September 12, 2025 • 16 mins
The Houston Astros' playoff lives are on the line the next two weeks as they have a major homestand approaching with the Seattle Mariners and the Texas Rangers. The Astros' AL West lead has dwindled, as they head to Atlanta to take on a struggling Braves team.
Injuries have piled up for Houston, and the lineup has been inconsistent scoring runs, but they will have to to dig deep to lock in their postseason berth. The Crawford Boxcast presented by Karbach Brewing.
Injuries have piled up for Houston, and the lineup has been inconsistent scoring runs, but they will have to to dig deep to lock in their postseason berth. The Crawford Boxcast presented by Karbach Brewing.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:09):
Astros fans cheers, Rocking Luckey, Welcome to the Crawford Box Casts.
Crowd lead Ford for you by Crawford Bach from Carmack Brewy.
You're getting that bear?
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Oh my godness.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
The Crawford Box cast starts.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
Now here we go.
Speaker 1 (00:30):
Here's Chris Gordy and Ross via Real.
Speaker 3 (00:34):
We're along here on the Crawford box Cast, presented by
Carbock Browing and the Crawford Bach and Man. This time
of year is normally when we are rocking and rolling
and the Crawford back goes down smooth. But Ross the
Crawford Bach is uh, I mean it. The beer still
tastes great, but the baseball in the field has not
been fun to watch or fun to enjoy. As Astros,
(00:58):
the collapse has happened, and then they have been caught.
The Seattle Mariners as of this recording Friday afternoon, tied
with the Astros in the standings both at seventy nine
and sixty eight. Mariners are on a six game win streak.
Rangers are on a four game win streak. They are
just two back of Houston and Atlanta Braves. This weekend,
Ross in Atlanta and then next Monday, the last home
(01:20):
stand for the Astros, would you know it? Three against
the Mariners and three against the Rangers. So this next
week will basically decide the Astros postseason fate.
Speaker 4 (01:30):
Yeah, pretty funny how it's shaping up here down the stretch.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
I guess.
Speaker 4 (01:34):
Yeah, the Crawford Box have been more for nervousness rather
than celebration unfortunately. But yeah, I look, we kind of
been talking about this week to week here on this podcast,
like are they gonna get it done? Are they gonna
get it done? Are they gonna start hitting? Are they
gonna stop having pitching injuries pile up? And none of
that has happened. So here we sit again we will say, hey,
(01:57):
they're in first place. They do I mean an extent,
to a very very good extent, control your their own destiny.
Speaker 2 (02:03):
As you said, you get both.
Speaker 4 (02:06):
Of the teams that you're fighting for in your house,
and other than that, you've got easy or in deary
easy series against the Braves, Athletics and Angels, who especially
those last two series, they're just gonna be playing the
string out. So it's still all here in front of you.
We keep saying, when are they gonna wake up? What
are they gonna wake up. And now we're almost like
(02:27):
closing in on one hundred and fifty games into the season.
What's one hundred and forty seven? And I don't know
that it's gonna happen, but it's either they're gonna be
good enough or they're not. And so far the Mariners
have been better uh than they have and and my
belief in them making the playoffs is still strong. But
as far as winning the American League West and then
even if and when they get into the playoffs making
(02:48):
any sort of sort of noise, it's difficult to picture
right now.
Speaker 3 (02:53):
Yeah, and the uh some some roster movement here in
the last day as we uh we find doubt that
the Astros have called up prospect Zach Cole, outfielder from
Sugar Line. I feel like I just read recently of
Brian McTaggert saying Zach Cole got called up to Triple
A and now he is head now to join the
(03:14):
big league club and the option says our Salazar back
to Triple A. I'm sure from Bravaldas celebrated that one
uh they transferred Luis Garcia to the sixty day I
L so you knew that was bad when when he
last when he left his start. But it's pretty crazy
because think of the other you know, last time we
did this or us. I believe Spencer Aarraghetty was was
(03:37):
back in pitching and he was okay. Luis Garcia was
back at pitching fine, And now here we are a
week later, arag Getty's hurt. Lais Garcia is basically done.
I don't think. I don't know if they've given a
full update on on him yet, but I mean, this
is this is just getting out of hand.
Speaker 4 (03:53):
Yeah, it's it's crazy and we'll see if anything, what
if anything, Zach Cole can provide. He was super hot
at Triple A fifteen games. He had an average of
three fifty three ops over twelve hundred five home runs.
Speaker 2 (04:07):
And we always say, well PCL, PCL.
Speaker 4 (04:10):
All those games were either in Sugarland or Round Rock,
so he had been mashing down there.
Speaker 2 (04:14):
He's twenty five years old.
Speaker 4 (04:16):
He's not one of the top prospects in baseball, but
could he be a little bit of a shot of
the arm as far as a left handed bat does
project well as an outfielder from a speed standpoint, like
a thirty thirty time the prospect profile I read sounded
pretty good from MLV pipeline thirty thirty threat and plays
well in the field.
Speaker 2 (04:34):
I mean that sounds good.
Speaker 4 (04:36):
So we'll see what happens there is he's been kind
of climbing the ranks as a twenty five year old
in the Astros farm system and if he can provide anything,
but yeah, hopefully you'll get something out of him. We'll
see And then yeah, the Lance McCullers junior thing. I mean,
this saga, unfortunately is just has has been sad and
now you know you have to sit here in question.
Speaker 2 (04:59):
Did he have a bl house sores his hand? What's
happening here?
Speaker 4 (05:03):
Went out last the last time out and was in
relief and had one good inning and then one bad inning.
Are they just going to try to reset and reshuffle
the deck for next year? I don't know what's going
on with him.
Speaker 3 (05:13):
Yeah, to give everybody even touch him those Dana Brown
did me with the media prior to Friday's game and
did say no word on a second opinion yet for
Luis Garci or Spencer or Getty, but then did mention
Lance mccullors is on the il with right hand soreness
and is headed back to Houston. I mean, I would
just go ahead and say say it now. I mean,
he's not gonna be on the postseason roster. I mean
(05:34):
even if he was healthy, the way he was pitching
was not reliable, and they thought, okay, well maybe moving
to the bullpen, maybe that'll be less pressure on him.
And still it was like almost every time he went
out there, he couldn't not give up a run. In fact,
the one outing he didn't give up a run in
recent weeks was in the game against the Rangers in
(05:56):
the extra innings where they lose in twelve innings. He
gives up the run, but it was the inherited runner,
so it wasn't a earned run. So it's but I
mean literally, Tommy, every time he's pitched a run, an
opposing run has scored when the Colors has gone out there.
So look, it's just it's not good with him. You know,
did things went south for Luis Garcia, Spencer Raghetti? And
(06:19):
now I'll look at Christian Hovey, are going, please, dude,
like we need you in bubble wrap? Because he's basically
him and Jason Alexander are their third best options behind
Hunter Brand and from Bervalvez.
Speaker 4 (06:29):
A guy a year off of Tommy John surgery who
has been shaky, and then a guy that was defayed
from the A's earlier this year.
Speaker 2 (06:36):
This is who are hanging our hupes on. Man, It's tough.
Speaker 4 (06:40):
It's tough out there these Astros streets in twenty twenty five.
The way things just kind of keep piling up, and
the declines you've seen from some of the guys in
the lineup, or just inconsistencies.
Speaker 2 (06:49):
Whatever you want to put it, however you want to.
Speaker 4 (06:51):
Put it, it's it's this is the worst I could
ever feel about a team being in first place in middleseptem.
Speaker 3 (07:00):
Right, No, it's it's wild because and look the pitching injuries,
notwithstanding your pitching overall has been pretty strong. I mean,
it's it's kept you in games. It's just the lack
of offense continues to rear its ugly head. We saw
a Thursday again in Toronto. You get shut out by
Kevin Gossman, who was nine and ten on the season.
He gets his tenth to win to go to ten
(07:21):
and ten exactly five hundred. But it's like they just
they've had too many of those these performances lately where
they score two runs or less and they're losing those games.
It's it's almost like they have to get to four
runs or better for them to get a win. And
you just look at this lineup up and down, and man,
they just in their inconsistent Yeah.
Speaker 4 (07:44):
I mean I was looking at this earlier today. Now,
of course the lineup looks pretty dangerous now, I mean
Paenya is Paenya, Alvarez, Korea, al tuo Ve, Sanchez, Diez
Walker as your top seven. That sounds good, yeah, but
al Tuove has been scuffling for too long. You know,
Sanchez very hit or miss. Yanar Diaz had a you know,
five hits in the first two games of the Toronto series.
(08:04):
But he and Kristian Walker, we know I have far
too often been inconsistent this season, and for whatever reason,
they just can't not consistently put it together. Even with
the top seven in that lineup sounding as dangerous as
it is, yeah, because.
Speaker 2 (08:18):
It should be.
Speaker 3 (08:19):
And then and then you know, quick noting on yourd
on Alvarez since he you know, he missed one hundred
games since he came off the il Ston on August
twenty sixth. He is batting four fifteen with three home runs,
nine runs, bat ten walks. So yeah, I mean Jordon's
pulling his weight. And again I always I keep continue
to bring it up. It feels like Carlos Kraa just
gets base, hit base hity didn't have a couple of
(08:40):
home runs here in the last week that that that helped.
But Al two vey has been the black hole man.
That's been the one that I have a friend who's
who's angry that all two V's batting forth. He's like,
move him, move him somewhere else. I'm like, where do
you move them? Second, I mean, I don't know where
you want to bat him when he's just when he's
going through a funk.
Speaker 4 (08:58):
Yeah, it kind of doesn't matter wherever al twove is
hitting in this lineup.
Speaker 2 (09:01):
He has to perform.
Speaker 4 (09:02):
And it's like, yeah, in lieu of who he's WHU
Sanchez not that great, Jannar Diaz up and down, Christian
Walker up and down, and then you're up into the
real back of the lineup that you're not going to
put any of those guys in the cleanup spot. So
he has gone from one, two, three back to four
in this lineup, So I mean, he's been moved back and.
Speaker 2 (09:21):
You just keep waiting for him to wake up.
Speaker 4 (09:23):
We see a couple stretches this year where he can
get hot as anybody, and that's what we have to
kind of wonder and keep an eye on. I mean,
he is thirty five years old. It is the end
of the season. Where do you say, where do you
draw the line between slump and decline? Is what we
have to figure out with what's happening with Josel Tuvay
right now?
Speaker 3 (09:40):
L two v four hits in the month of September.
We are midway through September. He has four hits. He's
batting one oh eight on the month. One one good
thing that Dana Brown did bring up, and I guess
this is good. He says that East Soak Parades will
take live batting practice tomorrow in Florida, and quote, he
is very confident they have a chance to get him back.
(10:01):
Now you know wordplay there. Not very confident he's coming back,
very confident they have a chance to get him back. So, uh,
you know, I again take it for what it is,
but I think I think in another world, maybe he's saying,
you know, Dana Brown saying no, no, we're just gonna
shut him down. But I think he looks at this
lineup as bad as it is. I mean, they're calling
(10:23):
up Zach freaking Cole. He's looking for any help they
can get. He's the one probably texting Paradis every day.
How we feel him. But hey, you coming back? We
can really use your bat. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (10:32):
That's the thing we have to remember as well, is
that that Estich Paradis was a big part of this lineup,
and really especially with Jordan out. I mean, he was
for stretches carrying this offense and talked about how he
takes his approach and how he takes a lot of
pitches and how he can kind of help work counts
and lengthen the lineup in that way or short and
(10:53):
I would say the outings of the opposing pitchers, and
you desperately need somebody who can do that more consistent.
Speaker 2 (11:00):
Jordon does it.
Speaker 4 (11:01):
But outside of that, I mean, you've got a lot
of guys who go out there hacking in this lineup.
Speaker 3 (11:05):
It's it's just gonna be interesting to see what happens
with this team. I mean, I do think Ross this
uh this weekend, you got a chance against a bad
Braves team to potentially take two out of three. I'm
not even gonna say the S word, but like you know,
go go take care of business. But unfortunately, what for
(11:26):
the Astros, It's gonna be a bullpen game tonight with
the newly called up Jalen Jayden Murray is going to
get the start, but you know he'll basically be an opener,
and this is gonna be a bullpen game with what
perhaps Colton Gordon getting a chance.
Speaker 4 (11:40):
Yeah, I don't know who's gonna be the the headliner,
if it is Colton Gordon or JP France is with
the team as well, or what exactly they're gonna do
from there, But honestly, bullpen games. If this, I'm gonna
tell you what Joe Spott is hoping for. He's hoping
that he can play matchups with a bullpen. You get
the win today and then Hunter Brown and Fromervale does
(12:01):
in the next two games of this series give you
like seven ish innings and then you win this series.
So it can happen like there's a world where they
could use the S word, like you said, where you're
able to play perfect matchup all throughout a game. Then
you have your horses get the job done on Saturday
and Sunday and at the very least come out of
(12:21):
this weekend in Atlanta with two out of three.
Speaker 3 (12:24):
So again, an important series in Atlanta. I just feel like,
you know, whatever happens this weekend, look if they lose
two out of three or get swept, I mean this thing,
it's gonna be really getting interesting. But I mean, Braves
have lost four out of their last five. They did
beat Seattle one game in that series, so they won
the first game and then lost the next two. They
(12:44):
just dropped two out of three to the Cubs after
dropping two out of three the Cups. Before that, they
lost three out of four to the Phillies. So again
this is this is a team that on paper It's
Braves look talented, but they have not played good baseball
at all this season. So I just look at this
as a real opportunity. Astros have to go take you
out of three. Well, keep it on, whatever Seattle and
the Rangers do. But man, I almost looking next week
(13:06):
cross Monday through uh Sunday have to be playoff atmosphere.
It's at dyke In Park.
Speaker 4 (13:12):
Yeah, it'll be interesting and on the Matt Thomas Show
with Ross. Matt was like, nobody do the wave, and
it's like, okay, Yeah, I guess at the end of
the day, you'd like to have a good try, you know,
charged up crowd, home field, atmosphere or whatever.
Speaker 2 (13:27):
But at the end of the day, it's the guys
and they got to get it done in between the lines.
Speaker 4 (13:30):
I mean, you can talk about all this uh you know,
fan fare and all that type of stuff. Go out there,
get some wins, come up with some clutch hits, get
some good performances from starters. Because I am very, very
aware we haven't really touched much on this pod about
yet this bullpen Bray was good last time out, But
outside of that, I'm feeling pretty shaky about just about
(13:51):
everybody as far as holding onto leads.
Speaker 2 (13:54):
Six seventh, eighth, ninth inning of games.
Speaker 3 (13:56):
Yeah, it's it's shaky. Look, Brider Bray, you're alive one.
You had one bad one the other night. You can
you have to be good all the rest of these.
But yeah, how about the lineup for the night? Ross,
Carl's Core leading off, Jeremy Penya not in there, and
Joe Spotta asked a little while ago about Paynya not
being in there. He said, well, look, he's played every
game since he came back from the IL. The plan
(14:17):
is for him not to start the game, but he's
gonna be ready to come in this game as needed.
So it's like it's even you know, and in a
night where they're literally trying to give Paanya his first
night off. So he's come back from the IL, they're
telling him that you're not starting, but you're gonna be
called on at some point to do some of this game.
I mean, it's it's it's crunch time at this point.
It's all hands on deck.
Speaker 4 (14:37):
Yeah, it's tough. You want guys to be fresh. They have,
you know, data and all that type of stuff. See,
the days off really do help guys, especially in the season,
but it's it's tough to give days off when you're
in the thick of the al West the way that
they are.
Speaker 3 (14:49):
Well it is, uh, it is gonna be fascinating to
see what happens here over this next week. Ross and uh, look,
whatever happens, we'll be enjoying Ice School, Crawford Back Firm,
our friends at Carback Brewing. And here's hope the Astros
don't squander this whole thing away as they are in
a tight division race, Seattle Mariners neck and neck with
the Astros, and again that the Astros playoff hopes that
(15:12):
remember last week, I think that percentage chance is like
nine It is now seventy six percent ross. There is
a world where the Astros could get passed by the
Mariners and Rangers and fall out of this thing completely.
So we're not gonna hope for that. We're gonna put
the good juju out there. But let's cross our fingers
and hope this thing goes well. But whatever we do,
when we're watching the actual we'll be joining enjoining ice school.
(15:34):
Crawford Bok from Carbok Burring. You guys do the same,
And how do I know if they're the Carbock. At
least the oppressive heat days are just about over, and
it's funny get out there in the beer garden and
of course the new pizza and pints. They are indoor restaurant,
tons of great family fun over there for you. Add
carback Burring and the great days of the Crawford Bock
goes well just about anywhere you're watching or listening to
Astros Baseball, So Ross Final thoughts before we set off.
Speaker 4 (15:57):
Nope, I just go out there and get it done.
As I said, I'll speak it into existence.
Speaker 2 (16:01):
The vision. The vision is.
Speaker 4 (16:03):
Bullpen matchups Victory, Hunter, Brown and Frobber. Deal over the weekend,
get some dubs, let's go.
Speaker 3 (16:10):
Basically Ross saying, Astros, I have nothing to say to you.
Go prove go, prove it for me.
Speaker 2 (16:15):
For as for.
Speaker 3 (16:16):
Ross, figure ol, I'm Chris Cordon. We'll talk to you guys
next week on The Crawford Box Cast, presented by Carbock
Ber
Astros fans cheers, Rocking Luckey, Welcome to the Crawford Box Casts.
Crowd lead Ford for you by Crawford Bach from Carmack Brewy.
You're getting that bear?
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Oh my godness.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
The Crawford Box cast starts.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
Now here we go.
Speaker 1 (00:30):
Here's Chris Gordy and Ross via Real.
Speaker 3 (00:34):
We're along here on the Crawford box Cast, presented by
Carbock Browing and the Crawford Bach and Man. This time
of year is normally when we are rocking and rolling
and the Crawford back goes down smooth. But Ross the
Crawford Bach is uh, I mean it. The beer still
tastes great, but the baseball in the field has not
been fun to watch or fun to enjoy. As Astros,
(00:58):
the collapse has happened, and then they have been caught.
The Seattle Mariners as of this recording Friday afternoon, tied
with the Astros in the standings both at seventy nine
and sixty eight. Mariners are on a six game win streak.
Rangers are on a four game win streak. They are
just two back of Houston and Atlanta Braves. This weekend,
Ross in Atlanta and then next Monday, the last home
(01:20):
stand for the Astros, would you know it? Three against
the Mariners and three against the Rangers. So this next
week will basically decide the Astros postseason fate.
Speaker 4 (01:30):
Yeah, pretty funny how it's shaping up here down the stretch.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
I guess.
Speaker 4 (01:34):
Yeah, the Crawford Box have been more for nervousness rather
than celebration unfortunately. But yeah, I look, we kind of
been talking about this week to week here on this podcast,
like are they gonna get it done? Are they gonna
get it done? Are they gonna start hitting? Are they
gonna stop having pitching injuries pile up? And none of
that has happened. So here we sit again we will say, hey,
(01:57):
they're in first place. They do I mean an extent,
to a very very good extent, control your their own destiny.
Speaker 2 (02:03):
As you said, you get both.
Speaker 4 (02:06):
Of the teams that you're fighting for in your house,
and other than that, you've got easy or in deary
easy series against the Braves, Athletics and Angels, who especially
those last two series, they're just gonna be playing the
string out. So it's still all here in front of you.
We keep saying, when are they gonna wake up? What
are they gonna wake up. And now we're almost like
(02:27):
closing in on one hundred and fifty games into the season.
What's one hundred and forty seven? And I don't know
that it's gonna happen, but it's either they're gonna be
good enough or they're not. And so far the Mariners
have been better uh than they have and and my
belief in them making the playoffs is still strong. But
as far as winning the American League West and then
even if and when they get into the playoffs making
(02:48):
any sort of sort of noise, it's difficult to picture
right now.
Speaker 3 (02:53):
Yeah, and the uh some some roster movement here in
the last day as we uh we find doubt that
the Astros have called up prospect Zach Cole, outfielder from
Sugar Line. I feel like I just read recently of
Brian McTaggert saying Zach Cole got called up to Triple
A and now he is head now to join the
(03:14):
big league club and the option says our Salazar back
to Triple A. I'm sure from Bravaldas celebrated that one
uh they transferred Luis Garcia to the sixty day I
L so you knew that was bad when when he
last when he left his start. But it's pretty crazy
because think of the other you know, last time we
did this or us. I believe Spencer Aarraghetty was was
(03:37):
back in pitching and he was okay. Luis Garcia was
back at pitching fine, And now here we are a
week later, arag Getty's hurt. Lais Garcia is basically done.
I don't think. I don't know if they've given a
full update on on him yet, but I mean, this
is this is just getting out of hand.
Speaker 4 (03:53):
Yeah, it's it's crazy and we'll see if anything, what
if anything, Zach Cole can provide. He was super hot
at Triple A fifteen games. He had an average of
three fifty three ops over twelve hundred five home runs.
Speaker 2 (04:07):
And we always say, well PCL, PCL.
Speaker 4 (04:10):
All those games were either in Sugarland or Round Rock,
so he had been mashing down there.
Speaker 2 (04:14):
He's twenty five years old.
Speaker 4 (04:16):
He's not one of the top prospects in baseball, but
could he be a little bit of a shot of
the arm as far as a left handed bat does
project well as an outfielder from a speed standpoint, like
a thirty thirty time the prospect profile I read sounded
pretty good from MLV pipeline thirty thirty threat and plays
well in the field.
Speaker 2 (04:34):
I mean that sounds good.
Speaker 4 (04:36):
So we'll see what happens there is he's been kind
of climbing the ranks as a twenty five year old
in the Astros farm system and if he can provide anything,
but yeah, hopefully you'll get something out of him. We'll
see And then yeah, the Lance McCullers junior thing. I mean,
this saga, unfortunately is just has has been sad and
now you know you have to sit here in question.
Speaker 2 (04:59):
Did he have a bl house sores his hand? What's
happening here?
Speaker 4 (05:03):
Went out last the last time out and was in
relief and had one good inning and then one bad inning.
Are they just going to try to reset and reshuffle
the deck for next year? I don't know what's going
on with him.
Speaker 3 (05:13):
Yeah, to give everybody even touch him those Dana Brown
did me with the media prior to Friday's game and
did say no word on a second opinion yet for
Luis Garci or Spencer or Getty, but then did mention
Lance mccullors is on the il with right hand soreness
and is headed back to Houston. I mean, I would
just go ahead and say say it now. I mean,
he's not gonna be on the postseason roster. I mean
(05:34):
even if he was healthy, the way he was pitching
was not reliable, and they thought, okay, well maybe moving
to the bullpen, maybe that'll be less pressure on him.
And still it was like almost every time he went
out there, he couldn't not give up a run. In fact,
the one outing he didn't give up a run in
recent weeks was in the game against the Rangers in
(05:56):
the extra innings where they lose in twelve innings. He
gives up the run, but it was the inherited runner,
so it wasn't a earned run. So it's but I
mean literally, Tommy, every time he's pitched a run, an
opposing run has scored when the Colors has gone out there.
So look, it's just it's not good with him. You know,
did things went south for Luis Garcia, Spencer Raghetti? And
(06:19):
now I'll look at Christian Hovey, are going, please, dude,
like we need you in bubble wrap? Because he's basically
him and Jason Alexander are their third best options behind
Hunter Brand and from Bervalvez.
Speaker 4 (06:29):
A guy a year off of Tommy John surgery who
has been shaky, and then a guy that was defayed
from the A's earlier this year.
Speaker 2 (06:36):
This is who are hanging our hupes on. Man, It's tough.
Speaker 4 (06:40):
It's tough out there these Astros streets in twenty twenty five.
The way things just kind of keep piling up, and
the declines you've seen from some of the guys in
the lineup, or just inconsistencies.
Speaker 2 (06:49):
Whatever you want to put it, however you want to.
Speaker 4 (06:51):
Put it, it's it's this is the worst I could
ever feel about a team being in first place in middleseptem.
Speaker 3 (07:00):
Right, No, it's it's wild because and look the pitching injuries,
notwithstanding your pitching overall has been pretty strong. I mean,
it's it's kept you in games. It's just the lack
of offense continues to rear its ugly head. We saw
a Thursday again in Toronto. You get shut out by
Kevin Gossman, who was nine and ten on the season.
He gets his tenth to win to go to ten
(07:21):
and ten exactly five hundred. But it's like they just
they've had too many of those these performances lately where
they score two runs or less and they're losing those games.
It's it's almost like they have to get to four
runs or better for them to get a win. And
you just look at this lineup up and down, and man,
they just in their inconsistent Yeah.
Speaker 4 (07:44):
I mean I was looking at this earlier today. Now,
of course the lineup looks pretty dangerous now, I mean
Paenya is Paenya, Alvarez, Korea, al tuo Ve, Sanchez, Diez
Walker as your top seven. That sounds good, yeah, but
al Tuove has been scuffling for too long. You know,
Sanchez very hit or miss. Yanar Diaz had a you know,
five hits in the first two games of the Toronto series.
(08:04):
But he and Kristian Walker, we know I have far
too often been inconsistent this season, and for whatever reason,
they just can't not consistently put it together. Even with
the top seven in that lineup sounding as dangerous as
it is, yeah, because.
Speaker 2 (08:18):
It should be.
Speaker 3 (08:19):
And then and then you know, quick noting on yourd
on Alvarez since he you know, he missed one hundred
games since he came off the il Ston on August
twenty sixth. He is batting four fifteen with three home runs,
nine runs, bat ten walks. So yeah, I mean Jordon's
pulling his weight. And again I always I keep continue
to bring it up. It feels like Carlos Kraa just
gets base, hit base hity didn't have a couple of
(08:40):
home runs here in the last week that that that helped.
But Al two vey has been the black hole man.
That's been the one that I have a friend who's
who's angry that all two V's batting forth. He's like,
move him, move him somewhere else. I'm like, where do
you move them? Second, I mean, I don't know where
you want to bat him when he's just when he's
going through a funk.
Speaker 4 (08:58):
Yeah, it kind of doesn't matter wherever al twove is
hitting in this lineup.
Speaker 2 (09:01):
He has to perform.
Speaker 4 (09:02):
And it's like, yeah, in lieu of who he's WHU
Sanchez not that great, Jannar Diaz up and down, Christian
Walker up and down, and then you're up into the
real back of the lineup that you're not going to
put any of those guys in the cleanup spot. So
he has gone from one, two, three back to four
in this lineup, So I mean, he's been moved back and.
Speaker 2 (09:21):
You just keep waiting for him to wake up.
Speaker 4 (09:23):
We see a couple stretches this year where he can
get hot as anybody, and that's what we have to
kind of wonder and keep an eye on. I mean,
he is thirty five years old. It is the end
of the season. Where do you say, where do you
draw the line between slump and decline? Is what we
have to figure out with what's happening with Josel Tuvay
right now?
Speaker 3 (09:40):
L two v four hits in the month of September.
We are midway through September. He has four hits. He's
batting one oh eight on the month. One one good
thing that Dana Brown did bring up, and I guess
this is good. He says that East Soak Parades will
take live batting practice tomorrow in Florida, and quote, he
is very confident they have a chance to get him back.
(10:01):
Now you know wordplay there. Not very confident he's coming back,
very confident they have a chance to get him back. So, uh,
you know, I again take it for what it is,
but I think I think in another world, maybe he's saying,
you know, Dana Brown saying no, no, we're just gonna
shut him down. But I think he looks at this
lineup as bad as it is. I mean, they're calling
(10:23):
up Zach freaking Cole. He's looking for any help they
can get. He's the one probably texting Paradis every day.
How we feel him. But hey, you coming back? We
can really use your bat. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (10:32):
That's the thing we have to remember as well, is
that that Estich Paradis was a big part of this lineup,
and really especially with Jordan out. I mean, he was
for stretches carrying this offense and talked about how he
takes his approach and how he takes a lot of
pitches and how he can kind of help work counts
and lengthen the lineup in that way or short and
(10:53):
I would say the outings of the opposing pitchers, and
you desperately need somebody who can do that more consistent.
Speaker 2 (11:00):
Jordon does it.
Speaker 4 (11:01):
But outside of that, I mean, you've got a lot
of guys who go out there hacking in this lineup.
Speaker 3 (11:05):
It's it's just gonna be interesting to see what happens
with this team. I mean, I do think Ross this
uh this weekend, you got a chance against a bad
Braves team to potentially take two out of three. I'm
not even gonna say the S word, but like you know,
go go take care of business. But unfortunately, what for
(11:26):
the Astros, It's gonna be a bullpen game tonight with
the newly called up Jalen Jayden Murray is going to
get the start, but you know he'll basically be an opener,
and this is gonna be a bullpen game with what
perhaps Colton Gordon getting a chance.
Speaker 4 (11:40):
Yeah, I don't know who's gonna be the the headliner,
if it is Colton Gordon or JP France is with
the team as well, or what exactly they're gonna do
from there, But honestly, bullpen games. If this, I'm gonna
tell you what Joe Spott is hoping for. He's hoping
that he can play matchups with a bullpen. You get
the win today and then Hunter Brown and Fromervale does
(12:01):
in the next two games of this series give you
like seven ish innings and then you win this series.
So it can happen like there's a world where they
could use the S word, like you said, where you're
able to play perfect matchup all throughout a game. Then
you have your horses get the job done on Saturday
and Sunday and at the very least come out of
(12:21):
this weekend in Atlanta with two out of three.
Speaker 3 (12:24):
So again, an important series in Atlanta. I just feel like,
you know, whatever happens this weekend, look if they lose
two out of three or get swept, I mean this thing,
it's gonna be really getting interesting. But I mean, Braves
have lost four out of their last five. They did
beat Seattle one game in that series, so they won
the first game and then lost the next two. They
(12:44):
just dropped two out of three to the Cubs after
dropping two out of three the Cups. Before that, they
lost three out of four to the Phillies. So again
this is this is a team that on paper It's
Braves look talented, but they have not played good baseball
at all this season. So I just look at this
as a real opportunity. Astros have to go take you
out of three. Well, keep it on, whatever Seattle and
the Rangers do. But man, I almost looking next week
(13:06):
cross Monday through uh Sunday have to be playoff atmosphere.
It's at dyke In Park.
Speaker 4 (13:12):
Yeah, it'll be interesting and on the Matt Thomas Show
with Ross. Matt was like, nobody do the wave, and
it's like, okay, Yeah, I guess at the end of
the day, you'd like to have a good try, you know,
charged up crowd, home field, atmosphere or whatever.
Speaker 2 (13:27):
But at the end of the day, it's the guys
and they got to get it done in between the lines.
Speaker 4 (13:30):
I mean, you can talk about all this uh you know,
fan fare and all that type of stuff. Go out there,
get some wins, come up with some clutch hits, get
some good performances from starters. Because I am very, very
aware we haven't really touched much on this pod about
yet this bullpen Bray was good last time out, But
outside of that, I'm feeling pretty shaky about just about
(13:51):
everybody as far as holding onto leads.
Speaker 2 (13:54):
Six seventh, eighth, ninth inning of games.
Speaker 3 (13:56):
Yeah, it's it's shaky. Look, Brider Bray, you're alive one.
You had one bad one the other night. You can
you have to be good all the rest of these.
But yeah, how about the lineup for the night? Ross,
Carl's Core leading off, Jeremy Penya not in there, and
Joe Spotta asked a little while ago about Paynya not
being in there. He said, well, look, he's played every
game since he came back from the IL. The plan
(14:17):
is for him not to start the game, but he's
gonna be ready to come in this game as needed.
So it's like it's even you know, and in a
night where they're literally trying to give Paanya his first
night off. So he's come back from the IL, they're
telling him that you're not starting, but you're gonna be
called on at some point to do some of this game.
I mean, it's it's it's crunch time at this point.
It's all hands on deck.
Speaker 4 (14:37):
Yeah, it's tough. You want guys to be fresh. They have,
you know, data and all that type of stuff. See,
the days off really do help guys, especially in the season,
but it's it's tough to give days off when you're
in the thick of the al West the way that
they are.
Speaker 3 (14:49):
Well it is, uh, it is gonna be fascinating to
see what happens here over this next week. Ross and uh, look,
whatever happens, we'll be enjoying Ice School, Crawford Back Firm,
our friends at Carback Brewing. And here's hope the Astros
don't squander this whole thing away as they are in
a tight division race, Seattle Mariners neck and neck with
the Astros, and again that the Astros playoff hopes that
(15:12):
remember last week, I think that percentage chance is like
nine It is now seventy six percent ross. There is
a world where the Astros could get passed by the
Mariners and Rangers and fall out of this thing completely.
So we're not gonna hope for that. We're gonna put
the good juju out there. But let's cross our fingers
and hope this thing goes well. But whatever we do,
when we're watching the actual we'll be joining enjoining ice school.
(15:34):
Crawford Bok from Carbok Burring. You guys do the same,
And how do I know if they're the Carbock. At
least the oppressive heat days are just about over, and
it's funny get out there in the beer garden and
of course the new pizza and pints. They are indoor restaurant,
tons of great family fun over there for you. Add
carback Burring and the great days of the Crawford Bock
goes well just about anywhere you're watching or listening to
Astros Baseball, So Ross Final thoughts before we set off.
Speaker 4 (15:57):
Nope, I just go out there and get it done.
As I said, I'll speak it into existence.
Speaker 2 (16:01):
The vision. The vision is.
Speaker 4 (16:03):
Bullpen matchups Victory, Hunter, Brown and Frobber. Deal over the weekend,
get some dubs, let's go.
Speaker 3 (16:10):
Basically Ross saying, Astros, I have nothing to say to you.
Go prove go, prove it for me.
Speaker 2 (16:15):
For as for.
Speaker 3 (16:16):
Ross, figure ol, I'm Chris Cordon. We'll talk to you guys
next week on The Crawford Box Cast, presented by Carbock
Ber
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