August 28, 2025 • 8 mins
Brian McTaggart Joins After Lance McCullers News & Roster Conversation
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Joined us from MLB dot Com for the ballpark tags.
When you heard about the news, what was your initial reaction.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
To it, Well, it wasn't a real surprise. I mean,
I think they were sort of at a crossroads with
Lance to try to figure out what to do with him.
You know, his last three starts, an era of almost twelve,
just not getting deep in the games, and you know,
it's putting a lot of pressure on the bullpen. So
I think they had to have some tough conversations, you know.
(00:27):
I think those went on yesterday, and uh, you know,
they made the decision, at least in the short term,
to put him in the bullpen for today and probably, uh,
you know, just to see how the next couple of
games go. Joe Spotted did not rule him out starting
Monday against the Angels. I still imagine that that's going
to be a long shot. I mean, I think we'll
see him in the bullpen until he starts being more
(00:51):
effective and getting in the strike zone more and maybe
even you know, as velocity comes up a little bit.
Did they they had to make some kind of decision.
It just wasn't really viable I think for him to
be starting games anymore.
Speaker 1 (01:02):
Brian. I don't want to put words in his mouth
because I've not spoken to him about this, and obviously
his news came up coming down this morning. My guess
is knowing Lance that he's not thrilled about this at all.
Speaker 2 (01:14):
Probably not. I mean, you know, he's he's a competitor,
and he's been a starter his entire career, and he's
been a really good one when he's healthy, and he
wants to get the ball and start games. But he
also realizes where he's at, and you can just tell
the you know, the frustration in his voice that he's
not where he needs to be just physically, and who
(01:35):
knows if he will ever get back there. You know,
his velocity hasn't been there all season. You know, he's
been out more than two years, been through a lot,
you know, a couple of major arm surgeries. You're asking
a lot for him to come back and throw ninety
seven and be the twenty nineteen Lance mccullor's junior. He's
thirty one years old. Now, that's just really hard to do.
So it's it's got to be really tough for him
(01:57):
to just know that what's going on with him and
deal with the news and and just try to wonder
what the future holes because it's really uncertain right now.
Speaker 1 (02:07):
You know, Brian, there's a slippery slope on this because
you do want your starters to go along, but you're
also worried about health, especially when it comes to the culors,
especially when you're going to Christian Hovey here. But it
feels like to me, there is a spot for a
guy that can go two three innings if necessary, in
the middle of that rotation, because you know, for the
most part of the last couple of weeks has not
(02:27):
seen a lot of lengths. That's why watching what Fromber
did last night was so encouraging.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
Yeah, I mean, I think if if he could, you know,
throw a couple of innings out of the bullpen, but
you know, they've got to be effective innings for him
to be a viable member of the bullpen. He's gonna
have to throw strikes. He's gonna have to get guys
out and get some swing and miss. The stinker is
going to have to, you know, be a weapon form
along with the curveball, and that's kind of what they're hoping.
I mean, he's gonna have to change up his routines.
(02:56):
A little bit, you know, being being a starter, his
entire career is going to be at to get ready quicker,
so he's gonna have to do some stuff on the
field in the weight room just to sort of get
himself ready to pitch at a moment's notice. But I
don't I'd be surprised, at least initially if we see
him in any kind of leverage moments. Probably is the
Astros really don't blow anybody out. They don't get blown out.
(03:16):
It seems every game is pretty tight, so you know,
maybe he doesn't pitch or relief, they give him another
shot in the rotation, which I think is unlikely. But
they're just in a tough spot with him, and he's
in a tough spot, and it's just, you know, unfortunate
all the way around.
Speaker 1 (03:30):
Brian mctaggar at MLB dot Com with us every Thursday
here on Sports Talk seven. I mean, Brian, the rosters
will expand by a couple of spots coming up in September.
I feel like there'd be nobody new to talk about
because everybody's been brought up and back forwards ten times.
It feels like, but who do you think are not
necessarily locks? But maybe guys that we might see those
take those last two spots.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
Yeah, well they could have one one position player and
one pitcher. Position player wise, you know, maybe somebody like Descenzo.
You know, he's on minor league rehab right now. He's
been out, you know what, a couple of months now.
You know, he's somebody that that could really be versatile,
play a lot of different positions, be a guy you
could have on the bench. You know, maybe they choose
to carry a third catcher and keep Salazar here. You know,
(04:15):
Jiner is banged up right now. That's why he's not playing.
Of course, Trottin he's on the h on the concussion protocol.
So I think maybe one of those two guys, I
think pitching wise, it's probably gonna be uh Luis Garcita.
You know, he's had a prolonged minor league rehab. While
he tries to come back. Is Velo really hasn't been there.
You know, he's you know, changed his arm action since
(04:36):
you know, he used to rock the baby back a
few years ago sort of was total. He can't do
that anymore, and the arm action is shorter, and uh,
you know, the vello is sort of suffered, but he's
still pitching pretty well during his rehab since of Triple
A and getting guys out. So maybe he comes up
as a swingman, pitch out of the bullpen and make
a spot start kind of deal. So, uh, yeah, you're right.
(04:57):
I don't think it's gonna be anybody that is gonna
you know, wow people, It's going to be somebody where
a couple of people who are very familiar with and
have been up and down this year already.
Speaker 1 (05:05):
How do you think? And look, Jordan's not line up today.
It's no surprise He's not going to place every single
game the rest of the way. What is your thoughts
about how they're going to rotate Cam Smith? HEYESU Sanchez,
Jose l Tuvan, and Jordon Alvarez among d H and
outfield spots between now and the end of the season.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
Yeah. I think we'll continue to see them rotate, you know,
you know Sanchez, Uh, we'll get most of his bats
against you know, right hand, right handers. I would imagine
like even though he's as I'm looking at the line
him now, he's uh, you know, he's he's not in
there today against the left hander, which isn't a surprise,
so that you know there's the opportunities right there for
(05:47):
cam Smith in right field, and you know jord A's
not in there either, but he normally would be. But
you know, just the fact that Sanchez can play left
and right, you have days that Alvarez, you can put
al Tuove at second base. There's a lot of different
moving parts that that Joe can can do to get
(06:07):
you know, keep everyone fresh. And you know he's really
he's really got a glut of position players here. It's
a really good problem to have. So uh, he's just
gonna have to find a way to try to maneuver
all these pieces every day that a lot of it's
gonna depend on the guy on the mount for the
other team.
Speaker 1 (06:21):
A couple of minutes too, Brian McTaggart, He's brought to
you today by our friends at Daily in Black. Don't
settle fight back with Daily in Black. Jason Alexander h
not necessarily left for dead. But when the Angels are
to say, when the a say we don't need Jay,
it doesn't mean it's a real good future for him.
Is there any magor elixer he's taken since joined the Astros?
(06:41):
Has there been a philosophical change in pitching or is
he just catching lightning the bottle right now? Uh?
Speaker 2 (06:48):
Well, I think he's getting an opportunity and maybe he
hadn't had in a while, you know, to be a starter.
I think they're getting him to throw his sinker more
to to lefties and righties, one that you know, really
wasn't something that he was told would be a five
and it's been effective here and just taking advantage of
an opportunity. I mean, it's it's been a great story.
I mean, where would they be without him, you know,
(07:09):
over the last couple of months, coming in and filling
this spot in the rotation where it seemed like they
were just trying to grasp at straws to get anybody
because they've had so many injuries. So I think it's
a matter of you know, a few things, just changing
his repertoire a little bit, and the Astros showing some
belief in him, and and he's pitching in games that
matter now. I mean, you know, no offense to the Days,
(07:30):
but you know they're not in the playoff race, and
now he's pitching for a team that is trying to
close out a division here in the next month and
every one of these games are big, and I think
he's really risen to the challenge nicely.
Speaker 1 (07:40):
Astro fans deserve the tidbits on your Twitter account. They
also deserve him at twelve to twenty five on a
Thursday afternoon.
Speaker 2 (07:47):
They do Josel Tube one thy fifty five ops and
July Hide your ears August six, eighty eight.
Speaker 1 (07:57):
That's not a tidbit, that's a downer.
Speaker 2 (08:00):
His bits aren't always positive, Matt. But I'll see they
gets some day off yesterday, so maybe that'll You know,
he's a streaky guy, so if he gets going, he
can carry the offense here for the next couple of weeks.
Joined us from MLB dot Com for the ballpark tags.
When you heard about the news, what was your initial reaction.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
To it, Well, it wasn't a real surprise. I mean,
I think they were sort of at a crossroads with
Lance to try to figure out what to do with him.
You know, his last three starts, an era of almost twelve,
just not getting deep in the games, and you know,
it's putting a lot of pressure on the bullpen. So
I think they had to have some tough conversations, you know.
(00:27):
I think those went on yesterday, and uh, you know,
they made the decision, at least in the short term,
to put him in the bullpen for today and probably, uh,
you know, just to see how the next couple of
games go. Joe Spotted did not rule him out starting
Monday against the Angels. I still imagine that that's going
to be a long shot. I mean, I think we'll
see him in the bullpen until he starts being more
(00:51):
effective and getting in the strike zone more and maybe
even you know, as velocity comes up a little bit.
Did they they had to make some kind of decision.
It just wasn't really viable I think for him to
be starting games anymore.
Speaker 1 (01:02):
Brian. I don't want to put words in his mouth
because I've not spoken to him about this, and obviously
his news came up coming down this morning. My guess
is knowing Lance that he's not thrilled about this at all.
Speaker 2 (01:14):
Probably not. I mean, you know, he's he's a competitor,
and he's been a starter his entire career, and he's
been a really good one when he's healthy, and he
wants to get the ball and start games. But he
also realizes where he's at, and you can just tell
the you know, the frustration in his voice that he's
not where he needs to be just physically, and who
(01:35):
knows if he will ever get back there. You know,
his velocity hasn't been there all season. You know, he's
been out more than two years, been through a lot,
you know, a couple of major arm surgeries. You're asking
a lot for him to come back and throw ninety
seven and be the twenty nineteen Lance mccullor's junior. He's
thirty one years old. Now, that's just really hard to do.
So it's it's got to be really tough for him
(01:57):
to just know that what's going on with him and
deal with the news and and just try to wonder
what the future holes because it's really uncertain right now.
Speaker 1 (02:07):
You know, Brian, there's a slippery slope on this because
you do want your starters to go along, but you're
also worried about health, especially when it comes to the culors,
especially when you're going to Christian Hovey here. But it
feels like to me, there is a spot for a
guy that can go two three innings if necessary, in
the middle of that rotation, because you know, for the
most part of the last couple of weeks has not
(02:27):
seen a lot of lengths. That's why watching what Fromber
did last night was so encouraging.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
Yeah, I mean, I think if if he could, you know,
throw a couple of innings out of the bullpen, but
you know, they've got to be effective innings for him
to be a viable member of the bullpen. He's gonna
have to throw strikes. He's gonna have to get guys
out and get some swing and miss. The stinker is
going to have to, you know, be a weapon form
along with the curveball, and that's kind of what they're hoping.
I mean, he's gonna have to change up his routines.
(02:56):
A little bit, you know, being being a starter, his
entire career is going to be at to get ready quicker,
so he's gonna have to do some stuff on the
field in the weight room just to sort of get
himself ready to pitch at a moment's notice. But I
don't I'd be surprised, at least initially if we see
him in any kind of leverage moments. Probably is the
Astros really don't blow anybody out. They don't get blown out.
(03:16):
It seems every game is pretty tight, so you know,
maybe he doesn't pitch or relief, they give him another
shot in the rotation, which I think is unlikely. But
they're just in a tough spot with him, and he's
in a tough spot, and it's just, you know, unfortunate
all the way around.
Speaker 1 (03:30):
Brian mctaggar at MLB dot Com with us every Thursday
here on Sports Talk seven. I mean, Brian, the rosters
will expand by a couple of spots coming up in September.
I feel like there'd be nobody new to talk about
because everybody's been brought up and back forwards ten times.
It feels like, but who do you think are not
necessarily locks? But maybe guys that we might see those
take those last two spots.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
Yeah, well they could have one one position player and
one pitcher. Position player wise, you know, maybe somebody like Descenzo.
You know, he's on minor league rehab right now. He's
been out, you know what, a couple of months now.
You know, he's somebody that that could really be versatile,
play a lot of different positions, be a guy you
could have on the bench. You know, maybe they choose
to carry a third catcher and keep Salazar here. You know,
(04:15):
Jiner is banged up right now. That's why he's not playing.
Of course, Trottin he's on the h on the concussion protocol.
So I think maybe one of those two guys, I
think pitching wise, it's probably gonna be uh Luis Garcita.
You know, he's had a prolonged minor league rehab. While
he tries to come back. Is Velo really hasn't been there.
You know, he's you know, changed his arm action since
(04:36):
you know, he used to rock the baby back a
few years ago sort of was total. He can't do
that anymore, and the arm action is shorter, and uh,
you know, the vello is sort of suffered, but he's
still pitching pretty well during his rehab since of Triple
A and getting guys out. So maybe he comes up
as a swingman, pitch out of the bullpen and make
a spot start kind of deal. So, uh, yeah, you're right.
(04:57):
I don't think it's gonna be anybody that is gonna
you know, wow people, It's going to be somebody where
a couple of people who are very familiar with and
have been up and down this year already.
Speaker 1 (05:05):
How do you think? And look, Jordan's not line up today.
It's no surprise He's not going to place every single
game the rest of the way. What is your thoughts
about how they're going to rotate Cam Smith? HEYESU Sanchez,
Jose l Tuvan, and Jordon Alvarez among d H and
outfield spots between now and the end of the season.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
Yeah. I think we'll continue to see them rotate, you know,
you know Sanchez, Uh, we'll get most of his bats
against you know, right hand, right handers. I would imagine
like even though he's as I'm looking at the line
him now, he's uh, you know, he's he's not in
there today against the left hander, which isn't a surprise,
so that you know there's the opportunities right there for
(05:47):
cam Smith in right field, and you know jord A's
not in there either, but he normally would be. But
you know, just the fact that Sanchez can play left
and right, you have days that Alvarez, you can put
al Tuove at second base. There's a lot of different
moving parts that that Joe can can do to get
(06:07):
you know, keep everyone fresh. And you know he's really
he's really got a glut of position players here. It's
a really good problem to have. So uh, he's just
gonna have to find a way to try to maneuver
all these pieces every day that a lot of it's
gonna depend on the guy on the mount for the
other team.
Speaker 1 (06:21):
A couple of minutes too, Brian McTaggart, He's brought to
you today by our friends at Daily in Black. Don't
settle fight back with Daily in Black. Jason Alexander h
not necessarily left for dead. But when the Angels are
to say, when the a say we don't need Jay,
it doesn't mean it's a real good future for him.
Is there any magor elixer he's taken since joined the Astros?
(06:41):
Has there been a philosophical change in pitching or is
he just catching lightning the bottle right now? Uh?
Speaker 2 (06:48):
Well, I think he's getting an opportunity and maybe he
hadn't had in a while, you know, to be a starter.
I think they're getting him to throw his sinker more
to to lefties and righties, one that you know, really
wasn't something that he was told would be a five
and it's been effective here and just taking advantage of
an opportunity. I mean, it's it's been a great story.
I mean, where would they be without him, you know,
(07:09):
over the last couple of months, coming in and filling
this spot in the rotation where it seemed like they
were just trying to grasp at straws to get anybody
because they've had so many injuries. So I think it's
a matter of you know, a few things, just changing
his repertoire a little bit, and the Astros showing some
belief in him, and and he's pitching in games that
matter now. I mean, you know, no offense to the Days,
(07:30):
but you know they're not in the playoff race, and
now he's pitching for a team that is trying to
close out a division here in the next month and
every one of these games are big, and I think
he's really risen to the challenge nicely.
Speaker 1 (07:40):
Astro fans deserve the tidbits on your Twitter account. They
also deserve him at twelve to twenty five on a
Thursday afternoon.
Speaker 2 (07:47):
They do Josel Tube one thy fifty five ops and
July Hide your ears August six, eighty eight.
Speaker 1 (07:57):
That's not a tidbit, that's a downer.
Speaker 2 (08:00):
His bits aren't always positive, Matt. But I'll see they
gets some day off yesterday, so maybe that'll You know,
he's a streaky guy, so if he gets going, he
can carry the offense here for the next couple of weeks.
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