March 18, 2025 • 10 mins
With spring training pretty much wrapping up now, the Astros roll on as they get ready to take on the Washington Nationals this afternoon with Lance McCullers Jr. on the mound for his first start since he left Game 4 of the 2021 ALDS injuring his flexor tendon. As Opening Day inches close to the season kickoff and with spring training promptly wrapping up, lots of talk has begun in regards to the finalization of the 40-man roster and who may tend to make the cut. Seeing a lot of production from the prospects acquired in free agency and showcasing their talents throughout the month of March, leaves many questioning who could be the potential odd man or men left out, as we get closer to the start of the season. Hearing a few names that were released by the Houston Chronicle that may be under the fire in making the 40-man roster, Sean and Dan share their thoughts on the 5 potential players that may not make the Opening Day roster along with what may be the reason as to why.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Let the celebration start.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
More Sewn Salisbury, The Shawn Salisbury Show.
Speaker 1 (00:11):
All right, Sewan, what are you hearing out there now?
Speaker 2 (00:14):
The Salisbury stakeout, Salisbury stakeout on the Sean Salisbury Show.
Speaker 3 (00:34):
It is Sean Salisbury Show. It's the Steakout, Dan Matthews,
Sean Salisbury Triple Emmanuel Elmore Rockets overtime winners last night,
one thirty seven. They give up seventy eight points, a
season high in the first half, but able to turn
it around. Astros back in action after a day off yesterday,
(00:55):
final full week of spring training ball. We'll have them
in the Nationals coming up four fifty right here talk
seven to ninety. Major League Baseball season underway over in
Japan and the Dodgers with a three to one lead
heading to the bottom of the eighth there over the
Cubs and local baseball here Rice hiring former assistant David
(01:16):
Pierce as their new head coach. He has taken over
the job on Friday, when they head South Florida and
take on Fau. All right, so, Sean Matt Kalahara the
Houston Chronicle headline, why Astros face interesting roster decisions on
these five players. We'll get the camp Smith here in
just a second, but we're to the part of spring
(01:38):
training now where you have to try to figure out
who my guys on the bench, Who do I trust,
Who who can fit numerous different categories, and who can
be able to provide a spot start when I need
him or a good pinch hit off the bench. Those
are things that are part of the conversations that Joe
Aspoda and Dana Brown are having at this moment. So
he lists five players. We talked a lot about Cam
(02:00):
Smith yesterday. We'll get to him last, but the first
that he mentions here is John Singleton, and he starts
off by saying that, yeah, he may well make the
team as the backup first baseman and a left handed
bat off the bench, talking about the numbers he posted
and how he played last season. But here are the
things that work against him. Career five for thirty eight
(02:22):
as a pinch hitter, and this spring in the Grapefruit
League he's four of thirty one. Now, I say all
of that as the case against him because we saw
last year when he got to the playoffs, who played
first base. Victor Karrottini played first base, and that was
after the beginning of the season, where one more consistent
(02:43):
at bat, and not only that, but also defensively. I
mean Kalahara mentions that too, that you know, some defensive
issues for Singleton, so you would like the bat to
be more of a plus for him than it is.
But those two numbers that I just threw out, I mean,
when it comes down to cutting time and they're trying
to figure out who's got options, who fits, you know,
who can we have here as a bench a bat
(03:05):
off the bench.
Speaker 1 (03:06):
You actually think there's a chance he doesn't make this, right.
Speaker 3 (03:08):
I think there's a really good chance he does not
make this roster. Yes, because what I just talked about
with Victor Carrattini, we hadn't even mentioned Zach Dezenzo, and
I understand you know, it's one of those do you
want to have the left handed bat if you need
to give Christian Walker a day off? Sure?
Speaker 1 (03:22):
Fine, that's the one advantage for Singleton, right that the
works in his favor. From a power back from that side,
who gives you a pretty good defense, He really does.
He gives you serviceable in those defense's pretty good. He's
not gonna win a Gold Globe, but he's good enough.
Speaker 3 (03:35):
And for when you had to part ways with jose
A bray you last year just because you knew it
wasn't working out, he stabilized the position, so you can
you can appreciate that, but no more options. And I
mean you're at a poor carrying. You're carrying two, yeah, yeah,
I mean seems right.
Speaker 1 (03:54):
Right, and sometime during the season, depending on the stretch,
they will carry three, you know, because yes, Salas are
make his way up because at some point in time,
dis Mike, we even saw it with Kartini last year, right,
So my thing is, do you okay you're carrying too
any concern about catcher in first baseman in the lineup
at the same day, any concern at all on a
(04:16):
consistent basis. You're talking about like having or vice versa. Sure,
vice versa with Dias at first base and Kartini.
Speaker 3 (04:23):
Not necessarily, because I mean I like what they give me,
both from the offensive side and.
Speaker 1 (04:28):
The left handed bat that Carantini brings to the plate.
He's a switch hitter, if I'm not.
Speaker 3 (04:31):
Mistaken, ye yeaeah yeah, yeah, I mean, and and you
know with him, I mean there's that versatility, but it's
also there is more trust in Yor Diaz behind the plate,
but there's a lot of trust in Victor Carrottini. And
that's why I think in certain cases you saw him
relied upon a little more than your Diaz was last season.
But I do think with the full body of work
(04:52):
last year that there is a little bit more trust
in Das. Yes or no, Singleton's on the opening day roster,
he is not. In my opinion, I think it comes
down to a number scheme. John Singleton is playing somewhere
else this season.
Speaker 1 (05:04):
Do you think they'd lean younger as well, like trust
just anywhere just Znzo? Yes?
Speaker 3 (05:11):
Well, but what did we hear about Dezenzo? We heard
that if he's not getting every day at bats.
Speaker 1 (05:14):
He's not here. Well, no, he's gonna go and get
forward bats to day.
Speaker 3 (05:18):
I think that you probably will see Zach Decenzo with
the Sugarland Space Cowboys to start in the season.
Speaker 1 (05:22):
We'll fight here at some point in time, easily he would.
So you got Singleton out. Singleton is out, okay.
Speaker 3 (05:29):
Luis Contreras twenty eight seven and two thirds this spring,
is allowed five hits and he has also walk three,
struck out ten.
Speaker 1 (05:39):
He is on the forty man roster.
Speaker 3 (05:40):
He does have minor league options, but he has put
together a nice case for him. And now consider what
the bullpen here. Here's another factor that comes in at
least twofold Sean dub twelve pitchers, Uh, thirteen I think
is the master.
Speaker 1 (05:56):
Yeah. So you got twenty six to open the season, right, yeah,
so if you're carrying thirteen and thirteen, is that how
this is going to happen? I mean, obviously, well that'd
be twenty five, So you're going to just split it
right down the middle thirteen thirteen.
Speaker 3 (06:09):
Pitching is a lot like lineman and football more than marriage.
There's never a coach that says, God, what am I
going to do with all these defensive tackles?
Speaker 1 (06:16):
I you know, I don't have enough for these good
a matter of fact, thirteen you wish he had eighteen.
Speaker 3 (06:21):
So that's if you gave major league managers a chance,
they absolutely would. But you factor in kleb Board is down,
Sean Duban is down right now. And a guy that
I think a lot of people were counting on for
the back end of the bullpen, force Whitley, down right now.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
And this force Whitley has to contribute to this team
this year. He has absolutely has to. Well, I'd be
out of options. That's what I'm saying. It's either here,
he's I mean this, there is no more. I mean,
even if he comes back and when he's what do
we got a couple of weeks. So he's not going
to start the season healthy right now, they's.
Speaker 3 (06:56):
Going to give themselves the run right with the IL,
They'll they'll put him on the IL.
Speaker 1 (07:00):
Point is it's not I don't just being contribute this season,
but for his future as an astro, being up with
a big club, staying healthy, he's going to have to
contributor it. Think about the patience they've had with this,
you know why, And even through all this, ye're saying
patients of body you know, body type, and gain weight,
lose weight, get stronger, injury after injury after injury, starter
(07:21):
bullpen guy, which appears that he's going to be a
bullpen guy now right, And it's it's not just now
or never with options, it's now or never as far
as his future as a consistent and being here. They
have given all this opportunity because when you remember, now
you heard about Jordon, you heard about Kyle Tucker. He
was the guy as a pitcher, and you've waited and
(07:42):
waited and waited for this, and now his role has
changed from what they had ideas for him when he
first you know, when he first started here. The question
here is when I say started as an astro and
the high I mean as a huge prospect in this organization.
And we go through all this ruggles and we've talked
about those and they've been ad nauseum. But just for
(08:03):
his future, it can't be Dan, it can't be two
weeks hamstring, two weeks soreness. He has got. It's now
ever for his future as a major League baseball player.
Speaker 3 (08:15):
That's the conversation that I think has had with him
when you are able to get him back out there
throwing in is it's got to be hey, look fair
or not count on him every day we've got we've
got to have you here and if not, then we've
got to finally move on. And another thing I think
he mentioned this when he talked with Chris Gordy there
in spring training, right he was asked about the best
piece of advice he got from somebody. He was like, oh,
(08:36):
I remember one camp with Garrett Cole I mean to
the point you brought up about how long he's been
here that you're just like, wait a minute, Garrett Cole,
wasn't that like ten years ago? It was a little
more than five. But you still get my own rare,
which it's rare.
Speaker 1 (08:48):
You have this kind of patience with the guy, which
tells you how they hold him in high regard because
they continue to see something that says, what is you said,
We've been patient enough, we'd like to we'd like the
fruits of our laber, we'd like the investment in him
to pay off. Sure. Secondly, it's like they still see
something that says, even though it's a different role than
when they they first started with him, when he came
into the to the Astros as a young player, it's like, okay,
(09:14):
we got to at least see this through. But guess
what there ain't no seeing. The train track is it's
coming to It's a runaway train, right, it's runaway train.
That that you got to build more track for him
if he comes and does this thing, because it's it said,
it's wits end, no pun intended. He's got to get
his he's got to get his stuff going, and it's
got to be a healthy, solid year where he is
(09:35):
a fixture in the bullpen for it to pay off
with what the Astros have invested in their time with him.
Still some other names to consider, we'll do that on
making this roster. I think Cores makes this roster for
injuries is his biggest advantage right now. Yeah, yeah, so
I think he's got a spot there. So some others
to consider, yes, including him. We'll talk about it on
(09:56):
the other side. Here it is the Sean Salisbury Show,
Dan Matthews, e Ploye, Emanuel Elmore, he Shawn Salisbury Sports
Talk seven ninety
Let the celebration start.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
More Sewn Salisbury, The Shawn Salisbury Show.
Speaker 1 (00:11):
All right, Sewan, what are you hearing out there now?
Speaker 2 (00:14):
The Salisbury stakeout, Salisbury stakeout on the Sean Salisbury Show.
Speaker 3 (00:34):
It is Sean Salisbury Show. It's the Steakout, Dan Matthews,
Sean Salisbury Triple Emmanuel Elmore Rockets overtime winners last night,
one thirty seven. They give up seventy eight points, a
season high in the first half, but able to turn
it around. Astros back in action after a day off yesterday,
(00:55):
final full week of spring training ball. We'll have them
in the Nationals coming up four fifty right here talk
seven to ninety. Major League Baseball season underway over in
Japan and the Dodgers with a three to one lead
heading to the bottom of the eighth there over the
Cubs and local baseball here Rice hiring former assistant David
(01:16):
Pierce as their new head coach. He has taken over
the job on Friday, when they head South Florida and
take on Fau. All right, so, Sean Matt Kalahara the
Houston Chronicle headline, why Astros face interesting roster decisions on
these five players. We'll get the camp Smith here in
just a second, but we're to the part of spring
(01:38):
training now where you have to try to figure out
who my guys on the bench, Who do I trust,
Who who can fit numerous different categories, and who can
be able to provide a spot start when I need
him or a good pinch hit off the bench. Those
are things that are part of the conversations that Joe
Aspoda and Dana Brown are having at this moment. So
he lists five players. We talked a lot about Cam
(02:00):
Smith yesterday. We'll get to him last, but the first
that he mentions here is John Singleton, and he starts
off by saying that, yeah, he may well make the
team as the backup first baseman and a left handed
bat off the bench, talking about the numbers he posted
and how he played last season. But here are the
things that work against him. Career five for thirty eight
(02:22):
as a pinch hitter, and this spring in the Grapefruit
League he's four of thirty one. Now, I say all
of that as the case against him because we saw
last year when he got to the playoffs, who played
first base. Victor Karrottini played first base, and that was
after the beginning of the season, where one more consistent
(02:43):
at bat, and not only that, but also defensively. I
mean Kalahara mentions that too, that you know, some defensive
issues for Singleton, so you would like the bat to
be more of a plus for him than it is.
But those two numbers that I just threw out, I mean,
when it comes down to cutting time and they're trying
to figure out who's got options, who fits, you know,
who can we have here as a bench a bat
(03:05):
off the bench.
Speaker 1 (03:06):
You actually think there's a chance he doesn't make this, right.
Speaker 3 (03:08):
I think there's a really good chance he does not
make this roster. Yes, because what I just talked about
with Victor Carrattini, we hadn't even mentioned Zach Dezenzo, and
I understand you know, it's one of those do you
want to have the left handed bat if you need
to give Christian Walker a day off? Sure?
Speaker 1 (03:22):
Fine, that's the one advantage for Singleton, right that the
works in his favor. From a power back from that side,
who gives you a pretty good defense, He really does.
He gives you serviceable in those defense's pretty good. He's
not gonna win a Gold Globe, but he's good enough.
Speaker 3 (03:35):
And for when you had to part ways with jose
A bray you last year just because you knew it
wasn't working out, he stabilized the position, so you can
you can appreciate that, but no more options. And I
mean you're at a poor carrying. You're carrying two, yeah, yeah,
I mean seems right.
Speaker 1 (03:54):
Right, and sometime during the season, depending on the stretch,
they will carry three, you know, because yes, Salas are
make his way up because at some point in time,
dis Mike, we even saw it with Kartini last year, right,
So my thing is, do you okay you're carrying too
any concern about catcher in first baseman in the lineup
at the same day, any concern at all on a
(04:16):
consistent basis. You're talking about like having or vice versa. Sure,
vice versa with Dias at first base and Kartini.
Speaker 3 (04:23):
Not necessarily, because I mean I like what they give me,
both from the offensive side and.
Speaker 1 (04:28):
The left handed bat that Carantini brings to the plate.
He's a switch hitter, if I'm not.
Speaker 3 (04:31):
Mistaken, ye yeaeah yeah, yeah, I mean, and and you
know with him, I mean there's that versatility, but it's
also there is more trust in Yor Diaz behind the plate,
but there's a lot of trust in Victor Carrottini. And
that's why I think in certain cases you saw him
relied upon a little more than your Diaz was last season.
But I do think with the full body of work
(04:52):
last year that there is a little bit more trust
in Das. Yes or no, Singleton's on the opening day roster,
he is not. In my opinion, I think it comes
down to a number scheme. John Singleton is playing somewhere
else this season.
Speaker 1 (05:04):
Do you think they'd lean younger as well, like trust
just anywhere just Znzo? Yes?
Speaker 3 (05:11):
Well, but what did we hear about Dezenzo? We heard
that if he's not getting every day at bats.
Speaker 1 (05:14):
He's not here. Well, no, he's gonna go and get
forward bats to day.
Speaker 3 (05:18):
I think that you probably will see Zach Decenzo with
the Sugarland Space Cowboys to start in the season.
Speaker 1 (05:22):
We'll fight here at some point in time, easily he would.
So you got Singleton out. Singleton is out, okay.
Speaker 3 (05:29):
Luis Contreras twenty eight seven and two thirds this spring,
is allowed five hits and he has also walk three,
struck out ten.
Speaker 1 (05:39):
He is on the forty man roster.
Speaker 3 (05:40):
He does have minor league options, but he has put
together a nice case for him. And now consider what
the bullpen here. Here's another factor that comes in at
least twofold Sean dub twelve pitchers, Uh, thirteen I think
is the master.
Speaker 1 (05:56):
Yeah. So you got twenty six to open the season, right, yeah,
so if you're carrying thirteen and thirteen, is that how
this is going to happen? I mean, obviously, well that'd
be twenty five, So you're going to just split it
right down the middle thirteen thirteen.
Speaker 3 (06:09):
Pitching is a lot like lineman and football more than marriage.
There's never a coach that says, God, what am I
going to do with all these defensive tackles?
Speaker 1 (06:16):
I you know, I don't have enough for these good
a matter of fact, thirteen you wish he had eighteen.
Speaker 3 (06:21):
So that's if you gave major league managers a chance,
they absolutely would. But you factor in kleb Board is down,
Sean Duban is down right now. And a guy that
I think a lot of people were counting on for
the back end of the bullpen, force Whitley, down right now.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
And this force Whitley has to contribute to this team
this year. He has absolutely has to. Well, I'd be
out of options. That's what I'm saying. It's either here,
he's I mean this, there is no more. I mean,
even if he comes back and when he's what do
we got a couple of weeks. So he's not going
to start the season healthy right now, they's.
Speaker 3 (06:56):
Going to give themselves the run right with the IL,
They'll they'll put him on the IL.
Speaker 1 (07:00):
Point is it's not I don't just being contribute this season,
but for his future as an astro, being up with
a big club, staying healthy, he's going to have to
contributor it. Think about the patience they've had with this,
you know why, And even through all this, ye're saying
patients of body you know, body type, and gain weight,
lose weight, get stronger, injury after injury after injury, starter
(07:21):
bullpen guy, which appears that he's going to be a
bullpen guy now right, And it's it's not just now
or never with options, it's now or never as far
as his future as a consistent and being here. They
have given all this opportunity because when you remember, now
you heard about Jordon, you heard about Kyle Tucker. He
was the guy as a pitcher, and you've waited and
(07:42):
waited and waited for this, and now his role has
changed from what they had ideas for him when he
first you know, when he first started here. The question
here is when I say started as an astro and
the high I mean as a huge prospect in this organization.
And we go through all this ruggles and we've talked
about those and they've been ad nauseum. But just for
(08:03):
his future, it can't be Dan, it can't be two
weeks hamstring, two weeks soreness. He has got. It's now
ever for his future as a major League baseball player.
Speaker 3 (08:15):
That's the conversation that I think has had with him
when you are able to get him back out there
throwing in is it's got to be hey, look fair
or not count on him every day we've got we've
got to have you here and if not, then we've
got to finally move on. And another thing I think
he mentioned this when he talked with Chris Gordy there
in spring training, right he was asked about the best
piece of advice he got from somebody. He was like, oh,
(08:36):
I remember one camp with Garrett Cole I mean to
the point you brought up about how long he's been
here that you're just like, wait a minute, Garrett Cole,
wasn't that like ten years ago? It was a little
more than five. But you still get my own rare,
which it's rare.
Speaker 1 (08:48):
You have this kind of patience with the guy, which
tells you how they hold him in high regard because
they continue to see something that says, what is you said,
We've been patient enough, we'd like to we'd like the
fruits of our laber, we'd like the investment in him
to pay off. Sure. Secondly, it's like they still see
something that says, even though it's a different role than
when they they first started with him, when he came
into the to the Astros as a young player, it's like, okay,
(09:14):
we got to at least see this through. But guess
what there ain't no seeing. The train track is it's
coming to It's a runaway train, right, it's runaway train.
That that you got to build more track for him
if he comes and does this thing, because it's it said,
it's wits end, no pun intended. He's got to get
his he's got to get his stuff going, and it's
got to be a healthy, solid year where he is
(09:35):
a fixture in the bullpen for it to pay off
with what the Astros have invested in their time with him.
Still some other names to consider, we'll do that on
making this roster. I think Cores makes this roster for
injuries is his biggest advantage right now. Yeah, yeah, so
I think he's got a spot there. So some others
to consider, yes, including him. We'll talk about it on
(09:56):
the other side. Here it is the Sean Salisbury Show,
Dan Matthews, e Ploye, Emanuel Elmore, he Shawn Salisbury Sports
Talk seven ninety
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