April 23, 2025 • 15 mins
Taking the series win over the Padres recently and rolling through the Blue Jays this week, the Astros look to be on a bit of a hot streak as they've taken 2 of the 3 games thus far over Toronto. With outstanding performances and outings from Hunter Brown and Ronel Blanco along with the bullpen aiding in securing wins towards the end of games, the Astros seem to have figured a few things that work for them in regards to closing out games and in the same way, scoring runs when needed. Astros GM Dana Brown joins the show and shares what he's seen from this 6 game home stretch and what to look forward to as the Astros hop on the road to Kansas City after tonight's game.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
The Shawn Salisbury Show continues.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
Dana, welcome, man, Man, good to discuss and talk with you.
I'm going to start right here with this pitching staff,
and you know, since you've been here, they've been pretty
good at carrying and doing some phenomenal things. But wes
Nesky getting him here. Look what Gusco's done, not only
in the bullpen, starting now, you know, the ability to
go back to the bullpen. Take a look at what
(00:27):
Ronell Blanco did last night. The way Hunter Brown pitches
like an age Fromberg gave you six good Dan. If
this staff continues to get into the sixth inning and
the seventh inning, the hitting will turn around.
Speaker 1 (00:38):
That's got to be a gold mine for you. With
the way they're pitching.
Speaker 3 (00:42):
Yeah, I'm really excited about the way our staff has
been pitching. You know, we're off to a really good start.
You know, the bats started off cold, but they're starting
to heat up right now, and so you know, the
pitching has been, you know, carrying us early on this
season off to a much better start. You know, twelve
one over two games back. You know, four of our
(01:04):
last five in his homestand and of course you know
five of our last seven. So we've been playing some
pretty good baseball. You know, the club is starting to
heat up, and once those bats get to the point
where they heat up, we'll be on all cylinders. And
it's really good to see that the pitching has been
doing well.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
Sure have, and it is great to see Dana. And
this may be a question that I may be reaching
a little bit here, but a little bit of old school,
which you got that in you, but you know time's changing.
You got to adapt to adjust. But it feels like
are we making a switch in baseball? Or is it
just ironic that if a guy's going good and we're
on the bubble of okay, he's in the fifth inning,
(01:40):
he can give me fifteen more pitches. We're starting to
see it get into the sixth inning, it's no longer
okay to get to the fifth. Is there a concentrated
effort to push them more or is it just basically again,
how they're rolling and where they are in that game.
Speaker 3 (01:55):
Yeah, I think how they're rolling. You know, you look
at the stress of certain innings and you got a
guy that's had too stressful winnings, say the fourth and fifth,
and you know you may decide to go to the
pen at that point. But if the guy's cruising along
a little bit and his pitch counts down, you know,
you'll you'll stend him out a little bit. And I
think you know Blanco was an example of that yesterday.
(02:18):
You know, he was cruising along, he wasn't giving up
many hits, and you know, we got six and two
thirds out of him, which was really exciting to see.
And you know, he was off to a little bit
of a slow start, but he's turning the corner, you know,
and he's been really good of late.
Speaker 1 (02:32):
The bullpen too, Dana.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
It's it's been pretty damn good, and you know, with
the versatility. And we'll get to Forrest Whitley in a second,
but I do want to get the hater. You know,
had his ups and downs, but saved a ton of games.
And you know that's why you traded for him and
went and got here, signed him and took care of
getting him here.
Speaker 1 (02:50):
Should I say?
Speaker 2 (02:51):
But Dana, there was questions, Okay, is he worth the
ninety plus million? Would you make that deal all over again?
Because he is rolling right now and hasn't blown a save,
looks like the elite closer that you went out and got.
Speaker 3 (03:04):
Yeah, he's off to a really good start. You know,
last year, unfortunately we got off to a slow start.
We were asking him to pitch, you know, multiple innings
and you know it compounded things, and so you know,
this year we're off to a little bit better start.
You know, he's pretty much in the groove right now.
And uh, you know, let's uh, you know, he's gonna
(03:25):
you know, continue to throw well. And I like the
way he's you know, been pitching. He's been he's been
really really good and he's showing us, you know, what
he's capable of doing. And so the bullpen itself has
been really good. You know, shout out to our group
that brought in some of those guys that are throwing
well right now, you know, and that's been really good.
Like Oakert, the acquisition of row Court, you know that
(03:48):
that's been pretty good. He's been good for us. So
it's been exciting to see the pin pro well. And uh,
you know, like I said once it was bat fat up,
we'll be on all cylinders. I hope we'll run off
of a group of wins seven, seven in a row,
five in a row, ten in a row, whatever it is.
Speaker 2 (04:04):
Astro's GM Dana Brown for his weekly visit A nine
thirty here on Sports Talk seven ninety. Dana, are you
as giddy about the bullpen as you are about the
way the starting pitching is going for you right now?
Speaker 1 (04:14):
Similar feeling?
Speaker 3 (04:16):
Yeah, I'm excited about both. You know, at the end
of the day, you know, you lose a guy like
Arraghetty and so you know, and then you get a
you know, a guy like Gusto who steps in and
does a pretty good job. That's always exciting. And so
I'm really excited about the way our arms have been
throwing the ball. You know, our starters have been really good,
(04:37):
Our bullpen's been really good, and you know, pitching, pitching,
Pitching is the name of the game. And you know,
when you when you guys are throwing well, you got
a chance to run off some wins. And so it's
been exciting to watch.
Speaker 2 (04:48):
I was really proud and happy for Forrest Whitley those
two strong innings.
Speaker 1 (04:51):
Boy, what a road.
Speaker 2 (04:52):
And Dana, you know, the road started before you got here,
and you know, whether it's an injury or an unfortunate
break or whatever mechanic. And then he came in, gave
you two solid endings, see you. You had to love
to see that. And if he is that guy getting
McCullers back and Gusto and the names you just mentioned, Boy,
won't that be good for not only lengthening a bullpen
but also a fresher bullpen. That had to be really
(05:15):
really nice to see for you and for Forrest Woodley.
Speaker 3 (05:20):
Very nice to see. You know, he's been on this
road trying to get to the big legs and do well.
To see him come in the other day two Queen
innings punched out to up to ninety seven. Yeah, that's
pretty exciting to watch.
Speaker 2 (05:36):
Spencer Araghetty. Where are we at with him?
Speaker 3 (05:40):
Yeah? So Araghetty spoke to him at Lanz yesterday. He
actually feels pretty good. You know. We think it'd probably
be about you know, four more weeks or so, you
know before he can get out there on the mound
and so, but he's chilling nicely. Freak accident as I
(06:01):
said before, but he feels confident and he feels pretty
good to be honest.
Speaker 2 (06:06):
And now, how about Garcia? Any updates? Throwing the ball
around a little bit. What do we hear and see
about him?
Speaker 3 (06:14):
Yeah, Garcia's doing some tausing. You know, I was looking
forward to him at some point, you know, getting back
on the mound. But you know, as you mentioned, you know,
think about if you know this the way we're throwing now,
you get Garcia back, you get mc colors back, you
get Arraghetti back now, and that's the makings of that's
like the makings of a powerhouse, you know, you know
(06:37):
type pitching staff. And so you know Garcia at some
point will get off of mound and you know we'll
have more updates at once he starts to get off
the mound. But at least he's uh, you know, playing
catch and developing nicer.
Speaker 2 (06:52):
Any at all, Dan, any timetable at all? I mean
within thirty days that we're looking at post trade deadline,
any any like to get fan base excited?
Speaker 1 (07:02):
Is there anything? Or are we way off from that
right now?
Speaker 3 (07:06):
Yeah? I wouldn't say we're way off. I just don't
have a timetable, But I wouldn't say we're far off.
Speaker 2 (07:13):
If I if I came to you and I and
I hadn't seen paradeus play and I've been watching him
this year, what's uh, what would be your description of
him to me as a new addition to this team.
Speaker 3 (07:28):
Yeah, playing very well defensively, pul hitter who's going to
hit some balls in the Crawford boxes. And I was
exciting to see him go the other way and get
a hit the other way to right field. You know.
So he's been, you know, a very welcome edition to
this club. He's been very good at third base, and
we know he's going to put some balls into the
(07:49):
Crawford boxes, and so you know, we're we're excited about
We're excited about Paratis. He's done a good job.
Speaker 2 (07:55):
Yeah, everybody in that trade, Wesnsky, him and obviously Cam
and right field, who's made some good play, made a
great defensive playing. Those two home runs must have been nice.
Let me get over to Christian Walker. Have you had
a conversation with him through this, uh, this power struggle
and the hitting you got the you know, three hits
yesterday was big. But if you guys talked through this
at all, Dana and give me a feel on his
(08:16):
his psyche right now.
Speaker 3 (08:18):
Absolutely, his head is in a good space. You know.
We gave him a day off, which I thought was
you know, great by Joe. Uh, you know, just giving
him some time to really like think about it and
rest and and uh, you know, you got him back
in there and then all of a sudden, boom, you
get three hits. You know, we talked about this last week.
Sometimes you get a day off. Sometimes it's a pitch,
(08:39):
sometimes it's a blue pitch. They get you going. And
you know, it looks like the day off, you know,
has has really helped him and hopefully he can continue
to swing the bat well. You know, shout out to
Joe for doing that. Also shout out to Joe for
getting his hundredth win.
Speaker 1 (08:54):
Last night and congratulations.
Speaker 3 (08:56):
Yeah, you know, yeah, that's that's that's a that's a
big that's a big moment for him. And so you know,
Joe did the right thing by giving him a day
off and you know, just giving him some time to
just think and sit sit, sit down and just reflect
on you know, what's going on. And you know, his
had been a good space. I talked to him around
the batting cages. You know, I always try to make
(09:16):
it a point to get down and talk to our guys,
and you know, he's still in the good space. He's
still confident, he still knows that he's a good player,
and so getting the three hits is you know, an
open door of the bunches.
Speaker 2 (09:28):
Hopefully we know the great success of Jordon and how
good a hitter he is, the power and the consistency.
Are you seeing anything different mechanically. I know it's early, Dana,
but we're just not used to this with this guy, right,
So so so talk talk talk us off the ledge
with Jordan.
Speaker 3 (09:47):
Yeah, so I would say to our listeners, Look, jord
On has been pretty unlucky. He's hitting a lot of
balls hard. You know a lot of times when those
balls fall, you know, these hits they start to come
in bunches. So you know, I would be worried if
you know, he was being overmatched or something like that. No,
he's hitting the ball really hard. His exti velocities are
(10:08):
really good, and uh you know at some point those
balls will start to fall and he'll break out of it. Look,
he's he's one of the best hitters in baseball. You know,
left hand left hand power, could really hit and uh,
you know, make no mistake, we feel really good about
him turning it turning it around.
Speaker 2 (10:25):
You're seeing some we've seen some signs also of yin
or getting into a little bit more right, Dana. I
mean he looks a little better at the plate. Are
you seeing something mechanically or just confidence wise, or is
it just getting more advanced? What are you seeing with
him that tells you he's about to turn it around?
Speaker 3 (10:41):
Yeah, I think something. You know, what I think about
Jiner is just that, you know, if we could just
have him relax a little bit, he's getting a little
over anxious. He's you know, he'll chase balls out of
the zone if he would just get the picture to
come into that zone. He's devastating when when he hits strikes,
that's when all the hits are going to come, and
(11:03):
they'll come in bunches. I think he's trying. You know,
you start when you start off slow, you start to press,
and you know, you try to do too much. That's
just the nature of you know, these the the the athletes,
and so I think if he gets just calm and
stuff down a little bit, look, swing it strikes, don't
try to do too much. Sometimes you just need to
line drive, base it to write. Other times you need
(11:25):
to pull home run, you know, but you don't have to,
you know, hit home runs every time you don't. You
don't have to make it all happen at once. Take
the base hit to right, take the base hit up
the middle, and then that could lead to the home run.
Speaker 2 (11:40):
Dana Brown asks his Jim for a couple more minutes
here on Sports Talk seven nineties. He does weekly on
Wednesdays for his nine thirty visit. All right, Dany, your
glass half full guy, And you've always and you've you've
set us straight plenty of times on the length of
the season. And it's early and it's it's held true
the last couple of years. Let me ask you, though,
and to come to Jesus. If we're sitting around and
(12:00):
Joe comes to you and says, the one thing that
has to get better.
Speaker 1 (12:05):
I don't even care if it's an individual or a grouping.
Speaker 2 (12:07):
What's the one thing that you have got to see
improve for your team to you know, when we get
to thirty games in and forty games and to be
where you want them to be early in the season.
Speaker 3 (12:18):
Yeah, I just think our hitters need to be disciplined.
You know, sometimes we get over angious, we start to chase,
and once we lock into that strike zone, I think
that's when the bats are going to be on all cylinders.
And you know, you got the pitching right now, you
got the defense that's playing well. And once we get
locked in and and and then you know, stop being
(12:39):
over anxious, you know, have to play. I think we're
you know, at times, trying to do too much. When
those bats get locked in, I think this team will
run on all cylinders and and well we'll build some
type of lead and get over you know, get and
stay over five hundred by multiple games. And that's the goal,
you know, the goals to you know, build that lee,
(13:00):
try to get up, you know, multip double digits over
five hundred and and you know, getting first place for
two games back and then you know, win this division
and get deep into the post season. And that's you know,
that's the goal. And I think that this club is
a really good club. I think it's starting to really
shape up. The pitching's good, the defense good, and the
bats are coming.
Speaker 2 (13:20):
I don't want to get ahead of myself, but I'm
going to. And I've done this with you before, and
you've been straight out honest with anything that I've asked you.
When do you start to discuss or have you Hunter
Brown extension?
Speaker 3 (13:34):
Yeah, Look, I mean at the end of the day.
You know, we've we're really excited about what Brown is
doing here. Uh, he's been outstanding. And at some point,
you know, we'll we'll have those discussions. But you know,
we're we're going to ride the wave right now, and
you know, can we we have him under control yep.
And so at some point, you know, we will have
(13:56):
a discussion, you know about extending Brown and and Brown
loves being here. Uh, he loves what the pitching staff
has done with him, and and so ultimately, uh, you know,
we feel good about him here in Houston, and so
at some point we will have a conversation. But he's
under control right now, and and we.
Speaker 1 (14:16):
Love having them so under control.
Speaker 2 (14:18):
But so you haven't had any conversations with the agent yet,
have you?
Speaker 1 (14:21):
Or have you? Dana?
Speaker 3 (14:24):
Yeah, you know, look, we don't we don't get into
you know, our extensions and and and what the plans
are ye and how much conversations that we're gonna have
with these guys. But you know, make no mistake that, uh,
there will be discussions about Brown and and and at
some point. And so I mean that's pretty much all
(14:44):
I could say.
Speaker 1 (14:45):
Yeah, he's pretty good in me, Da ain't bad.
Speaker 3 (14:49):
Yeah, he's pretty good. He's been dominant and it's been
fun to watch and you know, you just you enjoy,
you know, watching them. I told him, I said, hey,
those that outing that you had the other night, I said, look,
that keeps my blood pressure down, so it keep it going.
Speaker 2 (15:05):
Yeah, he's pretty damn good and pretty damn dominant, and
now that he realizes it, he's dangerous to opposing hitters,
that's for sure. Dana, great stuff. It's great to see
the improvement. And you know, the thumbs up to Forrest
Whitley for his battle back. And keep this thing going. Man,
ball starts sailing out of the ballpark. We always appreciate
your honesty with us each week, my man.
Speaker 3 (15:23):
Thank you all right, man, appreciate you guys having me on.
Go ask your fans. Let's get on all cylinders with
the offense, and let's keep it rolling.
Speaker 2 (15:31):
There you go, Dana, we'll talk to you next week.
Thank you, sir. Appreciate it. That's Dana Brown. We'll come
back and discuss. I think they know the importance of
Hunter Brown and so does Dana Brown.
Speaker 1 (15:39):
And I like it.
Speaker 2 (15:40):
I push it and he doesn't. Sean, we can't talk
about that just yet, I love it, which tells me
he knows how good Hunter Brown is. It's Sports Talk seven.
I had to come right back
The Shawn Salisbury Show continues.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
Dana, welcome, man, Man, good to discuss and talk with you.
I'm going to start right here with this pitching staff,
and you know, since you've been here, they've been pretty
good at carrying and doing some phenomenal things. But wes
Nesky getting him here. Look what Gusco's done, not only
in the bullpen, starting now, you know, the ability to
go back to the bullpen. Take a look at what
(00:27):
Ronell Blanco did last night. The way Hunter Brown pitches
like an age Fromberg gave you six good Dan. If
this staff continues to get into the sixth inning and
the seventh inning, the hitting will turn around.
Speaker 1 (00:38):
That's got to be a gold mine for you. With
the way they're pitching.
Speaker 3 (00:42):
Yeah, I'm really excited about the way our staff has
been pitching. You know, we're off to a really good start.
You know, the bats started off cold, but they're starting
to heat up right now, and so you know, the
pitching has been, you know, carrying us early on this
season off to a much better start. You know, twelve
one over two games back. You know, four of our
(01:04):
last five in his homestand and of course you know
five of our last seven. So we've been playing some
pretty good baseball. You know, the club is starting to
heat up, and once those bats get to the point
where they heat up, we'll be on all cylinders. And
it's really good to see that the pitching has been
doing well.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
Sure have, and it is great to see Dana. And
this may be a question that I may be reaching
a little bit here, but a little bit of old school,
which you got that in you, but you know time's changing.
You got to adapt to adjust. But it feels like
are we making a switch in baseball? Or is it
just ironic that if a guy's going good and we're
on the bubble of okay, he's in the fifth inning,
(01:40):
he can give me fifteen more pitches. We're starting to
see it get into the sixth inning, it's no longer
okay to get to the fifth. Is there a concentrated
effort to push them more or is it just basically again,
how they're rolling and where they are in that game.
Speaker 3 (01:55):
Yeah, I think how they're rolling. You know, you look
at the stress of certain innings and you got a
guy that's had too stressful winnings, say the fourth and fifth,
and you know you may decide to go to the
pen at that point. But if the guy's cruising along
a little bit and his pitch counts down, you know,
you'll you'll stend him out a little bit. And I
think you know Blanco was an example of that yesterday.
(02:18):
You know, he was cruising along, he wasn't giving up
many hits, and you know, we got six and two
thirds out of him, which was really exciting to see.
And you know, he was off to a little bit
of a slow start, but he's turning the corner, you know,
and he's been really good of late.
Speaker 1 (02:32):
The bullpen too, Dana.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
It's it's been pretty damn good, and you know, with
the versatility. And we'll get to Forrest Whitley in a second,
but I do want to get the hater. You know,
had his ups and downs, but saved a ton of games.
And you know that's why you traded for him and
went and got here, signed him and took care of
getting him here.
Speaker 1 (02:50):
Should I say?
Speaker 2 (02:51):
But Dana, there was questions, Okay, is he worth the
ninety plus million? Would you make that deal all over again?
Because he is rolling right now and hasn't blown a save,
looks like the elite closer that you went out and got.
Speaker 3 (03:04):
Yeah, he's off to a really good start. You know,
last year, unfortunately we got off to a slow start.
We were asking him to pitch, you know, multiple innings
and you know it compounded things, and so you know,
this year we're off to a little bit better start.
You know, he's pretty much in the groove right now.
And uh, you know, let's uh, you know, he's gonna
(03:25):
you know, continue to throw well. And I like the
way he's you know, been pitching. He's been he's been
really really good and he's showing us, you know, what
he's capable of doing. And so the bullpen itself has
been really good. You know, shout out to our group
that brought in some of those guys that are throwing
well right now, you know, and that's been really good.
Like Oakert, the acquisition of row Court, you know that
(03:48):
that's been pretty good. He's been good for us. So
it's been exciting to see the pin pro well. And uh,
you know, like I said once it was bat fat up,
we'll be on all cylinders. I hope we'll run off
of a group of wins seven, seven in a row,
five in a row, ten in a row, whatever it is.
Speaker 2 (04:04):
Astro's GM Dana Brown for his weekly visit A nine
thirty here on Sports Talk seven ninety. Dana, are you
as giddy about the bullpen as you are about the
way the starting pitching is going for you right now?
Speaker 1 (04:14):
Similar feeling?
Speaker 3 (04:16):
Yeah, I'm excited about both. You know, at the end
of the day, you know, you lose a guy like
Arraghetty and so you know, and then you get a
you know, a guy like Gusto who steps in and
does a pretty good job. That's always exciting. And so
I'm really excited about the way our arms have been
throwing the ball. You know, our starters have been really good,
(04:37):
Our bullpen's been really good, and you know, pitching, pitching,
Pitching is the name of the game. And you know,
when you when you guys are throwing well, you got
a chance to run off some wins. And so it's
been exciting to watch.
Speaker 2 (04:48):
I was really proud and happy for Forrest Whitley those
two strong innings.
Speaker 1 (04:51):
Boy, what a road.
Speaker 2 (04:52):
And Dana, you know, the road started before you got here,
and you know, whether it's an injury or an unfortunate
break or whatever mechanic. And then he came in, gave
you two solid endings, see you. You had to love
to see that. And if he is that guy getting
McCullers back and Gusto and the names you just mentioned, Boy,
won't that be good for not only lengthening a bullpen
but also a fresher bullpen. That had to be really
(05:15):
really nice to see for you and for Forrest Woodley.
Speaker 3 (05:20):
Very nice to see. You know, he's been on this
road trying to get to the big legs and do well.
To see him come in the other day two Queen
innings punched out to up to ninety seven. Yeah, that's
pretty exciting to watch.
Speaker 2 (05:36):
Spencer Araghetty. Where are we at with him?
Speaker 3 (05:40):
Yeah? So Araghetty spoke to him at Lanz yesterday. He
actually feels pretty good. You know. We think it'd probably
be about you know, four more weeks or so, you
know before he can get out there on the mound
and so, but he's chilling nicely. Freak accident as I
(06:01):
said before, but he feels confident and he feels pretty
good to be honest.
Speaker 2 (06:06):
And now, how about Garcia? Any updates? Throwing the ball
around a little bit. What do we hear and see
about him?
Speaker 3 (06:14):
Yeah, Garcia's doing some tausing. You know, I was looking
forward to him at some point, you know, getting back
on the mound. But you know, as you mentioned, you know,
think about if you know this the way we're throwing now,
you get Garcia back, you get mc colors back, you
get Arraghetti back now, and that's the makings of that's
like the makings of a powerhouse, you know, you know
(06:37):
type pitching staff. And so you know Garcia at some
point will get off of mound and you know we'll
have more updates at once he starts to get off
the mound. But at least he's uh, you know, playing
catch and developing nicer.
Speaker 2 (06:52):
Any at all, Dan, any timetable at all? I mean
within thirty days that we're looking at post trade deadline,
any any like to get fan base excited?
Speaker 1 (07:02):
Is there anything? Or are we way off from that
right now?
Speaker 3 (07:06):
Yeah? I wouldn't say we're way off. I just don't
have a timetable, But I wouldn't say we're far off.
Speaker 2 (07:13):
If I if I came to you and I and
I hadn't seen paradeus play and I've been watching him
this year, what's uh, what would be your description of
him to me as a new addition to this team.
Speaker 3 (07:28):
Yeah, playing very well defensively, pul hitter who's going to
hit some balls in the Crawford boxes. And I was
exciting to see him go the other way and get
a hit the other way to right field. You know.
So he's been, you know, a very welcome edition to
this club. He's been very good at third base, and
we know he's going to put some balls into the
(07:49):
Crawford boxes, and so you know, we're we're excited about
We're excited about Paratis. He's done a good job.
Speaker 2 (07:55):
Yeah, everybody in that trade, Wesnsky, him and obviously Cam
and right field, who's made some good play, made a
great defensive playing. Those two home runs must have been nice.
Let me get over to Christian Walker. Have you had
a conversation with him through this, uh, this power struggle
and the hitting you got the you know, three hits
yesterday was big. But if you guys talked through this
at all, Dana and give me a feel on his
(08:16):
his psyche right now.
Speaker 3 (08:18):
Absolutely, his head is in a good space. You know.
We gave him a day off, which I thought was
you know, great by Joe. Uh, you know, just giving
him some time to really like think about it and
rest and and uh, you know, you got him back
in there and then all of a sudden, boom, you
get three hits. You know, we talked about this last week.
Sometimes you get a day off. Sometimes it's a pitch,
(08:39):
sometimes it's a blue pitch. They get you going. And
you know, it looks like the day off, you know,
has has really helped him and hopefully he can continue
to swing the bat well. You know, shout out to
Joe for doing that. Also shout out to Joe for
getting his hundredth win.
Speaker 1 (08:54):
Last night and congratulations.
Speaker 3 (08:56):
Yeah, you know, yeah, that's that's that's a that's a
big that's a big moment for him. And so you know,
Joe did the right thing by giving him a day
off and you know, just giving him some time to
just think and sit sit, sit down and just reflect
on you know, what's going on. And you know, his
had been a good space. I talked to him around
the batting cages. You know, I always try to make
(09:16):
it a point to get down and talk to our guys,
and you know, he's still in the good space. He's
still confident, he still knows that he's a good player,
and so getting the three hits is you know, an
open door of the bunches.
Speaker 2 (09:28):
Hopefully we know the great success of Jordon and how
good a hitter he is, the power and the consistency.
Are you seeing anything different mechanically. I know it's early, Dana,
but we're just not used to this with this guy, right,
So so so talk talk talk us off the ledge
with Jordan.
Speaker 3 (09:47):
Yeah, so I would say to our listeners, Look, jord
On has been pretty unlucky. He's hitting a lot of
balls hard. You know a lot of times when those
balls fall, you know, these hits they start to come
in bunches. So you know, I would be worried if
you know, he was being overmatched or something like that. No,
he's hitting the ball really hard. His exti velocities are
(10:08):
really good, and uh you know at some point those
balls will start to fall and he'll break out of it. Look,
he's he's one of the best hitters in baseball. You know,
left hand left hand power, could really hit and uh,
you know, make no mistake, we feel really good about
him turning it turning it around.
Speaker 2 (10:25):
You're seeing some we've seen some signs also of yin
or getting into a little bit more right, Dana. I
mean he looks a little better at the plate. Are
you seeing something mechanically or just confidence wise, or is
it just getting more advanced? What are you seeing with
him that tells you he's about to turn it around?
Speaker 3 (10:41):
Yeah, I think something. You know, what I think about
Jiner is just that, you know, if we could just
have him relax a little bit, he's getting a little
over anxious. He's you know, he'll chase balls out of
the zone if he would just get the picture to
come into that zone. He's devastating when when he hits strikes,
that's when all the hits are going to come, and
(11:03):
they'll come in bunches. I think he's trying. You know,
you start when you start off slow, you start to press,
and you know, you try to do too much. That's
just the nature of you know, these the the the athletes,
and so I think if he gets just calm and
stuff down a little bit, look, swing it strikes, don't
try to do too much. Sometimes you just need to
line drive, base it to write. Other times you need
(11:25):
to pull home run, you know, but you don't have to,
you know, hit home runs every time you don't. You
don't have to make it all happen at once. Take
the base hit to right, take the base hit up
the middle, and then that could lead to the home run.
Speaker 2 (11:40):
Dana Brown asks his Jim for a couple more minutes
here on Sports Talk seven nineties. He does weekly on
Wednesdays for his nine thirty visit. All right, Dany, your
glass half full guy, And you've always and you've you've
set us straight plenty of times on the length of
the season. And it's early and it's it's held true
the last couple of years. Let me ask you, though,
and to come to Jesus. If we're sitting around and
(12:00):
Joe comes to you and says, the one thing that
has to get better.
Speaker 1 (12:05):
I don't even care if it's an individual or a grouping.
Speaker 2 (12:07):
What's the one thing that you have got to see
improve for your team to you know, when we get
to thirty games in and forty games and to be
where you want them to be early in the season.
Speaker 3 (12:18):
Yeah, I just think our hitters need to be disciplined.
You know, sometimes we get over angious, we start to chase,
and once we lock into that strike zone, I think
that's when the bats are going to be on all cylinders.
And you know, you got the pitching right now, you
got the defense that's playing well. And once we get
locked in and and and then you know, stop being
(12:39):
over anxious, you know, have to play. I think we're
you know, at times, trying to do too much. When
those bats get locked in, I think this team will
run on all cylinders and and well we'll build some
type of lead and get over you know, get and
stay over five hundred by multiple games. And that's the goal,
you know, the goals to you know, build that lee,
(13:00):
try to get up, you know, multip double digits over
five hundred and and you know, getting first place for
two games back and then you know, win this division
and get deep into the post season. And that's you know,
that's the goal. And I think that this club is
a really good club. I think it's starting to really
shape up. The pitching's good, the defense good, and the
bats are coming.
Speaker 2 (13:20):
I don't want to get ahead of myself, but I'm
going to. And I've done this with you before, and
you've been straight out honest with anything that I've asked you.
When do you start to discuss or have you Hunter
Brown extension?
Speaker 3 (13:34):
Yeah, Look, I mean at the end of the day.
You know, we've we're really excited about what Brown is
doing here. Uh, he's been outstanding. And at some point,
you know, we'll we'll have those discussions. But you know,
we're we're going to ride the wave right now, and
you know, can we we have him under control yep.
And so at some point, you know, we will have
(13:56):
a discussion, you know about extending Brown and and Brown
loves being here. Uh, he loves what the pitching staff
has done with him, and and so ultimately, uh, you know,
we feel good about him here in Houston, and so
at some point we will have a conversation. But he's
under control right now, and and we.
Speaker 1 (14:16):
Love having them so under control.
Speaker 2 (14:18):
But so you haven't had any conversations with the agent yet,
have you?
Speaker 1 (14:21):
Or have you? Dana?
Speaker 3 (14:24):
Yeah, you know, look, we don't we don't get into
you know, our extensions and and and what the plans
are ye and how much conversations that we're gonna have
with these guys. But you know, make no mistake that, uh,
there will be discussions about Brown and and and at
some point. And so I mean that's pretty much all
(14:44):
I could say.
Speaker 1 (14:45):
Yeah, he's pretty good in me, Da ain't bad.
Speaker 3 (14:49):
Yeah, he's pretty good. He's been dominant and it's been
fun to watch and you know, you just you enjoy,
you know, watching them. I told him, I said, hey,
those that outing that you had the other night, I said, look,
that keeps my blood pressure down, so it keep it going.
Speaker 2 (15:05):
Yeah, he's pretty damn good and pretty damn dominant, and
now that he realizes it, he's dangerous to opposing hitters,
that's for sure. Dana, great stuff. It's great to see
the improvement. And you know, the thumbs up to Forrest
Whitley for his battle back. And keep this thing going. Man,
ball starts sailing out of the ballpark. We always appreciate
your honesty with us each week, my man.
Speaker 3 (15:23):
Thank you all right, man, appreciate you guys having me on.
Go ask your fans. Let's get on all cylinders with
the offense, and let's keep it rolling.
Speaker 2 (15:31):
There you go, Dana, we'll talk to you next week.
Thank you, sir. Appreciate it. That's Dana Brown. We'll come
back and discuss. I think they know the importance of
Hunter Brown and so does Dana Brown.
Speaker 1 (15:39):
And I like it.
Speaker 2 (15:40):
I push it and he doesn't. Sean, we can't talk
about that just yet, I love it, which tells me
he knows how good Hunter Brown is. It's Sports Talk seven.
I had to come right back
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