August 15, 2024 • 17 mins
On this edition of the Crawford Boxcast, Chris Gordy discusses the Astros' 8-game win streak, finding their stride with the starting pitching, and watching the Mariners get swept by the Tigers as Houston now takes a THREE GAME LEAD in the AL West.
In addition, we bring you some of the conversation with MLB.com's Brian McTaggart from The Matt Thomas Show as he talks about Justin Verlander preparing for his next rehab start, and what has gone so well for the Astros the past week.
In addition, we bring you some of the conversation with MLB.com's Brian McTaggart from The Matt Thomas Show as he talks about Justin Verlander preparing for his next rehab start, and what has gone so well for the Astros the past week.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:09):
Astros fans, cheers, Rocky Lucky, Welcome to the Crawford box Cast,
Houston Astros, Proud lead Ford for you by Crawford Bach
from Carbach Brewing. You're getting dath bear.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Oh my goodness.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
The Crawford box cast starts now here we go. Here's
Chris Gordy and Ross Uriel.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
And it is an all new Crawford box cast presented
by Carbach Brewing and the Crawford Bach. And of course
you can get your hands on an ice cool, tasty
Crawford Bach pairs perfectly with Astros baseball. It's a home
run every time. So make sure you guys are getting
your hands on some Crawford Bach. As the Astros have
been and fuego absolutely red hot here lately, as they
(00:58):
have one not one, not two, not three, not four
and then in the words the Lebron James and the
Miami Heat eight in a row. The Astros have won
after their two to one extra inning affair in Tampa
to sweep the Tampa Bay Rays and win that one
two to one in extra innings, Mauricio Dubon playing the
hero in that one. But the Astros have absolutely just
(01:22):
been on fire here and now they have a day
off today if you're listening on this Thursday, and they
will get into a series with the Chicago White Sox
starting this weekend, who are abysmal. And we talked with
Brian Boga Sevic on Thursday from Space City Home Network
on Next Step, Stan North, Leet and n and Bogie said,
you know, look, I hate to put this expectation on them,
but sweep should be in your conversation. You should be
(01:46):
thinking sweeping these Chicago White Sox. They are not very good.
Garrett Crochet. We'll start on Friday, but you know, look,
they're not good. You need to get these bats going
back once again, because that was that's what was so
interesting thing about this winsty. It gives you know, you
went up to Arlington and the bats came alive. You
went up to Boston, the bats really came alive. Game
(02:08):
one of the series, down to Tampa, you scored six.
But then Tuesday and Wednesday, the bat's kind of white cool.
But you were able to get great pitching performances from
yuse Ka Kuchi and run out Blanco and the bats
did just enough for you to get the wins. And
so thus Astros enjoying off day on Thursday while the
Seattle Mariners finished off their series of the Detroit Tigers,
(02:31):
and shout out to aj Hinch as the Detroit Tigers
took care of business against the Seattle Mariners, sweeping them Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday,
and look at the run output from the Mariners in
that series. Scored one run, two runs and one run,
lost all three and they were swept. So, as you
guys are listening to this, if you're listening to this
(02:51):
on Thursday or early Friday before the games get started,
the Astros now have a three game lead on the
Seattle Man in the American League West. It is it's
been a longed up government. We've been waiting to see
the Astros get this kind of separation, and you know
it's They are now ten games above five hundred at
sixty five and fifty five and now at nine and
(03:15):
a half up on the on the on the Rangers,
who they've stumbled. They've lost seven in the last ten,
So things really go on the Astros way here. Now
the schedule sets up after his White Sox team, you
get Boston again, who they're fighting for their playoff lives,
and then Walkart Hunt. Then you're at Baltimore for a
four gamer, not even a three gamer, a four gamer,
(03:36):
and of course the Orioles are in a dogfight with
the Yankees for supremacy in the AL East. And then
you got to go up to Philly to play the
Philadelphia Phillies, who are far and away leading the NL
East at seventy wins currently seventy and fifty. So some
good teams you're gonna be playing. Oh and then the
Kansas City Royals, who are you know, they're sixty six
(03:58):
and fifty five as we speak, they're a game better
than you and the wind Column and they're fighting for
the AL Central and the dogfight with the Twins and
the Guardians, so you know, then after that it opens
up a little bit. You get the Cincinnati Reds, who
still teeterger a five hundred. They're not dead. And they
get the Arizona Diamondbacks sixty nine to fifty three. They're
(04:20):
just two back of the Dodgers, tied with the Padres
and the NL West, and you know, they were in
the World Series a year ago. They're hoping to get
back there. And then and then after that, you got
a couple series with the Angels, you get the a's again,
so you know, you get a little bit of a
breathing room after that. But it is it is a
tough stretch here after this White Sox series for the Astros,
(04:41):
so some tough games to go. So enjoy where you
are with this three game lead in the American League West,
but certainly not don't wrestle on your laurels and go
all his Cira and the Astros are just gonna wreck
shop the rest of the way. No, it's it's gonna
be a tough go. They're gonna falter back. The key
is hopefully that you know, the Mariners keep losing and
(05:01):
the Rangers keep losing and you can take care of
business and win this American League West, you know, down
the stretch of the season. And by the way, just
kind of looking ahead because we are heading into the
backstretch of August and then it's September and that's it.
September twenty third, twenty fourth to twenty fifth. It's the
last home series of the season. The Astros will host
(05:21):
the Seattle Mariners. That could be the series to very
well determine the winner of the American League West. But
we'll cross that bridge when we get there. All right before,
if you guys are wonder where Ross's Ross had a
wisdom tooth pulled and so resting his speaking abilities and
so not able to join us, so I thought we
were we would go ahead and bring you a little
(05:43):
bit of conversation. Brian McTaggart of MLB dot com caught
up with Matt Thomas ed Ross earlier on Thursday and
talked all about the Astros wins in Tampa and Boston
and then also, you know, some latest on roster construction,
justin Verlander making a starting corpus and getting ever so
closer to coming back to the big league club. So
(06:06):
we'll discuss all of that with Brian mctiger here without
further ado, was Brian mctiger.
Speaker 4 (06:11):
Eight in a row? Yes, they wasn't pretty, not a
lot of hits. Jan Ar Diez gave up a few
stolen bases and a grant. Some of that was on
the pitching. And then I think we all wanted to
scream at our televisions and our radios. We were watching
pedro leone try to get to third base, but generally speaking,
a really good trip and really top to bottom outstanding
pitching and some timely hitting.
Speaker 5 (06:31):
Yeah, I mean, and that's what they're going to have
to get just with the state of the offense right now,
is they're going to have to keep getting this top
notch starting pitching and then you know, find a way
to manufacture some runs. I mean, they had a couple
of big games in Boston where they hit a bunch
of home runs, but it was a little bit more
of a slog fest in Tampa in the last few days.
But yeah, I mean, they had to like do everything
(06:54):
right yesterday to win that game, considering they only had
two hits, and I mean they came really close to
winning the game only having one hit, which is something
they've only done once in their history.
Speaker 2 (07:03):
So yeah, pegro Leon, that not good.
Speaker 5 (07:05):
I Mean, Jose Series got an absolute cannon and he
made a beautiful throw, but Harry Pettis was telling him
to slide. He didn't slide, So he's he had a
couple of mistakes in Tampa these three days. So I
just got to wonder, you know, how much longer he
might be on the roster at this point.
Speaker 4 (07:19):
Yeah, there's a we got the call ups coming up
in a couple of weeks and we'll get more to it.
But if you were to lend an air to Dana
or to Joe, what two players would you like to see,
or maybe multiple players and then make us some other
roster adjustments.
Speaker 5 (07:35):
Yeah, well, they only bring up two players, so it'll
have to be a position player and a pitcher.
Speaker 2 (07:40):
I would think they carry a third catcher. Bring Salazar
back up. It would just give him a little bit more.
Speaker 5 (07:45):
Flexibility with the lineup, you know, be able to pinch it.
Maybe Carrotini and some other spots.
Speaker 2 (07:51):
I've both of them in the lineup.
Speaker 5 (07:53):
The problem is with Kartini and the lineup, and Diaz
is gonna put Jiner and left, which they don't want
to do a lot because, you know, because it's just
because they have more capable outfielders defensively, but those guys
aren't hitting. So but I would say, definitely, I would
do Sala's arm, probably another reliever whoever that is, maybe
(08:15):
forcedwood Ly if he keeps it up, or you know,
maybe Seth Martinez is pitching.
Speaker 2 (08:18):
Well I'm not sure, but that's what I would do.
Somebody asked me.
Speaker 4 (08:21):
About Penn Murphy and the tenth inning last night. He
him pitching all this year? Is this guy got a shot?
Speaker 5 (08:27):
Yeah, he's pitching to Night in Faateeville, a low a
ball a rehab assignment. So he had a really good
year with Seattle a couple of years ago, had a
UCL surgery I think in June twenty three. So he's
a guy that could definitely be in the mix for
the last month of the season. So yeah, I mean,
you know, he he's been out a long time, but
you know, I think he's got a shot if he
can be healthy to get one of those spots.
Speaker 4 (08:48):
And what about JV going to Northwest Arkansas?
Speaker 2 (08:52):
How is he?
Speaker 4 (08:52):
I mean, is he getting his own private plane? I mean,
how's that? There's no way he took the bus up there,
no chance.
Speaker 2 (08:58):
No, I'm pretty sure a private plan.
Speaker 5 (09:00):
I mean it was either that or go to Tacoma
to pitch with sugar Land and in Triple A.
Speaker 2 (09:06):
And but you know, I don't, you know, that's a
trip he doesn't want to make.
Speaker 5 (09:09):
So I'm guessing it's Berlander's first time in Springdale, Arkansas.
Speaker 2 (09:12):
That's probably a pretty good bet.
Speaker 4 (09:14):
Probably. Brian McTaggart MLB dot Com with us here on
Sports Talk seven ninety Brian, Let's go a little bit
on the offense. It's funny a week ago we're talking
about how they can't score runs. Now looking a lot better.
Pinya and Bregman having a lot to do with that.
Who are the real Jeremy Pinya and Alex Bregman. Because
if if they can be more consistent like they have
been recently, and you get Tucker back, you're talking about
(09:36):
one of the best lineups in baseball.
Speaker 5 (09:37):
Yeah, there's no doubt. I mean, let's Tucker comes back
whenever that is. You're one through five is really really deep,
and then you just need you need one more guy
to step up and do something. McCormick, Myers, get it together. Yeah,
the Penya has done pretty nice job. Couple of homers
his last two games. They got to get one of
those outfield spots going. And it's been a season long thing.
I mean, Myers has had his moments, but McCormick last night,
(09:59):
boy for four strikeouts, just tough going for him. But
I think getting Tucker back whenever that is, if that happens,
just we'll change this lineup a lot. When you just
put him in the fourth spot at DS, hitting fifth
and the offense should be plenty good.
Speaker 2 (10:15):
I think if they can keep getting this pitching to
make a deep run. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (10:18):
I was also going to ask you about the outfield
and the offensive output. I mean, what is it. Let's
just focus on Chaz. What's wrong with him?
Speaker 3 (10:25):
Oh?
Speaker 2 (10:26):
I don't know.
Speaker 5 (10:26):
I mean, he came to Supreme training and you know,
talked about some adjustments he'd made to his stance. I
think a wider stand saying he wanted to use the
ground more in terms of his his stance and his
body and his weight transferring that kind of stuff that's
over my head a little bit, and it just hasn't worked.
I mean, he had the one game where he hit
a couple of homers, but and it's not he's not
even hitting lefties anymore like he was before, where you
(10:47):
could platoon him a little bit. And again, I mean,
you want you're down to d h a lot, so
you're gonna have to put one of these outfielders in there.
Speaker 2 (10:55):
And he does play a really good defensive outfield.
Speaker 5 (10:57):
But I know that it's just the spot is in
a really tough situation just with him and what to do,
and you know, we're getting late in the season.
Speaker 2 (11:07):
Is it every kind of turn around? Who knows, but
if they if he could.
Speaker 5 (11:09):
Get hot just for a few weeks, it would really
deepen this lineup and and make it spot asleep better
at night.
Speaker 4 (11:17):
Continuing with Brian McTaggart, let's go to the bullpen. Four
straight outings giving up a run for Ryan Presley. Of
course we've talked a lot about Ryan Presley the last
couple of years. What do you think, where do you
think the organization is with him? And is do you
think there is some danger that he could lose the
eighth inning role.
Speaker 5 (11:35):
I don't think so right now. I mean, we'll see
as we get deeper. I mean, it seems like he
goes through this stuff. I mean I have to look back.
I think he had a stretch like this last year
around this time where it was giving up a run,
a run, a run, and then you know, when the
when it was time to answer the bell and the postseason,
I mean, he was pretty much unhittable. His vlow was
down just a little bit. But you know, I gotta
(11:56):
think usage is really working on a lot of these guys.
You were talking about Brady earlier pitching in half the
games and as long as the offense is not blowing
people out, they just they have to keep going to
the same three or four guys over and over. You know,
maybe you know, cayleb Ports has stepped up and given
them some important innings as well that maybe a couple
other guys will. But I think with Presley, you just
(12:17):
got to let him ride through it and and you know,
come out of it, because it seems like he always does.
Speaker 4 (12:23):
On behalf of all Astro fans, Brian mctaggan, and we
appreciate you being on the beat and being there and
taking videos and getting all this. I don't think anybody
wants to watch Kyle Tucker do anything else because the
reaction you got to your videos on Monday was not
particularly good.
Speaker 2 (12:37):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (12:37):
Well, he was not on the first two legs of
the road trip, and you know, the team had talked about,
you know, they were getting videos set to them, and
he looked good, and so you know, I was at
the ballpark early with the other two Beat writers and
we're watching him and we're far away, and I decided, uh,
you know, I'm just gonna take some video and see
what it looks like. But uh, the one especially where
he was running after a fly ball and was pretty
(13:00):
that you know, that was that was a pretty telling one.
And and we asked to speak to Tucker all three
days in Tampa through a team spokesman. He denied the
interview requests. So I'm you know, I'm not sure what
that's all about. But uh, again, until he's running the
bases and running hard, yeah, he's not going out on
the reap, and it doesn't look like he's close to
(13:20):
that unless he's doing some stuff inside or really early
or somewhere away from the park that we can't see.
Speaker 4 (13:26):
All right, Uh, Cacucci three starts, not anything to the
sixth inning, but everything else has been fantastic. The strikeout
count is good, the era is under three, is there?
And again he should have gotten a call to start
the other night, if not for the defense, but generally speaking,
are they worried all about pitch count being so high
in each of those three appearances?
Speaker 2 (13:48):
I don't think so.
Speaker 5 (13:49):
I mean, you know, if a two D makes that play,
he goes six innings and throws ninety two pitches, I
mean that's not bad. I mean you take that from
Cacucci every time out. And if McCormick doesn't slow play
that all in left field. He goes six scoreless. So
I think he's given them exactly what they wanted. You
knew he was gonna throw a lot of pitches because
he's gonna strike guys out. He's also gonna watch guys.
(14:09):
That pitch count's gonna get up there. But he's done
everything that they hoped he would do. They'd won all
three games that he started, and uh, he's gotten deep enough.
So you know, like I said, I mean, if they
wouldn't have made that trade, who's pitching those innies right now?
Speaker 2 (14:22):
I mean, yeah, I don't know, all right.
Speaker 4 (14:25):
So to wrap it up, you any massaging of bullpen
urgency in terms of high leverage low leverage, do you
feel like, Uh, I don't think Ferguson's in that mix,
or to me, up until yesterday, could have been a
guy that maybe got a few more looks. You're not
worried about Presley? Uh bring you how do you think
Joe manages the bullpen between now and the end of
(14:47):
the season.
Speaker 5 (14:49):
I mean, I think he's gonna keep doing what he's doing,
just look for opportunities to give his main guys.
Speaker 2 (14:53):
The four main guys you know, a blow here and
there when he can.
Speaker 5 (14:56):
I mean, they're about to start a stretch tomorrow where
they're playing eighteen games in a row, so this is
really going to be a tough stretch on the ball play.
I mean, they're playing the lousy White Sox this weekend,
so you know, Joe's got to be hoping maybe they
can blow a couple of these games out and you know,
to go to Sean Duban and those guys to you know,
close it out. But you know, they just they don't
(15:18):
have the luxury of a lot of blowouts, and the
pitchers aren't going to you know, they go six innings now,
like you guys are talking about, and then you got
to turn her over to those four guys and it
just seems like they pitched night after night. I don't
think there's a whole lot he can do at this point,
but just try to give him the rest one they can't.
Speaker 4 (15:32):
Should we give out A J. Hinch's home phone number
or sell number? Because the Tigers going to the ninth
inning lead two to one. They have taken the last
They were down one nothing most of the night. Now
they're up to one.
Speaker 2 (15:42):
So A J.
Speaker 4 (15:44):
We love you man, we.
Speaker 5 (15:45):
Do well, that would be what five Tigers go five
and one against the Mariners in the last week to
ten days and the one game they lost was a
game whether the Tiger's right field or misplayed a ball
or they would have been a clean sweet But Seattle,
Seattle's in a lot of trouble with that offense and
that they have this great starting pitching and they're just
blowing the window right now with that starting pitching staff.
Speaker 3 (16:05):
That again, Brian McTaggart with Matt Thomas and Ross Ververreal
on Sports Talk seven to ninety Before we wrap it
up here on a Crawford box cast presented by Carbock
Brewing and the Crawford Bok. Did want to remind you
guys that our friends over at Carbock Brewing they just
did a an Astro's watch party a couple of weeks
ago for that Ranger series. They're doing it again and
what's so successful they're doing it again. This is gonna
(16:27):
be August twenty sixth, So not this coming Monday, but
the following Monday, August twenty sixth, out of Carbock Brewing,
they are going to have a watch party for Astros Phillies.
It'll start at five point thirty, and they're gonna have
tons of great events, tons of great stuff going on.
They're gonna have giveaways, food and beer specials and much
much more. Now last time they had the Shooting Stars
(16:48):
and Orbit out there. I haven't confirmed if they'll be
back there, but I gotta think there's gonna be somebody
from the Astros organization out there, whether it's Orbit or
or the Shooting Stars, but certainly great fun going to
be had. And look, we're starting to get in the
backstretch of August, hopefully our hottest days of the summer
behind us, and hopefully it starts to get a little cool.
But look, they got the restaurant inside, they got the
(17:09):
pints and pizza and pints out there enclosed next to
the shop, and then out side in the beer garden,
you got the covered areas with fans and all that. Anyway,
so mark your calendars. Let's get out there and watch
the Astros Phillies watch party Monday, August twenty sixth over
there at Carbock Burring. And of course, you guys know
they're serving up the Crawford Bock. Whether you're at Minute Made,
whether you're at the beer Garden at Carbock, you could
(17:32):
take advantage and enjoy the Crawford Park pairs perfectly with
Astros baseball, and it's a home run every time when
you have an ice col Crawford Bok. I'm Chris Gordy.
This has been an all new edition of the Crawford
box Cast. Russ will be back with us next week
and we'll get you guys caught up. Heck, what's the
Astros wind streak? Next time we talk to you. Is
it at twelve games? Is it at fifteen games? Who
(17:52):
knows see how long they can keep this going. But
we'll talk to you guys next week right here on
the Crawford box Cast
Astros fans, cheers, Rocky Lucky, Welcome to the Crawford box Cast,
Houston Astros, Proud lead Ford for you by Crawford Bach
from Carbach Brewing. You're getting dath bear.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Oh my goodness.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
The Crawford box cast starts now here we go. Here's
Chris Gordy and Ross Uriel.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
And it is an all new Crawford box cast presented
by Carbach Brewing and the Crawford Bach. And of course
you can get your hands on an ice cool, tasty
Crawford Bach pairs perfectly with Astros baseball. It's a home
run every time. So make sure you guys are getting
your hands on some Crawford Bach. As the Astros have
been and fuego absolutely red hot here lately, as they
(00:58):
have one not one, not two, not three, not four
and then in the words the Lebron James and the
Miami Heat eight in a row. The Astros have won
after their two to one extra inning affair in Tampa
to sweep the Tampa Bay Rays and win that one
two to one in extra innings, Mauricio Dubon playing the
hero in that one. But the Astros have absolutely just
(01:22):
been on fire here and now they have a day
off today if you're listening on this Thursday, and they
will get into a series with the Chicago White Sox
starting this weekend, who are abysmal. And we talked with
Brian Boga Sevic on Thursday from Space City Home Network
on Next Step, Stan North, Leet and n and Bogie said,
you know, look, I hate to put this expectation on them,
but sweep should be in your conversation. You should be
(01:46):
thinking sweeping these Chicago White Sox. They are not very good.
Garrett Crochet. We'll start on Friday, but you know, look,
they're not good. You need to get these bats going
back once again, because that was that's what was so
interesting thing about this winsty. It gives you know, you
went up to Arlington and the bats came alive. You
went up to Boston, the bats really came alive. Game
(02:08):
one of the series, down to Tampa, you scored six.
But then Tuesday and Wednesday, the bat's kind of white cool.
But you were able to get great pitching performances from
yuse Ka Kuchi and run out Blanco and the bats
did just enough for you to get the wins. And
so thus Astros enjoying off day on Thursday while the
Seattle Mariners finished off their series of the Detroit Tigers,
(02:31):
and shout out to aj Hinch as the Detroit Tigers
took care of business against the Seattle Mariners, sweeping them Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday,
and look at the run output from the Mariners in
that series. Scored one run, two runs and one run,
lost all three and they were swept. So, as you
guys are listening to this, if you're listening to this
(02:51):
on Thursday or early Friday before the games get started,
the Astros now have a three game lead on the
Seattle Man in the American League West. It is it's
been a longed up government. We've been waiting to see
the Astros get this kind of separation, and you know
it's They are now ten games above five hundred at
sixty five and fifty five and now at nine and
(03:15):
a half up on the on the on the Rangers,
who they've stumbled. They've lost seven in the last ten,
So things really go on the Astros way here. Now
the schedule sets up after his White Sox team, you
get Boston again, who they're fighting for their playoff lives,
and then Walkart Hunt. Then you're at Baltimore for a
four gamer, not even a three gamer, a four gamer,
(03:36):
and of course the Orioles are in a dogfight with
the Yankees for supremacy in the AL East. And then
you got to go up to Philly to play the
Philadelphia Phillies, who are far and away leading the NL
East at seventy wins currently seventy and fifty. So some
good teams you're gonna be playing. Oh and then the
Kansas City Royals, who are you know, they're sixty six
(03:58):
and fifty five as we speak, they're a game better
than you and the wind Column and they're fighting for
the AL Central and the dogfight with the Twins and
the Guardians, so you know, then after that it opens
up a little bit. You get the Cincinnati Reds, who
still teeterger a five hundred. They're not dead. And they
get the Arizona Diamondbacks sixty nine to fifty three. They're
(04:20):
just two back of the Dodgers, tied with the Padres
and the NL West, and you know, they were in
the World Series a year ago. They're hoping to get
back there. And then and then after that, you got
a couple series with the Angels, you get the a's again,
so you know, you get a little bit of a
breathing room after that. But it is it is a
tough stretch here after this White Sox series for the Astros,
(04:41):
so some tough games to go. So enjoy where you
are with this three game lead in the American League West,
but certainly not don't wrestle on your laurels and go
all his Cira and the Astros are just gonna wreck
shop the rest of the way. No, it's it's gonna
be a tough go. They're gonna falter back. The key
is hopefully that you know, the Mariners keep losing and
(05:01):
the Rangers keep losing and you can take care of
business and win this American League West, you know, down
the stretch of the season. And by the way, just
kind of looking ahead because we are heading into the
backstretch of August and then it's September and that's it.
September twenty third, twenty fourth to twenty fifth. It's the
last home series of the season. The Astros will host
(05:21):
the Seattle Mariners. That could be the series to very
well determine the winner of the American League West. But
we'll cross that bridge when we get there. All right before,
if you guys are wonder where Ross's Ross had a
wisdom tooth pulled and so resting his speaking abilities and
so not able to join us, so I thought we
were we would go ahead and bring you a little
(05:43):
bit of conversation. Brian McTaggart of MLB dot com caught
up with Matt Thomas ed Ross earlier on Thursday and
talked all about the Astros wins in Tampa and Boston
and then also, you know, some latest on roster construction,
justin Verlander making a starting corpus and getting ever so
closer to coming back to the big league club. So
(06:06):
we'll discuss all of that with Brian mctiger here without
further ado, was Brian mctiger.
Speaker 4 (06:11):
Eight in a row? Yes, they wasn't pretty, not a
lot of hits. Jan Ar Diez gave up a few
stolen bases and a grant. Some of that was on
the pitching. And then I think we all wanted to
scream at our televisions and our radios. We were watching
pedro leone try to get to third base, but generally speaking,
a really good trip and really top to bottom outstanding
pitching and some timely hitting.
Speaker 5 (06:31):
Yeah, I mean, and that's what they're going to have
to get just with the state of the offense right now,
is they're going to have to keep getting this top
notch starting pitching and then you know, find a way
to manufacture some runs. I mean, they had a couple
of big games in Boston where they hit a bunch
of home runs, but it was a little bit more
of a slog fest in Tampa in the last few days.
But yeah, I mean, they had to like do everything
(06:54):
right yesterday to win that game, considering they only had
two hits, and I mean they came really close to
winning the game only having one hit, which is something
they've only done once in their history.
Speaker 2 (07:03):
So yeah, pegro Leon, that not good.
Speaker 5 (07:05):
I Mean, Jose Series got an absolute cannon and he
made a beautiful throw, but Harry Pettis was telling him
to slide. He didn't slide, So he's he had a
couple of mistakes in Tampa these three days. So I
just got to wonder, you know, how much longer he
might be on the roster at this point.
Speaker 4 (07:19):
Yeah, there's a we got the call ups coming up
in a couple of weeks and we'll get more to it.
But if you were to lend an air to Dana
or to Joe, what two players would you like to see,
or maybe multiple players and then make us some other
roster adjustments.
Speaker 5 (07:35):
Yeah, well, they only bring up two players, so it'll
have to be a position player and a pitcher.
Speaker 2 (07:40):
I would think they carry a third catcher. Bring Salazar
back up. It would just give him a little bit more.
Speaker 5 (07:45):
Flexibility with the lineup, you know, be able to pinch it.
Maybe Carrotini and some other spots.
Speaker 2 (07:51):
I've both of them in the lineup.
Speaker 5 (07:53):
The problem is with Kartini and the lineup, and Diaz
is gonna put Jiner and left, which they don't want
to do a lot because, you know, because it's just
because they have more capable outfielders defensively, but those guys
aren't hitting. So but I would say, definitely, I would
do Sala's arm, probably another reliever whoever that is, maybe
(08:15):
forcedwood Ly if he keeps it up, or you know,
maybe Seth Martinez is pitching.
Speaker 2 (08:18):
Well I'm not sure, but that's what I would do.
Somebody asked me.
Speaker 4 (08:21):
About Penn Murphy and the tenth inning last night. He
him pitching all this year? Is this guy got a shot?
Speaker 5 (08:27):
Yeah, he's pitching to Night in Faateeville, a low a
ball a rehab assignment. So he had a really good
year with Seattle a couple of years ago, had a
UCL surgery I think in June twenty three. So he's
a guy that could definitely be in the mix for
the last month of the season. So yeah, I mean,
you know, he he's been out a long time, but
you know, I think he's got a shot if he
can be healthy to get one of those spots.
Speaker 4 (08:48):
And what about JV going to Northwest Arkansas?
Speaker 2 (08:52):
How is he?
Speaker 4 (08:52):
I mean, is he getting his own private plane? I mean,
how's that? There's no way he took the bus up there,
no chance.
Speaker 2 (08:58):
No, I'm pretty sure a private plan.
Speaker 5 (09:00):
I mean it was either that or go to Tacoma
to pitch with sugar Land and in Triple A.
Speaker 2 (09:06):
And but you know, I don't, you know, that's a
trip he doesn't want to make.
Speaker 5 (09:09):
So I'm guessing it's Berlander's first time in Springdale, Arkansas.
Speaker 2 (09:12):
That's probably a pretty good bet.
Speaker 4 (09:14):
Probably. Brian McTaggart MLB dot Com with us here on
Sports Talk seven ninety Brian, Let's go a little bit
on the offense. It's funny a week ago we're talking
about how they can't score runs. Now looking a lot better.
Pinya and Bregman having a lot to do with that.
Who are the real Jeremy Pinya and Alex Bregman. Because
if if they can be more consistent like they have
been recently, and you get Tucker back, you're talking about
(09:36):
one of the best lineups in baseball.
Speaker 5 (09:37):
Yeah, there's no doubt. I mean, let's Tucker comes back
whenever that is. You're one through five is really really deep,
and then you just need you need one more guy
to step up and do something. McCormick, Myers, get it together. Yeah,
the Penya has done pretty nice job. Couple of homers
his last two games. They got to get one of
those outfield spots going. And it's been a season long thing.
I mean, Myers has had his moments, but McCormick last night,
(09:59):
boy for four strikeouts, just tough going for him. But
I think getting Tucker back whenever that is, if that happens,
just we'll change this lineup a lot. When you just
put him in the fourth spot at DS, hitting fifth
and the offense should be plenty good.
Speaker 2 (10:15):
I think if they can keep getting this pitching to
make a deep run. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (10:18):
I was also going to ask you about the outfield
and the offensive output. I mean, what is it. Let's
just focus on Chaz. What's wrong with him?
Speaker 3 (10:25):
Oh?
Speaker 2 (10:26):
I don't know.
Speaker 5 (10:26):
I mean, he came to Supreme training and you know,
talked about some adjustments he'd made to his stance. I
think a wider stand saying he wanted to use the
ground more in terms of his his stance and his
body and his weight transferring that kind of stuff that's
over my head a little bit, and it just hasn't worked.
I mean, he had the one game where he hit
a couple of homers, but and it's not he's not
even hitting lefties anymore like he was before, where you
(10:47):
could platoon him a little bit. And again, I mean,
you want you're down to d h a lot, so
you're gonna have to put one of these outfielders in there.
Speaker 2 (10:55):
And he does play a really good defensive outfield.
Speaker 5 (10:57):
But I know that it's just the spot is in
a really tough situation just with him and what to do,
and you know, we're getting late in the season.
Speaker 2 (11:07):
Is it every kind of turn around? Who knows, but
if they if he could.
Speaker 5 (11:09):
Get hot just for a few weeks, it would really
deepen this lineup and and make it spot asleep better
at night.
Speaker 4 (11:17):
Continuing with Brian McTaggart, let's go to the bullpen. Four
straight outings giving up a run for Ryan Presley. Of
course we've talked a lot about Ryan Presley the last
couple of years. What do you think, where do you
think the organization is with him? And is do you
think there is some danger that he could lose the
eighth inning role.
Speaker 5 (11:35):
I don't think so right now. I mean, we'll see
as we get deeper. I mean, it seems like he
goes through this stuff. I mean I have to look back.
I think he had a stretch like this last year
around this time where it was giving up a run,
a run, a run, and then you know, when the
when it was time to answer the bell and the postseason,
I mean, he was pretty much unhittable. His vlow was
down just a little bit. But you know, I gotta
(11:56):
think usage is really working on a lot of these guys.
You were talking about Brady earlier pitching in half the
games and as long as the offense is not blowing
people out, they just they have to keep going to
the same three or four guys over and over. You know,
maybe you know, cayleb Ports has stepped up and given
them some important innings as well that maybe a couple
other guys will. But I think with Presley, you just
(12:17):
got to let him ride through it and and you know,
come out of it, because it seems like he always does.
Speaker 4 (12:23):
On behalf of all Astro fans, Brian mctaggan, and we
appreciate you being on the beat and being there and
taking videos and getting all this. I don't think anybody
wants to watch Kyle Tucker do anything else because the
reaction you got to your videos on Monday was not
particularly good.
Speaker 2 (12:37):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (12:37):
Well, he was not on the first two legs of
the road trip, and you know, the team had talked about,
you know, they were getting videos set to them, and
he looked good, and so you know, I was at
the ballpark early with the other two Beat writers and
we're watching him and we're far away, and I decided, uh,
you know, I'm just gonna take some video and see
what it looks like. But uh, the one especially where
he was running after a fly ball and was pretty
(13:00):
that you know, that was that was a pretty telling one.
And and we asked to speak to Tucker all three
days in Tampa through a team spokesman. He denied the
interview requests. So I'm you know, I'm not sure what
that's all about. But uh, again, until he's running the
bases and running hard, yeah, he's not going out on
the reap, and it doesn't look like he's close to
(13:20):
that unless he's doing some stuff inside or really early
or somewhere away from the park that we can't see.
Speaker 4 (13:26):
All right, Uh, Cacucci three starts, not anything to the
sixth inning, but everything else has been fantastic. The strikeout
count is good, the era is under three, is there?
And again he should have gotten a call to start
the other night, if not for the defense, but generally speaking,
are they worried all about pitch count being so high
in each of those three appearances?
Speaker 2 (13:48):
I don't think so.
Speaker 5 (13:49):
I mean, you know, if a two D makes that play,
he goes six innings and throws ninety two pitches, I
mean that's not bad. I mean you take that from
Cacucci every time out. And if McCormick doesn't slow play
that all in left field. He goes six scoreless. So
I think he's given them exactly what they wanted. You
knew he was gonna throw a lot of pitches because
he's gonna strike guys out. He's also gonna watch guys.
(14:09):
That pitch count's gonna get up there. But he's done
everything that they hoped he would do. They'd won all
three games that he started, and uh, he's gotten deep enough.
So you know, like I said, I mean, if they
wouldn't have made that trade, who's pitching those innies right now?
Speaker 2 (14:22):
I mean, yeah, I don't know, all right.
Speaker 4 (14:25):
So to wrap it up, you any massaging of bullpen
urgency in terms of high leverage low leverage, do you
feel like, Uh, I don't think Ferguson's in that mix,
or to me, up until yesterday, could have been a
guy that maybe got a few more looks. You're not
worried about Presley? Uh bring you how do you think
Joe manages the bullpen between now and the end of
(14:47):
the season.
Speaker 5 (14:49):
I mean, I think he's gonna keep doing what he's doing,
just look for opportunities to give his main guys.
Speaker 2 (14:53):
The four main guys you know, a blow here and
there when he can.
Speaker 5 (14:56):
I mean, they're about to start a stretch tomorrow where
they're playing eighteen games in a row, so this is
really going to be a tough stretch on the ball play.
I mean, they're playing the lousy White Sox this weekend,
so you know, Joe's got to be hoping maybe they
can blow a couple of these games out and you know,
to go to Sean Duban and those guys to you know,
close it out. But you know, they just they don't
(15:18):
have the luxury of a lot of blowouts, and the
pitchers aren't going to you know, they go six innings now,
like you guys are talking about, and then you got
to turn her over to those four guys and it
just seems like they pitched night after night. I don't
think there's a whole lot he can do at this point,
but just try to give him the rest one they can't.
Speaker 4 (15:32):
Should we give out A J. Hinch's home phone number
or sell number? Because the Tigers going to the ninth
inning lead two to one. They have taken the last
They were down one nothing most of the night. Now
they're up to one.
Speaker 2 (15:42):
So A J.
Speaker 4 (15:44):
We love you man, we.
Speaker 5 (15:45):
Do well, that would be what five Tigers go five
and one against the Mariners in the last week to
ten days and the one game they lost was a
game whether the Tiger's right field or misplayed a ball
or they would have been a clean sweet But Seattle,
Seattle's in a lot of trouble with that offense and
that they have this great starting pitching and they're just
blowing the window right now with that starting pitching staff.
Speaker 3 (16:05):
That again, Brian McTaggart with Matt Thomas and Ross Ververreal
on Sports Talk seven to ninety Before we wrap it
up here on a Crawford box cast presented by Carbock
Brewing and the Crawford Bok. Did want to remind you
guys that our friends over at Carbock Brewing they just
did a an Astro's watch party a couple of weeks
ago for that Ranger series. They're doing it again and
what's so successful they're doing it again. This is gonna
(16:27):
be August twenty sixth, So not this coming Monday, but
the following Monday, August twenty sixth, out of Carbock Brewing,
they are going to have a watch party for Astros Phillies.
It'll start at five point thirty, and they're gonna have
tons of great events, tons of great stuff going on.
They're gonna have giveaways, food and beer specials and much
much more. Now last time they had the Shooting Stars
(16:48):
and Orbit out there. I haven't confirmed if they'll be
back there, but I gotta think there's gonna be somebody
from the Astros organization out there, whether it's Orbit or
or the Shooting Stars, but certainly great fun going to
be had. And look, we're starting to get in the
backstretch of August, hopefully our hottest days of the summer
behind us, and hopefully it starts to get a little cool.
But look, they got the restaurant inside, they got the
(17:09):
pints and pizza and pints out there enclosed next to
the shop, and then out side in the beer garden,
you got the covered areas with fans and all that. Anyway,
so mark your calendars. Let's get out there and watch
the Astros Phillies watch party Monday, August twenty sixth over
there at Carbock Burring. And of course, you guys know
they're serving up the Crawford Bock. Whether you're at Minute Made,
whether you're at the beer Garden at Carbock, you could
(17:32):
take advantage and enjoy the Crawford Park pairs perfectly with
Astros baseball, and it's a home run every time when
you have an ice col Crawford Bok. I'm Chris Gordy.
This has been an all new edition of the Crawford
box Cast. Russ will be back with us next week
and we'll get you guys caught up. Heck, what's the
Astros wind streak? Next time we talk to you. Is
it at twelve games? Is it at fifteen games? Who
(17:52):
knows see how long they can keep this going. But
we'll talk to you guys next week right here on
the Crawford box Cast
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