1 00:00:05,600 --> 00:00:09,040 Speaker 1: What's up? Everybody. Welcome into another edition of Crush City Territory. 2 00:00:09,039 --> 00:00:12,319 Speaker 1: I'm channel the room, joined by Tyler Stafford and Josh Reddick, 3 00:00:12,360 --> 00:00:15,720 Speaker 1: who is answering fan mail. Tyler is, we're. 4 00:00:15,560 --> 00:00:18,360 Speaker 2: Going to address this really quick. If you send fan mail, 5 00:00:18,520 --> 00:00:21,799 Speaker 2: send the tear away strip. Daddy doesn't want to be 6 00:00:21,840 --> 00:00:22,919 Speaker 2: licking your envelopes. 7 00:00:23,920 --> 00:00:25,840 Speaker 3: Moving on, put that on a quote card. 8 00:00:26,520 --> 00:00:30,880 Speaker 1: Daddy hates. Daddy hates licking envelopes. 9 00:00:31,920 --> 00:00:34,920 Speaker 2: That's it. Get that in there, man. 10 00:00:35,880 --> 00:00:38,720 Speaker 1: I'm sitting in an empty press box at Cacti Park 11 00:00:38,720 --> 00:00:42,720 Speaker 1: of the Palm Beaches, where about four hundred feet away, 12 00:00:42,840 --> 00:00:47,720 Speaker 1: the Astros just began their yearly spring training meeting with 13 00:00:47,960 --> 00:00:51,440 Speaker 1: the MLB Players Association. Uh, this one is this one's 14 00:00:51,440 --> 00:00:54,080 Speaker 1: going to carry a little more weight, given everything that 15 00:00:54,200 --> 00:00:57,280 Speaker 1: is going to happen this offseason with the CBA, given 16 00:00:57,280 --> 00:01:00,760 Speaker 1: that Bruce Meyer is now the lead of the union 17 00:01:00,800 --> 00:01:03,480 Speaker 1: and not Tony Clark. Josh, you've been in those meetings before. 18 00:01:03,520 --> 00:01:06,399 Speaker 1: They tend to they tend to go long, they tend 19 00:01:06,440 --> 00:01:09,640 Speaker 1: to inspire some debate. What do you think is happening 20 00:01:09,720 --> 00:01:11,000 Speaker 1: right now in the Ashers Clubhouse? 21 00:01:11,440 --> 00:01:14,680 Speaker 4: I bet that thing started off hot, but like I 22 00:01:14,920 --> 00:01:16,560 Speaker 4: know you and I tech talked about it. This thing 23 00:01:16,640 --> 00:01:18,640 Speaker 4: is that thing's gonna last maybe two to three hours. 24 00:01:19,880 --> 00:01:22,679 Speaker 4: Standard issue for these things when drama isn't hitting the fan, 25 00:01:22,840 --> 00:01:26,120 Speaker 4: like is a standard hour and a half probably, But 26 00:01:26,360 --> 00:01:29,040 Speaker 4: this one's gonna spark some some fire under some guys. 27 00:01:29,080 --> 00:01:32,800 Speaker 4: And I'm going for like two and a half hour 28 00:01:33,720 --> 00:01:35,400 Speaker 4: minimum for the meeting day because there's a lot of 29 00:01:35,400 --> 00:01:36,800 Speaker 4: stuff they have to cover. I mean, we don't have 30 00:01:36,840 --> 00:01:38,680 Speaker 4: to announce it all the stuff that's happened so far 31 00:01:39,640 --> 00:01:41,480 Speaker 4: now and then the stuff that's going to happen in 32 00:01:41,520 --> 00:01:43,319 Speaker 4: the next twelve months. I mean, these guys have a 33 00:01:43,319 --> 00:01:45,479 Speaker 4: lot to discuss. So I'd like to be a fly 34 00:01:45,640 --> 00:01:47,320 Speaker 4: on the wall. But at the same time, I'm glad 35 00:01:47,319 --> 00:01:49,160 Speaker 4: I'm not sitting in the locker room right now. 36 00:01:50,720 --> 00:01:53,520 Speaker 1: Yeah, the Mets had their meeting, I believe two days ago, 37 00:01:53,600 --> 00:01:57,800 Speaker 1: and hearing from them, it went two hours the Mets. 38 00:01:58,040 --> 00:02:00,200 Speaker 1: The Mets met for two hours with the union, so 39 00:02:01,000 --> 00:02:02,720 Speaker 1: gonna be a little while so we have some time 40 00:02:02,760 --> 00:02:04,880 Speaker 1: to sit down and talk about what has happened the 41 00:02:04,960 --> 00:02:07,800 Speaker 1: last week or so at Astro's camp. And I think 42 00:02:07,800 --> 00:02:11,240 Speaker 1: the biggest news maybe that's come out is that the 43 00:02:11,280 --> 00:02:15,440 Speaker 1: Astros will be down another reliever on opening Day. Obviously, 44 00:02:15,480 --> 00:02:19,160 Speaker 1: Josh Hater will not start the season with his bicep tendonitis, 45 00:02:19,240 --> 00:02:22,240 Speaker 1: but this one, Uh, this injury to Bennett Susa sounds 46 00:02:22,240 --> 00:02:25,000 Speaker 1: a little bit more serious. He he injured his left 47 00:02:25,080 --> 00:02:29,200 Speaker 1: oblique while fielding a swinging bunt during a Great Fruit 48 00:02:29,280 --> 00:02:31,240 Speaker 1: League game about a week ago now, So he suffered 49 00:02:31,240 --> 00:02:34,080 Speaker 1: the injury a week ago. From what it sounds like, 50 00:02:34,400 --> 00:02:36,800 Speaker 1: he stayed in camp for the next three or four days, 51 00:02:36,919 --> 00:02:39,359 Speaker 1: I think, to just let it calm down a little bit, 52 00:02:39,520 --> 00:02:41,840 Speaker 1: see see what was going on. They didn't want to 53 00:02:41,880 --> 00:02:45,359 Speaker 1: rush to any conclusions, and then he traveled back to Houston. 54 00:02:45,400 --> 00:02:47,480 Speaker 1: We're recording this on Friday. He traveled back to Houston 55 00:02:47,520 --> 00:02:51,560 Speaker 1: on Thursday in order to see team doctors and see 56 00:02:51,600 --> 00:02:54,440 Speaker 1: what's going on. But Joe A spot Up said on 57 00:02:54,480 --> 00:02:58,320 Speaker 1: Thursday he will be down for quote a while, Josh, 58 00:02:58,360 --> 00:03:02,000 Speaker 1: you know, obliques, they they are not a quick injury. 59 00:03:02,440 --> 00:03:04,760 Speaker 1: And if you're a left handed pitcher like Bennett Susa 60 00:03:04,919 --> 00:03:08,360 Speaker 1: is and you injure your left oblique, it's not gonna 61 00:03:08,400 --> 00:03:12,520 Speaker 1: be anytime soon that he's back. So some more bad 62 00:03:12,600 --> 00:03:15,480 Speaker 1: news for a bullpen that that does have depth like 63 00:03:15,520 --> 00:03:18,840 Speaker 1: then they have options to cover this, but Bennett Susa 64 00:03:18,919 --> 00:03:22,600 Speaker 1: was going to throw leverage innings for this team even 65 00:03:22,639 --> 00:03:25,760 Speaker 1: if Josh Hater was in the bullpen. Without Josh Hater, 66 00:03:25,800 --> 00:03:30,240 Speaker 1: Bennett Susa's importance was magnified. So now they're down another 67 00:03:30,320 --> 00:03:32,160 Speaker 1: leverage reliever and they're gonna have to see if this 68 00:03:32,320 --> 00:03:35,400 Speaker 1: depth that they accrued in the off season can can 69 00:03:35,440 --> 00:03:36,120 Speaker 1: come through for him. 70 00:03:36,680 --> 00:03:39,160 Speaker 4: Yeah, anytime you talk about an no bleak, they haven't 71 00:03:39,160 --> 00:03:41,400 Speaker 4: announced what grade strain it is, one, two or three? 72 00:03:41,520 --> 00:03:47,080 Speaker 2: Correct? Have they announced anything like that? So hey, man, I. 73 00:03:47,040 --> 00:03:49,440 Speaker 4: Don't know where we're at in the medical department, all right, 74 00:03:51,040 --> 00:03:53,760 Speaker 4: but I know I've strained both of mine, both grade twos. 75 00:03:54,320 --> 00:03:55,560 Speaker 2: Those are four to six. 76 00:03:55,640 --> 00:03:57,640 Speaker 4: The first one took me about seven weeks to get 77 00:03:57,680 --> 00:04:00,720 Speaker 4: back to full full activity of playing. But you know, 78 00:04:00,800 --> 00:04:02,680 Speaker 4: obliques and no joke, you know, the first two weeks 79 00:04:02,680 --> 00:04:05,560 Speaker 4: you're just stuck doing nothing but ice and stem and 80 00:04:05,600 --> 00:04:07,920 Speaker 4: you know, the mark pro or the tens unit, whatever 81 00:04:07,960 --> 00:04:09,920 Speaker 4: you want to call it, sending those shockwaves through and 82 00:04:09,960 --> 00:04:13,560 Speaker 4: then you thaw out, guess what, right back on the 83 00:04:13,560 --> 00:04:15,440 Speaker 4: table doing it all over again for two weeks, So 84 00:04:15,480 --> 00:04:18,640 Speaker 4: that that's a shutdown injury where you're not doing anything. 85 00:04:18,680 --> 00:04:21,279 Speaker 4: As we all know, baseball players use every bit of 86 00:04:21,320 --> 00:04:24,640 Speaker 4: their oblique muscles and everything they do, so that's something 87 00:04:24,680 --> 00:04:26,839 Speaker 4: he's got to get right to where he can't feel 88 00:04:26,880 --> 00:04:29,640 Speaker 4: anything and be able to throw one hundred percent to 89 00:04:29,680 --> 00:04:31,960 Speaker 4: get back in there. So we're looking at four to 90 00:04:32,000 --> 00:04:35,039 Speaker 4: six for your average, could be more. Hopefully it's not 91 00:04:35,080 --> 00:04:36,919 Speaker 4: too much over two months in the stretch to it. 92 00:04:36,960 --> 00:04:39,120 Speaker 4: He's looking at right now, but he's got to make 93 00:04:39,120 --> 00:04:40,800 Speaker 4: sure he's right because, like you said, this was a 94 00:04:40,839 --> 00:04:42,880 Speaker 4: guy who was going to be your leverage guy with. 95 00:04:42,960 --> 00:04:43,920 Speaker 2: Or without Josh Hater. 96 00:04:45,040 --> 00:04:48,240 Speaker 4: It gets even more magnified because he is that lefty 97 00:04:48,320 --> 00:04:50,919 Speaker 4: specialist that you needed in that seventh, eighth, even the 98 00:04:50,960 --> 00:04:54,040 Speaker 4: sixth inning stretches for this ball club. So finding that 99 00:04:54,080 --> 00:04:57,039 Speaker 4: person to be your high leverage guy when gosh, I 100 00:04:57,040 --> 00:04:59,440 Speaker 4: mean two of your best you know, top four or 101 00:04:59,480 --> 00:05:03,200 Speaker 4: five levers aren't in the bullpen for whoever knows how long, 102 00:05:03,279 --> 00:05:05,520 Speaker 4: So this just falls a little bit more on guys 103 00:05:05,600 --> 00:05:08,440 Speaker 4: like Brian A. Brady, Like this guy is gonna probably 104 00:05:08,440 --> 00:05:10,320 Speaker 4: move up off. Mean, that's a closer role that you 105 00:05:10,360 --> 00:05:12,440 Speaker 4: lost from a vital guy. So then you have just 106 00:05:12,480 --> 00:05:14,680 Speaker 4: a number of a plethora of guys who have to 107 00:05:14,720 --> 00:05:16,559 Speaker 4: learn and figure out how to piece these these outs 108 00:05:16,560 --> 00:05:19,000 Speaker 4: together in these high liver situations. Later in the ball 109 00:05:19,040 --> 00:05:21,880 Speaker 4: game two bridge that that road to Brian A braid. 110 00:05:23,480 --> 00:05:26,279 Speaker 3: Yeah, and uh, I just want to point out Chandler's 111 00:05:26,320 --> 00:05:30,400 Speaker 3: two big things that he was whining about all off 112 00:05:30,480 --> 00:05:34,200 Speaker 3: season is that there's too many infielders and there's too 113 00:05:34,200 --> 00:05:38,919 Speaker 3: many lefties in the bullpen. And Chandler has cursed the Astros. 114 00:05:38,960 --> 00:05:43,200 Speaker 3: I think that is clear that with him fussing about 115 00:05:43,200 --> 00:05:48,279 Speaker 3: all of this, now they have been solved. Because Chandler 116 00:05:48,400 --> 00:05:51,719 Speaker 3: keeps cursing everything within the Astros. 117 00:05:52,440 --> 00:05:55,880 Speaker 1: Care to comment, I'm gonna curse you here in a 118 00:05:55,880 --> 00:05:59,360 Speaker 1: little bit, do do it? I think? But I think 119 00:05:59,400 --> 00:06:01,880 Speaker 1: that you know, Josh one thing you said that it's 120 00:06:01,920 --> 00:06:04,240 Speaker 1: a little bit I don't want to say untrue. But 121 00:06:04,240 --> 00:06:07,120 Speaker 1: but the thing about Bennett Susa and Steven Okert and 122 00:06:07,200 --> 00:06:10,599 Speaker 1: Brian King that is really appealing to the Astros is 123 00:06:10,680 --> 00:06:13,159 Speaker 1: all of them are platoon neutral. If you look at 124 00:06:13,200 --> 00:06:16,080 Speaker 1: their splits against right handed hitters and left handed hitters, 125 00:06:16,720 --> 00:06:20,320 Speaker 1: there's no negligible difference. You know, Steven Ochert and Brian King, 126 00:06:20,360 --> 00:06:22,840 Speaker 1: I wrote this in my story yesterday. Last year, they 127 00:06:22,920 --> 00:06:25,520 Speaker 1: combined to hold right handed hitters to a five point 128 00:06:25,480 --> 00:06:28,880 Speaker 1: fifty oh ps and Bennett and Bennett Suso was as 129 00:06:28,920 --> 00:06:31,719 Speaker 1: platoon neutral as any of them, so in essence, like 130 00:06:31,800 --> 00:06:34,799 Speaker 1: they weren't. They didn't really function as lefty specialists because 131 00:06:34,880 --> 00:06:37,320 Speaker 1: Joe A spot of felt so good about putting them 132 00:06:37,320 --> 00:06:41,080 Speaker 1: in against any side, any handed hitter. You didn't lose 133 00:06:41,080 --> 00:06:43,240 Speaker 1: a lefty, specially you lost a leverage reliever. I mean, 134 00:06:43,240 --> 00:06:46,440 Speaker 1: this was a guy that in you know, if you 135 00:06:46,680 --> 00:06:49,080 Speaker 1: if you want to assign kind of archaically, if you 136 00:06:49,120 --> 00:06:51,440 Speaker 1: want to assign just to find this guy is pitching 137 00:06:51,480 --> 00:06:54,039 Speaker 1: this inning to this bullpen, which I don't think the 138 00:06:54,040 --> 00:06:56,400 Speaker 1: Astros are going to do. But play play along with 139 00:06:56,440 --> 00:06:59,719 Speaker 1: me here. If Brian A. Bray Us your closer, Brian 140 00:07:00,080 --> 00:07:03,240 Speaker 1: King probably profiled as your setup man before that, and 141 00:07:03,240 --> 00:07:07,440 Speaker 1: then Bennett Susan was probably your seventh inning guy, your fireman, 142 00:07:07,520 --> 00:07:09,400 Speaker 1: your guy that you put in with two on and 143 00:07:09,440 --> 00:07:11,960 Speaker 1: one out in the sixth inning and say get out 144 00:07:11,960 --> 00:07:14,960 Speaker 1: of this something like that. So they've got that's a 145 00:07:15,040 --> 00:07:18,880 Speaker 1: large void to fill. I think in his absence, I 146 00:07:18,920 --> 00:07:21,200 Speaker 1: think it's spell. I think it you never want to 147 00:07:21,200 --> 00:07:24,120 Speaker 1: say an injury benefits anyone, but I think the people 148 00:07:24,120 --> 00:07:25,960 Speaker 1: that stand the most to gain from this are a 149 00:07:26,040 --> 00:07:30,120 Speaker 1: couple of guys. It's Kaiwai Tang, It's Peter Lambert, It's 150 00:07:30,160 --> 00:07:34,160 Speaker 1: aj Bluebaugh, and it's Roddery Munos. And I'm at the 151 00:07:34,200 --> 00:07:37,120 Speaker 1: point now where you look at what Roddery Munos has 152 00:07:37,160 --> 00:07:40,000 Speaker 1: done in camp. He had an awful first outing, but 153 00:07:40,320 --> 00:07:44,160 Speaker 1: he has since thrown eight consecutive scoreless Grapefruit League outings. 154 00:07:44,520 --> 00:07:48,880 Speaker 1: He's got fourteen strikeouts in one walk in that timeframe. Again, 155 00:07:50,000 --> 00:07:51,880 Speaker 1: the roster thing with him is going to be a 156 00:07:51,920 --> 00:07:54,800 Speaker 1: little bit inflexible. He's got to stay on the twenty 157 00:07:54,840 --> 00:07:57,600 Speaker 1: six man roster all year unless he goes on the 158 00:07:57,640 --> 00:07:59,600 Speaker 1: injured list, or he's got to be offered back to 159 00:07:59,640 --> 00:08:02,920 Speaker 1: the Red because he's a Rule five pick. I think, 160 00:08:03,160 --> 00:08:06,240 Speaker 1: you know, if you're looking at solely just who stands 161 00:08:06,280 --> 00:08:09,880 Speaker 1: to maybe get into a spot in Bennett SUS's absence, 162 00:08:10,160 --> 00:08:13,920 Speaker 1: I'd probably say this benefits Rodery Munos because not only 163 00:08:14,160 --> 00:08:16,280 Speaker 1: does it make it kind of clear that they have 164 00:08:16,360 --> 00:08:19,400 Speaker 1: to carry him, it also, like behind Brian Abra, you 165 00:08:19,640 --> 00:08:22,960 Speaker 1: this team doesn't really have a ton of true right 166 00:08:23,000 --> 00:08:26,600 Speaker 1: handed leverage relief options and Yell Dello Santos. We still 167 00:08:26,600 --> 00:08:28,520 Speaker 1: don't know if he's going to be ready for opening day, 168 00:08:28,720 --> 00:08:30,640 Speaker 1: but if he is ready for opening day, he'll obviously 169 00:08:30,680 --> 00:08:33,080 Speaker 1: be one. But I think this paves a way for 170 00:08:33,160 --> 00:08:36,080 Speaker 1: Rodery Munos to make the team. And they've still got 171 00:08:36,080 --> 00:08:39,600 Speaker 1: a decision to make on all three of Kaiwai Tang, 172 00:08:39,960 --> 00:08:43,080 Speaker 1: aj Blue Ball and Peter Lambert because they're stretching all 173 00:08:43,120 --> 00:08:46,480 Speaker 1: three of these guys out as starters. They want them 174 00:08:46,520 --> 00:08:49,000 Speaker 1: to be in the triple A rotation as depth. But 175 00:08:49,559 --> 00:08:51,800 Speaker 1: you've seen blue Ball when he comes in from the bullpen, 176 00:08:52,080 --> 00:08:54,640 Speaker 1: the velo plays up. It's ninety seven ninety eight as 177 00:08:54,679 --> 00:08:58,000 Speaker 1: opposed to ninety three to ninety five. Kaiwai Tang has 178 00:08:58,559 --> 00:09:01,920 Speaker 1: impressed this entire camp and miss bats this entire camp, 179 00:09:01,960 --> 00:09:04,240 Speaker 1: which if you're gonna be a reliever late in the game, 180 00:09:04,240 --> 00:09:05,800 Speaker 1: you want a guy that can miss a ton of bats. 181 00:09:06,160 --> 00:09:09,480 Speaker 1: Kywa Tang can do that. And then Peter Lambert got 182 00:09:09,480 --> 00:09:12,320 Speaker 1: away from Colorado, started throwing his four seam up in 183 00:09:12,360 --> 00:09:14,839 Speaker 1: the zone. They adjusted the way he's throwing his two seam. 184 00:09:15,200 --> 00:09:17,120 Speaker 1: Stop me, if you've heard all this before, and the 185 00:09:17,160 --> 00:09:20,040 Speaker 1: Ashers have tournament into something pretty good. And he's got 186 00:09:20,040 --> 00:09:22,240 Speaker 1: an opt out in his minor league deal in the 187 00:09:22,280 --> 00:09:24,000 Speaker 1: next couple of days. So the Asher is gonna have 188 00:09:24,000 --> 00:09:26,120 Speaker 1: to guarantee him a spot on the forty man roster 189 00:09:26,280 --> 00:09:29,040 Speaker 1: or he can opt out and maybe go elsewhere. So 190 00:09:29,600 --> 00:09:32,760 Speaker 1: I think this injury really does open the door for 191 00:09:32,840 --> 00:09:35,600 Speaker 1: those guys. Is there anyone in particular out of that group, 192 00:09:35,679 --> 00:09:37,920 Speaker 1: Tyler that I know you've been watching every Great Fruit 193 00:09:38,000 --> 00:09:41,480 Speaker 1: League game intently and listening that all. Is there anyone 194 00:09:41,480 --> 00:09:43,640 Speaker 1: in that group that intrigues you? Yeah? 195 00:09:43,679 --> 00:09:46,760 Speaker 3: I mean Kywait Tang, like you said, has just been 196 00:09:46,800 --> 00:09:48,360 Speaker 3: missing a ton of bats. 197 00:09:49,600 --> 00:09:50,080 Speaker 1: We know that. 198 00:09:50,440 --> 00:09:54,520 Speaker 3: You know, Dana Brown was very excited to acquire him. 199 00:09:54,559 --> 00:09:57,880 Speaker 3: I think he was going to factor into all of 200 00:09:57,920 --> 00:10:01,400 Speaker 3: this anyway, I mean, before the en But I agree 201 00:10:01,440 --> 00:10:05,560 Speaker 3: with you that now it's more of a leverage role 202 00:10:05,600 --> 00:10:07,760 Speaker 3: because you're right outside of a bray New and King. 203 00:10:08,600 --> 00:10:14,160 Speaker 3: There's nobody in that bullpen that you're penciling into. This 204 00:10:14,240 --> 00:10:16,000 Speaker 3: is the next guy up, you know, It's it's just 205 00:10:16,040 --> 00:10:19,719 Speaker 3: going to be whoever you know is up that day 206 00:10:19,720 --> 00:10:23,080 Speaker 3: and whoever has been pitching good and uh, Kyway Tang 207 00:10:23,120 --> 00:10:25,120 Speaker 3: has been pitching really well. And so I mean I 208 00:10:25,160 --> 00:10:28,200 Speaker 3: could definitely see him kind of carving out that seventh 209 00:10:28,280 --> 00:10:30,280 Speaker 3: inning role at least for the first month of the 210 00:10:30,320 --> 00:10:34,520 Speaker 3: season while hater And and Susa are not available. 211 00:10:36,000 --> 00:10:38,000 Speaker 1: Did you see another pitch when you were down here, Josh, 212 00:10:38,200 --> 00:10:39,360 Speaker 1: I think I. 213 00:10:39,320 --> 00:10:43,600 Speaker 4: Saw Tang for one outing. I think it was one, two, three, 214 00:10:43,800 --> 00:10:46,839 Speaker 4: to be honest, So from what I from what I recall, 215 00:10:46,920 --> 00:10:48,400 Speaker 4: I didn't I think I saw. I didn't think I 216 00:10:48,400 --> 00:10:52,120 Speaker 4: didn't get blue Ball he did. No the other two 217 00:10:52,160 --> 00:10:54,520 Speaker 4: I definitely didn't see. But I think blue Ball went 218 00:10:54,520 --> 00:10:57,920 Speaker 4: into the game I left on and on the Sunday, 219 00:10:58,520 --> 00:11:00,360 Speaker 4: So I think I just missed him. But you know, 220 00:11:00,400 --> 00:11:02,640 Speaker 4: I'm always going to be on aj Buball's train. I mean, 221 00:11:02,679 --> 00:11:04,320 Speaker 4: this this guy, what I got to see him do? 222 00:11:04,360 --> 00:11:07,080 Speaker 4: We all saw it last year. What he does is 223 00:11:07,120 --> 00:11:09,800 Speaker 4: just spectacular. I don't understand why it doesn't transition to 224 00:11:09,840 --> 00:11:11,720 Speaker 4: a starter role for him. Maybe it's in his brain, 225 00:11:11,800 --> 00:11:14,839 Speaker 4: But I really like having that guy on the roster 226 00:11:14,880 --> 00:11:17,080 Speaker 4: because he gives you so many options, Like if he's hot, 227 00:11:17,200 --> 00:11:19,160 Speaker 4: he can give you that seventh inning that you need. 228 00:11:19,679 --> 00:11:22,000 Speaker 4: If he's you know, not so hot, he can give 229 00:11:22,000 --> 00:11:23,440 Speaker 4: you that long relief. And if you need him in 230 00:11:23,440 --> 00:11:25,240 Speaker 4: a pinch, you throw him and there's a little start 231 00:11:25,280 --> 00:11:25,720 Speaker 4: here and there. 232 00:11:25,760 --> 00:11:27,800 Speaker 2: So I just like him. How well he's done and 233 00:11:27,800 --> 00:11:29,439 Speaker 2: how many options he gives this ball club. 234 00:11:30,480 --> 00:11:33,559 Speaker 3: Well, yeah, I think with the oh, go ahead, Chandler, No, 235 00:11:33,640 --> 00:11:36,600 Speaker 3: you can go, Tyler. I was just going to say that, 236 00:11:36,920 --> 00:11:40,000 Speaker 3: you know, obviously the Astros would like to keep him 237 00:11:40,480 --> 00:11:45,440 Speaker 3: stretched out and be available as a starter, but you know, 238 00:11:46,160 --> 00:11:49,160 Speaker 3: the major league team is what is the highest priority. 239 00:11:49,320 --> 00:11:52,880 Speaker 3: And I think that's a guy that, especially after last season, 240 00:11:53,640 --> 00:11:56,240 Speaker 3: you would trust and you would really rely on in 241 00:11:56,280 --> 00:11:58,240 Speaker 3: the bullpen. And they don't have a lot of those 242 00:11:58,240 --> 00:12:03,000 Speaker 3: guys right now that you feel very confident in losing, 243 00:12:03,200 --> 00:12:07,280 Speaker 3: you know, Susa and Hater. So I certainly could see 244 00:12:07,280 --> 00:12:11,120 Speaker 3: this being a decision point of Okay, we're gonna let 245 00:12:11,160 --> 00:12:14,880 Speaker 3: Blue Ball be in a more traditional relief role and 246 00:12:14,960 --> 00:12:17,760 Speaker 3: you know, if you need to stretch them out later, 247 00:12:18,080 --> 00:12:20,680 Speaker 3: you can. But I mean we've talked about they've got 248 00:12:21,080 --> 00:12:24,360 Speaker 3: fifteen starters right now and so and you don't have 249 00:12:24,400 --> 00:12:27,400 Speaker 3: a lot that you know you can trust in the bullpen, 250 00:12:28,160 --> 00:12:30,360 Speaker 3: and Blue Ball's already shown that he can do that. 251 00:12:31,880 --> 00:12:34,160 Speaker 1: And the other thing, too is Kaiwai Tang and Adrian 252 00:12:34,160 --> 00:12:38,959 Speaker 1: Blueball have minor league options left. So it's just because 253 00:12:39,000 --> 00:12:41,600 Speaker 1: they if they do open the season in the bullpen, 254 00:12:42,000 --> 00:12:44,360 Speaker 1: that doesn't mean that is where they're destined to be 255 00:12:44,440 --> 00:12:47,560 Speaker 1: for the next seven months. Like if they get to 256 00:12:47,600 --> 00:12:50,440 Speaker 1: a point where they've got other relievers performing well and 257 00:12:50,480 --> 00:12:53,720 Speaker 1: they don't need these guys, or like if things settle 258 00:12:53,720 --> 00:12:56,160 Speaker 1: out and they say, hey, it's probably more beneficial for 259 00:12:56,200 --> 00:12:58,520 Speaker 1: one of these guys to go down sugar Land, stretch 260 00:12:58,559 --> 00:13:00,560 Speaker 1: back out and get in the rotation. They easily do 261 00:13:00,600 --> 00:13:03,199 Speaker 1: that because they have options. That's what you don't have 262 00:13:03,320 --> 00:13:05,880 Speaker 1: with Roddery Munos, because if you put Roddery Munos on 263 00:13:05,880 --> 00:13:09,360 Speaker 1: the team, he's on the team and you can't get 264 00:13:09,400 --> 00:13:11,280 Speaker 1: out of that unless he gets injured, or unless you 265 00:13:11,360 --> 00:13:12,920 Speaker 1: make up an injury and put him on the il. 266 00:13:13,679 --> 00:13:15,760 Speaker 1: He doesn't have options left. And if you try, and 267 00:13:15,800 --> 00:13:17,960 Speaker 1: if you decide you don't want him anymore, you have 268 00:13:18,040 --> 00:13:20,440 Speaker 1: to offer him back to his other organization, the Reds. 269 00:13:20,520 --> 00:13:24,280 Speaker 1: So but nonetheless, I think Munnos has pitched well enough 270 00:13:24,320 --> 00:13:28,280 Speaker 1: to merit serious consideration to be in this bullpen. So 271 00:13:28,920 --> 00:13:33,160 Speaker 1: and Bennett Suess's injury only kind of reinforces that. We'll 272 00:13:33,160 --> 00:13:36,319 Speaker 1: discuss more spring training stats and what to take from them. 273 00:13:36,400 --> 00:13:38,600 Speaker 1: Right after this message from our friends a Feul Territory. 274 00:13:38,760 --> 00:13:41,520 Speaker 3: This one's for the dudes looking for peak bedroom performance. 275 00:13:42,240 --> 00:13:45,360 Speaker 5: Blue Choo is the number one chewable ed brand and 276 00:13:45,400 --> 00:13:47,160 Speaker 5: they just drop their newest innovation. 277 00:13:47,400 --> 00:13:49,559 Speaker 2: It is called the blue Choo Gold. 278 00:13:49,920 --> 00:13:52,400 Speaker 4: Blue Choo Gold dissolves under your tongue and works in 279 00:13:52,440 --> 00:13:56,400 Speaker 4: as little as fifteen minutes peak passion and peak performance 280 00:13:56,600 --> 00:13:57,720 Speaker 4: in a single tablet. 281 00:13:58,280 --> 00:14:02,240 Speaker 5: That's right, two ingredients blood flow mixed with appamorphine and 282 00:14:02,320 --> 00:14:05,120 Speaker 5: oxytocin to turn up the arousal and connection in your 283 00:14:05,160 --> 00:14:09,760 Speaker 5: brain and body. 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Visit blue chew dot com for 291 00:14:33,240 --> 00:14:36,720 Speaker 5: more details and important safety information, and we thank blue 292 00:14:36,760 --> 00:14:39,480 Speaker 5: Cheo for sponsoring the podcast. 293 00:14:40,880 --> 00:14:41,800 Speaker 2: I Love Gold. 294 00:14:45,200 --> 00:14:50,320 Speaker 1: Speaking of peak performance Bryce Matthews. He has performed at 295 00:14:50,320 --> 00:14:54,160 Speaker 1: his peak in spring training. Joe A. Spota continues to 296 00:14:55,040 --> 00:14:58,960 Speaker 1: keep praise on Matthews, who again, we're about to talk 297 00:14:59,000 --> 00:15:00,920 Speaker 1: about spring training statf it's for the next like fifteen 298 00:15:00,960 --> 00:15:03,960 Speaker 1: to twenty minutes. So just understand from the beginning, take 299 00:15:04,120 --> 00:15:07,320 Speaker 1: all of these with a grain of salt. But Bryce 300 00:15:07,360 --> 00:15:10,080 Speaker 1: Matthews is nine for thirty three in spring training. He's 301 00:15:10,440 --> 00:15:12,760 Speaker 1: struck out eleven times, he's walked six times. That's a 302 00:15:13,080 --> 00:15:14,760 Speaker 1: that's good for an eight to forty oh ps. He's 303 00:15:14,800 --> 00:15:19,080 Speaker 1: slugging four fifty five. Josh, you discussed when you got 304 00:15:19,120 --> 00:15:20,960 Speaker 1: down here and when you were down here how much 305 00:15:21,000 --> 00:15:23,600 Speaker 1: he impressed you in the outfield. I think he'll be 306 00:15:23,640 --> 00:15:26,120 Speaker 1: interested to know that. Tonight against the Marlins, in this 307 00:15:26,160 --> 00:15:29,720 Speaker 1: Great Fruit League game, he's going to start in left field. 308 00:15:30,040 --> 00:15:34,000 Speaker 1: I think we're inching more toward You know, what do 309 00:15:34,040 --> 00:15:35,440 Speaker 1: I always say on here, I always say, kind of 310 00:15:35,440 --> 00:15:38,480 Speaker 1: actions speak louder than words. The fact that they keep 311 00:15:38,520 --> 00:15:40,480 Speaker 1: playing him in the outfield, the fact that he is 312 00:15:40,560 --> 00:15:43,480 Speaker 1: starting tonight in left field, that he's played some center 313 00:15:43,520 --> 00:15:46,280 Speaker 1: field this late in camp. I asked Joe A spot 314 00:15:46,280 --> 00:15:48,400 Speaker 1: of last night, are you at a point where you 315 00:15:48,440 --> 00:15:51,200 Speaker 1: would feel comfortable playing Bryce Matthews in the outfield during 316 00:15:51,240 --> 00:15:53,560 Speaker 1: a major league game, and he gave a one word response. 317 00:15:53,600 --> 00:15:58,120 Speaker 4: He said, yes, Bryce, I saw that in the first 318 00:15:58,200 --> 00:16:00,760 Speaker 4: day of outfield work. Despite his bat like, he was ready. 319 00:16:00,760 --> 00:16:03,880 Speaker 4: When I saw him doing defensive work, he was ready 320 00:16:03,880 --> 00:16:04,720 Speaker 4: to play in the outfield. 321 00:16:05,840 --> 00:16:12,240 Speaker 1: Bryce's success may be coupled with Zach Cole's poor spring 322 00:16:12,400 --> 00:16:15,920 Speaker 1: you know, and again spring training stats taken with a 323 00:16:15,920 --> 00:16:18,560 Speaker 1: grain of salt, but he's struck out seventeen times in 324 00:16:18,560 --> 00:16:20,880 Speaker 1: thirty four at bats and spring training, Zach Cole has 325 00:16:22,080 --> 00:16:25,280 Speaker 1: Joe a spot, has said when camp began that this 326 00:16:25,400 --> 00:16:28,600 Speaker 1: was that great Fruit League performance was going to dictate 327 00:16:28,720 --> 00:16:31,400 Speaker 1: some of how the outfield is constructed. And if you 328 00:16:31,480 --> 00:16:35,360 Speaker 1: go by the performance in the outfield, Bryce Matthews has 329 00:16:35,360 --> 00:16:37,880 Speaker 1: won a spot in this on this team over Zach Cole. 330 00:16:38,640 --> 00:16:41,400 Speaker 4: Oh yeah, and the way you're looking at everything, I mean, 331 00:16:41,440 --> 00:16:43,480 Speaker 4: it all depends on who you're talking about. To spring 332 00:16:43,560 --> 00:16:47,240 Speaker 4: training stats for the most part don't really matter. It's 333 00:16:47,280 --> 00:16:49,360 Speaker 4: just how you look up there, because guys can be 334 00:16:49,360 --> 00:16:52,760 Speaker 4: over twenty five and you know, look just fine, and 335 00:16:52,920 --> 00:16:56,400 Speaker 4: you know, obviously the strikeout never speak crazy numbers for 336 00:16:56,880 --> 00:16:59,160 Speaker 4: Zach and but you got to credit Bryce Matthews in 337 00:16:59,160 --> 00:17:00,720 Speaker 4: the way he's done. I've got, you know, to watch 338 00:17:00,800 --> 00:17:03,440 Speaker 4: him play and be able to hit and forde some good, 339 00:17:03,560 --> 00:17:04,960 Speaker 4: good at bats together. 340 00:17:05,480 --> 00:17:09,479 Speaker 2: It's been fun to watch and you know, and in Florida, 341 00:17:09,560 --> 00:17:10,800 Speaker 2: it's it's a little different. 342 00:17:10,560 --> 00:17:12,480 Speaker 4: Than Arizona because like you could hit the you can 343 00:17:12,560 --> 00:17:15,040 Speaker 4: hit the ball round the barrel, hit it really good. 344 00:17:15,359 --> 00:17:17,800 Speaker 4: Especially where you're at Chandeler down there, you have seen 345 00:17:18,000 --> 00:17:20,359 Speaker 4: balls that just die that should have been four hundred 346 00:17:20,359 --> 00:17:23,560 Speaker 4: and ten foot homers. So if you're hitting the ball good, 347 00:17:23,560 --> 00:17:27,159 Speaker 4: that obviously takes gets gets noted by everybody around. But 348 00:17:27,600 --> 00:17:29,360 Speaker 4: when you look at what Matthews is doing, like he's 349 00:17:29,359 --> 00:17:31,639 Speaker 4: already so fluid fluid in the outfield, the way he 350 00:17:31,720 --> 00:17:33,280 Speaker 4: runs out there, the way he goes and gets the 351 00:17:33,280 --> 00:17:35,960 Speaker 4: ball and gets it in like and then you throw 352 00:17:36,000 --> 00:17:37,760 Speaker 4: on some great at bats, it's just shows that he's 353 00:17:37,760 --> 00:17:40,639 Speaker 4: making that next step he needs to to get that 354 00:17:40,720 --> 00:17:43,000 Speaker 4: starting job. And Zach Cole is just kind of stuck 355 00:17:43,000 --> 00:17:44,080 Speaker 4: in the sandpit right now. 356 00:17:44,960 --> 00:17:48,360 Speaker 3: Yeah, we say spring training stats do matter, and that's true, 357 00:17:48,400 --> 00:17:52,560 Speaker 3: but there's a difference between hitting one eighty running into 358 00:17:52,560 --> 00:17:55,120 Speaker 3: bad luck and you got a low bab it and 359 00:17:55,280 --> 00:17:59,720 Speaker 3: people are making catches or whatever and batting one eighty 360 00:17:59,760 --> 00:18:03,840 Speaker 3: with fifty strikeout rate. Because on the flip side, you 361 00:18:03,880 --> 00:18:07,600 Speaker 3: can talk about, oh, this guy's hitting four fifty or whatever, 362 00:18:07,720 --> 00:18:10,800 Speaker 3: and we talk about, well, sometimes you're facing double A 363 00:18:11,000 --> 00:18:15,160 Speaker 3: guys and you know, so sometimes it can get inflated, 364 00:18:15,320 --> 00:18:18,200 Speaker 3: and that's not necessarily true. But if you're starting out 365 00:18:18,200 --> 00:18:21,000 Speaker 3: fifty percent of the time and you're facing double A 366 00:18:21,080 --> 00:18:26,520 Speaker 3: guys sometimes too, like, that's that's concerning. And so I 367 00:18:26,520 --> 00:18:29,680 Speaker 3: think the bat is part of it. But I would 368 00:18:29,720 --> 00:18:34,880 Speaker 3: imagine Josh that just knowing that Matthews is good as 369 00:18:34,880 --> 00:18:39,080 Speaker 3: an outfielder, that's a bigger part of it than even 370 00:18:39,320 --> 00:18:41,880 Speaker 3: his bat. Right now, just knowing, Okay, he can't play 371 00:18:41,920 --> 00:18:44,800 Speaker 3: in the outfield, like he's an option out there. Zach 372 00:18:44,840 --> 00:18:49,199 Speaker 3: Cole hasn't looked great, So you're confident in him being 373 00:18:49,280 --> 00:18:53,400 Speaker 3: able to be an outfielder, which gives you the ability 374 00:18:54,280 --> 00:18:56,119 Speaker 3: to keep him on the roster because if he was 375 00:18:56,160 --> 00:18:59,600 Speaker 3: only a second baseman, there's just not room for him 376 00:18:59,800 --> 00:19:02,639 Speaker 3: on on this team. But the fact that he can 377 00:19:02,640 --> 00:19:05,439 Speaker 3: play the outfield means that he is a valuable piece 378 00:19:05,920 --> 00:19:07,040 Speaker 3: for the major league team. 379 00:19:07,400 --> 00:19:09,119 Speaker 4: Yeah, and it shows that if Joe trust him in 380 00:19:09,160 --> 00:19:11,639 Speaker 4: the corner, you know, that obviously shows it he's going 381 00:19:11,720 --> 00:19:13,119 Speaker 4: to be all right in all three. So if he's 382 00:19:13,119 --> 00:19:14,960 Speaker 4: out there getting his reps and left, that means he 383 00:19:15,000 --> 00:19:17,520 Speaker 4: can cover all three if needed when guys are not 384 00:19:17,600 --> 00:19:19,560 Speaker 4: swinging the bat, so that that's it be gives even 385 00:19:19,720 --> 00:19:21,840 Speaker 4: And if you need him at second base when you 386 00:19:21,880 --> 00:19:24,280 Speaker 4: know the nine hundred outfielders they have need a day off, 387 00:19:24,320 --> 00:19:25,960 Speaker 4: you just know you can throw him out there as well. 388 00:19:26,040 --> 00:19:28,960 Speaker 4: So it's kind of like having a mini Doobie running 389 00:19:29,000 --> 00:19:31,919 Speaker 4: around out there that doesn't play as many of the 390 00:19:31,920 --> 00:19:34,280 Speaker 4: positions that you might want him to, but it gives 391 00:19:34,320 --> 00:19:36,040 Speaker 4: him options to be able to run around in all 392 00:19:36,080 --> 00:19:38,479 Speaker 4: three of those spots and keep him in the lineup 393 00:19:38,480 --> 00:19:40,040 Speaker 4: whenever he can if he's hot. 394 00:19:41,560 --> 00:19:45,560 Speaker 1: When you look at maybe how this would work immediately, 395 00:19:45,720 --> 00:19:48,320 Speaker 1: if this were to happen, If if Bryce makes the 396 00:19:48,320 --> 00:19:51,480 Speaker 1: team and they send Za Cole to Triple A to 397 00:19:51,520 --> 00:19:54,400 Speaker 1: start the year, I would imagine that Joey that means 398 00:19:54,480 --> 00:19:58,000 Speaker 1: Joey Loperfido would make the team. The way I would 399 00:19:58,119 --> 00:20:00,400 Speaker 1: see it right now, just gone off perform. It's gone 400 00:20:00,400 --> 00:20:02,879 Speaker 1: off kind of what I've seen, what I'm hearing, what 401 00:20:02,960 --> 00:20:06,639 Speaker 1: I've looked at. The four guys that would seem the 402 00:20:06,680 --> 00:20:09,920 Speaker 1: most ready and ideal to put on the opening day 403 00:20:09,960 --> 00:20:13,760 Speaker 1: roster in the outfield would be Bryce Matthews, Jake Myers, 404 00:20:14,000 --> 00:20:17,920 Speaker 1: Cam Smith, and one of Taylor Tremmel or Joey lo Berfido. 405 00:20:19,160 --> 00:20:21,760 Speaker 1: Now you've heard Dana Brown say for three months now 406 00:20:21,760 --> 00:20:23,480 Speaker 1: that they need another left handed bat, they need another 407 00:20:23,520 --> 00:20:27,840 Speaker 1: left handed bat. In that iteration, only Trammel and low 408 00:20:27,880 --> 00:20:30,800 Speaker 1: berfdo hit left handed. So you really, if you're only 409 00:20:30,800 --> 00:20:32,320 Speaker 1: going to carry one of those guys, you only be 410 00:20:32,359 --> 00:20:38,359 Speaker 1: carrying one. The Astros would probably face at least three 411 00:20:38,440 --> 00:20:41,800 Speaker 1: left handed starting pitchers in that first homestand they're gonna 412 00:20:41,800 --> 00:20:44,880 Speaker 1: face Kokuchi at some point with the Angels. The Red 413 00:20:44,920 --> 00:20:49,360 Speaker 1: Sox announced today that both Ranger Suarez and Garrett Prochet 414 00:20:49,480 --> 00:20:51,639 Speaker 1: are going to pitch in that series in Houston, So 415 00:20:52,080 --> 00:20:55,960 Speaker 1: there's three lefties right there. If reed Debt Meurs starts 416 00:20:56,000 --> 00:20:57,800 Speaker 1: a game for the Angels in that opening series, that 417 00:20:57,840 --> 00:21:00,000 Speaker 1: could be a fourth lefty. So you could face four 418 00:21:00,160 --> 00:21:02,080 Speaker 1: left handed starters and in the first seven games of 419 00:21:02,080 --> 00:21:03,840 Speaker 1: the year, which means Bryce Matthews would get a lot 420 00:21:03,880 --> 00:21:06,840 Speaker 1: of run out in left field, you could, you know, 421 00:21:06,920 --> 00:21:08,840 Speaker 1: get that extra right handed bat in there and be 422 00:21:08,920 --> 00:21:12,680 Speaker 1: pretty good. That would also kind of alleviate the you know, 423 00:21:12,800 --> 00:21:15,360 Speaker 1: Joe Espada has been so adamant since he took over 424 00:21:15,400 --> 00:21:18,280 Speaker 1: this job that if he's going to carry a prospect, 425 00:21:18,320 --> 00:21:22,439 Speaker 1: they're better be regular at bats for him. Bryce that 426 00:21:23,040 --> 00:21:25,080 Speaker 1: I think playing four out of the first seven games 427 00:21:25,080 --> 00:21:27,679 Speaker 1: against a left handed starter would qualify as regular at 428 00:21:27,720 --> 00:21:30,439 Speaker 1: bats for Bryce Matthews. And then you know, after that, 429 00:21:30,560 --> 00:21:32,399 Speaker 1: if if Payne is going to come back, if he 430 00:21:32,480 --> 00:21:34,119 Speaker 1: starts the year on the IL, then you can kind 431 00:21:34,119 --> 00:21:36,560 Speaker 1: of make the decision as to what's best and you'll 432 00:21:36,560 --> 00:21:38,679 Speaker 1: have seven eight games of sample size by then you 433 00:21:38,720 --> 00:21:40,760 Speaker 1: can look and see what Bryce Matthews has done. But 434 00:21:41,160 --> 00:21:43,720 Speaker 1: I think it could work, especially for that first year, 435 00:21:43,880 --> 00:21:46,320 Speaker 1: that first home stand of the year, when you could 436 00:21:46,359 --> 00:21:48,560 Speaker 1: have a lot of lefty starters out there facing this 437 00:21:48,680 --> 00:21:51,520 Speaker 1: team and you know they're still in that they're still 438 00:21:51,560 --> 00:21:53,159 Speaker 1: on the hunt for a left handed bat. Do not 439 00:21:53,200 --> 00:21:56,960 Speaker 1: get me wrong, Dana Brown is still very much blowing 440 00:21:57,080 --> 00:22:00,240 Speaker 1: other teams up. He's blowing agents up that are you know, 441 00:22:00,359 --> 00:22:03,919 Speaker 1: guys are getting cut from other clubs, Guys are, you know, 442 00:22:04,040 --> 00:22:07,240 Speaker 1: exercising opt outs in certain minor league deals. They want 443 00:22:07,240 --> 00:22:09,080 Speaker 1: to get another left handed bat in here, and if 444 00:22:09,080 --> 00:22:12,720 Speaker 1: they do that, maybe this calculation changes. But for the 445 00:22:12,760 --> 00:22:15,159 Speaker 1: players I have in camp right now, that to me, 446 00:22:16,320 --> 00:22:18,520 Speaker 1: given what I've seen and given kind of what the 447 00:22:18,520 --> 00:22:20,760 Speaker 1: parameters have been laid out for the six weeks here, 448 00:22:21,119 --> 00:22:24,520 Speaker 1: that seems like the most ideal for man outfield. And 449 00:22:24,520 --> 00:22:26,400 Speaker 1: I don't know if you guys agree. I know it's 450 00:22:26,480 --> 00:22:28,159 Speaker 1: very right handed heavy, and I know it's gonna put 451 00:22:28,160 --> 00:22:30,440 Speaker 1: a lot of pressure on Jordan Alvarez as the only 452 00:22:30,480 --> 00:22:32,240 Speaker 1: left handed hitter in that lineup, But these are the 453 00:22:32,280 --> 00:22:33,480 Speaker 1: guys that are performing the best. 454 00:22:34,160 --> 00:22:37,160 Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, I mean, you you run your best guys 455 00:22:37,160 --> 00:22:37,679 Speaker 3: out there. 456 00:22:38,359 --> 00:22:38,560 Speaker 1: You know. 457 00:22:38,640 --> 00:22:43,200 Speaker 3: Again, obviously you want to have some flexibility there. But look, 458 00:22:43,200 --> 00:22:45,200 Speaker 3: if if those are the guys that are hitting, that's 459 00:22:45,359 --> 00:22:47,320 Speaker 3: that's gonna be the ones that you're carrying right now. 460 00:22:49,080 --> 00:22:54,680 Speaker 1: Simply, Josh, Josh, you mentioned earlier about spring training stats 461 00:22:55,040 --> 00:22:59,160 Speaker 1: and they don't mean the same for everybody. So we're 462 00:22:59,160 --> 00:23:01,560 Speaker 1: gonna we're going to go to two guys that are 463 00:23:01,600 --> 00:23:03,680 Speaker 1: not the same as everybody. We're gonna go to Jose 464 00:23:03,720 --> 00:23:07,359 Speaker 1: al Tuovay and you, Christian Walker, both guys that have 465 00:23:07,440 --> 00:23:09,800 Speaker 1: been in this league a very long time that spring 466 00:23:09,880 --> 00:23:13,480 Speaker 1: training is not a time where you are monitoring their results. 467 00:23:14,040 --> 00:23:16,000 Speaker 1: Spring training is a time where they're just getting their 468 00:23:16,119 --> 00:23:20,400 Speaker 1: timing back. They are working on things, they are tracking pitches. 469 00:23:20,480 --> 00:23:23,439 Speaker 1: They're not approaching at bats like they would approach at 470 00:23:23,440 --> 00:23:26,480 Speaker 1: bats in the regular season. However, Jose al Tuove enters 471 00:23:26,520 --> 00:23:29,280 Speaker 1: to enters Tonight's Great Fruit League game four for thirty 472 00:23:29,280 --> 00:23:32,719 Speaker 1: four in Great Fruit League play with twelve strikeouts. Christian 473 00:23:32,720 --> 00:23:37,160 Speaker 1: Walker is three for thirty two with nine strikeouts. I think, 474 00:23:37,200 --> 00:23:41,520 Speaker 1: for very different reasons. Both of those statistics send some 475 00:23:41,600 --> 00:23:46,520 Speaker 1: panic buttons among people. What say you, Josh, Christian Walker 476 00:23:46,560 --> 00:23:49,160 Speaker 1: and Jose al Tuova aren't hitting in Great Fruit League play? 477 00:23:49,400 --> 00:23:52,600 Speaker 1: Is there reason? Two? Is there a reason to be concerned. 478 00:23:52,920 --> 00:23:53,640 Speaker 2: With josel two? 479 00:23:53,880 --> 00:23:55,639 Speaker 4: No, I mean you look at I mean, if you 480 00:23:55,640 --> 00:23:58,280 Speaker 4: could look of his career stats in spring training, and 481 00:23:58,280 --> 00:23:59,080 Speaker 4: he'll be the ones to tay. 482 00:23:59,160 --> 00:24:02,840 Speaker 2: I think it's a lot under two hundred. I'm pretty sure. 483 00:24:02,720 --> 00:24:06,240 Speaker 4: He's just a very very bad spring training hitter, and 484 00:24:06,280 --> 00:24:08,080 Speaker 4: he's a Hall of Fame player, So for him, I'm 485 00:24:08,160 --> 00:24:10,080 Speaker 4: shoving it right out the door with the broomstick. 486 00:24:11,359 --> 00:24:13,280 Speaker 2: Christian Walker becomes a little bit more of a focus 487 00:24:13,359 --> 00:24:14,720 Speaker 2: because of his last year. 488 00:24:15,200 --> 00:24:17,200 Speaker 4: I don't know how he's performed in the past and 489 00:24:17,280 --> 00:24:18,920 Speaker 4: spring training or if it takes him a while to 490 00:24:18,920 --> 00:24:23,200 Speaker 4: get going. I just don't have that in my memory 491 00:24:23,280 --> 00:24:25,280 Speaker 4: or my brain to know. But it is a little 492 00:24:25,280 --> 00:24:27,159 Speaker 4: more concerning when he didn't do as well as he 493 00:24:27,200 --> 00:24:31,280 Speaker 4: did coming over last year, so and just the struggles continue. 494 00:24:31,320 --> 00:24:33,119 Speaker 4: It's just so hard when you can when you've got 495 00:24:33,160 --> 00:24:35,200 Speaker 4: a guy that's struggling, and he continues to struggle even 496 00:24:35,240 --> 00:24:37,000 Speaker 4: the next season, it really is kind of hard to 497 00:24:37,000 --> 00:24:41,880 Speaker 4: get behind him. I really love what he's doing with 498 00:24:41,960 --> 00:24:44,720 Speaker 4: two strikes. I don't know what he's doing now before 499 00:24:44,760 --> 00:24:47,080 Speaker 4: two strikes, but he was doing his normal little leg kick, 500 00:24:48,200 --> 00:24:49,800 Speaker 4: and then once he got two strikes, he'd kind of 501 00:24:49,800 --> 00:24:52,960 Speaker 4: do like a little tour role which is what Otani does, 502 00:24:53,000 --> 00:24:55,320 Speaker 4: and still leans into his body, and he was on 503 00:24:55,480 --> 00:24:56,359 Speaker 4: time for everything and. 504 00:24:56,400 --> 00:24:57,760 Speaker 2: Hitting the ball in the barrel a lot. 505 00:24:57,840 --> 00:25:01,240 Speaker 4: But I just I don't know how to approach Christian 506 00:25:01,359 --> 00:25:03,040 Speaker 4: like that, like if he was a younger kid. Obviously, 507 00:25:03,080 --> 00:25:04,800 Speaker 4: I like, hey, man, like, what do you got on 508 00:25:04,840 --> 00:25:05,760 Speaker 4: your two strike approach? 509 00:25:05,800 --> 00:25:06,680 Speaker 2: I love it. I just don't. 510 00:25:06,800 --> 00:25:10,159 Speaker 4: Christian's so hard to read for me at least, like 511 00:25:10,200 --> 00:25:11,840 Speaker 4: and I just don't want to feel like I'm overstepping 512 00:25:11,840 --> 00:25:13,919 Speaker 4: boundaries because as you know Chandler, there's guys that just 513 00:25:13,920 --> 00:25:16,560 Speaker 4: don't want to be talked to about it. And I 514 00:25:16,640 --> 00:25:18,440 Speaker 4: just don't know what to do about that, because I 515 00:25:18,440 --> 00:25:21,040 Speaker 4: feel like he could do that and get away with 516 00:25:21,080 --> 00:25:25,200 Speaker 4: it and be completely fun fine, because I mean, he's 517 00:25:25,240 --> 00:25:28,240 Speaker 4: got so much power, he's not losing anything, and everything 518 00:25:28,240 --> 00:25:29,080 Speaker 4: seemed to be on time. 519 00:25:29,160 --> 00:25:32,000 Speaker 2: He's recognized a lot better if he's playing night watch 520 00:25:32,000 --> 00:25:32,360 Speaker 2: it Channer. 521 00:25:32,400 --> 00:25:34,200 Speaker 4: Watch what he does pre two strikes and he gets 522 00:25:34,200 --> 00:25:37,000 Speaker 4: to two strike, that stride becomes a lot shorter, everything 523 00:25:37,000 --> 00:25:38,800 Speaker 4: looks more compact, and he looks like a big league 524 00:25:38,840 --> 00:25:41,960 Speaker 4: hitter again. So I'd like to see him go to that, Christian, 525 00:25:42,080 --> 00:25:48,040 Speaker 4: if you're listening, probably not maybe, Whoever, if you know him, say, 526 00:25:48,040 --> 00:25:49,240 Speaker 4: hey heard Josh mention. 527 00:25:49,359 --> 00:25:51,000 Speaker 2: This just throwing it out there. 528 00:25:52,680 --> 00:25:59,280 Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean spring training stats again are not important, 529 00:25:59,320 --> 00:26:01,800 Speaker 3: and they're especially important for guys that have their roster 530 00:26:01,920 --> 00:26:05,440 Speaker 3: spot secured, like they're those guys are in the opening 531 00:26:05,520 --> 00:26:09,320 Speaker 3: day lineup and they're gonna be playing every day and 532 00:26:09,359 --> 00:26:12,000 Speaker 3: that's when you got to make the decisions of how 533 00:26:12,040 --> 00:26:14,400 Speaker 3: this looks, you know. I mean, al two, they could 534 00:26:14,400 --> 00:26:17,840 Speaker 3: go over in spring training and I'm not gonna get 535 00:26:17,840 --> 00:26:21,320 Speaker 3: concerned until that starts happening in the regular season. So 536 00:26:21,440 --> 00:26:23,720 Speaker 3: with both of these guys, like, yeah, you want them 537 00:26:23,920 --> 00:26:27,119 Speaker 3: hitting better, but like, what what are you gonna do? 538 00:26:27,520 --> 00:26:29,680 Speaker 3: Those are the guys that are starting on your team. 539 00:26:29,720 --> 00:26:32,359 Speaker 3: They're gonna be in the lineup, and then you'll have 540 00:26:32,400 --> 00:26:34,840 Speaker 3: to adjust once the actual season starts. 541 00:26:35,720 --> 00:26:37,600 Speaker 4: Those guys know what they need to do in spring 542 00:26:37,680 --> 00:26:39,800 Speaker 4: training for the month to get ready for opening day. 543 00:26:39,840 --> 00:26:42,560 Speaker 2: Like you know, it's not a result driven from them. 544 00:26:42,640 --> 00:26:45,920 Speaker 4: Is my body ready As long as I'm timing up everything, 545 00:26:46,359 --> 00:26:48,640 Speaker 4: then I'm ready to step in the box against anybody 546 00:26:48,680 --> 00:26:51,920 Speaker 4: on opening night. So that's all they're there for spring 547 00:26:51,960 --> 00:26:54,400 Speaker 4: trainings for pitchers anyway. It's never for the hitters. We're 548 00:26:54,400 --> 00:26:56,800 Speaker 4: just here to occupy their time so they're ready. 549 00:26:56,600 --> 00:26:57,159 Speaker 2: For the season. 550 00:26:58,440 --> 00:27:01,800 Speaker 1: Jose Altuve had a six ninety seven OPS and twenty 551 00:27:01,800 --> 00:27:04,520 Speaker 1: twenty one spring training, he had a five ninety eight 552 00:27:04,560 --> 00:27:08,280 Speaker 1: OPS and last spring training he had a six eighteen 553 00:27:08,320 --> 00:27:12,720 Speaker 1: OPS in twenty fourteen spring training. Yeah, he's not I 554 00:27:12,720 --> 00:27:18,359 Speaker 1: mean again he's this is not I understand that there's 555 00:27:18,960 --> 00:27:22,280 Speaker 1: so little else to grasp onto. This is all we 556 00:27:22,320 --> 00:27:25,480 Speaker 1: have to go on. So I understand why there are 557 00:27:25,520 --> 00:27:27,720 Speaker 1: fans and there are people that read too much into 558 00:27:27,760 --> 00:27:29,720 Speaker 1: these stats because we have nothing else, like this is 559 00:27:29,760 --> 00:27:32,439 Speaker 1: what we have to go on. But and you know 560 00:27:32,680 --> 00:27:35,520 Speaker 1: the way last year ended and the way the offense 561 00:27:35,760 --> 00:27:38,359 Speaker 1: sputtered last year, I think certainly plays a part in 562 00:27:38,440 --> 00:27:42,000 Speaker 1: that as well. But I'm not I Josel twov is 563 00:27:42,000 --> 00:27:45,720 Speaker 1: the last person I'd worry about Christian Walker. I get 564 00:27:45,760 --> 00:27:48,840 Speaker 1: the skepticism, but this is a guy that Joshua alluded 565 00:27:48,880 --> 00:27:51,080 Speaker 1: to it, like he said at the beginning of camp, 566 00:27:51,240 --> 00:27:54,240 Speaker 1: Like when he did his intro interview at the beginning 567 00:27:54,240 --> 00:27:56,360 Speaker 1: of camp, he told us like, yeah, I'm gonna work 568 00:27:56,359 --> 00:27:58,719 Speaker 1: on some stuff. I'm going to work on some timing things. 569 00:27:58,960 --> 00:28:01,320 Speaker 1: I'm an experiment with a tap, I'm an experiment with 570 00:28:01,359 --> 00:28:04,359 Speaker 1: a leg kick. Like these guys change what they're doing 571 00:28:04,760 --> 00:28:07,840 Speaker 1: and also want to I want to reemphasize this, and 572 00:28:07,920 --> 00:28:10,640 Speaker 1: josh you know this better than anybody. What you see 573 00:28:10,680 --> 00:28:14,040 Speaker 1: in Grapefruit League play that is nowhere near the extent 574 00:28:14,080 --> 00:28:16,560 Speaker 1: of at bats these guys are taking either Christian Walker 575 00:28:16,600 --> 00:28:19,680 Speaker 1: goes on a backfield and can face a minor league kid, 576 00:28:20,000 --> 00:28:21,840 Speaker 1: and just so he can work on some stuff. You know, 577 00:28:22,280 --> 00:28:25,640 Speaker 1: he's in live VP's working on things like the fifty 578 00:28:25,720 --> 00:28:28,120 Speaker 1: or so at bats that get put on MLB dot 579 00:28:28,160 --> 00:28:32,000 Speaker 1: com under the stats page, or the four or five 580 00:28:32,040 --> 00:28:35,119 Speaker 1: at bats you get to see whenever Space City Home 581 00:28:35,160 --> 00:28:37,320 Speaker 1: Network Air is a great Fruit League game like that 582 00:28:37,560 --> 00:28:39,680 Speaker 1: does not even begin to describe how many at bats 583 00:28:39,680 --> 00:28:42,120 Speaker 1: these guys taking camp and how much they are working 584 00:28:42,200 --> 00:28:45,800 Speaker 1: on different things. So be careful what you read. I understand. 585 00:28:45,840 --> 00:28:48,360 Speaker 1: The numbers are the numbers, and I get it. If 586 00:28:48,480 --> 00:28:51,760 Speaker 1: Christian Walker on this first seven game homestand for the 587 00:28:51,800 --> 00:28:54,720 Speaker 1: Astros doesn't perform, everyone's going to look at the spring 588 00:28:54,720 --> 00:28:56,560 Speaker 1: training numbers and say, I told you so. I told 589 00:28:56,600 --> 00:29:01,680 Speaker 1: you so. But that's not really how it works. But 590 00:29:01,960 --> 00:29:03,560 Speaker 1: I understand the skepticism. 591 00:29:03,600 --> 00:29:06,560 Speaker 2: I guess put it in the mail bag. We'll answer 592 00:29:06,600 --> 00:29:07,400 Speaker 2: your questions later. 593 00:29:09,080 --> 00:29:12,880 Speaker 1: We'll talk about how about Team Venezuela, how about omar. 594 00:29:12,760 --> 00:29:13,360 Speaker 2: Rest of them? 595 00:29:13,640 --> 00:29:17,320 Speaker 4: Congress to him, that's so awesome for him. Yeah, Team USA, 596 00:29:17,520 --> 00:29:21,000 Speaker 4: you blew it. Congratulations to those guys. 597 00:29:21,040 --> 00:29:22,040 Speaker 2: We know how cool and. 598 00:29:22,040 --> 00:29:24,560 Speaker 4: Awesome that must have been for them and for you know, 599 00:29:24,760 --> 00:29:26,680 Speaker 4: Omar to come back to the clubhouse and be like 600 00:29:26,680 --> 00:29:29,920 Speaker 4: hey guys, and no only not just you know how 601 00:29:29,920 --> 00:29:34,960 Speaker 4: happy hosey ou tuve must be like ha ha. 602 00:29:33,360 --> 00:29:37,880 Speaker 1: Ha do you Brocamani? Jab here Brockamani too? 603 00:29:38,280 --> 00:29:41,440 Speaker 2: Yep, Brocco. So yeah, all great, this is a great 604 00:29:41,480 --> 00:29:42,920 Speaker 2: tournament and happy for him. 605 00:29:43,120 --> 00:29:47,400 Speaker 3: As I was watching Venezuela celebrate knowing that I'll two 606 00:29:47,480 --> 00:29:52,120 Speaker 3: bays and street close in the stands. H Josh, you 607 00:29:52,160 --> 00:29:55,600 Speaker 3: said how happy he's feeling, I would imagine that that 608 00:29:55,760 --> 00:29:59,640 Speaker 3: is most of what he is feeling. I am a 609 00:30:00,240 --> 00:30:04,080 Speaker 3: nearly is evolved, I guess, because my first thought is 610 00:30:04,760 --> 00:30:07,720 Speaker 3: I would be so mad if I were sitting in 611 00:30:07,760 --> 00:30:13,600 Speaker 3: the stands watching my country and and these guys that 612 00:30:13,760 --> 00:30:18,120 Speaker 3: grew up idolizing me, Like and I'm still able to play, 613 00:30:18,160 --> 00:30:21,280 Speaker 3: Like he's not forty five sitting in the sae. He's 614 00:30:21,280 --> 00:30:25,360 Speaker 3: gonna play this year against these people. Is there any 615 00:30:25,480 --> 00:30:30,520 Speaker 3: scenario where he is like harboring resentment? Is he upset 616 00:30:30,600 --> 00:30:33,520 Speaker 3: at all to not be in that like yeah, well. 617 00:30:33,600 --> 00:30:37,840 Speaker 4: Absolutely, yeah, I'm I'm with you there because when you 618 00:30:37,880 --> 00:30:40,840 Speaker 4: flip side about it, yeah, like I should be out 619 00:30:40,840 --> 00:30:43,040 Speaker 4: there with those guys. So yeah, I guarantee there's plenty 620 00:30:43,120 --> 00:30:48,080 Speaker 4: of resentment and pissed off his in his mind and body. 621 00:30:48,120 --> 00:30:52,080 Speaker 4: I mean yeah, like you're like get you're there and 622 00:30:52,080 --> 00:30:53,640 Speaker 4: you're watching him. That'll be his last one. 623 00:30:53,680 --> 00:30:57,040 Speaker 1: So yeah, he'll never say it out loud. He'll never 624 00:30:57,040 --> 00:31:00,560 Speaker 1: say it. I think deep down and I think there 625 00:31:00,600 --> 00:31:02,320 Speaker 1: have to be some of that, like there had like 626 00:31:02,880 --> 00:31:04,360 Speaker 1: for lack of a better word, there has to be 627 00:31:04,360 --> 00:31:07,520 Speaker 1: some fomo right, like like you can be there, like 628 00:31:07,560 --> 00:31:10,280 Speaker 1: it's great to be there, but like and he I 629 00:31:10,320 --> 00:31:13,640 Speaker 1: mean Omar, Omar Lopez. He talked to us yesterday when 630 00:31:13,640 --> 00:31:17,520 Speaker 1: he got back wearing a championship hat and wearing his 631 00:31:17,600 --> 00:31:23,520 Speaker 1: gold medal. He got as he should, but he said 632 00:31:23,680 --> 00:31:25,840 Speaker 1: when he went out to exchange the lineup cards with 633 00:31:25,880 --> 00:31:30,360 Speaker 1: Mark Duroso before before the final, he walked back to 634 00:31:30,440 --> 00:31:33,280 Speaker 1: the dugout and al two Vea seats were. I mean, 635 00:31:33,280 --> 00:31:35,040 Speaker 1: if you watched on TV, you saw where al tuve 636 00:31:35,240 --> 00:31:37,800 Speaker 1: was sitting. He was sitting like two rows up behind 637 00:31:37,800 --> 00:31:39,640 Speaker 1: the left handed batter's box and that was right by 638 00:31:39,720 --> 00:31:43,960 Speaker 1: Venezuela's dugout, and Omar said after he finished exchanging lineup cards, 639 00:31:43,960 --> 00:31:46,120 Speaker 1: he walked back to the dugout. He caught eyes with 640 00:31:46,160 --> 00:31:47,800 Speaker 1: al Tuove and he said, al Tuo just gave him 641 00:31:47,800 --> 00:31:49,640 Speaker 1: one of these like hit him, hit his chest and 642 00:31:49,720 --> 00:31:51,840 Speaker 1: kind of pointed to him, and he said that that 643 00:31:51,960 --> 00:31:54,520 Speaker 1: kind of helped focus him and center him a little bit, 644 00:31:54,520 --> 00:31:59,880 Speaker 1: and then obviously what happened happened. I think this could 645 00:31:59,880 --> 00:32:02,440 Speaker 1: be a hot take. I don't know. I think if 646 00:32:02,480 --> 00:32:07,280 Speaker 1: you if you are anti WBC, I don't know how you. 647 00:32:07,480 --> 00:32:10,680 Speaker 1: I don't know how you watched not even just the 648 00:32:10,760 --> 00:32:14,480 Speaker 1: championship game, but everything from pool play to the quarter 649 00:32:14,600 --> 00:32:17,280 Speaker 1: semis and the champion I don't know how you watched 650 00:32:17,280 --> 00:32:22,400 Speaker 1: this and came out of it still anti WBC like I. 651 00:32:22,480 --> 00:32:25,480 Speaker 1: And I'm sure there will be people that comment, Please 652 00:32:25,520 --> 00:32:27,719 Speaker 1: comment in the YouTube comment section. It really helps us. 653 00:32:27,760 --> 00:32:29,360 Speaker 1: But I'm sure there will be people that tell me 654 00:32:29,400 --> 00:32:32,360 Speaker 1: why they're still ANTIWBC. I cannot, for the life of 655 00:32:32,400 --> 00:32:36,040 Speaker 1: me figure it out, because that was that was as 656 00:32:36,080 --> 00:32:40,200 Speaker 1: compelling and as exciting and as just a fun two 657 00:32:40,200 --> 00:32:42,280 Speaker 1: and a half weeks as baseball has had in a 658 00:32:42,400 --> 00:32:43,040 Speaker 1: very long time. 659 00:32:43,360 --> 00:32:46,000 Speaker 4: And I'll go ahead and tell you this, don't even 660 00:32:46,000 --> 00:32:48,360 Speaker 4: think about typing well. I don't want my players to 661 00:32:48,400 --> 00:32:51,720 Speaker 4: get hurt because we're going to delete those emails and 662 00:32:51,760 --> 00:32:54,960 Speaker 4: those comments, or I'll go in after you and comment 663 00:32:55,000 --> 00:32:56,440 Speaker 4: on them as well. We don't want to hear that 664 00:32:56,560 --> 00:32:58,920 Speaker 4: because as not what that's about. So if you can 665 00:32:58,920 --> 00:33:00,960 Speaker 4: find another reason, let's hear it. 666 00:33:01,000 --> 00:33:03,960 Speaker 3: But yeah, Bennett's SUSA got hurt playing in a Great 667 00:33:04,040 --> 00:33:08,000 Speaker 3: Fruit League game. Like people get hurt, It just happens. 668 00:33:08,080 --> 00:33:11,680 Speaker 3: The intensity of it, you know, I don't think that 669 00:33:12,240 --> 00:33:17,120 Speaker 3: changes things too much. But the reason that I think 670 00:33:17,160 --> 00:33:22,960 Speaker 3: anyone would be more pessimistic about the WBC is because 671 00:33:23,360 --> 00:33:27,960 Speaker 3: your American and baseball is American, or you know, at 672 00:33:28,080 --> 00:33:32,600 Speaker 3: least started and and so it doesn't mean as much 673 00:33:32,960 --> 00:33:36,760 Speaker 3: to you, I guess because you just this is just here. 674 00:33:36,960 --> 00:33:38,760 Speaker 3: I mean, think about these Think about what this means 675 00:33:38,840 --> 00:33:40,680 Speaker 3: to Venezuela. Did you see the video of the guy 676 00:33:40,720 --> 00:33:43,840 Speaker 3: watching it on like the tiny little like five inch 677 00:33:43,960 --> 00:33:47,400 Speaker 3: screen on a chair in the street, and like this 678 00:33:47,600 --> 00:33:51,080 Speaker 3: means the world to these kinds. It was huge. I 679 00:33:51,120 --> 00:33:55,440 Speaker 3: saw the the ratings of the final were higher than 680 00:33:55,920 --> 00:33:58,520 Speaker 3: like the average of the last NBA finals, Like this 681 00:33:58,600 --> 00:34:01,479 Speaker 3: is this is mass that people are really into it 682 00:34:01,520 --> 00:34:05,520 Speaker 3: and it means so much to these players. You see 683 00:34:05,520 --> 00:34:08,200 Speaker 3: the what was the closer's name for Venezuela. As you 684 00:34:08,200 --> 00:34:13,320 Speaker 3: see him like, yeah, tear up before throwing a hundred 685 00:34:13,520 --> 00:34:16,160 Speaker 3: past uh pass them at the end. I mean, yeah, 686 00:34:16,200 --> 00:34:18,319 Speaker 3: it's it's awesome. I can't wait for the next one. 687 00:34:18,440 --> 00:34:22,440 Speaker 3: I hope it continues to grow. Uh, it's it's so fun. 688 00:34:23,120 --> 00:34:25,120 Speaker 4: I like how you said that, because baseball is more 689 00:34:25,200 --> 00:34:28,359 Speaker 4: like a luxury for us, right, it's for them. Like 690 00:34:28,440 --> 00:34:30,880 Speaker 4: that's that's a whole life changing experience for them to 691 00:34:30,920 --> 00:34:32,879 Speaker 4: just be able to watch their guys play in that game. 692 00:34:32,960 --> 00:34:36,120 Speaker 4: So like, yeah, it surely shows the differences in culture. 693 00:34:36,239 --> 00:34:39,440 Speaker 4: Like per example, like when I when I did when 694 00:34:39,440 --> 00:34:41,239 Speaker 4: I went to Mexico game, did all that, Like the 695 00:34:41,360 --> 00:34:42,560 Speaker 4: kid there was a little I think it was like 696 00:34:42,640 --> 00:34:45,759 Speaker 4: ten twelve year old kids sung me both anthems, and 697 00:34:45,800 --> 00:34:47,319 Speaker 4: I was talking to my buddy, I said, man, it's 698 00:34:47,360 --> 00:34:49,799 Speaker 4: crazy how much different the culture is here, because you know, 699 00:34:50,200 --> 00:34:52,759 Speaker 4: all the Mexico fans were just screaming at the top 700 00:34:52,800 --> 00:34:55,279 Speaker 4: of their lungs their anthem and. 701 00:34:55,320 --> 00:34:55,880 Speaker 2: It was awesome. 702 00:34:55,920 --> 00:34:57,520 Speaker 4: And then you know all the Americans are just pitched 703 00:34:57,560 --> 00:35:00,680 Speaker 4: silent to the end and then like bottom top of the. 704 00:35:00,560 --> 00:35:03,040 Speaker 2: First it's just round or loud loud, loud noise. 705 00:35:03,080 --> 00:35:06,160 Speaker 4: When Mexico's hitting, Aaron Judge walks to the plate, my 706 00:35:06,239 --> 00:35:08,239 Speaker 4: man's getting booed, and then he hits a homer and 707 00:35:08,239 --> 00:35:11,120 Speaker 4: everybody's cheering, and it's just like, it's crazy, the different 708 00:35:11,120 --> 00:35:13,640 Speaker 4: way of looking at sports, and especially baseball. 709 00:35:14,400 --> 00:35:17,880 Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, I think it demonstrated just how different baseball 710 00:35:17,920 --> 00:35:21,040 Speaker 1: culture is every And this is not a bad I'm not. 711 00:35:21,120 --> 00:35:23,920 Speaker 1: It's not a pejorative thing about American baseball culture. But 712 00:35:24,480 --> 00:35:29,160 Speaker 1: American baseball culture by and large is very buttoned up. 713 00:35:29,600 --> 00:35:33,600 Speaker 1: It's very hierarchical. It's very like you earn your place, 714 00:35:33,760 --> 00:35:36,720 Speaker 1: like you earn your place, and they're unlike the unwritten 715 00:35:36,800 --> 00:35:39,760 Speaker 1: rules have kind of gone away, but again, American baseball 716 00:35:39,760 --> 00:35:42,839 Speaker 1: culture was kind of founded on unwritten rules of like 717 00:35:42,960 --> 00:35:46,120 Speaker 1: you you play this way, you respect the game. You 718 00:35:46,400 --> 00:35:48,600 Speaker 1: And look, I'm not sitting here saying that other countries 719 00:35:48,600 --> 00:35:50,680 Speaker 1: don't respect the game, but they just they play with 720 00:35:50,760 --> 00:35:53,520 Speaker 1: more flair like and that is their culture. They play 721 00:35:53,560 --> 00:35:56,840 Speaker 1: with more excitement, they play with more just palpable passion. 722 00:35:56,880 --> 00:35:59,239 Speaker 1: And I'm not sitting here saying that Team USA did 723 00:35:59,280 --> 00:36:02,560 Speaker 1: not have passion. Did won't get me wrong, but just 724 00:36:03,120 --> 00:36:08,239 Speaker 1: American baseball culture, you kind of almost discouraged from showing it, 725 00:36:08,680 --> 00:36:10,719 Speaker 1: from showing it publicly. 726 00:36:10,600 --> 00:36:12,680 Speaker 2: And fifteen years ago you couldn't. 727 00:36:12,920 --> 00:36:15,120 Speaker 4: Like when I first came in, it was literally like 728 00:36:15,160 --> 00:36:18,239 Speaker 4: if you hit a big homer, everybody wouldn't freaking out. 729 00:36:18,239 --> 00:36:20,279 Speaker 4: We were excited, but we weren't like all twelve of 730 00:36:20,360 --> 00:36:24,000 Speaker 4: us on the field jumping around. It was like, okay, 731 00:36:24,000 --> 00:36:25,640 Speaker 4: but if you got like a go ahead double in 732 00:36:25,680 --> 00:36:28,840 Speaker 4: the fourth, like all right, here we go, good jobs. 733 00:36:28,920 --> 00:36:29,279 Speaker 2: Move on. 734 00:36:30,480 --> 00:36:32,680 Speaker 4: Now now you're hitting go ahead noll go ahead homers 735 00:36:32,680 --> 00:36:35,120 Speaker 4: in the second, and you're taking fourteen seconds to get 736 00:36:35,120 --> 00:36:36,080 Speaker 4: halfway to first base. 737 00:36:37,280 --> 00:36:39,000 Speaker 3: If I took a if I hit a home run, 738 00:36:39,080 --> 00:36:41,480 Speaker 3: I would never come off the field. I would I 739 00:36:41,480 --> 00:36:45,359 Speaker 3: would crawl my way around the bases. So I do 740 00:36:45,440 --> 00:36:46,480 Speaker 3: not blame anybody. 741 00:36:46,840 --> 00:36:49,560 Speaker 2: That's only acceptable for walkoffs, walk off homers. You can 742 00:36:49,600 --> 00:36:51,600 Speaker 2: do whatever you want. Game's over. If you want to 743 00:36:54,000 --> 00:36:56,359 Speaker 2: cartwheel around those bases, go for it. 744 00:36:56,880 --> 00:37:00,000 Speaker 4: But we're doing all this dancing and football two Stone, 745 00:37:00,000 --> 00:37:02,239 Speaker 4: I've been around third basem. We're getting too far down 746 00:37:02,239 --> 00:37:03,520 Speaker 4: that rabbit hole, Chandler, and move on. 747 00:37:03,600 --> 00:37:07,000 Speaker 1: Please, Well, I wasn't planning to do this. I'm gonna 748 00:37:07,000 --> 00:37:09,480 Speaker 1: make I'm gonna let's see if it works. Follow on YouTube. 749 00:37:09,480 --> 00:37:12,800 Speaker 1: But this was yesterday at the Astros spring training complex. 750 00:37:14,200 --> 00:37:17,520 Speaker 1: If you can see this video, it's Omar Lopez and 751 00:37:17,800 --> 00:37:21,799 Speaker 1: Mets manager Carlos Mendoza. And if you go watch this 752 00:37:21,960 --> 00:37:23,680 Speaker 1: video on X like I'm showing it to you if 753 00:37:23,680 --> 00:37:26,640 Speaker 1: you're watching on YouTube, but Carlos Mendoza is like sobbing 754 00:37:27,400 --> 00:37:31,160 Speaker 1: in Omar Lopez's arms, just about how proud he was 755 00:37:31,320 --> 00:37:37,319 Speaker 1: of watching team Venezuela win the WBC. Carlos Mendoza was 756 00:37:37,360 --> 00:37:40,480 Speaker 1: Omar Lopez's bench coach in the twenty twenty three WBC, 757 00:37:41,080 --> 00:37:43,960 Speaker 1: but now that he's managing the Mets, obviously he's got 758 00:37:43,960 --> 00:37:47,320 Speaker 1: more responsibilities there and he can't he can't get away 759 00:37:47,360 --> 00:37:49,560 Speaker 1: for two two three weeks to go help Omar out. 760 00:37:49,600 --> 00:37:55,319 Speaker 1: But again, like I can't overemphasize just how meaningful this 761 00:37:55,680 --> 00:38:00,120 Speaker 1: was to everyone in Venezuela. You just saw Carlos and 762 00:38:00,160 --> 00:38:03,319 Speaker 1: Dosa sobbing right there. He told reporters before the game 763 00:38:03,400 --> 00:38:04,960 Speaker 1: yesterday that he had tears in his eyes when the 764 00:38:05,000 --> 00:38:08,839 Speaker 1: Venezuelan anthem played. After the game, and Josh, I mean 765 00:38:08,880 --> 00:38:10,600 Speaker 1: you said you saw the Mexico guys do it. If 766 00:38:10,600 --> 00:38:12,880 Speaker 1: you go look at the videos of the Venezuelan anthem 767 00:38:12,920 --> 00:38:15,000 Speaker 1: after that game, like they are at the top of 768 00:38:15,040 --> 00:38:18,600 Speaker 1: their lungs just belting it out like it's it was 769 00:38:18,680 --> 00:38:22,000 Speaker 1: really really cool, And I think baseball as a whole 770 00:38:22,120 --> 00:38:25,040 Speaker 1: one like they they won these last two and a 771 00:38:25,040 --> 00:38:28,080 Speaker 1: half three weeks. It was as good of a stretch 772 00:38:28,120 --> 00:38:30,920 Speaker 1: as baseball has had in a very very long time. 773 00:38:31,440 --> 00:38:34,920 Speaker 1: And you hope that in the clubhouse right now, about 774 00:38:35,040 --> 00:38:39,920 Speaker 1: four hundred feet away, that the MLBPA and the Astros 775 00:38:39,920 --> 00:38:41,680 Speaker 1: and the twenty nine other teams are going to find 776 00:38:41,680 --> 00:38:45,040 Speaker 1: a way to keep those good vibes rolling heading into 777 00:38:45,560 --> 00:38:48,640 Speaker 1: this season and heading into the offseason. Only two more 778 00:38:48,719 --> 00:38:53,360 Speaker 1: days left in spring training. Will be back later this weekend, 779 00:38:53,560 --> 00:38:56,439 Speaker 1: maybe give some final thoughts from West Palm Beach before 780 00:38:56,480 --> 00:39:00,879 Speaker 1: heading back to Houston, where in some I'm a surprising news, 781 00:39:00,880 --> 00:39:05,440 Speaker 1: Tatsuya Emi is gonna pitch the first exhibition game against 782 00:39:05,480 --> 00:39:08,680 Speaker 1: the Sugarland Space Cowboys at dyke In Park on Monday. 783 00:39:08,960 --> 00:39:12,080 Speaker 1: I didn't have a camera on the ticket sales people 784 00:39:12,120 --> 00:39:14,600 Speaker 1: and the marketing people, but I imagine they were very 785 00:39:14,600 --> 00:39:17,240 Speaker 1: happy when they found that is going to happen because 786 00:39:17,760 --> 00:39:19,239 Speaker 1: there are gonna be a lot more people at this 787 00:39:19,400 --> 00:39:22,319 Speaker 1: Monday exhibition game against the Space Cowboys than I think 788 00:39:22,320 --> 00:39:27,200 Speaker 1: they anticipated. So Tatsuya Emi, we'll pitch that day. Probably 789 00:39:27,239 --> 00:39:31,200 Speaker 1: means he'll make his first ASTROS start on that next 790 00:39:31,280 --> 00:39:34,360 Speaker 1: Sunday or Monday against the Angels or the Red Sox. 791 00:39:34,400 --> 00:39:37,239 Speaker 1: But rotation we don't know yet beyond Hunter Brown, but 792 00:39:37,239 --> 00:39:40,719 Speaker 1: that's a good place to start until we know that. 793 00:39:40,920 --> 00:39:43,120 Speaker 1: Until we meet again, you can follow me on X 794 00:39:43,160 --> 00:39:46,600 Speaker 1: at Chandler Underscore Room. You can follow Tyler at Tyler C. Stafford. 795 00:39:46,600 --> 00:39:49,680 Speaker 1: You can follow Josh at j reddub Dues. Please rate 796 00:39:49,719 --> 00:39:53,160 Speaker 1: and review us on Apple and Spotify. Please like the 797 00:39:53,239 --> 00:39:56,720 Speaker 1: YouTube video, like the YouTube page, subscribe to the YouTube 798 00:39:56,719 --> 00:39:59,240 Speaker 1: page that helps out. We'll be back later this weekend 799 00:40:00,200 --> 00:40:01,920 Speaker 1: give you some final thoughts from West Palm Beach, but 800 00:40:02,040 --> 00:40:03,719 Speaker 1: until then we will talk to you soon. 801 00:40:04,560 --> 00:40:30,600 Speaker 3: Bye.