July 22, 2025 • 11 mins
Joe Espada Joins The Show After Astros Win vs Diamondbacks & Recent Injuries
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Go ahead and say it. Future American League Manager of
the Year, Joe Spot.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
I'm doing well, guys. Thank you for having me.
Speaker 3 (00:07):
Hey, congratulations on the win. Congratulations for Bryce Matthews. Tell
me what it's like managing a young man who probably,
as you even admitted it, has some work to do,
not a finished product, but comes up, takes them all
to get that first major league hit and then is
certainly very impactful for you last night.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Yeah, yeah, he's been you know, the game he had yesterday,
you know, against a really good starter in the in
the position that we are in right we are fighting
through a tough stretch of injuries, and these young players
continue to come up and and and step up and
have games the way Bryce just did. It just impacts
(00:48):
you know. It brings his energy to the club house
and to our team that we needed. And you know,
I'm not surprised about his success. We know that he's
got all the ability and the capabilities to be a
really good player. But how every game he's starting to
settle down, calm down, understand what they're trying to do,
play good baseball on both sides of the ball has
been remarkable and a great story. You know, this is
(01:09):
a Houston kid, is a kid that went to the
Astros Academy. So the whole thing is special. And you know,
it's it's great to see having success and we you know,
we need to keep this going and and and it's
excited to be to be managing this, this group of
players who are so excited and want to contribute.
Speaker 1 (01:26):
Are you committed Joe to keeping him at second base?
Speaker 3 (01:29):
Obviously you're the second basement before him has been playing
a little bit of left field, obviously some DH as well,
and you'd moved him to second. We're speaking obviously with Jose,
but what are your plans at least for the short
term at that second base spot.
Speaker 2 (01:40):
You know what I've really got to I want to
really give him an opportunity. You know, it's it's you know,
right now with our roster and how much is changing,
and we can really predict what the future will bring.
But right now he has earned the right to continue
to get opportunities. Like I've always said, you know, any
young player, you had to keep an eye on how
(02:01):
he reacts and how he makes adjustments. I don't want
to throw a young player out there and not be
able to help them through struggle. So I'm constantly keeping
an eye on all these young players and trying to
put him in a position where they can feel comfortable
and have some success. But right now he's handling himself.
Speaker 3 (02:22):
Very very well with all the injuries and your roster adjustments.
I mean, the Sugarland Houston Express is unbelievable, toll chargers
and everything, but you guys can handle that. Let me
ask you about trying to get guys off their feet,
whether it's Jose, whether it's Victor, whether it's Jannare. Does
it become even a bigger challenge because I feel like
(02:43):
every other series you're having to kind of create and
manipulate a new twenty six man roster.
Speaker 2 (02:48):
You know what, I think that it's it's challenging. But
when you get guys to like Bryce right who's performing
the way he is, he allows me to give out
to a back to back d H days like I'm
going to do today with with with with Hostel too.
If I'm going to d H him again, Brice can
get another opportunity to play second base. I could keep
(03:09):
Hosy off his feet on the turf. You know, Carotine
will get a blow today. Yeah, your DS will be
back in there today against a lefty pitching. I am
really trying to get everyone involved, you know. Uh, Tremmel
swinging the bat really well, so he's getting an opportunity
to you know, get you know, play more on the field. McCormick,
you know, have two hits yesterday. He can play some center.
(03:30):
So I'm really trying to get everyone a breeder doing
the best I can to try it also win as
many games we can. Keep it in mind that we
need to keep these guys healthy and you know, doing
this next nine ten days that we we have games.
But I think you know we are we are kind
of controlling the volume of the early work we do
our VP times were kind of pushing things back, kind
(03:52):
of trying to keep these guys healthy while we get
the rest of the guys who uh you know, get
back to us.
Speaker 3 (03:58):
Joey sincerely apologize that so much of our conversation this
year has been about injuries. But that has been a
storyline of this team, and you're you're certainly well aware
of that. Uh, let's get to your very talented third
basement who looked absolutely terrible running to first base at
our day.
Speaker 1 (04:12):
And I know there wasn't much word yesterday.
Speaker 3 (04:14):
Do you have anything more you can tell our audience
right now about what we know about Esak and in
any evaluation you had medically here in town.
Speaker 2 (04:21):
You know what. Obviously you know the injury, uh did
not look good. It's going to be it's going to
take it. It's going to take some time for for
us to get Paradis back. You know, this handstring injury
was different from the other one. The other one, what's more, Uh,
it was not as intense or as you know, as
bad as this one. So this is going to take
(04:44):
Paradis some time to come back, you know. And and
we are going to miss him during during this stretch
of not having him in there. And and again we
need you know, who's going to be the next guy up,
who's going to step up and and and help us?
And we I've been doing that. Good guys for talking
about I feel like for a few months now. But
(05:04):
but I feel good about our guys.
Speaker 3 (05:05):
Man.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
They fight, they understand in the position that we are in,
we're protecting our house, We're protecting what we you know,
what we love, and it's it's continue to be the
best team in the West. And as long as we
got this guy's fighting and trying to do the best
they can, that's all I can ask for.
Speaker 4 (05:23):
One of the great things that Esak brought to the
table was the amount of pitches he was able to
take and the patience that he had. Uh, can you
just give us some thoughts on basically what is in
him that allows him to do that? And how do
you kind of try to coax more out of that
out of the rest of your lineup, but while still
keeping guys within themselves.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
Yeah, you know, I think what Issach does really well.
Number one, I think he has no panicating with two strikes.
When you have a hitter that you know he'd rather
be all in one than aero for one. It allows
you to de pitches and confident that I can hit
with two strikes. And he's always been able to, you know,
(06:04):
control the strikes and he knows his strength, he knows
what he's looking that day. I guesst that particular picture, right,
So we have, you know, we have some guys that
are capable of doing that. So I'm trying to stack
some of those guys up where our lineup can stretch
out a little bit more. We can see pitches we
can allow our guys to hit with Many's scorn positions.
(06:24):
I'm trying to stack up some guys that can hit
with Many's porn position, trying to get some big hits
in certain moments. You know, it's it's it's tricky, but
you know, we we're going to continue to shuffle things around,
and the guys are all in and you know, I'm
going to communicate with them my thought process and hopefully
we can keep these going.
Speaker 4 (06:41):
Astro's manager Joe Spotto was here on Sports Talk seven
ninety and one of those guys you've had to move
a lot, Cam Smith has basically been everywhere in the lineup.
Do is it a situation where you want the approaches
to be the same or did you talk about possibly
seeing more pitches now with him leading off?
Speaker 2 (06:56):
You know what, he's been seen pitches throughout the whole
entire season. I really like he's approached and and I'm
trying to, you know, make sure that he doesn't have
to change he's planned. He could still be the same
in that lead O spot. Just try to drive the
battle rights in a field. He's come up with some
men in scorn positions. He's got that big double against
(07:18):
Wu in Seattle. Got another big knock yesterday. So I'm
trying to be you know, trying to put him in
a spot where it is not overwhelmed by by the spot.
You know, he has Altuba hitted behind him, so he's
getting some good pitches to hit, you know, and trying
to you know, stack some hitters behind all two where
that we can get some get some big hits with
(07:41):
you know, with men's scorn position.
Speaker 3 (07:42):
Last three starts Joe for Hunter have been laborsome, to
say the least.
Speaker 1 (07:47):
What are you seeing? Is there something that's happening? Is it?
Speaker 3 (07:51):
Uh Nickel and diamond to death? Is it the corners
are not getting called strikes? What combination of things do
you see that has seen his zer a spike up
a little bit of the last two weeks or so, You.
Speaker 2 (08:00):
Know what, I think his stuff has been really good
at bats have been you know, anytime you face someone
with that that's that caliber, hitters get to you know,
they lock it in and and I see hitters uh,
you know, really making adjustments to he's arsenal and how
he's attacking a lot of foul balls, a lot of
long bats, which is driving his pitch counts up, he's
(08:23):
you know, he made some quality pitches in Seattle, and
those guys were able just to put some bawling play.
And but but I don't think it's something that we
should be worried about. I think every great picture goes
through stretches where they show their human side of them
and and I think once you know, Hunter gets back
(08:44):
on the mound and he gets going again, I think
he's he's gonna get on a roll here pretty soon.
Speaker 3 (08:51):
One more thing about a starting pitcher, and this may
be overly simplistic, So if it's if it is straightened
me out, can lance is it a strike throwing that
is getting him in the most trouble right now that
maybe he just needs to be able to trust the
stuff to get her over the plate and say, yeah,
there may be some contact, but I've got good enough stuff.
Speaker 1 (09:08):
Because it feels like the pitch.
Speaker 3 (09:10):
Count, especially early in games, has really gotten in behind
the eight ball.
Speaker 2 (09:15):
And that's it. You know, his stuff is really good
if if we try to get him to throw the
ball in the box and let let the natural movement
of his pitches do the talking. If you if you're
behind the count, the one, zero two. The hitter is
completely in control, you know, off the bat, and they
(09:35):
can wait out, and they can sit on pitches, and
now they can control the part of the plate that
they want to handle. You know that they want to
hit the ball. So but when you control the bat
and you get ahead in the count, and now you
use your sweeper and now I can get my curveball
over my two seamen, it is a completely different ball game.
And you know it's not easy, you know. I Lancey's
(09:58):
been a really good pitcher when he's being healthy, and
he's shown this for many, many years. But we try
to get him to simplify his repertoire how attack hitters
and just get him to be in the box more often.
If he does that, he's going to find himself pitch
in five six innings.
Speaker 1 (10:15):
All right, if I let your run.
Speaker 3 (10:16):
Colton Gordon and Brandon Walter, I mean have been I
mean huge assets for you. They weren't even on your
radars radar and have come up and helped you out
in terms of not only giving you outs in one case,
not throwing base on balls. And the strike count has
been good. And then you needed a link last night
and you got it from one of your starting pitchers.
(10:38):
So two blessings for you right now for the squad.
Speaker 2 (10:41):
Yeah, you know what they when we went in the
off season, you go and you sign players and you're
making your depth chart. You always signing pictures arms that
you know at some point they could come up and
help you give your starters a breeder. You know, you
never you never prepared for the amount of injuries that
(11:03):
could happen to your rotation. But we always prepare to
have some depth. But in case something happens, we know
Colton Gordon is capable of throwing strikes in giving you
four or five minutes. When we went and got Walters,
can he can also do the same. So we we
acquire these players knowing that in case something happens, this
is our second line of defense. And these guys have
(11:24):
been have been solid and allow us to give time
to those pitchers who are on the sideline who are
working their way back, just to keep us in the fight.
And that's all we have. Just keep us in the fight.
And then when we get the rest of the players
coming back, maybe you know, then we're in a position
to make a strong push in August in September Skip thanks.
Speaker 3 (11:45):
The visit has always congratulates on the win. Thank you
to Milwaukee for beating the Mariners last night. Enjoyed that
five game lead and help it stays that way tonight
against the Dbacs.
Speaker 2 (11:53):
Yes, sir, Thank you guys,
Go ahead and say it. Future American League Manager of
the Year, Joe Spot.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
I'm doing well, guys. Thank you for having me.
Speaker 3 (00:07):
Hey, congratulations on the win. Congratulations for Bryce Matthews. Tell
me what it's like managing a young man who probably,
as you even admitted it, has some work to do,
not a finished product, but comes up, takes them all
to get that first major league hit and then is
certainly very impactful for you last night.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Yeah, yeah, he's been you know, the game he had yesterday,
you know, against a really good starter in the in
the position that we are in right we are fighting
through a tough stretch of injuries, and these young players
continue to come up and and and step up and
have games the way Bryce just did. It just impacts
(00:48):
you know. It brings his energy to the club house
and to our team that we needed. And you know,
I'm not surprised about his success. We know that he's
got all the ability and the capabilities to be a
really good player. But how every game he's starting to
settle down, calm down, understand what they're trying to do,
play good baseball on both sides of the ball has
been remarkable and a great story. You know, this is
(01:09):
a Houston kid, is a kid that went to the
Astros Academy. So the whole thing is special. And you know,
it's it's great to see having success and we you know,
we need to keep this going and and and it's
excited to be to be managing this, this group of
players who are so excited and want to contribute.
Speaker 1 (01:26):
Are you committed Joe to keeping him at second base?
Speaker 3 (01:29):
Obviously you're the second basement before him has been playing
a little bit of left field, obviously some DH as well,
and you'd moved him to second. We're speaking obviously with Jose,
but what are your plans at least for the short
term at that second base spot.
Speaker 2 (01:40):
You know what I've really got to I want to
really give him an opportunity. You know, it's it's you know,
right now with our roster and how much is changing,
and we can really predict what the future will bring.
But right now he has earned the right to continue
to get opportunities. Like I've always said, you know, any
young player, you had to keep an eye on how
(02:01):
he reacts and how he makes adjustments. I don't want
to throw a young player out there and not be
able to help them through struggle. So I'm constantly keeping
an eye on all these young players and trying to
put him in a position where they can feel comfortable
and have some success. But right now he's handling himself.
Speaker 3 (02:22):
Very very well with all the injuries and your roster adjustments.
I mean, the Sugarland Houston Express is unbelievable, toll chargers
and everything, but you guys can handle that. Let me
ask you about trying to get guys off their feet,
whether it's Jose, whether it's Victor, whether it's Jannare. Does
it become even a bigger challenge because I feel like
(02:43):
every other series you're having to kind of create and
manipulate a new twenty six man roster.
Speaker 2 (02:48):
You know what, I think that it's it's challenging. But
when you get guys to like Bryce right who's performing
the way he is, he allows me to give out
to a back to back d H days like I'm
going to do today with with with with Hostel too.
If I'm going to d H him again, Brice can
get another opportunity to play second base. I could keep
(03:09):
Hosy off his feet on the turf. You know, Carotine
will get a blow today. Yeah, your DS will be
back in there today against a lefty pitching. I am
really trying to get everyone involved, you know. Uh, Tremmel
swinging the bat really well, so he's getting an opportunity
to you know, get you know, play more on the field. McCormick,
you know, have two hits yesterday. He can play some center.
(03:30):
So I'm really trying to get everyone a breeder doing
the best I can to try it also win as
many games we can. Keep it in mind that we
need to keep these guys healthy and you know, doing
this next nine ten days that we we have games.
But I think you know we are we are kind
of controlling the volume of the early work we do
our VP times were kind of pushing things back, kind
(03:52):
of trying to keep these guys healthy while we get
the rest of the guys who uh you know, get
back to us.
Speaker 3 (03:58):
Joey sincerely apologize that so much of our conversation this
year has been about injuries. But that has been a
storyline of this team, and you're you're certainly well aware
of that. Uh, let's get to your very talented third
basement who looked absolutely terrible running to first base at
our day.
Speaker 1 (04:12):
And I know there wasn't much word yesterday.
Speaker 3 (04:14):
Do you have anything more you can tell our audience
right now about what we know about Esak and in
any evaluation you had medically here in town.
Speaker 2 (04:21):
You know what. Obviously you know the injury, uh did
not look good. It's going to be it's going to
take it. It's going to take some time for for
us to get Paradis back. You know, this handstring injury
was different from the other one. The other one, what's more, Uh,
it was not as intense or as you know, as
bad as this one. So this is going to take
(04:44):
Paradis some time to come back, you know. And and
we are going to miss him during during this stretch
of not having him in there. And and again we
need you know, who's going to be the next guy up,
who's going to step up and and and help us?
And we I've been doing that. Good guys for talking
about I feel like for a few months now. But
(05:04):
but I feel good about our guys.
Speaker 3 (05:05):
Man.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
They fight, they understand in the position that we are in,
we're protecting our house, We're protecting what we you know,
what we love, and it's it's continue to be the
best team in the West. And as long as we
got this guy's fighting and trying to do the best
they can, that's all I can ask for.
Speaker 4 (05:23):
One of the great things that Esak brought to the
table was the amount of pitches he was able to
take and the patience that he had. Uh, can you
just give us some thoughts on basically what is in
him that allows him to do that? And how do
you kind of try to coax more out of that
out of the rest of your lineup, but while still
keeping guys within themselves.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
Yeah, you know, I think what Issach does really well.
Number one, I think he has no panicating with two strikes.
When you have a hitter that you know he'd rather
be all in one than aero for one. It allows
you to de pitches and confident that I can hit
with two strikes. And he's always been able to, you know,
(06:04):
control the strikes and he knows his strength, he knows
what he's looking that day. I guesst that particular picture, right,
So we have, you know, we have some guys that
are capable of doing that. So I'm trying to stack
some of those guys up where our lineup can stretch
out a little bit more. We can see pitches we
can allow our guys to hit with Many's scorn positions.
(06:24):
I'm trying to stack up some guys that can hit
with Many's porn position, trying to get some big hits
in certain moments. You know, it's it's it's tricky, but
you know, we we're going to continue to shuffle things around,
and the guys are all in and you know, I'm
going to communicate with them my thought process and hopefully
we can keep these going.
Speaker 4 (06:41):
Astro's manager Joe Spotto was here on Sports Talk seven
ninety and one of those guys you've had to move
a lot, Cam Smith has basically been everywhere in the lineup.
Do is it a situation where you want the approaches
to be the same or did you talk about possibly
seeing more pitches now with him leading off?
Speaker 2 (06:56):
You know what, he's been seen pitches throughout the whole
entire season. I really like he's approached and and I'm
trying to, you know, make sure that he doesn't have
to change he's planned. He could still be the same
in that lead O spot. Just try to drive the
battle rights in a field. He's come up with some
men in scorn positions. He's got that big double against
(07:18):
Wu in Seattle. Got another big knock yesterday. So I'm
trying to be you know, trying to put him in
a spot where it is not overwhelmed by by the spot.
You know, he has Altuba hitted behind him, so he's
getting some good pitches to hit, you know, and trying
to you know, stack some hitters behind all two where
that we can get some get some big hits with
(07:41):
you know, with men's scorn position.
Speaker 3 (07:42):
Last three starts Joe for Hunter have been laborsome, to
say the least.
Speaker 1 (07:47):
What are you seeing? Is there something that's happening? Is it?
Speaker 3 (07:51):
Uh Nickel and diamond to death? Is it the corners
are not getting called strikes? What combination of things do
you see that has seen his zer a spike up
a little bit of the last two weeks or so, You.
Speaker 2 (08:00):
Know what, I think his stuff has been really good
at bats have been you know, anytime you face someone
with that that's that caliber, hitters get to you know,
they lock it in and and I see hitters uh,
you know, really making adjustments to he's arsenal and how
he's attacking a lot of foul balls, a lot of
long bats, which is driving his pitch counts up, he's
(08:23):
you know, he made some quality pitches in Seattle, and
those guys were able just to put some bawling play.
And but but I don't think it's something that we
should be worried about. I think every great picture goes
through stretches where they show their human side of them
and and I think once you know, Hunter gets back
(08:44):
on the mound and he gets going again, I think
he's he's gonna get on a roll here pretty soon.
Speaker 3 (08:51):
One more thing about a starting pitcher, and this may
be overly simplistic, So if it's if it is straightened
me out, can lance is it a strike throwing that
is getting him in the most trouble right now that
maybe he just needs to be able to trust the
stuff to get her over the plate and say, yeah,
there may be some contact, but I've got good enough stuff.
Speaker 1 (09:08):
Because it feels like the pitch.
Speaker 3 (09:10):
Count, especially early in games, has really gotten in behind
the eight ball.
Speaker 2 (09:15):
And that's it. You know, his stuff is really good
if if we try to get him to throw the
ball in the box and let let the natural movement
of his pitches do the talking. If you if you're
behind the count, the one, zero two. The hitter is
completely in control, you know, off the bat, and they
(09:35):
can wait out, and they can sit on pitches, and
now they can control the part of the plate that
they want to handle. You know that they want to
hit the ball. So but when you control the bat
and you get ahead in the count, and now you
use your sweeper and now I can get my curveball
over my two seamen, it is a completely different ball game.
And you know it's not easy, you know. I Lancey's
(09:58):
been a really good pitcher when he's being healthy, and
he's shown this for many, many years. But we try
to get him to simplify his repertoire how attack hitters
and just get him to be in the box more often.
If he does that, he's going to find himself pitch
in five six innings.
Speaker 1 (10:15):
All right, if I let your run.
Speaker 3 (10:16):
Colton Gordon and Brandon Walter, I mean have been I
mean huge assets for you. They weren't even on your
radars radar and have come up and helped you out
in terms of not only giving you outs in one case,
not throwing base on balls. And the strike count has
been good. And then you needed a link last night
and you got it from one of your starting pitchers.
(10:38):
So two blessings for you right now for the squad.
Speaker 2 (10:41):
Yeah, you know what they when we went in the
off season, you go and you sign players and you're
making your depth chart. You always signing pictures arms that
you know at some point they could come up and
help you give your starters a breeder. You know, you
never you never prepared for the amount of injuries that
(11:03):
could happen to your rotation. But we always prepare to
have some depth. But in case something happens, we know
Colton Gordon is capable of throwing strikes in giving you
four or five minutes. When we went and got Walters,
can he can also do the same. So we we
acquire these players knowing that in case something happens, this
is our second line of defense. And these guys have
(11:24):
been have been solid and allow us to give time
to those pitchers who are on the sideline who are
working their way back, just to keep us in the fight.
And that's all we have. Just keep us in the fight.
And then when we get the rest of the players
coming back, maybe you know, then we're in a position
to make a strong push in August in September Skip thanks.
Speaker 3 (11:45):
The visit has always congratulates on the win. Thank you
to Milwaukee for beating the Mariners last night. Enjoyed that
five game lead and help it stays that way tonight
against the Dbacs.
Speaker 2 (11:53):
Yes, sir, Thank you guys,
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