Joe Espada Joins The Show Giving His Insight On Recent Injuries & How The Astros Will Move Past This
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Matt and Ross with you here, twelve thirty two, Sports
Talk seven ninety It is one of our favorite times
to spend ten minutes weekly with the manager of your
first place Houston Astros six in front of the Seattle Mariners,
second best record in the American League, and Joe Aspotta
gets to spend an off day in Denver, Colorado.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
There are worst place to spend an off day, right, skip, No,
it's beautiful.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
I love Denver. We actually hopped the family here and
there's a lot of outdoor stuff to do, which we
did yesterday, walk around, took the kids of some trails,
and we got a chance to spend some quality of
time as a family. So here ready for a three
game series against the Rockies. Looking forward to it.
Speaker 1 (00:40):
Yeah, for sure your years going to Denver. I know
when it first came into play, they were playing at
Mile High Stadium and then they got the humidor in
a noticeable difference when you go to Colorado's compared to
other places. Or because look, you guys were in Sacramento
a few weeks ago and that ball was flying out
of there, So what's it like now circa two twenty five?
Speaker 3 (01:01):
Uh? Here, you know, it's still you know, the ball
still carries, carries really well in Colorado. It's you know,
I find it just a big, wide ballpark is a
big feel. A lot of balls drop in. Our fielders
are usually at Tennessee's playing deeper, trying to keep the
ball in the ball playing in front of them. So
there's a lot of opportunities not only for uster basis,
but also for a lot of hits. So I normally
(01:24):
find ourselves playing the high scoring games here. You feel
like you never you know, you're never You've got to
continue to score because you you never know when you
play here in Colorado.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
Skip.
Speaker 1 (01:36):
Obviously, the Jeremy Payty situation is not great. Was there
a part of you that just when you heard the
news from your your medical team, you just you dropped
your head and said.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
What what more can I go through? Over one hundred
and sixty two?
Speaker 1 (01:47):
I know henjuries are always a part of it, but
my goodness, to lose a guy that has had just
a renaissance of a season, especially since the leadoffs spot,
that's uh, that's a double doozy hit for.
Speaker 3 (01:57):
You, man. Yeah, it's unfortunate, right, It's you don't want
your guys to you know, any of your guys to
get hurt. But you know the Jeremy Penya, Uh, it's
tough news. I you know, I immediately look, you know,
honestly tell us I look to this guy and I,
you know, pray God for strength and and and continue
(02:18):
to to you know, to help us through this tough road,
these injuries. I see it as another test and and
you know you can't you can't. You can't tell testimony
without tests. And we are We've been tested, you know,
there's no doubt about it. But I think at the
end of the day, we are we are a strong team.
We continue to bring guys up that can help us
(02:41):
continue to move forward. This is a united club that
we find ways to win games, you know, and we'll
do that. We'll put uh, I'll continue to put players
in a position for where I think that you have
some success and and while these players are on the sideline,
and once we get them back, you know, hopefully we
continue to be in a good spot to to continue
to make it push and trying to win the division.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
Joe, you've had a couple of days with on him
in there.
Speaker 1 (03:06):
Any thought of what you want to do in terms
of the leadoff guy on a consistent basis or do
you think that could be changing over the next handful
of days.
Speaker 3 (03:15):
You know, right now, I'm gonna I'm gonna keep Credis
in that spot. Obviously, his ability to get on base
is tremendous. You know, he's got the power, He's just
a really good Polish hitter. So I'm going to continue
to do that for for the time being. I like
Jake Myers about in that two spot of two, Waight
in the three spot has been he has found a
place where he feels comfortable and he's producing. And Cam
(03:37):
Smith right now he's giving us, you know, unbelievable especially
with people in scoring positions. So I'm going to roll
with that for for the time being. And if we
need to do some changes to make sure that these
players get getting spots where they're comfortable and they can produce,
you know, we'll do that.
Speaker 4 (03:54):
You mentioned Cam Smith and you've really been seeing some
growth from him, but played he's been great in the
field the whole time. What is what is just like
on a personal personal level, what have you seen from
him as far as maybe getting more comfortable as being
a major leaguer. Is he kind of more just the
same mature guy. Or are you seeing growth as well?
Speaker 3 (04:11):
No, you do, you do see the growth. You do
see a more mature confident which you know he wasn't
lacking when we when we make the decision to put
on the major league roster. But now you see someone
who kind of understand what it takes to being the
big league stay in the big league, adjustments that need
to be made to be a productive player at the
major league level. Conversations with him, he's got a pretty
(04:34):
good idea of what he wants to do, what pitchers
are trying to do. You know, you watch him defensively,
making better choices, better decisions defensively. You know, he's been
He's been incredible in the first three three and a
half months in the big leagues. How he is learning
at the highest level there is I'm not surprised, but
I'm really incredible just watching him, how quickly he has
(04:57):
developed into this really good player.
Speaker 4 (05:00):
Astro's manager, Joe Spotted was here on Sports Talk seven.
I mean, we talked about a lot about the players
y'all want to ask about you because last year, obviously
it was a tough test as far as the way
that the season started, you were turning it around. And
this year things are going great, but all these injuries
keep piling up. What has that been like for you?
Like you've mentioned, you keep kind of getting tested in
(05:20):
these couple of years. It's never a dull moment. But
the team is still well positioned.
Speaker 3 (05:24):
Yes, And you know, I always say that, you know,
as a Christian, I do fellas, I do a lot
of praying. I put this season, any season, avera eating
every game in the hands. So I God, and just
whatever he wants for this team, he will, he will delivered.
And I lean on him, I'll lean on my players,
(05:46):
I'll lean on my coaches, on the organization. We have
done a tremendous job here for a very long time.
We have people that that know the process and we
continue to develop major league players and I trust that.
I trust that process. And but honestly, guys, it's it's
it's a test after a test every single day. And
(06:09):
for me, as the leader of his club, continue to
stay calm, continue to lead, continue to be you know,
positive mindset talking to my players, continue to you know,
allow my coaches to do their job, put these players
in a position to have success. And and and ultimately
I think that's what has made the difference. But you know,
no doubt, you know, will be easier if we we
(06:33):
some of these players, injuries don't happen, but we all
know that this is just part of the game.
Speaker 2 (06:38):
We've talked about your defense, your relief pitching, your starting
pitching as a whole, and obviously the career years for
paying you and the continued really consistent play for Jake Myers.
Did you ever envision in spring training that Jake Myers
will be in the heart of your lineup as much
as he has And look, it's about the opportunities and
who's hot and who's on base, and he's certainly has
done that for you.
Speaker 3 (06:58):
Yeah, yeah, you know what The defense was always you know,
there's there was no doubt this guy is one of
the best defenders in the game. The offense, we've seen
moments through his first three or four years in the
league where you see flashes off the power, his ability
to control the strike zone. But now what we've seen
is someone who really using the middle of the field,
(07:21):
know what's to do with two strikes, just really uh
squeezing you know, uh, the you know, the pitchers on,
You're really going to have to work really hard to
get me out quality at after quality at bad. Not
trying to do too much consistency on a daily basis
something that we last year. He went through stretches where
(07:43):
he's good for a week, then he trended down for
a couple of games. But now it's just consistently, consistently,
consisely of at just because he understands what works for
him and he's he finds himself there in the middle
of a lineup, and because I believe in him. I
believe in the fact that he's at bats are real
(08:03):
and he can he can do this throughout throughout the season.
Speaker 1 (08:07):
You know, it's fun to talk to you skip first
of it's always enjoyable, but it's easier when obviously the
team is playing well. And uh, you know, Josh and
Brian have been such fantastic parts of your back end
of your bullpen, but they've been in a situation where
they've been there, done this. You've got a lot of
middal relievers who have been exceptional for you that are
about to hit a territory where they're in a six
(08:28):
game league.
Speaker 2 (08:28):
They are trying to hold on a division. You're trying
to get the best ruck in the American League. Get
how often you.
Speaker 1 (08:33):
Pull those guys inside and say, you know, enjoy this
for what it is. Guess what, It's only going to
get more difficult as the season progresses.
Speaker 3 (08:40):
You know, I you know what I think the guys
that we have in the middle there, they they've been
around enough where they they know what it they know
what it is, they probably have never experienced it. And
our job is just kind of you know, move them
along and and and you know, you know, ask them
not to do more than what they're doing right now.
(09:03):
You prepare, you prepare them every single day based on
their strength, you know, and attack their hitters based on
their weaknesses. And that plan is never going to change
how we approach that, you know, my mindset, it's just
more making sure they get you know, I put them
in pockets where I know they can they can have success,
make sure that they get rest so they can recover
(09:25):
and their stuff. It's quality every single day. And I
think that's the biggest that's the biggest deal. That's the
big the most important thing for me just to continue
to do that and and continue to talk to them daily,
like you know, this is just you know, keep it fun,
you know, just keep getting yourself ready every single day.
(09:46):
Don't try to do more just because we in July
and we you know, we we go into the you know,
the dark days of August. No, none of that. Just
continue to do what you're doing, and we're going to
find ourselves in a good spot and you know, in
a in a position to win. And and that's all
I really always ask of these guys.
Speaker 4 (10:03):
And getting in a position to win. Sometimes you need
some help at the trade deadline. What are conversations like
with Dana Brown especially, it seems like, you know, a
lot of stuff in the air with the injuries, and
you could always use more hitting, always use more pitching.
But also factoring in guys like Javier Arraghetti and Garcia
possibly getting into the fold.
Speaker 3 (10:20):
Yeah, and we got to monitor you know, those guys
recovery because that's really going to you know, affect how
we go after doing the deadline. You know. But Dana
and his team they're working, they have putting a plan together.
What we what we will like to acquire. You know,
we do have some guys coming back, you know, the mccormicks. Uh,
(10:43):
you know, you're done with the pitching, Jeremy Panna. So
we have pieces coming back hopefully in the next very
soon here. So once we do that, we have a
better you know, idea what we need. But right now
my focus is just to you know, put the players
I have right now in a position where we can
continue to move forward. So then when we get to
(11:04):
that point, we're in a spot where we could if
we at one or two players, they could immediately come
in and make an impacting onlineap.
Speaker 1 (11:12):
Skip, Enjoy the rest of your time in Denver, Good luck,
be safe on this trip to Denver and Los Angeles.
Speaker 2 (11:16):
We'll talk to you when you get back next week.
Thanks for the time. As always, Hi guys, thank you.
You got a Joe spot it with us from Denver.
Speaker 1 (11:21):
Astros and Rockies on deck tonight at six point thirty,
first pitch seven
Matt and Ross with you here, twelve thirty two, Sports
Talk seven ninety It is one of our favorite times
to spend ten minutes weekly with the manager of your
first place Houston Astros six in front of the Seattle Mariners,
second best record in the American League, and Joe Aspotta
gets to spend an off day in Denver, Colorado.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
There are worst place to spend an off day, right, skip, No,
it's beautiful.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
I love Denver. We actually hopped the family here and
there's a lot of outdoor stuff to do, which we
did yesterday, walk around, took the kids of some trails,
and we got a chance to spend some quality of
time as a family. So here ready for a three
game series against the Rockies. Looking forward to it.
Speaker 1 (00:40):
Yeah, for sure your years going to Denver. I know
when it first came into play, they were playing at
Mile High Stadium and then they got the humidor in
a noticeable difference when you go to Colorado's compared to
other places. Or because look, you guys were in Sacramento
a few weeks ago and that ball was flying out
of there, So what's it like now circa two twenty five?
Speaker 3 (01:01):
Uh? Here, you know, it's still you know, the ball
still carries, carries really well in Colorado. It's you know,
I find it just a big, wide ballpark is a
big feel. A lot of balls drop in. Our fielders
are usually at Tennessee's playing deeper, trying to keep the
ball in the ball playing in front of them. So
there's a lot of opportunities not only for uster basis,
but also for a lot of hits. So I normally
(01:24):
find ourselves playing the high scoring games here. You feel
like you never you know, you're never You've got to
continue to score because you you never know when you
play here in Colorado.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
Skip.
Speaker 1 (01:36):
Obviously, the Jeremy Payty situation is not great. Was there
a part of you that just when you heard the
news from your your medical team, you just you dropped
your head and said.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
What what more can I go through? Over one hundred
and sixty two?
Speaker 1 (01:47):
I know henjuries are always a part of it, but
my goodness, to lose a guy that has had just
a renaissance of a season, especially since the leadoffs spot,
that's uh, that's a double doozy hit for.
Speaker 3 (01:57):
You, man. Yeah, it's unfortunate, right, It's you don't want
your guys to you know, any of your guys to
get hurt. But you know the Jeremy Penya, Uh, it's
tough news. I you know, I immediately look, you know,
honestly tell us I look to this guy and I,
you know, pray God for strength and and and continue
(02:18):
to to you know, to help us through this tough road,
these injuries. I see it as another test and and
you know you can't you can't. You can't tell testimony
without tests. And we are We've been tested, you know,
there's no doubt about it. But I think at the
end of the day, we are we are a strong team.
We continue to bring guys up that can help us
(02:41):
continue to move forward. This is a united club that
we find ways to win games, you know, and we'll
do that. We'll put uh, I'll continue to put players
in a position for where I think that you have
some success and and while these players are on the sideline,
and once we get them back, you know, hopefully we
continue to be in a good spot to to continue
to make it push and trying to win the division.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
Joe, you've had a couple of days with on him
in there.
Speaker 1 (03:06):
Any thought of what you want to do in terms
of the leadoff guy on a consistent basis or do
you think that could be changing over the next handful
of days.
Speaker 3 (03:15):
You know, right now, I'm gonna I'm gonna keep Credis
in that spot. Obviously, his ability to get on base
is tremendous. You know, he's got the power, He's just
a really good Polish hitter. So I'm going to continue
to do that for for the time being. I like
Jake Myers about in that two spot of two, Waight
in the three spot has been he has found a
place where he feels comfortable and he's producing. And Cam
(03:37):
Smith right now he's giving us, you know, unbelievable especially
with people in scoring positions. So I'm going to roll
with that for for the time being. And if we
need to do some changes to make sure that these
players get getting spots where they're comfortable and they can produce,
you know, we'll do that.
Speaker 4 (03:54):
You mentioned Cam Smith and you've really been seeing some
growth from him, but played he's been great in the
field the whole time. What is what is just like
on a personal personal level, what have you seen from
him as far as maybe getting more comfortable as being
a major leaguer. Is he kind of more just the
same mature guy. Or are you seeing growth as well?
Speaker 3 (04:11):
No, you do, you do see the growth. You do
see a more mature confident which you know he wasn't
lacking when we when we make the decision to put
on the major league roster. But now you see someone
who kind of understand what it takes to being the
big league stay in the big league, adjustments that need
to be made to be a productive player at the
major league level. Conversations with him, he's got a pretty
(04:34):
good idea of what he wants to do, what pitchers
are trying to do. You know, you watch him defensively,
making better choices, better decisions defensively. You know, he's been
He's been incredible in the first three three and a
half months in the big leagues. How he is learning
at the highest level there is I'm not surprised, but
I'm really incredible just watching him, how quickly he has
(04:57):
developed into this really good player.
Speaker 4 (05:00):
Astro's manager, Joe Spotted was here on Sports Talk seven.
I mean, we talked about a lot about the players
y'all want to ask about you because last year, obviously
it was a tough test as far as the way
that the season started, you were turning it around. And
this year things are going great, but all these injuries
keep piling up. What has that been like for you?
Like you've mentioned, you keep kind of getting tested in
(05:20):
these couple of years. It's never a dull moment. But
the team is still well positioned.
Speaker 3 (05:24):
Yes, And you know, I always say that, you know,
as a Christian, I do fellas, I do a lot
of praying. I put this season, any season, avera eating
every game in the hands. So I God, and just
whatever he wants for this team, he will, he will delivered.
And I lean on him, I'll lean on my players,
(05:46):
I'll lean on my coaches, on the organization. We have
done a tremendous job here for a very long time.
We have people that that know the process and we
continue to develop major league players and I trust that.
I trust that process. And but honestly, guys, it's it's
it's a test after a test every single day. And
(06:09):
for me, as the leader of his club, continue to
stay calm, continue to lead, continue to be you know,
positive mindset talking to my players, continue to you know,
allow my coaches to do their job, put these players
in a position to have success. And and and ultimately
I think that's what has made the difference. But you know,
no doubt, you know, will be easier if we we
(06:33):
some of these players, injuries don't happen, but we all
know that this is just part of the game.
Speaker 2 (06:38):
We've talked about your defense, your relief pitching, your starting
pitching as a whole, and obviously the career years for
paying you and the continued really consistent play for Jake Myers.
Did you ever envision in spring training that Jake Myers
will be in the heart of your lineup as much
as he has And look, it's about the opportunities and
who's hot and who's on base, and he's certainly has
done that for you.
Speaker 3 (06:58):
Yeah, yeah, you know what The defense was always you know,
there's there was no doubt this guy is one of
the best defenders in the game. The offense, we've seen
moments through his first three or four years in the
league where you see flashes off the power, his ability
to control the strike zone. But now what we've seen
is someone who really using the middle of the field,
(07:21):
know what's to do with two strikes, just really uh
squeezing you know, uh, the you know, the pitchers on,
You're really going to have to work really hard to
get me out quality at after quality at bad. Not
trying to do too much consistency on a daily basis
something that we last year. He went through stretches where
(07:43):
he's good for a week, then he trended down for
a couple of games. But now it's just consistently, consistently,
consisely of at just because he understands what works for
him and he's he finds himself there in the middle
of a lineup, and because I believe in him. I
believe in the fact that he's at bats are real
(08:03):
and he can he can do this throughout throughout the season.
Speaker 1 (08:07):
You know, it's fun to talk to you skip first
of it's always enjoyable, but it's easier when obviously the
team is playing well. And uh, you know, Josh and
Brian have been such fantastic parts of your back end
of your bullpen, but they've been in a situation where
they've been there, done this. You've got a lot of
middal relievers who have been exceptional for you that are
about to hit a territory where they're in a six
(08:28):
game league.
Speaker 2 (08:28):
They are trying to hold on a division. You're trying
to get the best ruck in the American League. Get
how often you.
Speaker 1 (08:33):
Pull those guys inside and say, you know, enjoy this
for what it is. Guess what, It's only going to
get more difficult as the season progresses.
Speaker 3 (08:40):
You know, I you know what I think the guys
that we have in the middle there, they they've been
around enough where they they know what it they know
what it is, they probably have never experienced it. And
our job is just kind of you know, move them
along and and and you know, you know, ask them
not to do more than what they're doing right now.
(09:03):
You prepare, you prepare them every single day based on
their strength, you know, and attack their hitters based on
their weaknesses. And that plan is never going to change
how we approach that, you know, my mindset, it's just
more making sure they get you know, I put them
in pockets where I know they can they can have success,
make sure that they get rest so they can recover
(09:25):
and their stuff. It's quality every single day. And I
think that's the biggest that's the biggest deal. That's the
big the most important thing for me just to continue
to do that and and continue to talk to them daily,
like you know, this is just you know, keep it fun,
you know, just keep getting yourself ready every single day.
(09:46):
Don't try to do more just because we in July
and we you know, we we go into the you know,
the dark days of August. No, none of that. Just
continue to do what you're doing, and we're going to
find ourselves in a good spot and you know, in
a in a position to win. And and that's all
I really always ask of these guys.
Speaker 4 (10:03):
And getting in a position to win. Sometimes you need
some help at the trade deadline. What are conversations like
with Dana Brown especially, it seems like, you know, a
lot of stuff in the air with the injuries, and
you could always use more hitting, always use more pitching.
But also factoring in guys like Javier Arraghetti and Garcia
possibly getting into the fold.
Speaker 3 (10:20):
Yeah, and we got to monitor you know, those guys
recovery because that's really going to you know, affect how
we go after doing the deadline. You know. But Dana
and his team they're working, they have putting a plan together.
What we what we will like to acquire. You know,
we do have some guys coming back, you know, the mccormicks. Uh,
(10:43):
you know, you're done with the pitching, Jeremy Panna. So
we have pieces coming back hopefully in the next very
soon here. So once we do that, we have a
better you know, idea what we need. But right now
my focus is just to you know, put the players
I have right now in a position where we can
continue to move forward. So then when we get to
(11:04):
that point, we're in a spot where we could if
we at one or two players, they could immediately come
in and make an impacting onlineap.
Speaker 1 (11:12):
Skip, Enjoy the rest of your time in Denver, Good luck,
be safe on this trip to Denver and Los Angeles.
Speaker 2 (11:16):
We'll talk to you when you get back next week.
Thanks for the time. As always, Hi guys, thank you.
You got a Joe spot it with us from Denver.
Speaker 1 (11:21):
Astros and Rockies on deck tonight at six point thirty,
first pitch seven
Popular Podcasts
United States of Kennedy
United States of Kennedy is a podcast about our cultural fascination with the Kennedy dynasty. Every week, hosts Lyra Smith and George Civeris go into one aspect of the Kennedy story.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com