1 00:00:06,840 --> 00:00:10,160 Speaker 1: What's up everybody. Welcome into another edition of Crush City Territory. 2 00:00:10,160 --> 00:00:13,640 Speaker 1: I'm Chandler Room, joined by Tyler Stafford and perhaps the 3 00:00:13,680 --> 00:00:16,959 Speaker 1: most special guest we have ever had on Crush Citty Territory, 4 00:00:17,600 --> 00:00:21,640 Speaker 1: reigning American League Cy Young finalist, owner of a p 5 00:00:21,800 --> 00:00:25,400 Speaker 1: p I draft pick, and the pride of Saint Clair Shores, 6 00:00:25,560 --> 00:00:29,200 Speaker 1: Michigan Hunter Brown Hunter, thank you appreciate you taking some 7 00:00:29,240 --> 00:00:32,080 Speaker 1: time in spring training to get to get together with us. Uh. 8 00:00:32,400 --> 00:00:34,320 Speaker 1: How of the first week, week and a half been 9 00:00:34,400 --> 00:00:35,280 Speaker 1: for you in West Palm? 10 00:00:36,159 --> 00:00:39,000 Speaker 2: Yeah, thanks for having me. It's been. 11 00:00:39,120 --> 00:00:41,040 Speaker 3: It's been good, you know, get to see the boys again, 12 00:00:42,440 --> 00:00:44,720 Speaker 3: like like the first day of school, right, people people 13 00:00:44,760 --> 00:00:46,520 Speaker 3: mention that, but it's good to see your buddies again 14 00:00:46,560 --> 00:00:48,800 Speaker 3: after after a long break. You know, guys, you spend 15 00:00:49,800 --> 00:00:51,880 Speaker 3: I don't know, two hundred odd days in a row 16 00:00:51,920 --> 00:00:52,440 Speaker 3: with each other. 17 00:00:52,560 --> 00:00:56,000 Speaker 2: So you do you do? Uh, head towards the route 18 00:00:56,000 --> 00:00:57,400 Speaker 2: of missing them, believe. 19 00:00:57,160 --> 00:00:57,520 Speaker 3: It or not. 20 00:00:58,280 --> 00:00:58,880 Speaker 2: So we're back. 21 00:00:58,960 --> 00:00:59,720 Speaker 4: Baseball is back. 22 00:00:59,760 --> 00:01:00,880 Speaker 2: That's most exciting part. 23 00:01:00,920 --> 00:01:03,120 Speaker 4: And so yeah, it's just exciting. 24 00:01:04,200 --> 00:01:07,040 Speaker 1: Before we get going, before we start talking about baseball, 25 00:01:07,040 --> 00:01:09,280 Speaker 1: we have got to do one thing. We have got 26 00:01:09,280 --> 00:01:13,480 Speaker 1: to give a shout out to mister Kevin Brown, your dad. 27 00:01:14,160 --> 00:01:17,480 Speaker 1: This podcast has so few fans, so few people that 28 00:01:18,200 --> 00:01:20,840 Speaker 1: reach out and that like this thing. Your dad is 29 00:01:20,840 --> 00:01:21,360 Speaker 1: one of them. 30 00:01:21,560 --> 00:01:21,880 Speaker 2: And you. 31 00:01:23,360 --> 00:01:25,560 Speaker 1: Told me, you told me a fan fest how much 32 00:01:25,560 --> 00:01:29,560 Speaker 1: he watches us. He unsurprisingly you said he likes Tyler 33 00:01:29,600 --> 00:01:30,640 Speaker 1: a lot more than he likes me. 34 00:01:34,720 --> 00:01:38,119 Speaker 2: He is a fan. Don't change yourself. 35 00:01:38,200 --> 00:01:41,600 Speaker 1: Damn well, thank you. Uh, mister Kevin Brown, thank you 36 00:01:41,680 --> 00:01:45,240 Speaker 1: very much. Appreciate you watching. And I hope Hunter lives 37 00:01:45,280 --> 00:01:47,400 Speaker 1: up to your expectations. And I hope, I hope this 38 00:01:47,480 --> 00:01:51,920 Speaker 1: is good. Hunter. I introduced you when we started this thing. 39 00:01:52,000 --> 00:01:57,000 Speaker 1: Reigning American League Cy Young finalist, unquestioned astros Ace opening 40 00:01:57,080 --> 00:01:59,960 Speaker 1: day starter as of a week and a half ago. Uh, 41 00:02:00,800 --> 00:02:04,360 Speaker 1: how has what you did last year breaking out and 42 00:02:04,400 --> 00:02:07,680 Speaker 1: really like announcing your presence in Major League baseball? Like, 43 00:02:08,600 --> 00:02:10,920 Speaker 1: did you did you feel fame like change you this 44 00:02:11,000 --> 00:02:13,480 Speaker 1: offseason where you're getting recognized in Detroit when you were 45 00:02:13,480 --> 00:02:16,960 Speaker 1: walking around, Like how did you feel like, you know, 46 00:02:17,080 --> 00:02:20,480 Speaker 1: last season maybe changed you publicly in perception and what 47 00:02:20,520 --> 00:02:22,120 Speaker 1: people thought of you. 48 00:02:22,120 --> 00:02:23,840 Speaker 2: No, I mean, I think it's funny that you asked 49 00:02:23,840 --> 00:02:25,760 Speaker 2: me that, because other people have asked me that too, 50 00:02:25,800 --> 00:02:27,160 Speaker 2: And I mean I feel like I go home and 51 00:02:27,200 --> 00:02:29,240 Speaker 2: I kind of already know everybody anyway. 52 00:02:29,040 --> 00:02:31,600 Speaker 3: So I didn't I didn't feel any change. I got 53 00:02:31,600 --> 00:02:35,080 Speaker 3: a few more pictures at the grocery store in Houston 54 00:02:35,120 --> 00:02:39,000 Speaker 3: this offseason, but other than that, I mean, I feel like. 55 00:02:38,919 --> 00:02:41,119 Speaker 2: In baseball in general, you know, the guys. 56 00:02:40,960 --> 00:02:43,720 Speaker 3: Outside of a uniform don't get recognized as much unless, 57 00:02:43,800 --> 00:02:46,760 Speaker 3: uh you know, I mean, especially if I'm wearing long 58 00:02:46,800 --> 00:02:47,720 Speaker 3: sleeves or something like that. 59 00:02:48,120 --> 00:02:51,040 Speaker 2: You know, specifically, people don't. People don't say, oh, hey, 60 00:02:51,080 --> 00:02:54,880 Speaker 2: that's funner. But uh yeah, I mean it's it's been good. 61 00:02:57,360 --> 00:03:00,480 Speaker 1: I have a question. So I was showing and Tyler 62 00:03:00,560 --> 00:03:02,640 Speaker 1: this before we started, and if you can see it 63 00:03:02,680 --> 00:03:06,560 Speaker 1: on your phone, this is you at the twenty twenty 64 00:03:06,560 --> 00:03:10,919 Speaker 1: two Futures game at Dodger Stadium. Got that picture views 65 00:03:10,960 --> 00:03:13,560 Speaker 1: you were going out to do your APLO stuff, And 66 00:03:13,600 --> 00:03:16,880 Speaker 1: I was actually talking to someone in the ASTROS organization 67 00:03:16,960 --> 00:03:19,000 Speaker 1: about this a couple of days ago, because we saw 68 00:03:19,040 --> 00:03:22,760 Speaker 1: you walk out to go do something on the agility field, 69 00:03:23,200 --> 00:03:26,320 Speaker 1: and I remember getting meeting you there and interviewing you 70 00:03:26,360 --> 00:03:29,519 Speaker 1: at Dodger Stadium for this game, and like your transformation 71 00:03:29,680 --> 00:03:32,040 Speaker 1: from this where like the jersey is almost hanging off 72 00:03:32,080 --> 00:03:35,080 Speaker 1: of you to what you are now, Like, how did 73 00:03:35,120 --> 00:03:37,280 Speaker 1: we get from that to this? 74 00:03:38,800 --> 00:03:41,600 Speaker 2: Well, ironically you had probably one of the only. 75 00:03:41,440 --> 00:03:46,160 Speaker 3: Pictures of me in high pants as well, So that 76 00:03:46,240 --> 00:03:47,640 Speaker 3: thing is that thing's gold. 77 00:03:49,040 --> 00:03:52,040 Speaker 2: No. I mean, if you're talking about the physicality, you know. 78 00:03:53,280 --> 00:03:56,000 Speaker 3: My trainer, Joe Neil has been has been awesome for 79 00:03:56,040 --> 00:03:59,600 Speaker 3: me at TWOSP Sports in Madison Heights, Michigan. 80 00:03:59,640 --> 00:04:00,760 Speaker 2: I go back there every year. 81 00:04:02,360 --> 00:04:04,360 Speaker 3: I've been working with him since I got drafted. I 82 00:04:04,400 --> 00:04:08,520 Speaker 3: tried the old go to the local LA Fitness for 83 00:04:08,560 --> 00:04:11,640 Speaker 3: a couple of weeks out of your first short season 84 00:04:11,680 --> 00:04:14,080 Speaker 3: spring training, and I said, you know, I might need 85 00:04:14,120 --> 00:04:17,200 Speaker 3: a different edge here, so you know, got working with him, 86 00:04:17,240 --> 00:04:19,320 Speaker 3: and then I like to I like to say I 87 00:04:19,320 --> 00:04:22,680 Speaker 3: got body by Joe put the time in with him, 88 00:04:22,720 --> 00:04:25,760 Speaker 3: and you know I think I think that. And then 89 00:04:25,960 --> 00:04:28,120 Speaker 3: you know, just housing as much food as possible for 90 00:04:28,160 --> 00:04:30,040 Speaker 3: a couple of years really really helped. 91 00:04:29,800 --> 00:04:31,559 Speaker 2: Me gain some weight. So I mean in that picture 92 00:04:31,600 --> 00:04:32,960 Speaker 2: I was probably two. 93 00:04:32,920 --> 00:04:35,960 Speaker 4: Hundred pounds and you know, maybe now I'm. 94 00:04:35,640 --> 00:04:38,800 Speaker 2: Pushing two thirty, so a little bit different. 95 00:04:39,240 --> 00:04:43,880 Speaker 5: We've talked about, obviously the physical transformation now we we 96 00:04:43,960 --> 00:04:48,719 Speaker 5: have all discussed externally when you added a sinker and 97 00:04:48,880 --> 00:04:51,839 Speaker 5: just became one of the best pictures on the planet. 98 00:04:52,240 --> 00:04:55,640 Speaker 5: I assume that it is not easy as easy as 99 00:04:55,720 --> 00:04:57,640 Speaker 5: just saying, oh, I'll just throw a sinker and that 100 00:04:57,720 --> 00:05:01,719 Speaker 5: will fix everything. Can you just walk up through how 101 00:05:02,240 --> 00:05:05,520 Speaker 5: adding that pitch changed the type of picture that you 102 00:05:05,560 --> 00:05:08,000 Speaker 5: were before, how it plays up everything else, Like why 103 00:05:08,040 --> 00:05:10,520 Speaker 5: why did that unlock so much for you? 104 00:05:11,760 --> 00:05:11,960 Speaker 2: Yes? 105 00:05:12,000 --> 00:05:13,480 Speaker 3: So, I mean I like to I like to think 106 00:05:13,520 --> 00:05:16,240 Speaker 3: that my identity before I got the pro ball, you know, 107 00:05:16,240 --> 00:05:20,719 Speaker 3: because in college I threw mostly two's in sliders, and 108 00:05:20,760 --> 00:05:22,279 Speaker 3: then I got to pro bawl and then I think, 109 00:05:22,400 --> 00:05:24,240 Speaker 3: you know, kind of based on my arm slot. 110 00:05:24,000 --> 00:05:27,480 Speaker 2: And then you know, all the the. 111 00:05:26,600 --> 00:05:28,920 Speaker 3: The tricks and secrets of the trade that the Astros have, 112 00:05:29,080 --> 00:05:31,920 Speaker 3: they they quickly kind of shut that down and turned 113 00:05:31,960 --> 00:05:32,400 Speaker 3: me into a. 114 00:05:32,360 --> 00:05:35,400 Speaker 2: North South guy. So I'd like to say it's always. 115 00:05:35,160 --> 00:05:36,880 Speaker 3: Been in there, and I always felt like I could 116 00:05:36,920 --> 00:05:41,000 Speaker 3: go back to it. But you know, at the time 117 00:05:41,560 --> 00:05:43,640 Speaker 3: the time that it started coming up, where I was like, Okay, 118 00:05:43,680 --> 00:05:46,760 Speaker 3: something's got to make a change here, I was, you know, 119 00:05:46,839 --> 00:05:49,200 Speaker 3: I was arguably one of the worst pitchers in baseball 120 00:05:49,320 --> 00:05:51,960 Speaker 3: for I mean maybe not even arguably, I probably was 121 00:05:52,080 --> 00:05:54,919 Speaker 3: for about a month. So uh, you know, at that 122 00:05:55,000 --> 00:05:57,839 Speaker 3: point you're looking around and you're like, man, I you know, 123 00:05:57,880 --> 00:06:00,159 Speaker 3: I really love the big leagues and I definitely want 124 00:06:00,200 --> 00:06:00,719 Speaker 3: to stay here. 125 00:06:00,760 --> 00:06:03,440 Speaker 2: But there's not many guys that get rolled out there 126 00:06:03,480 --> 00:06:05,640 Speaker 2: over and over with you know, an Era nor at 127 00:06:05,680 --> 00:06:06,159 Speaker 2: the tenth. 128 00:06:06,320 --> 00:06:09,239 Speaker 3: So first thing you do is you ask the guys 129 00:06:09,240 --> 00:06:10,799 Speaker 3: on your team, you know, some of the best players 130 00:06:10,800 --> 00:06:11,159 Speaker 3: in the world. 131 00:06:11,160 --> 00:06:13,240 Speaker 2: And luckily I'm in the clubhouse at the time with 132 00:06:13,480 --> 00:06:17,080 Speaker 2: you know, Justin Erlander, Bregman, Al Tuve, Jordan. 133 00:06:17,240 --> 00:06:19,479 Speaker 3: You know, Debon was was a guy that I talked 134 00:06:19,520 --> 00:06:23,200 Speaker 3: to at length about it, and they all kind of 135 00:06:23,240 --> 00:06:25,640 Speaker 3: just gave me the same feedback where it was I 136 00:06:25,720 --> 00:06:31,119 Speaker 3: kind of pigeonholed myself into staying with with a harder 137 00:06:31,200 --> 00:06:33,839 Speaker 3: velocity approach to the outer third of the play, so 138 00:06:33,920 --> 00:06:37,840 Speaker 3: my glove side in a way to writings, and with that, 139 00:06:38,000 --> 00:06:40,880 Speaker 3: it just really tightens up your zone to where you know, 140 00:06:40,920 --> 00:06:44,240 Speaker 3: if you're already working just that outer half, well then 141 00:06:44,360 --> 00:06:46,919 Speaker 3: you go anymore. The chases start to go away because 142 00:06:46,920 --> 00:06:49,640 Speaker 3: now they know, you know that they just need that window. 143 00:06:49,960 --> 00:06:52,760 Speaker 3: And then I wasn't throwing anything inside. So you know, 144 00:06:52,839 --> 00:06:58,719 Speaker 3: right handed hitters especially, we're destroying me. And so I 145 00:06:58,839 --> 00:07:01,680 Speaker 3: just said, all right, well instead of trying to, you know, 146 00:07:01,760 --> 00:07:05,080 Speaker 3: maybe just drill four seams in, I said, I got 147 00:07:05,120 --> 00:07:05,719 Speaker 3: this thing. 148 00:07:05,640 --> 00:07:07,919 Speaker 4: I know in the back pocket from from my. 149 00:07:07,920 --> 00:07:10,560 Speaker 3: Old days at Wayne State, that I could at least 150 00:07:10,760 --> 00:07:13,360 Speaker 3: it's gonna go right. I don't know exactly how much 151 00:07:13,440 --> 00:07:15,320 Speaker 3: right it's gonna go, but it's gonna get in there. 152 00:07:15,400 --> 00:07:18,640 Speaker 3: And then you know, you combine that and then now 153 00:07:18,680 --> 00:07:20,800 Speaker 3: you got you know, you got a bunch of different options. 154 00:07:20,800 --> 00:07:22,880 Speaker 3: So I leaned it in my change up a little 155 00:07:22,920 --> 00:07:24,920 Speaker 3: bit more as well. And then when you're throwing a 156 00:07:25,000 --> 00:07:27,480 Speaker 3: change up that like mine, is a little bit you know, 157 00:07:27,600 --> 00:07:30,280 Speaker 3: depth and armside. You know, it's a big difference in 158 00:07:30,360 --> 00:07:32,240 Speaker 3: a four seam. So it kind of it also helped 159 00:07:32,240 --> 00:07:34,640 Speaker 3: my change up a lot. It opened up the slider 160 00:07:34,680 --> 00:07:37,280 Speaker 3: a little bit, and then you know, my four seam 161 00:07:37,280 --> 00:07:39,440 Speaker 3: and curveball got that much better because then there was 162 00:07:39,440 --> 00:07:40,600 Speaker 3: that other element that. 163 00:07:40,400 --> 00:07:41,640 Speaker 2: That hitters had to respect. 164 00:07:41,680 --> 00:07:44,800 Speaker 3: So it is it is a pitch for me that 165 00:07:44,960 --> 00:07:46,760 Speaker 3: you know, I lean on heavily, but it also does 166 00:07:46,880 --> 00:07:48,280 Speaker 3: just help make my other stuff better. 167 00:07:48,720 --> 00:07:51,239 Speaker 5: So it's a pitch you through before at at Wayne State, 168 00:07:51,440 --> 00:07:54,240 Speaker 5: and you just hadn't for a while and then brought 169 00:07:54,240 --> 00:07:56,080 Speaker 5: it back the same grip and everything did Did they 170 00:07:56,120 --> 00:07:57,960 Speaker 5: tweak anything for you? 171 00:07:58,000 --> 00:07:58,240 Speaker 2: No? 172 00:07:58,240 --> 00:08:00,200 Speaker 3: No, right off the shelf. I was lucky enough that 173 00:08:00,680 --> 00:08:03,920 Speaker 3: I was. I had some natural seam shifted wake on it. 174 00:08:05,960 --> 00:08:07,880 Speaker 2: And yeah, I mean. 175 00:08:08,120 --> 00:08:11,080 Speaker 3: I was thrown at ninety five plus or so, so 176 00:08:11,920 --> 00:08:14,880 Speaker 3: you know, anything anything that hard is. 177 00:08:14,880 --> 00:08:17,400 Speaker 2: Usually is going to be all right. So I was 178 00:08:17,440 --> 00:08:19,160 Speaker 2: able to just kind of take it off the shelf 179 00:08:19,160 --> 00:08:19,800 Speaker 2: and roll with it. 180 00:08:21,480 --> 00:08:24,040 Speaker 1: Hunter. I know you never want to relive April eleventh, 181 00:08:24,040 --> 00:08:28,160 Speaker 1: twenty twenty four, probably ever again, your start at coffin 182 00:08:28,320 --> 00:08:28,720 Speaker 1: real quick. 183 00:08:28,840 --> 00:08:31,000 Speaker 2: It seems it seems like in every interview I give 184 00:08:31,040 --> 00:08:31,720 Speaker 2: it gets brought up. 185 00:08:31,760 --> 00:08:33,040 Speaker 4: Though, I'm going to throw that out there. 186 00:08:33,080 --> 00:08:37,120 Speaker 3: It's like it's it's that nightmare that just keeps coming back. 187 00:08:37,280 --> 00:08:38,839 Speaker 3: But I'm sorry, Chayler, go ahead. 188 00:08:39,040 --> 00:08:40,719 Speaker 1: What I wanted you, what I wanted you to talk 189 00:08:40,720 --> 00:08:43,200 Speaker 1: about was so that was a getaway day game. I 190 00:08:43,240 --> 00:08:46,840 Speaker 1: want you to talk about that flight home because I 191 00:08:46,880 --> 00:08:48,559 Speaker 1: know that we have talked about it a little bit, 192 00:08:48,600 --> 00:08:51,200 Speaker 1: but I know Ryan Presley was on that flight and 193 00:08:51,720 --> 00:08:55,200 Speaker 1: very much helped you kind of get through that. I know, 194 00:08:55,240 --> 00:08:57,960 Speaker 1: Alex Bregman came, tell me about that flight home and 195 00:08:58,080 --> 00:09:02,160 Speaker 1: just what the guys, what those veterans you just talked 196 00:09:02,160 --> 00:09:06,240 Speaker 1: about what they did to maybe help you get through that, 197 00:09:06,320 --> 00:09:08,240 Speaker 1: because I don't know that there's a rule book or 198 00:09:08,280 --> 00:09:11,560 Speaker 1: a playbook to get through or to compartmentalize what you 199 00:09:11,720 --> 00:09:13,440 Speaker 1: endured on that field. 200 00:09:13,640 --> 00:09:14,760 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean, I think. 201 00:09:16,200 --> 00:09:18,240 Speaker 3: You know, not only I mean, obviously I was feeling 202 00:09:18,240 --> 00:09:20,600 Speaker 3: pretty miserable. Nobody wants to go out there and not 203 00:09:20,640 --> 00:09:24,000 Speaker 3: have success, and then you know, when you put a 204 00:09:24,040 --> 00:09:27,200 Speaker 3: magnifying glass and blow it up into what it was, 205 00:09:27,559 --> 00:09:29,560 Speaker 3: it's even worse. So but then also, you know the 206 00:09:29,600 --> 00:09:32,760 Speaker 3: team was struggling too, so you kind. 207 00:09:32,640 --> 00:09:33,160 Speaker 2: Of had both. 208 00:09:33,320 --> 00:09:35,800 Speaker 3: So everybody knew that that something had to change, and 209 00:09:35,840 --> 00:09:38,880 Speaker 3: then you know it's changed as a whole, and. 210 00:09:38,840 --> 00:09:40,719 Speaker 2: Then you know, the leadership that we had it was 211 00:09:40,840 --> 00:09:45,560 Speaker 2: kind of like, hey, if Hunter, we're gonna need you. 212 00:09:45,559 --> 00:09:47,839 Speaker 2: You know, that's kind of the route that Presley took 213 00:09:47,920 --> 00:09:50,400 Speaker 2: with me and Bragman. It was like, hey, you know. 214 00:09:50,360 --> 00:09:52,880 Speaker 3: We need you to be successful, so so something's got 215 00:09:52,920 --> 00:09:55,600 Speaker 3: to change here, and you know, we believe in you, 216 00:09:55,640 --> 00:09:57,920 Speaker 3: so you should probably start believing in yourself as much 217 00:09:57,960 --> 00:10:01,400 Speaker 3: as as we do, which at the time was you know, 218 00:10:01,480 --> 00:10:04,360 Speaker 3: maybe a little bit easier said than done. But then 219 00:10:04,480 --> 00:10:07,280 Speaker 3: then again, I'd had success the year the year prior, 220 00:10:07,320 --> 00:10:09,240 Speaker 3: at the you know, for the first half. My second 221 00:10:09,240 --> 00:10:11,720 Speaker 3: half of my rookie year wasn't wasn't what I'd hoped. 222 00:10:11,760 --> 00:10:15,760 Speaker 3: But you know, you kind of put that all in 223 00:10:15,800 --> 00:10:18,079 Speaker 3: and then you start to, uh, you know, try and 224 00:10:18,080 --> 00:10:20,040 Speaker 3: get the good snowball going. I like to say, where 225 00:10:20,600 --> 00:10:22,400 Speaker 3: where you're try and build on the good things. Right, 226 00:10:22,400 --> 00:10:24,480 Speaker 3: So I knew at the time, like, okay, my fourth 227 00:10:24,520 --> 00:10:27,720 Speaker 3: team still was playing pretty good. My curveball was was 228 00:10:27,760 --> 00:10:28,400 Speaker 3: doing fine. 229 00:10:28,440 --> 00:10:29,360 Speaker 2: It just I wasn't. 230 00:10:29,520 --> 00:10:32,920 Speaker 3: I wasn't necessarily locating these enough and changing speed. So 231 00:10:34,679 --> 00:10:38,160 Speaker 3: it was a mentality change of all right, I know 232 00:10:38,559 --> 00:10:40,719 Speaker 3: that I had the tools to be successful because I've 233 00:10:40,720 --> 00:10:43,000 Speaker 3: already shown that a little bit. And then you know, 234 00:10:43,040 --> 00:10:45,800 Speaker 3: what tools do I have that I can lean into 235 00:10:45,559 --> 00:10:49,680 Speaker 3: to help me with that as well? And then you know, 236 00:10:49,720 --> 00:10:51,520 Speaker 3: we kind of took the identity of like, all right, 237 00:10:51,559 --> 00:10:54,680 Speaker 3: this has been a terrible start, but if anybody's gonna 238 00:10:54,679 --> 00:10:56,400 Speaker 3: do it, you know, it's gonna be us. 239 00:10:59,160 --> 00:11:02,080 Speaker 1: I'm curious, you know, we talk a lot on this 240 00:11:02,160 --> 00:11:04,560 Speaker 1: pod about and we brought it up with Josh. We 241 00:11:04,600 --> 00:11:06,880 Speaker 1: had Josh Miller on a couple of weeks ago, and 242 00:11:07,280 --> 00:11:10,600 Speaker 1: we always talk about your first inning of last season. 243 00:11:11,440 --> 00:11:14,640 Speaker 1: You got out there, you faced Lindor, Soto and Alonso, 244 00:11:15,080 --> 00:11:18,400 Speaker 1: and you were ninety nine, You were dot and whatever 245 00:11:18,440 --> 00:11:21,800 Speaker 1: you wanted. Alonso got you deep to the deepest part 246 00:11:21,840 --> 00:11:25,160 Speaker 1: of the park. But Soto and Lindor looked absolutely helpless 247 00:11:25,160 --> 00:11:28,360 Speaker 1: against you. I've said it before from the press box, 248 00:11:28,400 --> 00:11:30,360 Speaker 1: like my jaw was on the floor. I did not 249 00:11:30,480 --> 00:11:33,000 Speaker 1: expect that from you in your first inning of twenty 250 00:11:33,080 --> 00:11:35,800 Speaker 1: twenty five. I guess I wonder, like in your head 251 00:11:36,400 --> 00:11:39,280 Speaker 1: when you do that, is it as simple as you're thinking, 252 00:11:39,320 --> 00:11:41,559 Speaker 1: Oh man, I got like I knew you had to 253 00:11:41,559 --> 00:11:43,800 Speaker 1: feel good coming out of spring training, But when you 254 00:11:43,840 --> 00:11:46,200 Speaker 1: see those three hitters react the way they did to 255 00:11:46,240 --> 00:11:48,400 Speaker 1: your stuff, what are you thinking after that first hurning? 256 00:11:51,720 --> 00:11:54,959 Speaker 2: You know, I think it's it helps you believe in 257 00:11:55,000 --> 00:11:56,600 Speaker 2: the work that you put in the off season. But 258 00:11:56,840 --> 00:11:57,880 Speaker 2: you know, ironically, my. 259 00:11:57,880 --> 00:12:01,400 Speaker 3: Last start before the start of the season in camp 260 00:12:01,480 --> 00:12:04,160 Speaker 3: I had walked five and had two innings rolled on me. 261 00:12:04,240 --> 00:12:06,040 Speaker 3: So I was going out there with a little bit 262 00:12:06,080 --> 00:12:09,080 Speaker 3: of you know, maybe a chip on my shoulder like 263 00:12:09,080 --> 00:12:10,800 Speaker 3: this is I'm not gonna let this happen again. 264 00:12:11,920 --> 00:12:13,959 Speaker 2: You know, have have a have a poor start to 265 00:12:14,000 --> 00:12:16,360 Speaker 2: the season, so that that was in my mind as well. 266 00:12:16,440 --> 00:12:21,920 Speaker 2: And then you know, Dyking was bumping, so the adreanoline 267 00:12:21,960 --> 00:12:24,079 Speaker 2: was flowing, like. 268 00:12:24,080 --> 00:12:27,199 Speaker 3: He said, you know, three big name guys, uh, guys 269 00:12:27,240 --> 00:12:29,360 Speaker 3: that you know when you when you're at this level, 270 00:12:29,360 --> 00:12:31,120 Speaker 3: you want to compete against the best guys in the world, 271 00:12:31,160 --> 00:12:34,000 Speaker 3: and you know that's a that's a pretty solid top 272 00:12:34,040 --> 00:12:36,040 Speaker 3: three to start your season. 273 00:12:36,160 --> 00:12:37,760 Speaker 2: So I think you you kind of. 274 00:12:37,720 --> 00:12:41,560 Speaker 3: Just combine all those things and then you know you 275 00:12:41,559 --> 00:12:42,600 Speaker 3: have a little bit extra juice. 276 00:12:42,600 --> 00:12:43,480 Speaker 4: And then when you get done with that. 277 00:12:43,400 --> 00:12:45,880 Speaker 3: And you're like, all right, let's you know, obviously here 278 00:12:45,920 --> 00:12:48,839 Speaker 3: I am again. Season has started where we're back into it, 279 00:12:50,000 --> 00:12:52,679 Speaker 3: and then just try to try to take it into 280 00:12:53,480 --> 00:12:55,360 Speaker 3: into the next inning. You know, then you settle in 281 00:12:55,400 --> 00:12:59,000 Speaker 3: and you're in a start versus h you know, just 282 00:12:59,080 --> 00:13:01,000 Speaker 3: running off purely kind. 283 00:13:00,920 --> 00:13:02,600 Speaker 2: Of emotions, I guess in that first inning. 284 00:13:03,520 --> 00:13:06,920 Speaker 5: So I mean you talk about having the introduce at 285 00:13:07,280 --> 00:13:09,839 Speaker 5: you know, the beginning of the year. This year, you're 286 00:13:09,880 --> 00:13:13,040 Speaker 5: starting opening day to the surprise of no One and 287 00:13:13,120 --> 00:13:15,840 Speaker 5: I'm sure yourself as well, but it is announced, it's 288 00:13:15,840 --> 00:13:20,280 Speaker 5: out there. What I mean again, just a fifth round 289 00:13:20,320 --> 00:13:24,760 Speaker 5: pick from Wayne State, you know, and and struggling at 290 00:13:24,760 --> 00:13:26,800 Speaker 5: the beginning of your career, you have it like, what 291 00:13:26,880 --> 00:13:29,680 Speaker 5: does that mean? Have you been able to fully process 292 00:13:30,240 --> 00:13:33,600 Speaker 5: how much your career has changed in the last two 293 00:13:33,679 --> 00:13:36,040 Speaker 5: years to now being in an opening day starter? 294 00:13:37,440 --> 00:13:39,760 Speaker 3: No, you know, I think I kind of try to 295 00:13:39,800 --> 00:13:42,679 Speaker 3: keep it to and it's a pretty cliche answer, but 296 00:13:42,760 --> 00:13:44,680 Speaker 3: you try to keep it to one day at a time. 297 00:13:44,800 --> 00:13:47,640 Speaker 2: You know. Obviously I'm aware that. 298 00:13:47,200 --> 00:13:49,040 Speaker 3: That I'll get in them all that day, but you know, 299 00:13:49,040 --> 00:13:50,600 Speaker 3: I got a lot of work to do in camp here, 300 00:13:50,720 --> 00:13:53,240 Speaker 3: you know, to to tighten up some things and to 301 00:13:53,320 --> 00:13:54,320 Speaker 3: get ready for the season. 302 00:13:54,440 --> 00:13:56,960 Speaker 2: So that's that's where the focus is at right now. 303 00:13:57,800 --> 00:13:58,600 Speaker 4: And then and then. 304 00:13:58,520 --> 00:14:01,599 Speaker 3: As for the last couple of years, you know, I 305 00:14:02,480 --> 00:14:06,040 Speaker 3: got some of those results personally by taking that mentality 306 00:14:06,080 --> 00:14:08,719 Speaker 3: into into those you know, you don't want to look 307 00:14:08,720 --> 00:14:12,080 Speaker 3: at a season at thirty starts or thirty two starts 308 00:14:12,160 --> 00:14:13,600 Speaker 3: or whatever. You know, you want to just look at 309 00:14:13,640 --> 00:14:16,880 Speaker 3: it at one start thirty two times, which I which 310 00:14:16,920 --> 00:14:20,680 Speaker 3: I think can help you kind of one compartmentalize both 311 00:14:20,680 --> 00:14:22,600 Speaker 3: the good and the bad. You know, never ride too 312 00:14:22,640 --> 00:14:24,840 Speaker 3: high or too low. But then it also keeps you, 313 00:14:24,840 --> 00:14:27,720 Speaker 3: you know, into into yourself and in what you're working 314 00:14:27,760 --> 00:14:29,480 Speaker 3: on and how to apply it to each game. 315 00:14:31,040 --> 00:14:33,080 Speaker 1: You pitched about as well as you could last year. 316 00:14:33,840 --> 00:14:37,160 Speaker 1: Just there doesn't seem to be on paper or just 317 00:14:37,200 --> 00:14:39,120 Speaker 1: looking at stats, like it doesn't seem to be much 318 00:14:39,160 --> 00:14:41,800 Speaker 1: that you can work on or that you can improve upon. 319 00:14:41,960 --> 00:14:44,000 Speaker 1: But I know how you guys are wired. I know 320 00:14:44,000 --> 00:14:46,360 Speaker 1: how every baseball player is wired. There's always something you 321 00:14:46,400 --> 00:14:50,000 Speaker 1: can get better at. What are those things? What did 322 00:14:50,080 --> 00:14:52,280 Speaker 1: you go into this offseason thinking like I need to 323 00:14:52,280 --> 00:14:54,000 Speaker 1: get better at after last year? 324 00:14:55,000 --> 00:14:56,520 Speaker 4: Yeah, you know, I think I can do a better 325 00:14:56,640 --> 00:14:57,280 Speaker 4: job of. 326 00:14:58,440 --> 00:15:00,880 Speaker 3: Holding runners, you know, specific in my time to the 327 00:15:00,920 --> 00:15:03,520 Speaker 3: played at times, you know, I have such a high 328 00:15:03,560 --> 00:15:07,200 Speaker 3: lay kick that I'm sure. I'm sure Vic and uh 329 00:15:07,440 --> 00:15:09,840 Speaker 3: and DZ last year at times were like, you know, come. 330 00:15:09,640 --> 00:15:12,200 Speaker 2: On, man, give me a shot. But uh so, So 331 00:15:12,240 --> 00:15:14,520 Speaker 2: there's definitely that element to it. And I think I 332 00:15:14,520 --> 00:15:16,080 Speaker 2: think we we've kind of been. 333 00:15:16,440 --> 00:15:18,680 Speaker 3: Talking about that as a as a team as a whole, 334 00:15:20,200 --> 00:15:23,440 Speaker 3: So I don't think that's just for me. But you know, personally, 335 00:15:23,520 --> 00:15:26,240 Speaker 3: I think if I could, you know, if I could 336 00:15:26,280 --> 00:15:28,160 Speaker 3: strike out as many right handed hitters as. 337 00:15:28,080 --> 00:15:30,280 Speaker 2: I do left handed, that would that would be awesome. 338 00:15:31,720 --> 00:15:33,760 Speaker 3: And then first pitch strikes, you know, you want to 339 00:15:34,360 --> 00:15:36,080 Speaker 3: if you're getting ahead of guys, you're gonna get deeper 340 00:15:36,080 --> 00:15:38,640 Speaker 3: into games and and kind of some of that stuff 341 00:15:38,680 --> 00:15:41,640 Speaker 3: is gonna gonna even itself out. You know, you'll find 342 00:15:41,680 --> 00:15:45,640 Speaker 3: yourself and opportunities to to put guys away faster and 343 00:15:45,440 --> 00:15:47,800 Speaker 3: and you know, have more efficient innings. 344 00:15:47,800 --> 00:15:51,720 Speaker 5: Really, I mean, I at what point did you start 345 00:15:51,760 --> 00:15:55,360 Speaker 5: throwing ninety eight? Like I'm assuming that that was not 346 00:15:55,800 --> 00:15:59,160 Speaker 5: happening at Wayne State? Like when when did that? Was? 347 00:15:59,160 --> 00:16:01,600 Speaker 5: Was it? You're yeah? Nine year? Okay? 348 00:16:01,720 --> 00:16:04,000 Speaker 3: Yeah, My junior year was the first time I was 349 00:16:04,040 --> 00:16:07,880 Speaker 3: Actually again ironically, I was at the we did our 350 00:16:08,680 --> 00:16:12,360 Speaker 3: spring break tournament for Wayne. Say, we went down to 351 00:16:12,440 --> 00:16:15,200 Speaker 3: Kissimi a couple of times. So my junior year at 352 00:16:15,280 --> 00:16:18,080 Speaker 3: Cassim I hit ninety eight for the first time. It 353 00:16:18,120 --> 00:16:20,400 Speaker 3: was but it was a big game, you know, Augustana, 354 00:16:20,440 --> 00:16:22,360 Speaker 3: they were reigning champs, and I was I was getting 355 00:16:22,360 --> 00:16:23,960 Speaker 3: the rock against them, and. 356 00:16:24,880 --> 00:16:28,080 Speaker 2: So you know that was maybe it was just meant 357 00:16:28,080 --> 00:16:28,240 Speaker 2: to be. 358 00:16:28,320 --> 00:16:30,680 Speaker 3: Maybe the Astros saw that in their own backyard and said, 359 00:16:30,680 --> 00:16:31,160 Speaker 3: we got. 360 00:16:30,960 --> 00:16:32,520 Speaker 2: To have this guy. At least that's what That's what 361 00:16:32,560 --> 00:16:33,720 Speaker 2: I like to tell myself. 362 00:16:34,480 --> 00:16:36,280 Speaker 5: Yeah, I was going to say, I have a theory 363 00:16:36,320 --> 00:16:39,440 Speaker 5: that you know, when when pitchers really gain that v 364 00:16:39,560 --> 00:16:43,160 Speaker 5: LO later and their career, you still try to nibble 365 00:16:43,240 --> 00:16:44,880 Speaker 5: like you used to have to when you were throwing 366 00:16:45,040 --> 00:16:47,600 Speaker 5: ninety two. And sometimes I'm just yelling at the TV, like, 367 00:16:47,920 --> 00:16:50,480 Speaker 5: big guy, you throw ninety nine, Just pump it down 368 00:16:50,480 --> 00:16:51,640 Speaker 5: the middle. See what happens. 369 00:16:51,720 --> 00:16:54,320 Speaker 2: You know, that's no. 370 00:16:54,960 --> 00:16:56,720 Speaker 3: I feel like it sits in everybody's head though, the 371 00:16:56,720 --> 00:16:58,440 Speaker 3: pitch that you throw down the middle that ends up 372 00:16:58,440 --> 00:16:59,320 Speaker 3: over the fence. 373 00:16:59,040 --> 00:17:00,920 Speaker 2: Here, like, oh boy, I'm not to do that anymore. 374 00:17:01,000 --> 00:17:06,800 Speaker 5: So if we're modeling everything after Justin Verlander, I can 375 00:17:06,840 --> 00:17:09,679 Speaker 5: tell you I wrote an article once for Baseball Perspectives 376 00:17:09,680 --> 00:17:12,760 Speaker 5: that he threw more fastballs down the middle than any 377 00:17:12,760 --> 00:17:15,159 Speaker 5: other pitcher in baseball. And it was just, you know, 378 00:17:15,600 --> 00:17:18,199 Speaker 5: go off the curveball in the slider obviously, but he 379 00:17:18,320 --> 00:17:21,040 Speaker 5: I mean dead center heat. He's the he was the 380 00:17:21,119 --> 00:17:22,919 Speaker 5: leader for several years there. 381 00:17:23,320 --> 00:17:25,600 Speaker 2: He's got a couple outside factors too. He's throwing the 382 00:17:25,600 --> 00:17:26,200 Speaker 2: ball from the. 383 00:17:26,160 --> 00:17:28,680 Speaker 4: Sky, and at the time, I don't think many. 384 00:17:28,440 --> 00:17:32,120 Speaker 3: Guys were throwing twenty three inches of vert on the fastball, 385 00:17:32,200 --> 00:17:34,760 Speaker 3: so maybe he was an outlier, you. 386 00:17:34,760 --> 00:17:39,480 Speaker 1: Know, Hannor, you mentioned that tournament in Kassemi. It was 387 00:17:39,520 --> 00:17:44,879 Speaker 1: the Russmatt Invitational, and that is how the Astros found you. 388 00:17:45,920 --> 00:17:48,800 Speaker 1: Scott Oberhelman, the area of scout who still works for 389 00:17:48,800 --> 00:17:53,360 Speaker 1: the Astros who signed you, he saw you there first. 390 00:17:53,600 --> 00:17:56,919 Speaker 1: And the only reason he saw you is because he 391 00:17:57,119 --> 00:18:01,119 Speaker 1: overheard some other scouts talking about you, and it was 392 00:18:01,119 --> 00:18:05,320 Speaker 1: his first scouting assignment for the Astros, was scouting this tournament. 393 00:18:05,680 --> 00:18:08,240 Speaker 1: He overheard a couple of other scouts saying, Oh, Wayne 394 00:18:08,320 --> 00:18:11,200 Speaker 1: State has this kid that we really like, and he said, 395 00:18:11,520 --> 00:18:13,359 Speaker 1: I should stay here a little bit longer and go 396 00:18:13,400 --> 00:18:15,879 Speaker 1: see him. Went to saw you, went to see you, 397 00:18:16,160 --> 00:18:18,720 Speaker 1: and the rest is history. So you were onto something 398 00:18:18,720 --> 00:18:20,679 Speaker 1: that you were in the Astro's backyard, and that is 399 00:18:20,720 --> 00:18:23,160 Speaker 1: how they found you at that uh at that spring 400 00:18:23,200 --> 00:18:27,920 Speaker 1: break tournament in in Florida. But your road to Wayne 401 00:18:27,920 --> 00:18:31,520 Speaker 1: State's interesting too, because your only D one offers were 402 00:18:31,560 --> 00:18:33,080 Speaker 1: to go be a bullpen catcher. 403 00:18:33,720 --> 00:18:38,760 Speaker 3: And yeah, Eastern Michigan tossed me a little little courtesy. 404 00:18:39,880 --> 00:18:41,960 Speaker 3: They said you could be the thirty fifth guy on 405 00:18:42,040 --> 00:18:44,040 Speaker 3: the on the roster out of thirty five. 406 00:18:44,800 --> 00:18:47,320 Speaker 2: You know, they said, they they they thought I could 407 00:18:47,320 --> 00:18:51,679 Speaker 2: pitch a little bit. But you know I was. I 408 00:18:51,760 --> 00:18:54,040 Speaker 2: was a decent catcher. You know, I went I played 409 00:18:54,080 --> 00:18:56,320 Speaker 2: in Michigan, so you know, give it a grain of salt. 410 00:18:56,320 --> 00:18:58,480 Speaker 2: I kind of I could turn and burn on some 411 00:18:58,480 --> 00:19:00,800 Speaker 2: seventy seven to eighty mile a hour fastballs. 412 00:19:00,880 --> 00:19:04,040 Speaker 3: You know, this was in Texas or Florida. But you know, 413 00:19:04,119 --> 00:19:07,000 Speaker 3: I like to think I had some tools, tools. 414 00:19:06,640 --> 00:19:07,320 Speaker 2: Behind the plate. 415 00:19:07,440 --> 00:19:10,440 Speaker 3: But yeah, they you know, they obviously didn't have any 416 00:19:10,440 --> 00:19:13,639 Speaker 3: scholarship money for me, you know, being being the what 417 00:19:13,800 --> 00:19:15,800 Speaker 3: was going to be the last guy on the on 418 00:19:15,880 --> 00:19:20,639 Speaker 3: the roster. And you know that visit was a heck. 419 00:19:20,520 --> 00:19:23,160 Speaker 4: Of a lot different than when I went to. 420 00:19:22,720 --> 00:19:25,880 Speaker 2: To Wayne State. You know, I think you know coach 421 00:19:25,960 --> 00:19:27,960 Speaker 2: Kelly Ryan Kelly had over. 422 00:19:27,760 --> 00:19:30,320 Speaker 3: At Wayne State. You know, he took me around personally 423 00:19:30,400 --> 00:19:32,200 Speaker 3: in the golf cart. So I spent the day with him, 424 00:19:33,240 --> 00:19:35,199 Speaker 3: you know, and he was adamant that you know, he 425 00:19:35,320 --> 00:19:37,040 Speaker 3: loved the fact that I could compete, and he thought 426 00:19:37,040 --> 00:19:38,520 Speaker 3: I could compete on the mound right away. 427 00:19:38,560 --> 00:19:41,520 Speaker 2: And you know, at the time, I was seventeen. 428 00:19:41,640 --> 00:19:45,760 Speaker 3: So when you're seventeen years old and head coach is 429 00:19:45,800 --> 00:19:48,280 Speaker 3: telling you that, you know, you can come in and 430 00:19:48,280 --> 00:19:50,120 Speaker 3: play right away, and you got another one that's telling 431 00:19:50,119 --> 00:19:51,720 Speaker 3: you you can hang out in nipsel Any for the 432 00:19:51,720 --> 00:19:55,159 Speaker 3: whole year, that it's a pretty pretty easy decision. And 433 00:19:55,320 --> 00:19:56,920 Speaker 3: it ended up being, you know, one of the best 434 00:19:56,920 --> 00:19:59,399 Speaker 3: ones in my life. You know, I love I love 435 00:19:59,440 --> 00:20:02,480 Speaker 3: the fact that I to Wayne State. You know, I 436 00:20:02,520 --> 00:20:04,440 Speaker 3: love all the guys there, the coaching staff, and it's 437 00:20:04,480 --> 00:20:06,520 Speaker 3: it's like a true you know, it's a true family there, 438 00:20:06,600 --> 00:20:10,200 Speaker 3: you know. And then obviously not known as a baseball 439 00:20:10,240 --> 00:20:14,040 Speaker 3: school necessarily, so you know, I take pride in that 440 00:20:14,080 --> 00:20:17,280 Speaker 3: as well, you know, myself and and Anthony Bass, a 441 00:20:17,359 --> 00:20:19,240 Speaker 3: couple of guys that came out of there. So it's 442 00:20:19,600 --> 00:20:23,080 Speaker 3: it's definitely it's definitely an honor to to be from there, 443 00:20:23,280 --> 00:20:23,720 Speaker 3: no doubt. 444 00:20:25,000 --> 00:20:26,760 Speaker 1: Can we talk about this guy too. 445 00:20:29,240 --> 00:20:30,360 Speaker 2: Oh yeah, there you go. 446 00:20:30,880 --> 00:20:32,240 Speaker 1: I like Tyler. 447 00:20:32,440 --> 00:20:32,760 Speaker 2: Tyler. 448 00:20:34,560 --> 00:20:37,040 Speaker 1: Tyler introduced me to this guy. And if you're watching 449 00:20:37,080 --> 00:20:39,240 Speaker 1: on YouTube, if you're listening on audio, like, go to 450 00:20:39,320 --> 00:20:41,680 Speaker 1: YouTube just to look at Wayne State's mascot. I don't 451 00:20:41,680 --> 00:20:44,119 Speaker 1: know what this dude is called I know he's just 452 00:20:44,160 --> 00:20:47,640 Speaker 1: a but you got to look at that dude every 453 00:20:47,640 --> 00:20:49,760 Speaker 1: time you pitch like that. That would fire me up too. 454 00:20:50,240 --> 00:20:51,680 Speaker 2: That's right, that's a w. 455 00:20:51,920 --> 00:20:55,639 Speaker 5: Chest hair coming coming in there? Is he a dinosaur? 456 00:20:55,720 --> 00:20:55,800 Speaker 2: Like? 457 00:20:55,840 --> 00:20:57,320 Speaker 5: What is going on with this thing? 458 00:20:57,920 --> 00:20:59,600 Speaker 2: I don't have the answers for you, but here we 459 00:20:59,640 --> 00:21:01,760 Speaker 2: are talking about it, so they're doing something right. 460 00:21:01,920 --> 00:21:05,000 Speaker 5: The eyebrows rule. I love this guy. I need a 461 00:21:05,040 --> 00:21:08,679 Speaker 5: shirt with with his face on it. For sure. You 462 00:21:08,720 --> 00:21:12,760 Speaker 5: mentioned you mentioned the catching. Uh As I look at 463 00:21:12,760 --> 00:21:16,000 Speaker 5: this roster with Dubon gone, I don't see anybody that 464 00:21:16,119 --> 00:21:19,720 Speaker 5: screams emergency catcher? Can you do? You do you think 465 00:21:19,760 --> 00:21:22,480 Speaker 5: you have enough pull now to nudge your way into 466 00:21:22,520 --> 00:21:22,960 Speaker 5: the list? 467 00:21:23,920 --> 00:21:25,800 Speaker 2: You see last year there was there was a day 468 00:21:25,840 --> 00:21:27,159 Speaker 2: where Diez and. 469 00:21:27,840 --> 00:21:32,239 Speaker 3: Uh Caratini where we're both in the lineup, and they 470 00:21:32,240 --> 00:21:35,720 Speaker 3: were talking about, you know, Dubon and Walker being being 471 00:21:35,800 --> 00:21:36,760 Speaker 3: options and. 472 00:21:37,240 --> 00:21:39,480 Speaker 2: I kind of floated it to Miller. I was like, hey, man, 473 00:21:39,560 --> 00:21:40,080 Speaker 2: don't you know. 474 00:21:40,040 --> 00:21:43,640 Speaker 3: Don't forget I don't mind getting back there, and uh, 475 00:21:43,760 --> 00:21:46,480 Speaker 3: you know he shut that down pretty quick, so I don't. 476 00:21:46,560 --> 00:21:47,120 Speaker 2: I don't think. 477 00:21:47,760 --> 00:21:49,440 Speaker 3: I don't think it will be seeing me back there, 478 00:21:49,480 --> 00:21:51,720 Speaker 3: but and honestly, I don't want to. I mean, these 479 00:21:51,720 --> 00:21:55,080 Speaker 3: guys everybody you want, you know, imagine catching Brian and 480 00:21:55,119 --> 00:21:58,159 Speaker 3: Brady's slider in a too strike count. No thanks, I 481 00:21:58,200 --> 00:21:59,800 Speaker 3: think I think I'm just fine watching it. 482 00:22:00,119 --> 00:22:00,640 Speaker 2: The dugout. 483 00:22:01,680 --> 00:22:05,600 Speaker 1: Well, you had tetsu Emi playing shortstop for you during 484 00:22:05,640 --> 00:22:09,760 Speaker 1: your live VP yesterday, so who knows what cross training 485 00:22:10,359 --> 00:22:10,840 Speaker 1: can happen? 486 00:22:11,680 --> 00:22:12,639 Speaker 2: That's right, that's right. 487 00:22:13,560 --> 00:22:14,120 Speaker 5: We made it. 488 00:22:14,080 --> 00:22:16,719 Speaker 1: Twenty two minutes in. And I know fans are going 489 00:22:16,800 --> 00:22:19,200 Speaker 1: to crucify me if I don't ask you this. So 490 00:22:20,160 --> 00:22:23,160 Speaker 1: this is the one hard hitting question, hard news question 491 00:22:23,240 --> 00:22:27,560 Speaker 1: you'll get from the resident reporter on here. Everyone's wondering, 492 00:22:27,840 --> 00:22:30,200 Speaker 1: you know, this is the time of year for extension. 493 00:22:30,520 --> 00:22:33,480 Speaker 1: This is the time of year where negotiations for extensions happen. 494 00:22:34,880 --> 00:22:37,199 Speaker 1: I know there has at least been some interest in 495 00:22:37,240 --> 00:22:40,240 Speaker 1: the past between you and the Astros and an extension. 496 00:22:41,119 --> 00:22:43,480 Speaker 1: Is that something that you are open to? Is that 497 00:22:43,600 --> 00:22:46,199 Speaker 1: something that maybe you have told Scott boris that that 498 00:22:46,440 --> 00:22:48,679 Speaker 1: you'd like to explore? Kind of where are you in 499 00:22:48,760 --> 00:22:50,920 Speaker 1: that an extension world right now? 500 00:22:51,720 --> 00:22:54,479 Speaker 3: You know, those those conversations have obviously, you know, come 501 00:22:54,600 --> 00:23:00,160 Speaker 3: up between Scott and myself and with all transparency. 502 00:23:00,200 --> 00:23:01,280 Speaker 2: You know, I love Houston. 503 00:23:01,520 --> 00:23:04,720 Speaker 3: I love playing for this team, you know, and and 504 00:23:04,920 --> 00:23:07,639 Speaker 3: just I haven't heard anything since you know, I was 505 00:23:07,640 --> 00:23:08,320 Speaker 3: a rookie. 506 00:23:08,359 --> 00:23:11,679 Speaker 2: So my focus is to be the best I can 507 00:23:11,720 --> 00:23:15,359 Speaker 2: be for this team this season, and you know that's 508 00:23:15,480 --> 00:23:16,480 Speaker 2: that's what I'm focused on. 509 00:23:16,600 --> 00:23:19,760 Speaker 3: But like I, like I said, I love putting on 510 00:23:19,840 --> 00:23:23,320 Speaker 3: that Astro's uniform and I got no no visions of 511 00:23:23,359 --> 00:23:24,320 Speaker 3: doing it anywhere else. 512 00:23:24,400 --> 00:23:28,119 Speaker 2: So that that's what I can give you. Guys, I 513 00:23:28,160 --> 00:23:30,520 Speaker 2: haven't I haven't heard anything, and that's that's just kind 514 00:23:30,560 --> 00:23:35,080 Speaker 2: of where I stand with that. So I'm well, hopefully 515 00:23:35,200 --> 00:23:36,840 Speaker 2: it was that's what you're looking for. 516 00:23:37,720 --> 00:23:39,680 Speaker 1: I'm sure. I'm sure the fans will lot. I'm sure 517 00:23:39,920 --> 00:23:40,560 Speaker 1: I'm sure they will. 518 00:23:40,600 --> 00:23:41,159 Speaker 5: But I had to. 519 00:23:41,240 --> 00:23:42,760 Speaker 1: I had to get that in at some point in 520 00:23:42,800 --> 00:23:44,760 Speaker 1: twenty two minutes. And before we let you go, we 521 00:23:44,800 --> 00:23:46,520 Speaker 1: told you we keep you fifteen minutes, and we have 522 00:23:46,600 --> 00:23:51,280 Speaker 1: already exceeded that. But real quick, your goals for twenty 523 00:23:51,320 --> 00:23:54,480 Speaker 1: twenty six, both for you individually and maybe for the 524 00:23:54,520 --> 00:23:58,040 Speaker 1: whole team, because I think one thing that by by 525 00:23:58,119 --> 00:24:00,239 Speaker 1: Joe a spot of naming you the opening day or 526 00:24:00,280 --> 00:24:02,600 Speaker 1: when he did, he made it very clear that you're 527 00:24:02,640 --> 00:24:05,119 Speaker 1: a leader on this team, that you are the leader 528 00:24:05,119 --> 00:24:07,200 Speaker 1: of the pitching staff. He wanted to make the pitching 529 00:24:07,240 --> 00:24:09,200 Speaker 1: staff aware of that on the first day of pitchers 530 00:24:09,200 --> 00:24:12,600 Speaker 1: and catchers. So I feel like you can also speak 531 00:24:12,640 --> 00:24:15,320 Speaker 1: for the team a little bit here. What are the 532 00:24:15,320 --> 00:24:18,480 Speaker 1: goals personally for you and for the twenty twenty six 533 00:24:18,560 --> 00:24:19,320 Speaker 1: Houston Astros. 534 00:24:20,880 --> 00:24:24,720 Speaker 3: You know, I think, you know, individual goals kind of 535 00:24:24,720 --> 00:24:26,919 Speaker 3: come together over the course of the season. You know, 536 00:24:27,000 --> 00:24:28,600 Speaker 3: you kind of you kind of see some things that 537 00:24:28,600 --> 00:24:32,000 Speaker 3: are attainable. Obviously, what I want to do is make 538 00:24:32,040 --> 00:24:34,640 Speaker 3: all my starts. You know, being being at the front 539 00:24:34,680 --> 00:24:36,720 Speaker 3: of the rotation, you know that's a big deal. You 540 00:24:36,760 --> 00:24:38,520 Speaker 3: want to eat up innings for the team. You want 541 00:24:38,520 --> 00:24:40,520 Speaker 3: to you know, when it's your time, when it's your 542 00:24:40,520 --> 00:24:40,880 Speaker 3: time to. 543 00:24:40,800 --> 00:24:42,760 Speaker 4: Step on the mound. You know, you want to be 544 00:24:42,800 --> 00:24:43,520 Speaker 4: a guy where. 545 00:24:43,359 --> 00:24:45,520 Speaker 2: The bullpen looks at you and the rest of the 546 00:24:45,560 --> 00:24:46,640 Speaker 2: coaching staff looks at. 547 00:24:46,560 --> 00:24:48,560 Speaker 3: You, like, all right, you know, we're we're getting some 548 00:24:48,640 --> 00:24:50,920 Speaker 3: quality here. So so that's number one. 549 00:24:51,080 --> 00:24:53,480 Speaker 2: And then as as a team and as a unit, 550 00:24:54,720 --> 00:24:58,040 Speaker 2: our goal is to win a championship, no matter no 551 00:24:58,040 --> 00:24:59,120 Speaker 2: matter how that happens. 552 00:24:59,600 --> 00:25:01,720 Speaker 3: I know it's it's it's big to talk about winning 553 00:25:01,760 --> 00:25:05,320 Speaker 3: your division and you know all those things, but you 554 00:25:05,400 --> 00:25:07,000 Speaker 3: just want to take it to the dance and see 555 00:25:07,400 --> 00:25:09,800 Speaker 3: what you can do when you get there. So because 556 00:25:09,880 --> 00:25:12,400 Speaker 3: because that's that's the end goal. We're here for championships 557 00:25:12,600 --> 00:25:16,960 Speaker 3: and that's where our mind's at. So whatever we can 558 00:25:17,000 --> 00:25:19,399 Speaker 3: do to to to give us an opportunity to. 559 00:25:19,440 --> 00:25:21,000 Speaker 2: Do that, you know, that's what That's what we're going 560 00:25:21,040 --> 00:25:21,639 Speaker 2: to be focused on. 561 00:25:22,880 --> 00:25:24,280 Speaker 5: Are we touching one hundred this year? 562 00:25:24,320 --> 00:25:26,320 Speaker 2: And ninety nine point nine? 563 00:25:26,480 --> 00:25:28,879 Speaker 3: I got actually real quick, I got something about that. 564 00:25:28,920 --> 00:25:31,359 Speaker 3: I tell people this all the time. At this point, 565 00:25:31,480 --> 00:25:34,159 Speaker 3: I feel like it's better off not not being a 566 00:25:34,240 --> 00:25:37,240 Speaker 3: hundred guy, because the second that you start hitting one 567 00:25:37,320 --> 00:25:40,080 Speaker 3: hundred and you come out and you don't, you know, the. 568 00:25:40,040 --> 00:25:42,800 Speaker 2: Other dugout starts to murmur. They're like, oh, look at Brownie. 569 00:25:42,880 --> 00:25:45,600 Speaker 2: You know he's not he's not hitting one hundred days, 570 00:25:45,600 --> 00:25:48,000 Speaker 2: he's feeling all right. Versus if you're the ninety seven 571 00:25:48,080 --> 00:25:50,440 Speaker 2: ninety eight guy and you're popping some nines, they're like, oh, 572 00:25:50,600 --> 00:25:52,600 Speaker 2: you know, hundreds, feeling good? We got to really strap 573 00:25:52,600 --> 00:25:54,840 Speaker 2: it in today. So I think I think I like. 574 00:25:54,840 --> 00:25:55,440 Speaker 4: Where I'm at. 575 00:25:55,680 --> 00:25:59,680 Speaker 3: I'm trying to to stay around there and if it happens, 576 00:25:59,680 --> 00:26:02,120 Speaker 3: at happen and I'll obviously be thrilled. I get enough, 577 00:26:02,880 --> 00:26:05,600 Speaker 3: I get enough grief from the guys in the clubhouse 578 00:26:05,640 --> 00:26:06,280 Speaker 3: that that I. 579 00:26:06,240 --> 00:26:08,160 Speaker 2: Don't have what it takes to hit triple digits. 580 00:26:08,160 --> 00:26:11,919 Speaker 4: So you know, I would love I would. 581 00:26:11,640 --> 00:26:13,960 Speaker 3: Love for it to happen to to to mute some 582 00:26:14,000 --> 00:26:14,639 Speaker 3: of those things. 583 00:26:14,680 --> 00:26:19,000 Speaker 2: But that is not that's not on the radar necessarily. 584 00:26:19,520 --> 00:26:22,960 Speaker 5: Mm hmm, very quickly. Excellent use of radar there. 585 00:26:23,119 --> 00:26:25,040 Speaker 2: That's right, picked up. 586 00:26:26,480 --> 00:26:28,800 Speaker 1: Very quickly. Are you keeping just what the doctor ordered 587 00:26:28,800 --> 00:26:30,680 Speaker 1: as your warm up music? Because I low key think 588 00:26:30,720 --> 00:26:34,200 Speaker 1: that's one of the best warm up musics on the team. 589 00:26:35,040 --> 00:26:39,040 Speaker 3: Well, thank you, thank you, Chandler. I like, yeah, you 590 00:26:39,040 --> 00:26:40,919 Speaker 3: you want to be just with the doctor ordered, and 591 00:26:41,000 --> 00:26:43,760 Speaker 3: it just happens. Ted Newton has some Michigan ties, so 592 00:26:45,280 --> 00:26:47,680 Speaker 3: I hadn't really thought about it, but I don't. I 593 00:26:47,720 --> 00:26:50,280 Speaker 3: don't see a reason and changing it now, especially uh 594 00:26:50,520 --> 00:26:52,520 Speaker 3: you know here and hearing that you think so highly 595 00:26:52,520 --> 00:26:52,840 Speaker 3: of it. 596 00:26:53,320 --> 00:26:56,200 Speaker 1: Oh, I'm honored. I'm honored that you take my thoughts 597 00:26:56,200 --> 00:26:57,280 Speaker 1: into consideration on this. 598 00:26:57,680 --> 00:26:57,920 Speaker 3: Hunter. 599 00:26:58,440 --> 00:27:00,800 Speaker 1: Again, we very much appreciate this. This was awesome. I 600 00:27:00,800 --> 00:27:04,200 Speaker 1: appreciate you taking some time today between spring training. I 601 00:27:04,240 --> 00:27:05,760 Speaker 1: know this is a busy time for you guys, but 602 00:27:06,200 --> 00:27:09,399 Speaker 1: thank you again. Thank you again to mister Kevin Brown 603 00:27:09,480 --> 00:27:13,119 Speaker 1: for watching and spurring this on because Hunter actually requested 604 00:27:13,320 --> 00:27:16,480 Speaker 1: to come on just just so his dad could see 605 00:27:16,560 --> 00:27:17,600 Speaker 1: him on Crush City Territory. 606 00:27:17,640 --> 00:27:20,360 Speaker 5: Thanks again. That's the only time you're gonna hear us 607 00:27:20,400 --> 00:27:24,120 Speaker 5: on an Astros podcast. Thank Kevin Brown. That's gonna hurt 608 00:27:24,160 --> 00:27:25,800 Speaker 5: the old astro's heads in here. 609 00:27:27,080 --> 00:27:29,000 Speaker 2: That's awesome, right, all right, Thank you guys.