March 24, 2025 • 22 mins
Entering the final week of Spring Training for the MLB, Opening Day tips off Thursday afternoon with teams set to finalize their 40-man rosters before then as we get ready to kick into the 2025 MLB Season. Tampering and trading prospects along with a few veteran departures in the offseason this year, the Astros look to be ushering into a new era in the organization following the new young core they've acquired filled with lots of potential and talent. Assessing the Astros Spring Training this year and joining the show back for his weekly segment during Astros season, Astros broadcast announcer Steve Sparks joins Sean and Dan in what he's seen from this season's spring training and what he believes the starting lineup may tend to look like as we all anticipate for Opening Day on Thursday.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
It's time for our weekly visit with our good buddy
Steve Sparks. Yeah, Steve, welcome in man. It's always great
to have you every single Monday at eight o'clock am
throughout the season. Well, let's get to the real important stuff.
I mean, you may not have eligibility left, but we
know your golf game will be sharp again. I've had
any replacement in so of you. How you doing with it? Brother?
Everything good?
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Yeah, I'm did pretty well.
Speaker 3 (00:22):
I think today is going to be the first aid
that I'm I'm going to swing at golf club since
the surgery when I had on January eighth.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
So feel good about that.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
Yeah, and your solid ball striker, Steve, you know good
golf leg go solid ball striker. Yeah, hear. Early sleep
deprivation is a bear during that, isn't it. I mean
it'll get you, brother, I'm telling you, yeah, it is.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
It's crazy. Yeah, it turns you into a weak minded
person for sure.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
Well, strong minded people go through and up their game.
Let's start talking spring training. I always like to start
off our very first talk after spring training. Put Cam
Smith on the sideburner for we'll go get to him. Obviously,
he's pretty good aside from him. I mean three takeaways
or so that you came away from spring training, whether
they're good or bad that you saw.
Speaker 2 (01:11):
No, I just you.
Speaker 3 (01:12):
Wonder what the vibe is going to be around the
team when you lose a couple of high profile players
like they did, you know, want to trade and want
to do due to free agency. And Bragman was a
big leader in that clubhouse too. But I think there's
guys that are stepping up. It just feels like, you know,
there's a lot of camaraderie. There's still a lot of
confidence in Swagger with his team that I think you
(01:35):
can't really fake. But there's a lot of guys that
have stepped up during the course of this spring and
it looks like they'll probably hit the ground running because
of it.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
Steve, who is that voice? I mean last year we've
called okay, who's the guy if it's not Alex Bregman
And a lot of times you don't have to be
a loud mouthed, vocal guy. But is there somebody that
these veterans and young players are going to look to
in times of stress?
Speaker 3 (01:59):
Who is well two is always going to be the
example by what he does his actions speak very loudly.
Jeremy Pania is talking more, He's voicing his opinions a
lot more. It looks like Hunter Brown is taking a
step forward and leading the pitching staff. I think Christian
(02:19):
Walker behind the scenes, although he was hurt for the
last two or three.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
Weeks, he's very smart.
Speaker 3 (02:25):
He's got experience, he knows what to say at the
right times, and I think Christian Walker is going to
be big and that realm for the Astros signing a
three year deal.
Speaker 1 (02:35):
Hey, I want to get to al twoven as sec.
But back to Christian Walker, I said last week, I
kind of compared to Joe Mixon. Comes in, tough guy, leader,
takes care as a job on the field, and then
he's allowed to verbally talk about it even if you're
not a big verbal guy. But the impact that Mixon
had on the Texans, I almost feel not only the
(02:55):
necessary part at first base that Christian Walker can have.
Here we're sitting back saying one of the more underrated
gets in the off season in baseball.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
Very steady.
Speaker 3 (03:05):
You know, he'll look you in the eye and give
you time and not act like he's rushed to go
do something else.
Speaker 2 (03:11):
That means a lot.
Speaker 3 (03:12):
You know, he's doing that to the young guys in
the locker room too, So little things like that.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
I kind of look for. You know that A lot
of times in spring training, everybody's so busy.
Speaker 3 (03:22):
They got to get to their next station, they got
to do, you know, stay on schedule to get all
their work done. But man, he'll just he'll just saddle
up and he'll look at you and have a conversation
until you're done.
Speaker 2 (03:36):
You know, it's not about him, it's about you.
Speaker 3 (03:38):
So I respect that, and I think that carries over
when he builds relationships.
Speaker 1 (03:43):
Steve sparks weekly visit ASTROS broadcaster every Monday throughout the
season here on Sports Talk seven ninety at eight o'clock
Central time, Steve, somebody comes up and asks you this.
We've heard it here, so I'll ask you and they
give you this phrase or this quote. Al Tuvey will
be a dis in left field.
Speaker 2 (04:01):
Your response, he will.
Speaker 4 (04:05):
He will work so hard at being not just a competent,
but an above average left field or to the best
of his ability, that that would never happen.
Speaker 3 (04:17):
You know, he's out there early every morning with the
outfield coaches. He played extra in all those games. He
wants to be very good at this. He made one
catch in left center field during the course of spring training.
There was a ten percent catch probability according to stat cast.
Speaker 2 (04:35):
He still has the wheels. He can go get him
and track them.
Speaker 3 (04:38):
He's gonna have some hiccups, but I just think that
the team is better off with him in left field
right now. He recognized that and he volunteered. You know,
when somebody does that, that means a lot. You know,
he's not thinking about himself or his legacy or anything
like that, and he understands that he might embarrass himself
from time to time, and that he did claim a
(04:59):
couple balls and spring training you learn from them, you know,
you learn, like, hey, this transfer from the glove to
your hand.
Speaker 2 (05:07):
Not only is the glove way bigger, but.
Speaker 3 (05:10):
Also you can't you can't make that transfer down low
by your chest like you do at second base.
Speaker 2 (05:14):
You got to catch the ball.
Speaker 3 (05:15):
A little higher and that's where the transfer comes a
little bit later. You got to bring it down and
get it to your hand that way. And to be honest,
I think you learned too. Is you know what, there's
probably a great chance that you're not going to throw
guys out. The percentage of throwing people out, especially in
medium left field at home play, are very low to
begin with.
Speaker 2 (05:35):
So don't try to be in too big of a
hurry get that first.
Speaker 1 (05:38):
Out, Steve is he? I mean the move there is?
You mentioned some of the challenges you know, hey, hand
to glove getting it out because of the quick turnover,
you can throw a side arm and underhand submarine from
second base, all those things that you've made clear. What
will be as big as challenge defensively though, it's a
good question.
Speaker 3 (05:57):
Probably getting too close to the wall. That's the first
thing I think about. I see a lot of outfielders
with lack of experience or going to ballparks for the
first time, that they don't know the nuances of the wall.
Getting too close to the wall turns into an extra
base most of the time. Recognizing that the balls, if
it's hit pretty high, there's a good chance if it
(06:17):
gets over your head. You don't want to get close
to the wall. It's going to bounce back toward the infield.
And to say the center fielder is not over there
busting his rear end to try to get that ball in.
It could turn a double into a triple pretty easily
in some ballparks, and sometimes that's the difference in the ballgame.
I mean, you're trying to save ninety feet as often
as you can, and learning the nuances of how far
(06:40):
to be away from a wall and when to take
a chance means a lot steve.
Speaker 1 (06:44):
At the end of the year, if they're not where
they want to be, or let's just even say it,
the All Star break, will we be saying it's because
the outfield.
Speaker 2 (06:54):
No, I don't think so. I don't at all.
Speaker 3 (06:56):
I'd say mostly you would say it was because of
To me, it's because the team wasn't healthy, right. I
feel like this team healthy is going to be in
contention the whole way through. You know, whether they get
off to a good start or not, that remains to
be seen. But over the course of one sixty two
is we know things can change a lot, but I
(07:17):
expect them to be in contention around the All Star
break and beyond. You know, but knock on wood, whether
or health permitting. You just hope that you don't have
to dig too deep into your triple A starting rotation
to make sure that these guys get their turns in
the rotation for the Astros because they're pretty good.
Speaker 1 (07:37):
Steve Sparks, Astros broadcaster every Monday throughout the season and
hopefully a long, long season that heads into postseason and
World Series type joins us here on Sports Talk seven
ninety eight o'clock each week. All right, Steve, let's get
to the big fell in right field. They said during
spring training, and Joe the Spot has said it and
we were interviewed him at the Astros Fest, that their
(07:58):
competition was going to be real. And this is a
difficult franchise has been Steve for the last eight or
so years to make it to the major leagues because
of the depth at each position right they've been pretty good.
It's a hard place to get to. This year, it
was a little different. There's a little more opening. So
if I were to say to you, competition was open,
camp Smith earned the starting job in right field, yes
or no? Yeah, you know, I don't go.
Speaker 3 (08:22):
By the the statistics to be honest.
Speaker 1 (08:24):
About the whole. I mean the whole. Look Steve, the
way he handles himself, he can handle failure and success.
I forget the fact that you know, for all that
stuff that the physical stuff's obvious. We know he can
do that. He's he's built like a you know, like
a Donnish, But I'm talking about the whole package that
comes with that prospect. Is he ready? But also did
he earn the job? And should he be the starting
(08:46):
right fielder?
Speaker 3 (08:47):
You never know if a guy's ready until he's faced adversity.
And that's a lot of times the reason why they
put him down in the minor leagues for an extended
period of time, Because a lot of these guys have
never experienced adversity, whether it be in college or early
on in a ball and things like that, they just
motor on through, especially guys like cam Smith. But that
being said, whenever we saw Jordon Albarez and you and
(09:11):
I would talk, you know, early on in his career,
I always told you the thing that made him so
special with his pitch recognition and his swing decisions, and
because Jordan swung at pitches that he could drive over
and over and over, he realized his potential very quickly.
(09:31):
And I think Cam Smith has the exact same qualities
in his at bats that we see. We see him
recognize spin, take close pitches even with two strikes, things
like that. He swings at pitches he can drive and
he doesn't foul him at very often. He puts them
in play. He's very strong, he's super special. But I
(09:54):
think his biggest asset right now is his swing decisions.
Speaker 2 (09:57):
And Ted Williams is telling them this seventy years to go.
That's the first key to hitting right there, swinging of
pitches that you can.
Speaker 1 (10:04):
Hammer Steve with that, And I'm I'm with you one
and watching him, I mean, you're looking for okay, where's
the looking for weaknesses? And you have You said Jordan
when he first came up, and he was built different
and this cat, this cat feels the same. And it's
hurt right it's spring training, but he just feels and
you can hear the responses from teammates and players that
(10:25):
watch him do his work every day. And it's not
just working harder, it's smarter. And the thing is plate recognition,
all the things you mentioned. And I contend this, Steve,
and I see it in sports at quarterbacks. You know
when do we rush him? Well, sometimes you don't have time.
You're a bad team. You draft the quarterback first, you
stick his ass in the lineup and we go there's
no minor leagues, right, I'm all four putting cam Smith up.
(10:46):
And you mentioned we don't know un till they face adversity.
But you and I have been in sports a long time.
I think for the most part, I think that's ingrained
in a guy's DNA. I think guys like him, if
he starts off hitting two twenty the first month, he'll
be okay. I think he's just built different there too.
From my vantage point, what say you.
Speaker 2 (11:05):
I agree, you know, I think he's ready to handle this.
You know, in.
Speaker 3 (11:10):
Are there is there going to be adversity. There will
be you know it's going to happen to right, and
will he struggle out of the game. Hey, listen, five
of the first six cities that the Ashers go to on.
Speaker 2 (11:20):
The road are very, very cold.
Speaker 3 (11:22):
And this is a kid that grew up in West
Palm Beach, went to Florida State, He did play in
the ACC played in Boston College, you know, in a.
Speaker 2 (11:30):
Few places that were cold, but not much.
Speaker 3 (11:32):
So to get off to a really good start in
these cold weather cities is a nuance as well. So
try to learn little different things playing every day and
travel and things in the pressure that comes along with
being on that contending Major League Baseball team, all those things.
But from what I see, you know, and I don't
(11:53):
know exactly what's inside there, but what I see leads
me to believe he can handle any situation that he's
going to go through. Now, if they have to send
him down to the miners later on or whatever, if
he doesn't make the team out of spring training, I
think he's going to handle it perfectly. And I think
the Astro's got somebody that they can count on for
six years at minimum coming over in this trade.
Speaker 2 (12:16):
For Kyle Tucker.
Speaker 3 (12:17):
They can be very proud of because this guy on
and off the field.
Speaker 2 (12:22):
Is a gem.
Speaker 1 (12:23):
And Steve, you remember, and he still is a Bregman
slow starter. He comes up, wasn't exactly breaking right off
the bat. Kyle Tucker's first hundred at bats were not good.
I mean, you can go Jordon was just the cat's different, right,
which is what you're saying about this a game. Yes,
yes he is.
Speaker 2 (12:39):
He puts the barrel on the ball, You got a
chance for a run.
Speaker 3 (12:43):
Every time he swings man he is in scoring position
when he steps in there.
Speaker 1 (12:47):
Steve I said earlier on the show, I said, I'm not.
You know, obviously, I'll two vain his understanding. He's been
in baseball long time. I said, when it comes to
just pure explosive talent and hitters aside from Jordon, there's
no more explosive talent in this lineup. If he makes
this lineup explosively with the ability that once he gets going,
the pitchers are gonna have to take notice.
Speaker 3 (13:07):
Early, right yeah, yeah, And it comes with those swinging decisions,
you know.
Speaker 2 (13:12):
And that's the only thing that's held Jeremy Penia back
to this point in this spring. He's been fantastic. He's
had the best.
Speaker 3 (13:20):
Spring training of anybody on the Astros, and he's got
a real still head right now and he's recognizing pitches.
But that's the only thing that's held him back is
chasing that slider off the play.
Speaker 2 (13:31):
Once he starts swinging the pitches.
Speaker 3 (13:32):
In the zone like he has this spring look out,
I mean, you can put Jeremy Penia maybe up there
with with some of these guys with who's explosive and
can change games. But Cam Smith, He's going to be
a game changer, whether it be the beginning of this
season or a little later on.
Speaker 1 (13:50):
Steve your gut feeling, does he opening? Is he the
opening day right field starter?
Speaker 3 (13:55):
Just your gut my feeling is I say yes? I
say yes, but I'm not super confident in that. But
my gut feeling like if I was to say yes
or no, I would say yes. But I you know,
it's it's pretty close to fifty to fifty for me,
right if it was me, If it was me, he
would be on the team.
Speaker 1 (14:15):
If it was me, I made the decision two weeks
ago and I said it on here, and I'm not
any position to make the decision. But he sure looks
He sure as hell looks the part, and it's exciting
a young stud in the lineup. All right on to
the mound we go, Yeah, when will we see Lance
mccullors at his best, Steve? And are we ready? And
is he prepared? Is he prepared for that? Is he
prepared for that? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (14:37):
Yeah, I mean he's done everything he needs to do
to get to this point where he's gone up and
down today. Actually back in Florida, he's going to get
up and down twice. So it's being able to see
if you can get cold and hot again is pretty
important step. But you know, everything's snapping pretty well. He's
eliminated the two seamed fastball, which I think is smart
(14:57):
because it profiles so closely do his change it movement profile,
So going more with four steamers to play off of
that change up with that, I think he's really smart.
But you know, so far, he looks really good. So
it's it's gonna be incremental. You know, He's probably gonna
need to make five starts or so. Then the Astros
may be able to get creative, you know, with fewer
(15:18):
off days. A little later on, maybe he can piggyback
with somebody as he gets his feet wet at the
major league level.
Speaker 2 (15:23):
Two. But I think he's gonna help this team this year.
Speaker 1 (15:25):
Steve, what will we be saying about Forrest Whitley in
September when when his name comes up in September, what
will be the conversation.
Speaker 3 (15:33):
I think it's gonna be a good story, you know,
just talking to him. I've got a chance to a
few times this spring to talk to him at his
locker and just seeing where his headspace is right now.
Speaker 2 (15:42):
I think he's.
Speaker 3 (15:42):
Matured a lot, and I feel like, you know, the
talent is unwavering. He throws super hard still everything else,
it is kind of, you know, off the charts as
far as plus plus uh breaking stuff and change up
and all that stuff. For me, I think he overthrows
from time to time, and I think it's just.
Speaker 2 (16:04):
A matter of being able to rein it back a
little bit.
Speaker 3 (16:07):
I think most of the best pitchers I ever played
with always felt like ninety percent effort. It usually ended
up more like one hundred percent being efficient, just because
you're letting your arm catch up to your body and
you're commanding your pitches better.
Speaker 2 (16:21):
And I think once he gets to that stage, he
can take a big step forward.
Speaker 1 (16:24):
Do you expect the bullpen and the starting pitching let's
say healthy, I'm talking about healthy. Will it be the
strength of the team this year? We have this conversation
every year, Steve, where do you see them fitting in?
Strength wise?
Speaker 2 (16:36):
I think they're going to be great. They develop pictures fantastically,
even Van Why.
Speaker 3 (16:41):
I mean, one of the Astros relievers that got sent
down to tripa A yesterday eleven appearances, only giving up
a couple of runs.
Speaker 2 (16:47):
He was very impressive.
Speaker 3 (16:49):
So you've got some support down in the minor leagues
that they can bring up. But there is four or
five relievers for the Astros that you weren't sure who
was going to be the bridge to bray you and
Hater in the eighth and ninth inning that have stepped
forward and they look like they're going to get some
important outs, including maybe Ryan Gusto, who was slaved I
think maybe three weeks ago to be the opening day
(17:10):
starter in sugar Land, but I think he's in the
mix maybe to be a long reliever at the beginning
of the season.
Speaker 1 (17:15):
Do we know who the seventh who the seventh inning
guy is right now or Steve? Is it going to
be an open Is it going to be a body
of work from a handful of guys.
Speaker 2 (17:23):
I think it's a handful of guys. Okret has been
unhittable right this spring.
Speaker 3 (17:26):
Ye.
Speaker 2 (17:27):
I think coming into spring you figured it was.
Speaker 3 (17:29):
Going to be Taylor Scott with the year he had,
But some other guys that have opened their eyes and
Ochert certainly one of those. And Brian King, who pitched
great for the Ashos last year. If hits his his
pocket being a lefty, you know he could be the
seventh inning guy.
Speaker 2 (17:44):
But you're exactly right, and the sixth and seventh inning.
Being able to get to a brady and hater.
Speaker 3 (17:50):
I think for me is the toughest little kind of
nuance struggle that they might have early on in the season,
finding the right guy for that part.
Speaker 1 (17:59):
All right, I'll let you go on this, brother. I
appreciate the extra time. Let's us have some fun, just
you and I. It's not what they're gonna do.
Speaker 2 (18:05):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (18:06):
Let's go the quickly lineup and the batting order on
opening day, just for you if you were doing it
for the hell of it. Who's leading off? And then
go right through the nine and let's go.
Speaker 2 (18:15):
Okay, assuming Christian Walker is healthy.
Speaker 1 (18:17):
Yes, exactly, he'll play right, Okay.
Speaker 3 (18:20):
I'd probably have to write this down because I might
change my mind if I wrote this down and I
thought a little bit more about it. But I'll two
Bay lead off, h Eastoc Paratus batting second because of
how how many pitches he sees in his on base ability,
ahead of yord On, Jordon Hits third batting, fourth, Christian
Walker if he's healthy, Fifth, Jine or Diaz. Next is
(18:41):
Jeremy Panna, who looks like he's ready to break out.
And then seven eight, nine, you can mix and match,
probably Myers ninth, And I don't care what he hits,
by the way, just go get him because he's an
elite center fielder. And you'll see more and more teams
in the major leagues they stick that stud in centerfield
and let them roam, and they understand the value of that.
Speaker 2 (19:01):
But I think he I think he's got a chance
on base wise to get a little better.
Speaker 1 (19:05):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (19:06):
And if you see more pitches, I think he's got
a better chance to help this team offensively. But bottom line,
I think he's there for defense. And then in the
seven and eight hole hitter is probably going to be
Brendan Rodgers do bond combination.
Speaker 2 (19:19):
At second base, and in who am I missing?
Speaker 1 (19:22):
You're missing Cam Smith in right field?
Speaker 2 (19:25):
Uh?
Speaker 1 (19:25):
You got you got him hitting behind, you got him
hitting in the seven or eight hole.
Speaker 3 (19:29):
I got I got him slated between Yiner and Jeremy Penya.
Speaker 1 (19:32):
Okay, So he'll be hitting six and that's where I
had him exactly had y Cam Smith, Jeremy Peny and
then eight and nine Myers in the nine hole, and
then a body of work in the eight hole depending
on who it is.
Speaker 3 (19:44):
Yeah, and Brandon Rodgers is figuring some stuff out too.
His problem is hitting too many ground balls with the Rockies,
and they got him with better contact out front. And
he's really last two weeks caught onto what the Astros
are working on him with and driving the base while
getting it in the air, and I think he's going
to be a little sleeper for the Astros.
Speaker 1 (20:01):
Can't wait, my man, Thursday will be here.
Speaker 2 (20:03):
Oh you got time for one? You got time for
one little story?
Speaker 1 (20:06):
Please? Are you kidding me? We got time? I got
time for four of them from you, brother? Have at
it all.
Speaker 3 (20:12):
Right this time, this time of year always reminds me
of a guy I played with in winter ball. His
name was George Wright and got a little bit of
time in the big leagues. But he was in spring
training with the Rangers in the early eighties and realized
with one week to go in spring training that he
wasn't gonna make the team. He just counted him up.
He's looking at the sheet and this like we're doing.
We're trying to figure out who's got a chance to
make the roster. We figured out man, I'm gonna have
(20:34):
to go back to the minor leagues. I don't have
a whole lot to prove it's kind of feeling sorry
for himself. And two days later there was a veteran
on that team, and you remember Mickey Rivers. Oh yeah,
Mickey Rivers is on the team. He had fifteen years
in the big leagues at that point. He understood what
George Wright was going through, so he faked a hamstring
(20:55):
injury so George Wright could make the team. Then he
made sure that that hamstring lingered long enough for Right
to get his feet underneath him. And George Right, because
of the fake injury by Mickey Rivers, with three days
left in spring training, got a four year career in
the major league. So he's probably collecting pension right now,
(21:15):
thanking Mickey Rivers every day.
Speaker 1 (21:17):
Listen, I listen anytime I can get a good Mickey
Rivers story weaved in, I'm in. I like Mickey Rivers
now more. I believe old number seventeen in centerfield, Yankees, Rangers,
a whole bunch of teams, And good on George Right.
And if I'm him, don't give one out to your
pension to Mickey Rivers. He's got plenty of his own.
So there you go. But what a great story. And
I kind of like guys like that who sacrifice for
(21:39):
their team and to give him an opportunity. Good, that's
awesome stuff. Steve look forward to it weekly. Keep on
that rehab, brother, and hit him straight today, and I
look forward to getting out there with you man. Thanks
for your time. Thanks all right, that's the best, Steve Sparks,
We'll come back. Get the break here. Sports Talk seven
to ninety along with Dan and Tripoli Sean Salisbury show
a lot to talk about about the app Traills next
It's time for our weekly visit with our good buddy
Steve Sparks. Yeah, Steve, welcome in man. It's always great
to have you every single Monday at eight o'clock am
throughout the season. Well, let's get to the real important stuff.
I mean, you may not have eligibility left, but we
know your golf game will be sharp again. I've had
any replacement in so of you. How you doing with it? Brother?
Everything good?
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Yeah, I'm did pretty well.
Speaker 3 (00:22):
I think today is going to be the first aid
that I'm I'm going to swing at golf club since
the surgery when I had on January eighth.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
So feel good about that.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
Yeah, and your solid ball striker, Steve, you know good
golf leg go solid ball striker. Yeah, hear. Early sleep
deprivation is a bear during that, isn't it. I mean
it'll get you, brother, I'm telling you, yeah, it is.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
It's crazy. Yeah, it turns you into a weak minded
person for sure.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
Well, strong minded people go through and up their game.
Let's start talking spring training. I always like to start
off our very first talk after spring training. Put Cam
Smith on the sideburner for we'll go get to him. Obviously,
he's pretty good aside from him. I mean three takeaways
or so that you came away from spring training, whether
they're good or bad that you saw.
Speaker 2 (01:11):
No, I just you.
Speaker 3 (01:12):
Wonder what the vibe is going to be around the
team when you lose a couple of high profile players
like they did, you know, want to trade and want
to do due to free agency. And Bragman was a
big leader in that clubhouse too. But I think there's
guys that are stepping up. It just feels like, you know,
there's a lot of camaraderie. There's still a lot of
confidence in Swagger with his team that I think you
(01:35):
can't really fake. But there's a lot of guys that
have stepped up during the course of this spring and
it looks like they'll probably hit the ground running because
of it.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
Steve, who is that voice? I mean last year we've
called okay, who's the guy if it's not Alex Bregman
And a lot of times you don't have to be
a loud mouthed, vocal guy. But is there somebody that
these veterans and young players are going to look to
in times of stress?
Speaker 3 (01:59):
Who is well two is always going to be the
example by what he does his actions speak very loudly.
Jeremy Pania is talking more, He's voicing his opinions a
lot more. It looks like Hunter Brown is taking a
step forward and leading the pitching staff. I think Christian
(02:19):
Walker behind the scenes, although he was hurt for the
last two or three.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
Weeks, he's very smart.
Speaker 3 (02:25):
He's got experience, he knows what to say at the
right times, and I think Christian Walker is going to
be big and that realm for the Astros signing a
three year deal.
Speaker 1 (02:35):
Hey, I want to get to al twoven as sec.
But back to Christian Walker, I said last week, I
kind of compared to Joe Mixon. Comes in, tough guy, leader,
takes care as a job on the field, and then
he's allowed to verbally talk about it even if you're
not a big verbal guy. But the impact that Mixon
had on the Texans, I almost feel not only the
(02:55):
necessary part at first base that Christian Walker can have.
Here we're sitting back saying one of the more underrated
gets in the off season in baseball.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
Very steady.
Speaker 3 (03:05):
You know, he'll look you in the eye and give
you time and not act like he's rushed to go
do something else.
Speaker 2 (03:11):
That means a lot.
Speaker 3 (03:12):
You know, he's doing that to the young guys in
the locker room too, So little things like that.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
I kind of look for. You know that A lot
of times in spring training, everybody's so busy.
Speaker 3 (03:22):
They got to get to their next station, they got
to do, you know, stay on schedule to get all
their work done. But man, he'll just he'll just saddle
up and he'll look at you and have a conversation
until you're done.
Speaker 2 (03:36):
You know, it's not about him, it's about you.
Speaker 3 (03:38):
So I respect that, and I think that carries over
when he builds relationships.
Speaker 1 (03:43):
Steve sparks weekly visit ASTROS broadcaster every Monday throughout the
season here on Sports Talk seven ninety at eight o'clock
Central time, Steve, somebody comes up and asks you this.
We've heard it here, so I'll ask you and they
give you this phrase or this quote. Al Tuvey will
be a dis in left field.
Speaker 2 (04:01):
Your response, he will.
Speaker 4 (04:05):
He will work so hard at being not just a competent,
but an above average left field or to the best
of his ability, that that would never happen.
Speaker 3 (04:17):
You know, he's out there early every morning with the
outfield coaches. He played extra in all those games. He
wants to be very good at this. He made one
catch in left center field during the course of spring training.
There was a ten percent catch probability according to stat cast.
Speaker 2 (04:35):
He still has the wheels. He can go get him
and track them.
Speaker 3 (04:38):
He's gonna have some hiccups, but I just think that
the team is better off with him in left field
right now. He recognized that and he volunteered. You know,
when somebody does that, that means a lot. You know,
he's not thinking about himself or his legacy or anything
like that, and he understands that he might embarrass himself
from time to time, and that he did claim a
(04:59):
couple balls and spring training you learn from them, you know,
you learn, like, hey, this transfer from the glove to
your hand.
Speaker 2 (05:07):
Not only is the glove way bigger, but.
Speaker 3 (05:10):
Also you can't you can't make that transfer down low
by your chest like you do at second base.
Speaker 2 (05:14):
You got to catch the ball.
Speaker 3 (05:15):
A little higher and that's where the transfer comes a
little bit later. You got to bring it down and
get it to your hand that way. And to be honest,
I think you learned too. Is you know what, there's
probably a great chance that you're not going to throw
guys out. The percentage of throwing people out, especially in
medium left field at home play, are very low to
begin with.
Speaker 2 (05:35):
So don't try to be in too big of a
hurry get that first.
Speaker 1 (05:38):
Out, Steve is he? I mean the move there is?
You mentioned some of the challenges you know, hey, hand
to glove getting it out because of the quick turnover,
you can throw a side arm and underhand submarine from
second base, all those things that you've made clear. What
will be as big as challenge defensively though, it's a
good question.
Speaker 3 (05:57):
Probably getting too close to the wall. That's the first
thing I think about. I see a lot of outfielders
with lack of experience or going to ballparks for the
first time, that they don't know the nuances of the wall.
Getting too close to the wall turns into an extra
base most of the time. Recognizing that the balls, if
it's hit pretty high, there's a good chance if it
(06:17):
gets over your head. You don't want to get close
to the wall. It's going to bounce back toward the infield.
And to say the center fielder is not over there
busting his rear end to try to get that ball in.
It could turn a double into a triple pretty easily
in some ballparks, and sometimes that's the difference in the ballgame.
I mean, you're trying to save ninety feet as often
as you can, and learning the nuances of how far
(06:40):
to be away from a wall and when to take
a chance means a lot steve.
Speaker 1 (06:44):
At the end of the year, if they're not where
they want to be, or let's just even say it,
the All Star break, will we be saying it's because
the outfield.
Speaker 2 (06:54):
No, I don't think so. I don't at all.
Speaker 3 (06:56):
I'd say mostly you would say it was because of
To me, it's because the team wasn't healthy, right. I
feel like this team healthy is going to be in
contention the whole way through. You know, whether they get
off to a good start or not, that remains to
be seen. But over the course of one sixty two
is we know things can change a lot, but I
(07:17):
expect them to be in contention around the All Star
break and beyond. You know, but knock on wood, whether
or health permitting. You just hope that you don't have
to dig too deep into your triple A starting rotation
to make sure that these guys get their turns in
the rotation for the Astros because they're pretty good.
Speaker 1 (07:37):
Steve Sparks, Astros broadcaster every Monday throughout the season and
hopefully a long, long season that heads into postseason and
World Series type joins us here on Sports Talk seven
ninety eight o'clock each week. All right, Steve, let's get
to the big fell in right field. They said during
spring training, and Joe the Spot has said it and
we were interviewed him at the Astros Fest, that their
(07:58):
competition was going to be real. And this is a
difficult franchise has been Steve for the last eight or
so years to make it to the major leagues because
of the depth at each position right they've been pretty good.
It's a hard place to get to. This year, it
was a little different. There's a little more opening. So
if I were to say to you, competition was open,
camp Smith earned the starting job in right field, yes
or no? Yeah, you know, I don't go.
Speaker 3 (08:22):
By the the statistics to be honest.
Speaker 1 (08:24):
About the whole. I mean the whole. Look Steve, the
way he handles himself, he can handle failure and success.
I forget the fact that you know, for all that
stuff that the physical stuff's obvious. We know he can
do that. He's he's built like a you know, like
a Donnish, But I'm talking about the whole package that
comes with that prospect. Is he ready? But also did
he earn the job? And should he be the starting
(08:46):
right fielder?
Speaker 3 (08:47):
You never know if a guy's ready until he's faced adversity.
And that's a lot of times the reason why they
put him down in the minor leagues for an extended
period of time, Because a lot of these guys have
never experienced adversity, whether it be in college or early
on in a ball and things like that, they just
motor on through, especially guys like cam Smith. But that
being said, whenever we saw Jordon Albarez and you and
(09:11):
I would talk, you know, early on in his career,
I always told you the thing that made him so
special with his pitch recognition and his swing decisions, and
because Jordan swung at pitches that he could drive over
and over and over, he realized his potential very quickly.
(09:31):
And I think Cam Smith has the exact same qualities
in his at bats that we see. We see him
recognize spin, take close pitches even with two strikes, things
like that. He swings at pitches he can drive and
he doesn't foul him at very often. He puts them
in play. He's very strong, he's super special. But I
(09:54):
think his biggest asset right now is his swing decisions.
Speaker 2 (09:57):
And Ted Williams is telling them this seventy years to go.
That's the first key to hitting right there, swinging of
pitches that you can.
Speaker 1 (10:04):
Hammer Steve with that, And I'm I'm with you one
and watching him, I mean, you're looking for okay, where's
the looking for weaknesses? And you have You said Jordan
when he first came up, and he was built different
and this cat, this cat feels the same. And it's
hurt right it's spring training, but he just feels and
you can hear the responses from teammates and players that
(10:25):
watch him do his work every day. And it's not
just working harder, it's smarter. And the thing is plate recognition,
all the things you mentioned. And I contend this, Steve,
and I see it in sports at quarterbacks. You know
when do we rush him? Well, sometimes you don't have time.
You're a bad team. You draft the quarterback first, you
stick his ass in the lineup and we go there's
no minor leagues, right, I'm all four putting cam Smith up.
(10:46):
And you mentioned we don't know un till they face adversity.
But you and I have been in sports a long time.
I think for the most part, I think that's ingrained
in a guy's DNA. I think guys like him, if
he starts off hitting two twenty the first month, he'll
be okay. I think he's just built different there too.
From my vantage point, what say you.
Speaker 2 (11:05):
I agree, you know, I think he's ready to handle this.
You know, in.
Speaker 3 (11:10):
Are there is there going to be adversity. There will
be you know it's going to happen to right, and
will he struggle out of the game. Hey, listen, five
of the first six cities that the Ashers go to on.
Speaker 2 (11:20):
The road are very, very cold.
Speaker 3 (11:22):
And this is a kid that grew up in West
Palm Beach, went to Florida State, He did play in
the ACC played in Boston College, you know, in a.
Speaker 2 (11:30):
Few places that were cold, but not much.
Speaker 3 (11:32):
So to get off to a really good start in
these cold weather cities is a nuance as well. So
try to learn little different things playing every day and
travel and things in the pressure that comes along with
being on that contending Major League Baseball team, all those things.
But from what I see, you know, and I don't
(11:53):
know exactly what's inside there, but what I see leads
me to believe he can handle any situation that he's
going to go through. Now, if they have to send
him down to the miners later on or whatever, if
he doesn't make the team out of spring training, I
think he's going to handle it perfectly. And I think
the Astro's got somebody that they can count on for
six years at minimum coming over in this trade.
Speaker 2 (12:16):
For Kyle Tucker.
Speaker 3 (12:17):
They can be very proud of because this guy on
and off the field.
Speaker 2 (12:22):
Is a gem.
Speaker 1 (12:23):
And Steve, you remember, and he still is a Bregman
slow starter. He comes up, wasn't exactly breaking right off
the bat. Kyle Tucker's first hundred at bats were not good.
I mean, you can go Jordon was just the cat's different, right,
which is what you're saying about this a game. Yes,
yes he is.
Speaker 2 (12:39):
He puts the barrel on the ball, You got a
chance for a run.
Speaker 3 (12:43):
Every time he swings man he is in scoring position
when he steps in there.
Speaker 1 (12:47):
Steve I said earlier on the show, I said, I'm not.
You know, obviously, I'll two vain his understanding. He's been
in baseball long time. I said, when it comes to
just pure explosive talent and hitters aside from Jordon, there's
no more explosive talent in this lineup. If he makes
this lineup explosively with the ability that once he gets going,
the pitchers are gonna have to take notice.
Speaker 3 (13:07):
Early, right yeah, yeah, And it comes with those swinging decisions,
you know.
Speaker 2 (13:12):
And that's the only thing that's held Jeremy Penia back
to this point in this spring. He's been fantastic. He's
had the best.
Speaker 3 (13:20):
Spring training of anybody on the Astros, and he's got
a real still head right now and he's recognizing pitches.
But that's the only thing that's held him back is
chasing that slider off the play.
Speaker 2 (13:31):
Once he starts swinging the pitches.
Speaker 3 (13:32):
In the zone like he has this spring look out,
I mean, you can put Jeremy Penia maybe up there
with with some of these guys with who's explosive and
can change games. But Cam Smith, He's going to be
a game changer, whether it be the beginning of this
season or a little later on.
Speaker 1 (13:50):
Steve your gut feeling, does he opening? Is he the
opening day right field starter?
Speaker 3 (13:55):
Just your gut my feeling is I say yes? I
say yes, but I'm not super confident in that. But
my gut feeling like if I was to say yes
or no, I would say yes. But I you know,
it's it's pretty close to fifty to fifty for me,
right if it was me, If it was me, he
would be on the team.
Speaker 1 (14:15):
If it was me, I made the decision two weeks
ago and I said it on here, and I'm not
any position to make the decision. But he sure looks
He sure as hell looks the part, and it's exciting
a young stud in the lineup. All right on to
the mound we go, Yeah, when will we see Lance
mccullors at his best, Steve? And are we ready? And
is he prepared? Is he prepared for that? Is he
prepared for that? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (14:37):
Yeah, I mean he's done everything he needs to do
to get to this point where he's gone up and
down today. Actually back in Florida, he's going to get
up and down twice. So it's being able to see
if you can get cold and hot again is pretty
important step. But you know, everything's snapping pretty well. He's
eliminated the two seamed fastball, which I think is smart
(14:57):
because it profiles so closely do his change it movement profile,
So going more with four steamers to play off of
that change up with that, I think he's really smart.
But you know, so far, he looks really good. So
it's it's gonna be incremental. You know, He's probably gonna
need to make five starts or so. Then the Astros
may be able to get creative, you know, with fewer
(15:18):
off days. A little later on, maybe he can piggyback
with somebody as he gets his feet wet at the
major league level.
Speaker 2 (15:23):
Two. But I think he's gonna help this team this year.
Speaker 1 (15:25):
Steve, what will we be saying about Forrest Whitley in
September when when his name comes up in September, what
will be the conversation.
Speaker 3 (15:33):
I think it's gonna be a good story, you know,
just talking to him. I've got a chance to a
few times this spring to talk to him at his
locker and just seeing where his headspace is right now.
Speaker 2 (15:42):
I think he's.
Speaker 3 (15:42):
Matured a lot, and I feel like, you know, the
talent is unwavering. He throws super hard still everything else,
it is kind of, you know, off the charts as
far as plus plus uh breaking stuff and change up
and all that stuff. For me, I think he overthrows
from time to time, and I think it's just.
Speaker 2 (16:04):
A matter of being able to rein it back a
little bit.
Speaker 3 (16:07):
I think most of the best pitchers I ever played
with always felt like ninety percent effort. It usually ended
up more like one hundred percent being efficient, just because
you're letting your arm catch up to your body and
you're commanding your pitches better.
Speaker 2 (16:21):
And I think once he gets to that stage, he
can take a big step forward.
Speaker 1 (16:24):
Do you expect the bullpen and the starting pitching let's
say healthy, I'm talking about healthy. Will it be the
strength of the team this year? We have this conversation
every year, Steve, where do you see them fitting in?
Strength wise?
Speaker 2 (16:36):
I think they're going to be great. They develop pictures fantastically,
even Van Why.
Speaker 3 (16:41):
I mean, one of the Astros relievers that got sent
down to tripa A yesterday eleven appearances, only giving up
a couple of runs.
Speaker 2 (16:47):
He was very impressive.
Speaker 3 (16:49):
So you've got some support down in the minor leagues
that they can bring up. But there is four or
five relievers for the Astros that you weren't sure who
was going to be the bridge to bray you and
Hater in the eighth and ninth inning that have stepped
forward and they look like they're going to get some
important outs, including maybe Ryan Gusto, who was slaved I
think maybe three weeks ago to be the opening day
(17:10):
starter in sugar Land, but I think he's in the
mix maybe to be a long reliever at the beginning
of the season.
Speaker 1 (17:15):
Do we know who the seventh who the seventh inning
guy is right now or Steve? Is it going to
be an open Is it going to be a body
of work from a handful of guys.
Speaker 2 (17:23):
I think it's a handful of guys. Okret has been
unhittable right this spring.
Speaker 3 (17:26):
Ye.
Speaker 2 (17:27):
I think coming into spring you figured it was.
Speaker 3 (17:29):
Going to be Taylor Scott with the year he had,
But some other guys that have opened their eyes and
Ochert certainly one of those. And Brian King, who pitched
great for the Ashos last year. If hits his his
pocket being a lefty, you know he could be the
seventh inning guy.
Speaker 2 (17:44):
But you're exactly right, and the sixth and seventh inning.
Being able to get to a brady and hater.
Speaker 3 (17:50):
I think for me is the toughest little kind of
nuance struggle that they might have early on in the season,
finding the right guy for that part.
Speaker 1 (17:59):
All right, I'll let you go on this, brother. I
appreciate the extra time. Let's us have some fun, just
you and I. It's not what they're gonna do.
Speaker 2 (18:05):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (18:06):
Let's go the quickly lineup and the batting order on
opening day, just for you if you were doing it
for the hell of it. Who's leading off? And then
go right through the nine and let's go.
Speaker 2 (18:15):
Okay, assuming Christian Walker is healthy.
Speaker 1 (18:17):
Yes, exactly, he'll play right, Okay.
Speaker 3 (18:20):
I'd probably have to write this down because I might
change my mind if I wrote this down and I
thought a little bit more about it. But I'll two
Bay lead off, h Eastoc Paratus batting second because of
how how many pitches he sees in his on base ability,
ahead of yord On, Jordon Hits third batting, fourth, Christian
Walker if he's healthy, Fifth, Jine or Diaz. Next is
(18:41):
Jeremy Panna, who looks like he's ready to break out.
And then seven eight, nine, you can mix and match,
probably Myers ninth, And I don't care what he hits,
by the way, just go get him because he's an
elite center fielder. And you'll see more and more teams
in the major leagues they stick that stud in centerfield
and let them roam, and they understand the value of that.
Speaker 2 (19:01):
But I think he I think he's got a chance
on base wise to get a little better.
Speaker 1 (19:05):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (19:06):
And if you see more pitches, I think he's got
a better chance to help this team offensively. But bottom line,
I think he's there for defense. And then in the
seven and eight hole hitter is probably going to be
Brendan Rodgers do bond combination.
Speaker 2 (19:19):
At second base, and in who am I missing?
Speaker 1 (19:22):
You're missing Cam Smith in right field?
Speaker 2 (19:25):
Uh?
Speaker 1 (19:25):
You got you got him hitting behind, you got him
hitting in the seven or eight hole.
Speaker 3 (19:29):
I got I got him slated between Yiner and Jeremy Penya.
Speaker 1 (19:32):
Okay, So he'll be hitting six and that's where I
had him exactly had y Cam Smith, Jeremy Peny and
then eight and nine Myers in the nine hole, and
then a body of work in the eight hole depending
on who it is.
Speaker 3 (19:44):
Yeah, and Brandon Rodgers is figuring some stuff out too.
His problem is hitting too many ground balls with the Rockies,
and they got him with better contact out front. And
he's really last two weeks caught onto what the Astros
are working on him with and driving the base while
getting it in the air, and I think he's going
to be a little sleeper for the Astros.
Speaker 1 (20:01):
Can't wait, my man, Thursday will be here.
Speaker 2 (20:03):
Oh you got time for one? You got time for
one little story?
Speaker 1 (20:06):
Please? Are you kidding me? We got time? I got
time for four of them from you, brother? Have at
it all.
Speaker 3 (20:12):
Right this time, this time of year always reminds me
of a guy I played with in winter ball. His
name was George Wright and got a little bit of
time in the big leagues. But he was in spring
training with the Rangers in the early eighties and realized
with one week to go in spring training that he
wasn't gonna make the team. He just counted him up.
He's looking at the sheet and this like we're doing.
We're trying to figure out who's got a chance to
make the roster. We figured out man, I'm gonna have
(20:34):
to go back to the minor leagues. I don't have
a whole lot to prove it's kind of feeling sorry
for himself. And two days later there was a veteran
on that team, and you remember Mickey Rivers. Oh yeah,
Mickey Rivers is on the team. He had fifteen years
in the big leagues at that point. He understood what
George Wright was going through, so he faked a hamstring
(20:55):
injury so George Wright could make the team. Then he
made sure that that hamstring lingered long enough for Right
to get his feet underneath him. And George Right, because
of the fake injury by Mickey Rivers, with three days
left in spring training, got a four year career in
the major league. So he's probably collecting pension right now,
(21:15):
thanking Mickey Rivers every day.
Speaker 1 (21:17):
Listen, I listen anytime I can get a good Mickey
Rivers story weaved in, I'm in. I like Mickey Rivers
now more. I believe old number seventeen in centerfield, Yankees, Rangers,
a whole bunch of teams, And good on George Right.
And if I'm him, don't give one out to your
pension to Mickey Rivers. He's got plenty of his own.
So there you go. But what a great story. And
I kind of like guys like that who sacrifice for
(21:39):
their team and to give him an opportunity. Good, that's
awesome stuff. Steve look forward to it weekly. Keep on
that rehab, brother, and hit him straight today, and I
look forward to getting out there with you man. Thanks
for your time. Thanks all right, that's the best, Steve Sparks,
We'll come back. Get the break here. Sports Talk seven
to ninety along with Dan and Tripoli Sean Salisbury show
a lot to talk about about the app Traills next
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