1 00:00:05,720 --> 00:00:09,040 Speaker 1: What's up everybody. Welcome into another edition of Crush City Territory. 2 00:00:09,039 --> 00:00:12,000 Speaker 1: I'm Channel Room, joined as always by Tyler Stafford, and 3 00:00:12,160 --> 00:00:17,360 Speaker 1: sometimes we're joined by Josh Reddick. Today we upgraded in 4 00:00:17,400 --> 00:00:20,840 Speaker 1: the Josh department. We have Josh Miller, the Astros pitching coach. 5 00:00:21,239 --> 00:00:24,479 Speaker 1: Starting a tradition. I think, Josh, because last year we 6 00:00:24,520 --> 00:00:27,280 Speaker 1: had you on about a week before pictures and catchers 7 00:00:27,320 --> 00:00:32,320 Speaker 1: reported to to preview the pitching staff, you kindly agreed 8 00:00:32,320 --> 00:00:34,040 Speaker 1: to do it again. It was a good year for 9 00:00:34,080 --> 00:00:36,640 Speaker 1: you guys pitching wise last year, so I'm gonna I'm 10 00:00:36,640 --> 00:00:39,839 Speaker 1: gonna credit Crush City Territory with the success that you 11 00:00:39,880 --> 00:00:40,840 Speaker 1: guys had pitching. 12 00:00:40,560 --> 00:00:41,360 Speaker 2: Wise last year. 13 00:00:41,440 --> 00:00:44,199 Speaker 3: Okay, happy to talk to you guys again. Have some 14 00:00:44,240 --> 00:00:47,240 Speaker 3: exciting pictures in camp here that'll get started next week, 15 00:00:47,320 --> 00:00:50,879 Speaker 3: so we'll put credit where credit is due. Thank you 16 00:00:50,920 --> 00:00:53,120 Speaker 3: guys to getting us off on a good foot last year. 17 00:00:54,240 --> 00:00:57,120 Speaker 1: If you're watching on YouTube, you can see that Josh 18 00:00:57,280 --> 00:00:59,600 Speaker 1: is at dike In Park right now. He's outfitted, he's 19 00:00:59,640 --> 00:01:02,640 Speaker 1: he's he's dressed like a coach. He's dressed like he's 20 00:01:02,840 --> 00:01:05,240 Speaker 1: been working today. He's in the coach's office, just coming 21 00:01:05,240 --> 00:01:09,080 Speaker 1: off the field. You've had a few guys in throwing bullpens, 22 00:01:09,080 --> 00:01:13,040 Speaker 1: throwing live vps, so things have really gotten started already, Josh. 23 00:01:13,040 --> 00:01:14,840 Speaker 1: I think that's the kind of the misconception that some 24 00:01:14,880 --> 00:01:18,240 Speaker 1: people have is that you guys, it's not one of 25 00:01:18,240 --> 00:01:20,160 Speaker 1: these things where these guys roll off their couch, go 26 00:01:20,200 --> 00:01:22,320 Speaker 1: to West Palm and they're gonna throw their first bullpens 27 00:01:22,360 --> 00:01:22,600 Speaker 1: like this. 28 00:01:23,120 --> 00:01:25,000 Speaker 2: Uh, stuff starts very early. 29 00:01:25,080 --> 00:01:27,000 Speaker 1: Kind of give us a sense of where some of 30 00:01:27,040 --> 00:01:30,000 Speaker 1: these guys are in their ramp ups and kind of 31 00:01:30,120 --> 00:01:33,400 Speaker 1: what going to West Palm like, what transitions will be made. 32 00:01:33,400 --> 00:01:33,600 Speaker 2: Then. 33 00:01:34,160 --> 00:01:36,200 Speaker 3: Yeah, you know, the game's changed quite a bit. Even 34 00:01:36,240 --> 00:01:38,920 Speaker 3: back when I was playing in the minor leagues twenty 35 00:01:38,959 --> 00:01:41,800 Speaker 3: twenty five years ago. You know, there you had to 36 00:01:41,800 --> 00:01:44,479 Speaker 3: get an off season job. You couldn't really train year round. 37 00:01:44,560 --> 00:01:46,520 Speaker 3: It was a it was a different animal. And things 38 00:01:46,600 --> 00:01:50,120 Speaker 3: have started to, you know, become trend more like it's 39 00:01:50,160 --> 00:01:52,480 Speaker 3: a year round thing. For these guys. They put in 40 00:01:52,560 --> 00:01:55,680 Speaker 3: a ton of time training keeping their body right, and 41 00:01:56,000 --> 00:01:58,160 Speaker 3: you know, there's there's different thoughts to to how you 42 00:01:58,240 --> 00:02:00,280 Speaker 3: keep the arm going in the off season get it 43 00:02:00,280 --> 00:02:03,920 Speaker 3: ready for next season. There's really not much downtime and 44 00:02:03,920 --> 00:02:05,600 Speaker 3: We've had a good crew of guys here at the 45 00:02:05,600 --> 00:02:08,760 Speaker 3: ballpark that uh, you know, have stayed in the Houston 46 00:02:08,800 --> 00:02:12,240 Speaker 3: area and we you know, open up the clubhouse and 47 00:02:12,280 --> 00:02:15,119 Speaker 3: the complex to to them, and you know we're here 48 00:02:15,160 --> 00:02:17,920 Speaker 3: to you know, help guide them through the preparation process 49 00:02:17,960 --> 00:02:20,040 Speaker 3: so they could train appropriately and be ready for spring. 50 00:02:21,200 --> 00:02:24,280 Speaker 3: You know, the guys are usually on a structured program 51 00:02:24,360 --> 00:02:26,519 Speaker 3: where they they might play catch a couple of times 52 00:02:26,680 --> 00:02:30,680 Speaker 3: a week after the season, keep the arm moving, and 53 00:02:30,760 --> 00:02:34,160 Speaker 3: then they you know, add some volume, some intensity to 54 00:02:33,639 --> 00:02:36,960 Speaker 3: the throwing sessions. They start throwing off the mound sometime 55 00:02:36,960 --> 00:02:39,960 Speaker 3: in December or early January, and you know we're here. 56 00:02:40,000 --> 00:02:43,720 Speaker 3: We have our our bullpen catchers. Javier Bracamante, Caleb Nuniez 57 00:02:43,919 --> 00:02:46,440 Speaker 3: are local. I'm I'm local, Joe a Spot of the 58 00:02:46,440 --> 00:02:49,600 Speaker 3: manager's local, a couple of their coaches, Tommy Calmore, Jason Bell. 59 00:02:50,200 --> 00:02:52,480 Speaker 3: We all come in and you know, help help the 60 00:02:52,560 --> 00:02:55,480 Speaker 3: guys and and provide any anything they need to get 61 00:02:55,480 --> 00:02:57,560 Speaker 3: them ready for spring. You know, most of these guys 62 00:02:57,560 --> 00:03:00,360 Speaker 3: are ready to face hitters. We started that this week. 63 00:03:00,480 --> 00:03:02,960 Speaker 3: Some guys you know, throwing pitches from the mound here 64 00:03:02,960 --> 00:03:05,760 Speaker 3: at Dyke And Park to hitters, and we'll transition into 65 00:03:05,760 --> 00:03:08,120 Speaker 3: that in West Palm and then the games are right 66 00:03:08,160 --> 00:03:11,680 Speaker 3: around the corner. So excited about the group we've had 67 00:03:11,720 --> 00:03:13,520 Speaker 3: here and the group that have been training abroad at 68 00:03:13,560 --> 00:03:16,560 Speaker 3: their homes, and and excited to get started at spring training. 69 00:03:17,120 --> 00:03:19,600 Speaker 4: When when guys are coming back, you know, you haven't 70 00:03:19,600 --> 00:03:22,120 Speaker 4: seen them in a in a couple of months, and 71 00:03:22,520 --> 00:03:24,880 Speaker 4: you know you're getting ready for spring training. Obviously I'm 72 00:03:24,919 --> 00:03:29,480 Speaker 4: assuming they're not you know, throwing max effort or anything yet, 73 00:03:29,520 --> 00:03:32,240 Speaker 4: Like what are you as a coach looking for to 74 00:03:32,320 --> 00:03:35,880 Speaker 4: just see that progress is where you want it to be, 75 00:03:36,040 --> 00:03:37,840 Speaker 4: or how can you tell somebody has had a good 76 00:03:37,960 --> 00:03:38,600 Speaker 4: off season? 77 00:03:39,120 --> 00:03:42,640 Speaker 3: Well, every everybody's a little bit different. One person might 78 00:03:42,680 --> 00:03:46,720 Speaker 3: need to train differently than another. Some people can take 79 00:03:46,760 --> 00:03:49,520 Speaker 3: more time off, some people need to keep the arm moving. 80 00:03:50,400 --> 00:03:54,080 Speaker 3: Everybody's you know, we're in constant communication of giving a 81 00:03:54,480 --> 00:03:56,880 Speaker 3: roadmap or a game plan on things that you know 82 00:03:56,920 --> 00:03:59,240 Speaker 3: may have went really well that we want to continue 83 00:03:59,280 --> 00:04:01,360 Speaker 3: doing going into next year. Are some things that need 84 00:04:01,400 --> 00:04:02,840 Speaker 3: to be short up a little bit and have a 85 00:04:03,240 --> 00:04:05,080 Speaker 3: little bit of a plan that they can tackle with 86 00:04:05,120 --> 00:04:09,360 Speaker 3: their off season training. You know, yeah, we we we 87 00:04:09,400 --> 00:04:11,600 Speaker 3: don't really like it if they're if they're going, you know, 88 00:04:11,720 --> 00:04:15,400 Speaker 3: redlining in in December and you know, using some of 89 00:04:15,440 --> 00:04:19,640 Speaker 3: that uh energy and effort and and maybe a little 90 00:04:19,720 --> 00:04:22,080 Speaker 3: too soon in the calendar, but uh, you know, we 91 00:04:22,120 --> 00:04:24,599 Speaker 3: want them peeking at the right times. And I think 92 00:04:25,480 --> 00:04:28,640 Speaker 3: it's reasonable to not set expectations super high. You know, 93 00:04:28,680 --> 00:04:30,520 Speaker 3: we don't want we don't want to see Hunter Brown 94 00:04:30,560 --> 00:04:33,240 Speaker 3: throwing ninety nine his first spring start here in a 95 00:04:33,240 --> 00:04:37,880 Speaker 3: few weeks. But you know, you got check checkpoints and 96 00:04:38,200 --> 00:04:39,960 Speaker 3: mile markers along the way that you want to see, 97 00:04:40,000 --> 00:04:41,279 Speaker 3: and you want to see hit, and you want to 98 00:04:41,279 --> 00:04:44,479 Speaker 3: see some things tackled, like maybe it's another pitch or 99 00:04:44,560 --> 00:04:46,880 Speaker 3: command of a certain pitch, or maybe a small delivery 100 00:04:46,920 --> 00:04:49,360 Speaker 3: tweak that all these guys are tuned to and and 101 00:04:49,520 --> 00:04:51,839 Speaker 3: uh they put the work in, and it's uh, you 102 00:04:51,880 --> 00:04:54,720 Speaker 3: know something that it's my job and and our our 103 00:04:54,720 --> 00:04:57,320 Speaker 3: new assistant pitching coach, Ethan Katz's job to stay in 104 00:04:57,320 --> 00:05:00,360 Speaker 3: contact with these guys and and answer any question shouldn't 105 00:05:00,400 --> 00:05:01,719 Speaker 3: provide any feedback. 106 00:05:01,279 --> 00:05:05,120 Speaker 1: That I'm glad you brought up, Ethan, because I wanted 107 00:05:05,160 --> 00:05:07,880 Speaker 1: to get there before we get to the guys on 108 00:05:07,920 --> 00:05:08,800 Speaker 1: the pitching staff. 109 00:05:08,880 --> 00:05:10,200 Speaker 2: Obviously a lot. 110 00:05:10,040 --> 00:05:14,760 Speaker 1: Of turnover this offseason on the pitching side. Obviously, Murphy 111 00:05:14,800 --> 00:05:16,560 Speaker 1: now the lead pitching coach to the Pirates. 112 00:05:16,560 --> 00:05:17,840 Speaker 2: Congratulations again. 113 00:05:18,080 --> 00:05:21,279 Speaker 1: I know, Josh, you and Murphy worked together for so long. 114 00:05:21,360 --> 00:05:22,840 Speaker 1: I know that had to be thrilling for you to 115 00:05:22,880 --> 00:05:26,480 Speaker 1: see him get that promotion. But as he exits, Ethan 116 00:05:26,600 --> 00:05:28,600 Speaker 1: comes in. We've had Ethan on the pod before. He 117 00:05:28,640 --> 00:05:32,279 Speaker 1: spoke very glowingly of you, Josh about the interview process 118 00:05:32,320 --> 00:05:32,920 Speaker 1: and how that went. 119 00:05:32,960 --> 00:05:34,120 Speaker 2: I'm curious. 120 00:05:35,200 --> 00:05:37,440 Speaker 1: As you're going through that process and you and Ethan 121 00:05:37,520 --> 00:05:41,080 Speaker 1: start to talk, are you guys, Is it more that 122 00:05:41,160 --> 00:05:43,159 Speaker 1: you guys see things the same way, you're using the 123 00:05:43,160 --> 00:05:45,680 Speaker 1: same words, same languages, or is it some things that 124 00:05:46,040 --> 00:05:48,880 Speaker 1: maybe he saw a little bit different that you opened 125 00:05:48,880 --> 00:05:50,960 Speaker 1: your eyes too, and maybe there's a little bit of 126 00:05:51,000 --> 00:05:53,320 Speaker 1: a fresher perspective coming in. Just give us a little 127 00:05:53,320 --> 00:05:54,839 Speaker 1: bit of an insight as to what it's been like 128 00:05:54,880 --> 00:05:56,080 Speaker 1: early on working with Ethan. 129 00:05:56,560 --> 00:05:59,880 Speaker 3: Sure, like you said, you know, Murphy and I very close. 130 00:06:00,120 --> 00:06:01,919 Speaker 3: We worked together for a long time, going back to 131 00:06:01,960 --> 00:06:05,680 Speaker 3: the minor leagues. He's an integral part of the you know, 132 00:06:05,760 --> 00:06:08,760 Speaker 3: the pitching success that we've had here throughout the system, 133 00:06:08,800 --> 00:06:11,520 Speaker 3: including the big leagues the last handful of years. Excited 134 00:06:11,520 --> 00:06:13,560 Speaker 3: to see him, you know, go and grow with a 135 00:06:13,800 --> 00:06:17,200 Speaker 3: good pitching staff over in Pittsburgh. Him and I are close, 136 00:06:17,240 --> 00:06:20,719 Speaker 3: and I expect to remain close with him going forward 137 00:06:20,800 --> 00:06:22,440 Speaker 3: and wish him the best. 138 00:06:23,480 --> 00:06:23,640 Speaker 2: You know. 139 00:06:23,680 --> 00:06:26,359 Speaker 3: The interview process was pretty long, and we we talked 140 00:06:27,240 --> 00:06:30,040 Speaker 3: quite a few candidates, but Ethan Ethan Katz stood out 141 00:06:30,080 --> 00:06:33,400 Speaker 3: as you know, a guy that has worked with high 142 00:06:33,440 --> 00:06:35,520 Speaker 3: level pitchers in the past at the major league level. 143 00:06:35,520 --> 00:06:39,440 Speaker 3: It is a very very smart attuned to uh, you know, 144 00:06:39,520 --> 00:06:41,560 Speaker 3: pitching vernacular. 145 00:06:41,839 --> 00:06:41,960 Speaker 1: Uh. 146 00:06:42,120 --> 00:06:44,440 Speaker 3: He can he can speak the analytics. He knows his stuff, 147 00:06:44,480 --> 00:06:47,480 Speaker 3: had time in San Francisco, got up to the big 148 00:06:47,560 --> 00:06:50,039 Speaker 3: leagues with them, and then and then ran the White 149 00:06:50,040 --> 00:06:52,680 Speaker 3: Sox pitching department for the last handful of years. And 150 00:06:52,960 --> 00:06:54,800 Speaker 3: we just felt really good about him as a person, 151 00:06:54,839 --> 00:06:57,919 Speaker 3: about his knowledge base. We're still gonna get get to 152 00:06:57,960 --> 00:07:01,480 Speaker 3: know you uh type scenario. You but him and I 153 00:07:01,520 --> 00:07:04,400 Speaker 3: have been working very closely, and you know, he's you know, 154 00:07:04,440 --> 00:07:06,839 Speaker 3: made calls and spoken with all of our players on 155 00:07:06,880 --> 00:07:09,520 Speaker 3: the roster and and you know, we're looking forward to 156 00:07:09,520 --> 00:07:12,240 Speaker 3: get in uniform and and get get our turfs on 157 00:07:12,280 --> 00:07:14,040 Speaker 3: the field and and get up and run it in 158 00:07:14,080 --> 00:07:14,560 Speaker 3: West Pond. 159 00:07:15,200 --> 00:07:18,280 Speaker 4: Don't get don't get Josh Reddick going about needing to 160 00:07:18,320 --> 00:07:20,640 Speaker 4: wear your cleats around. That's that's all he says you 161 00:07:20,720 --> 00:07:22,680 Speaker 4: need to do. That's the last part of getting in 162 00:07:22,720 --> 00:07:24,720 Speaker 4: baseball shape. He talks about how hard it is to 163 00:07:24,720 --> 00:07:26,760 Speaker 4: where cleats for three hours. 164 00:07:26,760 --> 00:07:29,240 Speaker 3: Well, it is. It is something I always said that, 165 00:07:29,280 --> 00:07:31,280 Speaker 3: you know, to get ready for spring training for a picture, 166 00:07:31,360 --> 00:07:34,760 Speaker 3: you should, uh you know, get up and then go 167 00:07:34,880 --> 00:07:38,040 Speaker 3: to the mall and run a lap and then walk 168 00:07:38,120 --> 00:07:41,680 Speaker 3: around for like four or five hours. And you know, 169 00:07:41,760 --> 00:07:43,600 Speaker 3: that's that's the life of a picture, at least it 170 00:07:43,680 --> 00:07:45,680 Speaker 3: used to be back in the day. Uh. We don't 171 00:07:45,720 --> 00:07:48,480 Speaker 3: make the guys really shag BP anymore. So it's more 172 00:07:48,880 --> 00:07:51,320 Speaker 3: individual focus. Gets the box, you get there, get their 173 00:07:51,400 --> 00:07:53,880 Speaker 3: uh their arm ready for for the season. 174 00:07:54,160 --> 00:07:57,520 Speaker 4: But uh yeah, no, no more after no more BP. 175 00:07:57,720 --> 00:08:02,200 Speaker 4: After last year, we're gonna We're gonna avoid That sounds good, 176 00:08:02,520 --> 00:08:05,000 Speaker 4: sounds like we need a field trip to the galleria 177 00:08:05,040 --> 00:08:07,080 Speaker 4: and just get everybody out on the ice rink, get 178 00:08:07,160 --> 00:08:08,320 Speaker 4: the get the hearts going. 179 00:08:08,480 --> 00:08:11,320 Speaker 3: That would add add a little another element of danger 180 00:08:11,360 --> 00:08:14,320 Speaker 3: here a good ice skater, But I have seen many 181 00:08:14,320 --> 00:08:16,040 Speaker 3: people take a take a spill. 182 00:08:16,440 --> 00:08:21,160 Speaker 1: Yeah, the turnover is not limited obviously to the coaching staff. 183 00:08:21,840 --> 00:08:25,960 Speaker 1: Dana made no excuse. Dana made no way to hide it. 184 00:08:26,000 --> 00:08:28,360 Speaker 1: From the beginning of the off season. His his focus 185 00:08:28,400 --> 00:08:31,000 Speaker 1: was pitching, pitch and pitching. And they have given you 186 00:08:31,240 --> 00:08:33,720 Speaker 1: a lot of new faces, a lot of new arms 187 00:08:34,000 --> 00:08:36,600 Speaker 1: in general. I'm curious, you know when there isn't when 188 00:08:36,640 --> 00:08:39,040 Speaker 1: there is such a stated directive in the off season 189 00:08:39,080 --> 00:08:40,920 Speaker 1: of we are going to go sign a bunch of pitchers. 190 00:08:41,880 --> 00:08:44,400 Speaker 1: How and obviously Dane is the one making the final call, 191 00:08:44,440 --> 00:08:47,200 Speaker 1: he constructs the roster. But but how much are you 192 00:08:47,360 --> 00:08:51,440 Speaker 1: involved maybe in the process of does Dana send you, hey, 193 00:08:51,440 --> 00:08:53,719 Speaker 1: we're looking at this guy, we're talking about maybe trading. 194 00:08:53,480 --> 00:08:53,920 Speaker 2: For this guy. 195 00:08:54,360 --> 00:08:56,680 Speaker 1: Or is it a situation where you see it like 196 00:08:56,960 --> 00:08:58,559 Speaker 1: we see it, of oh, they signed this guy, like 197 00:08:58,640 --> 00:09:00,000 Speaker 1: let me go look at his video, let me see 198 00:09:00,120 --> 00:09:00,520 Speaker 1: we got here. 199 00:09:00,600 --> 00:09:01,960 Speaker 2: Or is it kind of a blend of both. 200 00:09:02,400 --> 00:09:04,320 Speaker 3: It's a it's a blend of both. But most most 201 00:09:04,320 --> 00:09:05,920 Speaker 3: of the time, you know, Dane is going to clude 202 00:09:05,960 --> 00:09:08,080 Speaker 3: Joe and I into any type of high level decisions 203 00:09:08,080 --> 00:09:10,760 Speaker 3: that that are abound to be made. We got a 204 00:09:10,800 --> 00:09:12,760 Speaker 3: ton of smart guys that work in the office and 205 00:09:12,760 --> 00:09:15,720 Speaker 3: look through this stuff, and we communicate with them often 206 00:09:15,960 --> 00:09:18,199 Speaker 3: and you know, give our input, give our thoughts. 207 00:09:18,360 --> 00:09:18,480 Speaker 2: Uh. 208 00:09:18,559 --> 00:09:21,120 Speaker 3: Sometimes they'd here too, sometimes they're not. But we're all 209 00:09:21,160 --> 00:09:23,400 Speaker 3: part of the part of the equation that goes into 210 00:09:23,400 --> 00:09:26,679 Speaker 3: making these decisions. And ultimately it's Dana and Joe and 211 00:09:26,679 --> 00:09:28,800 Speaker 3: and uh, you know they make the calls on the 212 00:09:28,920 --> 00:09:31,319 Speaker 3: on the high level roster decisions, but they take our 213 00:09:31,320 --> 00:09:36,040 Speaker 3: input for sure. You know, I've been you know, given 214 00:09:36,520 --> 00:09:38,960 Speaker 3: quite a few guys to look at in my tenure 215 00:09:39,000 --> 00:09:41,439 Speaker 3: here and feel good about the guys that we've acquired 216 00:09:42,040 --> 00:09:44,240 Speaker 3: this offseason, and and we'll get our first look at 217 00:09:44,280 --> 00:09:45,559 Speaker 3: him here in a few weeks. 218 00:09:47,520 --> 00:09:51,320 Speaker 1: I think, Uh, the one guy that you guys acquired 219 00:09:51,520 --> 00:09:53,760 Speaker 1: that I think has gotten a ton of fanfare and 220 00:09:53,800 --> 00:09:56,439 Speaker 1: I think everyone is most excited to see is Tatsuya 221 00:09:56,520 --> 00:10:00,040 Speaker 1: e And I I heard you had an in of 222 00:10:00,080 --> 00:10:02,520 Speaker 1: you on MLB Network Radio shortly after, and it sounded 223 00:10:02,559 --> 00:10:06,000 Speaker 1: like you were a stun that you guys landed Tatsuya Emi, 224 00:10:06,240 --> 00:10:09,120 Speaker 1: as you know everyone else was, because just had not 225 00:10:09,280 --> 00:10:12,120 Speaker 1: been someone that you guys were linked to. Obviously, with 226 00:10:12,160 --> 00:10:16,480 Speaker 1: the posting deadline, it created some external factors, but now 227 00:10:16,520 --> 00:10:19,760 Speaker 1: that you've gotten to Joe mentioned last week that you 228 00:10:19,760 --> 00:10:21,520 Speaker 1: guys have had some zoom calls with him, that you 229 00:10:21,520 --> 00:10:23,319 Speaker 1: guys have kind of started to set his schedule a 230 00:10:23,360 --> 00:10:25,920 Speaker 1: little bit. And as you've kind of started to break 231 00:10:26,000 --> 00:10:29,280 Speaker 1: him down and look at the stuff, what what do 232 00:10:29,320 --> 00:10:32,360 Speaker 1: you think you guys have here in Tatsuya Emi. 233 00:10:32,960 --> 00:10:35,880 Speaker 3: I mean, he, you know, looks like the uh you know, 234 00:10:36,000 --> 00:10:39,760 Speaker 3: electric high level pitcher that you know can come and 235 00:10:39,800 --> 00:10:43,400 Speaker 3: dominate a game. You know, he moves very athletically, the 236 00:10:43,760 --> 00:10:45,800 Speaker 3: ball jumps out of his hand. He's got some unique 237 00:10:45,800 --> 00:10:48,800 Speaker 3: secondary weapons that think we think will play He commands 238 00:10:48,800 --> 00:10:51,760 Speaker 3: his pitch as well. He's got some some charisma and 239 00:10:51,800 --> 00:10:54,199 Speaker 3: some uh you know, some energy about him that I 240 00:10:54,200 --> 00:10:56,400 Speaker 3: think will play well here for the fans. And you know, 241 00:10:56,440 --> 00:10:59,920 Speaker 3: we're excited to excited to get started. And again, like 242 00:11:00,040 --> 00:11:02,360 Speaker 3: with Ethan Katz on the coaching staff, with Tatsuya we're 243 00:11:02,400 --> 00:11:04,800 Speaker 3: still in the get to know your phase and we'll see, 244 00:11:05,240 --> 00:11:08,320 Speaker 3: you know, how the acclamation of you know, from the 245 00:11:08,440 --> 00:11:11,040 Speaker 3: MPB schedule to the MLB schedule and what that looks like. 246 00:11:11,600 --> 00:11:14,680 Speaker 3: But you know, it seems like in our early conversations, 247 00:11:14,800 --> 00:11:17,280 Speaker 3: all systems are go. He's he's up for anything. He's 248 00:11:17,320 --> 00:11:19,280 Speaker 3: he's willing to do what's needed and what's best for 249 00:11:19,320 --> 00:11:22,160 Speaker 3: the team. And you know, we're excited to get started 250 00:11:22,200 --> 00:11:22,520 Speaker 3: with him. 251 00:11:22,720 --> 00:11:24,440 Speaker 4: All right, I want to nerd out a little. You 252 00:11:24,480 --> 00:11:27,559 Speaker 4: mentioned the secondary stuff with Emi. He has a very 253 00:11:27,640 --> 00:11:32,000 Speaker 4: unique slider. It seems like one of those and correct 254 00:11:32,040 --> 00:11:33,680 Speaker 4: me if I'm wrong, but it seems like one that 255 00:11:33,800 --> 00:11:36,840 Speaker 4: was more in vogue fifteen twenty years ago. It's one 256 00:11:36,880 --> 00:11:39,600 Speaker 4: of those sliders that is it dives more than it 257 00:11:39,640 --> 00:11:42,520 Speaker 4: does sweep across the zone and if you know, it 258 00:11:42,559 --> 00:11:45,800 Speaker 4: feels like recently, the you know, the big secondary stuff 259 00:11:45,800 --> 00:11:48,800 Speaker 4: in the big leagues is you know, the big sweepers, 260 00:11:48,880 --> 00:11:51,800 Speaker 4: the ones that really move across the plate. How does 261 00:11:51,880 --> 00:11:56,200 Speaker 4: having a slider like that change the way that you're 262 00:11:57,280 --> 00:11:59,600 Speaker 4: you know, you're tunneling your other pitches, Like how does 263 00:11:59,640 --> 00:12:03,240 Speaker 4: his slide or play differently off a fastball than you know, 264 00:12:04,240 --> 00:12:06,040 Speaker 4: a larger like sweeping slider. 265 00:12:06,480 --> 00:12:09,400 Speaker 3: Yeah, it is unique. The pitch kind of does dies down, 266 00:12:09,440 --> 00:12:13,400 Speaker 3: doesn't have much you know, horizontal movement. Actually might have 267 00:12:13,600 --> 00:12:18,920 Speaker 3: some you know backward arms. Yeah. You know, you'd say, 268 00:12:19,000 --> 00:12:20,920 Speaker 3: looking at his arm slot, which is a lower slot, 269 00:12:20,960 --> 00:12:22,880 Speaker 3: you'd expect him to you know, to get the outside 270 00:12:22,920 --> 00:12:24,920 Speaker 3: of the ball and sweep a breaker. But it doesn't 271 00:12:24,960 --> 00:12:27,040 Speaker 3: do that. So there's some uniqueness to the way that 272 00:12:27,080 --> 00:12:32,280 Speaker 3: pitch moves, and it can you know, assume it helps 273 00:12:32,440 --> 00:12:34,840 Speaker 3: its performance because hitters don't get to see a pitch 274 00:12:34,840 --> 00:12:38,200 Speaker 3: that does that that often, especially when he's able to 275 00:12:38,320 --> 00:12:40,640 Speaker 3: command it at an elite level and throw it at 276 00:12:40,679 --> 00:12:43,920 Speaker 3: a high velocity. You know, we like those characteristics and 277 00:12:44,320 --> 00:12:46,319 Speaker 3: expect the pitch to perform pretty well here too. 278 00:12:47,520 --> 00:12:49,200 Speaker 1: I feel like we could do this whole pod on 279 00:12:49,320 --> 00:12:51,720 Speaker 1: Emi because I have like a lot of questions about 280 00:12:51,800 --> 00:12:52,360 Speaker 1: him in general. 281 00:12:52,360 --> 00:12:54,040 Speaker 2: But something you mentioned a little bit. 282 00:12:53,920 --> 00:12:57,440 Speaker 1: Earlier is that the acclimation process from MPB to MLB, 283 00:12:58,400 --> 00:13:00,959 Speaker 1: and that's something that I mean, this is made a 284 00:13:01,000 --> 00:13:02,880 Speaker 1: big deal of when you guys signed him, like you 285 00:13:02,880 --> 00:13:06,319 Speaker 1: guys have not this is a first for the Astros organization, 286 00:13:06,440 --> 00:13:09,040 Speaker 1: Like he is believed to be the first pitch, the 287 00:13:09,080 --> 00:13:11,839 Speaker 1: first player to ever come straight from MPB to play 288 00:13:12,240 --> 00:13:16,600 Speaker 1: for the Astros. Obviously with a pitcher who he pitched 289 00:13:16,600 --> 00:13:19,440 Speaker 1: every fifth day and NPB you come here, you guys 290 00:13:19,440 --> 00:13:20,959 Speaker 1: are going to open in a six man but there 291 00:13:20,960 --> 00:13:23,240 Speaker 1: could be times this year where he pitches every fourth day. 292 00:13:24,640 --> 00:13:27,240 Speaker 1: How have you as a pitching coach. I'm going to 293 00:13:27,320 --> 00:13:30,240 Speaker 1: presume that this is something you've never had to do 294 00:13:30,559 --> 00:13:34,400 Speaker 1: hands on either, right, Like assimilate a guy from MPB 295 00:13:34,600 --> 00:13:35,200 Speaker 1: to MLB. 296 00:13:35,880 --> 00:13:39,080 Speaker 3: Well, it's similar. It's similar to acquiring a college pitcher 297 00:13:39,440 --> 00:13:42,280 Speaker 3: in the draft, you know, and you tend to want 298 00:13:42,280 --> 00:13:48,120 Speaker 3: to go more conservative at first while they get acclimated 299 00:13:48,120 --> 00:13:51,000 Speaker 3: to professional baseball and are pitching on a you know, 300 00:13:51,240 --> 00:13:55,480 Speaker 3: a more dense game schedule. So you want to you know, 301 00:13:55,559 --> 00:13:58,640 Speaker 3: lower volume, lower pitch counts, lower innings totals as they 302 00:13:59,120 --> 00:14:01,600 Speaker 3: get used to pitching every fifth or sixth day as 303 00:14:01,640 --> 00:14:05,320 Speaker 3: opposed to every seventh day. And you know that's it's 304 00:14:05,360 --> 00:14:10,959 Speaker 3: not all too you know, different from what the MPB 305 00:14:11,120 --> 00:14:14,000 Speaker 3: schedule is. But I'll just say that, you know, uh, 306 00:14:14,080 --> 00:14:16,360 Speaker 3: Tetsu is not a not a nineteen year old or 307 00:14:16,360 --> 00:14:18,400 Speaker 3: twenty year old college player either. He's a twenty seven 308 00:14:18,480 --> 00:14:21,240 Speaker 3: year old, you know, elite athlete, and you know we're 309 00:14:21,280 --> 00:14:23,680 Speaker 3: gonna listen to him and get his subjective feedback and 310 00:14:24,240 --> 00:14:26,960 Speaker 3: kind of make you know, sound decisions as best we 311 00:14:27,040 --> 00:14:29,720 Speaker 3: can as we get to know him and get ready 312 00:14:29,720 --> 00:14:30,280 Speaker 3: for the season. 313 00:14:31,440 --> 00:14:33,960 Speaker 1: The one thing when you and again this is talking 314 00:14:34,000 --> 00:14:36,440 Speaker 1: to other people that have watched him pitch, As is 315 00:14:36,440 --> 00:14:40,040 Speaker 1: talking to maybe scouts and other people in the industry. 316 00:14:39,800 --> 00:14:42,400 Speaker 1: They they quite the one thing that keeps coming up 317 00:14:42,440 --> 00:14:45,440 Speaker 1: about him is the fastball. Is maybe that the fastball 318 00:14:45,480 --> 00:14:48,680 Speaker 1: is a little straight, maybe that it maybe doesn't have 319 00:14:48,760 --> 00:14:52,280 Speaker 1: the characteristics that maybe just jump off of video or 320 00:14:52,320 --> 00:14:55,280 Speaker 1: analytics wise. I guess as you've looked at his fastball 321 00:14:55,440 --> 00:14:57,680 Speaker 1: and as you've looked at the characteristics of that pitch, 322 00:14:58,480 --> 00:15:00,920 Speaker 1: where do you think it is and how how do 323 00:15:00,960 --> 00:15:02,640 Speaker 1: you think it could play at the big league level. 324 00:15:03,400 --> 00:15:06,400 Speaker 3: I mean, he's got elite velocity. It's it's mid upper nineties. 325 00:15:07,120 --> 00:15:09,720 Speaker 3: You know, he throws it in the zone. Maybe there's 326 00:15:09,760 --> 00:15:11,600 Speaker 3: some some areas of the zone he could target a 327 00:15:11,640 --> 00:15:14,680 Speaker 3: little more effectively and efficiently to help it play up. 328 00:15:15,120 --> 00:15:17,320 Speaker 3: But we you know, we don't have any We don't 329 00:15:17,320 --> 00:15:19,240 Speaker 3: think it's a it's a short fastball. We think it's 330 00:15:19,280 --> 00:15:21,360 Speaker 3: a good fastball that that will be able to play 331 00:15:21,760 --> 00:15:25,080 Speaker 3: and especially in conjunction with his his slider, which is unique. 332 00:15:25,120 --> 00:15:26,800 Speaker 3: He throws a change up and a split. He has 333 00:15:26,800 --> 00:15:28,960 Speaker 3: a curve ball that he mixes in as well. You know, 334 00:15:29,000 --> 00:15:30,800 Speaker 3: we think that the fastball will be able to do 335 00:15:30,840 --> 00:15:33,520 Speaker 3: its job and play just fine in his arsenal. 336 00:15:34,120 --> 00:15:38,200 Speaker 4: So when you know, when the ashers are acquiring somebody 337 00:15:38,240 --> 00:15:40,960 Speaker 4: and you're talking to them for the first time and you're, 338 00:15:41,000 --> 00:15:44,560 Speaker 4: you know, you're kind of digesting what they have versus 339 00:15:44,560 --> 00:15:47,800 Speaker 4: what you think you can help them improve. How do 340 00:15:47,840 --> 00:15:51,720 Speaker 4: you how do you balance just letting them know, Okay, 341 00:15:51,720 --> 00:15:54,320 Speaker 4: here's here's what you do well versus you know, here's 342 00:15:54,320 --> 00:15:57,960 Speaker 4: what we're gonna do. You know, I guess how soon 343 00:15:58,040 --> 00:16:00,440 Speaker 4: into the conversation are you letting them know that they 344 00:16:00,520 --> 00:16:02,760 Speaker 4: throw a sinker now, even if they don't know it. 345 00:16:05,040 --> 00:16:07,960 Speaker 3: You know, it's something that we usually would would bring 346 00:16:08,040 --> 00:16:10,520 Speaker 3: up in a in a more formal setting, typically during 347 00:16:10,560 --> 00:16:12,680 Speaker 3: spring training. We do this every year with every pitcher. 348 00:16:13,920 --> 00:16:16,640 Speaker 3: You know, have some type of performance review and then 349 00:16:16,680 --> 00:16:20,720 Speaker 3: some type of roadmap for the work in spring training 350 00:16:20,760 --> 00:16:22,840 Speaker 3: and the work during the early parts of the season 351 00:16:22,920 --> 00:16:27,000 Speaker 3: that we think can drive performance positively, you know, And 352 00:16:27,000 --> 00:16:30,320 Speaker 3: it's it's never we're not pounding the table and saying 353 00:16:30,400 --> 00:16:32,600 Speaker 3: you need to do this. You know, we also realize 354 00:16:32,600 --> 00:16:34,880 Speaker 3: that these guys need to be comfortable with the pitches 355 00:16:34,920 --> 00:16:37,880 Speaker 3: that they throw and when they throw them. But you know, 356 00:16:37,920 --> 00:16:40,720 Speaker 3: we suggest things and then get their feedback and go 357 00:16:40,800 --> 00:16:45,120 Speaker 3: from there. You know, these type of things like I 358 00:16:45,240 --> 00:16:47,160 Speaker 3: like I mentioned, we want it to be in a 359 00:16:47,200 --> 00:16:50,680 Speaker 3: more formal setting, uh, with some you know, bells and whistles, 360 00:16:50,680 --> 00:16:54,360 Speaker 3: maybe a buttoned up presentation, some some not just me 361 00:16:54,520 --> 00:16:58,480 Speaker 3: talking at somebody, get some of the high level smart 362 00:16:58,520 --> 00:17:01,120 Speaker 3: guys in the room as well, and it's a it's 363 00:17:01,120 --> 00:17:03,400 Speaker 3: a back and forth and it's a it's something that 364 00:17:03,440 --> 00:17:05,840 Speaker 3: we do, like I said, with everybody every spring training 365 00:17:06,440 --> 00:17:09,680 Speaker 3: and then and go from there, start the conversation and 366 00:17:10,080 --> 00:17:10,760 Speaker 3: go from there. 367 00:17:12,000 --> 00:17:14,800 Speaker 1: Speaking of sinkers, another guy that we've had on the 368 00:17:14,800 --> 00:17:19,920 Speaker 1: pod this offseason, Mike Burrows, another new member of your rotation. 369 00:17:21,160 --> 00:17:23,240 Speaker 1: He made it very clear that he has a sinker. 370 00:17:23,520 --> 00:17:25,960 Speaker 1: He has a sinker and he wants to throw it more. 371 00:17:26,119 --> 00:17:28,080 Speaker 1: It is something that he was working at toward the 372 00:17:28,160 --> 00:17:31,760 Speaker 1: end of his tenure with the Pirates last season. I 373 00:17:31,800 --> 00:17:34,840 Speaker 1: get more broadly than just the sinker stuff. What about 374 00:17:35,119 --> 00:17:37,840 Speaker 1: Mike Burrows You guys saw him first hand last year 375 00:17:37,840 --> 00:17:40,240 Speaker 1: pitched against you guys at PNC Park as a member 376 00:17:40,240 --> 00:17:43,679 Speaker 1: of the Pirates. What about Mike Burrows excites you? And 377 00:17:43,720 --> 00:17:47,280 Speaker 1: this is a guy that's a young pitcher. It's still 378 00:17:47,320 --> 00:17:49,160 Speaker 1: kind of maybe learning his way in the big leagues. 379 00:17:49,160 --> 00:17:50,959 Speaker 1: Hasn't been in the big leagues that long, kind of 380 00:17:51,160 --> 00:17:53,360 Speaker 1: where do you think maybe there are steps for development 381 00:17:53,400 --> 00:17:56,359 Speaker 1: and growth And what excites you the most about Mike Burrows. 382 00:17:57,080 --> 00:18:01,399 Speaker 3: Yeah, another another good acquisition this offseas in. You know, 383 00:18:01,440 --> 00:18:05,119 Speaker 3: feel really really strongly about Mike. He got kind of 384 00:18:05,160 --> 00:18:06,680 Speaker 3: on the map and on the scene in the big 385 00:18:06,720 --> 00:18:10,199 Speaker 3: leagues last year and had some success. Did at a 386 00:18:10,200 --> 00:18:12,240 Speaker 3: sinker and it and it and it performed pretty well. 387 00:18:12,240 --> 00:18:13,800 Speaker 3: And we are gonna ask him to throw it some 388 00:18:13,880 --> 00:18:16,760 Speaker 3: and he's on board with that for sure. But he's 389 00:18:16,800 --> 00:18:20,280 Speaker 3: a you know, kind of a high energy writing, goes 390 00:18:20,359 --> 00:18:23,480 Speaker 3: some hard fast balls, has a hard slider, really good curveball. 391 00:18:23,560 --> 00:18:25,399 Speaker 3: The change up is probably his best pitch. 392 00:18:25,920 --> 00:18:26,080 Speaker 2: You know. 393 00:18:26,119 --> 00:18:29,280 Speaker 3: We feel like the a sinker you know, could could 394 00:18:29,280 --> 00:18:31,680 Speaker 3: play up and help his other stuff play up. All 395 00:18:32,000 --> 00:18:33,879 Speaker 3: we saw with Hunter Brown the last couple of years. 396 00:18:35,040 --> 00:18:38,720 Speaker 3: But it's a you know, really high, high ceiling arm 397 00:18:38,720 --> 00:18:40,000 Speaker 3: that we feel real good about. 398 00:18:40,160 --> 00:18:42,159 Speaker 4: When you've got a guy like Burrows who has, like 399 00:18:42,240 --> 00:18:45,119 Speaker 4: you mentioned, the change up is elite. I mean, he 400 00:18:45,960 --> 00:18:48,240 Speaker 4: is very very good with the change up. Hitters had 401 00:18:48,280 --> 00:18:51,280 Speaker 4: almost no success. They hit one forty seven on his 402 00:18:51,359 --> 00:18:53,359 Speaker 4: change up last year and he threw it twenty four 403 00:18:53,440 --> 00:18:55,520 Speaker 4: percent of the time. When you when you have a 404 00:18:55,520 --> 00:18:59,760 Speaker 4: guy like that that got hit around on the primary stuff, 405 00:18:59,800 --> 00:19:02,879 Speaker 4: but you know you've got good secondary stuff. What what 406 00:19:03,080 --> 00:19:06,840 Speaker 4: is the process for? Is it increasing the usage of 407 00:19:07,760 --> 00:19:11,000 Speaker 4: that secondary stuff? Specifically? Is it tweaking the fastball so 408 00:19:11,000 --> 00:19:12,760 Speaker 4: that it can play better off a changeup? 409 00:19:12,800 --> 00:19:12,879 Speaker 3: Like? 410 00:19:12,920 --> 00:19:16,240 Speaker 4: How do you take something that's already very successful a 411 00:19:16,320 --> 00:19:19,000 Speaker 4: quarter of the time and try to keep that you 412 00:19:19,040 --> 00:19:20,520 Speaker 4: know for every pitch. 413 00:19:21,040 --> 00:19:22,600 Speaker 3: Well, that's the that's the name of the game, is 414 00:19:23,000 --> 00:19:26,520 Speaker 3: trying to find the find the recipe for success. You 415 00:19:26,560 --> 00:19:28,240 Speaker 3: know that the simple thing is, hey, just throw the 416 00:19:28,280 --> 00:19:31,840 Speaker 3: pitch more. But you know there's gonna be some upper bound, 417 00:19:31,960 --> 00:19:35,960 Speaker 3: some threshold where it's gonna lose its effectiveness and you're 418 00:19:36,000 --> 00:19:37,960 Speaker 3: gonna have to find that find that area. 419 00:19:38,480 --> 00:19:38,679 Speaker 2: You know. 420 00:19:38,760 --> 00:19:41,040 Speaker 3: I think with Mike, he definitely could probably throw his 421 00:19:41,080 --> 00:19:42,560 Speaker 3: change up a little bit more, But we think that 422 00:19:42,680 --> 00:19:44,720 Speaker 3: maybe throwing his sinker a little more could help his 423 00:19:44,760 --> 00:19:47,639 Speaker 3: other stuff too. There's some things he's working on with 424 00:19:47,680 --> 00:19:50,159 Speaker 3: his slider that might allow it to play up. So 425 00:19:50,680 --> 00:19:53,920 Speaker 3: you know, we feel feel good about Mike's uh overall 426 00:19:54,280 --> 00:19:57,720 Speaker 3: repertoire and you know the small things that he's doing 427 00:19:57,760 --> 00:20:00,199 Speaker 3: to to short up coming into camp. Excit I did 428 00:20:00,200 --> 00:20:02,560 Speaker 3: to see him in person. I know he's been, you know, 429 00:20:02,880 --> 00:20:05,800 Speaker 3: living training up in the Northeast this offseason. We've had 430 00:20:05,840 --> 00:20:09,359 Speaker 3: some good conversations and uh pumped to get working with 431 00:20:09,440 --> 00:20:10,680 Speaker 3: him next week down in West pump. 432 00:20:11,080 --> 00:20:13,239 Speaker 4: I mean, I watched Chris Devinski go to an All 433 00:20:13,280 --> 00:20:16,000 Speaker 4: Star game throwing a change up every pitch, so you 434 00:20:16,040 --> 00:20:17,840 Speaker 4: know it's it works sometimes. 435 00:20:17,960 --> 00:20:21,640 Speaker 3: Yes, it's Tommy Cainley good. Yeah, ninety change ups worked 436 00:20:21,680 --> 00:20:23,800 Speaker 3: in the worked in the show for a long time too. 437 00:20:24,720 --> 00:20:27,119 Speaker 2: Do you have you did you reach out to Strami 438 00:20:27,200 --> 00:20:28,720 Speaker 2: at all about Mike Burrows. 439 00:20:28,960 --> 00:20:33,160 Speaker 3: Yeah, we got great feedback from Shami and others within 440 00:20:33,200 --> 00:20:38,720 Speaker 3: the Pittsburgh organization about about Mike. Love the guy, love 441 00:20:38,760 --> 00:20:42,800 Speaker 3: the competitiveness, the work ethic. We all positive feedback about. 442 00:20:42,800 --> 00:20:46,760 Speaker 1: It would seem to me, I'm just a I'm just 443 00:20:46,800 --> 00:20:48,760 Speaker 1: a lowly reporter. I just like project these things, But 444 00:20:48,800 --> 00:20:50,800 Speaker 1: it would seem to me, You're going to go into 445 00:20:50,800 --> 00:20:56,679 Speaker 1: spring training with four rotation spots that are pretty pretty 446 00:20:56,720 --> 00:20:59,080 Speaker 1: set in stone Hunter Brown, who will we will talk 447 00:20:59,080 --> 00:21:01,000 Speaker 1: about Hunter Brown, don't or I know we're twenty minutes 448 00:21:01,040 --> 00:21:02,320 Speaker 1: into this and we haven't talked about Hunter. 449 00:21:02,600 --> 00:21:03,880 Speaker 2: We'll talk about Hunter. Don't worry. 450 00:21:03,880 --> 00:21:07,000 Speaker 1: But you've got Hunter, You've got Christian Javier, You've got 451 00:21:07,000 --> 00:21:10,000 Speaker 1: Tetsuya Emi, and you've got Mike Burrows. That would seem 452 00:21:10,040 --> 00:21:12,480 Speaker 1: to be the four that you know, you could probably 453 00:21:12,520 --> 00:21:17,480 Speaker 1: say right now have pretty firm pulled on a rotation spot. 454 00:21:17,920 --> 00:21:19,679 Speaker 1: Joe has been pretty forthright that you guys are going 455 00:21:19,720 --> 00:21:21,600 Speaker 1: to open the season in a six man rotation, so 456 00:21:21,600 --> 00:21:24,840 Speaker 1: that would leave two spots kind of back there, there's 457 00:21:24,880 --> 00:21:27,199 Speaker 1: a lot of names and you got and one thing 458 00:21:27,280 --> 00:21:29,280 Speaker 1: Dana did this winner is he gave you a lot 459 00:21:29,320 --> 00:21:31,320 Speaker 1: of options. He gave you a lot of depth, and 460 00:21:31,359 --> 00:21:34,080 Speaker 1: he gave you a lot of guys that are going 461 00:21:34,119 --> 00:21:36,359 Speaker 1: to be vying for that spot. Josh, it could be 462 00:21:36,520 --> 00:21:41,480 Speaker 1: like one of the most fierce competitions I'd think in 463 00:21:41,560 --> 00:21:43,840 Speaker 1: my time covering the team, I can't remember going in 464 00:21:43,880 --> 00:21:47,040 Speaker 1: the spring with a competition like this for the final 465 00:21:47,080 --> 00:21:49,359 Speaker 1: two rotation spots. I guess how exciting is that for 466 00:21:49,440 --> 00:21:51,800 Speaker 1: you that you guys have a lot of different guys 467 00:21:51,840 --> 00:21:54,320 Speaker 1: that could if they pitch well, that could crack the 468 00:21:54,400 --> 00:21:56,600 Speaker 1: rotation and kind of how do you size that up, 469 00:21:56,640 --> 00:21:58,919 Speaker 1: how you size those two open spots up, you know, 470 00:21:59,000 --> 00:22:00,920 Speaker 1: as a week before where you get to West Palm. 471 00:22:01,320 --> 00:22:04,080 Speaker 3: It always always feels good to have have pitching depth 472 00:22:04,119 --> 00:22:07,959 Speaker 3: and competition during camp, for sure. You know, a lot 473 00:22:08,040 --> 00:22:10,800 Speaker 3: a lot of guys that we feel good about. You know, 474 00:22:10,840 --> 00:22:14,120 Speaker 3: we got Spencer Araghetty finished the season on the injured list, 475 00:22:14,160 --> 00:22:16,080 Speaker 3: but he's got dynamite stuff that we've seen play at 476 00:22:16,080 --> 00:22:19,600 Speaker 3: the major league level before. Aj Blue Ball, you know, 477 00:22:19,680 --> 00:22:22,840 Speaker 3: finished the season with you know what, twenty scoreless innings 478 00:22:22,920 --> 00:22:25,080 Speaker 3: that you know, it was really dynamite for us down 479 00:22:25,119 --> 00:22:28,600 Speaker 3: the stretch. Jason Alexander really held things together like like 480 00:22:28,680 --> 00:22:31,080 Speaker 3: glue last year and he'll be in there pitching. You 481 00:22:31,160 --> 00:22:34,640 Speaker 3: got Lance mccullors, who's you know, been a huge member 482 00:22:34,680 --> 00:22:37,000 Speaker 3: of this organization and it's got great stuff if it's on. 483 00:22:38,080 --> 00:22:39,800 Speaker 3: You know, we got tons of tons of good arms. 484 00:22:39,800 --> 00:22:42,160 Speaker 3: We we acquired another guy from from the Asian market 485 00:22:42,240 --> 00:22:45,480 Speaker 3: and Ryan Weiss, who's a big physical writing that we 486 00:22:45,640 --> 00:22:47,879 Speaker 3: He came in during fan Fest week and through for us. 487 00:22:47,960 --> 00:22:51,280 Speaker 3: He's got a super unique split change up thing that 488 00:22:51,280 --> 00:22:54,000 Speaker 3: that he commands pretty well and he's a big physical guy. 489 00:22:54,040 --> 00:22:56,040 Speaker 3: Like I said, we got Nate Pearson who we acquired 490 00:22:56,080 --> 00:22:58,879 Speaker 3: early in the off season. He'll be you know, on 491 00:22:58,960 --> 00:23:01,080 Speaker 3: the mend from a from a little elbow thing, but 492 00:23:02,119 --> 00:23:04,280 Speaker 3: he'll be stretched out as a starter during camp. You know, 493 00:23:04,320 --> 00:23:07,280 Speaker 3: a ton of guys to feel good about. I didn't 494 00:23:07,280 --> 00:23:10,159 Speaker 3: even probably touch on all of them there, but you know, 495 00:23:10,160 --> 00:23:12,760 Speaker 3: it's good to have depth, and it's a good group 496 00:23:12,960 --> 00:23:15,879 Speaker 3: to you know, have have compete during during spring. 497 00:23:16,240 --> 00:23:19,080 Speaker 4: So you're gonna have all of these guys stretched out 498 00:23:19,320 --> 00:23:22,800 Speaker 4: and you know, kind of thinking in that mind frame 499 00:23:22,960 --> 00:23:26,359 Speaker 4: of starting pitching, but you also know that some of 500 00:23:26,400 --> 00:23:30,320 Speaker 4: those guys you know, are probably gonna play some roles 501 00:23:30,359 --> 00:23:34,919 Speaker 4: in the bullpen, you know, in addition to triple A 502 00:23:35,000 --> 00:23:37,240 Speaker 4: starting and you know, keeping stretched out and all of 503 00:23:37,240 --> 00:23:41,040 Speaker 4: that kind of stuff. How does that change how how 504 00:23:41,080 --> 00:23:43,800 Speaker 4: you're approaching with them, you know throughout the spring training. 505 00:23:44,600 --> 00:23:46,600 Speaker 4: You know, when do you kind of know, Okay, this 506 00:23:46,640 --> 00:23:48,560 Speaker 4: person's probably not gonna be in the rotation. Does it 507 00:23:48,680 --> 00:23:51,680 Speaker 4: change the way that you're approaching them as a coach 508 00:23:51,960 --> 00:23:54,919 Speaker 4: or the way that they're approaching getting ready for the season. 509 00:23:55,040 --> 00:23:57,040 Speaker 4: If they think they're going to be a starter versus 510 00:23:57,080 --> 00:23:57,520 Speaker 4: a reliever. 511 00:23:57,960 --> 00:24:00,080 Speaker 3: Yeah, it's a big thing for a picture to know, 512 00:24:00,320 --> 00:24:04,240 Speaker 3: you know, what role they're preparing for. You know, having 513 00:24:04,320 --> 00:24:08,760 Speaker 3: having guys that have the flexibility to you know, change 514 00:24:08,760 --> 00:24:11,560 Speaker 3: on a dime due to circumstances is huge for me 515 00:24:12,560 --> 00:24:15,800 Speaker 3: because you do need to make that make that choice. Hey, 516 00:24:15,840 --> 00:24:17,359 Speaker 3: we got to get you ready for a reliever. We 517 00:24:17,440 --> 00:24:20,119 Speaker 3: might need you to throw, you know, three out of 518 00:24:20,160 --> 00:24:22,719 Speaker 3: the next six or seven days to make sure that 519 00:24:22,800 --> 00:24:26,520 Speaker 3: you're bouncing back and can handle that once the season 520 00:24:26,880 --> 00:24:29,320 Speaker 3: ends up. So it's a it's a math problem. You 521 00:24:29,400 --> 00:24:31,640 Speaker 3: kind of run out of time as you get deeper 522 00:24:31,680 --> 00:24:34,639 Speaker 3: into camp and and you know, having a guy be 523 00:24:34,720 --> 00:24:36,600 Speaker 3: on a starter schedule all spring and then say, hey, 524 00:24:36,640 --> 00:24:38,760 Speaker 3: you're just going to the bullpen. You know that's fine 525 00:24:38,760 --> 00:24:41,920 Speaker 3: on paper, but we have to treat that a little 526 00:24:41,960 --> 00:24:44,560 Speaker 3: differently once the opening day comes. We can't just use 527 00:24:44,600 --> 00:24:47,439 Speaker 3: him as a traditional reliever. If that's the case, the 528 00:24:47,480 --> 00:24:49,639 Speaker 3: body's probably not going to be used to it and 529 00:24:49,680 --> 00:24:53,119 Speaker 3: not ready to bounce back after an outing as a 530 00:24:53,160 --> 00:24:56,280 Speaker 3: guy who's been training as a reliever would. So, you know, 531 00:24:56,520 --> 00:24:58,479 Speaker 3: there are things that we need to think about, and 532 00:24:58,680 --> 00:25:00,840 Speaker 3: there is a decision point where it would be nice 533 00:25:00,880 --> 00:25:03,360 Speaker 3: to know, hey, this guy's you know, we're gonna transition 534 00:25:03,440 --> 00:25:05,439 Speaker 3: you to a t more of a bullpen roll for 535 00:25:05,480 --> 00:25:08,040 Speaker 3: the last x amount of days of camp, and that's 536 00:25:08,080 --> 00:25:10,720 Speaker 3: what you're looking at your role for the start of 537 00:25:10,760 --> 00:25:14,199 Speaker 3: the season, so we can prepare them that way. You know, 538 00:25:15,240 --> 00:25:18,760 Speaker 3: might not be given that opportunity to make that decision 539 00:25:18,800 --> 00:25:21,800 Speaker 3: when when appropriate, but we'd like to have an idea 540 00:25:22,040 --> 00:25:25,640 Speaker 3: and transition guys and give them some runway. 541 00:25:26,640 --> 00:25:29,280 Speaker 1: And as we have as Tyler and I have talked 542 00:25:29,280 --> 00:25:32,240 Speaker 1: about on previous pods, because you guys are opening in 543 00:25:32,280 --> 00:25:35,439 Speaker 1: a six man rotation, and because you know there's a 544 00:25:35,480 --> 00:25:37,159 Speaker 1: lot of games and a lot of days early in 545 00:25:37,200 --> 00:25:40,159 Speaker 1: the season, and there's gonna be guys even in your 546 00:25:40,240 --> 00:25:42,639 Speaker 1: rotation that maybe their first or second time through the 547 00:25:42,720 --> 00:25:45,760 Speaker 1: rotation may not be stretched out to ninety five to 548 00:25:45,800 --> 00:25:49,080 Speaker 1: one hundred and five pitches. Yet it's going to reinforce 549 00:25:49,119 --> 00:25:52,360 Speaker 1: the importance of you know, having swing guys in the bullpen, 550 00:25:52,440 --> 00:25:56,440 Speaker 1: maybe doing some piggyback starts or some design tandem starts 551 00:25:56,800 --> 00:25:58,600 Speaker 1: that first run or two through the rotation. 552 00:25:58,760 --> 00:26:00,760 Speaker 2: So I guess in that vein. 553 00:26:00,680 --> 00:26:03,880 Speaker 1: Like how vital could guys like blue Ball who has 554 00:26:03,920 --> 00:26:05,760 Speaker 1: done it before, who has been the back end of 555 00:26:05,760 --> 00:26:08,919 Speaker 1: a tandem start before, or you know Ryan Weisse if 556 00:26:09,080 --> 00:26:10,879 Speaker 1: if you know, maybe there's not a spot in the 557 00:26:10,960 --> 00:26:14,240 Speaker 1: rotation for him, he can do that out of the bullpen. 558 00:26:14,359 --> 00:26:16,280 Speaker 1: You look at Spencer Aarraghetty has done that before in 559 00:26:16,280 --> 00:26:19,159 Speaker 1: the minor leagues. Like how valuable will that role be, 560 00:26:19,320 --> 00:26:20,600 Speaker 1: especially early in the season. 561 00:26:21,480 --> 00:26:24,320 Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean it could could play huge. You know, 562 00:26:24,400 --> 00:26:26,760 Speaker 3: we'll we're gonna get to camp and get everybody kind 563 00:26:26,760 --> 00:26:28,760 Speaker 3: of going and and we'll we'll line up what we 564 00:26:28,800 --> 00:26:31,160 Speaker 3: think is the best the best way to get through 565 00:26:31,200 --> 00:26:33,320 Speaker 3: the get through the games. But you know, we're starting 566 00:26:33,320 --> 00:26:35,480 Speaker 3: with a seven game homestand we got to pitch at 567 00:26:35,560 --> 00:26:37,320 Speaker 3: least nine innings in each one of those games. We 568 00:26:37,400 --> 00:26:39,800 Speaker 3: got to figure out who's going to do it. And 569 00:26:39,840 --> 00:26:41,480 Speaker 3: then we go on a road trip and you know, 570 00:26:42,600 --> 00:26:44,680 Speaker 3: you know there's a couple off days sprinkled in there 571 00:26:44,720 --> 00:26:47,200 Speaker 3: that should provide some reprieve. But then we have thirteen 572 00:26:47,240 --> 00:26:50,040 Speaker 3: games in a row, and you know it's gonna kind 573 00:26:50,080 --> 00:26:51,600 Speaker 3: of force our hand a little bit on how we 574 00:26:51,680 --> 00:26:54,080 Speaker 3: deploy guys. But you know, we'll sit down, put our 575 00:26:54,119 --> 00:26:57,520 Speaker 3: heads together, pick up the pieces. After spring training, so 576 00:26:57,560 --> 00:26:59,560 Speaker 3: to speak and line the guys up as best we can. 577 00:27:01,520 --> 00:27:04,640 Speaker 1: All right, twenty seven minutes in, we're gonna mention the 578 00:27:04,640 --> 00:27:08,040 Speaker 1: the reigning Cy Young finalist and the unquestioned ace of 579 00:27:08,080 --> 00:27:12,760 Speaker 1: your staff, Hunter Brown. I don't like we talked about 580 00:27:12,760 --> 00:27:16,760 Speaker 1: it on the pod Josh earlier this season, but I 581 00:27:16,800 --> 00:27:19,560 Speaker 1: think when he went out in his first start of 582 00:27:19,560 --> 00:27:22,000 Speaker 1: the year against the Nets, and this is just ingrained 583 00:27:22,040 --> 00:27:25,159 Speaker 1: in my mind. I think it was Lindor Soto and 584 00:27:25,640 --> 00:27:29,000 Speaker 1: Alonso he faced, and it was ninety nine. It was 585 00:27:29,080 --> 00:27:32,000 Speaker 1: electric ninety nine. Like my jaw was on the table, 586 00:27:32,119 --> 00:27:33,760 Speaker 1: like I did not know that was in there. I 587 00:27:33,800 --> 00:27:36,800 Speaker 1: did not know that was coming. Like when you saw that, 588 00:27:37,520 --> 00:27:39,320 Speaker 1: was it just like, oh, man, like we're in for 589 00:27:39,520 --> 00:27:41,560 Speaker 1: this kid's in for a pretty special season. I know 590 00:27:41,600 --> 00:27:43,399 Speaker 1: you had probably thought it in the spring training, but 591 00:27:43,840 --> 00:27:47,119 Speaker 1: to see that first inning against those hitters, were you 592 00:27:47,240 --> 00:27:50,040 Speaker 1: as kind of just eye as wide as we were, 593 00:27:50,080 --> 00:27:52,480 Speaker 1: and just how did that maybe set the tone for 594 00:27:52,520 --> 00:27:53,720 Speaker 1: the season that Hunter had. 595 00:27:54,040 --> 00:27:56,359 Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean it was an electric start to his season. 596 00:27:56,480 --> 00:27:58,920 Speaker 3: You know, he had had a pretty good spring. Yeah, 597 00:27:58,960 --> 00:28:02,400 Speaker 3: we've been We've had high, high hopes and thoughts of 598 00:28:02,600 --> 00:28:05,480 Speaker 3: what his performance would be going back. You know for 599 00:28:05,760 --> 00:28:09,720 Speaker 3: four years or so, but to see that was it 600 00:28:09,760 --> 00:28:11,120 Speaker 3: was like a oh man, here we go. 601 00:28:12,280 --> 00:28:12,439 Speaker 2: You know. 602 00:28:12,520 --> 00:28:16,000 Speaker 3: Unfortunate he really he carved like a perfect cutter up 603 00:28:16,000 --> 00:28:17,800 Speaker 3: and into Soto and he got the barrel to it 604 00:28:17,840 --> 00:28:19,919 Speaker 3: and hit a home or it kind of dragged dragged 605 00:28:19,960 --> 00:28:21,840 Speaker 3: the outing a little bit for him. But yeah, it 606 00:28:21,880 --> 00:28:24,680 Speaker 3: was a good It was a good first one. Again. 607 00:28:24,720 --> 00:28:27,960 Speaker 3: I don't want to see him throwing ninety nine in 608 00:28:28,040 --> 00:28:30,880 Speaker 3: spring training. I think, you know, well, we'll ease into 609 00:28:30,880 --> 00:28:33,679 Speaker 3: a spring training build up and get rolling there, but 610 00:28:35,000 --> 00:28:38,400 Speaker 3: you know, expecting big things from Hunter. He's he's been 611 00:28:38,440 --> 00:28:41,040 Speaker 3: here in Houston since the second week of January and 612 00:28:41,200 --> 00:28:43,480 Speaker 3: been working out here and things have looked great and 613 00:28:43,880 --> 00:28:46,040 Speaker 3: we're we're excited to get started again. 614 00:28:47,160 --> 00:28:49,160 Speaker 1: This is gonna sound like a dumb question for a 615 00:28:49,200 --> 00:28:51,920 Speaker 1: guy that just had the season that he had and 616 00:28:52,360 --> 00:28:55,240 Speaker 1: is I mean, was unquestionably one of the best pitchers 617 00:28:55,280 --> 00:28:58,520 Speaker 1: in the American League. Where can he get better? Because 618 00:28:58,760 --> 00:29:00,840 Speaker 1: you hear ballplayers all the time, even like the best 619 00:29:00,840 --> 00:29:03,400 Speaker 1: of the best, even like the Otani's and the judges 620 00:29:03,400 --> 00:29:05,760 Speaker 1: of the world, say like, I can always be better. 621 00:29:05,760 --> 00:29:07,880 Speaker 1: I can I can always get that a little bit better. 622 00:29:08,800 --> 00:29:11,600 Speaker 1: Where can he get better? Where can there be some 623 00:29:11,600 --> 00:29:15,400 Speaker 1: some evolution, even if it's small kind of minute granular things. 624 00:29:15,640 --> 00:29:18,960 Speaker 3: Yeah, there's some small, minute granular things that we think 625 00:29:19,000 --> 00:29:21,920 Speaker 3: he could he could tackle and he agrees that, you know, 626 00:29:22,000 --> 00:29:24,440 Speaker 3: can help him, maybe miss miss some more bats against 627 00:29:24,480 --> 00:29:27,880 Speaker 3: right handed hitters, maybe drive account a little more in 628 00:29:27,920 --> 00:29:32,160 Speaker 3: his favor against lefties. We'd expect guy with his stuff 629 00:29:32,160 --> 00:29:36,320 Speaker 3: to to strike out more guys probably now he's he's 630 00:29:36,360 --> 00:29:38,800 Speaker 3: really hard dominant with the four seam two C mix, 631 00:29:38,880 --> 00:29:40,960 Speaker 3: so that's going to lend a little bit more contact. 632 00:29:41,600 --> 00:29:44,080 Speaker 3: But uh, you know, just some small things that we 633 00:29:44,160 --> 00:29:46,640 Speaker 3: think he can shore up and and you know, move 634 00:29:46,680 --> 00:29:49,560 Speaker 3: the needle a little bit. But I think you would 635 00:29:49,600 --> 00:29:52,160 Speaker 3: ask everybody here in the office and in the in 636 00:29:52,200 --> 00:29:54,320 Speaker 3: the clubhouse, if we could just dial up a you know, 637 00:29:54,360 --> 00:29:56,600 Speaker 3: a repeat of the performance, we would we would take 638 00:29:56,600 --> 00:29:59,360 Speaker 3: it and we would be all very happy about it. 639 00:30:00,640 --> 00:30:02,680 Speaker 1: I think the thing that's also been impressive, Josh, and 640 00:30:02,880 --> 00:30:04,680 Speaker 1: we've discussed this a little bit. You know, he is 641 00:30:04,760 --> 00:30:06,720 Speaker 1: now this is three years in a row that he 642 00:30:06,800 --> 00:30:11,480 Speaker 1: has reset his career high and innings pitched like he 643 00:30:11,640 --> 00:30:16,320 Speaker 1: keeps increasing workload and it doesn't look like it's really 644 00:30:16,520 --> 00:30:17,760 Speaker 1: wearing on him much. 645 00:30:18,000 --> 00:30:20,000 Speaker 2: I mean late late in the season. Last year he 646 00:30:20,080 --> 00:30:22,960 Speaker 2: was as dominant late and as you guys were clawing 647 00:30:23,000 --> 00:30:24,680 Speaker 2: for a playoff spot as he was at the beginning 648 00:30:24,680 --> 00:30:27,560 Speaker 2: of the year. Does that just speak to just the 649 00:30:27,640 --> 00:30:30,400 Speaker 2: conditioning that he is in or what? 650 00:30:30,400 --> 00:30:33,240 Speaker 1: What do you attribute the fact that as there's been 651 00:30:33,280 --> 00:30:36,200 Speaker 1: so much concern around the sport workload wise and not 652 00:30:36,280 --> 00:30:40,640 Speaker 1: wanting that you guys have been successful with each year, 653 00:30:40,720 --> 00:30:43,200 Speaker 1: this guy throwing more and more in him coming out 654 00:30:43,200 --> 00:30:45,880 Speaker 1: of it healthy and still dominant late in the year. 655 00:30:46,480 --> 00:30:48,640 Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean, he's he's been a little different than 656 00:30:48,960 --> 00:30:51,680 Speaker 3: most guys. He's you know, he's thick, he's strong, he's 657 00:30:51,720 --> 00:30:56,120 Speaker 3: he's he's diesel, you know, and you know he's he's 658 00:30:56,120 --> 00:30:59,840 Speaker 3: handled the work. He sets his sights out on one 659 00:31:00,120 --> 00:31:02,479 Speaker 3: and some bulk innings and he wants to you know, 660 00:31:02,560 --> 00:31:04,280 Speaker 3: wants to get to two hundred and wants to be 661 00:31:04,320 --> 00:31:06,239 Speaker 3: the guy and wants to do all those things. And 662 00:31:06,520 --> 00:31:09,200 Speaker 3: you know that's step one, is to have a guy 663 00:31:09,240 --> 00:31:11,600 Speaker 3: that wants to do it and wants to take on 664 00:31:11,640 --> 00:31:13,720 Speaker 3: the workload. And you know he does put in the 665 00:31:13,760 --> 00:31:15,960 Speaker 3: work and does a great job with our strength staff 666 00:31:16,000 --> 00:31:17,880 Speaker 3: and staying on top of things in the training room, 667 00:31:17,920 --> 00:31:20,560 Speaker 3: and he's got a good process about his routine and 668 00:31:21,160 --> 00:31:23,920 Speaker 3: you know, I think, you know, all the guys have 669 00:31:24,040 --> 00:31:26,840 Speaker 3: their own certain ways about things, but for him, what 670 00:31:26,920 --> 00:31:29,160 Speaker 3: he does really gets him ready to post. 671 00:31:30,080 --> 00:31:35,160 Speaker 4: So we briefly mentioned Christian Haavier earlier. Obviously coming back 672 00:31:35,160 --> 00:31:38,560 Speaker 4: from injury last year, you know, was really just more 673 00:31:38,560 --> 00:31:42,479 Speaker 4: about are you healthy? Can he come back? You know, 674 00:31:42,680 --> 00:31:44,440 Speaker 4: And so I mean it was obviously just great to 675 00:31:44,440 --> 00:31:48,360 Speaker 4: see him back on the mound and you know, getting 676 00:31:48,400 --> 00:31:52,440 Speaker 4: through starts. What do you expect from him this season 677 00:31:52,520 --> 00:31:55,840 Speaker 4: after coming off the injuries and you know, really hasn't 678 00:31:55,960 --> 00:31:59,440 Speaker 4: played a full season since twenty twenty three. What are 679 00:31:59,440 --> 00:32:03,240 Speaker 4: the expectation? What are I mean is there innings limits? 680 00:32:03,240 --> 00:32:04,680 Speaker 4: But I mean, you know, what what are you kind 681 00:32:04,720 --> 00:32:06,920 Speaker 4: of expecting of him from from this season? 682 00:32:07,680 --> 00:32:09,360 Speaker 3: I mean, it was, like you mentioned, great to see 683 00:32:09,400 --> 00:32:10,960 Speaker 3: him get back out there and compete on a major 684 00:32:11,040 --> 00:32:13,720 Speaker 3: league field. We saw stuff kind of tick back up 685 00:32:13,760 --> 00:32:17,800 Speaker 3: closer to pre injury levels. Expect him to be a 686 00:32:17,840 --> 00:32:20,640 Speaker 3: little a little finer, maybe get to get closer to 687 00:32:20,760 --> 00:32:22,720 Speaker 3: what he what we saw in twenty twenty two. When 688 00:32:23,000 --> 00:32:26,560 Speaker 3: you know l Repteel was was dominant, you know, but 689 00:32:26,600 --> 00:32:28,760 Speaker 3: we're gonna we're gonna see the good in visits and 690 00:32:28,840 --> 00:32:31,880 Speaker 3: visit fastball from him, a sweeper, the same stuff. The 691 00:32:32,000 --> 00:32:34,920 Speaker 3: change up, which was added in twenty three is still 692 00:32:34,960 --> 00:32:36,920 Speaker 3: a you know, a big piece and and something that 693 00:32:36,960 --> 00:32:39,719 Speaker 3: we think he can he can lean on. He's been 694 00:32:39,760 --> 00:32:44,520 Speaker 3: throwing in the Dominican, He's feeling good. We expect a 695 00:32:44,520 --> 00:32:47,400 Speaker 3: full workload from Christian and are excited to get him 696 00:32:47,440 --> 00:32:48,280 Speaker 3: going again in spring. 697 00:32:50,240 --> 00:32:53,440 Speaker 1: Quickly to your bullpen, where you have to feel excellent 698 00:32:53,640 --> 00:32:54,880 Speaker 1: about the back end. 699 00:32:55,720 --> 00:32:56,080 Speaker 2: Brian A. 700 00:32:56,160 --> 00:32:58,520 Speaker 1: Brew you as your setup guy. Josh Ador is your 701 00:32:58,520 --> 00:33:01,800 Speaker 1: closer can obviously those roles can flip on any day 702 00:33:01,800 --> 00:33:05,120 Speaker 1: if you need. But you feel great about those two guys. 703 00:33:05,240 --> 00:33:07,080 Speaker 1: And I think that was also the case last year. 704 00:33:07,120 --> 00:33:09,200 Speaker 1: Going in the last year, you and there was a 705 00:33:09,240 --> 00:33:12,120 Speaker 1: lot of uncertainty, I guess from us and from people 706 00:33:12,160 --> 00:33:14,520 Speaker 1: that cover the team going into camp of just like 707 00:33:14,800 --> 00:33:15,520 Speaker 1: who's going to. 708 00:33:15,480 --> 00:33:16,960 Speaker 2: Get the ball to the back end? 709 00:33:17,480 --> 00:33:19,640 Speaker 1: And then you guys just kind of answered the questions 710 00:33:19,680 --> 00:33:23,080 Speaker 1: with a bunch of you know, quite frankly, guys that 711 00:33:23,160 --> 00:33:25,320 Speaker 1: were not on my radar, Guys that you know in 712 00:33:25,360 --> 00:33:28,520 Speaker 1: our eyes, Guys that were kind of just or guys 713 00:33:28,800 --> 00:33:31,120 Speaker 1: in Tripa that that really took the next step. I'm 714 00:33:31,120 --> 00:33:35,200 Speaker 1: thinking of Brian King, Steven Okert, Caleb Ard who no 715 00:33:35,280 --> 00:33:38,520 Speaker 1: longer obviously had to get off the roster as part 716 00:33:38,520 --> 00:33:38,720 Speaker 1: of the. 717 00:33:38,720 --> 00:33:39,320 Speaker 2: Moves this year. 718 00:33:39,320 --> 00:33:43,120 Speaker 1: But as you look at the middle of the bullpen 719 00:33:43,200 --> 00:33:47,360 Speaker 1: going in the spring this year, where do you give 720 00:33:47,440 --> 00:33:50,800 Speaker 1: us some guys that you think could comprise maybe that 721 00:33:50,920 --> 00:33:54,080 Speaker 1: bridge to a bray You and Hater and maybe how 722 00:33:54,120 --> 00:33:56,560 Speaker 1: important they're going to be because Joe has been pretty 723 00:33:56,600 --> 00:34:00,360 Speaker 1: forthright that he wants to stay away from four outs 724 00:34:00,360 --> 00:34:02,520 Speaker 1: from Brian Abrady You in April and May, and the 725 00:34:02,560 --> 00:34:04,640 Speaker 1: same with Josh Hater who had the injury to him 726 00:34:04,720 --> 00:34:07,600 Speaker 1: last year. Kind Of who are going to be those 727 00:34:07,640 --> 00:34:11,840 Speaker 1: guys that absorb a lot of those leverage outs maybe between. 728 00:34:11,440 --> 00:34:13,359 Speaker 2: The sixth and the seventh and the fifth. 729 00:34:13,360 --> 00:34:16,800 Speaker 3: And we saw, you know, last year, a trifecta of 730 00:34:16,920 --> 00:34:20,120 Speaker 3: lefties that were just super good for us, and Steve Okert, 731 00:34:20,200 --> 00:34:23,680 Speaker 3: Bennett SUSA and Brian King. They're all back and expect 732 00:34:23,680 --> 00:34:27,120 Speaker 3: them to, you know, to repeat their performance. It's gonna 733 00:34:27,120 --> 00:34:29,919 Speaker 3: be hard to improve upon it. You know, we feel 734 00:34:29,920 --> 00:34:33,440 Speaker 3: real good about that group. We acquired Danielle del Santos 735 00:34:33,600 --> 00:34:35,759 Speaker 3: last year and he pitched some really big innings for 736 00:34:35,840 --> 00:34:39,960 Speaker 3: us in you know, July, August, September. He'll be back. 737 00:34:40,320 --> 00:34:43,920 Speaker 3: We had a Rule five pick from the Cincinnati organization, 738 00:34:44,040 --> 00:34:47,719 Speaker 3: Rodery Munoz, who's got a really unique, interesting slider. He 739 00:34:47,760 --> 00:34:49,960 Speaker 3: throws pretty hard, and you know, we'll see what it 740 00:34:50,000 --> 00:34:53,360 Speaker 3: looks like in camp when he gets in there. Jaden Murray, 741 00:34:53,760 --> 00:34:55,960 Speaker 3: who's been working out here in Houston, was added to 742 00:34:56,000 --> 00:34:58,600 Speaker 3: the roster last year and was also pretty dynamite for 743 00:34:58,680 --> 00:35:00,920 Speaker 3: us down the stretch. Know, he'll get a crack at 744 00:35:01,000 --> 00:35:04,160 Speaker 3: some things there. Some of those guys that we mentioned 745 00:35:04,160 --> 00:35:07,439 Speaker 3: as starting options might fall to a bullpen roll if 746 00:35:07,760 --> 00:35:10,320 Speaker 3: if we we deem that necessary, and they'd all be ready. 747 00:35:10,360 --> 00:35:12,360 Speaker 3: You know, all those guys were mentioned earlier. We have 748 00:35:12,440 --> 00:35:15,239 Speaker 3: some off you know, some non roster invite guys that 749 00:35:15,280 --> 00:35:20,399 Speaker 3: are interesting and exciting. Peter Lambert coming coming back. It's 750 00:35:20,400 --> 00:35:22,200 Speaker 3: got a you know, a link the major league track 751 00:35:22,239 --> 00:35:24,440 Speaker 3: record and then pitch in Japan last year. He'll be 752 00:35:24,480 --> 00:35:27,319 Speaker 3: back on a minor league deal. Cody Bolton was a 753 00:35:27,320 --> 00:35:30,080 Speaker 3: guy that we acquired uh end of last year. He 754 00:35:30,160 --> 00:35:32,960 Speaker 3: finished the season in Sugar Land. He'll be in camp 755 00:35:33,000 --> 00:35:35,400 Speaker 3: as an NRI I. We got some guys internally that 756 00:35:35,520 --> 00:35:42,120 Speaker 3: pitched well in uh Michael nor Hudson, Leech, Limber, Santa. 757 00:35:42,800 --> 00:35:46,280 Speaker 3: We saw Logan van Why last year. He was taking 758 00:35:46,280 --> 00:35:48,000 Speaker 3: off the forty man roster in the offseason, but his 759 00:35:48,120 --> 00:35:49,920 Speaker 3: back and he'll be in camp. So we got a 760 00:35:50,000 --> 00:35:52,279 Speaker 3: you know, a pretty good group of guys that we 761 00:35:52,360 --> 00:35:55,040 Speaker 3: feel good about. You know, the last few years, we've 762 00:35:55,040 --> 00:35:57,080 Speaker 3: seen some some guys that are not on the radar 763 00:35:57,440 --> 00:36:00,000 Speaker 3: come in and really perform and make their way up 764 00:36:00,120 --> 00:36:02,160 Speaker 3: our team. You know, we saw Louis Contreras a couple 765 00:36:02,200 --> 00:36:06,440 Speaker 3: of years ago. We had Steve Ookert last year just 766 00:36:06,920 --> 00:36:10,239 Speaker 3: come in and really really shine during spring and earn 767 00:36:10,280 --> 00:36:12,360 Speaker 3: a role and pitch some meaningful innings for us. So, 768 00:36:12,800 --> 00:36:14,480 Speaker 3: you know, we feel good about the group we have. 769 00:36:15,440 --> 00:36:17,120 Speaker 3: They're gonna have to do. It's gonna have to perform 770 00:36:17,200 --> 00:36:20,719 Speaker 3: during camp, but you know, we we expect good things. 771 00:36:22,960 --> 00:36:25,200 Speaker 1: Tyler won't ask it, so I'll ask it. He's a 772 00:36:25,200 --> 00:36:28,520 Speaker 1: big AJ blue ball guy. Tyler really likes AJ blue Ball. 773 00:36:30,760 --> 00:36:33,680 Speaker 1: He he is a starter in every sense. He's part 774 00:36:33,680 --> 00:36:36,160 Speaker 1: of the triple A rotation. Had made his major League 775 00:36:36,160 --> 00:36:39,279 Speaker 1: debut as a starter, has made some traditional starts, but 776 00:36:39,360 --> 00:36:41,200 Speaker 1: we saw him last year come out of the bullpen 777 00:36:41,280 --> 00:36:43,120 Speaker 1: and when he was able to run it up a 778 00:36:43,120 --> 00:36:45,320 Speaker 1: little bit, he got a little extra juice on it 779 00:36:45,360 --> 00:36:46,720 Speaker 1: when he knew he had. 780 00:36:46,560 --> 00:36:49,920 Speaker 2: Little short spurts. Like the stuff really really ticked up. 781 00:36:51,320 --> 00:36:54,320 Speaker 1: With the understanding that, like we talked about earlier, everyone 782 00:36:54,520 --> 00:36:56,400 Speaker 1: in that group is probably gonna be stretched out in 783 00:36:56,480 --> 00:36:59,480 Speaker 1: camp and then you guys make some decisions. But maybe 784 00:36:59,520 --> 00:37:01,680 Speaker 1: for the law term with aj blue ball kind of 785 00:37:01,760 --> 00:37:05,120 Speaker 1: where where do you think he profiles best? 786 00:37:06,760 --> 00:37:09,480 Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean I think you look at the the player. 787 00:37:09,520 --> 00:37:12,320 Speaker 3: You look at the body, the long, leanness, the stuff, 788 00:37:12,480 --> 00:37:15,360 Speaker 3: the dots like he's a he's he's a starting pitcher, 789 00:37:16,280 --> 00:37:20,919 Speaker 3: but you know, if team need requires it, he's shown 790 00:37:20,960 --> 00:37:23,759 Speaker 3: that he can be a reliever. And and you know, 791 00:37:23,800 --> 00:37:27,680 Speaker 3: the stuff was was great last year in September, you 792 00:37:27,719 --> 00:37:29,920 Speaker 3: know it was it was dynamite to see him come 793 00:37:29,960 --> 00:37:32,120 Speaker 3: up and have success, especially his his major league debut. 794 00:37:32,160 --> 00:37:35,880 Speaker 3: He threw the ball so well and was really dragged 795 00:37:35,920 --> 00:37:38,880 Speaker 3: by Like the last battery faced was a Crawford Box 796 00:37:39,440 --> 00:37:42,640 Speaker 3: Grand slam on an executed slider. It was like, oh man, 797 00:37:43,239 --> 00:37:45,040 Speaker 3: you know it's it was a tough one to feel, 798 00:37:45,239 --> 00:37:47,239 Speaker 3: but I'm glad he was able to get back to 799 00:37:47,239 --> 00:37:50,120 Speaker 3: the big leagues last year and find some success because 800 00:37:50,160 --> 00:37:53,560 Speaker 3: he is a great kid, somebody to root for. You know, 801 00:37:53,600 --> 00:37:55,600 Speaker 3: I'd expect he's gonna he's gonna play a role on 802 00:37:55,640 --> 00:37:58,200 Speaker 3: our team this year. Whatever role that is will will 803 00:37:58,680 --> 00:38:03,520 Speaker 3: be determined, But you know I expect from Aj, whether 804 00:38:03,600 --> 00:38:07,040 Speaker 3: that's as a starting pitcher or really mm hmm. 805 00:38:07,440 --> 00:38:09,879 Speaker 4: Yeah, Chandler is a hater. I don't know why. It's 806 00:38:10,000 --> 00:38:12,160 Speaker 4: very rude of him. Part of it is because I 807 00:38:12,239 --> 00:38:15,120 Speaker 4: have a very soft spot in my heart for Brad Peacock. 808 00:38:15,760 --> 00:38:18,600 Speaker 4: Uh and and blue Ball reminds me a lot of him. 809 00:38:18,719 --> 00:38:20,839 Speaker 4: Through ninety eight change ups last year, did not give 810 00:38:20,920 --> 00:38:24,239 Speaker 4: up a hit on one. It's pretty good. Uh So 811 00:38:24,840 --> 00:38:27,160 Speaker 4: you know, I'm sure he'll find a spot somewhere. 812 00:38:27,680 --> 00:38:29,680 Speaker 2: Yeah, real quick, before we let you go. 813 00:38:29,960 --> 00:38:33,640 Speaker 1: Because everyone loves prospects, I think the one, the one 814 00:38:33,719 --> 00:38:36,840 Speaker 1: pitching prospect internally from you guys that I think draws 815 00:38:36,840 --> 00:38:39,160 Speaker 1: a lot of attention is Miguel Yola, who was on 816 00:38:39,200 --> 00:38:41,319 Speaker 1: the forty man who got protected. He's on the forty 817 00:38:41,320 --> 00:38:43,799 Speaker 1: man roster now, so we'll be in camp, in big 818 00:38:43,880 --> 00:38:47,600 Speaker 1: league camp. Last year in big league camp, maybe struggled 819 00:38:47,600 --> 00:38:49,680 Speaker 1: a little bit to find the strike zone was and 820 00:38:49,719 --> 00:38:52,520 Speaker 1: that's kind of been the The knock on him a 821 00:38:52,520 --> 00:38:54,640 Speaker 1: little bit is that he does not throw a ton 822 00:38:54,680 --> 00:38:59,320 Speaker 1: of strikes, but the stuff's elite. What are you expecting 823 00:38:59,320 --> 00:39:02,040 Speaker 1: to see from Miguel maybe in his second big league camp, 824 00:39:02,080 --> 00:39:04,960 Speaker 1: maybe he his mind's at ease a little bit more. 825 00:39:05,000 --> 00:39:06,960 Speaker 1: He's maybe not going to be overthrowing as much. Kind 826 00:39:07,000 --> 00:39:08,880 Speaker 1: of what do you expect to see from him? And 827 00:39:08,960 --> 00:39:10,759 Speaker 1: what what future do you think he has? 828 00:39:11,280 --> 00:39:16,000 Speaker 3: Yeah, really a special fastball, similar career arc to Christian 829 00:39:16,040 --> 00:39:18,920 Speaker 3: Javier in the minor leagues, you know, really tough to hit, 830 00:39:19,040 --> 00:39:22,759 Speaker 3: really good fastball, gets swings and misses, maybe a little 831 00:39:22,760 --> 00:39:24,759 Speaker 3: bit radic with his command. We need to see that 832 00:39:24,800 --> 00:39:27,120 Speaker 3: improve a little bit. And he's aware he's making some changes. 833 00:39:27,840 --> 00:39:30,680 Speaker 3: They made some some changes during the season. Sean Buchanan, 834 00:39:30,880 --> 00:39:34,240 Speaker 3: our triple A pitching coach and him, you know, clean 835 00:39:34,280 --> 00:39:36,239 Speaker 3: some things up second half of the of the year 836 00:39:36,320 --> 00:39:39,239 Speaker 3: and and we saw some improvement. Expect him to hit 837 00:39:39,239 --> 00:39:41,800 Speaker 3: the ground running and maybe be a little more comfortable, 838 00:39:42,160 --> 00:39:45,080 Speaker 3: uh in in a big league camp environment. I'd expect 839 00:39:45,120 --> 00:39:46,880 Speaker 3: him to pitch on a starter schedule. But again, it's 840 00:39:46,880 --> 00:39:48,960 Speaker 3: a guy that could profile as a as a reliever 841 00:39:49,040 --> 00:39:51,480 Speaker 3: depending on how things shake out and how things go. 842 00:39:51,600 --> 00:39:55,440 Speaker 3: But you know, he's uh, he's got a special fastball, 843 00:39:55,480 --> 00:39:59,640 Speaker 3: he's got some some interesting secondary pitches, and you know 844 00:39:59,640 --> 00:40:01,080 Speaker 3: the name of the game is to be able to 845 00:40:01,080 --> 00:40:04,280 Speaker 3: command him and throw strikes and and minimize the walks, 846 00:40:04,320 --> 00:40:06,799 Speaker 3: and that allow him to have success. And and you 847 00:40:06,840 --> 00:40:09,280 Speaker 3: know we're gonna work to improve that that area. 848 00:40:09,920 --> 00:40:12,719 Speaker 4: You know, there's the saying is there's no such thing 849 00:40:12,719 --> 00:40:15,279 Speaker 4: as too much pitching. I think you guys proved that 850 00:40:15,360 --> 00:40:17,000 Speaker 4: last year. Do you know, off the top of your 851 00:40:17,040 --> 00:40:19,120 Speaker 4: head how many guys you had throw more than ten 852 00:40:19,200 --> 00:40:20,319 Speaker 4: innings for you last year? 853 00:40:20,800 --> 00:40:21,080 Speaker 2: Oh? 854 00:40:21,120 --> 00:40:25,480 Speaker 3: Man, I know that. I know that, Like I guess, 855 00:40:25,000 --> 00:40:28,720 Speaker 3: I mean, I would say, like twenty. 856 00:40:31,480 --> 00:40:36,080 Speaker 4: Twenty seven, twenty seven is exactly right. Twenty seven guys 857 00:40:36,120 --> 00:40:38,799 Speaker 4: through ten or more innings for the shows last year. 858 00:40:38,960 --> 00:40:41,800 Speaker 3: So that's not even counting our counting our best guy, which. 859 00:40:41,680 --> 00:40:44,880 Speaker 4: Was you lost your star reliever in Chas McCormick. 860 00:40:44,960 --> 00:40:47,320 Speaker 3: That's what I was gonna say, Chas McCormick and says, 861 00:40:47,360 --> 00:40:55,719 Speaker 3: our Salazar really and Cooper Hummel, you know, not a great. 862 00:40:52,880 --> 00:40:56,279 Speaker 2: You got Sally back though, so yeah, hopefully you won't 863 00:40:56,280 --> 00:40:56,640 Speaker 2: need him. 864 00:40:56,960 --> 00:40:59,399 Speaker 4: But you know, I mean that that just goes to show. 865 00:40:59,440 --> 00:41:02,600 Speaker 4: And I mean, as you know, opening day roster is 866 00:41:02,600 --> 00:41:06,760 Speaker 4: a snapshot, but there's twenty six total players on that roster. 867 00:41:07,040 --> 00:41:10,320 Speaker 4: You had twenty seven guys throw ten or more innings 868 00:41:10,400 --> 00:41:13,040 Speaker 4: last year, so it's it's not set in stone for sure. 869 00:41:13,400 --> 00:41:16,759 Speaker 1: Yeah before okay, really the last one before we let 870 00:41:16,840 --> 00:41:19,400 Speaker 1: you go, Josh, if I would have told you in 871 00:41:19,440 --> 00:41:23,759 Speaker 1: twenty eighteen, when from ber Valdez comes to the big 872 00:41:23,840 --> 00:41:26,360 Speaker 1: leagues and you lay your eyes on him and you 873 00:41:26,640 --> 00:41:29,000 Speaker 1: get to see him that first year, if I would 874 00:41:29,000 --> 00:41:30,920 Speaker 1: have told you this guy's going to be a forty 875 00:41:30,920 --> 00:41:34,080 Speaker 1: million dollar a year pitcher in twenty eighteen, what would 876 00:41:34,080 --> 00:41:34,560 Speaker 1: you have said? 877 00:41:36,680 --> 00:41:38,640 Speaker 3: I would have been flabberg acid. I wouldn't have had 878 00:41:38,640 --> 00:41:45,520 Speaker 3: any words, wouldn't have any words. It was amazing, Forever 879 00:41:45,680 --> 00:41:47,960 Speaker 3: grateful for the things he did for the organization. Here 880 00:41:48,000 --> 00:41:50,319 Speaker 3: we go way back to Kassimi, Florida, when he came 881 00:41:50,360 --> 00:41:54,280 Speaker 3: over from the Dominican Complex announced in the minor league system, 882 00:41:54,880 --> 00:41:59,640 Speaker 3: tremendous worker, what a what a great picture, I'll be 883 00:41:59,719 --> 00:42:02,600 Speaker 3: rooting form when he's not pitched against us and hope 884 00:42:02,640 --> 00:42:03,480 Speaker 3: good things for Fever. 885 00:42:04,440 --> 00:42:10,120 Speaker 1: It's truly incredible. You know, twenty eighteen, twenty nineteen Fromber 886 00:42:10,239 --> 00:42:13,000 Speaker 1: was probably not I mean twenty nineteen there was a 887 00:42:13,120 --> 00:42:14,440 Speaker 1: case to be made. He was on the forty man 888 00:42:14,600 --> 00:42:17,000 Speaker 1: roster chopping block, and then in the next five seasons 889 00:42:17,520 --> 00:42:19,719 Speaker 1: had a one twenty eight r A plus in nine 890 00:42:19,800 --> 00:42:22,080 Speaker 1: hundred and seventy three innings and won a World Series 891 00:42:22,120 --> 00:42:22,680 Speaker 1: clinching game. 892 00:42:22,719 --> 00:42:24,400 Speaker 2: For you, guys, it is he is. 893 00:42:24,719 --> 00:42:28,320 Speaker 1: He embodies player development success and Josh, you are a 894 00:42:28,320 --> 00:42:32,520 Speaker 1: big part of that. Player development. Pitching development Fromber is 895 00:42:32,760 --> 00:42:34,720 Speaker 1: at the top of the list in terms of guys 896 00:42:34,719 --> 00:42:38,040 Speaker 1: that you have developed in, guys that you have nurtured 897 00:42:38,080 --> 00:42:40,879 Speaker 1: through struggles early and things like that. But you've got 898 00:42:40,880 --> 00:42:43,320 Speaker 1: a ton of those guys still on your roster Javier 899 00:42:43,440 --> 00:42:45,520 Speaker 1: Hunter Brown, just to name a few. 900 00:42:45,600 --> 00:42:47,879 Speaker 2: But we really appreciate this. This was great. 901 00:42:47,920 --> 00:42:49,600 Speaker 1: I told you we keep you for twenty five minutes, 902 00:42:49,640 --> 00:42:51,600 Speaker 1: and we kept you for forty three, So that's my fault. 903 00:42:52,719 --> 00:42:57,160 Speaker 1: Thank you again for taking time from dyke In Park 904 00:42:57,280 --> 00:42:59,120 Speaker 1: to join us, and before I know, it's going to 905 00:42:59,160 --> 00:43:01,799 Speaker 1: get busy as you get to Wes Palm, but this 906 00:43:01,880 --> 00:43:04,080 Speaker 1: was great. We really appreciate you giving us some insight 907 00:43:04,160 --> 00:43:06,920 Speaker 1: to a new look Astro's pitching staff. 908 00:43:07,560 --> 00:43:10,440 Speaker 3: No problem, Thanks guys. Nice talking to you as always. 909 00:43:10,440 --> 00:43:13,160 Speaker 1: Guys, you can follow me on Exit Chandler Underscore Room. 910 00:43:13,160 --> 00:43:15,600 Speaker 1: You can follow Tyler at Tyler C. Stafford. Please rate 911 00:43:15,640 --> 00:43:18,400 Speaker 1: and review us on Apple and Spotify. You can subscribe 912 00:43:18,440 --> 00:43:21,520 Speaker 1: to the YouTube channel as well to get notified every 913 00:43:21,520 --> 00:43:23,520 Speaker 1: time we post a new video. We will be back 914 00:43:23,680 --> 00:43:27,080 Speaker 1: later this week with a more comprehensive preview, maybe of 915 00:43:27,120 --> 00:43:30,439 Speaker 1: the offensive side before we get to West Palm Beach, 916 00:43:30,480 --> 00:43:32,520 Speaker 1: but until then, we will talk to you later. 917 00:43:33,200 --> 00:44:03,160 Speaker 4: Lagrasso is always greener on the other side. Bye.