June 9, 2025 • 16 mins
Cruising by the Pirates last week in Pittsburgh then moving on to Cleveland, the Astros again go on to take 2 of the 3 games from the Guardians winning the series 2-1, still leading the AL West Division at a standing of 36-29. Still without Yordan in the lineup and following the absence of a few players, the Astros continue to still taper off wins furthering their position 3rd in the AL behind New York and Detroit. Steve shares a few takeaways from the Astros weekend series and what this means moving forward if they can sustain such great play in the second half of the season.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Our guy, Steve Sparks Astro's radio broadcast. Always great to
have him on. Steve, Welcome in, And who the hell
is Brendon Walter? I mean, I'm being a little bit facetious,
but can he sustain? Can he sustain what we've seen
a couple times already?
Speaker 2 (00:18):
Who the hell is? Sean Southberry?
Speaker 1 (00:20):
I thought somebody who's you know what? You'll appreciate it,
you know, Pebble Beach, Cyprus Point, Spyglass, Monterey Peninsula, first
vacation eight years. Man, So there you go. You thought
you thought, I just, you know, decided to walk away
from it all. I've had it doneay at eight o'clock's
(00:40):
too tough on me?
Speaker 2 (00:44):
Golf balls instead?
Speaker 1 (00:46):
Uh, why you cheap be out of my other four?
Speaker 2 (00:48):
Does it? So?
Speaker 1 (00:49):
Yes, good time. Here's the problem on the tough holes,
you know, those iconic ones. I played pretty well. It's
that ball that you hit to the middle of the fairway.
You say, well, this would be good men you chili
dip and take a six. Yeah, there you go, buddy.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
You know how that goes? Well? Maybe you don't, but
I usually do.
Speaker 1 (01:03):
So there's a few balls, there's a few balls that
are sitting down there on some seals nose in Moderney
at the condition just just below in Ciphers's tree, I
assure you. But it was a memorable at a phenomenal
trip and one that I'll never forget. So it was awesome.
Well see, let's go there. Yeah, man, you'll I mean,
I'm sure you've played there, but you'll appreciate it was awesome.
(01:25):
It was a great times with great friends and great
weather while we were there too. What is can he
sustain this, Steven? Is this a regular rotation guy?
Speaker 2 (01:33):
Now?
Speaker 3 (01:35):
Well, as they go to a six man rotation, he's
certainly a very nice option.
Speaker 2 (01:39):
I mean, he's pitched great in both the outings so far.
Speaker 3 (01:43):
Talking about Brandon Walter, the LEFTI the Astros, you know,
kind of.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
Targeted him last year.
Speaker 3 (01:48):
They got him with a month or two left in
the season at the minor league season, thinking about, you know,
what he might.
Speaker 2 (01:54):
Be able to bring to the table this year.
Speaker 3 (01:57):
And certainly he's probably exceeded expectations. But he was a
former pitcher of the Year in the minor leagues with
the Red Sox at one point, so not totally you know,
out of the dart being able to identify somebody like this,
But who identifies pitchers like this better than the Astros
Steven Oker, even Brian King, guys like that that they've
(02:17):
been able to get into the fold and pitch so
well and be able able to recognize what they do
best and get those guys to kind of double down
on those things.
Speaker 2 (02:27):
But he's a strike thrower. You know. The Astros rookies,
both rookies that they.
Speaker 3 (02:34):
Started games on that last road trip, no walks between
either of them, So you love that. Go out there
and attack guys and keep this train rolling as far
as the Astros pitching staff goes. But Brandon Walter definitely
is the Astros go to a six man with the
thirteen games in a row starting starting tomorrow, He's in
the mix for sure.
Speaker 1 (02:55):
Steve, I've talked to Dan Brown about this, and I
don't know if I've mentioned to you. Maybe I have
at the beginning when when the season just started. But
you think about Bregman and Tucker Gone, all the pitching
injuries they've had to deal with over the last couple
of years and this year, and then Jordon's you know situation.
I mean, you just look at everything that's gone on
(03:17):
and their top hitters. Paine has been playing great baseball.
Paradis has been has been a really really pleasant having here.
I don't say surprise, but pleasant. And Jake Myers is
hovering around three hundred. Those have been your three best hitters.
If I told you all that was going to be
the case and they were going to be two and
a half three games up at this point, I'm not
sure we'd have bought into that right now, Steve, would
(03:39):
you No?
Speaker 3 (03:41):
I don't think so, especially going I think there's six
games about five hundred since Jordon got hurt, right, And
they did the same thing last year when they went
fifteen games better than five hundred with Tucker out.
Speaker 2 (03:54):
You know, it is they've just got.
Speaker 3 (03:56):
A great ability to step up and kind of pick
up the slack when guys go down, and especially when
you're talking about Tucker or yord On.
Speaker 2 (04:05):
You know, guys being keys to their success offensively.
Speaker 3 (04:10):
Now have they been a great offensive team, No, but
you can certainly anticipate Yiner and Christian Walker and Al
Tube and some of these other guys to start swinging
the bats better. You know, second half of the season.
You would expect those guys to be more in line
with what they've done in the past.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
So offensively, I think this team is much better than
they've done so far.
Speaker 3 (04:33):
And they're going to get a lot of reinforcements in
the pitching staff as well. So if you're starting to think,
you know, these guys are going to wear it down,
you know, if things go right, and I don't want
to start naming guys off and when they're going to
be able to get.
Speaker 2 (04:47):
Back, but there's four or five guys that are waiting
in the wings.
Speaker 3 (04:52):
You know, if they get healthy and they don't have
any more setbacks, the Astros are going to have a nice,
nice little infusion in the second half.
Speaker 2 (04:58):
Of the season.
Speaker 1 (05:00):
You'd be the person to ask about this. We mentioned
about they just like with Tucker out and they elevate
their game yard on out, elevate your game, and you say,
how do you continue to do this? So I'm going
to ask you why why are they so good at this?
Speaker 2 (05:17):
Well?
Speaker 3 (05:17):
I think this year it's because they're pitching keeps them
in every single game. And we were talking member Sean
coming out of spring training, how are they going to
get to Taylor Scott, Brian Embray, you and Josh hater.
Speaker 2 (05:31):
How are they going to get there? We just had
so many unknowns.
Speaker 3 (05:34):
Steven Oker, who's been phenomenal this year for the Astros,
was bad last year with Minnesota.
Speaker 2 (05:40):
How did they identify that?
Speaker 3 (05:42):
I just don't get how they're able to see something
in guys that other teams don't. And I think that's
kind of the secret sauce to what the Astros do,
maybe better than anybody else, especially on the pitching side.
So it's been pitching the reason why the Astros have
been able to keep their heads above water. I think
in the last couple of years, even Kokuchie, you know,
(06:04):
being able to identify him instead of throwing.
Speaker 2 (06:07):
His slider to the glove side last year, throw it
to the armside.
Speaker 3 (06:09):
Who would have come up with that, been able to
recognize it. If you just changed the side of the
plate you're throwing your break and ball.
Speaker 2 (06:15):
Things will open up. And that's exactly what happened, you know.
Speaker 3 (06:18):
And he was phenomenal for the Astros last year, and
people were up in arms with what the Astros gave up.
But the Astros got into the playoffs because of Kokuchie
last year, and they had a chance, you know, to
go deep in the playoffs again, but they just ran
into Tarrett's goooble and a hot Tigers team and in
a three game series, you just never know. So continue
to give themselves chances because they pitched so well.
Speaker 1 (06:40):
Pass those broadcasters. Steve Smith for his normal Monday eight
o'clock weekly visit, great to be on with him. Steve. Also,
people that have been in front offices, We've had some
really good in the scouting department, in the development department.
This is an organization that gets it right. From Jim
Crane right on down. Dana Brown's done a hell of
a job doing what he really he's glory to cut
(07:01):
his teeth on. Is that is evaluating talent. And they
seemed to Kokuchi a part of it. They seem to
have a great knack, and so does he. We were
asked earlier, can he be considered as this continues with
all that's gone on as a GM of the Year
type of guy, and I think an Executive of the
year GM. And the answer is yes, right Steve. The
way he is identified and like you mentioned Kakuchi after
(07:24):
he was struggling in Toronto to come here and turn
it around. He and that scouting staff, but He's also
a big part of it because that is his strength.
Speaker 2 (07:32):
Hey, that's why they hired him. You know, there's a
big reason.
Speaker 3 (07:35):
You know, Dana Brown had a great track record as
a scout, has been in the game for thirty years.
So the experience, and I think the communication skills for
data with the players too, I think is a little
underrated because he's the type of guy who is a
former player who's able to go down there and speak
the language. You know, that's so important to be able
(07:56):
to speak to these guys on the same.
Speaker 2 (07:58):
Level, you know, in be real with them and look
them in the eye.
Speaker 3 (08:02):
And say, hey, you know, this is our expectations and
be real so and that's what players appreciate more than anything.
So I think he's got a lot of great attributions.
He can kind of turn things in the astros favor
as far as what they've been able to do for
the last ten years, and that's identify players, develop trade wisely,
(08:26):
do things of that nature. And let's not understate some
of the guys that are in the periphery. You know,
with his assistant GMS, he's got guys in the front
office that go out there and help identify some of
this talent in but he'll pull the trigger man.
Speaker 2 (08:43):
He's not afraid and I love that in it.
Speaker 1 (08:45):
Do you think it'll be an active team as we
pushed in the trade deadline, Steve a very active kind
of lukewarm? What do you think that where we stand now,
let's assume that this is who they are. How active
would you expect them to be?
Speaker 3 (08:59):
Well, let me ask, what do you think they need
right now? I mean, other than getting your un healthy.
Speaker 1 (09:04):
Power back in the lineup would be great, but that's
all ability to get back in.
Speaker 3 (09:10):
Yeah, and continue to keep the balance in the line up.
As far as having a Lefi, it's so nice having
Melton in there and care team when they're in there
to give them a little bit balance. And you watch
some of these teams arrange their their pitching staffs and
get ready for the Astros because they're so right handed heavy,
So it's nice having another Leffy in there.
Speaker 2 (09:31):
So I don't know.
Speaker 3 (09:33):
They've got capital, but there probably would have to trade
from their major league roster to be able to get
somebody that's really going to impact this team. So I
don't know how willing they are to do that. I
think they're probably pretty happy with where they are right now.
I think they can probably be patient to see how
these guys come along. As far as the pitching guys,
(09:54):
and I'm talking about Louis Garcia, Christian Javier, JP France,
probably missing somebody, but yeah, they're going to get some
dudes back, and I think this team's gonna be pretty
strong and healthy and fresh as we go toward the
second half of the season.
Speaker 1 (10:10):
Steve sparked for a couple more minutes here on Sports
Talk seven ninety for his weekly visit, Steve, it's not
for lack of commitment and the grind, you know, Forest
Whitley moving on. Feel bad for him, you know, But sometimes, Steve,
I've been in the situation you have to or sometimes
to change the scenery for both sides, and we're at
(10:31):
that stage. It just didn't work here for a lot
of reasons. But I root for the kid, and I
hope it works out. And it feels like he's been
here fifteen years and but the Astrols have exhausted. I mean,
they have given every opportunity for this to work, and
unfortunately didn't you know, they needed to make a move
for Walter and to give him to be able to
get him to start. So do you see Forest Whitley,
(10:53):
And I know you root for him too as well. Steve,
Is there any way a change of scenery can help?
Speaker 2 (10:59):
I think?
Speaker 3 (11:00):
So, you know, he still may be with the Astros
when everything said that he clears Waivers, might be outright
at the Triple A at that point, But you know,
I can't imagine other teams want not wanting to take
a chance on somebody that throws as hard as him,
has his.
Speaker 2 (11:15):
Sharper breaking stuff. He might have the best stuff on
the team, I'll be honest with you.
Speaker 3 (11:20):
I mean, he's he's electric, But it's a situation a
former first rounder a lot of expectations, especially coming out
of high school. Mark a Pell kind of similar probably
fell into that with the Astros organization. I have no
idea what that's like, to be honest with you. I
never had those types of expectations coming through the organization
(11:41):
that I came through. So those guys put a lot
on themselves, I would imagine, and just to stay healthy
was tough for for us for such.
Speaker 2 (11:50):
A long time.
Speaker 3 (11:51):
To realize his dream and make it to the major
leagues with the Astros, I know it was big for
him last year, but I'm with you, I wish nothing
but the best. If he remains at the Astros, I
think it's good for using. But at the same time,
he may just need a fresh start somewhere.
Speaker 1 (12:07):
Else and that sometimes that works out and guys find
themselves and get their confidence back and stay healthy. See,
let me let me finish with this. What's from we're
going to be worth? You know, rather it's here, whether
it's who's paying it not, that's not the point. Where
is he right now? On worth and price and what
(12:28):
it's going to look like when this comes to fruition.
Speaker 3 (12:32):
Well, it's been documented, you know, there was a pretty
pricey off season left hander that signed last off season. Yeah,
and probably copying promber to anybody else For me, I mean,
he's just so strong and reliable and healthy. I think
the world of him. I just think he's very he's
(12:56):
very valuable. He's worth a lot to the Astros. As
a free agent. I just don't know how much money
you can invest in a starting pitcher these days. It's
just hard for me to imagine really going out there
for a big, long term term contract for anybody because
(13:16):
of all the injuries. But that being said, he has
been healthy and you look at him, he is broad
and strong, and he's a nightmare when you think about
matching up. When he's on top of his game, he
can beat anybody. I think he's as good as anybody
when he's on.
Speaker 2 (13:35):
Top of his game.
Speaker 3 (13:36):
So he's worth a lot, and he's going to get
paid a lot. I don't know who's going to be
willing to go out there and give him that extra year,
the extra two years to get him over the line.
Speaker 2 (13:46):
But right now the Astros are lucky to have him.
He's one of the best.
Speaker 3 (13:52):
In my eyes, is certainly one of the best left
handers in all of baseball. And I think the Astros
wont two punch of Hunter Brown and from about that
matches up as well as anybody's wont two punch of baseball?
Speaker 1 (14:04):
Agreed one hundred percent, real quick, Steve about that. Are
we to the point you know his emotions have got it?
I mean we've seen that, We've talked about it in
the past. Are we to the point now where his
emotional toughness is matching his stuff? Are we close? Have
you seen him developing that better than he was, say
two to three years ago, or even at times last year.
Speaker 3 (14:24):
Yeah, I think there was a little bit of an
adjustment with the pitchclock because I think he liked to
go behind the mound when he was starting to lose
control of his emotions and take a breather and look
somewhere in the stadium to try to, you know, kind.
Speaker 2 (14:35):
Of reset and get back up there and take his time.
But I think he's found a kind of a rhythm
to that now where pitchers can shake to the pitch.
Speaker 3 (14:45):
They want, even when they're not on top of the rubber,
Like they can start and walking behind the mound now
while the catcher's given him signs and they can shake no,
no a couple of times before he starts to walk
back up on top of the rubber and maybe with
three seconds, you're going, man, he's not to get this
pitch off. He's already in his wind up. But by
the time it clicks to one second, so they can
(15:05):
run the clock down and kind of reset. I think
for him taking those big deep breaths and understanding that,
you know, sometimes the gravity of the moment allows him
a little extra time because of what he does and
how he timed things out. Now getting used to the
pitch clock, and I think it took a little bit
of adjustment. I think it took a full year and
a half for him to get things set as far
(15:27):
as that goes. But man, we're just talking about somebody
who can get a double play in the blink of
an eye. You look at all the pitchers who lead
the big leagues in innings pitched.
Speaker 2 (15:38):
He's always at the top of the list. I think
schemes just flip flopped.
Speaker 3 (15:43):
With him with his outing yesterday, but Fromber will go
ahead of him again and his next one innings pitch
man is so big with Hunter Brown and Fromber being
split up in the rotation right now, and to be
able to almost reset the bullpen every time that they pitch,
it's just such a nice feeling for a manager.
Speaker 1 (16:03):
Nothing better than old school work horse innings man and
then being real good at it, no doubt, what a grinder. Steve.
Good to be back on with your brother. I look
forward to it and I sure appreciate your mondays with
this as always, my man.
Speaker 2 (16:18):
Thank you, Thanks Sean, Take care of man.
Our guy, Steve Sparks Astro's radio broadcast. Always great to
have him on. Steve, Welcome in, And who the hell
is Brendon Walter? I mean, I'm being a little bit facetious,
but can he sustain? Can he sustain what we've seen
a couple times already?
Speaker 2 (00:18):
Who the hell is? Sean Southberry?
Speaker 1 (00:20):
I thought somebody who's you know what? You'll appreciate it,
you know, Pebble Beach, Cyprus Point, Spyglass, Monterey Peninsula, first
vacation eight years. Man, So there you go. You thought
you thought, I just, you know, decided to walk away
from it all. I've had it doneay at eight o'clock's
(00:40):
too tough on me?
Speaker 2 (00:44):
Golf balls instead?
Speaker 1 (00:46):
Uh, why you cheap be out of my other four?
Speaker 2 (00:48):
Does it? So?
Speaker 1 (00:49):
Yes, good time. Here's the problem on the tough holes,
you know, those iconic ones. I played pretty well. It's
that ball that you hit to the middle of the fairway.
You say, well, this would be good men you chili
dip and take a six. Yeah, there you go, buddy.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
You know how that goes? Well? Maybe you don't, but
I usually do.
Speaker 1 (01:03):
So there's a few balls, there's a few balls that
are sitting down there on some seals nose in Moderney
at the condition just just below in Ciphers's tree, I
assure you. But it was a memorable at a phenomenal
trip and one that I'll never forget. So it was awesome.
Well see, let's go there. Yeah, man, you'll I mean,
I'm sure you've played there, but you'll appreciate it was awesome.
(01:25):
It was a great times with great friends and great
weather while we were there too. What is can he
sustain this, Steven? Is this a regular rotation guy?
Speaker 2 (01:33):
Now?
Speaker 3 (01:35):
Well, as they go to a six man rotation, he's
certainly a very nice option.
Speaker 2 (01:39):
I mean, he's pitched great in both the outings so far.
Speaker 3 (01:43):
Talking about Brandon Walter, the LEFTI the Astros, you know,
kind of.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
Targeted him last year.
Speaker 3 (01:48):
They got him with a month or two left in
the season at the minor league season, thinking about, you know,
what he might.
Speaker 2 (01:54):
Be able to bring to the table this year.
Speaker 3 (01:57):
And certainly he's probably exceeded expectations. But he was a
former pitcher of the Year in the minor leagues with
the Red Sox at one point, so not totally you know,
out of the dart being able to identify somebody like this,
But who identifies pitchers like this better than the Astros
Steven Oker, even Brian King, guys like that that they've
(02:17):
been able to get into the fold and pitch so
well and be able able to recognize what they do
best and get those guys to kind of double down
on those things.
Speaker 2 (02:27):
But he's a strike thrower. You know. The Astros rookies,
both rookies that they.
Speaker 3 (02:34):
Started games on that last road trip, no walks between
either of them, So you love that. Go out there
and attack guys and keep this train rolling as far
as the Astros pitching staff goes. But Brandon Walter definitely
is the Astros go to a six man with the
thirteen games in a row starting starting tomorrow, He's in
the mix for sure.
Speaker 1 (02:55):
Steve, I've talked to Dan Brown about this, and I
don't know if I've mentioned to you. Maybe I have
at the beginning when when the season just started. But
you think about Bregman and Tucker Gone, all the pitching
injuries they've had to deal with over the last couple
of years and this year, and then Jordon's you know situation.
I mean, you just look at everything that's gone on
(03:17):
and their top hitters. Paine has been playing great baseball.
Paradis has been has been a really really pleasant having here.
I don't say surprise, but pleasant. And Jake Myers is
hovering around three hundred. Those have been your three best hitters.
If I told you all that was going to be
the case and they were going to be two and
a half three games up at this point, I'm not
sure we'd have bought into that right now, Steve, would
(03:39):
you No?
Speaker 3 (03:41):
I don't think so, especially going I think there's six
games about five hundred since Jordon got hurt, right, And
they did the same thing last year when they went
fifteen games better than five hundred with Tucker out.
Speaker 2 (03:54):
You know, it is they've just got.
Speaker 3 (03:56):
A great ability to step up and kind of pick
up the slack when guys go down, and especially when
you're talking about Tucker or yord On.
Speaker 2 (04:05):
You know, guys being keys to their success offensively.
Speaker 3 (04:10):
Now have they been a great offensive team, No, but
you can certainly anticipate Yiner and Christian Walker and Al
Tube and some of these other guys to start swinging
the bats better. You know, second half of the season.
You would expect those guys to be more in line
with what they've done in the past.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
So offensively, I think this team is much better than
they've done so far.
Speaker 3 (04:33):
And they're going to get a lot of reinforcements in
the pitching staff as well. So if you're starting to think,
you know, these guys are going to wear it down,
you know, if things go right, and I don't want
to start naming guys off and when they're going to
be able to get.
Speaker 2 (04:47):
Back, but there's four or five guys that are waiting
in the wings.
Speaker 3 (04:52):
You know, if they get healthy and they don't have
any more setbacks, the Astros are going to have a nice,
nice little infusion in the second half.
Speaker 2 (04:58):
Of the season.
Speaker 1 (05:00):
You'd be the person to ask about this. We mentioned
about they just like with Tucker out and they elevate
their game yard on out, elevate your game, and you say,
how do you continue to do this? So I'm going
to ask you why why are they so good at this?
Speaker 2 (05:17):
Well?
Speaker 3 (05:17):
I think this year it's because they're pitching keeps them
in every single game. And we were talking member Sean
coming out of spring training, how are they going to
get to Taylor Scott, Brian Embray, you and Josh hater.
Speaker 2 (05:31):
How are they going to get there? We just had
so many unknowns.
Speaker 3 (05:34):
Steven Oker, who's been phenomenal this year for the Astros,
was bad last year with Minnesota.
Speaker 2 (05:40):
How did they identify that?
Speaker 3 (05:42):
I just don't get how they're able to see something
in guys that other teams don't. And I think that's
kind of the secret sauce to what the Astros do,
maybe better than anybody else, especially on the pitching side.
So it's been pitching the reason why the Astros have
been able to keep their heads above water. I think
in the last couple of years, even Kokuchie, you know,
(06:04):
being able to identify him instead of throwing.
Speaker 2 (06:07):
His slider to the glove side last year, throw it
to the armside.
Speaker 3 (06:09):
Who would have come up with that, been able to
recognize it. If you just changed the side of the
plate you're throwing your break and ball.
Speaker 2 (06:15):
Things will open up. And that's exactly what happened, you know.
Speaker 3 (06:18):
And he was phenomenal for the Astros last year, and
people were up in arms with what the Astros gave up.
But the Astros got into the playoffs because of Kokuchie
last year, and they had a chance, you know, to
go deep in the playoffs again, but they just ran
into Tarrett's goooble and a hot Tigers team and in
a three game series, you just never know. So continue
to give themselves chances because they pitched so well.
Speaker 1 (06:40):
Pass those broadcasters. Steve Smith for his normal Monday eight
o'clock weekly visit, great to be on with him. Steve. Also,
people that have been in front offices, We've had some
really good in the scouting department, in the development department.
This is an organization that gets it right. From Jim
Crane right on down. Dana Brown's done a hell of
a job doing what he really he's glory to cut
(07:01):
his teeth on. Is that is evaluating talent. And they
seemed to Kokuchi a part of it. They seem to
have a great knack, and so does he. We were
asked earlier, can he be considered as this continues with
all that's gone on as a GM of the Year
type of guy, and I think an Executive of the
year GM. And the answer is yes, right Steve. The
way he is identified and like you mentioned Kakuchi after
(07:24):
he was struggling in Toronto to come here and turn
it around. He and that scouting staff, but He's also
a big part of it because that is his strength.
Speaker 2 (07:32):
Hey, that's why they hired him. You know, there's a
big reason.
Speaker 3 (07:35):
You know, Dana Brown had a great track record as
a scout, has been in the game for thirty years.
So the experience, and I think the communication skills for
data with the players too, I think is a little
underrated because he's the type of guy who is a
former player who's able to go down there and speak
the language. You know, that's so important to be able
(07:56):
to speak to these guys on the same.
Speaker 2 (07:58):
Level, you know, in be real with them and look
them in the eye.
Speaker 3 (08:02):
And say, hey, you know, this is our expectations and
be real so and that's what players appreciate more than anything.
So I think he's got a lot of great attributions.
He can kind of turn things in the astros favor
as far as what they've been able to do for
the last ten years, and that's identify players, develop trade wisely,
(08:26):
do things of that nature. And let's not understate some
of the guys that are in the periphery. You know,
with his assistant GMS, he's got guys in the front
office that go out there and help identify some of
this talent in but he'll pull the trigger man.
Speaker 2 (08:43):
He's not afraid and I love that in it.
Speaker 1 (08:45):
Do you think it'll be an active team as we
pushed in the trade deadline, Steve a very active kind
of lukewarm? What do you think that where we stand now,
let's assume that this is who they are. How active
would you expect them to be?
Speaker 3 (08:59):
Well, let me ask, what do you think they need
right now? I mean, other than getting your un healthy.
Speaker 1 (09:04):
Power back in the lineup would be great, but that's
all ability to get back in.
Speaker 3 (09:10):
Yeah, and continue to keep the balance in the line up.
As far as having a Lefi, it's so nice having
Melton in there and care team when they're in there
to give them a little bit balance. And you watch
some of these teams arrange their their pitching staffs and
get ready for the Astros because they're so right handed heavy,
So it's nice having another Leffy in there.
Speaker 2 (09:31):
So I don't know.
Speaker 3 (09:33):
They've got capital, but there probably would have to trade
from their major league roster to be able to get
somebody that's really going to impact this team. So I
don't know how willing they are to do that. I
think they're probably pretty happy with where they are right now.
I think they can probably be patient to see how
these guys come along. As far as the pitching guys,
(09:54):
and I'm talking about Louis Garcia, Christian Javier, JP France,
probably missing somebody, but yeah, they're going to get some
dudes back, and I think this team's gonna be pretty
strong and healthy and fresh as we go toward the
second half of the season.
Speaker 1 (10:10):
Steve sparked for a couple more minutes here on Sports
Talk seven ninety for his weekly visit, Steve, it's not
for lack of commitment and the grind, you know, Forest
Whitley moving on. Feel bad for him, you know, But sometimes, Steve,
I've been in the situation you have to or sometimes
to change the scenery for both sides, and we're at
(10:31):
that stage. It just didn't work here for a lot
of reasons. But I root for the kid, and I
hope it works out. And it feels like he's been
here fifteen years and but the Astrols have exhausted. I mean,
they have given every opportunity for this to work, and
unfortunately didn't you know, they needed to make a move
for Walter and to give him to be able to
get him to start. So do you see Forest Whitley,
(10:53):
And I know you root for him too as well. Steve,
Is there any way a change of scenery can help?
Speaker 2 (10:59):
I think?
Speaker 3 (11:00):
So, you know, he still may be with the Astros
when everything said that he clears Waivers, might be outright
at the Triple A at that point, But you know,
I can't imagine other teams want not wanting to take
a chance on somebody that throws as hard as him,
has his.
Speaker 2 (11:15):
Sharper breaking stuff. He might have the best stuff on
the team, I'll be honest with you.
Speaker 3 (11:20):
I mean, he's he's electric, But it's a situation a
former first rounder a lot of expectations, especially coming out
of high school. Mark a Pell kind of similar probably
fell into that with the Astros organization. I have no
idea what that's like, to be honest with you. I
never had those types of expectations coming through the organization
(11:41):
that I came through. So those guys put a lot
on themselves, I would imagine, and just to stay healthy
was tough for for us for such.
Speaker 2 (11:50):
A long time.
Speaker 3 (11:51):
To realize his dream and make it to the major
leagues with the Astros, I know it was big for
him last year, but I'm with you, I wish nothing
but the best. If he remains at the Astros, I
think it's good for using. But at the same time,
he may just need a fresh start somewhere.
Speaker 1 (12:07):
Else and that sometimes that works out and guys find
themselves and get their confidence back and stay healthy. See,
let me let me finish with this. What's from we're
going to be worth? You know, rather it's here, whether
it's who's paying it not, that's not the point. Where
is he right now? On worth and price and what
(12:28):
it's going to look like when this comes to fruition.
Speaker 3 (12:32):
Well, it's been documented, you know, there was a pretty
pricey off season left hander that signed last off season. Yeah,
and probably copying promber to anybody else For me, I mean,
he's just so strong and reliable and healthy. I think
the world of him. I just think he's very he's
(12:56):
very valuable. He's worth a lot to the Astros. As
a free agent. I just don't know how much money
you can invest in a starting pitcher these days. It's
just hard for me to imagine really going out there
for a big, long term term contract for anybody because
(13:16):
of all the injuries. But that being said, he has
been healthy and you look at him, he is broad
and strong, and he's a nightmare when you think about
matching up. When he's on top of his game, he
can beat anybody. I think he's as good as anybody
when he's on.
Speaker 2 (13:35):
Top of his game.
Speaker 3 (13:36):
So he's worth a lot, and he's going to get
paid a lot. I don't know who's going to be
willing to go out there and give him that extra year,
the extra two years to get him over the line.
Speaker 2 (13:46):
But right now the Astros are lucky to have him.
He's one of the best.
Speaker 3 (13:52):
In my eyes, is certainly one of the best left
handers in all of baseball. And I think the Astros
wont two punch of Hunter Brown and from about that
matches up as well as anybody's wont two punch of baseball?
Speaker 1 (14:04):
Agreed one hundred percent, real quick, Steve about that. Are
we to the point you know his emotions have got it?
I mean we've seen that, We've talked about it in
the past. Are we to the point now where his
emotional toughness is matching his stuff? Are we close? Have
you seen him developing that better than he was, say
two to three years ago, or even at times last year.
Speaker 3 (14:24):
Yeah, I think there was a little bit of an
adjustment with the pitchclock because I think he liked to
go behind the mound when he was starting to lose
control of his emotions and take a breather and look
somewhere in the stadium to try to, you know, kind.
Speaker 2 (14:35):
Of reset and get back up there and take his time.
But I think he's found a kind of a rhythm
to that now where pitchers can shake to the pitch.
Speaker 3 (14:45):
They want, even when they're not on top of the rubber,
Like they can start and walking behind the mound now
while the catcher's given him signs and they can shake no,
no a couple of times before he starts to walk
back up on top of the rubber and maybe with
three seconds, you're going, man, he's not to get this
pitch off. He's already in his wind up. But by
the time it clicks to one second, so they can
(15:05):
run the clock down and kind of reset. I think
for him taking those big deep breaths and understanding that,
you know, sometimes the gravity of the moment allows him
a little extra time because of what he does and
how he timed things out. Now getting used to the
pitch clock, and I think it took a little bit
of adjustment. I think it took a full year and
a half for him to get things set as far
(15:27):
as that goes. But man, we're just talking about somebody
who can get a double play in the blink of
an eye. You look at all the pitchers who lead
the big leagues in innings pitched.
Speaker 2 (15:38):
He's always at the top of the list. I think
schemes just flip flopped.
Speaker 3 (15:43):
With him with his outing yesterday, but Fromber will go
ahead of him again and his next one innings pitch
man is so big with Hunter Brown and Fromber being
split up in the rotation right now, and to be
able to almost reset the bullpen every time that they pitch,
it's just such a nice feeling for a manager.
Speaker 1 (16:03):
Nothing better than old school work horse innings man and
then being real good at it, no doubt, what a grinder. Steve.
Good to be back on with your brother. I look
forward to it and I sure appreciate your mondays with
this as always, my man.
Speaker 2 (16:18):
Thank you, Thanks Sean, Take care of man.
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