April 15, 2025 • 10 mins
Astros Manager Joe Espada Talks State of Team Through The First 16 Games
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
All right, let's go ahead and talk about well with
the team yesterday obviously not going the way that you wanted.
Been a little bit of an up and down season
of course, as we know. I saw this from Brian McTaggart.
Did you know that you guys have started seven and
nine now five out of the last six years for
those going to the ALCS. So, I mean, it's not
(00:20):
the worst homent ever.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
There you go, there you go. I'll take gut, you know,
and you man, you said it. You know, it's kind
of be a little up and down. Uh you know, uh,
the first two weeks of the season. You know, it's
been kind of a struggle finding consistency on on on
a few few areas of our of our game. But
you know, for the most part, I've been pleased. You know,
(00:44):
we are getting some pretty good pitching, you know, offensively,
some up and downs. I feel like we're doing some
good things out the plate. We're finding a way to
get on base by walking, something that we can't do
well last year. I think we are right now, like
fifth in the league in walk great seeing a ton
of pitches, we just haven't been able to really capitalize
(01:09):
on those on those innings when we find a lot
of people on base, so we'll computer to keep grinding
and we'll find a way to get through this.
Speaker 3 (01:18):
Yeah, it's funny.
Speaker 1 (01:19):
It's been up and down to the extent where you
guys have won two games in a row and Frommer
who pitched for you last night, has kind of been
that guy up and down. What is happening to him,
especially in a start like last night where he's given
up more extra base hits than he ever has in
a start.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
You know what I think, you know, yes, yesterday it's
something that we you know, it's we don't get to
see Baldez have nights like die very often. You know,
I just found the pitches were up in the zone,
sinker not really down in inducing the ground balls. Early
in the game. It did, but you know, kind of
third fourth inning stuff starting to stay up. He's breaking
(01:57):
ball usually he varies that pitch with two strikes gets
swing him, says he wasn't getting the width that he
normally I normally are then he normally gets. So you
know he'll he'll get he'll put this behind him and
get we'll get ready for the next one.
Speaker 3 (02:10):
Skiff.
Speaker 4 (02:10):
We talk about your your pitching and and you know
how good it's been, particularly in the in the bullpen
as well so far this year.
Speaker 3 (02:16):
But you look at the opponents your face.
Speaker 4 (02:18):
I mean the Angels, Uh, coming out of this weekend,
I think we're leading baseball in home runs hit. And
then you go to this series with the Cardinals, who
lead all of baseball in batting average, and I just
watching that team last night for the first time this year,
like they just put up such good, hard at bats
it's hard to get out, so that in that lineup,
you know, is that what we can expect more of
that in these next couple of games.
Speaker 2 (02:39):
Yeah, And you know they have a pretty good balanced lineup.
They got some left these righty steak and platoon. You know,
they have some guys with the bench that do come
in and and give your quality at bats. They got
back to both skills. They do have some speed. So
it's not an easy lineup to navigate. So we need
to make our adjustments and and win this one.
Speaker 4 (02:58):
With this with today, I was out, you know, it
was out of spring training, early in camp, and that
you know when pitchers and catchers report, and I know
and I saw you guys work on it. Every day,
the catch the catchers with Victor and Yan Air, you know,
throwing balls to first, throwing balls a second, throw balls
a third. It seems like this year those teams are
being a little bit more aggressive on you guys and
taking bases.
Speaker 3 (03:19):
Is that? I mean, obviously you guys see it.
Speaker 4 (03:21):
What can you do to counterbalance that other than just
continue to work with your catchers on timing and being record,
you know, the recognition of guys on base and when
they're you know, looking like they're.
Speaker 3 (03:30):
Going to steal.
Speaker 2 (03:32):
Yeah, but you know what, it will take more than
just a catchers throwing guys out. We need we need
an opportunity our pitchers need to give us you know
a little better more more time for those guys you
throw people out. We need to do a better job
interrupting the running game, you know, not asking for us
to leap league and stealing, but we need to, you know,
(03:53):
reduce the amount of stone based attempts that we are
getting early this year, and we we are highlighting that
we're trying to make some adjustments. I think the last
couple of games have been better picking the guys, you
know that we know they're going to run the counts
are going to run asking their pitchers to hold the
ball some sly steps, you know, they're also the element
of the clock is also something that teams are using.
(04:15):
We need to do a better job of using the
clock to time our packs to first or inside moves
and such such as things.
Speaker 4 (04:22):
Talking with manager Joe spot and skip all. You know,
one of the biggest storylines throughout spring training of courses.
Oh my gosh, Al twove and left and you know
what's that going to look like? Small sample size for
the first few weeks, But man, i'd see you guys
are one of the better teams defensively and in those
defensive metrics, and so far, so good with Al two
A left and camp Smith and right.
Speaker 3 (04:41):
I feel like both those guys have been doing their job.
Speaker 2 (04:44):
Yeah, they'd be, they'd been working their their afters off man.
Credit to them. You know, I think we you know,
we we work really hard this off season to consider
making these moves and and you know we did it
thinking about the sacrifices and so all these players we're
going to have to make moving positions and and alt.
It has been such a pro and and you know
(05:05):
it's only been two weeks. We got a lot of room,
a lot of room to grow as as a club.
But you know, so far, we're finding ourselves in the
top five and the defensive matrix, and credit goes to
our players and our coaches that are going to getting
these players ready to play.
Speaker 1 (05:19):
Yeah, and Joe, I think we've talked about this before.
I am the president of the Jake Myers Fan Club.
I think he also deserves some credit. I mean, what
makes him so good to you out there in center field?
Is it just the reads, the jumps and just everything,
the speed.
Speaker 2 (05:33):
Everything, you know, he gets good jumps, His perception off
the ball, off the bat is excellent. Something that we
also seen of Jake this year. He's been actually more
of a leader on the outfit, having two inexperienced outfielders
next to him to he's left and right, So he
is been taking more charge moving those guys. Uh, you know,
be more vocal, you know, moving those guys. We counts
(05:57):
and and we we you know, we need to give
Myerson credit of the the development of both all two
way and Ken Smith in ESSENTI also in the outfield,
a lot of credit goes to Jake. He's really taking
charge out there in the outfield.
Speaker 4 (06:11):
Scip I saw the Obviously, the torpedo bats became a
big topic a couple of weeks ago across the league.
I saw Mauricio Dubond pregame on Sunday in the clubhouse
and he was showing us his torpedo bat. He was
all excited about it, and sure enough I hit on
Sunday two hits last night.
Speaker 3 (06:27):
Is there is it?
Speaker 4 (06:28):
Is it just happenstance or is this thing maybe working
for Doobie?
Speaker 2 (06:32):
I think he's working for Dewey. But let's not take
you know, anything away from his ability to get the
barrel to the ball. You know, he's he knows how
to do that, so you know, maybe some credit. He
really likes the bat, so maybe some credit to the bat.
He sees. He feels like he's getting, you know, the
right part of the bar the barrel on the ball,
and he feels like the boy's jumping a little bit
(06:54):
more off his bat. And and you know, anything that
you can that you can use to uh, you know, confidence,
these guys are willing to use that, and so far
this is working out for Dubon.
Speaker 1 (07:06):
Astros manager Joe A. Spotta was this here on Sports
Talk seven. State of the rotation as it is right now.
Ryan Gusta with a pretty solid start for you on
Saturday and is tab to start again. How are you
feeling about where you are there? And also Lance mccullor's junior,
where we're feeling about his progress.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
Lance McCullough junior, feeling really good about his progress. He'll
make it start this weekend with our Double A club
and that goes well. He's knocking on the door. He's
making his first major league start in a couple of years.
So I'm really happy for him, thrilled about where he's
at right now. His level of confidence is, you know,
over the roof right now, So I feel really good
(07:48):
about that. And we still gave us a pretty good start,
you know right now, we are we are talking, we're
talking things through. I also like the way he has
come and solidify our pen. But you know, he he's
that arm that can be used in a hybrid role
where he can give you starts, he can come in
and give you some multiple innings out of the bullpen.
But he did a really nice shop and he's first
(08:10):
start with us.
Speaker 1 (08:11):
And on Lancepuculor's junior, what have your conversations been like
with him, because I remember what, for example, when when
Charlie Morton first came to Houston, he had had major injuries,
and he talked about being injury prone and being you know,
that's a term that I don't really like, and it
was something that's kind of mentally in the back of
his mind, and we all kind of feel like that.
(08:32):
With Lance Pecullors junior, he's unfortunately had these setbacks, but
Charlie Morton's been healthy every year since he first got here.
So wanting that for Lance Pucullor's junior, I'm just curious
what your conversations have been like that in the approach
of the organization as well.
Speaker 2 (08:47):
You know what I want to start. I think the
biggest part of lands Station right now, where he's at,
is his state of mind. He is in a really
good place. He is He's worked really hard to accept
the fact that his injuries has been part of his career.
He is he understands the changes he had to make
(09:10):
to his routine. He you know, he's a man of
faith where he put everything in the hands of God,
and I feel like moving forward, he is in a
place where, you know, Joe I know where I'm at.
I'm getting a second chance. I'm going to make the
best out of this second chance, you know, he said, Joe,
you know I'm the team. These organizations have given me
(09:33):
so much that I'm willing to give back whatever it
takes for me to get back on the mount And
he's doing that. And when your mind is in the
right place, I think your heart follows, and and that's
where LANs is. And once we get him back and
we get him going, I think he could be a
big peace for us, because when he's healthy, he's a
really good pitcher.
Speaker 3 (09:52):
All right. Joe A.
Speaker 1 (09:53):
Spotta was here on Sports Talk seven ninety. Thanks for
the time, Joe, And well, when you need to bounce back,
when not bad to have Hunter Brown on the.
Speaker 2 (10:00):
Mountain, that's right, that's right, that's right, fellas. We we
have him on the mound and he's ready to go.
He knows, you know the importance of this games. Getting
getting this game today maybe when we're serious tomorrow.
Speaker 1 (10:11):
All right, Thanks a lot, I appreciate the time.
Speaker 3 (10:12):
We'll talk to you down the
Speaker 2 (10:13):
Road, all right, fellas, take care, Thanks Kop, thank you all.
All right, let's go ahead and talk about well with
the team yesterday obviously not going the way that you wanted.
Been a little bit of an up and down season
of course, as we know. I saw this from Brian McTaggart.
Did you know that you guys have started seven and
nine now five out of the last six years for
those going to the ALCS. So, I mean, it's not
(00:20):
the worst homent ever.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
There you go, there you go. I'll take gut, you know,
and you man, you said it. You know, it's kind
of be a little up and down. Uh you know, uh,
the first two weeks of the season. You know, it's
been kind of a struggle finding consistency on on on
a few few areas of our of our game. But
you know, for the most part, I've been pleased. You know,
(00:44):
we are getting some pretty good pitching, you know, offensively,
some up and downs. I feel like we're doing some
good things out the plate. We're finding a way to
get on base by walking, something that we can't do
well last year. I think we are right now, like
fifth in the league in walk great seeing a ton
of pitches, we just haven't been able to really capitalize
(01:09):
on those on those innings when we find a lot
of people on base, so we'll computer to keep grinding
and we'll find a way to get through this.
Speaker 3 (01:18):
Yeah, it's funny.
Speaker 1 (01:19):
It's been up and down to the extent where you
guys have won two games in a row and Frommer
who pitched for you last night, has kind of been
that guy up and down. What is happening to him,
especially in a start like last night where he's given
up more extra base hits than he ever has in
a start.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
You know what I think, you know, yes, yesterday it's
something that we you know, it's we don't get to
see Baldez have nights like die very often. You know,
I just found the pitches were up in the zone,
sinker not really down in inducing the ground balls. Early
in the game. It did, but you know, kind of
third fourth inning stuff starting to stay up. He's breaking
(01:57):
ball usually he varies that pitch with two strikes gets
swing him, says he wasn't getting the width that he
normally I normally are then he normally gets. So you
know he'll he'll get he'll put this behind him and
get we'll get ready for the next one.
Speaker 3 (02:10):
Skiff.
Speaker 4 (02:10):
We talk about your your pitching and and you know
how good it's been, particularly in the in the bullpen
as well so far this year.
Speaker 3 (02:16):
But you look at the opponents your face.
Speaker 4 (02:18):
I mean the Angels, Uh, coming out of this weekend,
I think we're leading baseball in home runs hit. And
then you go to this series with the Cardinals, who
lead all of baseball in batting average, and I just
watching that team last night for the first time this year,
like they just put up such good, hard at bats
it's hard to get out, so that in that lineup,
you know, is that what we can expect more of
that in these next couple of games.
Speaker 2 (02:39):
Yeah, And you know they have a pretty good balanced lineup.
They got some left these righty steak and platoon. You know,
they have some guys with the bench that do come
in and and give your quality at bats. They got
back to both skills. They do have some speed. So
it's not an easy lineup to navigate. So we need
to make our adjustments and and win this one.
Speaker 4 (02:58):
With this with today, I was out, you know, it
was out of spring training, early in camp, and that
you know when pitchers and catchers report, and I know
and I saw you guys work on it. Every day,
the catch the catchers with Victor and Yan Air, you know,
throwing balls to first, throwing balls a second, throw balls
a third. It seems like this year those teams are
being a little bit more aggressive on you guys and
taking bases.
Speaker 3 (03:19):
Is that? I mean, obviously you guys see it.
Speaker 4 (03:21):
What can you do to counterbalance that other than just
continue to work with your catchers on timing and being record,
you know, the recognition of guys on base and when
they're you know, looking like they're.
Speaker 3 (03:30):
Going to steal.
Speaker 2 (03:32):
Yeah, but you know what, it will take more than
just a catchers throwing guys out. We need we need
an opportunity our pitchers need to give us you know
a little better more more time for those guys you
throw people out. We need to do a better job
interrupting the running game, you know, not asking for us
to leap league and stealing, but we need to, you know,
(03:53):
reduce the amount of stone based attempts that we are
getting early this year, and we we are highlighting that
we're trying to make some adjustments. I think the last
couple of games have been better picking the guys, you
know that we know they're going to run the counts
are going to run asking their pitchers to hold the
ball some sly steps, you know, they're also the element
of the clock is also something that teams are using.
(04:15):
We need to do a better job of using the
clock to time our packs to first or inside moves
and such such as things.
Speaker 4 (04:22):
Talking with manager Joe spot and skip all. You know,
one of the biggest storylines throughout spring training of courses.
Oh my gosh, Al twove and left and you know
what's that going to look like? Small sample size for
the first few weeks, But man, i'd see you guys
are one of the better teams defensively and in those
defensive metrics, and so far, so good with Al two
A left and camp Smith and right.
Speaker 3 (04:41):
I feel like both those guys have been doing their job.
Speaker 2 (04:44):
Yeah, they'd be, they'd been working their their afters off man.
Credit to them. You know, I think we you know,
we we work really hard this off season to consider
making these moves and and you know we did it
thinking about the sacrifices and so all these players we're
going to have to make moving positions and and alt.
It has been such a pro and and you know
(05:05):
it's only been two weeks. We got a lot of room,
a lot of room to grow as as a club.
But you know, so far, we're finding ourselves in the
top five and the defensive matrix, and credit goes to
our players and our coaches that are going to getting
these players ready to play.
Speaker 1 (05:19):
Yeah, and Joe, I think we've talked about this before.
I am the president of the Jake Myers Fan Club.
I think he also deserves some credit. I mean, what
makes him so good to you out there in center field?
Is it just the reads, the jumps and just everything,
the speed.
Speaker 2 (05:33):
Everything, you know, he gets good jumps, His perception off
the ball, off the bat is excellent. Something that we
also seen of Jake this year. He's been actually more
of a leader on the outfit, having two inexperienced outfielders
next to him to he's left and right, So he
is been taking more charge moving those guys. Uh, you know,
be more vocal, you know, moving those guys. We counts
(05:57):
and and we we you know, we need to give
Myerson credit of the the development of both all two
way and Ken Smith in ESSENTI also in the outfield,
a lot of credit goes to Jake. He's really taking
charge out there in the outfield.
Speaker 4 (06:11):
Scip I saw the Obviously, the torpedo bats became a
big topic a couple of weeks ago across the league.
I saw Mauricio Dubond pregame on Sunday in the clubhouse
and he was showing us his torpedo bat. He was
all excited about it, and sure enough I hit on
Sunday two hits last night.
Speaker 3 (06:27):
Is there is it?
Speaker 4 (06:28):
Is it just happenstance or is this thing maybe working
for Doobie?
Speaker 2 (06:32):
I think he's working for Dewey. But let's not take
you know, anything away from his ability to get the
barrel to the ball. You know, he's he knows how
to do that, so you know, maybe some credit. He
really likes the bat, so maybe some credit to the bat.
He sees. He feels like he's getting, you know, the
right part of the bar the barrel on the ball,
and he feels like the boy's jumping a little bit
(06:54):
more off his bat. And and you know, anything that
you can that you can use to uh, you know, confidence,
these guys are willing to use that, and so far
this is working out for Dubon.
Speaker 1 (07:06):
Astros manager Joe A. Spotta was this here on Sports
Talk seven. State of the rotation as it is right now.
Ryan Gusta with a pretty solid start for you on
Saturday and is tab to start again. How are you
feeling about where you are there? And also Lance mccullor's junior,
where we're feeling about his progress.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
Lance McCullough junior, feeling really good about his progress. He'll
make it start this weekend with our Double A club
and that goes well. He's knocking on the door. He's
making his first major league start in a couple of years.
So I'm really happy for him, thrilled about where he's
at right now. His level of confidence is, you know,
over the roof right now, So I feel really good
(07:48):
about that. And we still gave us a pretty good start,
you know right now, we are we are talking, we're
talking things through. I also like the way he has
come and solidify our pen. But you know, he he's
that arm that can be used in a hybrid role
where he can give you starts, he can come in
and give you some multiple innings out of the bullpen.
But he did a really nice shop and he's first
(08:10):
start with us.
Speaker 1 (08:11):
And on Lancepuculor's junior, what have your conversations been like
with him, because I remember what, for example, when when
Charlie Morton first came to Houston, he had had major injuries,
and he talked about being injury prone and being you know,
that's a term that I don't really like, and it
was something that's kind of mentally in the back of
his mind, and we all kind of feel like that.
(08:32):
With Lance Pecullors junior, he's unfortunately had these setbacks, but
Charlie Morton's been healthy every year since he first got here.
So wanting that for Lance Pucullor's junior, I'm just curious
what your conversations have been like that in the approach
of the organization as well.
Speaker 2 (08:47):
You know what I want to start. I think the
biggest part of lands Station right now, where he's at,
is his state of mind. He is in a really
good place. He is He's worked really hard to accept
the fact that his injuries has been part of his career.
He is he understands the changes he had to make
(09:10):
to his routine. He you know, he's a man of
faith where he put everything in the hands of God,
and I feel like moving forward, he is in a
place where, you know, Joe I know where I'm at.
I'm getting a second chance. I'm going to make the
best out of this second chance, you know, he said, Joe,
you know I'm the team. These organizations have given me
(09:33):
so much that I'm willing to give back whatever it
takes for me to get back on the mount And
he's doing that. And when your mind is in the
right place, I think your heart follows, and and that's
where LANs is. And once we get him back and
we get him going, I think he could be a
big peace for us, because when he's healthy, he's a
really good pitcher.
Speaker 3 (09:52):
All right. Joe A.
Speaker 1 (09:53):
Spotta was here on Sports Talk seven ninety. Thanks for
the time, Joe, And well, when you need to bounce back,
when not bad to have Hunter Brown on the.
Speaker 2 (10:00):
Mountain, that's right, that's right, that's right, fellas. We we
have him on the mound and he's ready to go.
He knows, you know the importance of this games. Getting
getting this game today maybe when we're serious tomorrow.
Speaker 1 (10:11):
All right, Thanks a lot, I appreciate the time.
Speaker 3 (10:12):
We'll talk to you down the
Speaker 2 (10:13):
Road, all right, fellas, take care, Thanks Kop, thank you all.
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