it at the beginning there, up and down. Yeah,
you're twenty two and twenty one. It's been up and down.
It's not like you've been down and went on a
huge winning streak like the Minnesota Twins did. But it
is frustrating, especially because although the bats have been inconsistent.
(02:26):
You scored nine runs on Saturday, but Lance Perculler's junior
only got one out and got sheld. You scored down
five runs on Monday against the Royals, but Ryan Gusto
had his worst start of the season. So even when
you're kind of starting to see some signs of life
at that moment from the bats, it felt pretty good.
But then of course you get shut out and you
have to scratch out back to back comeback wins with
(02:49):
just two and four runs against the Kansas City Royals.
It's what we've talked about all season. It's what we've said.
It's early, it's gonna turn. It's early, it's gonna.
Speaker 2 (02:57):
Turn, and it's those Astros bats not being consistent.
Speaker 3 (03:03):
Yeah, it's it's it's the bats. So we're gonna get
into it. By the way, that was first time ever
in a regular season game the Astros faced Jacob de grom.
I didn't realize that.
Speaker 2 (03:13):
He saw him a lot in the Grapefruit League.
Speaker 3 (03:15):
Yeah, it's with the Mets for for so long, but yeah,
it's And here's the bad news ross for those listening
ahead of the Friday night game, which will be an
Apple TV Plus game, which means you will listen for
free on the iHeartRadio app. Also, I think I'm out
of my free trials on Apple. I think I'm exhausted those.
Speaker 2 (03:32):
You run out of emails, Yeah, sign up with I've.
Speaker 4 (03:35):
Tried another one.
Speaker 3 (03:36):
But regardless, I mean, you talk about a pitching mix
mismatch as good as Nathan Evaldi was or I'm sorry,
Jacob de Grom was last night, Avaldi has an even
lower eerra. I want to say, it's like one seventy two.
Speaker 2 (03:50):
Yeah, he's been great.
Speaker 4 (03:50):
He's on my fantasy team, so I know how good
he's been.
Speaker 2 (03:53):
But there we even talk about who's throwing.
Speaker 3 (03:55):
For the lance freaking mccullors has got to show something, man.
And here's the deal, Like, bro, I don't care if
you go four earned and you give four innings, you
give him four runs. He's got to eat up some innings,
Like he's got to get deeper into a game. You
know that first time I was encouraging he only got
through what was it just under four innings, but.
Speaker 5 (04:16):
He got squeezed on a should have been a strike three.
He was three and two thirds should have been four
innings pitched.
Speaker 3 (04:21):
But the bigger part of that game, Ross was it
was a scoreless outing. Like he didn't give up a run. Yes,
and he had some strikeouts, I want to say, three
or four strikeouts, So there were signs and glimpses of
the old lands MC Colors. And then this past weekend
against the Reds, Oh my god, it was just an
absolute disaster. All the storylines of the Colors back at
(04:42):
Dyke And Park, first time, you know, back on the
mount in Houston in years, and it was just an
abject disaster. He could not get it out to save
his life. And hard contact, I mean literally just no
break on the ball. It was just sitting up there
on the zone. They're just coming after it. And then
when he did try to throw some stuff, the movement
it was all outside the zone. It was walk walk,
(05:03):
So he has got to show something tight. Now, the
good news is Rangers offense hadn't been they haven't been
world beaters this year, so maybe it's a you know,
catching them at the right time. But yeah, I mean
you talk about pitching matchup the Colors first.
Speaker 5 (05:16):
Of all, the yeah, Astro's rightfully like two to one
Dogs and tonight's game and we'll see how it plays.
You know, if you're listening to this after the game,
lancemer Colors was great. Lance were Colors was gotchelled, like,
we'll we'll find out what That's the beauty of all
we talk sports podcasts. I love obviously living in a
sports radio world.
Speaker 4 (05:33):
And right now, Ross no chance.
Speaker 2 (05:39):
Ball, it's just not gonna happen. I like that.
Speaker 5 (05:41):
Yeah, But the fun part about it is at some
point the talking is done and you shut up and
you watch and you see what happens.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
And that was we're gonna see with Lancewick Colors Junior.
Speaker 5 (05:49):
So uh, obviously confidence at an all time low for
me right now.
Speaker 2 (05:53):
He could bounce back and you're not asking for him.
Speaker 5 (05:56):
To go out there and throw six shut out or
seven one innings, a one run ball or something like that. Honestly,
if he can give you close to what Colton Gordon
did in his major league debut, what was at four
and a third three earned runs, Like, just give give
you something because Hunter Brown had the complete game yesterday,
so your bullpen is fresh there.
Speaker 2 (06:13):
That was much needed if you as you're on this.
Speaker 5 (06:15):
Stretch of seventeen games in seventeen days, so if you
can just give you a little something and you could
piece something together Nick a run or two off of
Nata Valdi and win a game. It would be huge
for really the psyche of everyone, right for Lansma Coullors
Junior first and foremost, he's been through so much, but
for Joe A. Spotted to have confidence, for Dana Brown
(06:37):
to have confidence and not have to make some sort
of roster move, and then for all of us as
fans who watched the team, it would be such a
relief to see him go out there and at least
look competent because.
Speaker 2 (06:50):
You need him in this series to get outs.
Speaker 5 (06:53):
You're gonna need him this season now once we get
the Hayden Wesnsky news that probably it's gonna be Tommy
John surgery, you're gonna need him for for the rest
of this year as a practical matter right now, it's
not all the all these narratives and all this lancecmer
Colors Junior stuff and Willie your Woni.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
You need him as on the mound to perform for
you this year.
Speaker 4 (07:11):
Yeah, here's the thing.
Speaker 3 (07:12):
The way Hunter Brown's pitching right now, and fromber for
that matter, Rombert has been awesome back to being awesome lately.
Runout Blanco has had a couple of good I mean
a shutout against the Reds last time. Out. I mean,
he's showing signs, so those are that's your one two three.
All you're asking for is what call is to be
a four or five, and you know the reality is
Spencer Orghetty.
Speaker 4 (07:33):
We heard an update on him. Is he throwing?
Speaker 5 (07:35):
Getting like Joe Spotta wouldn't give a timeline on Thursday
when he was asked to excuse me a Wednesday when
he was asked about.
Speaker 3 (07:44):
It, Yeah, I mean you got to think he's at
least maybe getting close to starting thorough base.
Speaker 2 (07:48):
He's throwing, and we're in the middle of May. We're
talking probably a month minute.
Speaker 3 (07:51):
I mean, the prognosis a couple of weeks ago is oh,
it's not as bad as he thought, and we think
this thing will heal quickly and all that. So anyway,
we'll visit him when he comes back when when Erica
he gets back. Shoot if the one two three is
pitching like they are, the great Spencer's sliding that four.
Speaker 4 (08:05):
Spot and hold that down.
Speaker 3 (08:06):
But yes, the news you mentioned on Hayden was nesky
and and another one where we hadn't gotten much details.
Joe spot is saying yesterday they're still in a holding
pattern with Hayden was Nesky, who was with the team
in Arlington, Dana Brown saying the team should know more
in the next thirty six hours.
Speaker 4 (08:24):
Uh, I mean read between the lines.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
What does that mean? Like they got to get the deductible. Uh,
they gotta get the surgery approved by well done.
Speaker 3 (08:30):
It sound like second opinion that they didn't like what
they heard the first doctor say.
Speaker 5 (08:34):
It sounds like they're crossing all the t's and dotting
all the eyes for Tommy John surgeries.
Speaker 3 (08:39):
And not to say he was he was setting the
world on fire, but he was giving you good out.
You know, as a number five pictuer in your arsenal,
that's what you're asking to be. And he's a hometown
kid getting a picture for the Astros. You just you thought, Okay,
he's gonna be great and you don't have to worry
about him all year. And unfortunately that's that'd be a
(08:59):
massive hole to fill without him. Ryan Gusto has been
the first candidate who's had a couple starts here and
he's been just okay, I mean, it is what it is.
The hope is if he stays in this rotation, he
just gives you a chance to win. That's all you
can ask out of your number five guy, and then
Colton Gordon again wasn't great, wasn't terrible, you know, his
first outing. Hopefully he can build off it. I do
(09:22):
like he does pitch the contact, throws strikes, so yeah,
that's to me.
Speaker 2 (09:25):
I like his attitude and his demeanor. Just hearing him
talk to the media as well.
Speaker 4 (09:28):
Yeah, so we'll see.
Speaker 3 (09:29):
But you almost look at it ROSSI go, Gusto, Gordon, mccullors.
Speaker 4 (09:35):
Do y'all have to step up? I'm sorry too. You
have to rise to the occasion.
Speaker 5 (09:40):
Yeah, it's something we talked about spring training is like, okay,
we like our one through five, what is it going
to be after that? And unfortunately this has come to
pass that you've run into these injury issues as we
know is going to happen with guys and pitching injuries
that have been cropping up over the last several years.
So you're here and yeah, you need performances least replacement
(10:01):
level to us, hopefully slightly above from those guys. And
it especially hurts the way that the bats have been struggling.
This would be much less of a worry if the
guys would be putting it together at the plate. And
Jordon can get back healthy, which hopefully he will this
weekend or at least by the start of the Tampa
Bay series.
Speaker 3 (10:22):
I'll tell you this and this is where I want
to pivot. You mentioned the hitters. First off, update on
Juron Alvarez. This was from yesterday with Joe Aspata quote,
he's better, He's really close.
Speaker 4 (10:35):
I feel like I could hear Joe spot say that
he's really really close.
Speaker 3 (10:37):
He's really close. Okay, great, what's close? I mean the
days go by like you keep saying that. But they
said he was hitting in the cage yesterday. Again, good,
he's a few days away. Good Phil, I really feel
today was one of the best days I've seen from him.
So you know, maybe some point this weekend we see
because because inter the thing with jord On, he's shown
(10:58):
this when he's come back from little dinks and injuries.
He hates going to the miners. So a lot of
times Jordan doesn't need a minor league start, rehab start.
He literally picks up a back goes I'm ready yeah,
and they put him back.
Speaker 5 (11:11):
If he's swinging he's a designated hitter and I'm like, yeah,
I just put him in there.
Speaker 3 (11:14):
Bell but it is wild ross And when we talk
about getting Jordan back, great, but he was batting two
ten on the season before he left. It's not exactly
like you're getting a huge shot in the arm of
one of your best hitters back, like he just he
wasn't really producing.
Speaker 5 (11:30):
Yeah, your hope, of course, was that this injury was
hampering him. They kind of hinted at it. I think
at first they tried to say, no, this is a
new injury, just popped up on the day that he
went on the eel. But then they kind of backed
off of that, like, yeah, something he's been trying to
deal with, trying to play through, so it kind of
get it out of the way, get him back one
hundred percent healthy to where he can be swinging the
(11:50):
bat like we know he has. Even with that, as
ineffective as he he had been, he was still getting
a lot of hard hit contact. So hopefully that can
continue the days off whatever, because they need him this.
This team is not winning this division if Jordan Alvarez
isn't hitting like one of the best players in the planet.
Speaker 3 (12:07):
But here we are, almost two months into the season
and I'm flabbergasted by this. I know you lose Alex Bragman,
you lose Kyle Tucker. It is what it is. But
the fact there were only two hitters ross batting two
sixty five or better. One is Jake Myers and the
others Jeremy Paine. Ge Paine is batting three to thirteen.
He is having I don't know that it goes as
(12:30):
far as saying MVP type season, but he is having
it an all.
Speaker 4 (12:33):
Season type type season.
Speaker 2 (12:34):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (12:34):
I mean, Bobby Wait Junior is going to be the
starter obviously in the American League, but he's been very good.
Speaker 3 (12:38):
And then Jake Myers batting two ninety three, and I
just keep saying, keep squeezing that juice as much as
you can as.
Speaker 4 (12:44):
Long as he's giving me.
Speaker 3 (12:45):
Sound great, But what do you make of I mean,
do Zenzo's actually been halfway decent. He's two sixty four,
Karattini's two sixty two, and then Eastak paratus has come
around to two sixty, but he got Altuve dropping by
the day he's down to two fifty and everybody else
on the steam is batting below two fifty.
Speaker 5 (13:02):
Yeah, it's a case by case basis. I mean, we
can go through the list. It's nice to see the
Jeremy Paine your breakout. I think I have more confidence
in faith that that is going to sustain over Jake Myers.
Even as president of the Jake Myers Fan Club, We're
not going to say that dude's just going to be
a career two thirty hitter and all of a sudden
he's gonna hit three hundred. Number is probably gonna go down,
and probably a little bit to some extent for Jeremy Penny,
(13:22):
but I think he'll still be able to stabilize.
Speaker 2 (13:25):
But as far as those guys that you mentioned in
the back end of the lineup, yeah, Christian Walker's got
to be better.
Speaker 5 (13:29):
Dude's on an zero for sixteen right now. That is
that is not acceptable. And then jose Al Tuve, we
got to figure out what's going on there. He declined
last year to a seven to ninety great number ops
from over nine hundred the year before, and he started
off the season hot, but he has cooled significantly to
(13:49):
where what he's at like six fifty five, six sixty
five something like that, and he's obviously not providing.
Speaker 2 (13:55):
A whole lot of value in the field.
Speaker 5 (13:57):
So he's got a hit and he's got to turn
it around at some point because his other type of
numbers like average exit velocity and XBA and bat speed,
all those numbers are down from last year. And I'm
starting to get a little concerned as he just turns
thirty five to what he still has left in the tank.
Speaker 3 (14:18):
And it's crazy too, because Ross his defense actually hadn't
been bad and left field, Like if you'd have told
me too much in the season that we'd be talking
more about al two vas bat than his defense.
Speaker 5 (14:29):
He left field, he made a guice catch I think
it was like sixty five feet he had ran from
making a bit pulling it up sixty seven feet that
he ran tracking down a nice grab in the field yesterday.
So yeah, he hasn't completely embarrassed himself. And then that's
totally okay. Arm strength isn't there, but that's all right.
You got to put him somewhere, and he's supposed to produce.
Speaker 2 (14:51):
At the plate.
Speaker 3 (14:51):
Yeah, and he's actually played a couple games back at
second here as late as well.
Speaker 2 (14:55):
But some DH with jord On out as well.
Speaker 3 (14:57):
Yeah, so you know, again, he's got to pick it up.
I feel like he will, though, like his just track
record to be in a three hundred hitter. I feel
like he will pick it up, but I'm worried about
and let's get to it. The guy who currently ranks
dead last on the team and hitting one of your
prized off season acquisitions is Christian Walker, and the batting
average is down to two oh three and the OPS
(15:19):
is down to six'. Ten this is a guy who
just went over fifty strikeouts on the season. Already, again
we're not even two months into the. Season fifty one
strikeouts and he continues to bat fourth every. NIGHT i
JUST i look at it and, Say Joe, SPOT i get, it,
man you gotta let a guy break, through get let
a guy break out of this. Whatever but at what, Point,
(15:42):
rosster they decide to slide him down in the lineup
at least a spot or.
Speaker 2 (15:45):
Two, well because he's killing you for who?
Speaker 4 (15:49):
Anyone that's the.
Speaker 2 (15:51):
Problem, look everyone.
Speaker 3 (15:52):
Else has better batting, average everybody.
Speaker 4 (15:55):
Else Cam smith ahead Of aim.
Speaker 5 (15:58):
Is, Terrible kartini And decenzo's been. Fine Jake myers is
not a cleanup. Hitter Mauricio dubon, like, yeah in, Theory
i'm with. You this guy's not a cleanup. Hitter he's
not hitting like a cleanup hitter at. All but it's, like,
yeah move him down for who He you want to
keep him up, there you want him to kind of.
Speaker 2 (16:16):
Continue it's not like a necessarily confidence thing or.
Speaker 5 (16:18):
WHATEVER i, mean he's got to produce and AND i
guess the good thing for him is he's not gonna
get slid down because it's not like anybody is just
banging the drum and banging the door down to get
moved up in the. Lineup Jeremy pania was at the
start of the season and he's been your leadoff guy
and he's been.
Speaker 2 (16:33):
Good so you can shuffle.
Speaker 5 (16:35):
Around these uh these car decks of cards however you,
want but at the end of the, day The astros
are holding a bad.
Speaker 3 (16:41):
Hand yonderdaz is abouting three twenty this, month so his
numbers have come, up SO i would ALMOST i mean flip. Flop,
okay you Put Yondard diaz four And walker from.
Speaker 5 (16:51):
Wherever you put, him if you put him four or
four or, five and that's not really going to change
the complexion of the game that.
Speaker 2 (16:56):
Much he's. Got they both have to turn it, around
and they don't both have to.
Speaker 3 (16:59):
Produce but the problem is what's happening more often than
not is. Ross how many times have you watched An
astros game in the last couple of weeks where it's
it's middle of an inning and it's two men on
one out And Christian walker comes.
Speaker 5 (17:11):
Up he's been horrible with. That since caring, position he's
been horrible to do. ANYTHING i think we went through
the number one was it forty one abs and twenty.
Speaker 2 (17:17):
Strikeouts that's.
Speaker 3 (17:18):
Unacceptable, Yeah so that's WHERE i, say you, say are
you going to put up there anybody? Else because everyone
else is at least hit getting more hits than. You
so That's that's just simply WHAT i would. Say and,
Again i'm not saying he's a bust of a. Signing
i'm not saying he's the Next jose Of Bray. You
i'm just saying he needs to, uh he's gotta gets confidence.
(17:39):
Back and remember he missed basically almost all spring training
with the uh what was the pull the latte?
Speaker 5 (17:45):
Oblique, yeah the oblique, injury and he, honestly he came
back pretty quickly from. That and it's a it's an
injury that's hold held him out for dozens of games
before and is it concern for. Me it is in
the back of my. Mind here's the.
Speaker 3 (17:57):
Catch if that is, alien aren't you better served him
take a month off get yourself, right as opposed to
putting him out every day and.
Speaker 4 (18:06):
Struggling, yes, YES i MEAN i think that's where we.
Speaker 5 (18:09):
Are AND i don't, know if you, know we don't.
Know we don't know is is he heard and he's
not saying? Anything do they know that he's hurt and
they're trying to monitor, him and maybe they're trying to
hold on hold water until your gun comes back and
put him. OUT i, mean there's any one hundred or
maybe he's one hundred percent healthy and he's just stinking
up the.
Speaker 2 (18:25):
Joint we don't. Know we don't.
Speaker 5 (18:26):
Know those are conversations that are happening in the, clubhouse
and those are in the heart and mind Of Christian.
Walker so we just have to speculate and, say we see,
this these data points That Christian walker is, struggling and
then we have to go from there and kind of
work our way backwards and figure out.
Speaker 4 (18:42):
Why. Yeah, well, LOOK i just HOPE i hope he
turns it.
Speaker 3 (18:46):
AROUND i, mean he had a couple of moments here
about a week and a half ago and we, Went,
okay maybe he's turning the. Corner and then the very next,
night oh for five with three. Strikeouts it's, like, man
he just cannot find any. Consistency but he just has.
To he's gonna have to be because it's not exactly
like there's a bunch of dudes In TRIPLE a knocking
at the door wanting to get their opportunity to up,
here come show what they can. DO i, mean even
(19:07):
one of the guys who was playing very well this
year At TRIPLE, A Bryce, MATTHEWS i THINK i saw
just one on the. Il so again it's you, know
if he was a guy you were hoping to movie
call up at some, point he's.
Speaker 4 (19:20):
He's out for. Now SO i JUST i don't.
Speaker 3 (19:24):
KNOW i just look at this lineup and, say they
have to find a way to produce. Runs the pitching
has been good, enough at least your starting you, know
the front end of your starting rotation has been good.
Enough and then how about some most of the BULLPEN i,
mean this might be the best bullpen ross collectively they've.
Speaker 2 (19:38):
Had, yeah and.
Speaker 4 (19:39):
How they're producing since the twenty twenty Two World.
Speaker 5 (19:42):
Series TAK i, looked, WELL i guess it would be pretty. Consistent,
YESTERDAY i THINK i looked and they had the second
best bullpen in terms OF era and, baseball behind maybe The.
Speaker 2 (19:49):
Giants so, yeah it's been one of the best. Best,
yeah and we've been worried about.
Speaker 5 (19:53):
It, hey and we talked, about oh what about this
guy and that guy and that. GUY i, Mean Brian
king's been really. Good Josh hater has and absolutely nails
and bray you and then those other guys stepping. Up
you just Released Taylor, scott one of the guys.
Speaker 4 (20:06):
Got pouring out for Homie, Taylor san.
Speaker 2 (20:08):
Guy we appreciate, you thank you for your service last.
Speaker 5 (20:10):
Year for, look The astros probably don't win the division
Without Taylor scott doing what he. Did it was like
sixty two games of two point two to three e.
Speaker 2 (20:18):
Light he was.
Speaker 3 (20:19):
Huge you look at his. Career, yeah that was the.
Outlier he will never have a season like.
Speaker 5 (20:23):
That he flew above the clouds and he was going
to come back down at some, point and unfortunately it
did and he's off the. Team so wishing him well
and all that type of. Stuff and but the, otherwise the,
bullpen even with those numbers Of Taylor scott being. Poor
you're one of the best bullpens in.
Speaker 3 (20:38):
Baseball but but guys Like Steven, okert what a. FIND i,
mean he's a guy that was not good last. Year
AND i want to Say, minnesota but he's been.
Speaker 2 (20:46):
Awesome BUT i think two years ago he was good
somewhere else In.
Speaker 4 (20:49):
MIAMI i can't.
Speaker 2 (20:50):
Remember, YEAH i can't keep track all these.
Speaker 3 (20:52):
Journeymen and Then Brian king is a guy that you
found a gem in last year and he.
Speaker 4 (20:56):
Seems to only have gotten.
Speaker 3 (20:57):
Better it's, Awesome and that's great when you have A
Brian abreu who's been nails as your eighth inning, guy
And Josh hater has been every bit of what you
paid top dollar for for one of the best closers
in the. League so you got all that working for.
You you just have to find ways to manufacture. Runs
and that's WHERE i go to the. WHOLE i, mean
(21:18):
if we got a butt for a, week let's butt
for a. Week do something we gotta do to do
that cut a man on butt him over Sackfly like
remember who was it they played earlier in the, year
had a bad, offense but they scored some.
Speaker 4 (21:31):
Runs it was like.
Speaker 2 (21:32):
Oh The White socks had a bad offense and scored
some runs against The, Astros.
Speaker 3 (21:36):
White sox Or cardinals or. Something it was somebody who played,
hard probably. Too they get a man, on they butt
him over sor.
Speaker 2 (21:42):
Right this is this is not nineteen twenty.
Speaker 3 (21:45):
Six But i'm just, saying when the pitching is so
to waste A Hunter brown eight, inning one run ball,
starting he takes an L.
Speaker 2 (21:51):
Yeah well it's the. Problem, yeah The gram was really.
GOOD i, mean let's be.
Speaker 5 (21:54):
ON i, mean he's one of the best pitchers of
all time when he's actually. Healthy they and out there
on the. Mound so, yeah De gram spun a.
Speaker 2 (22:02):
Gym it was bad.
Speaker 5 (22:03):
Luck you really would have liked to get that, one,
because as we, mentioned you have The Nate avaldi Versus
lance mc colors junior matchup later, today and THEN i,
Mean Renewe Blanco Tyler maylee has been really good this
year so far for The rangers as.
Speaker 2 (22:17):
Well and THEN i.
Speaker 5 (22:19):
Can't remember This sunday matchup and who's supposed to pitch
for The astros, there but.
Speaker 4 (22:23):
It's probably gonna Be, gusta, Right, YEAH i think, So.
Speaker 2 (22:27):
And he was not good at his last. Start it
would have been nice to Get Hunter brown on the
mount and get a.
Speaker 4 (22:30):
DUB i want to, Say Jack, lighter he started off, well.
Speaker 5 (22:33):
He, Did he's, yeah he's backed off a. Little he
got a. BLISTER i think it. Was it hasn't been you,
know it hasn't been as effective as he was early
in the. Season but he's shown some flashes and he
WAS i think at one point one of the top.
PROSPECTS i get my lighters mixed.
Speaker 3 (22:48):
Up last time out he went six ivingk a one
on the, ball but it was The, rocky so you can.
Speaker 2 (22:52):
Count The rockies are.
Speaker 3 (22:54):
Terrible but, YEAH i mean this is just a big.
Series here's the big. One you cannot get swept this.
Serious if you get swept this, YEAR i don't even
say that you were talking about The Ale West. RACE i,
mean it's it's already The. Mariners how they've. Played The
mariners have built up that lead ross in the, division
and now they've lost seven in the last, ten so
they've they've kind of come back to the to the.
(23:14):
Field The rangers are half a game behind, them The
asters are one and a half games back in.
Speaker 5 (23:18):
Them that tells me even if you get, SWEPT i
Mean it's not gonna be a. Disaster, obviously you don't
want it to. Happen but it's so.
Speaker 3 (23:23):
Much of last, season, right it was every time that
it was like two and a, half bind The, rangers
three and a, half bind The rangers two and a
half by the, range.
Speaker 2 (23:29):
And last year they still won the.
Speaker 5 (23:30):
Division, now of course you. Did it took a little
second of your, FLAPS i mean The. MARINERS i think
that was a little bit underplayed storyline is how hard
The mariners collapsed to help The astros make up all
those games so. Quickly but it can. TURN i still have.
Confidence you get Yord on, Back Christian walker turns it
around to some.
Speaker 2 (23:48):
Degree to they we'll.
Speaker 5 (23:51):
See But Jeremy, payne you keep it, Up Jake myers
to a certain, extent keep some of that, up and
this lineup will be, okay not gonna be, great not
gonna be top five like they have been in years,
past but coming into, today sixteenth and team, ops if
they can get that number up to like twelfth to,
tenth and then with the pitching they, have they can
win this.
Speaker 2 (24:09):
Division i'm with.
Speaker 3 (24:10):
You let's see what happens, here and after this weekend
you get a quick three games out In, tampa and
then you come home for a nice extended home stand
with four Against, seattle two Against, oakland four Against tampa, again.
Speaker 2 (24:25):
Ten game home stand tied for the longest all season.
Speaker 3 (24:28):
Long, yeah so that should Be this should be a
place where again find a way to just you know
What i'm going to say out of May, ross stay
above five.
Speaker 4 (24:36):
Hundred, okay that should be the goal for the stay
above five.
Speaker 2 (24:39):
Hundred that's a good.
Speaker 3 (24:40):
Goal i'd love for you to be jumping to THE
Al west lead and grab a hold of this, thing
BUT i just don't think that's realistic right. Now, so but,
GOD i just hate those of Those. Rangers they just
hate The. Rangers by the, Way i'll pose this question to.
You somebody asked me this yesterday, collectively would you rather
The Houston Pro sports teams right now or The Dallas
Pro sports teams right?
Speaker 2 (25:01):
Now, well they're Getting Cooper Flag Anthony, Davis SO i
Think Kyrie everying's going to. Stay we don't have any
word on, that do, We, Cowboys Dak, Prasca i'm Taking.
Speaker 4 (25:09):
Houston, yeah good, answer good.
Speaker 2 (25:12):
Answer all The stars did they make the playoffs.
Speaker 4 (25:14):
Or, yeah they're good went. Deep they're, good BUT i
don't can't count them off hockey.
Speaker 2 (25:18):
Here i'm In, Houston. TEXAS i don't follow. Hockey i'm.
Speaker 3 (25:20):
Sorry, Yeah, Rockets, Texans astros all playoff. Teams question, Mark
we'll see Us astros better break the, playoffs all? Right
that is gonna do it for this edition of The
Crawford Box. Cast appreciate you. Guys relicion makes make sure
you grab a high School crawford back while you're watching The.
Astros it pairs perfectly With astros. Baseball whenever you're eating, peanuts,
popcorn hot, dogs cracker, jack whatever it, is grab yourself
(25:42):
At Crawford back and.
Speaker 4 (25:44):
Look do drink.
Speaker 3 (25:45):
Responsibly but if you're doing it at, home enjoy watching
The astros or listening on sports talks and ANY a
reminder for those who are listening to This, Sunday this Coming,
sunday what's the DATE i get lost in the? Days
the twenty, eighteenth Eighteenth may, eighteenth the astor is doing
A fishal watch party out Of Carbock brewing once. Again
former Astor Chris sampson is going to be in the.
(26:05):
House i'll be there doing the pregame show starting at
eleven and then noon game On. Sunday because it is
A roku. Game roku picked it, up so it's a
twelve oh Five central first pitch On, Sunday APPLE tv game,
Tonight roku game On, sunday and, again if you're looking
for something to do with the, family coming out To
Carbock brewing and enjoyed ig, school, Cruffer, bock, drinks, specials family,
(26:28):
fun all kinds of fun stuff going on for you
over there the beer garden At Carbock.
Speaker 4 (26:32):
Brewing I'm Chris.
Speaker 3 (26:33):
Gordy he Is Ross vreel'll talk to you next week
for an all new edition of The Karl Box, cast
presented By Carbock brewing
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