September 20, 2024 • 24 mins
With the Astros magic number down to 5, and only 9 games remaining, Ross and Gordy discuss the Astros possible playoff rotation for a Wild Card series, and some of the different scenarios for Wild Card round and ALDS.
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Speaker 1 (00:09):
Astros fans cheers, Rocky Lucky.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
Welcome to the Crawford Box Casts.
Speaker 3 (00:19):
Crowd lead boord for you by Crawford Bach from Carmack Brewey.
Speaker 1 (00:22):
You're getting there.
Speaker 4 (00:25):
Oh my goodness, the Crawford Box Cast starts now here
we go.
Speaker 1 (00:30):
Here's Chris, Gordy and Ross Viail. That's right.
Speaker 5 (00:34):
It is an all new edition of the Crawford Box Cast,
presented by Carbock Brewing and the Crawford Bachers. Gordy here
and Ross Verial with you and this episode presented you
by friends over at car Bock Brewing and the Crawford Bach.
It is a home run every time. With the Crawford
Bach and menu saut at the ballpark. The other night,
a lot of people enjoyed some Crawford Box good to
see and hopefully semesters postseason baseball upon us and plenty
(00:58):
of Crawford Box will be. The Astros counting down the
days ROSSSS of this recording. Their magic number is five.
John Singleton playing the Hero on Thursday night to beat
the Angels three to one. You have nine games remaining,
three against the Angels, three against the Mariners, three up
in Cleveland against the Guardians, and the hope of the
Astros here is take care of.
Speaker 1 (01:20):
Business against the Angels and that Mariner series.
Speaker 5 (01:22):
If they falter anymore, it won't even matter by the
time you get there.
Speaker 4 (01:26):
Yeah, exactly. They're doing what they need to do down
the stretch. And this is what we talked about. When
you have seven of ten games coming up against the
Los Angeles Angels, well you need to take care of business.
And as you said, as of this recording, they've won
four straight against them, and you got Verlander on tonight,
big star from him. We'll get to that in a minute,
but it's just as far as the big picture. Thankfully,
the Mariners just continue to be terrible and continue to
(01:48):
lose games and continue to be five games back to
where you don't really have to sweat it out, probably
in all likelihood in the last week, and that's where
you wanted to be to where now come potential WI
Card Game one. You can set your rotation up the
way that you need to a lot of these higher
leverage relievers. You've had seventy five games from Brian Abray
you this year. That's more than any other relief pitcher
(02:09):
in baseball. You've had to trot Josh Hater out there
a lot. Ryan Presley when he's been healthy, you've been
using him a lot because of the offense not necessarily
blowing guys out, and the pitcher's keeping you in games.
So this is setting up nicely to where if you
can continue to win these games against the Angels, like
you said, it doesn't matter what happens against the Mariners,
and then you're so far back of the Guardians, I
(02:29):
don't think that last series is going to matter either,
becomes a glorified spring training. Joe Spott is going to
have to figure out how much he wants to play
his guys or how many innings and all that kind
of stuff. But this is starting to round into outside
of being a number two seed, which is just with
outside of reach, it's rounding into a fairly ideal situation
(02:50):
for the Stros.
Speaker 5 (02:51):
Yeah, and I want to talk about the pitching and
all that kind of stuff. We kind of touched on
it last week and what you know, the Astros pitching
matchups could look like in all this. But we got
to touch quickly on the standings here because this is
some very interesting that's transpiring here. Astros are six games
back of the Yankees for the best record in baseball.
They're not going to catch them. That's kind of out
(03:11):
the window. However, the Cleveland Guardians are only a half
game back of the Yankees for best record in the
American League. All the projections for the last week Cross
have kind of been the Astros would host probably the Guardians,
I'm sorry, the.
Speaker 1 (03:26):
Minnesota Twins.
Speaker 5 (03:28):
Yeah, they all look alike, all these Central teams, all
their logos are all like the same color as they
all anyway, so they would host the Twins in Carls,
Korea in a wildcard series best first.
Speaker 1 (03:38):
One to two wins, you win that.
Speaker 5 (03:40):
And for like the last week plus, we've been looking
at the Astros probably going to go to you know,
to to play on the road Cleveland again where you
just where you're gonna finish the season.
Speaker 1 (03:51):
But that could flip.
Speaker 5 (03:53):
That could end up you could end up going to
New York in the Alds and playing the Yankees for
a game one, Game two, come back to Houston for
Game three to four, potential game five in New York.
And not only that Ross, but in the wildcard standings,
AJ Hinch and the red hot Detroit Tigers have won
four in a row and caught the Twins. They are
both eighty and seventy three. So there's a world where
(04:16):
we went for the last week thinking the Astros are
gonna host the Twins and then go up to Cleveland
and play the Guardians.
Speaker 1 (04:23):
It could completely flip. You could host aj Hinch.
Speaker 5 (04:25):
And the Tigers in a Wildcard round and if you
win that have to go play the Yankees in Yankee
Stadium in a DS. This is just bringing back old
memories here if this is how it happens.
Speaker 4 (04:36):
Yeah, Yankees Astros, of course would would be fun. It'd
be a front trip for them to go up there,
and you would have to play, of course, a potential
one games one, two, and or five, and that's been
the classic rivalry. The Yankees have been really good this year.
Could they finally get the Astros number with the Astros
having to come in after playing some wildcard games, we'll
(04:56):
see jose Al Tuve getting Booze. I think we maybe
talked about this last week, like picturing a world where
there's a clutch situation Booze and bleep altwo Ve chance
are raining down and now two Ve comes up in
the clutch. That would be fun and I would welcome
the challenge. You would be fun either way, no matter
how it kind of chalks up. I would say probably.
(05:17):
I think in theory the Guardians are the weaker of
the two teams. But if the Guardians finish ahead of them,
it is what it is. I'm not scared of either
of them. Not to say that the Ashros would sweep
either of them or anything like that, but the Astros
can compete with anybody, especially when it starts with the
what we talked about, what is going to have to
be the bellcow for them, and that would be the
starting pitching and then the lock and a lockdown bullpen.
Speaker 5 (05:38):
I just gotta think Jim Crane's worst case scenario is
you host Aj Hinch and the Tigers and they take
you out in the walk round in your house at
Minim Park. So bout I was talking to the ballpark
the other day said Aj could sleep in his own bed.
He still lives in the Woodlands, still has his house there.
Speaker 4 (05:54):
Like as a little Fillway's way.
Speaker 1 (05:56):
It would be three.
Speaker 5 (05:56):
Straight nights or three straight nights of minute man. He
could just go home and sleep with the family.
Speaker 4 (06:01):
And we'll traffic.
Speaker 5 (06:02):
But uh, you know, it would be and and by
the way, tark Schooble could likely go in Game one
of that who's been lights out all year? Like that's
just a scary series. Like you're not gonna say you're
gonna shy away from it, but that would just be
really worst case scenario. And you think Aja Hinch wouldn't
want to stick it to the Astros go, hey, loved
all you guys, but y'all fired me. I'm gonna take
(06:23):
it back to you in the playoffs.
Speaker 4 (06:24):
Yeah, but the bottom line is the Astros are better
than the Tigers. The Ashros are better than the Twins
or even the Royals that they would face up against.
And and like we said, you're gonna be able to
line up your starting pitching if you go one two
three the way I would put it right now, if
you're going Brown, if you're going Valdez Brown, Kokuchi, one
two three, I envision a world where the Astros win
(06:46):
two out of three of those against just about anybody.
Speaker 5 (06:48):
Let's revisit that because you said, yeah, I think we
talked about this on the show last week. But in
a potential wild card series against whether it's Detroit or
Minnesota or whoever, you will host Tuesday A week from Tuesday,
Walkart Series Tuesday Wednesday Thursday, first one of two wins.
If it goes all three, we agree. Still you would
(07:08):
go Fromberg game one, yes, Hunter Brown game twos. You say,
Kakuchi game three.
Speaker 4 (07:12):
That's where I am right now.
Speaker 5 (07:13):
You win that off day Friday to travel up to
Cleveland or New York, you could. You would have an
Alds game one on Saturday. You can't use any of
those three guys you used. Here are your options. Blanco yes,
Spencer Araghetty yes, justin Verlander.
Speaker 4 (07:27):
I would go with Blanco or Righetty ahead of Verlander.
I still would, And I understand all the Verlander stuff,
and he's gonna start again tonight. We'll see how he
looks against the Angels of all people who are not
very good and don't have a good lineup. But I'm
still team I mean, I think Blanco, and we've talked
about this, he seems like the most natural candidate to
go to the bullpen because he is a guy who
(07:50):
does have more bullpen experience than the others, so maybe
that's the natural fit. So then it becomes maybe Araghetty
or Verlander. But I still would go Araghetty. Try to
picture one of those guys going seven innings at one
run ball and striking out ten. It's Raghetty to me
over Verlander. And if I think what's a great Verlander
start in a playoff, you're probably thinking, I don't know,
five innings of one run ball and then hand it
(08:11):
off to the bullpen. I think Araghetty can get you
there more often. I think he has the higher ceiling,
and I think their floors are similar. They could both
go out there and get shelled.
Speaker 5 (08:22):
Yeah, I think you're gonna And here's the other part
of hot sets up. That would be a Alds game one,
potentially a Yankee Stadium or in Cleveland. If you win
that win or loss, whatever, the next day, Sunday is
an off day. Game two would be Monday in the
same venue. You could then at that point circle back
fromber wet game on a Tuesday fromber could go in
(08:42):
game two there, so your whole staff resets. You don't
even have to use an Arrogetty or Verlander if you
used Blanco in Alds game on.
Speaker 1 (08:50):
So just win in two games.
Speaker 5 (08:52):
Yeah, I mean you just got you just got a
lot of options there, you know, talking about an Alds
and again having to go two Yankees stadiums a little
scares you a little bit because they have had great
success there. Had to remind somebody recently they're like, oh, no,
Astros they own Yankee Stadium. Like twenty seventeen, they lost
all three games up there in the ALCS, So you know,
(09:14):
they they've had some success as of late, but you
know it just it's gonna be a tough place to play.
One other thing, like Kakuci, I want to mention him
because obviously the Astros get to win on on Thursday night?
Speaker 1 (09:25):
Did you see?
Speaker 5 (09:26):
I don't know why I decided to go down this
rabbit hole today Ross, but I went back to trade
deadline articles of winners and losers, and I first first
article film was MLB dot com. They listed the seven
winners of the trade deadline. The Astros were not listed
among them. Number three on that list was the Seattle Mariners.
They said, oh my goodness, the Mariners. What they pulled
(09:47):
off to Brian Randy, a Rose Arena and Justin Turner
and they've got the lead in the AL West right now. Oh,
they're going to run away with this division. And the
Astros they didn't do anything. They didn't get a first basement.
They added Kacucci, who's okay. So that was like, they
can't be the only one who said or maybe they
are the only one who said this. Then I found
Fox Sports Ross. They listed winners and losers. They had
the Seattle Marritors as a clear winner because of the
(10:09):
addition of a Rose Arena and Justin Turner and Julio Rodriguez.
They were like, he has the support now around him
to get this offense back on track. They listed the
Astros as a loser and said, uh, Kakuci should be
a helpful depth piece, but the prospect cost was way
too high for them. I just want to bring up
since the deadline, Randy Rose Arena is batting two thirty
(10:29):
two with fifty eight strikeouts twenty RBI. You say Kakuci
nine starts three in o Era five and oh record
Astros nine to oh in those starts?
Speaker 1 (10:41):
Come on, what are we doing here?
Speaker 6 (10:42):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (10:42):
And you had Brian McTaggart point out, I guess I
should fact check this real quick, but I believe he
has them since the you say Kakuci trade, they're twenty
seven and eighteen and there what if you subtract that
nine and oh, they're eighteen and eighteen. So they're playing
five hundred ball in games not started by Usay Kakuchi,
and they're a perfect nine to oh in games started
(11:04):
by Kokuchi. So the trade has been huge. It was steep,
a steep price. It wasn't overpay for what is who
you say Kakuchi has been. But still at the end
of the day, you had to do it, and it was, yeah,
twenty seven and eighteen, I pulled it up. So you're
talking about eighteen and eighteen non Kakuchi starts nine and
zero in Kakuchi starts. You had to do what you
(11:24):
had to do there, and I hope to me the
ideal scenario would be you win the wild Card in
two games, because the Guardians have a pretty heavy left
handed top into the load of their lineup with Naylor
and Kwan and Jose Ramirez is a switch hitter. But
then on the other side, if you it is the Yankees,
you have one Soda who's a lefty, you have Rizzo
(11:45):
who's a lefty. You need to get swing and miss
against the Yankees lineup. When you're talking about going up
against Aaron Judge, as well, and U say, Kakuchi generates
a lot of swing and miss with the changeup and
the slider that he's got, So yeah, try to win
that one in two games with Brown and Valdez lay
the hammer down and then have Kokuchi ready to go
(12:06):
into Game one potentially against the Guardians or the Yankees.
Speaker 5 (12:08):
Yeah, it's just it's gonna be fascinating how this points out.
There's still so much up in the air and destinations.
If you're an Astros fan, you can't even book your
travel yet. You don't know where you're gonna be going
for a potential DS and I get it. You gotta
punch your ticket to the postseason first, and you gotta
win the Wildcard series first before you can't even talk
about going anywhere. But we certainly feel pretty good with
the Astros postseason track record that they will take care
(12:31):
of business. And let's see if they take care of
business the next couple of days. All right, earlier today
you were able to catch up with Brian McTaggart of
MLB dot Com along with Matt Thomas.
Speaker 1 (12:40):
Here was a little bit of that conversation.
Speaker 3 (12:42):
Team gets back after dropping two or three in the
nice win yesterday. Uh, no one in America, not even
the man who made the deal, Dana Brown, could have
thought that. You say, Kakuchi was nine and ozer. We
now look at it from a macro look at things.
Was it just getting a hole of some pitching coaches
in the organization to say, hey, throw this pitch in
(13:04):
a particular area, throw it during a different count.
Speaker 4 (13:07):
What could be ultimately what even when you.
Speaker 3 (13:09):
Say, would say about how he's been able to transform
his career just in these last couple of months.
Speaker 2 (13:17):
Yeah, I don't think anybody, of course saw this coming.
I mean, you know, there was a reason for skepticism.
Skepticism I think because he had not pitched very well,
uh his last you know, handful of games with the
Blue Jays, and it's he's he had an okay season
and and the askers of course give up three prospects
(13:37):
to him, so that you know, they they paid a
really high price. So yeah, it was uh, it was Uh,
it was warranted. I guess to kind of question this
trade a little bit. But you know, Dana Brown was
stead fast all along. He knew they needed to get
a starter. He felt that they could get him and
they could tweak his uh tweak his arsenal.
Speaker 6 (13:55):
A little bit, which they did.
Speaker 4 (13:57):
Uh.
Speaker 6 (13:57):
But yeah, I think you're right.
Speaker 2 (13:58):
I think he's exceeded everybody's expectations, maybe even his own
for them to win every start. You know, they've won
twenty seven games since his first start August second, so
he's he's responsible for a third of their wins in
that span because he's won nine of those games.
Speaker 6 (14:15):
So you know, you know, absolutely amazing.
Speaker 2 (14:17):
He's sort of changed the ascent of this team I
think now a team that I think has a shot
to go all the way.
Speaker 4 (14:22):
And staying with the starting pitching, we're back on Verlander
Watch today. In your estimation, how did he pitch his
last time out? And it's it's been, of course, a
fluid situation about a pecking order and possible slotting of
the in the postseason rotation.
Speaker 6 (14:40):
Yes, this is a big start for him. I mean,
I thought his last.
Speaker 2 (14:42):
Start was better but not great, and I think he
would agree with that. I was listening, you know, to
Dana Brown talk on your station shortly after that start.
You know, he wasn't exactly bullish on the way he performed.
So he needs to come out tonight and I think
and just sort of re establish himself and put up
some good numbers. He'll get one more start, I think,
which would be in Cleveland next weekend, a place where
(15:04):
he really hasn't pitched very well in his career. Who
knows if those games will mean anything or not. But
you know, the Astros have three really really good options
at the top of their rotation right now with with
Brown and Valdez and Kakuchi and another really good option
in Blanco. You know, can Verlander move his way in there?
You know, a lot has to do with when the
season ends. Who's going to pitch that last weekend? Do
they need to win those games?
Speaker 6 (15:25):
So?
Speaker 2 (15:26):
But just regardless, a big start for Verlander what could
be his final regular season home game with the Astros.
Speaker 4 (15:33):
Brian McTaggart MLB dot Com with us here on Sports
Talk seven ninety. Let's go to the first base side.
John Singleton looking pretty good. You're getting a lot of
young your das out there as well. How do you
have I think I maybe asked you this last week,
But just to an update about evaluating both of those
guys defensively.
Speaker 6 (15:54):
I mean, neither one's great.
Speaker 2 (15:55):
I mean it's you know, Singleton I think's played a
little bit better.
Speaker 6 (15:58):
I don't know what the metrics say, just look to
me that he's uh.
Speaker 2 (16:02):
Ever since that he had that little brain fart in
Baltimore where he didn't beat the guy in the bag,
I think he's he's tightened up his defense a little bit,
which is good.
Speaker 6 (16:11):
Jeremy Penny has tightened up his defense as well.
Speaker 2 (16:13):
But uh, you know, DS has been okay out there,
not as I don't think he's you know, as good
defensively as as Singleton.
Speaker 6 (16:19):
I mean it's not.
Speaker 2 (16:21):
It's not a great plus position for the Astros defensively,
but again, I mean tip your hat the Singleton. I
mean he you know, he continues to get it done.
They walk Carrottini last night to get to him, and he,
you know, he has a John Singleton at bat, takes pitches, fouls,
pitches off and and.
Speaker 6 (16:35):
Then he gets one of the outfield and drives in
two runs.
Speaker 2 (16:37):
So, you know, on a night where the top guys
in the order were doing absolutely nothing and Altode wasn't
playing and nobody was didn't seem like anybody who's gonna
step up, Singleton, you know, had his his moment again,
and he's He's had a couple of those now in
the last few weeks.
Speaker 3 (16:51):
As far as the bullpen is concerned, and we I
feel like we've talked a lot of this a lot
second half of the year. I know that Joe is
trying to move some moving parts around to get some
guys some additional rest towards the doubt in the stretch.
But you know, case in point, last night you had
to go to the heavy hitters with exception of a
bray you how often do you forgetting about what Joe says?
(17:13):
How do you what's the feel for guys like Presley Hater?
How are they feeling a Brave's with disappearances? Does that
lean towards you know what the season's gonna end in
a month?
Speaker 1 (17:25):
Anyway?
Speaker 3 (17:25):
We got to go full throttle or are you of
concern of that this wear and tear collectively is gonna
maybe bite them in the most important games coming up?
Speaker 6 (17:35):
Well it couldn't.
Speaker 2 (17:36):
If you ask all three of those guys that we
have how you feel, and they'll say, I'll feel good.
I mean, what else are they gonna say? My arms
falling off and I'm barely hanging on by a threat here?
Speaker 6 (17:45):
But we saw a brak.
Speaker 2 (17:46):
You get some rest and come back and you know,
throw one hundred miles an hour, but you know they're
just not blowing teams out.
Speaker 6 (17:52):
So yeah, game after game they're having to go to
these guys.
Speaker 2 (17:54):
I mean, look what happened the other day where in
San Diego they didn't have a couple of those guys
available or trying to get away from them, So they
go to Kayler Bard, who's pitching very well.
Speaker 6 (18:03):
He gives up three home runs.
Speaker 2 (18:04):
So I think the best thing that could happen to
the Astros is they clinched the division on Monday or Tuesday.
They know they're not going to catch the Guardians, and hey,
we'll just give some guys some rest, because not unlike
last year when they had the five day break before
the DS, they're gonna have to go right into that
Wildcard series on Tuesday at minute made and if they
(18:26):
you know, if they have to go into that last
weekend in Cleveland battling the win games, then fly to
Houston and then you know that could be really tough.
So best case scenario would be them just to cleanse
the division. You know, at that point you're probably not
getting the two seed. Just rest some guys and get
ready for that Wildcard Series.
Speaker 3 (18:41):
I want to piggyback of what Ross has about Verlander.
Is this his last start at Minute Made Park in
a Houston uniform period?
Speaker 1 (18:51):
I don't know.
Speaker 6 (18:52):
I wouldn't say that.
Speaker 2 (18:52):
I mean, you know, if they is he going to
start in the Wildcard Series at this point, I say
probably not.
Speaker 6 (18:57):
But who knows what happens after that. If they get
into the.
Speaker 2 (19:00):
The DS, I mean, go to the LCS, he could
possibly start, But I think, yeah, this is probably his
last start in the regular season, unless Jim Crane decides,
hey man, you know, thank you for all you've done.
I really like you as a person, which they do
their friends.
Speaker 6 (19:16):
They get along.
Speaker 2 (19:16):
Well, you know, here's two years and I don't know,
forty million dollars or something like that, and he's back.
You know, I'm not sure you know what Verlander thinks
his worth is at this point, but right now, yeah,
I would lean that it's possible it could be his
final home start. But if they make a long playoff run,
I think not necessarily.
Speaker 3 (19:33):
All right, So let's let's say the Astros finish off
the Mariners by the end of series, and the series
in Cleveland means absolutely nothing. What maneuver and ability do
you think you'll see from Joe in terms of giving
some guys that will not be needed in that wild
Card series some time off, not only from a position standpoint,
but also with the pitching staff.
Speaker 6 (19:53):
Yeah, right now, Let's like.
Speaker 2 (19:54):
I have Brown, Fromber and Kakuchi lined up for Seattle,
which is ideal through the Astros, so neither one of
them with pitching that series I would stay away from.
Speaker 6 (20:04):
You know, the back back.
Speaker 2 (20:05):
End three relievers, there's gonna be a lot of a
lot of a lot of uh caylb Borts and Caleb
Ferguson's and Brian Kings and I don't know, maybe you
call up Seth Martinez so he can pitch multiple innings.
You know, you great Kessinger plays a lot, uh says
our Salazar plays a lot behind the plate. You know,
(20:26):
maybe Chas McCormick's back at that time, and he probably
could stand to play a little bit more.
Speaker 6 (20:30):
So maybe you play him every day.
Speaker 2 (20:32):
But it would be it would be a good situation
for Joe Spotted just to rest these guys because look,
I mean, he's already trying to rest out to who
they here. He dated the last game in San Diego,
didn't play yesterday, so he hasn't played defense in a
couple of days now. So it just kind of tells
me that they're getting some information from their trainers that
you know, these guys just absolutely need some breathers right now,
and you know they're in a spot to do it
(20:54):
where they go to Cleveland and those games don't mean anything,
and and and they'll find a way to manage it.
Speaker 3 (21:00):
We'll get to ask you this again a week from
today when you're with us for the last time in
the regular season. At least there are the Mariners who
are two back of the last wald card spot. They're
the Tigers and the Twins that are mathematically tie for
the third. Which of those three would scare you the
most and which of the three would scare you the least?
Speaker 2 (21:19):
I think the Mariners, for all their faults, I mean,
I'm not so sure if you're an Astros fan you
want them coming in here with that starting pitching, because
I think the Astros have been susceptible to getting shut
down by good starting pitching. We saw that in San
Diego just earlier this week, and I don't think anybody's
got better starting pitching, and that's a three game series too.
But look, they played the Tigers, and if s Google
(21:41):
comes in here and pitches game one, I know they
did pretty well against him when they face the Murderer
this year. But if he comes in here and pitches
game one and deals, you know, right there, Dastros could
be in I must win, gotta win the next two games,
and you know a J. Hinch is gonna pull every
magic trick out of his managerial hat to try to
win those games. So I think Seattle, despite all their
(22:01):
flaws and I'm terrible they've played the last couple of
months with that pitching staff, I think that would still
be it. Where you go, oh boy, this this might
not be a fun series if you're an Astros fan.
Speaker 1 (22:12):
That again.
Speaker 5 (22:12):
Brian McTaggart on The Matt Thomas Show with Ross and
Matt talking all things Astros and Ross. As we wrap
up here on the Crawford Box Cast presented by Carbock Brewing,
Astros just take care of business against the bad Angels.
Speaker 4 (22:25):
Yes, yeah, And Verlander's start tonight. I don't want to
say looms large, but we want to see how he looks.
Speaker 1 (22:33):
Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 5 (22:34):
I mean, and it sucks to have that conversation, but
like I've said, he needs to own up to reality
and say I am not the best one of the
four best pictures on the staff right now.
Speaker 4 (22:44):
Yeah, we'll see how it goes.
Speaker 1 (22:45):
We'll see how it goes.
Speaker 4 (22:46):
I guess we just need an ideal scenario. I would go,
I would still go. And I wonder if they're thinking
still is that Blanco would be shelved to the bullpen
because he was slowing down for a bit. But he's
been really great the last couple of times.
Speaker 5 (22:57):
I'll say this, so Verlander pitches well tonight pitches again
well again, which will probably be in that Cleveland series,
I would say, you go. He could potentially go in
a game three of a Walker. The problem is that
with that is it's an elimination game. So I don't
know if you'd want to go with him.
Speaker 4 (23:12):
But I would say, Kakuchi putting in winning to be closed,
you're nine, you're literally nine to zero games he starts,
how do you put him on the shelf?
Speaker 5 (23:18):
I could almost make the argument it'd be better to say, JV,
you're not gonna start one of these three walk card games.
But you will start game one of the Alds for
us in Cleveland or New York.
Speaker 4 (23:28):
I would just say, why don't you go ahead and
enjoy kankun It's very nice as time.
Speaker 1 (23:32):
I will say too. He's also been the guy every
time they cut the dugout somebody makes a great play,
he's clapping, He's yeah.
Speaker 5 (23:38):
He seems like team player like I hope he would
be able to embrace whatever role it is this postseason,
if it's not as a Game one or Game two starter.
But we'll have plenty of coverage for you throughout the
next two weeks here on the Crawford Box Cast presented
by Carbock. Bring in the Crawford Bach and hopefully you
guys will load up on Crawford Box. Got them all
(23:58):
at minni Ay Park. Enjoy this last home stand before
the Astros get to the postseason, and enjoy some of
Crawford Bocking. Get on over there Carbock Brewing and try
the new pizza and pints. Great stuff. We'll be out
there next Friday, stand northf late and I will do
next up out there. So if you are looking for
some place to go hang out for lunch next Friday,
mark your calendars on the twenty seventh to come out
(24:18):
there and see us fascireal. I'm Chris Corny. This has
been the Crawford Box cast where it's enter by Carbock
Berwing
Astros fans cheers, Rocky Lucky.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
Welcome to the Crawford Box Casts.
Speaker 3 (00:19):
Crowd lead boord for you by Crawford Bach from Carmack Brewey.
Speaker 1 (00:22):
You're getting there.
Speaker 4 (00:25):
Oh my goodness, the Crawford Box Cast starts now here
we go.
Speaker 1 (00:30):
Here's Chris, Gordy and Ross Viail. That's right.
Speaker 5 (00:34):
It is an all new edition of the Crawford Box Cast,
presented by Carbock Brewing and the Crawford Bachers. Gordy here
and Ross Verial with you and this episode presented you
by friends over at car Bock Brewing and the Crawford Bach.
It is a home run every time. With the Crawford
Bach and menu saut at the ballpark. The other night,
a lot of people enjoyed some Crawford Box good to
see and hopefully semesters postseason baseball upon us and plenty
(00:58):
of Crawford Box will be. The Astros counting down the
days ROSSSS of this recording. Their magic number is five.
John Singleton playing the Hero on Thursday night to beat
the Angels three to one. You have nine games remaining,
three against the Angels, three against the Mariners, three up
in Cleveland against the Guardians, and the hope of the
Astros here is take care of.
Speaker 1 (01:20):
Business against the Angels and that Mariner series.
Speaker 5 (01:22):
If they falter anymore, it won't even matter by the
time you get there.
Speaker 4 (01:26):
Yeah, exactly. They're doing what they need to do down
the stretch. And this is what we talked about. When
you have seven of ten games coming up against the
Los Angeles Angels, well you need to take care of business.
And as you said, as of this recording, they've won
four straight against them, and you got Verlander on tonight,
big star from him. We'll get to that in a minute,
but it's just as far as the big picture. Thankfully,
the Mariners just continue to be terrible and continue to
(01:48):
lose games and continue to be five games back to
where you don't really have to sweat it out, probably
in all likelihood in the last week, and that's where
you wanted to be to where now come potential WI
Card Game one. You can set your rotation up the
way that you need to a lot of these higher
leverage relievers. You've had seventy five games from Brian Abray
you this year. That's more than any other relief pitcher
(02:09):
in baseball. You've had to trot Josh Hater out there
a lot. Ryan Presley when he's been healthy, you've been
using him a lot because of the offense not necessarily
blowing guys out, and the pitcher's keeping you in games.
So this is setting up nicely to where if you
can continue to win these games against the Angels, like
you said, it doesn't matter what happens against the Mariners,
and then you're so far back of the Guardians, I
(02:29):
don't think that last series is going to matter either,
becomes a glorified spring training. Joe Spott is going to
have to figure out how much he wants to play
his guys or how many innings and all that kind
of stuff. But this is starting to round into outside
of being a number two seed, which is just with
outside of reach, it's rounding into a fairly ideal situation
(02:50):
for the Stros.
Speaker 5 (02:51):
Yeah, and I want to talk about the pitching and
all that kind of stuff. We kind of touched on
it last week and what you know, the Astros pitching
matchups could look like in all this. But we got
to touch quickly on the standings here because this is
some very interesting that's transpiring here. Astros are six games
back of the Yankees for the best record in baseball.
They're not going to catch them. That's kind of out
(03:11):
the window. However, the Cleveland Guardians are only a half
game back of the Yankees for best record in the
American League. All the projections for the last week Cross
have kind of been the Astros would host probably the Guardians,
I'm sorry, the.
Speaker 1 (03:26):
Minnesota Twins.
Speaker 5 (03:28):
Yeah, they all look alike, all these Central teams, all
their logos are all like the same color as they
all anyway, so they would host the Twins in Carls,
Korea in a wildcard series best first.
Speaker 1 (03:38):
One to two wins, you win that.
Speaker 5 (03:40):
And for like the last week plus, we've been looking
at the Astros probably going to go to you know,
to to play on the road Cleveland again where you
just where you're gonna finish the season.
Speaker 1 (03:51):
But that could flip.
Speaker 5 (03:53):
That could end up you could end up going to
New York in the Alds and playing the Yankees for
a game one, Game two, come back to Houston for
Game three to four, potential game five in New York.
And not only that Ross, but in the wildcard standings,
AJ Hinch and the red hot Detroit Tigers have won
four in a row and caught the Twins. They are
both eighty and seventy three. So there's a world where
(04:16):
we went for the last week thinking the Astros are
gonna host the Twins and then go up to Cleveland
and play the Guardians.
Speaker 1 (04:23):
It could completely flip. You could host aj Hinch.
Speaker 5 (04:25):
And the Tigers in a Wildcard round and if you
win that have to go play the Yankees in Yankee
Stadium in a DS. This is just bringing back old
memories here if this is how it happens.
Speaker 4 (04:36):
Yeah, Yankees Astros, of course would would be fun. It'd
be a front trip for them to go up there,
and you would have to play, of course, a potential
one games one, two, and or five, and that's been
the classic rivalry. The Yankees have been really good this year.
Could they finally get the Astros number with the Astros
having to come in after playing some wildcard games, we'll
(04:56):
see jose Al Tuve getting Booze. I think we maybe
talked about this last week, like picturing a world where
there's a clutch situation Booze and bleep altwo Ve chance
are raining down and now two Ve comes up in
the clutch. That would be fun and I would welcome
the challenge. You would be fun either way, no matter
how it kind of chalks up. I would say probably.
(05:17):
I think in theory the Guardians are the weaker of
the two teams. But if the Guardians finish ahead of them,
it is what it is. I'm not scared of either
of them. Not to say that the Ashros would sweep
either of them or anything like that, but the Astros
can compete with anybody, especially when it starts with the
what we talked about, what is going to have to
be the bellcow for them, and that would be the
starting pitching and then the lock and a lockdown bullpen.
Speaker 5 (05:38):
I just gotta think Jim Crane's worst case scenario is
you host Aj Hinch and the Tigers and they take
you out in the walk round in your house at
Minim Park. So bout I was talking to the ballpark
the other day said Aj could sleep in his own bed.
He still lives in the Woodlands, still has his house there.
Speaker 4 (05:54):
Like as a little Fillway's way.
Speaker 1 (05:56):
It would be three.
Speaker 5 (05:56):
Straight nights or three straight nights of minute man. He
could just go home and sleep with the family.
Speaker 4 (06:01):
And we'll traffic.
Speaker 5 (06:02):
But uh, you know, it would be and and by
the way, tark Schooble could likely go in Game one
of that who's been lights out all year? Like that's
just a scary series. Like you're not gonna say you're
gonna shy away from it, but that would just be
really worst case scenario. And you think Aja Hinch wouldn't
want to stick it to the Astros go, hey, loved
all you guys, but y'all fired me. I'm gonna take
(06:23):
it back to you in the playoffs.
Speaker 4 (06:24):
Yeah, but the bottom line is the Astros are better
than the Tigers. The Ashros are better than the Twins
or even the Royals that they would face up against.
And and like we said, you're gonna be able to
line up your starting pitching if you go one two
three the way I would put it right now, if
you're going Brown, if you're going Valdez Brown, Kokuchi, one
two three, I envision a world where the Astros win
(06:46):
two out of three of those against just about anybody.
Speaker 5 (06:48):
Let's revisit that because you said, yeah, I think we
talked about this on the show last week. But in
a potential wild card series against whether it's Detroit or
Minnesota or whoever, you will host Tuesday A week from Tuesday,
Walkart Series Tuesday Wednesday Thursday, first one of two wins.
If it goes all three, we agree. Still you would
(07:08):
go Fromberg game one, yes, Hunter Brown game twos. You say,
Kakuchi game three.
Speaker 4 (07:12):
That's where I am right now.
Speaker 5 (07:13):
You win that off day Friday to travel up to
Cleveland or New York, you could. You would have an
Alds game one on Saturday. You can't use any of
those three guys you used. Here are your options. Blanco yes,
Spencer Araghetty yes, justin Verlander.
Speaker 4 (07:27):
I would go with Blanco or Righetty ahead of Verlander.
I still would, And I understand all the Verlander stuff,
and he's gonna start again tonight. We'll see how he
looks against the Angels of all people who are not
very good and don't have a good lineup. But I'm
still team I mean, I think Blanco, and we've talked
about this, he seems like the most natural candidate to
go to the bullpen because he is a guy who
(07:50):
does have more bullpen experience than the others, so maybe
that's the natural fit. So then it becomes maybe Araghetty
or Verlander. But I still would go Araghetty. Try to
picture one of those guys going seven innings at one
run ball and striking out ten. It's Raghetty to me
over Verlander. And if I think what's a great Verlander
start in a playoff, you're probably thinking, I don't know,
five innings of one run ball and then hand it
(08:11):
off to the bullpen. I think Araghetty can get you
there more often. I think he has the higher ceiling,
and I think their floors are similar. They could both
go out there and get shelled.
Speaker 5 (08:22):
Yeah, I think you're gonna And here's the other part
of hot sets up. That would be a Alds game one,
potentially a Yankee Stadium or in Cleveland. If you win
that win or loss, whatever, the next day, Sunday is
an off day. Game two would be Monday in the
same venue. You could then at that point circle back
fromber wet game on a Tuesday fromber could go in
(08:42):
game two there, so your whole staff resets. You don't
even have to use an Arrogetty or Verlander if you
used Blanco in Alds game on.
Speaker 1 (08:50):
So just win in two games.
Speaker 5 (08:52):
Yeah, I mean you just got you just got a
lot of options there, you know, talking about an Alds
and again having to go two Yankees stadiums a little
scares you a little bit because they have had great
success there. Had to remind somebody recently they're like, oh, no,
Astros they own Yankee Stadium. Like twenty seventeen, they lost
all three games up there in the ALCS, So you know,
(09:14):
they they've had some success as of late, but you
know it just it's gonna be a tough place to play.
One other thing, like Kakuci, I want to mention him
because obviously the Astros get to win on on Thursday night?
Speaker 1 (09:25):
Did you see?
Speaker 5 (09:26):
I don't know why I decided to go down this
rabbit hole today Ross, but I went back to trade
deadline articles of winners and losers, and I first first
article film was MLB dot com. They listed the seven
winners of the trade deadline. The Astros were not listed
among them. Number three on that list was the Seattle Mariners.
They said, oh my goodness, the Mariners. What they pulled
(09:47):
off to Brian Randy, a Rose Arena and Justin Turner
and they've got the lead in the AL West right now. Oh,
they're going to run away with this division. And the
Astros they didn't do anything. They didn't get a first basement.
They added Kacucci, who's okay. So that was like, they
can't be the only one who said or maybe they
are the only one who said this. Then I found
Fox Sports Ross. They listed winners and losers. They had
the Seattle Marritors as a clear winner because of the
(10:09):
addition of a Rose Arena and Justin Turner and Julio Rodriguez.
They were like, he has the support now around him
to get this offense back on track. They listed the
Astros as a loser and said, uh, Kakuci should be
a helpful depth piece, but the prospect cost was way
too high for them. I just want to bring up
since the deadline, Randy Rose Arena is batting two thirty
(10:29):
two with fifty eight strikeouts twenty RBI. You say Kakuci
nine starts three in o Era five and oh record
Astros nine to oh in those starts?
Speaker 1 (10:41):
Come on, what are we doing here?
Speaker 6 (10:42):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (10:42):
And you had Brian McTaggart point out, I guess I
should fact check this real quick, but I believe he
has them since the you say Kakuci trade, they're twenty
seven and eighteen and there what if you subtract that
nine and oh, they're eighteen and eighteen. So they're playing
five hundred ball in games not started by Usay Kakuchi,
and they're a perfect nine to oh in games started
(11:04):
by Kokuchi. So the trade has been huge. It was steep,
a steep price. It wasn't overpay for what is who
you say Kakuchi has been. But still at the end
of the day, you had to do it, and it was, yeah,
twenty seven and eighteen, I pulled it up. So you're
talking about eighteen and eighteen non Kakuchi starts nine and
zero in Kakuchi starts. You had to do what you
(11:24):
had to do there, and I hope to me the
ideal scenario would be you win the wild Card in
two games, because the Guardians have a pretty heavy left
handed top into the load of their lineup with Naylor
and Kwan and Jose Ramirez is a switch hitter. But
then on the other side, if you it is the Yankees,
you have one Soda who's a lefty, you have Rizzo
(11:45):
who's a lefty. You need to get swing and miss
against the Yankees lineup. When you're talking about going up
against Aaron Judge, as well, and U say, Kakuchi generates
a lot of swing and miss with the changeup and
the slider that he's got, So yeah, try to win
that one in two games with Brown and Valdez lay
the hammer down and then have Kokuchi ready to go
(12:06):
into Game one potentially against the Guardians or the Yankees.
Speaker 5 (12:08):
Yeah, it's just it's gonna be fascinating how this points out.
There's still so much up in the air and destinations.
If you're an Astros fan, you can't even book your
travel yet. You don't know where you're gonna be going
for a potential DS and I get it. You gotta
punch your ticket to the postseason first, and you gotta
win the Wildcard series first before you can't even talk
about going anywhere. But we certainly feel pretty good with
the Astros postseason track record that they will take care
(12:31):
of business. And let's see if they take care of
business the next couple of days. All right, earlier today
you were able to catch up with Brian McTaggart of
MLB dot Com along with Matt Thomas.
Speaker 1 (12:40):
Here was a little bit of that conversation.
Speaker 3 (12:42):
Team gets back after dropping two or three in the
nice win yesterday. Uh, no one in America, not even
the man who made the deal, Dana Brown, could have
thought that. You say, Kakuchi was nine and ozer. We
now look at it from a macro look at things.
Was it just getting a hole of some pitching coaches
in the organization to say, hey, throw this pitch in
(13:04):
a particular area, throw it during a different count.
Speaker 4 (13:07):
What could be ultimately what even when you.
Speaker 3 (13:09):
Say, would say about how he's been able to transform
his career just in these last couple of months.
Speaker 2 (13:17):
Yeah, I don't think anybody, of course saw this coming.
I mean, you know, there was a reason for skepticism.
Skepticism I think because he had not pitched very well,
uh his last you know, handful of games with the
Blue Jays, and it's he's he had an okay season
and and the askers of course give up three prospects
(13:37):
to him, so that you know, they they paid a
really high price. So yeah, it was uh, it was Uh,
it was warranted. I guess to kind of question this
trade a little bit. But you know, Dana Brown was
stead fast all along. He knew they needed to get
a starter. He felt that they could get him and
they could tweak his uh tweak his arsenal.
Speaker 6 (13:55):
A little bit, which they did.
Speaker 4 (13:57):
Uh.
Speaker 6 (13:57):
But yeah, I think you're right.
Speaker 2 (13:58):
I think he's exceeded everybody's expectations, maybe even his own
for them to win every start. You know, they've won
twenty seven games since his first start August second, so
he's he's responsible for a third of their wins in
that span because he's won nine of those games.
Speaker 6 (14:15):
So you know, you know, absolutely amazing.
Speaker 2 (14:17):
He's sort of changed the ascent of this team I
think now a team that I think has a shot
to go all the way.
Speaker 4 (14:22):
And staying with the starting pitching, we're back on Verlander
Watch today. In your estimation, how did he pitch his
last time out? And it's it's been, of course, a
fluid situation about a pecking order and possible slotting of
the in the postseason rotation.
Speaker 6 (14:40):
Yes, this is a big start for him. I mean,
I thought his last.
Speaker 2 (14:42):
Start was better but not great, and I think he
would agree with that. I was listening, you know, to
Dana Brown talk on your station shortly after that start.
You know, he wasn't exactly bullish on the way he performed.
So he needs to come out tonight and I think
and just sort of re establish himself and put up
some good numbers. He'll get one more start, I think,
which would be in Cleveland next weekend, a place where
(15:04):
he really hasn't pitched very well in his career. Who
knows if those games will mean anything or not. But
you know, the Astros have three really really good options
at the top of their rotation right now with with
Brown and Valdez and Kakuchi and another really good option
in Blanco. You know, can Verlander move his way in there?
You know, a lot has to do with when the
season ends. Who's going to pitch that last weekend? Do
they need to win those games?
Speaker 6 (15:25):
So?
Speaker 2 (15:26):
But just regardless, a big start for Verlander what could
be his final regular season home game with the Astros.
Speaker 4 (15:33):
Brian McTaggart MLB dot Com with us here on Sports
Talk seven ninety. Let's go to the first base side.
John Singleton looking pretty good. You're getting a lot of
young your das out there as well. How do you
have I think I maybe asked you this last week,
But just to an update about evaluating both of those
guys defensively.
Speaker 6 (15:54):
I mean, neither one's great.
Speaker 2 (15:55):
I mean it's you know, Singleton I think's played a
little bit better.
Speaker 6 (15:58):
I don't know what the metrics say, just look to
me that he's uh.
Speaker 2 (16:02):
Ever since that he had that little brain fart in
Baltimore where he didn't beat the guy in the bag,
I think he's he's tightened up his defense a little bit,
which is good.
Speaker 6 (16:11):
Jeremy Penny has tightened up his defense as well.
Speaker 2 (16:13):
But uh, you know, DS has been okay out there,
not as I don't think he's you know, as good
defensively as as Singleton.
Speaker 6 (16:19):
I mean it's not.
Speaker 2 (16:21):
It's not a great plus position for the Astros defensively,
but again, I mean tip your hat the Singleton. I
mean he you know, he continues to get it done.
They walk Carrottini last night to get to him, and he,
you know, he has a John Singleton at bat, takes pitches, fouls,
pitches off and and.
Speaker 6 (16:35):
Then he gets one of the outfield and drives in
two runs.
Speaker 2 (16:37):
So, you know, on a night where the top guys
in the order were doing absolutely nothing and Altode wasn't
playing and nobody was didn't seem like anybody who's gonna
step up, Singleton, you know, had his his moment again,
and he's He's had a couple of those now in
the last few weeks.
Speaker 3 (16:51):
As far as the bullpen is concerned, and we I
feel like we've talked a lot of this a lot
second half of the year. I know that Joe is
trying to move some moving parts around to get some
guys some additional rest towards the doubt in the stretch.
But you know, case in point, last night you had
to go to the heavy hitters with exception of a
bray you how often do you forgetting about what Joe says?
(17:13):
How do you what's the feel for guys like Presley Hater?
How are they feeling a Brave's with disappearances? Does that
lean towards you know what the season's gonna end in
a month?
Speaker 1 (17:25):
Anyway?
Speaker 3 (17:25):
We got to go full throttle or are you of
concern of that this wear and tear collectively is gonna
maybe bite them in the most important games coming up?
Speaker 6 (17:35):
Well it couldn't.
Speaker 2 (17:36):
If you ask all three of those guys that we
have how you feel, and they'll say, I'll feel good.
I mean, what else are they gonna say? My arms
falling off and I'm barely hanging on by a threat here?
Speaker 6 (17:45):
But we saw a brak.
Speaker 2 (17:46):
You get some rest and come back and you know,
throw one hundred miles an hour, but you know they're
just not blowing teams out.
Speaker 6 (17:52):
So yeah, game after game they're having to go to
these guys.
Speaker 2 (17:54):
I mean, look what happened the other day where in
San Diego they didn't have a couple of those guys
available or trying to get away from them, So they
go to Kayler Bard, who's pitching very well.
Speaker 6 (18:03):
He gives up three home runs.
Speaker 2 (18:04):
So I think the best thing that could happen to
the Astros is they clinched the division on Monday or Tuesday.
They know they're not going to catch the Guardians, and hey,
we'll just give some guys some rest, because not unlike
last year when they had the five day break before
the DS, they're gonna have to go right into that
Wildcard series on Tuesday at minute made and if they
(18:26):
you know, if they have to go into that last
weekend in Cleveland battling the win games, then fly to
Houston and then you know that could be really tough.
So best case scenario would be them just to cleanse
the division. You know, at that point you're probably not
getting the two seed. Just rest some guys and get
ready for that Wildcard Series.
Speaker 3 (18:41):
I want to piggyback of what Ross has about Verlander.
Is this his last start at Minute Made Park in
a Houston uniform period?
Speaker 1 (18:51):
I don't know.
Speaker 6 (18:52):
I wouldn't say that.
Speaker 2 (18:52):
I mean, you know, if they is he going to
start in the Wildcard Series at this point, I say
probably not.
Speaker 6 (18:57):
But who knows what happens after that. If they get
into the.
Speaker 2 (19:00):
The DS, I mean, go to the LCS, he could
possibly start, But I think, yeah, this is probably his
last start in the regular season, unless Jim Crane decides,
hey man, you know, thank you for all you've done.
I really like you as a person, which they do
their friends.
Speaker 6 (19:16):
They get along.
Speaker 2 (19:16):
Well, you know, here's two years and I don't know,
forty million dollars or something like that, and he's back.
You know, I'm not sure you know what Verlander thinks
his worth is at this point, but right now, yeah,
I would lean that it's possible it could be his
final home start. But if they make a long playoff run,
I think not necessarily.
Speaker 3 (19:33):
All right, So let's let's say the Astros finish off
the Mariners by the end of series, and the series
in Cleveland means absolutely nothing. What maneuver and ability do
you think you'll see from Joe in terms of giving
some guys that will not be needed in that wild
Card series some time off, not only from a position standpoint,
but also with the pitching staff.
Speaker 6 (19:53):
Yeah, right now, Let's like.
Speaker 2 (19:54):
I have Brown, Fromber and Kakuchi lined up for Seattle,
which is ideal through the Astros, so neither one of
them with pitching that series I would stay away from.
Speaker 6 (20:04):
You know, the back back.
Speaker 2 (20:05):
End three relievers, there's gonna be a lot of a
lot of a lot of uh caylb Borts and Caleb
Ferguson's and Brian Kings and I don't know, maybe you
call up Seth Martinez so he can pitch multiple innings.
You know, you great Kessinger plays a lot, uh says
our Salazar plays a lot behind the plate. You know,
(20:26):
maybe Chas McCormick's back at that time, and he probably
could stand to play a little bit more.
Speaker 6 (20:30):
So maybe you play him every day.
Speaker 2 (20:32):
But it would be it would be a good situation
for Joe Spotted just to rest these guys because look,
I mean, he's already trying to rest out to who
they here. He dated the last game in San Diego,
didn't play yesterday, so he hasn't played defense in a
couple of days now. So it just kind of tells
me that they're getting some information from their trainers that
you know, these guys just absolutely need some breathers right now,
and you know they're in a spot to do it
(20:54):
where they go to Cleveland and those games don't mean anything,
and and and they'll find a way to manage it.
Speaker 3 (21:00):
We'll get to ask you this again a week from
today when you're with us for the last time in
the regular season. At least there are the Mariners who
are two back of the last wald card spot. They're
the Tigers and the Twins that are mathematically tie for
the third. Which of those three would scare you the
most and which of the three would scare you the least?
Speaker 2 (21:19):
I think the Mariners, for all their faults, I mean,
I'm not so sure if you're an Astros fan you
want them coming in here with that starting pitching, because
I think the Astros have been susceptible to getting shut
down by good starting pitching. We saw that in San
Diego just earlier this week, and I don't think anybody's
got better starting pitching, and that's a three game series too.
But look, they played the Tigers, and if s Google
(21:41):
comes in here and pitches game one, I know they
did pretty well against him when they face the Murderer
this year. But if he comes in here and pitches
game one and deals, you know, right there, Dastros could
be in I must win, gotta win the next two games,
and you know a J. Hinch is gonna pull every
magic trick out of his managerial hat to try to
win those games. So I think Seattle, despite all their
(22:01):
flaws and I'm terrible they've played the last couple of
months with that pitching staff, I think that would still
be it. Where you go, oh boy, this this might
not be a fun series if you're an Astros fan.
Speaker 1 (22:12):
That again.
Speaker 5 (22:12):
Brian McTaggart on The Matt Thomas Show with Ross and
Matt talking all things Astros and Ross. As we wrap
up here on the Crawford Box Cast presented by Carbock Brewing,
Astros just take care of business against the bad Angels.
Speaker 4 (22:25):
Yes, yeah, And Verlander's start tonight. I don't want to
say looms large, but we want to see how he looks.
Speaker 1 (22:33):
Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 5 (22:34):
I mean, and it sucks to have that conversation, but
like I've said, he needs to own up to reality
and say I am not the best one of the
four best pictures on the staff right now.
Speaker 4 (22:44):
Yeah, we'll see how it goes.
Speaker 1 (22:45):
We'll see how it goes.
Speaker 4 (22:46):
I guess we just need an ideal scenario. I would go,
I would still go. And I wonder if they're thinking
still is that Blanco would be shelved to the bullpen
because he was slowing down for a bit. But he's
been really great the last couple of times.
Speaker 5 (22:57):
I'll say this, so Verlander pitches well tonight pitches again
well again, which will probably be in that Cleveland series,
I would say, you go. He could potentially go in
a game three of a Walker. The problem is that
with that is it's an elimination game. So I don't
know if you'd want to go with him.
Speaker 4 (23:12):
But I would say, Kakuchi putting in winning to be closed,
you're nine, you're literally nine to zero games he starts,
how do you put him on the shelf?
Speaker 5 (23:18):
I could almost make the argument it'd be better to say, JV,
you're not gonna start one of these three walk card games.
But you will start game one of the Alds for
us in Cleveland or New York.
Speaker 4 (23:28):
I would just say, why don't you go ahead and
enjoy kankun It's very nice as time.
Speaker 1 (23:32):
I will say too. He's also been the guy every
time they cut the dugout somebody makes a great play,
he's clapping, He's yeah.
Speaker 5 (23:38):
He seems like team player like I hope he would
be able to embrace whatever role it is this postseason,
if it's not as a Game one or Game two starter.
But we'll have plenty of coverage for you throughout the
next two weeks here on the Crawford Box Cast presented
by Carbock. Bring in the Crawford Bach and hopefully you
guys will load up on Crawford Box. Got them all
(23:58):
at minni Ay Park. Enjoy this last home stand before
the Astros get to the postseason, and enjoy some of
Crawford Bocking. Get on over there Carbock Brewing and try
the new pizza and pints. Great stuff. We'll be out
there next Friday, stand northf late and I will do
next up out there. So if you are looking for
some place to go hang out for lunch next Friday,
mark your calendars on the twenty seventh to come out
(24:18):
there and see us fascireal. I'm Chris Corny. This has
been the Crawford Box cast where it's enter by Carbock
Berwing
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