July 9, 2025 • 21 mins
We caught up with MLB Network's Robert Flores to talk all things Houston Astros! We assess the first half and talk about the upcoming MLB All-Star Game in Atlanta! Tune in!
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Kcy Beck here and you found the backstage pass to
the best stories in sports and country music right here
with my buddy Brandon Morell.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Hey, guys and gals, this is Robert floor Is from
MLB Network and you're listening to the award nominated backstage
Pass powered by the Sports Guys Podcast dot com. It's
a grand slam of music and sports talk on KYBN
ninety eight point one, your Bay Area broadcasting network and
at THHWN dot org.
Speaker 3 (00:26):
And welcome inside the Sports Guys Podcast dot Com of course,
always presented by our friends over there at the Caadan
Gordon Show dot com Today's best country mix, and our
friends at B and B Construction Services out there too
as well. Guys, for all your needs part to medim's
custom homes, commercial remodels and steal buildings based out of Sealy, Texas.
They will travel. It's done correct and with respect. Give
Brenne call seven one, three, eight nine zero twenty five
(00:47):
fifty one. B and B Construction Services and our Friendkcbeck
dot com and weather Kcbeck Music out there too.
Speaker 4 (00:54):
Please to join and have a little chance to talk
some baseball.
Speaker 3 (00:56):
We do a lot of music talk here on the
backstage pass the sports podcast dot Com out there too,
and i'llbe Network Houston's own the Astro is probably the
number one Astros fan beside me.
Speaker 4 (01:06):
Robert Floyd is here on the show, Roflow. What's going on?
Speaker 2 (01:09):
Man?
Speaker 4 (01:09):
Hey?
Speaker 2 (01:09):
How are you good to see you?
Speaker 4 (01:11):
Good to see you? Brother? Well, I tell you what.
Speaker 3 (01:13):
Let's start right there too, because what a run it's
been for the Astros. And we could kind of sum
up a bunch of adjectives here and kind of go
through this entire first half of the season and a
bunch of cast offs and starting pitching. But I guess
you know, one good area to start is team chemistry.
And that's what has really had me kind of in
a twofold here because one you went from the Dusty
(01:33):
Baker era now to the Joe Aspota era now as
a manager and what he's done, Robert inside this clubhouse
to keep this team together and have this cohesiveness and
this team chemistry. Talking about that too, because a lot
of things could have gone different ways for this ball
club this year, but now to be in first place,
have a six and a half game lead says something
about not just ownership but management too.
Speaker 2 (01:54):
Would you agree yeah, I mean, it's all about the
culture organization, you know, organization wide. It's not just the
job that Joe Aspada and his coaching staff have done.
Speaker 4 (02:06):
It is also the.
Speaker 2 (02:09):
It's the leadership that is displayed by players like Jose
Altuve and then the leadership of course of Joe Aspata,
but also his coaching staff, player development, Dana Brown and
his staff. So it has been it's been, frankly, one
of the best stories and surprising stories thus far in
twenty twenty five. Still a long way to go, but
(02:31):
to see them in this position in light of all
the players that they're missing, including the ones that are
injured Jeremy Panna, Jordan Alvarez, it's remarkable.
Speaker 3 (02:42):
It really is too. Like you said, a number of
ways to look at it too. But also, you know,
with these guys coming up, and it's kind of like
the mentality of this organization, next man up type thing.
Guy goes down, like you mentioned, all these injuries and
you get these names like Taylor Trammel, Cooper Hummel, Zach Short,
I mean, guys that have been cast off from other organizations.
What do you make of the job of just a
spot of putting those guys in the lineup and him
(03:03):
just kind of picking up where the regulars left off
because they are hurt.
Speaker 2 (03:07):
Well, I think it's not just it's the job that
Joe Aspata has done, which is remarkable and he's definitely
in consideration for American League Manager of the Year as
we sit, you know, just a few days before the
All Star break. But it just goes back to what
I originally was saying. It's about the culture and the
(03:27):
standard that has been set by the players and teams before,
you know, prior to twenty twenty five. This started way
back in twenty fifteen. This is you know they I mean,
this is something that has been built over a long
period of time and guys come in, as you said,
(03:48):
from different organizations, but they know that there is a
standard here and that it's a high one that no
matter who's in the lineup, if you're wearing an Astros uniform,
there's an expectation for you to perform, and so far
it's been coming from unlikely sources, to say the least.
Speaker 3 (04:07):
When you look at what this club needs the most
from the trade deadline standpoint, you could obviously say offensively
because missing the powerpack punch of jord Don Alvarez and
of course Christian Walker now starting to heat up over
the last couple of weeks, the big free agent signing too.
I know Dana Brown is going to be aggressive at
the deadline. What do you kind of see them looking
at targeting maybe a left handed bat or starting pitching
or both.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
Yeah, I mean it's probably a little bit of both.
You know, every team likes to work around the edges
and the margins of the bullpen. I mean that's something
contenders are always looking to improve. But I think what
the Astros have done is assuming that they can maintain this,
(04:49):
is that it has afforded Dana Brown to kind of
look at some of the players that are due back
from injury as almost de facto trade pieces. And Alvarez
we can assume he'll be back at some point after
the All Star break. Jeremy Pania will definitely be back
after the All Star break. My guess is immediately after
(05:10):
the All Star break. But also potentially you could have
Christian Xavier Luis Garcia, you know, to to fortify Spencer Arraghetti,
to fortify that rotation. And then I think what you
can do is pitchers like Ryan Gusto, for instance, I
(05:31):
think his stuff could be really valuable in the bullpen.
So you could take those starters that have been placeholders
for guys that are that are injured in the rotation
and maybe you make them super relievers or bulk guys
out of the bullpen just to you know, just to
(05:51):
try to fortify that bullpen as much as possible. So
what this start has done, it's in I think it's
enabled Dana Brown to be a little bit more judicious
with what he does at the trade deadline.
Speaker 3 (06:04):
Yeah, and you look at starting pitching and ends. It
curtly starts and ends with starting pitching out there too
at the same time. And they've had that makeshift rotation
of all the guys you mentioned that were hurt. Six
guys went to a six man rotation in one of
the first clubs to do that year years back, and
it worked out for them through the championship years. And
I think some of these guys like you mentioned Gusto
and Colton Gordon, you obviously knew what you're gonna get
the top from Fromber and Hunter there too. You expect
(06:25):
the regular basis to that sweep in LA. I wanted
to get your opinion on that too. To go to LA,
like said, their first sweep since two thousand and eight
at Doctor Stadium, What does that mean for this franchise
to give them more confidence going forward?
Speaker 2 (06:37):
Well, I mean, look, it's all about perspective, right. It
is still early July. The Dodgers aren't at the height
of their powers. They didn't that the Astros didn't face Yamamoto.
They did face so Tani for a couple of innings.
(06:57):
But look, this Dodgers team, it's gonna look much different
if the Astros are fortunate enough to meet them again.
I think the thing that you can hang your hat
on if you're an Astros fan or an Astros organization,
is that you were able to keep their offense in check,
(07:20):
you know, because you still had Otani, Freeman, Betts. I
know Max Munsey was not in the lineup. He's probably
not going to be back till next month dealing with
the knee injury. So again, I don't know it come
September October, will that sweep in LA mean anything. No,
(07:41):
it won't because, like I said, if those team, if
these two teams meet again, it will be in the
World Series and they will look there will be some
significant pieces that weren't there that will be there come October.
Speaker 3 (07:56):
Bullpen wise, obviously, Hater has really exceeded expectations this year,
perfect and saves and of course the rough night last
night there to give it up the Grand Slam, and
of course they got Tunter. You're gonna have your ups
and downs over one hundred and sixty two game season
bullpen wise, some more makeshift guys, how do you kind
of assess how Danni's piece together? Steven Okert and I
mean Brian King then, yeah, it's been really good, right.
Speaker 2 (08:17):
Yeah, Susa has been really good to have him come
out and be a I mean he's getting some some
big innings. You know, going into the season, you knew that, Okay,
Hater's got the ninth, a bray youw's got the eighth,
but what about the fifth, sixth, and seventh? Right, And
I think Brian King Betasusa has been good. Hector Narris
(08:39):
has always pitched better when he's in an Astros uniform.
Speaker 4 (08:44):
Could they could they add more?
Speaker 2 (08:46):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (08:46):
Probably?
Speaker 2 (08:47):
And you and like I said, I'm really intrigued by
by Gusto moving back to the pin once that eventually happens.
But but you know, Dana Brown is going to do
everything he can to try to either get a big
piece for the bullpen or maybe you do a slight
tweak here and there. I know they did bring Taylor
Scott back, who they originally I believe they df ate
(09:10):
him earlier this year, but he didn't work out in Arizona,
so he's back on a minor league deal. But yeah,
just like the team itself, the bullpen has exceeded expectations.
Speaker 3 (09:22):
Offensively, touch base a little bit. Christian Walker assess kind
of the first you know, three four months of the
season there too good to see him heat a couple
of weeks, right.
Speaker 2 (09:30):
Yeah, it's been, it's been. It's been up and down,
and he certainly hasn't been at his best. And he'd
be the first to tell you that he went nuts
in in Dodger Stadium, but that's a place he always
hits well.
Speaker 4 (09:43):
And then he immediately goes on.
Speaker 2 (09:44):
The paternity leave. So if for the Astros, maybe he
comes back with some newfound newfound dad strength and continues
his his his uh his hot hitting. Because you get
you get paying you back, you continue hopefully get production
from Estac padedas Cam Smith continues to figure it out,
(10:05):
and then Jordan and Christian Walker I means, and Jose
Altuve and Jake Myers has has turned a corner offensively,
not necessarily in the power numbers, but getting on base,
hitting above three hundred, putting the ball in play. I mean,
that's that's a pretty interesting lineup. But like I said,
there's still a lot of baseball left to be played,
(10:26):
but there there's a reason to be very optimistic about
what this team could look like. Doesn't necessarily mean they will,
but could look Like you mentioned that.
Speaker 4 (10:35):
One name Key there too.
Speaker 3 (10:36):
Of course, she the Kyle Sucker trade the off season,
getting those pieces back he sucked. Pats want to focus
on Cam Smith a little bit too. Not many rookies
come up and have this type of start. Three more
hits last night, near two ninety seven homers, near forty
runs driven into most impressive thing about Cam Smith.
Speaker 4 (10:53):
That you like, I think it's his poise.
Speaker 2 (10:56):
Also, I believe, if I have the stat right, I
think he had the highest batting average on the team
with runners in scoring position. And you take into account
that he is playing a brand new position right field,
and you take into account that he's replacing maybe the
most complete player in all of baseball at that position
in Kyle Tucker. So I think he has been a revelation.
(11:21):
I am sure that Dana Brown and Joe Aspata had
no intention of him beginning the season with the big
league club, but he just kind of forced their hand.
And I know for a fact from the people that
I that I've talked to, they love him. They love
his makeup, they love his ability, they love his family,
(11:41):
they love his upbringing and the background. I mean, they
just cannot stop raving about him. So you hope that
he can continue. I think the All Star break is
coming at a good time for him. This is a
long season, and like I said, he was just in
the minors, he was part of the twenty twenty four draft,
(12:03):
and now he's producing for first place club at the
big league level less than a year later. So I
think the break will be good for him to get
a little R and R.
Speaker 3 (12:13):
Yeah, no doubt, for all those players to get healed
up and get to a little bit at RN R
two as well in some time with the family too,
which they don't get a lot of during the season
to make so many sacrifices out there and their families
do too. At the same time, Jake Myers, nice to
see him kind of put it all together. We do
it was great defensively. What he's given you offensive this
year is a plus. Looking back at this this guy
who they had high regards for years ago when they
(12:34):
drafted him out of the bron it's finally nice to
see Jake put it all together, right.
Speaker 2 (12:39):
Yeah, he as you said, he's always had a great glove.
He's always been a plus defender. It's been offensively he
has he has struggled, particularly with the strikeouts. He has
cut down on his strikeouts, particularly his batting average with
two strikes has also really done a onet eighty. I
mean basically, when he reached two strikes last year, that
(13:00):
wasn't out. He was either striking out or he was
he was just you know, putting the ball in play
not you know, not very hard. But this year he's
he's really turned that around. And you know, I was
on another Houston radio station. They were asking about Cedric Mullins,
who's in his walk ear with the Baltimore Orioles and
a former I believe he's a former All Star, but
(13:21):
very very good, very good player. And I was thinking
where are you gonna put him? I mean, I'm not
so sure that I don't want to just keep Jake
Myers where he's at and save our resources for any
kind of trade in another department or maybe for another
area of need. So again, you got to hope that continues.
He is dealing with a little bit of a calf injury,
(13:42):
but hopeful that he'll be back. But he is one
of the handful of reasons that the Astros are where
they're at.
Speaker 3 (13:50):
Yeah, and you mentioned starting pitching or two of the
guys they're looking to come back here July August or
after the break somewhere there. Luis Garcia productive kind of
simulated outing the other day in West Palm. You look at,
of course Lance mccullor still kind of kind of finding
his format for two years of not pitching there too.
Speaker 4 (14:05):
At the same time, and.
Speaker 3 (14:06):
Then Christian Javier of those guys that you look at too,
maybe JP Frantz down the line too, who could have
the biggest impact and give them at least half of
what they had before, at least give him something from
that starting rotation that these key pitchers you're look at
to return that can make the biggest impact of the
ball club.
Speaker 2 (14:21):
I think it's Christian Javier. We've seen him exceed and
excel at the you know, in the postseason during the
most important time of the year. I mean, he was
a part of that. He started that combined no hitter
in the World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies. You know,
I saw him shut down a Yankees offense at Yankee
(14:41):
Stadium like it was nothing a few years back. So, look,
it's unfair to expect all those guys to come back
and be what they were before they got injured. But
you're hopeful that maybe maybe one can get close to that,
or maybe the collective can can give them a boost.
But I think Christian Javier, I'd really want to see
(15:04):
what he looks like once he comes back.
Speaker 3 (15:07):
You know, they've had two key stats out there. The
best record against first place teams out there if it's
thirteen and two, and of course you look at the
best record now in one run games.
Speaker 4 (15:15):
I think when you sum that up to that.
Speaker 3 (15:17):
Says a lot about a ball club know how to
win tight games, how to finish, and also how to
beat first place teams.
Speaker 2 (15:22):
Right, Yeah, and this was a team that struggled in
that area. Last year, you know, save for the The
other thing is, save for the two losses and last
couple of nights to the Guardians, they've been very very
good at home. Uh and for some for whatever reason,
from beginning with twenty twenty three, they've had a tough
time winning at home. So there's a lot to like
(15:46):
about what's what's going on with the Astros. But but look,
it's you're you're basically just halfway through. You've got a
whole another second half, and you know, can can this
one run continue? I don't know, we'll see, but I
think they'd be they'd be very well served to get
(16:07):
those injured players back. I mean, there's only so many
times you can keep running out the plucky, feel good stories.
You know eventually that that catches up to you and
the there's a regression to the mean, so to speak.
So you need your you need your studs back, You
need Jeremy Payne back, You need Jordan Alvarez back badly.
(16:28):
So hopefully he comes back pretty soon after the All
Star break, hope.
Speaker 4 (16:32):
So no doubt, Home run Derby. What are you most
looking forward to?
Speaker 3 (16:35):
And know there's going to be a lot of new
faces there too, so faces that have been there before
for the Home Run Derby coming up next week Atlanta
Truist Park there too, host of the All Star Game,
which is a great great time there to National League.
Speaker 4 (16:46):
American League too. Exciting for the All Star Game with
Home Run.
Speaker 2 (16:48):
Derby, Yeah, absolutely, Look, I think I think the All
Star Game is the one All Star game across sports
that most closely resembles the product that you see night
in and night out.
Speaker 4 (17:02):
They're also I tell.
Speaker 2 (17:03):
You what, I'm most looking forward to the return of
just regular uniforms on the field. As a kid, I
used to love seeing all the different uniforms on the
field at the same time, and they're going back to
that after a few years of getting away from it.
So that's what I'm looking forward to in the Home
Run Derby. It's always one of the great events, so
(17:23):
it should be a should be a fun week in
Atlanta next week.
Speaker 3 (17:26):
Got to talk a little bit of this before we
close here too, And of course I know a lot
of this is still goingna unfold over the next eleven
to sixteen months or so. But the collective bargaining agreement
we've seen the NHL recently go to an eighty four
game schedule and now two Baseball's expires December first of
twenty twenty six, so it's still got a lot of
time for this to pan out too. But I want
to get your thoughts early on this, whether it's owners, players,
(17:47):
always somebody has to get to give and take relationship.
But I'm hoping we see America's national pastime really continue
and they get a new CBA deal done. What are
you hearing? What are some thoughts there coming? I know
it's early to say we could expect another strike here
there too, because there's plenty of time, but I would
love to see at least a peaceful labor over these
next eleven to sixteen months.
Speaker 2 (18:07):
Yeah, and look, that's what everyone wants. The game is
in a good place and a variety of fronts. Ratings
are up, Attendance is up, Streaming numbers are through the roof.
So look, there's a lot of smart people on both
sides here, both players representation as well as the owners
and the commissioner and the league off league's office, excuse me,
(18:28):
so they know what's at stake here, so as far
as what happens and the time and when and who,
A lot of that stuff is above my pay grades.
So I'm just like you and every other fan, just
hope they figure it out. And like I said, there's
a lot of smart people on both sides, so they
know what's at stake.
Speaker 4 (18:46):
They know all the momentum.
Speaker 2 (18:48):
That has occurred over the past couple of seasons with
the rule changes and all the young players across the
league that are creating headlines and creating maries all across
the field on a nightly basis. So hopefully, hopefully the
all those smart people come come together in a timely
(19:08):
fashion and we can, uh, we can move on and
get to the next phase.
Speaker 3 (19:13):
Love it too, I gotta ask you about this one
BEFO where we get out of here, let's talk a
little bit about it. I love Houston sports, good time
to be a fan for all three professional sports teams.
But I can't recall a time that I've been excited
to be a Rockets fan. Right now with Kevin Durant
and some of these new players coming on board, I
know you're excited.
Speaker 2 (19:28):
Too, Yeah. I mean, look, I'm I'm a big time
Rockets fan. I mean I have been ever since I
was a kid. I I I would have been okay,
with just trying to stick with UH, with Jalen Green
and seeing if he could go, you know, one more time.
But look, considering the return, you know, what they had
to give up to give to get Kevin Durant, It's
(19:49):
I don't really, it's not that bad. It's not that bad.
So I'm more concerned about the Cam Whitmore deal to
UH to Washington. UH. I really liked Cam Whitmore, but
it's look, we all know that the Rockets last year
they lacked that one person at the end of a
game or end of a shot clock, end of a
(20:11):
half when you needed a big bucket who could go
get it. And oftentimes Jalen Green proved that he could
not be that person. He certainly was not that person
in the postseason against the Warriors. So I'm interested to
see how it works out. I love Ima Udoka, I
love the culture he has built. I love how they play.
They played defense and defense travels and defense never goes
(20:33):
in a slump. So I'm eager to see how it
works out.
Speaker 4 (20:37):
Yeah, myself too. The Aladdice Defense wins championships.
Speaker 3 (20:40):
Eight o'clock Central time, MLB Network AMLB Central TV show
Make Sure Guys everybody.
Speaker 4 (20:46):
To actually nine am. We're nine am Central. We start.
Speaker 2 (20:50):
We changed this year, so we're at ten am Eastern,
nine am Central AMLB Central.
Speaker 3 (20:54):
The great Robert Flores brother, We appreciate you spending some
time with us here. Good luck to all the Houston
sports teams. Enjoyed the All Star break. We'll be catching
up here in a few weeks. Hopfully appreciate the time.
Speaker 2 (21:04):
All right, sang sounds good?
Speaker 4 (21:05):
Thanks got it?
Speaker 3 (21:06):
Robert Flores Here The Sports Guys Podcast dot Com presented
by B and B Construction Services and of course our
friends out there too as well. Decayden gordonshow dot Com.
Today's best to cut your mix. We'll see you on
the flip side. God Bliss, take care.
Speaker 4 (21:18):
What's up, y'all.
Speaker 1 (21:19):
It's kcy Beck and this is the Sports Guys Backstage
Pass with Brandon Morell, where athletes and artists collide.
Speaker 5 (21:27):
What's up, y'all? This is Nashville recording artists Brook Eden
and you're listening to the award nominated Backstage Pass on
KYBN ninety eight point one, your Bay Area broadcasting network.
Listen anytime on iHeart Podcasts and at the Sports Guys
Podcast dot Com and on thwn dot org,
Kcy Beck here and you found the backstage pass to
the best stories in sports and country music right here
with my buddy Brandon Morell.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Hey, guys and gals, this is Robert floor Is from
MLB Network and you're listening to the award nominated backstage
Pass powered by the Sports Guys Podcast dot com. It's
a grand slam of music and sports talk on KYBN
ninety eight point one, your Bay Area broadcasting network and
at THHWN dot org.
Speaker 3 (00:26):
And welcome inside the Sports Guys Podcast dot Com of course,
always presented by our friends over there at the Caadan
Gordon Show dot com Today's best country mix, and our
friends at B and B Construction Services out there too
as well. Guys, for all your needs part to medim's
custom homes, commercial remodels and steal buildings based out of Sealy, Texas.
They will travel. It's done correct and with respect. Give
Brenne call seven one, three, eight nine zero twenty five
(00:47):
fifty one. B and B Construction Services and our Friendkcbeck
dot com and weather Kcbeck Music out there too.
Speaker 4 (00:54):
Please to join and have a little chance to talk
some baseball.
Speaker 3 (00:56):
We do a lot of music talk here on the
backstage pass the sports podcast dot Com out there too,
and i'llbe Network Houston's own the Astro is probably the
number one Astros fan beside me.
Speaker 4 (01:06):
Robert Floyd is here on the show, Roflow. What's going on?
Speaker 2 (01:09):
Man?
Speaker 4 (01:09):
Hey?
Speaker 2 (01:09):
How are you good to see you?
Speaker 4 (01:11):
Good to see you? Brother? Well, I tell you what.
Speaker 3 (01:13):
Let's start right there too, because what a run it's
been for the Astros. And we could kind of sum
up a bunch of adjectives here and kind of go
through this entire first half of the season and a
bunch of cast offs and starting pitching. But I guess
you know, one good area to start is team chemistry.
And that's what has really had me kind of in
a twofold here because one you went from the Dusty
(01:33):
Baker era now to the Joe Aspota era now as
a manager and what he's done, Robert inside this clubhouse
to keep this team together and have this cohesiveness and
this team chemistry. Talking about that too, because a lot
of things could have gone different ways for this ball
club this year, but now to be in first place,
have a six and a half game lead says something
about not just ownership but management too.
Speaker 2 (01:54):
Would you agree yeah, I mean, it's all about the
culture organization, you know, organization wide. It's not just the
job that Joe Aspada and his coaching staff have done.
Speaker 4 (02:06):
It is also the.
Speaker 2 (02:09):
It's the leadership that is displayed by players like Jose
Altuve and then the leadership of course of Joe Aspata,
but also his coaching staff, player development, Dana Brown and
his staff. So it has been it's been, frankly, one
of the best stories and surprising stories thus far in
twenty twenty five. Still a long way to go, but
(02:31):
to see them in this position in light of all
the players that they're missing, including the ones that are
injured Jeremy Panna, Jordan Alvarez, it's remarkable.
Speaker 3 (02:42):
It really is too. Like you said, a number of
ways to look at it too. But also, you know,
with these guys coming up, and it's kind of like
the mentality of this organization, next man up type thing.
Guy goes down, like you mentioned, all these injuries and
you get these names like Taylor Trammel, Cooper Hummel, Zach Short,
I mean, guys that have been cast off from other organizations.
What do you make of the job of just a
spot of putting those guys in the lineup and him
(03:03):
just kind of picking up where the regulars left off
because they are hurt.
Speaker 2 (03:07):
Well, I think it's not just it's the job that
Joe Aspata has done, which is remarkable and he's definitely
in consideration for American League Manager of the Year as
we sit, you know, just a few days before the
All Star break. But it just goes back to what
I originally was saying. It's about the culture and the
(03:27):
standard that has been set by the players and teams before,
you know, prior to twenty twenty five. This started way
back in twenty fifteen. This is you know they I mean,
this is something that has been built over a long
period of time and guys come in, as you said,
(03:48):
from different organizations, but they know that there is a
standard here and that it's a high one that no
matter who's in the lineup, if you're wearing an Astros uniform,
there's an expectation for you to perform, and so far
it's been coming from unlikely sources, to say the least.
Speaker 3 (04:07):
When you look at what this club needs the most
from the trade deadline standpoint, you could obviously say offensively
because missing the powerpack punch of jord Don Alvarez and
of course Christian Walker now starting to heat up over
the last couple of weeks, the big free agent signing too.
I know Dana Brown is going to be aggressive at
the deadline. What do you kind of see them looking
at targeting maybe a left handed bat or starting pitching
or both.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
Yeah, I mean it's probably a little bit of both.
You know, every team likes to work around the edges
and the margins of the bullpen. I mean that's something
contenders are always looking to improve. But I think what
the Astros have done is assuming that they can maintain this,
(04:49):
is that it has afforded Dana Brown to kind of
look at some of the players that are due back
from injury as almost de facto trade pieces. And Alvarez
we can assume he'll be back at some point after
the All Star break. Jeremy Pania will definitely be back
after the All Star break. My guess is immediately after
(05:10):
the All Star break. But also potentially you could have
Christian Xavier Luis Garcia, you know, to to fortify Spencer Arraghetti,
to fortify that rotation. And then I think what you
can do is pitchers like Ryan Gusto, for instance, I
(05:31):
think his stuff could be really valuable in the bullpen.
So you could take those starters that have been placeholders
for guys that are that are injured in the rotation
and maybe you make them super relievers or bulk guys
out of the bullpen just to you know, just to
(05:51):
try to fortify that bullpen as much as possible. So
what this start has done, it's in I think it's
enabled Dana Brown to be a little bit more judicious
with what he does at the trade deadline.
Speaker 3 (06:04):
Yeah, and you look at starting pitching and ends. It
curtly starts and ends with starting pitching out there too
at the same time. And they've had that makeshift rotation
of all the guys you mentioned that were hurt. Six
guys went to a six man rotation in one of
the first clubs to do that year years back, and
it worked out for them through the championship years. And
I think some of these guys like you mentioned Gusto
and Colton Gordon, you obviously knew what you're gonna get
the top from Fromber and Hunter there too. You expect
(06:25):
the regular basis to that sweep in LA. I wanted
to get your opinion on that too. To go to LA,
like said, their first sweep since two thousand and eight
at Doctor Stadium, What does that mean for this franchise
to give them more confidence going forward?
Speaker 2 (06:37):
Well, I mean, look, it's all about perspective, right. It
is still early July. The Dodgers aren't at the height
of their powers. They didn't that the Astros didn't face Yamamoto.
They did face so Tani for a couple of innings.
(06:57):
But look, this Dodgers team, it's gonna look much different
if the Astros are fortunate enough to meet them again.
I think the thing that you can hang your hat
on if you're an Astros fan or an Astros organization,
is that you were able to keep their offense in check,
(07:20):
you know, because you still had Otani, Freeman, Betts. I
know Max Munsey was not in the lineup. He's probably
not going to be back till next month dealing with
the knee injury. So again, I don't know it come
September October, will that sweep in LA mean anything. No,
(07:41):
it won't because, like I said, if those team, if
these two teams meet again, it will be in the
World Series and they will look there will be some
significant pieces that weren't there that will be there come October.
Speaker 3 (07:56):
Bullpen wise, obviously, Hater has really exceeded expectations this year,
perfect and saves and of course the rough night last
night there to give it up the Grand Slam, and
of course they got Tunter. You're gonna have your ups
and downs over one hundred and sixty two game season
bullpen wise, some more makeshift guys, how do you kind
of assess how Danni's piece together? Steven Okert and I
mean Brian King then, yeah, it's been really good, right.
Speaker 2 (08:17):
Yeah, Susa has been really good to have him come
out and be a I mean he's getting some some
big innings. You know, going into the season, you knew that, Okay,
Hater's got the ninth, a bray youw's got the eighth,
but what about the fifth, sixth, and seventh? Right, And
I think Brian King Betasusa has been good. Hector Narris
(08:39):
has always pitched better when he's in an Astros uniform.
Speaker 4 (08:44):
Could they could they add more?
Speaker 2 (08:46):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (08:46):
Probably?
Speaker 2 (08:47):
And you and like I said, I'm really intrigued by
by Gusto moving back to the pin once that eventually happens.
But but you know, Dana Brown is going to do
everything he can to try to either get a big
piece for the bullpen or maybe you do a slight
tweak here and there. I know they did bring Taylor
Scott back, who they originally I believe they df ate
(09:10):
him earlier this year, but he didn't work out in Arizona,
so he's back on a minor league deal. But yeah,
just like the team itself, the bullpen has exceeded expectations.
Speaker 3 (09:22):
Offensively, touch base a little bit. Christian Walker assess kind
of the first you know, three four months of the
season there too good to see him heat a couple
of weeks, right.
Speaker 2 (09:30):
Yeah, it's been, it's been. It's been up and down,
and he certainly hasn't been at his best. And he'd
be the first to tell you that he went nuts
in in Dodger Stadium, but that's a place he always
hits well.
Speaker 4 (09:43):
And then he immediately goes on.
Speaker 2 (09:44):
The paternity leave. So if for the Astros, maybe he
comes back with some newfound newfound dad strength and continues
his his his uh his hot hitting. Because you get
you get paying you back, you continue hopefully get production
from Estac padedas Cam Smith continues to figure it out,
(10:05):
and then Jordan and Christian Walker I means, and Jose
Altuve and Jake Myers has has turned a corner offensively,
not necessarily in the power numbers, but getting on base,
hitting above three hundred, putting the ball in play. I mean,
that's that's a pretty interesting lineup. But like I said,
there's still a lot of baseball left to be played,
(10:26):
but there there's a reason to be very optimistic about
what this team could look like. Doesn't necessarily mean they will,
but could look Like you mentioned that.
Speaker 4 (10:35):
One name Key there too.
Speaker 3 (10:36):
Of course, she the Kyle Sucker trade the off season,
getting those pieces back he sucked. Pats want to focus
on Cam Smith a little bit too. Not many rookies
come up and have this type of start. Three more
hits last night, near two ninety seven homers, near forty
runs driven into most impressive thing about Cam Smith.
Speaker 4 (10:53):
That you like, I think it's his poise.
Speaker 2 (10:56):
Also, I believe, if I have the stat right, I
think he had the highest batting average on the team
with runners in scoring position. And you take into account
that he is playing a brand new position right field,
and you take into account that he's replacing maybe the
most complete player in all of baseball at that position
in Kyle Tucker. So I think he has been a revelation.
(11:21):
I am sure that Dana Brown and Joe Aspata had
no intention of him beginning the season with the big
league club, but he just kind of forced their hand.
And I know for a fact from the people that
I that I've talked to, they love him. They love
his makeup, they love his ability, they love his family,
(11:41):
they love his upbringing and the background. I mean, they
just cannot stop raving about him. So you hope that
he can continue. I think the All Star break is
coming at a good time for him. This is a
long season, and like I said, he was just in
the minors, he was part of the twenty twenty four draft,
(12:03):
and now he's producing for first place club at the
big league level less than a year later. So I
think the break will be good for him to get
a little R and R.
Speaker 3 (12:13):
Yeah, no doubt, for all those players to get healed
up and get to a little bit at RN R
two as well in some time with the family too,
which they don't get a lot of during the season
to make so many sacrifices out there and their families
do too. At the same time, Jake Myers, nice to
see him kind of put it all together. We do
it was great defensively. What he's given you offensive this
year is a plus. Looking back at this this guy
who they had high regards for years ago when they
(12:34):
drafted him out of the bron it's finally nice to
see Jake put it all together, right.
Speaker 2 (12:39):
Yeah, he as you said, he's always had a great glove.
He's always been a plus defender. It's been offensively he
has he has struggled, particularly with the strikeouts. He has
cut down on his strikeouts, particularly his batting average with
two strikes has also really done a onet eighty. I
mean basically, when he reached two strikes last year, that
(13:00):
wasn't out. He was either striking out or he was
he was just you know, putting the ball in play
not you know, not very hard. But this year he's
he's really turned that around. And you know, I was
on another Houston radio station. They were asking about Cedric Mullins,
who's in his walk ear with the Baltimore Orioles and
a former I believe he's a former All Star, but
(13:21):
very very good, very good player. And I was thinking
where are you gonna put him? I mean, I'm not
so sure that I don't want to just keep Jake
Myers where he's at and save our resources for any
kind of trade in another department or maybe for another
area of need. So again, you got to hope that continues.
He is dealing with a little bit of a calf injury,
(13:42):
but hopeful that he'll be back. But he is one
of the handful of reasons that the Astros are where
they're at.
Speaker 3 (13:50):
Yeah, and you mentioned starting pitching or two of the
guys they're looking to come back here July August or
after the break somewhere there. Luis Garcia productive kind of
simulated outing the other day in West Palm. You look at,
of course Lance mccullor still kind of kind of finding
his format for two years of not pitching there too.
Speaker 4 (14:05):
At the same time, and.
Speaker 3 (14:06):
Then Christian Javier of those guys that you look at too,
maybe JP Frantz down the line too, who could have
the biggest impact and give them at least half of
what they had before, at least give him something from
that starting rotation that these key pitchers you're look at
to return that can make the biggest impact of the
ball club.
Speaker 2 (14:21):
I think it's Christian Javier. We've seen him exceed and
excel at the you know, in the postseason during the
most important time of the year. I mean, he was
a part of that. He started that combined no hitter
in the World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies. You know,
I saw him shut down a Yankees offense at Yankee
(14:41):
Stadium like it was nothing a few years back. So, look,
it's unfair to expect all those guys to come back
and be what they were before they got injured. But
you're hopeful that maybe maybe one can get close to that,
or maybe the collective can can give them a boost.
But I think Christian Javier, I'd really want to see
(15:04):
what he looks like once he comes back.
Speaker 3 (15:07):
You know, they've had two key stats out there. The
best record against first place teams out there if it's
thirteen and two, and of course you look at the
best record now in one run games.
Speaker 4 (15:15):
I think when you sum that up to that.
Speaker 3 (15:17):
Says a lot about a ball club know how to
win tight games, how to finish, and also how to
beat first place teams.
Speaker 2 (15:22):
Right, Yeah, and this was a team that struggled in
that area. Last year, you know, save for the The
other thing is, save for the two losses and last
couple of nights to the Guardians, they've been very very
good at home. Uh and for some for whatever reason,
from beginning with twenty twenty three, they've had a tough
time winning at home. So there's a lot to like
(15:46):
about what's what's going on with the Astros. But but look,
it's you're you're basically just halfway through. You've got a
whole another second half, and you know, can can this
one run continue? I don't know, we'll see, but I
think they'd be they'd be very well served to get
(16:07):
those injured players back. I mean, there's only so many
times you can keep running out the plucky, feel good stories.
You know eventually that that catches up to you and
the there's a regression to the mean, so to speak.
So you need your you need your studs back, You
need Jeremy Payne back, You need Jordan Alvarez back badly.
(16:28):
So hopefully he comes back pretty soon after the All
Star break, hope.
Speaker 4 (16:32):
So no doubt, Home run Derby. What are you most
looking forward to?
Speaker 3 (16:35):
And know there's going to be a lot of new
faces there too, so faces that have been there before
for the Home Run Derby coming up next week Atlanta
Truist Park there too, host of the All Star Game,
which is a great great time there to National League.
Speaker 4 (16:46):
American League too. Exciting for the All Star Game with
Home Run.
Speaker 2 (16:48):
Derby, Yeah, absolutely, Look, I think I think the All
Star Game is the one All Star game across sports
that most closely resembles the product that you see night
in and night out.
Speaker 4 (17:02):
They're also I tell.
Speaker 2 (17:03):
You what, I'm most looking forward to the return of
just regular uniforms on the field. As a kid, I
used to love seeing all the different uniforms on the
field at the same time, and they're going back to
that after a few years of getting away from it.
So that's what I'm looking forward to in the Home
Run Derby. It's always one of the great events, so
(17:23):
it should be a should be a fun week in
Atlanta next week.
Speaker 3 (17:26):
Got to talk a little bit of this before we
close here too, And of course I know a lot
of this is still goingna unfold over the next eleven
to sixteen months or so. But the collective bargaining agreement
we've seen the NHL recently go to an eighty four
game schedule and now two Baseball's expires December first of
twenty twenty six, so it's still got a lot of
time for this to pan out too. But I want
to get your thoughts early on this, whether it's owners, players,
(17:47):
always somebody has to get to give and take relationship.
But I'm hoping we see America's national pastime really continue
and they get a new CBA deal done. What are
you hearing? What are some thoughts there coming? I know
it's early to say we could expect another strike here
there too, because there's plenty of time, but I would
love to see at least a peaceful labor over these
next eleven to sixteen months.
Speaker 2 (18:07):
Yeah, and look, that's what everyone wants. The game is
in a good place and a variety of fronts. Ratings
are up, Attendance is up, Streaming numbers are through the roof.
So look, there's a lot of smart people on both
sides here, both players representation as well as the owners
and the commissioner and the league off league's office, excuse me,
(18:28):
so they know what's at stake here, so as far
as what happens and the time and when and who,
A lot of that stuff is above my pay grades.
So I'm just like you and every other fan, just
hope they figure it out. And like I said, there's
a lot of smart people on both sides, so they
know what's at stake.
Speaker 4 (18:46):
They know all the momentum.
Speaker 2 (18:48):
That has occurred over the past couple of seasons with
the rule changes and all the young players across the
league that are creating headlines and creating maries all across
the field on a nightly basis. So hopefully, hopefully the
all those smart people come come together in a timely
(19:08):
fashion and we can, uh, we can move on and
get to the next phase.
Speaker 3 (19:13):
Love it too, I gotta ask you about this one
BEFO where we get out of here, let's talk a
little bit about it. I love Houston sports, good time
to be a fan for all three professional sports teams.
But I can't recall a time that I've been excited
to be a Rockets fan. Right now with Kevin Durant
and some of these new players coming on board, I
know you're excited.
Speaker 2 (19:28):
Too, Yeah. I mean, look, I'm I'm a big time
Rockets fan. I mean I have been ever since I
was a kid. I I I would have been okay,
with just trying to stick with UH, with Jalen Green
and seeing if he could go, you know, one more time.
But look, considering the return, you know, what they had
to give up to give to get Kevin Durant, It's
(19:49):
I don't really, it's not that bad. It's not that bad.
So I'm more concerned about the Cam Whitmore deal to
UH to Washington. UH. I really liked Cam Whitmore, but
it's look, we all know that the Rockets last year
they lacked that one person at the end of a
game or end of a shot clock, end of a
(20:11):
half when you needed a big bucket who could go
get it. And oftentimes Jalen Green proved that he could
not be that person. He certainly was not that person
in the postseason against the Warriors. So I'm interested to
see how it works out. I love Ima Udoka, I
love the culture he has built. I love how they play.
They played defense and defense travels and defense never goes
(20:33):
in a slump. So I'm eager to see how it
works out.
Speaker 4 (20:37):
Yeah, myself too. The Aladdice Defense wins championships.
Speaker 3 (20:40):
Eight o'clock Central time, MLB Network AMLB Central TV show
Make Sure Guys everybody.
Speaker 4 (20:46):
To actually nine am. We're nine am Central. We start.
Speaker 2 (20:50):
We changed this year, so we're at ten am Eastern,
nine am Central AMLB Central.
Speaker 3 (20:54):
The great Robert Flores brother, We appreciate you spending some
time with us here. Good luck to all the Houston
sports teams. Enjoyed the All Star break. We'll be catching
up here in a few weeks. Hopfully appreciate the time.
Speaker 2 (21:04):
All right, sang sounds good?
Speaker 4 (21:05):
Thanks got it?
Speaker 3 (21:06):
Robert Flores Here The Sports Guys Podcast dot Com presented
by B and B Construction Services and of course our
friends out there too as well. Decayden gordonshow dot Com.
Today's best to cut your mix. We'll see you on
the flip side. God Bliss, take care.
Speaker 4 (21:18):
What's up, y'all.
Speaker 1 (21:19):
It's kcy Beck and this is the Sports Guys Backstage
Pass with Brandon Morell, where athletes and artists collide.
Speaker 5 (21:27):
What's up, y'all? This is Nashville recording artists Brook Eden
and you're listening to the award nominated Backstage Pass on
KYBN ninety eight point one, your Bay Area broadcasting network.
Listen anytime on iHeart Podcasts and at the Sports Guys
Podcast dot Com and on thwn dot org,
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