1 00:00:05,640 --> 00:00:06,520 Speaker 1: What's up? Everybody. 2 00:00:06,600 --> 00:00:09,800 Speaker 2: Welcome into another episode of Crush City Territory. My name 3 00:00:09,840 --> 00:00:12,520 Speaker 2: is Chandler Room and here with Tyler Stafford and Tyler. 4 00:00:13,280 --> 00:00:17,200 Speaker 2: I feel like I'm obligated to ask this because we're 5 00:00:17,239 --> 00:00:20,360 Speaker 2: two young, hip people that have a podcast in the 6 00:00:20,400 --> 00:00:22,239 Speaker 2: year twenty twenty five. What do you feel about the 7 00:00:22,320 --> 00:00:24,599 Speaker 2: Luka doncic Ad trade. 8 00:00:25,280 --> 00:00:29,120 Speaker 3: Yeah, I woke up to that news this morning. I 9 00:00:29,160 --> 00:00:32,280 Speaker 3: watched my first basketball game of the year last night. 10 00:00:33,520 --> 00:00:37,960 Speaker 3: I fell asleep to the Rockets losing by thirty or something, 11 00:00:38,840 --> 00:00:43,440 Speaker 3: and so that was my entire intake of basketball so 12 00:00:43,520 --> 00:00:48,680 Speaker 3: far this year. I just keep seeing everyone trying to 13 00:00:48,720 --> 00:00:53,120 Speaker 3: put it in terms of other sports, you know, of like, oh, 14 00:00:53,200 --> 00:00:56,720 Speaker 3: this is the craziest trade ever. It seems weird. I 15 00:00:56,760 --> 00:01:01,480 Speaker 3: don't understand it, which feels like feels like most people's 16 00:01:01,520 --> 00:01:03,840 Speaker 3: reaction to it. It does not make a ton of sense. 17 00:01:04,440 --> 00:01:04,679 Speaker 1: Yeah. 18 00:01:04,680 --> 00:01:07,840 Speaker 2: I was at the Rockets game last night. Got to 19 00:01:07,880 --> 00:01:10,880 Speaker 2: watch Ben Simmons, who apparently plays for the Nets. Now 20 00:01:10,880 --> 00:01:12,440 Speaker 2: he comes off the bench for the Nets. You know, 21 00:01:12,680 --> 00:01:15,200 Speaker 2: he got picked first overall. Once upon a time went 22 00:01:15,240 --> 00:01:18,320 Speaker 2: to a nice school. He went there to film a documentary. 23 00:01:18,319 --> 00:01:20,080 Speaker 2: He didn't really go to LSU to like take classes 24 00:01:20,120 --> 00:01:23,319 Speaker 2: or anything. He filmed a documentary there for six months, 25 00:01:23,760 --> 00:01:24,880 Speaker 2: but he. 26 00:01:24,840 --> 00:01:25,600 Speaker 1: Came off the bench. 27 00:01:25,760 --> 00:01:29,200 Speaker 2: Trenton Watford played for the Nets, another LSU on the 28 00:01:29,280 --> 00:01:30,480 Speaker 2: Rockets just got housed. 29 00:01:30,600 --> 00:01:31,160 Speaker 1: Good God. 30 00:01:31,680 --> 00:01:33,760 Speaker 2: And then Reed Shepherd got in, like in the third 31 00:01:33,800 --> 00:01:35,520 Speaker 2: coorre when they're putting Reed Sheppard in like you know, 32 00:01:35,560 --> 00:01:38,760 Speaker 2: it's over, it's blouses. So he got to make some threes. 33 00:01:38,800 --> 00:01:39,319 Speaker 1: It was cool. 34 00:01:39,360 --> 00:01:42,360 Speaker 2: Everyone kind of patted him on the head. But Jim 35 00:01:42,400 --> 00:01:45,480 Speaker 2: Crane was court side. Jim Crane was court sided last 36 00:01:45,520 --> 00:01:47,320 Speaker 2: night at the Rockets game. He got up a couple 37 00:01:47,319 --> 00:01:52,400 Speaker 2: of times. Watched him get on the phone. So I've moves. 38 00:01:52,640 --> 00:01:54,840 Speaker 2: I thought, is oh man, Scott Morris is calling. He's 39 00:01:54,840 --> 00:01:57,640 Speaker 2: gonna take him away from this court side game. And 40 00:01:57,960 --> 00:02:00,520 Speaker 2: nothing's happened. So if it was Scott Bore, they couldn't 41 00:02:00,520 --> 00:02:05,120 Speaker 2: get anything done. So we sit here today Alex Bregman. 42 00:02:05,240 --> 00:02:09,359 Speaker 2: As of Sunday afternoon when we were recording this, Alex 43 00:02:09,400 --> 00:02:15,320 Speaker 2: Bregman remains unsigned. One of the Astros fallback plans. Jorge 44 00:02:15,360 --> 00:02:19,920 Speaker 2: Polanco has signed. He signed with the Seattle Mariners. Got 45 00:02:19,960 --> 00:02:23,320 Speaker 2: seven point seventy five million guaranteed on a one year 46 00:02:23,360 --> 00:02:26,680 Speaker 2: deal with a mutual option for twenty twenty six based 47 00:02:26,720 --> 00:02:31,360 Speaker 2: off how many plate appearances he will accrue. I had 48 00:02:31,400 --> 00:02:33,240 Speaker 2: said on the last podcast, and I believed it to 49 00:02:33,280 --> 00:02:36,200 Speaker 2: be true that I thought the Astros would sign one 50 00:02:36,360 --> 00:02:40,799 Speaker 2: of Jorge Polanco or Alex Bregman. That was kind of 51 00:02:40,840 --> 00:02:45,679 Speaker 2: their plan. My informed speculation is I don't think they 52 00:02:45,760 --> 00:02:50,080 Speaker 2: thought Jorge Polanco would get that much money. My understanding 53 00:02:50,120 --> 00:02:52,120 Speaker 2: is they got outbid by the Mariners for a guy 54 00:02:52,200 --> 00:02:56,480 Speaker 2: that had knee surgery in October on his left knee, 55 00:02:56,480 --> 00:02:59,080 Speaker 2: but has been fully cleared to play one hundred percent 56 00:02:59,120 --> 00:03:00,799 Speaker 2: going into spring training, should be ready for the start 57 00:03:00,800 --> 00:03:04,600 Speaker 2: of the regular season. The Astros, if they signed him, 58 00:03:05,000 --> 00:03:07,919 Speaker 2: we're going to play him at second base primarily. But 59 00:03:08,040 --> 00:03:10,160 Speaker 2: it was al two V and left field kind of 60 00:03:10,160 --> 00:03:13,320 Speaker 2: shore up their their infield defense and solve the problem 61 00:03:13,320 --> 00:03:16,880 Speaker 2: and left. So now with Jorge Polanco gone, Tyler, is 62 00:03:16,919 --> 00:03:19,840 Speaker 2: it in your mind? Is it Alex Bregman or bust 63 00:03:20,080 --> 00:03:24,799 Speaker 2: or have you scoured trade rumors or anything that could 64 00:03:24,880 --> 00:03:27,240 Speaker 2: tell you that could give you like another name to 65 00:03:27,400 --> 00:03:29,120 Speaker 2: throw at me to see if the Ashers can make 66 00:03:29,120 --> 00:03:29,560 Speaker 2: this work. 67 00:03:30,400 --> 00:03:33,520 Speaker 3: Yeah, they're running out of people and running out of 68 00:03:33,520 --> 00:03:36,240 Speaker 3: time at this point, right, I mean, spring training is 69 00:03:36,280 --> 00:03:40,120 Speaker 3: in like three weeks. Uh, you know, I've been I've 70 00:03:40,120 --> 00:03:42,760 Speaker 3: been talking to some people. You know, baseball it's not 71 00:03:42,800 --> 00:03:45,640 Speaker 3: like football or you know other sports where you have 72 00:03:45,680 --> 00:03:48,240 Speaker 3: to come in and like learn the playbook or whatever. Right, 73 00:03:48,360 --> 00:03:51,119 Speaker 3: Like Alex Bregman knows how to play at third base. 74 00:03:51,160 --> 00:03:54,960 Speaker 3: It's not like he needs spring training other than just 75 00:03:55,200 --> 00:03:58,080 Speaker 3: going through the motions of doing spring training, getting reps, 76 00:03:58,160 --> 00:04:04,000 Speaker 3: those types of things. But it is getting awfully close, man. 77 00:04:05,720 --> 00:04:08,160 Speaker 3: I mean, I've been between jobs and we had to 78 00:04:08,360 --> 00:04:12,720 Speaker 3: push off getting you know, teeth cleaned and health insurance. 79 00:04:12,760 --> 00:04:17,320 Speaker 3: So I'm hoping he's okay over there. You know, I'm sure, 80 00:04:17,560 --> 00:04:21,680 Speaker 3: I'm sure he's doing fine. But but yeah, it's uh, 81 00:04:22,240 --> 00:04:26,520 Speaker 3: it's it's very weird. I keep waiting for something to happen, 82 00:04:26,560 --> 00:04:29,560 Speaker 3: and it just seems like, you know, it's gonna be 83 00:04:29,600 --> 00:04:31,440 Speaker 3: one of those things that goes up right until the 84 00:04:31,520 --> 00:04:32,360 Speaker 3: season starts. 85 00:04:32,400 --> 00:04:33,000 Speaker 1: At this point. 86 00:04:33,839 --> 00:04:37,080 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think the thing about spring training that and 87 00:04:37,120 --> 00:04:39,440 Speaker 2: we'll we will talk about this when we get down 88 00:04:39,480 --> 00:04:42,679 Speaker 2: to spring training in a week or so. Spring training 89 00:04:42,800 --> 00:04:45,320 Speaker 2: is there are a lot of stuff things in spring 90 00:04:45,360 --> 00:04:46,880 Speaker 2: training that you can do. You don't have to come 91 00:04:46,920 --> 00:04:49,880 Speaker 2: to the facility to do. Like Alex Bregman can take 92 00:04:50,040 --> 00:04:53,080 Speaker 2: as much batting practice as he wants at his training 93 00:04:53,080 --> 00:04:56,200 Speaker 2: facility in Arizona. He can field as many ground balls 94 00:04:56,240 --> 00:04:58,039 Speaker 2: as he wants do all those drills. All you need 95 00:04:58,160 --> 00:05:00,919 Speaker 2: is someone to hit you said ground ball, someone to 96 00:05:00,960 --> 00:05:04,200 Speaker 2: throw you batting practice, basically some pals to be around 97 00:05:04,200 --> 00:05:06,560 Speaker 2: to help you out. Where it really gets into it 98 00:05:06,600 --> 00:05:09,160 Speaker 2: is the live pitching, and he probably needs to be 99 00:05:09,200 --> 00:05:13,000 Speaker 2: in camp before games start, obviously before you know, to 100 00:05:13,000 --> 00:05:16,159 Speaker 2: see some live pitching tracks, some live pitching. But but 101 00:05:16,560 --> 00:05:18,919 Speaker 2: as someone that's covered pregnant since he was a freshman 102 00:05:18,960 --> 00:05:22,480 Speaker 2: at LSU, like, I don't know how he's handling this, 103 00:05:22,600 --> 00:05:25,240 Speaker 2: because he's always the guy that wants to be the 104 00:05:25,240 --> 00:05:26,919 Speaker 2: first one in spring training. He wants to be the 105 00:05:26,920 --> 00:05:30,640 Speaker 2: first guy there. He's a baseball rat like he. It 106 00:05:31,040 --> 00:05:34,960 Speaker 2: would surprise pale guy brings his lunch pale to work 107 00:05:35,200 --> 00:05:36,479 Speaker 2: a gritty dirt ball. 108 00:05:37,480 --> 00:05:40,240 Speaker 3: We're just getting a real, a real Wes Welker type. 109 00:05:40,839 --> 00:05:41,120 Speaker 1: You know. 110 00:05:41,320 --> 00:05:45,120 Speaker 2: Bill Belichick's at UNC somewhere just having some having some 111 00:05:45,160 --> 00:05:49,240 Speaker 2: binoculars on him. I wonder how he's handling just the 112 00:05:49,279 --> 00:05:51,840 Speaker 2: fact that we are getting close to spring training and 113 00:05:51,920 --> 00:05:54,240 Speaker 2: he doesn't have a home. I think he I think 114 00:05:54,279 --> 00:05:55,840 Speaker 2: we're at the point now where he kind of has 115 00:05:55,880 --> 00:05:58,960 Speaker 2: an idea. You know, We've talked about the five teams 116 00:05:58,960 --> 00:06:02,400 Speaker 2: that remain in on him, and I think he's probably 117 00:06:02,520 --> 00:06:04,719 Speaker 2: allowed himself to think, all right, I'm probably going to 118 00:06:04,720 --> 00:06:06,000 Speaker 2: be in one of these five places. 119 00:06:06,000 --> 00:06:07,760 Speaker 1: So maybe that helps him a little bit. 120 00:06:07,839 --> 00:06:12,320 Speaker 2: But yeah, you're right, this is dragging I think longer 121 00:06:12,360 --> 00:06:16,279 Speaker 2: than all of us are. Maybe many of us expected 122 00:06:16,440 --> 00:06:18,640 Speaker 2: I thought, I mean, and Dana Brown has said it. 123 00:06:18,680 --> 00:06:21,560 Speaker 2: They thought Alex Bregman would be long gone by now, 124 00:06:21,680 --> 00:06:25,400 Speaker 2: long signed. And you know, speaking of that, speaking of 125 00:06:25,480 --> 00:06:28,160 Speaker 2: you know, Dana Brown saying that we talked on the 126 00:06:28,160 --> 00:06:32,640 Speaker 2: podcast last time about our last part about Dana Brown's 127 00:06:32,640 --> 00:06:37,320 Speaker 2: tendencies to be candid. He does a very poor job 128 00:06:37,480 --> 00:06:41,640 Speaker 2: of hiding his hiding what he really feels. He wears 129 00:06:41,640 --> 00:06:46,280 Speaker 2: his emotions on his sleeve. He tells the truth. Tyler, 130 00:06:46,440 --> 00:06:49,240 Speaker 2: I don't have you followed much of like what Dana 131 00:06:49,279 --> 00:06:52,359 Speaker 2: has said on the record about the Bregmant situation. 132 00:06:53,600 --> 00:06:57,680 Speaker 3: I mean, I see your tweets. I don't know if 133 00:06:57,720 --> 00:07:00,680 Speaker 3: that counts. I haven't been in vivid any of these 134 00:07:00,760 --> 00:07:05,120 Speaker 3: zoom meetings, so you know, yeah, falling along. But I mean, 135 00:07:06,279 --> 00:07:09,200 Speaker 3: like you said, he seems like as shocked as anybody 136 00:07:09,279 --> 00:07:13,040 Speaker 3: that it's still out there, and he also doesn't seem 137 00:07:13,080 --> 00:07:18,080 Speaker 3: particularly motivated or excited about it. 138 00:07:18,960 --> 00:07:22,040 Speaker 2: He's not and if you listen to everything he says, 139 00:07:23,560 --> 00:07:26,640 Speaker 2: I think tepid is probably too light of a word 140 00:07:26,760 --> 00:07:30,560 Speaker 2: to describe how he has talked about Alex Bregman. To me, 141 00:07:30,680 --> 00:07:33,960 Speaker 2: he just seems unenthusiastic about the whole thing. He is 142 00:07:34,080 --> 00:07:37,040 Speaker 2: talking like someone that doesn't want to do this. 143 00:07:37,600 --> 00:07:37,920 Speaker 1: Now. 144 00:07:38,440 --> 00:07:40,640 Speaker 2: Does that mean that that is true? Does that mean 145 00:07:40,640 --> 00:07:42,360 Speaker 2: that for the first time in his two and a 146 00:07:42,400 --> 00:07:45,600 Speaker 2: half years as general manager, he is you know, doing 147 00:07:45,640 --> 00:07:48,800 Speaker 2: well about hiding his emotions and hiding what he really feels. 148 00:07:48,960 --> 00:07:51,200 Speaker 2: I'm not sure, but if you look at some of 149 00:07:51,280 --> 00:07:53,760 Speaker 2: what he has said in the last you know, week, 150 00:07:53,840 --> 00:07:56,520 Speaker 2: week and a half, he's made it a point to 151 00:07:56,560 --> 00:07:58,840 Speaker 2: call this a long shot. He's made it a point 152 00:07:58,880 --> 00:08:03,560 Speaker 2: to say we're having internal conversations. He's made it a 153 00:08:03,600 --> 00:08:06,720 Speaker 2: point to say, you know, we it's close to spring training. 154 00:08:06,760 --> 00:08:08,680 Speaker 2: We thought Alex Bregnant would be gone by now, but 155 00:08:08,800 --> 00:08:11,040 Speaker 2: I guess we kind of have to check in now that. 156 00:08:11,000 --> 00:08:12,960 Speaker 1: He's not signed anywhere. 157 00:08:13,960 --> 00:08:17,360 Speaker 2: He even went so far on the on a Zoom 158 00:08:17,880 --> 00:08:21,520 Speaker 2: after Ryan Presley's trade to say that Scott Boris had 159 00:08:21,560 --> 00:08:25,800 Speaker 2: texted him and he had not texted Scott Boris back. 160 00:08:26,120 --> 00:08:28,360 Speaker 1: Basically to say that he owes him on read. 161 00:08:29,360 --> 00:08:31,360 Speaker 2: That's gotta that's gotta be not a that's gotta be 162 00:08:31,440 --> 00:08:33,959 Speaker 2: unflattering for Scott Boris to get left on red by 163 00:08:34,080 --> 00:08:36,800 Speaker 2: by Dana Brown like you're Scott Boris man, Like he 164 00:08:37,240 --> 00:08:38,600 Speaker 2: feels like he can get a call back. 165 00:08:38,920 --> 00:08:41,000 Speaker 1: Yeah. 166 00:08:41,040 --> 00:08:44,800 Speaker 2: So all that being said, like it, it has prompted 167 00:08:44,800 --> 00:08:49,240 Speaker 2: the question for me, like who inside the Astros, Like 168 00:08:49,600 --> 00:08:54,040 Speaker 2: who really wants Alex pregnant? And I think we kind 169 00:08:54,040 --> 00:08:57,160 Speaker 2: of can all draw our conclusions here. It was the 170 00:08:57,160 --> 00:09:00,800 Speaker 2: guy sitting courtside last night at the Rockets game, when 171 00:09:00,840 --> 00:09:04,319 Speaker 2: you're talking about the sort of offer that the Ashers 172 00:09:04,320 --> 00:09:06,280 Speaker 2: have on the table for Alex Bregman six years, one 173 00:09:06,360 --> 00:09:09,040 Speaker 2: hundred and fifty six million dollars, I'd be the largest 174 00:09:09,040 --> 00:09:13,199 Speaker 2: contract in franchise history. You don't give out the largest 175 00:09:13,200 --> 00:09:16,079 Speaker 2: contract in franchise history if you're the Astros, if you're 176 00:09:16,160 --> 00:09:19,120 Speaker 2: the Blue Jays, if you're the pirates. If you're the Rays, 177 00:09:19,400 --> 00:09:22,600 Speaker 2: you don't give that out without ownership input. 178 00:09:22,840 --> 00:09:25,240 Speaker 1: So too a lot. 179 00:09:25,280 --> 00:09:27,880 Speaker 2: There's always been a lot said about Jim Crane's involvement 180 00:09:27,960 --> 00:09:31,520 Speaker 2: in baseball operations, and everyone wants to kind of excoriate 181 00:09:31,559 --> 00:09:34,280 Speaker 2: that that they don't like that he's involved. But I'm 182 00:09:34,280 --> 00:09:36,920 Speaker 2: here to tell you that in this situation, the owner 183 00:09:36,960 --> 00:09:39,839 Speaker 2: would be involved in thirty of thirty franchises. When you're 184 00:09:39,840 --> 00:09:43,000 Speaker 2: talking about the biggest contract in franchise history, you're talking 185 00:09:43,040 --> 00:09:46,480 Speaker 2: about money and years, talking about a franchise icon like Bregman. 186 00:09:47,720 --> 00:09:50,600 Speaker 2: It seems to me, and again this is purely I'm 187 00:09:50,640 --> 00:09:53,200 Speaker 2: going off of what Dana Brown has said on the record. 188 00:09:53,440 --> 00:09:55,959 Speaker 2: I'm going off some of the reporting that's been out 189 00:09:55,960 --> 00:09:59,520 Speaker 2: there from other outlets, some of the reporting that I've done. 190 00:10:00,040 --> 00:10:01,720 Speaker 2: It does seem to me that this is if this 191 00:10:01,840 --> 00:10:04,160 Speaker 2: is going to get done, it is going to be 192 00:10:04,360 --> 00:10:09,000 Speaker 2: something that Jim Crane spearheads that Jim Crane, this is 193 00:10:09,040 --> 00:10:11,640 Speaker 2: going to be something that if it gets done, Jim 194 00:10:11,679 --> 00:10:12,560 Speaker 2: Crane wants it done. 195 00:10:13,200 --> 00:10:14,240 Speaker 1: Yeah. 196 00:10:14,440 --> 00:10:17,520 Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean, like you said, I mean that that's 197 00:10:17,600 --> 00:10:21,160 Speaker 3: not unique to Crane and the Astros. I mean, if 198 00:10:21,160 --> 00:10:23,679 Speaker 3: you're if you're handing out this size of a contract, 199 00:10:23,840 --> 00:10:26,840 Speaker 3: that's what it's gonna be. But I assume, I mean, 200 00:10:26,880 --> 00:10:30,559 Speaker 3: obviously that's why Boris is really good at what he does, 201 00:10:30,720 --> 00:10:33,120 Speaker 3: is that he knows he just has to get one 202 00:10:33,120 --> 00:10:36,120 Speaker 3: of these owners to say, you know what, I want 203 00:10:36,200 --> 00:10:40,080 Speaker 3: this guy more than anybody else. And I I mean, 204 00:10:40,360 --> 00:10:42,760 Speaker 3: it could be as simple as you just wake up 205 00:10:42,760 --> 00:10:45,720 Speaker 3: on the wrong side of the bed tomorrow morning and go, 206 00:10:46,320 --> 00:10:48,120 Speaker 3: I'm tired of this, I'm tired of reading this in 207 00:10:48,160 --> 00:10:50,280 Speaker 3: the news every day. Let's just get it over with 208 00:10:51,320 --> 00:10:56,320 Speaker 3: and somebody signs him and it goes that quickly. But yeah, 209 00:10:56,360 --> 00:10:59,880 Speaker 3: I mean, it's it's wild to me that that he's 210 00:11:00,040 --> 00:11:02,200 Speaker 3: ill jobless at this point. 211 00:11:03,320 --> 00:11:06,480 Speaker 2: And I wonder, you know, maybe in a more macro sense, 212 00:11:06,600 --> 00:11:09,880 Speaker 2: a grander sense we talked about, you know, Jim. Jim 213 00:11:09,960 --> 00:11:15,280 Speaker 2: has been involved in baseball operations decisions since they quote 214 00:11:15,320 --> 00:11:19,280 Speaker 2: unquote parted ways with James Klick after the twenty twenty 215 00:11:19,320 --> 00:11:22,080 Speaker 2: two season. We don't need to relitigate the winter of 216 00:11:22,160 --> 00:11:25,240 Speaker 2: twenty twenty two of Rafael Montero and Joseo Brady. Actually 217 00:11:25,240 --> 00:11:27,240 Speaker 2: we will do that a little bit later, but right 218 00:11:27,280 --> 00:11:29,400 Speaker 2: now we don't have to. We know, what happened, then 219 00:11:29,679 --> 00:11:33,280 Speaker 2: they're still paying for that. In general, Tyler like, how 220 00:11:33,320 --> 00:11:36,880 Speaker 2: do you feel about owners like Jim Crane? 221 00:11:36,880 --> 00:11:39,960 Speaker 1: A guy that this this is true? 222 00:11:40,160 --> 00:11:43,880 Speaker 2: Jim Crane is, if not the most successful sports owner 223 00:11:43,920 --> 00:11:46,760 Speaker 2: in Houston history. He's right up there. I don't even 224 00:11:46,800 --> 00:11:50,600 Speaker 2: know who you would put him on par with. Very 225 00:11:50,679 --> 00:11:53,319 Speaker 2: few owners in the history of this city have overseen 226 00:11:53,360 --> 00:11:56,199 Speaker 2: the success that Jim Crane is overseen with the Astros. 227 00:11:57,440 --> 00:12:01,120 Speaker 2: At the same time, we have seen how things in 228 00:12:01,160 --> 00:12:04,319 Speaker 2: the last couple of years have gone a little bit 229 00:12:04,480 --> 00:12:05,880 Speaker 2: astray with. 230 00:12:06,200 --> 00:12:07,800 Speaker 1: Him having some influencer. 231 00:12:08,120 --> 00:12:11,360 Speaker 2: So I guess overall, what have you made of as 232 00:12:11,360 --> 00:12:13,600 Speaker 2: a fan that's just kind of consuming the game from 233 00:12:13,640 --> 00:12:15,520 Speaker 2: a different lens than I am? What have you made 234 00:12:15,720 --> 00:12:20,240 Speaker 2: of Jim's increasing involvement in baseball operations decisions? 235 00:12:21,080 --> 00:12:23,360 Speaker 3: I mean, I would say, on a sliding scale, you 236 00:12:23,360 --> 00:12:27,280 Speaker 3: would prefer to have your owner be interested in the 237 00:12:27,320 --> 00:12:30,520 Speaker 3: sport that they own a team of, right, Like, it 238 00:12:30,600 --> 00:12:34,240 Speaker 3: is better to have an owner who knows who the 239 00:12:34,280 --> 00:12:37,720 Speaker 3: players are and who cares and is following and is 240 00:12:37,800 --> 00:12:45,040 Speaker 3: interested in the game. You know, most of the success 241 00:12:45,040 --> 00:12:49,960 Speaker 3: of the Astros had, obviously was when Crane had a 242 00:12:49,960 --> 00:12:57,280 Speaker 3: more hands off approach, and even you know, the success 243 00:12:57,520 --> 00:13:01,160 Speaker 3: after the science stealing and all of that after Luno 244 00:13:01,280 --> 00:13:04,360 Speaker 3: left and you know, all of those things and Crane 245 00:13:04,400 --> 00:13:06,600 Speaker 3: really came in and and and put his hands on 246 00:13:06,640 --> 00:13:07,040 Speaker 3: the team. 247 00:13:07,640 --> 00:13:09,720 Speaker 1: So much of the success was just a. 248 00:13:09,679 --> 00:13:13,720 Speaker 3: Continuation of what was already built, right Like, there there 249 00:13:13,760 --> 00:13:15,480 Speaker 3: hasn't been a real move. 250 00:13:16,640 --> 00:13:17,280 Speaker 1: I mean. 251 00:13:19,160 --> 00:13:22,079 Speaker 3: Really, I mean, there really has not been a move 252 00:13:22,360 --> 00:13:25,480 Speaker 3: that you could point to that you could say, oh, look, 253 00:13:26,640 --> 00:13:29,080 Speaker 3: the Astros have done this in the last five years. 254 00:13:29,120 --> 00:13:32,360 Speaker 3: This was a great move. This is you know, something 255 00:13:32,360 --> 00:13:34,960 Speaker 3: that really took them over the top, or you know, 256 00:13:35,040 --> 00:13:38,120 Speaker 3: something like that that there just hasn't been anything like that. 257 00:13:38,120 --> 00:13:40,280 Speaker 3: That's not to say that that's not coming. You know, 258 00:13:40,720 --> 00:13:44,800 Speaker 3: so much of that is just draft picks and even 259 00:13:44,840 --> 00:13:47,240 Speaker 3: like small free agent signings, right like you look back 260 00:13:47,280 --> 00:13:51,679 Speaker 3: at you know, Michael Brantley, that that first contract, it 261 00:13:51,720 --> 00:13:55,120 Speaker 3: was kind of unheralded and then turns out to be 262 00:13:55,400 --> 00:13:59,480 Speaker 3: a humongous asset for the Astros. Like those things can happen. 263 00:14:00,080 --> 00:14:03,760 Speaker 3: They took swings at Montero and a bray you and 264 00:14:04,440 --> 00:14:08,800 Speaker 3: you know it's not like when that happened, everybody was 265 00:14:08,880 --> 00:14:12,040 Speaker 3: just it wasn't like the Luca trade right, it wasn't 266 00:14:12,120 --> 00:14:14,800 Speaker 3: like the entire internet's like what are you doing? 267 00:14:14,880 --> 00:14:15,040 Speaker 1: Right? 268 00:14:15,080 --> 00:14:18,880 Speaker 3: Like it made sense. So it's not like it's not 269 00:14:18,920 --> 00:14:26,720 Speaker 3: like the decisions have been bad or have been you know, 270 00:14:26,960 --> 00:14:32,640 Speaker 3: difficult to understand. But sometimes you want you want somebody 271 00:14:32,680 --> 00:14:37,120 Speaker 3: making decisions that maybe you don't understand or they're ahead 272 00:14:37,160 --> 00:14:39,800 Speaker 3: of you. Right Like if all of Twitter is following 273 00:14:39,800 --> 00:14:43,000 Speaker 3: along and it's like thumbs up thumbs down on this, 274 00:14:43,560 --> 00:14:47,360 Speaker 3: you're probably three steps behind the people who are really 275 00:14:47,440 --> 00:14:50,120 Speaker 3: making moves in the game. And that's just really hard 276 00:14:50,160 --> 00:14:56,240 Speaker 3: to do if you're not you know, fully invested. And 277 00:14:56,280 --> 00:14:58,360 Speaker 3: again that's not to say that Crane can't make those 278 00:14:58,400 --> 00:15:00,800 Speaker 3: types of decisions, but it just has that happened yet. 279 00:15:01,640 --> 00:15:04,000 Speaker 2: I'll give you two when you were talking about there 280 00:15:04,000 --> 00:15:06,320 Speaker 2: hasn't been like that one move in the last five 281 00:15:06,880 --> 00:15:08,800 Speaker 2: seven years that you look at and it's like, oh man, 282 00:15:08,840 --> 00:15:10,000 Speaker 2: this is going to put the ash. 283 00:15:09,920 --> 00:15:13,040 Speaker 1: Like there aren't one. There's not one of those. 284 00:15:13,040 --> 00:15:15,320 Speaker 2: But I'll give you two that I just thought about, 285 00:15:15,440 --> 00:15:18,880 Speaker 2: one of which Jim Crane had or should have had 286 00:15:18,920 --> 00:15:21,680 Speaker 2: a heavy hand in one that he probably did not. 287 00:15:22,640 --> 00:15:26,480 Speaker 2: Both happened in twenty twenty two. Remember when they traded 288 00:15:26,520 --> 00:15:29,040 Speaker 2: their starting center fielder at the trade deadline for a 289 00:15:29,120 --> 00:15:31,720 Speaker 2: reliever and a young catcher no one had ever heard of. 290 00:15:31,960 --> 00:15:35,240 Speaker 2: And everyone was like, what is going on? Why are 291 00:15:35,240 --> 00:15:39,920 Speaker 2: they trading Miles Straw who clubhouse favorite, a Dusty Baker favorite, 292 00:15:40,280 --> 00:15:43,840 Speaker 2: a guy that was playing well that year. But they 293 00:15:43,880 --> 00:15:47,960 Speaker 2: got Phil Maton who became a very integral part of 294 00:15:48,000 --> 00:15:51,000 Speaker 2: their postseason bullpen three years in a row. And they 295 00:15:51,000 --> 00:15:54,120 Speaker 2: have you Ianer Diaz, who is emerging as one of 296 00:15:54,160 --> 00:15:56,440 Speaker 2: the best offensive catchers in baseball. Maybe with a little 297 00:15:56,440 --> 00:15:57,920 Speaker 2: more season can be one of the best all around 298 00:15:57,960 --> 00:16:00,760 Speaker 2: players in baseball. That's this is the kind of move 299 00:16:00,800 --> 00:16:04,360 Speaker 2: that you look at. You know, I don't think Jim 300 00:16:04,440 --> 00:16:08,440 Speaker 2: Crane was wheeling and dealing to trade the everyday center fielder. 301 00:16:08,480 --> 00:16:11,600 Speaker 2: That was a that was a move that a forward 302 00:16:11,680 --> 00:16:14,440 Speaker 2: thinking front office led by James Klick at the time. 303 00:16:14,920 --> 00:16:16,680 Speaker 2: That's a move that one of them make. And you're 304 00:16:16,720 --> 00:16:20,160 Speaker 2: like at the outset, you're like, oh, like what And 305 00:16:20,200 --> 00:16:22,400 Speaker 2: then as you start to think, you're like, oh man, 306 00:16:22,400 --> 00:16:24,640 Speaker 2: this could could help. And now you have Jianer Diaz 307 00:16:24,720 --> 00:16:27,240 Speaker 2: for the next five years. You had film Aton for 308 00:16:28,040 --> 00:16:31,800 Speaker 2: a relatively cost controlled film Aton for three years and 309 00:16:31,800 --> 00:16:35,560 Speaker 2: he was really good in your bullpen. That's one. And 310 00:16:35,600 --> 00:16:38,280 Speaker 2: then another one that Jim Crane inherently had to be 311 00:16:38,320 --> 00:16:42,200 Speaker 2: involved in. That same year they gave the one of 312 00:16:42,240 --> 00:16:45,560 Speaker 2: the biggest bargain contracts currently on the books right now, 313 00:16:45,680 --> 00:16:47,840 Speaker 2: when they gave you Gordon Alvarez six years and one 314 00:16:47,880 --> 00:16:51,080 Speaker 2: hundred and fifteen million dollars. That's the second biggest contract 315 00:16:51,120 --> 00:16:54,280 Speaker 2: in franchise history, which, as we just talked about, if 316 00:16:54,280 --> 00:16:57,520 Speaker 2: you're giving out the biggest or the second biggest contracts 317 00:16:57,560 --> 00:17:01,360 Speaker 2: in franchise history, the owner is inherently going to be involved. 318 00:17:01,520 --> 00:17:04,080 Speaker 2: So I would imagine Jim Crane had some say in 319 00:17:04,119 --> 00:17:08,000 Speaker 2: that one. The fact that they were able to keep 320 00:17:08,119 --> 00:17:13,760 Speaker 2: Jordon Alvarez out of arbitration where the money can get outlandish. 321 00:17:13,880 --> 00:17:16,359 Speaker 2: They bought out, i believe, two of his free agent years, 322 00:17:17,040 --> 00:17:19,639 Speaker 2: and you look at what he is making salary wise, 323 00:17:19,720 --> 00:17:21,880 Speaker 2: and it is one of the biggest bargains in baseball 324 00:17:22,760 --> 00:17:25,320 Speaker 2: for his production, and it has kept them out of 325 00:17:25,800 --> 00:17:29,359 Speaker 2: let's let's say everything else follows suit like it's this. 326 00:17:29,520 --> 00:17:31,640 Speaker 2: They make the same mistakes with Montero and a Bray. 327 00:17:31,680 --> 00:17:34,920 Speaker 2: You they had the same injuries, same dead money situations, 328 00:17:34,920 --> 00:17:37,880 Speaker 2: everywhere else, like the fact that they have Jordon Alvarez 329 00:17:37,920 --> 00:17:38,720 Speaker 2: on that deal. 330 00:17:38,800 --> 00:17:41,639 Speaker 1: Has saved them from further payroll. 331 00:17:41,800 --> 00:17:44,479 Speaker 2: Hell, and I think those are the two move when 332 00:17:44,520 --> 00:17:46,000 Speaker 2: you were talking about that, those are the two that 333 00:17:46,000 --> 00:17:47,439 Speaker 2: popped in my head. I was like, those are the 334 00:17:47,560 --> 00:17:51,040 Speaker 2: kind of moves that one that Jim Crane was involved with, 335 00:17:51,160 --> 00:17:52,200 Speaker 2: one that he wasn't. 336 00:17:52,280 --> 00:17:54,119 Speaker 1: That kind of spoke to me. 337 00:17:54,200 --> 00:17:56,800 Speaker 2: As the ones that five just last five to seven 338 00:17:56,840 --> 00:17:58,480 Speaker 2: years you look at and you're like, oh, okay. 339 00:17:58,720 --> 00:18:02,280 Speaker 3: Yeah, And I mean the extension of Alvarez too, has 340 00:18:02,359 --> 00:18:05,600 Speaker 3: to come from an owner that cares about the team, 341 00:18:05,720 --> 00:18:09,880 Speaker 3: right because if otherwise, if it's just who's this second 342 00:18:09,960 --> 00:18:11,600 Speaker 3: or third year guy that we're going to give one 343 00:18:11,680 --> 00:18:15,760 Speaker 3: hundred million dollars to, you know, obviously any of any 344 00:18:15,800 --> 00:18:18,119 Speaker 3: of us who are watching baseball are like, yeah, that 345 00:18:18,160 --> 00:18:21,560 Speaker 3: makes a lot of sense. But I think Astros fans 346 00:18:21,640 --> 00:18:23,720 Speaker 3: might take for granted that that is not the case 347 00:18:24,359 --> 00:18:27,679 Speaker 3: of a lot of sports owners who are literally just 348 00:18:27,880 --> 00:18:32,040 Speaker 3: absent or are suing each other in the case of 349 00:18:32,080 --> 00:18:35,439 Speaker 3: the Padres, right like that that's not that's not how 350 00:18:35,480 --> 00:18:38,080 Speaker 3: every team operates. So yes, there's always a grass is 351 00:18:38,080 --> 00:18:42,159 Speaker 3: greener situation, But That's why I say, you know, you 352 00:18:42,200 --> 00:18:46,840 Speaker 3: would rather your owner be interested and involved in the 353 00:18:46,880 --> 00:18:47,560 Speaker 3: team than not. 354 00:18:48,680 --> 00:18:51,000 Speaker 2: And let's give Jim Crane some credit to like he 355 00:18:51,080 --> 00:18:55,360 Speaker 2: knows baseball. Like pitched at the University of Central Missouri. 356 00:18:55,440 --> 00:18:59,000 Speaker 2: I believe he is still their single season strikeout leader. 357 00:18:59,000 --> 00:19:01,800 Speaker 2: He still has a record at the University of Central Missouri. 358 00:19:02,040 --> 00:19:04,119 Speaker 2: I can't remember what it is. It's either wins or 359 00:19:04,160 --> 00:19:07,000 Speaker 2: strikeouts in a single season. Probably should have looked that 360 00:19:07,080 --> 00:19:09,360 Speaker 2: up before this, but that would make this a naturally 361 00:19:09,400 --> 00:19:12,920 Speaker 2: good podcast, so we need to keep people guessing on that. 362 00:19:13,000 --> 00:19:16,239 Speaker 2: But he knows the game, like this is not a 363 00:19:16,280 --> 00:19:19,120 Speaker 2: situation where this is a guy that is coming at 364 00:19:19,160 --> 00:19:22,760 Speaker 2: it from a complete ignorant angle of not knowing what's 365 00:19:22,800 --> 00:19:27,000 Speaker 2: going on. He can watch the game and understand. You know, Look, 366 00:19:27,200 --> 00:19:30,320 Speaker 2: he may not be in tune with the analytics the 367 00:19:30,320 --> 00:19:33,480 Speaker 2: way that the analytics movement has taken over baseball in 368 00:19:33,480 --> 00:19:35,480 Speaker 2: the last fifteen or twenty years. He may view the 369 00:19:35,520 --> 00:19:39,080 Speaker 2: game differently, but inherently the man understands the game. And 370 00:19:39,160 --> 00:19:41,560 Speaker 2: I think there is something to be said about that too, 371 00:19:41,640 --> 00:19:44,040 Speaker 2: that this is a guy that has played the game before. 372 00:19:44,240 --> 00:19:46,280 Speaker 2: It's a guy that has played it at a high level. 373 00:19:46,320 --> 00:19:48,560 Speaker 2: I mean, you play college baseball, You're playing it at 374 00:19:48,600 --> 00:19:51,840 Speaker 2: a high level. And I think there is something to 375 00:19:51,920 --> 00:19:54,080 Speaker 2: be commended there that this is a guy coming at 376 00:19:54,080 --> 00:19:54,879 Speaker 2: it from that angle. 377 00:19:55,359 --> 00:19:58,640 Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, for sure, it could be a lot worse. Now, 378 00:20:00,080 --> 00:20:06,080 Speaker 3: you again theoretically want to allow your smart front office 379 00:20:06,160 --> 00:20:10,720 Speaker 3: to make smart moves. And again that hasn't been handicapped. 380 00:20:10,720 --> 00:20:15,240 Speaker 3: Like it's not like we're hearing well maybe maybe you're 381 00:20:15,280 --> 00:20:16,960 Speaker 3: just keeping these from us, but it's not like we're 382 00:20:17,000 --> 00:20:19,520 Speaker 3: hearing you know, leaks of all. We had all of 383 00:20:19,520 --> 00:20:21,639 Speaker 3: this in place, we had these trades in place, but 384 00:20:21,680 --> 00:20:25,560 Speaker 3: then it was nixed by ownership, which happens, right, Like 385 00:20:25,840 --> 00:20:29,320 Speaker 3: those things happen like I mean, even trading Kyle Tucker, 386 00:20:29,480 --> 00:20:34,679 Speaker 3: Like trading Kyle Tucker took Jim Crane's approval and he 387 00:20:34,800 --> 00:20:38,120 Speaker 3: knew that he would get He Like that doesn't make 388 00:20:38,160 --> 00:20:40,800 Speaker 3: the Astros look good when that happens, but you have 389 00:20:40,840 --> 00:20:43,640 Speaker 3: to understand that it makes the most sense for them 390 00:20:43,680 --> 00:20:46,160 Speaker 3: to have, you know, long term success. 391 00:20:46,280 --> 00:20:46,440 Speaker 1: Right. 392 00:20:46,480 --> 00:20:50,119 Speaker 3: So again, that's another example of somebody who's you know, 393 00:20:50,240 --> 00:20:53,200 Speaker 3: involved in the sport and is caring about the roster, 394 00:20:53,480 --> 00:20:57,240 Speaker 3: understanding what needs to happen in order to have some 395 00:20:57,280 --> 00:21:02,880 Speaker 3: sustained success. And as you know, we were talking about, Look, 396 00:21:02,880 --> 00:21:08,320 Speaker 3: the Astras roster is not anywhere near the dominance that 397 00:21:08,680 --> 00:21:13,879 Speaker 3: we saw, you know, five six years ago. But there's 398 00:21:13,920 --> 00:21:17,200 Speaker 3: not really that many good teams, right, I mean, there's 399 00:21:17,240 --> 00:21:22,240 Speaker 3: there's the Dodgers. There's a huge gap. Right, then there's 400 00:21:22,320 --> 00:21:27,600 Speaker 3: like the Mets, the Yankee. Like it's not like you 401 00:21:27,680 --> 00:21:30,119 Speaker 3: look at this and go like, oh, the Astras are flailing. 402 00:21:30,240 --> 00:21:33,119 Speaker 3: There's fifteen teams in front of them. Like it is 403 00:21:33,160 --> 00:21:36,680 Speaker 3: not difficult to squint your eyes and go like, oh, 404 00:21:36,720 --> 00:21:39,919 Speaker 3: they're you know, gonna win the Als by four games 405 00:21:40,000 --> 00:21:43,080 Speaker 3: and then make it to the Alcs or whatever. It's 406 00:21:43,119 --> 00:21:46,280 Speaker 3: not it's not out of the realm of possibility, but 407 00:21:46,320 --> 00:21:49,440 Speaker 3: it does not come with the same level of like 408 00:21:50,080 --> 00:21:53,800 Speaker 3: dominance and expectation that we saw five years ago, which 409 00:21:53,880 --> 00:21:58,680 Speaker 3: of course is unsustainable. Outside of the Dodgers, I guess. 410 00:21:58,440 --> 00:22:01,760 Speaker 2: Yeah, the American League's not good like the American League, 411 00:22:01,800 --> 00:22:06,040 Speaker 2: Like you've got the Yankees, you've got the Astros, You've 412 00:22:06,040 --> 00:22:09,520 Speaker 2: got this. Depending on your feelings on the American League Central, 413 00:22:09,840 --> 00:22:12,080 Speaker 2: I mean, the American League Central did knock the Ashers 414 00:22:12,080 --> 00:22:14,320 Speaker 2: out of the playoffs, last year. But I mean, those 415 00:22:14,320 --> 00:22:17,440 Speaker 2: are three teams in the in the Royals, the Guardians, 416 00:22:17,440 --> 00:22:21,200 Speaker 2: and the Tigers. That the Royals have spent a lot 417 00:22:21,240 --> 00:22:23,480 Speaker 2: more money in the last year and a half. The 418 00:22:23,560 --> 00:22:26,879 Speaker 2: Tigers maybe they spend some money on Alex Bregman, but 419 00:22:27,800 --> 00:22:30,880 Speaker 2: they're not a team. You know, They've got an albatross 420 00:22:30,920 --> 00:22:34,159 Speaker 2: contract on their books that looks about worse than anything 421 00:22:34,200 --> 00:22:36,440 Speaker 2: that the Ashers have ever handed out with Hobby Bayas. 422 00:22:37,000 --> 00:22:39,919 Speaker 2: And then the Guardians are just they're an like a 423 00:22:40,320 --> 00:22:43,280 Speaker 2: development machine, a player development machine that's never going to 424 00:22:43,359 --> 00:22:46,280 Speaker 2: run a huge payroll. So like you kind of look 425 00:22:46,320 --> 00:22:48,359 Speaker 2: at it and like, yeah, there's talent here, but like 426 00:22:48,400 --> 00:22:51,840 Speaker 2: the Ashras still are one of They could roll in 427 00:22:51,880 --> 00:22:56,280 Speaker 2: the spring training tomorrow and they're either the favorite or 428 00:22:57,320 --> 00:23:01,720 Speaker 2: right behind the Yankees, maybe the ore maybe the Rangers. 429 00:23:02,000 --> 00:23:05,320 Speaker 2: Like they're they're probably in that that tier of teams 430 00:23:05,320 --> 00:23:07,880 Speaker 2: that is going to be competing for the American League pennant. 431 00:23:08,400 --> 00:23:10,600 Speaker 2: And it seems like, you know, all off season, all 432 00:23:10,640 --> 00:23:12,480 Speaker 2: we've talked about is you know what's left. You know, 433 00:23:12,520 --> 00:23:16,159 Speaker 2: they salary dumped Ryan Presley, they traded Kyle Tucker, and 434 00:23:16,200 --> 00:23:18,919 Speaker 2: everyone wants to act like the sky is falling like, No, like, 435 00:23:18,960 --> 00:23:22,000 Speaker 2: this team's still pretty good, Like are they as good 436 00:23:22,200 --> 00:23:24,199 Speaker 2: as they were in as they are they as good 437 00:23:24,200 --> 00:23:26,199 Speaker 2: as they were in twenty twenty one, twenty twenty two. No, 438 00:23:26,920 --> 00:23:29,520 Speaker 2: is the windows still as wide open as it was 439 00:23:29,640 --> 00:23:32,840 Speaker 2: three years ago. No, but this is still a team 440 00:23:32,920 --> 00:23:37,560 Speaker 2: that you have to understand just get to the playoffs. 441 00:23:37,800 --> 00:23:40,080 Speaker 1: Playoffs are crapshoot, like you saw last. 442 00:23:40,000 --> 00:23:44,160 Speaker 2: Year the Tigers were on an unreal heater and got 443 00:23:44,200 --> 00:23:46,600 Speaker 2: to within a game of playing for a pennant like 444 00:23:46,880 --> 00:23:49,960 Speaker 2: that Tigers team sold at the deadline, Like all you 445 00:23:50,040 --> 00:23:53,399 Speaker 2: have to do is get in, and the Astros are built, 446 00:23:53,680 --> 00:23:57,080 Speaker 2: in my opinion to you know, have the sort of 447 00:23:57,119 --> 00:24:01,080 Speaker 2: sustainability over one sixty two that getting in should not 448 00:24:01,320 --> 00:24:03,560 Speaker 2: be a huge issue. 449 00:24:03,800 --> 00:24:04,159 Speaker 1: Yeah. 450 00:24:04,359 --> 00:24:09,800 Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean, you know, obviously, the season happens, injuries 451 00:24:09,800 --> 00:24:12,960 Speaker 3: can go a certain way. The pitching death is scary. 452 00:24:13,480 --> 00:24:15,920 Speaker 3: You know, if you have a if you have an 453 00:24:15,920 --> 00:24:18,919 Speaker 3: off year from fromber, if you have you know a 454 00:24:18,960 --> 00:24:22,200 Speaker 3: couple of injuries, it can get dicey. But that's true 455 00:24:22,200 --> 00:24:24,960 Speaker 3: of every team, right you know, you just don't go 456 00:24:25,080 --> 00:24:30,879 Speaker 3: in going like, oh, there's five great starters, right like that, 457 00:24:31,040 --> 00:24:37,920 Speaker 3: just that very rarely happens on teams, and so yeah, 458 00:24:37,960 --> 00:24:40,720 Speaker 3: at this point, I'm like, all right, let's let's get 459 00:24:40,720 --> 00:24:44,560 Speaker 3: Bragmann signed somewhere, and let's let's get this thing started. 460 00:24:44,600 --> 00:24:46,679 Speaker 3: I'm ready for baseball season. 461 00:24:47,520 --> 00:24:48,359 Speaker 1: Yeah. 462 00:24:48,440 --> 00:24:51,520 Speaker 2: The one thing that can maybe undo all of the 463 00:24:51,560 --> 00:24:55,440 Speaker 2: optimism we just exuded is a bad bullpen, because bad 464 00:24:55,480 --> 00:25:00,520 Speaker 2: bullpens ruin everything in general. Uh, you can have a 465 00:25:00,560 --> 00:25:03,000 Speaker 2: great lineup, you can have a great rotation. If you 466 00:25:03,040 --> 00:25:05,000 Speaker 2: have a bad bullpen, if you can't finish games, if 467 00:25:05,000 --> 00:25:08,159 Speaker 2: you can't close games, it's it's gonna it's gonna be. 468 00:25:08,160 --> 00:25:08,960 Speaker 1: Tough to overcome. 469 00:25:09,200 --> 00:25:11,440 Speaker 2: And we didn't talk about this a ton in the 470 00:25:11,520 --> 00:25:14,679 Speaker 2: last couple episodes because the Bregman stuff had been so dominating. 471 00:25:14,720 --> 00:25:18,560 Speaker 2: But I asked you this before the show, and you 472 00:25:18,600 --> 00:25:20,479 Speaker 2: know you now know the answer. You did not know 473 00:25:20,520 --> 00:25:21,480 Speaker 2: before the show. 474 00:25:21,480 --> 00:25:24,160 Speaker 1: Yes I did. I said it. How dare you? 475 00:25:24,440 --> 00:25:28,280 Speaker 2: Okay, okay, how dare you? Let's see how many listeners know. 476 00:25:29,760 --> 00:25:36,399 Speaker 2: I want to know who, which reliever in Astros spring 477 00:25:36,480 --> 00:25:39,199 Speaker 2: training that is on the roster for spring training has 478 00:25:39,240 --> 00:25:44,200 Speaker 2: the most Major League service time. If you guess Rafael Montero, 479 00:25:44,240 --> 00:25:47,640 Speaker 2: you're correct, and he is not on the forty man roster. 480 00:25:48,880 --> 00:25:51,400 Speaker 2: We said we weren't going to relitigate the winner. Here 481 00:25:51,440 --> 00:25:54,040 Speaker 2: we are again. Rafael Montero is in the last year 482 00:25:54,080 --> 00:25:56,639 Speaker 2: of a thirty four and a half million dollar contract. 483 00:25:57,160 --> 00:26:01,280 Speaker 2: He is I can't confirm this based off of exhaustive research, 484 00:26:01,320 --> 00:26:05,280 Speaker 2: but he is very likely the most expensive NRI in 485 00:26:05,320 --> 00:26:09,880 Speaker 2: baseball this season. Now in a in a bullpen without 486 00:26:09,960 --> 00:26:14,400 Speaker 2: Ryan Presley, like he may play a pretty crucial factor because. 487 00:26:14,800 --> 00:26:16,920 Speaker 1: You know who's pitching the eighth inning, it's Brian A. Brady. 488 00:26:16,920 --> 00:26:19,080 Speaker 2: You know who's pitching the ninth inning with the lead, 489 00:26:19,160 --> 00:26:22,480 Speaker 2: it's Josh Hater. I don't know who's pitching anything else. 490 00:26:23,160 --> 00:26:26,040 Speaker 2: There are a lot of rolls up for grabs, a 491 00:26:26,080 --> 00:26:29,080 Speaker 2: lot of guys that you think you can count on. 492 00:26:29,240 --> 00:26:32,640 Speaker 2: But I don't think this time last year, going into 493 00:26:32,640 --> 00:26:35,720 Speaker 2: spring training, we were talking about Taylor Scott who had 494 00:26:35,720 --> 00:26:38,639 Speaker 2: a nine ERA and thirty eight big league innings before 495 00:26:38,760 --> 00:26:43,159 Speaker 2: last year and then had a complete breakout. Was that 496 00:26:43,200 --> 00:26:45,760 Speaker 2: a one year wonder? Was that an anomaly? Is there 497 00:26:45,760 --> 00:26:49,000 Speaker 2: gonna be some regression? You look at Caleb or Like, 498 00:26:49,000 --> 00:26:53,440 Speaker 2: You've got guys that showed out last year. But bullpens 499 00:26:53,480 --> 00:26:57,240 Speaker 2: are so volatile. Bullpens are so the variability is so 500 00:26:57,680 --> 00:26:59,200 Speaker 2: wide that you never know what. 501 00:26:59,160 --> 00:26:59,640 Speaker 1: You're gonna get. 502 00:26:59,640 --> 00:27:01,879 Speaker 2: I guess where's your confidence right now, Tyler in this 503 00:27:01,960 --> 00:27:04,399 Speaker 2: bullpen without Ryan Presley in it. 504 00:27:05,600 --> 00:27:10,879 Speaker 3: Uh, it's not super high. But again, you have to 505 00:27:10,920 --> 00:27:16,200 Speaker 3: remember that there's probably fifteen teams that don't even feel 506 00:27:16,200 --> 00:27:19,919 Speaker 3: good about their closer, right Like the fact that the 507 00:27:19,920 --> 00:27:25,720 Speaker 3: Astros have two closers is already you know, putting them 508 00:27:25,720 --> 00:27:29,080 Speaker 3: in the top half of bullpens, regardless of what happens 509 00:27:29,080 --> 00:27:32,760 Speaker 3: with everybody else, right, Like, yes, it's it's not nearly 510 00:27:32,800 --> 00:27:34,800 Speaker 3: as exciting to know, like, oh, if you can get 511 00:27:34,840 --> 00:27:38,439 Speaker 3: to the sixth inning games over because you got you know, 512 00:27:38,840 --> 00:27:42,399 Speaker 3: Presley a bray, you hater, you know, Montero when he 513 00:27:42,480 --> 00:27:45,480 Speaker 3: was really good, right Like, they did have a bullpen 514 00:27:45,520 --> 00:27:49,639 Speaker 3: that was just locked down. But like you said, bullpens 515 00:27:49,640 --> 00:27:52,840 Speaker 3: are so volatile. That's one of my favorite parts about 516 00:27:52,880 --> 00:27:57,160 Speaker 3: baseball season is finding out the eight guys that we've 517 00:27:57,200 --> 00:28:01,280 Speaker 3: never heard of before who become like, you know, big 518 00:28:01,359 --> 00:28:05,440 Speaker 3: parts of the season and then completely disappear in the 519 00:28:05,480 --> 00:28:07,520 Speaker 3: play It like that. That's really one of those ways 520 00:28:07,520 --> 00:28:10,680 Speaker 3: that you can like test somebody like did you watch 521 00:28:10,720 --> 00:28:11,240 Speaker 3: the season? 522 00:28:11,320 --> 00:28:11,480 Speaker 1: Right? 523 00:28:11,520 --> 00:28:15,480 Speaker 3: Like, you start name dropping, you know, six seventh inn 524 00:28:15,960 --> 00:28:18,560 Speaker 3: bullpen guys that are never going to see the roster 525 00:28:18,640 --> 00:28:21,840 Speaker 3: in the postseason. But that's who who makes the season, 526 00:28:22,520 --> 00:28:24,240 Speaker 3: you know, over the course of one hundred and sixty 527 00:28:24,280 --> 00:28:26,960 Speaker 3: two games. And so yeah, they don't they don't have 528 00:28:27,000 --> 00:28:30,480 Speaker 3: anybody yet, but i I nobody does, right Like, no, 529 00:28:30,680 --> 00:28:33,200 Speaker 3: no one's coming into the season. Like, can you name 530 00:28:33,240 --> 00:28:35,440 Speaker 3: three people in anyone else's bullpen? 531 00:28:36,640 --> 00:28:37,240 Speaker 1: It'd be weird. 532 00:28:37,280 --> 00:28:42,080 Speaker 3: I mean you probably can, but normal people can't right now. 533 00:28:42,360 --> 00:28:45,320 Speaker 2: The Guardians maybe because like that's like the Guardians like 534 00:28:45,520 --> 00:28:47,400 Speaker 2: put it on a billboard that like they had the best, 535 00:28:47,560 --> 00:28:49,040 Speaker 2: and they did. They had a really good bullpen. They 536 00:28:49,040 --> 00:28:50,960 Speaker 2: don't have much else other than Jose Ramirez. 537 00:28:51,560 --> 00:28:52,480 Speaker 1: Let's name some guys. 538 00:28:52,520 --> 00:28:54,880 Speaker 2: You got my you got my head going on, like 539 00:28:55,080 --> 00:29:00,240 Speaker 2: random relievers that help them. Remember Andre scrub mm hmm yeah, yeah, 540 00:29:00,640 --> 00:29:03,200 Speaker 2: walked like ten dudes per nine and eight old dude. 541 00:29:03,360 --> 00:29:06,440 Speaker 2: Somehow I was getting outs in twenty twenty when and 542 00:29:06,440 --> 00:29:07,720 Speaker 2: with no fans in the stated. 543 00:29:07,640 --> 00:29:10,680 Speaker 3: This is the year Josh James breaks out. I'm calling 544 00:29:10,720 --> 00:29:15,480 Speaker 3: it a Noli paratus. Eight years late. It's gonna happen. 545 00:29:16,080 --> 00:29:20,880 Speaker 2: Cy Snead, Oh yeah, great beard. We can we can 546 00:29:20,920 --> 00:29:26,120 Speaker 2: do this a while, can e Manuel like lefty? They Okay, 547 00:29:26,200 --> 00:29:29,200 Speaker 2: I was doing a I'll tease it a little bit. 548 00:29:29,560 --> 00:29:31,760 Speaker 2: All of the beats at the Athletic we had to 549 00:29:31,760 --> 00:29:35,960 Speaker 2: write one fact about every picture in camp on our team. 550 00:29:36,120 --> 00:29:38,960 Speaker 2: So I just finished doing the thirty three pictures that 551 00:29:39,040 --> 00:29:41,360 Speaker 2: the Astros have in camp. I had to find a 552 00:29:41,360 --> 00:29:43,560 Speaker 2: fun fact about each of them. It's a little harder 553 00:29:43,560 --> 00:29:45,480 Speaker 2: than you think. I had never heard of about ten 554 00:29:45,520 --> 00:29:45,800 Speaker 2: of these. 555 00:29:45,920 --> 00:29:48,280 Speaker 3: I was gonna say, I bet I could name fifteen 556 00:29:48,360 --> 00:29:51,239 Speaker 3: of them off the top of my head. There's no 557 00:29:51,280 --> 00:29:52,640 Speaker 3: way I'd get close to thirty. 558 00:29:53,000 --> 00:29:55,600 Speaker 2: So anyway, so as I'm doing it, I got down 559 00:29:55,600 --> 00:29:58,840 Speaker 2: to the bottom. They have seven lefties in camp. Hey, 560 00:29:59,520 --> 00:30:04,480 Speaker 2: Dusty Acre is somewhere just absolutely loving that that dude begged. 561 00:30:04,760 --> 00:30:07,400 Speaker 2: He begged James Klick for left handed pitching like his 562 00:30:07,640 --> 00:30:10,680 Speaker 2: entire tenure. And then they went out and he traded 563 00:30:10,680 --> 00:30:11,400 Speaker 2: for Brooks Rayley. 564 00:30:11,520 --> 00:30:12,680 Speaker 1: Another guy. Another guy. 565 00:30:12,720 --> 00:30:17,160 Speaker 2: We're just gonna name drop because Brooks Rayley legend Aggie legend, 566 00:30:17,240 --> 00:30:20,560 Speaker 2: So correct me. Can I call someone that went to Texas? 567 00:30:20,600 --> 00:30:23,360 Speaker 2: I can't call them a former Aggie, right, That's against 568 00:30:23,360 --> 00:30:24,200 Speaker 2: the cult code. 569 00:30:24,640 --> 00:30:27,280 Speaker 1: Yeah, why is that against? Why is that against? 570 00:30:27,520 --> 00:30:30,120 Speaker 3: Because you're not at you're always in aggy what? 571 00:30:30,800 --> 00:30:31,040 Speaker 1: Yeah? 572 00:30:31,520 --> 00:30:34,600 Speaker 3: No, if you a former tiger, no you still you 573 00:30:34,640 --> 00:30:36,200 Speaker 3: still went there, you're still. 574 00:30:36,000 --> 00:30:37,960 Speaker 1: Proud of it. I'm not currently one. 575 00:30:39,040 --> 00:30:41,680 Speaker 3: Well, it's because you don't get to wear your ring 576 00:30:41,720 --> 00:30:43,200 Speaker 3: around all the time like we do. 577 00:30:43,560 --> 00:30:46,200 Speaker 1: Look super cool. Did you have to do this? What? 578 00:30:46,200 --> 00:30:48,480 Speaker 2: What beer did you use to like put your ring 579 00:30:48,520 --> 00:30:50,720 Speaker 2: in to do the stupid thing where it hits your lip? 580 00:30:51,200 --> 00:30:55,760 Speaker 3: So I am not cool. I did it, but it 581 00:30:56,040 --> 00:30:59,960 Speaker 3: mostly just spilled on myself. Me and my roommate did it. 582 00:31:00,040 --> 00:31:03,840 Speaker 3: But the trick is is you let it. You want 583 00:31:03,840 --> 00:31:04,480 Speaker 3: it flat. 584 00:31:04,680 --> 00:31:05,320 Speaker 1: You don't want to. 585 00:31:05,280 --> 00:31:09,520 Speaker 3: Like pour six beers into a picture and then just 586 00:31:09,720 --> 00:31:13,280 Speaker 3: chug that, so you like sit it out overnight, which 587 00:31:13,320 --> 00:31:15,640 Speaker 3: makes it even worse. But I'm pretty sure it was 588 00:31:15,680 --> 00:31:17,000 Speaker 3: like a natty light or something. 589 00:31:17,040 --> 00:31:17,240 Speaker 2: It was. 590 00:31:17,320 --> 00:31:18,680 Speaker 3: It was not pleasant. 591 00:31:18,760 --> 00:31:23,240 Speaker 2: Sounds why so you're chugging warm natty flat nat No, 592 00:31:23,320 --> 00:31:23,840 Speaker 2: you put it. 593 00:31:23,760 --> 00:31:28,080 Speaker 3: In the fridge, but just overnight so it's not like 594 00:31:28,680 --> 00:31:33,320 Speaker 3: because otherwise you're just gonna puke all of the just yeah. 595 00:31:33,280 --> 00:31:35,000 Speaker 1: I mean that sounds like the end result no matter what. 596 00:31:35,480 --> 00:31:40,960 Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, for sure. But look, I mean, as you 597 00:31:41,080 --> 00:31:44,720 Speaker 3: know when you when you work in the the student media. 598 00:31:45,440 --> 00:31:47,760 Speaker 3: You know, I was there, but I'm not like as 599 00:31:47,840 --> 00:31:50,880 Speaker 3: culty as I think a lot of a lot of 600 00:31:50,880 --> 00:31:54,280 Speaker 3: people could be. But certainly that's that's still my school. 601 00:31:54,920 --> 00:31:58,040 Speaker 3: I'm still real excited about it. But I always get 602 00:31:58,080 --> 00:32:01,400 Speaker 3: excited about lefties. I mean you mentioned and lefties as 603 00:32:01,440 --> 00:32:04,719 Speaker 3: a as a fellow lefty. I mean, I still remember 604 00:32:04,800 --> 00:32:09,520 Speaker 3: Mike Gallo from from my childhood days of watching him. 605 00:32:09,680 --> 00:32:10,960 Speaker 3: I mean I think he had like a five and 606 00:32:11,000 --> 00:32:13,360 Speaker 3: a half era with like a sixty mile an hour 607 00:32:13,440 --> 00:32:13,920 Speaker 3: curve ball. 608 00:32:14,040 --> 00:32:16,760 Speaker 1: But I was like, that's that's peak. 609 00:32:16,600 --> 00:32:20,560 Speaker 3: Athleticism right there, coming out of the bullpen. So who 610 00:32:20,640 --> 00:32:22,400 Speaker 3: are these who are these lefties? 611 00:32:22,440 --> 00:32:25,520 Speaker 2: I mean, I know we got or what Look, a 612 00:32:25,600 --> 00:32:27,840 Speaker 2: kyle board is not left handed. Kayleboard is right handed. 613 00:32:27,880 --> 00:32:28,600 Speaker 3: That's what I meant. 614 00:32:28,960 --> 00:32:29,840 Speaker 1: Uh huh. 615 00:32:29,880 --> 00:32:32,800 Speaker 2: Brian King actually came up and pitch Flasher was actually 616 00:32:32,800 --> 00:32:35,680 Speaker 2: really effective for them. I have to pull it up 617 00:32:35,720 --> 00:32:37,440 Speaker 2: because I don't remember off the top of my head. 618 00:32:38,480 --> 00:32:43,920 Speaker 1: There's there's a there's a gentleman named Blake Wyman. Okay, 619 00:32:44,360 --> 00:32:45,160 Speaker 1: he's he's. 620 00:32:45,000 --> 00:32:48,160 Speaker 2: A left handed pitcher that's gonna compete for a spawning camp. 621 00:32:48,200 --> 00:32:50,840 Speaker 3: I believe you have a sub one e R in July, 622 00:32:51,080 --> 00:32:54,440 Speaker 3: and we're gonna be talking about this guy being like 623 00:32:54,480 --> 00:32:55,760 Speaker 3: an extension candidate. 624 00:32:56,440 --> 00:33:00,480 Speaker 2: There's a fellow named Steven Okert. Okay, he's a thirty 625 00:33:00,520 --> 00:33:02,680 Speaker 2: three years he's thirty three years old and has like 626 00:33:03,040 --> 00:33:05,240 Speaker 2: a substantial Major league service time. 627 00:33:05,320 --> 00:33:05,960 Speaker 3: He's okay. 628 00:33:07,880 --> 00:33:10,560 Speaker 2: Then at SUSA, remember him, he was like he was 629 00:33:10,600 --> 00:33:12,880 Speaker 2: like the topic to Jor for like three weeks in 630 00:33:12,920 --> 00:33:14,920 Speaker 2: twenty twenty three and we needed something to write about. 631 00:33:15,160 --> 00:33:18,560 Speaker 3: Mm hmm, like clinched like scrabble. Last name right, It's 632 00:33:18,640 --> 00:33:21,640 Speaker 3: like it's like a bunch of letters in there, or 633 00:33:21,680 --> 00:33:22,880 Speaker 3: is it just s O U S. 634 00:33:23,240 --> 00:33:25,560 Speaker 1: It's s o U SA. 635 00:33:25,720 --> 00:33:26,840 Speaker 3: Okay, there we go. 636 00:33:28,160 --> 00:33:31,680 Speaker 2: The Blake Wyman fellow. And then another another man named 637 00:33:31,680 --> 00:33:36,240 Speaker 2: Brandon Walter. Okay, he was a Red Sox farm hand 638 00:33:36,280 --> 00:33:40,400 Speaker 2: at one point. Colton Gordon is a left handed pitcher. 639 00:33:40,480 --> 00:33:42,760 Speaker 2: He's not a he's a starter, but he actually got 640 00:33:42,800 --> 00:33:44,480 Speaker 2: on the forty man roster. They protected him from the 641 00:33:44,560 --> 00:33:47,920 Speaker 2: Rule five draft this winter, so he may actually contribute 642 00:33:47,960 --> 00:33:49,720 Speaker 2: at some point this year, but he's a starter. And 643 00:33:49,760 --> 00:33:54,200 Speaker 2: then they have that guy named Fromberveldees too he's halfway decent. 644 00:33:54,200 --> 00:33:56,000 Speaker 1: I don't think he'll be in the bullpen at any point. 645 00:33:56,120 --> 00:33:58,320 Speaker 3: Like I said, it's gonna be fun looking back in 646 00:33:58,400 --> 00:34:00,680 Speaker 3: three months when like three of the guys that we 647 00:34:00,800 --> 00:34:04,600 Speaker 3: just named are unbelievable or like, can you believe where 648 00:34:04,640 --> 00:34:09,000 Speaker 3: would the Astros be without Blake Wyman or whatever you 649 00:34:09,120 --> 00:34:09,520 Speaker 3: just said. 650 00:34:12,760 --> 00:34:14,279 Speaker 1: I mean, it's the same thing we do with Taylor 651 00:34:14,320 --> 00:34:14,719 Speaker 1: Scott Live. 652 00:34:14,800 --> 00:34:16,600 Speaker 3: Yeah, that's what I'm saying. That's the best part about 653 00:34:16,600 --> 00:34:19,440 Speaker 3: baseball seasons. We have no idea until it gets started, 654 00:34:19,880 --> 00:34:22,640 Speaker 3: and all it takes is like fifteen good innings in 655 00:34:22,680 --> 00:34:25,520 Speaker 3: a row and suddenly you're a hero and it rules. 656 00:34:25,560 --> 00:34:27,920 Speaker 2: It's so much fun, and I need to be a 657 00:34:27,920 --> 00:34:31,040 Speaker 2: little more open than my like my viewpoint of how 658 00:34:31,040 --> 00:34:35,239 Speaker 2: this works. So last year, last spring training, candidly, you know, 659 00:34:35,280 --> 00:34:37,720 Speaker 2: you go into the big league clubhouse in spring training 660 00:34:37,760 --> 00:34:40,239 Speaker 2: and there's I mean they're bringing like sixty something guys 661 00:34:40,280 --> 00:34:43,560 Speaker 2: to camp, so like first two weeks before they make 662 00:34:43,560 --> 00:34:47,200 Speaker 2: any cuts, like, it is crowded. You see faces, You're like, 663 00:34:47,239 --> 00:34:49,160 Speaker 2: who in the hell is that? Like you're trying to 664 00:34:49,200 --> 00:34:51,680 Speaker 2: like follow guys to their lockers. See that's that guy, 665 00:34:51,719 --> 00:34:55,080 Speaker 2: that's that guy, and Taylor Scott was just somebody that 666 00:34:55,200 --> 00:34:57,960 Speaker 2: like he had a random locker in the middle of 667 00:34:58,000 --> 00:35:01,319 Speaker 2: the clubhouse, couldn't have picked his face out, like like 668 00:35:01,400 --> 00:35:03,879 Speaker 2: his name, just he just was there the whole camp, 669 00:35:03,920 --> 00:35:06,120 Speaker 2: like he never got cut, and I was like, I look, 670 00:35:06,160 --> 00:35:08,000 Speaker 2: I was like I should maybe talk to him at 671 00:35:08,040 --> 00:35:11,040 Speaker 2: some point, you know. But it's also one of these 672 00:35:11,040 --> 00:35:13,040 Speaker 2: things like as a reporter, like you don't want to 673 00:35:13,120 --> 00:35:17,359 Speaker 2: like you don't want to overwrite like the stuff that's 674 00:35:17,360 --> 00:35:19,080 Speaker 2: not going to have You're basically just like all right, 675 00:35:19,120 --> 00:35:21,560 Speaker 2: like stick to the stars, stick to the guys with 676 00:35:21,640 --> 00:35:24,160 Speaker 2: the cachet, stick to the people that you know are 677 00:35:24,160 --> 00:35:26,360 Speaker 2: going to give you a good return on your investment basically, 678 00:35:26,960 --> 00:35:30,160 Speaker 2: and readership clicks all that stuff, and you're kind of 679 00:35:30,200 --> 00:35:32,640 Speaker 2: just like like Taylor Scott, Like Taylor Scott's throwing well 680 00:35:32,680 --> 00:35:35,439 Speaker 2: in Great Fruit League games, like cool, like half these 681 00:35:35,440 --> 00:35:37,880 Speaker 2: guys and he's facing Great Fruit League games like double 682 00:35:37,920 --> 00:35:40,279 Speaker 2: A guys, backing up the big league guys. And then 683 00:35:40,320 --> 00:35:42,760 Speaker 2: like he makes the team, and I'm like, oh wow, 684 00:35:43,000 --> 00:35:45,520 Speaker 2: And then I realized, like I haven't talked to this guy. 685 00:35:45,400 --> 00:35:45,960 Speaker 1: Like I'm all. 686 00:35:47,400 --> 00:35:49,839 Speaker 2: And so like the first time I ever spoke to him, 687 00:35:49,920 --> 00:35:51,799 Speaker 2: was like two weeks into the season, and I think 688 00:35:52,600 --> 00:35:55,040 Speaker 2: I think he kind of resented that because like I've 689 00:35:55,080 --> 00:35:57,799 Speaker 2: been around in spring training for eight weeks and just like, oh, 690 00:35:57,880 --> 00:36:00,000 Speaker 2: like he'll he'll flame out. But no, he didn't congratulate 691 00:36:00,280 --> 00:36:03,879 Speaker 2: Taylor Scott a huge year for him. Uh, he may 692 00:36:03,880 --> 00:36:07,280 Speaker 2: be the seventh inning guy this year. Could be Rafael Montero, 693 00:36:07,360 --> 00:36:08,000 Speaker 2: who is pale? 694 00:36:08,000 --> 00:36:11,200 Speaker 3: What so what I mean if he comes to spring 695 00:36:11,280 --> 00:36:14,200 Speaker 3: training and doesn't blow his arm off, I assume the 696 00:36:14,239 --> 00:36:17,759 Speaker 3: Astros would like to have him on the roster at 697 00:36:17,800 --> 00:36:21,920 Speaker 3: some point, right, I mean, he you're already paying him, 698 00:36:21,960 --> 00:36:24,040 Speaker 3: Like what what does the process look like? They have 699 00:36:24,120 --> 00:36:26,560 Speaker 3: to clear space for him to get back on because 700 00:36:26,560 --> 00:36:28,320 Speaker 3: he's not on the forty man talking. 701 00:36:28,120 --> 00:36:32,000 Speaker 2: Montero, Yeah, they have space on their forty man because 702 00:36:32,000 --> 00:36:34,279 Speaker 2: they just salary dumped the guy off of their forty man. 703 00:36:34,400 --> 00:36:37,720 Speaker 2: I remember that, So they do they have an opening 704 00:36:37,719 --> 00:36:40,040 Speaker 2: on their forty man rosters, so they could add him. 705 00:36:40,120 --> 00:36:42,080 Speaker 2: It's I mean, he's gonna have to win a spot, 706 00:36:42,480 --> 00:36:45,840 Speaker 2: like I mean, it's it would it would make sense 707 00:36:46,000 --> 00:36:48,200 Speaker 2: that if they've got eleven and a half million dollars 708 00:36:48,280 --> 00:36:51,919 Speaker 2: invested in him, like extracting any sort of value out 709 00:36:51,920 --> 00:36:53,800 Speaker 2: of him would seem ideal. 710 00:36:55,000 --> 00:36:56,720 Speaker 1: And like we said earlier, like he's. 711 00:36:56,560 --> 00:36:59,920 Speaker 2: Got more Major league service time than any reliever in camp, 712 00:37:00,520 --> 00:37:03,759 Speaker 2: like he has been. He is battle tested, he's been 713 00:37:03,760 --> 00:37:06,560 Speaker 2: in big games. He's pitched late in big games, and 714 00:37:06,600 --> 00:37:10,320 Speaker 2: that is something that is not in abundance within this team. 715 00:37:10,480 --> 00:37:14,000 Speaker 2: So there's a very easy path to where if he 716 00:37:14,160 --> 00:37:15,960 Speaker 2: just comes to camp and I'm not saying yes to 717 00:37:16,040 --> 00:37:18,120 Speaker 2: light the world on fire, but if he comes to 718 00:37:18,200 --> 00:37:21,160 Speaker 2: camp and looks competent, if he comes to camp and 719 00:37:21,239 --> 00:37:25,040 Speaker 2: like they like the stuff, like he's getting some outs 720 00:37:25,040 --> 00:37:28,879 Speaker 2: in Great Fruit League games and he's throwing strikes, there's 721 00:37:28,880 --> 00:37:31,239 Speaker 2: a very clear path for Rafael Montero to make this 722 00:37:31,360 --> 00:37:35,879 Speaker 2: roster and maybe pitch leverage innings. Now I wouldn't say 723 00:37:35,920 --> 00:37:38,200 Speaker 2: that that's the most likely outcome, that he's your seventh 724 00:37:38,239 --> 00:37:41,800 Speaker 2: inning guy, but I mean, this guy was pitching leverage 725 00:37:41,840 --> 00:37:44,160 Speaker 2: innings like two years ago. Like it's he's not that 726 00:37:44,320 --> 00:37:46,800 Speaker 2: far removed from it. And we've talked about how volatile 727 00:37:46,800 --> 00:37:50,239 Speaker 2: relievers are, Like it would not shock me at all 728 00:37:50,680 --> 00:37:53,879 Speaker 2: if he, you know, after having the two seasons he's had, 729 00:37:53,920 --> 00:37:56,799 Speaker 2: if he comes back and can harness that twenty twenty 730 00:37:56,800 --> 00:37:59,919 Speaker 2: two form and nashers need it like they need They 731 00:38:00,200 --> 00:38:02,000 Speaker 2: like some of the stuff they have, some of the 732 00:38:02,080 --> 00:38:05,200 Speaker 2: arms they have, but like they need guys in that 733 00:38:05,280 --> 00:38:08,480 Speaker 2: bullpen that have been there, that have skins on the wall, 734 00:38:08,520 --> 00:38:10,680 Speaker 2: and Rafael Montero is like foremost among them. 735 00:38:11,880 --> 00:38:12,560 Speaker 1: We'll see. 736 00:38:12,680 --> 00:38:16,320 Speaker 3: I'm excited. I'm ready, Like, let's let's fast forward. But 737 00:38:16,400 --> 00:38:19,480 Speaker 3: there's like three weeks before anything happens where we're just 738 00:38:19,520 --> 00:38:23,480 Speaker 3: waiting on Bregman to do something, and uh, that's going 739 00:38:23,560 --> 00:38:25,479 Speaker 3: to kind of wrap up the off season. But I'm 740 00:38:25,520 --> 00:38:27,799 Speaker 3: I'm ready for it to get going. It's it's that 741 00:38:27,960 --> 00:38:31,680 Speaker 3: time in the sports calendar where there's just there's nothing 742 00:38:31,760 --> 00:38:36,640 Speaker 3: going on. So I'm ready. Let's let's get spring training going. 743 00:38:37,040 --> 00:38:39,520 Speaker 1: I can't believe Rafael Montero got you that riled up, 744 00:38:39,800 --> 00:38:41,520 Speaker 1: got you that invigorated. 745 00:38:42,280 --> 00:38:44,839 Speaker 3: He was good enough that somebody gave him thirty four 746 00:38:44,880 --> 00:38:47,040 Speaker 3: million dollars a couple of years ago. He can't be 747 00:38:47,120 --> 00:38:47,560 Speaker 3: that bad. 748 00:38:48,040 --> 00:38:50,440 Speaker 1: Who was that? What idiot did that. 749 00:38:50,600 --> 00:38:52,640 Speaker 3: I don't know, doesn't matter. The point is is that 750 00:38:52,719 --> 00:38:55,120 Speaker 3: someone did, and so he must be good. 751 00:38:56,000 --> 00:38:58,520 Speaker 2: We also got thirty eight minutes and fifty eight seconds 752 00:38:58,560 --> 00:39:00,400 Speaker 2: into this and had never mentioned Force Whitley. 753 00:39:00,440 --> 00:39:02,080 Speaker 1: He could probably be in the bulk too. 754 00:39:03,520 --> 00:39:07,000 Speaker 2: Large, strapping young man speaking of someone they've invested a 755 00:39:07,040 --> 00:39:08,120 Speaker 2: lot of money in that need to. 756 00:39:08,120 --> 00:39:10,480 Speaker 1: Extract value out of Force Whitley. 757 00:39:10,560 --> 00:39:12,480 Speaker 2: Who knows Force Whitley caun be pitching the sixth inning 758 00:39:12,520 --> 00:39:15,200 Speaker 2: for the Houston Astros in twenty twenty five. 759 00:39:15,280 --> 00:39:17,080 Speaker 1: If he is, we'll be there to watch it. 760 00:39:17,160 --> 00:39:19,880 Speaker 2: If he's not, we probably will not be in Sugarland 761 00:39:19,880 --> 00:39:22,920 Speaker 2: to watch Force Whitley pitch, but we will be wherever 762 00:39:22,960 --> 00:39:25,480 Speaker 2: the major League team is, whether that's in West Palm Beach, 763 00:39:25,520 --> 00:39:28,600 Speaker 2: whether that's in Houston, whether that is on the road. 764 00:39:28,640 --> 00:39:30,040 Speaker 1: Wherever they go, we will be there. 765 00:39:30,120 --> 00:39:32,560 Speaker 2: So we'll keep coming to you with as much content 766 00:39:32,600 --> 00:39:35,440 Speaker 2: as we can the men, and Alex Bregman signs, you 767 00:39:35,480 --> 00:39:40,080 Speaker 2: will have an emergency podcast where we will either stare 768 00:39:40,120 --> 00:39:42,480 Speaker 2: in utter confusion the fact that he ended up back here, 769 00:39:42,960 --> 00:39:46,440 Speaker 2: or remember the great nine years Alex Bregman gave this 770 00:39:46,520 --> 00:39:49,880 Speaker 2: city and this franchise, So be on the lookout for that. 771 00:39:49,960 --> 00:39:53,319 Speaker 2: Whenever Alex Bregman signs, we'll get Josh Reddick back. This 772 00:39:53,400 --> 00:39:57,959 Speaker 2: week's probably in a more conventional locale than the last 773 00:39:58,000 --> 00:40:01,000 Speaker 2: time we saw him, probably in a more a better 774 00:40:01,040 --> 00:40:04,360 Speaker 2: outfit than the last, but who knows. Josh is as 775 00:40:04,480 --> 00:40:08,359 Speaker 2: volatile and variable as most major league believers, so we 776 00:40:08,400 --> 00:40:11,240 Speaker 2: will see you soon. Please rate and review us on Apple. 777 00:40:11,320 --> 00:40:15,239 Speaker 2: Please subscribe to the YouTube channel. We really appreciate it. 778 00:40:15,239 --> 00:40:17,319 Speaker 2: Appreciate the outpouring of support, and we'll be back soon. 779 00:40:17,440 --> 00:40:17,960 Speaker 2: Thanks guys. 780 00:40:18,280 --> 00:40:44,120 Speaker 3: Bye,