1 00:00:00,240 --> 00:00:03,520 Speaker 1: All right, so let's get back to Brian mctagger with 2 00:00:03,600 --> 00:00:06,599 us here on the show. So, Brian, look, the Astros 3 00:00:07,320 --> 00:00:09,720 did not do well in Boston. That seriously hurt them. 4 00:00:10,240 --> 00:00:13,160 The two out of three in Miami was good. Unfortunately 5 00:00:13,199 --> 00:00:16,079 the White Sox did the Astros no favors. This is 6 00:00:16,160 --> 00:00:19,280 as tight as it's been and it's not about what 7 00:00:19,320 --> 00:00:22,280 happened this week. It's basically been what the Astros have 8 00:00:22,359 --> 00:00:24,519 been for a better part of a month. Now, what 9 00:00:24,640 --> 00:00:27,559 are we seeing in your eyes from the Astros in 10 00:00:27,600 --> 00:00:29,600 the last month that we did not see maybe in 11 00:00:29,600 --> 00:00:31,480 the previous month when they were playing all those first 12 00:00:31,480 --> 00:00:33,359 place teams and beating them on a regular basis. 13 00:00:34,880 --> 00:00:36,479 Speaker 2: Well, I think the injuries just cut up with them. 14 00:00:36,479 --> 00:00:39,320 Speaker 3: I mean they you know, Penya was out for a 15 00:00:39,359 --> 00:00:42,759 good stretch of that. You know, Meyers has been out 16 00:00:42,799 --> 00:00:45,479 for a good stretch of that. You know they're slowly 17 00:00:45,520 --> 00:00:48,840 starting to get you know, their starters back, but you know, 18 00:00:48,960 --> 00:00:50,520 I just think they lost their horses. 19 00:00:50,560 --> 00:00:52,479 Speaker 2: I mean, ever since sweeping the Dodgers in. 20 00:00:52,600 --> 00:00:56,240 Speaker 3: LA they're nine to sixteen, and yeah, the Mariners now 21 00:00:56,359 --> 00:00:57,119 right on their heels. 22 00:00:57,119 --> 00:01:00,640 Speaker 2: So but the lineup looked a lot better in Miami. 23 00:01:01,200 --> 00:01:03,439 Speaker 3: I mean, Sanchez is gonna make a big difference, Kary 24 00:01:03,560 --> 00:01:05,560 is gonna make a big difference, Panya being back is 25 00:01:05,599 --> 00:01:08,079 going to make a big difference. And uh, you know, 26 00:01:08,159 --> 00:01:10,079 now they got a chance to get hot the air 27 00:01:10,120 --> 00:01:12,799 back soon, so they I think they've weathered the worst 28 00:01:12,799 --> 00:01:15,079 of the storm, but the murder is not going anywhere, 29 00:01:15,120 --> 00:01:16,879 so they're gonna have to fend them off here. 30 00:01:16,719 --> 00:01:19,680 Speaker 2: For the next six weeks. So do you think it's 31 00:01:19,719 --> 00:01:22,959 a case of I don't know. 32 00:01:23,040 --> 00:01:26,439 Speaker 1: Is it just getting guys back and expecting too much 33 00:01:26,519 --> 00:01:30,719 right away? Like, for instance, everybody thinks Brian winning, if 34 00:01:30,760 --> 00:01:33,239 Jordan comes back, this offense is gonna be prolific. This 35 00:01:33,280 --> 00:01:34,799 is a guy that hasn't swung a bat and make 36 00:01:34,840 --> 00:01:38,760 it in a regular season games since May. I Unfortunately, 37 00:01:38,799 --> 00:01:41,799 you want to temper expectations. But at the same time, Brian, 38 00:01:41,879 --> 00:01:43,280 you're in the middle of a Pennant race down know 39 00:01:43,280 --> 00:01:45,319 about fifty games off the go in the year. The 40 00:01:45,400 --> 00:01:48,159 time for experimenting is largely over here. 41 00:01:50,040 --> 00:01:52,319 Speaker 3: Yeah, you're right, I mean, is he gonna come back 42 00:01:52,359 --> 00:01:53,879 and what are you gonna get out of him? I mean, 43 00:01:53,920 --> 00:01:56,280 Penya has come back and looked, you know, look pretty 44 00:01:56,280 --> 00:01:58,319 good at the play, but he didn't miss as nearly 45 00:01:58,640 --> 00:02:01,760 the amount of games as On hasn't He wasn't dealing 46 00:02:01,840 --> 00:02:02,560 with the hand injury. 47 00:02:02,680 --> 00:02:05,200 Speaker 2: So but again, you'd rather have him in the lineup 48 00:02:05,359 --> 00:02:06,519 and see what he can do than not. 49 00:02:06,640 --> 00:02:08,319 Speaker 3: And he just you know, he strikes the fear of 50 00:02:08,360 --> 00:02:09,960 God and opposing pictures. 51 00:02:09,960 --> 00:02:13,280 Speaker 2: So uh, but yeah, I think offensively they're going to 52 00:02:13,319 --> 00:02:13,560 be fine. 53 00:02:13,560 --> 00:02:16,879 Speaker 3: I mean, Sanshin looks like he can really make a 54 00:02:16,879 --> 00:02:21,439 difference hitting the ball hard or the lineup is just deeper. 55 00:02:21,520 --> 00:02:23,520 You just don't have like that bottom three where you're 56 00:02:23,560 --> 00:02:25,840 like maybe these are automatic outs. 57 00:02:25,879 --> 00:02:27,039 Speaker 2: You just don't have that anymore. 58 00:02:29,759 --> 00:02:32,360 Speaker 4: And with Jordan and talking about him coming back, what 59 00:02:32,439 --> 00:02:35,680 did you make of all the comments about him in 60 00:02:35,840 --> 00:02:38,800 the injury It needs it needs surgery, but they can't 61 00:02:38,800 --> 00:02:41,800 get surgery there. Does it sound like maybe he does 62 00:02:41,879 --> 00:02:43,919 need an office season procedure, but they don't want to 63 00:02:43,919 --> 00:02:45,919 miss him for the season, so he's going to try 64 00:02:45,960 --> 00:02:48,280 to heal up and and try to pay play through 65 00:02:48,319 --> 00:02:50,520 the pain. What did you make of all that? Because 66 00:02:50,800 --> 00:02:53,800 just asking how close to one hundred percent do you 67 00:02:53,919 --> 00:02:56,360 guess that Jordan can be physically. 68 00:02:57,879 --> 00:02:58,680 Speaker 2: Well, it's hard enough. 69 00:02:58,719 --> 00:03:00,960 Speaker 3: I mean we were told that the hand that the 70 00:03:01,000 --> 00:03:03,360 broken bone, and he will I think about a month 71 00:03:03,360 --> 00:03:05,719 ago were in Colorado and then the inflammation came out 72 00:03:05,719 --> 00:03:06,639 and he got a shot. 73 00:03:07,240 --> 00:03:08,680 Speaker 2: And so the fact that we're. 74 00:03:08,560 --> 00:03:11,479 Speaker 3: Still you know, where he's at and taking batting practice 75 00:03:11,520 --> 00:03:13,199 is you know, pretty troublesome. 76 00:03:13,240 --> 00:03:14,639 Speaker 2: I mean, he's had hand. 77 00:03:14,400 --> 00:03:17,599 Speaker 3: Injuries before, so I don't know if there's anything they 78 00:03:17,599 --> 00:03:20,000 can do surgery wise. I mean, I think they probably 79 00:03:20,039 --> 00:03:22,520 would have done it now because this is just dragged 80 00:03:22,520 --> 00:03:23,319 on for so long. 81 00:03:24,879 --> 00:03:25,479 Speaker 2: So who knows. 82 00:03:25,520 --> 00:03:27,960 Speaker 3: I mean, I guess, uh, I guess we'll find out 83 00:03:27,960 --> 00:03:29,919 at some point he's going to go and play in 84 00:03:30,039 --> 00:03:32,039 a triple A game or whatever, and maybe he can 85 00:03:32,080 --> 00:03:35,159 get back, but it's hard to it's hard to count 86 00:03:35,159 --> 00:03:36,919 on and be in the lineup at this point when 87 00:03:36,919 --> 00:03:38,240 he's just been ounced for so long. 88 00:03:40,840 --> 00:03:43,280 Speaker 2: Rian mctagger with us here on the radio program. 89 00:03:43,599 --> 00:03:46,599 Speaker 1: Uh, East Zac Peretti's not gonna have the surgery and 90 00:03:46,719 --> 00:03:49,800 to have that injection if you already had, So what 91 00:03:49,879 --> 00:03:54,199 was your thought about that? And realistically is that just 92 00:03:54,240 --> 00:03:56,039 a player going you know what, I don't want to 93 00:03:56,080 --> 00:03:57,960 go on to the knife. I want to do whatever 94 00:03:58,000 --> 00:04:01,400 I can, and uh, if he comes back at all, 95 00:04:01,439 --> 00:04:05,080 that'd be considered gravy right in some respects, I think. 96 00:04:05,000 --> 00:04:05,680 Speaker 2: You're totally right. 97 00:04:05,759 --> 00:04:08,120 Speaker 3: I mean, look, they put him on the sixty day 98 00:04:08,199 --> 00:04:10,439 on the other day, which would take him to I 99 00:04:10,479 --> 00:04:13,960 don't know the exact day, but somewhere around September fifteen, sixteenth. 100 00:04:14,039 --> 00:04:16,759 So even if he comes back, you're talking on the 101 00:04:16,879 --> 00:04:19,000 last ten games of the regular season. I think it's 102 00:04:19,040 --> 00:04:21,879 a really, really long shot. I mean, all we heard 103 00:04:21,920 --> 00:04:25,000 for a couple of weeks was, you know, a severe injury, 104 00:04:26,439 --> 00:04:28,000 an injury is going to you know, there are reports 105 00:04:28,000 --> 00:04:29,079 he's going to be out for the year. 106 00:04:29,920 --> 00:04:31,480 Speaker 2: But yeah, I think it's sort of a hail Mary 107 00:04:31,519 --> 00:04:33,279 on eastos Park to try to get back to. 108 00:04:33,240 --> 00:04:35,920 Speaker 3: This lineup, and hey, if it works, great, If not, 109 00:04:36,639 --> 00:04:38,600 you know, they went out and got Carlos Korea to 110 00:04:38,600 --> 00:04:40,920 play third base and so that they should be set there. 111 00:04:40,959 --> 00:04:44,040 Speaker 2: But I just wonder if he doesn't get back, if 112 00:04:44,040 --> 00:04:44,399 you'll go. 113 00:04:44,319 --> 00:04:46,360 Speaker 3: Ahead and have the surgery and you know, we'll that 114 00:04:46,600 --> 00:04:48,240 take him out in the next year as well. But 115 00:04:48,839 --> 00:04:50,839 I guess hats off for Eastock to trying to rehab 116 00:04:50,839 --> 00:04:52,120 this thing getting back on the field. 117 00:04:54,959 --> 00:04:58,959 Speaker 4: You mentioned Carlos Correa just your evaluation of the three moves. 118 00:04:59,000 --> 00:05:02,480 Obviously a very short sample size, but the guys that 119 00:05:02,560 --> 00:05:05,000 the Astros ad at the deadline and how you feel 120 00:05:05,120 --> 00:05:07,000 not only have they've played, but have they've been used. 121 00:05:09,439 --> 00:05:13,040 Speaker 3: Yeah, you know Sanchez hitting up in the lineup, playing 122 00:05:13,120 --> 00:05:15,759 mostly left field. I mean, he certainly hits the ball hard. 123 00:05:15,800 --> 00:05:17,480 He gives you that threat from the left side that 124 00:05:17,560 --> 00:05:19,240 you needed a little more balanced at the top of 125 00:05:19,279 --> 00:05:22,399 the lineup, which they didn't have. He seems to be 126 00:05:22,639 --> 00:05:25,319 a super likable guy. I think that's fit in pretty 127 00:05:25,319 --> 00:05:28,399 well so far. And k Is Kore, I mean it 128 00:05:28,439 --> 00:05:30,600 came back in like he never left. He's sitting there 129 00:05:30,639 --> 00:05:32,759 with you know, Jose Al two Vay to his side, 130 00:05:32,839 --> 00:05:35,079 Marvin Gonzalez was in the clubhouse of Florida. It was 131 00:05:35,120 --> 00:05:37,800 like every the man was getting back together. But you know, 132 00:05:37,879 --> 00:05:40,319 having him playing third base, you know, I think he'll 133 00:05:40,319 --> 00:05:41,319 do really well over there. 134 00:05:41,879 --> 00:05:43,680 Speaker 2: You know, he brings the better leadership as well. 135 00:05:43,720 --> 00:05:46,040 Speaker 3: And who is a guy that can sort of fill 136 00:05:46,079 --> 00:05:48,920 in and gives you another one of those utility players 137 00:05:48,920 --> 00:05:50,959 like Yuvon. I mean, I think they were all three 138 00:05:51,000 --> 00:05:52,720 great moves. I know they wanted to get a starting 139 00:05:52,759 --> 00:05:55,800 pitcher at a reliever. The cost was too high, and 140 00:05:55,920 --> 00:05:58,120 you know, I totally get that they're sort of rolling 141 00:05:58,120 --> 00:06:01,759 the dice here with their rehabbing starters coming back and 142 00:06:01,879 --> 00:06:04,079 hoping that they can give him something down the stretch. 143 00:06:05,000 --> 00:06:07,199 Speaker 1: A couple more minutes here with Brian mctagger at MLB 144 00:06:07,319 --> 00:06:10,199 dot com with us here, what do you see in 145 00:06:10,279 --> 00:06:12,079 terms of playing time the rest of the way for 146 00:06:12,160 --> 00:06:16,000 Cam Smith, especially with the fact you've got Hayesu Sanchez 147 00:06:16,040 --> 00:06:18,560 now on this baseball team. You've got some utility players. 148 00:06:18,560 --> 00:06:20,560 Speaker 2: You can move around. You can move to bond to 149 00:06:20,600 --> 00:06:21,600 the outfield if you needed to. 150 00:06:21,639 --> 00:06:25,839 Speaker 1: And again, if Jordan comes back, that may precipitate Jose 151 00:06:25,959 --> 00:06:29,800 going to left field. What is Cam's unless again, a 152 00:06:29,879 --> 00:06:31,839 hot streak comes into play, which very well could, but 153 00:06:31,879 --> 00:06:32,839 obviously his. 154 00:06:32,879 --> 00:06:34,600 Speaker 2: Last month has not been his best month. It's a 155 00:06:34,639 --> 00:06:38,199 major leaguer. Yeah, I could see him losing the best 156 00:06:38,199 --> 00:06:39,120 to Stanchester. 157 00:06:39,279 --> 00:06:42,560 Speaker 3: Sure, Sanchez playing you know, right field, and he starts 158 00:06:42,600 --> 00:06:47,160 and right against left handers, and I guess I guess 159 00:06:47,199 --> 00:06:50,000 right hander, sorry, and Cam starting and right against lefties. 160 00:06:50,720 --> 00:06:53,319 You will have the Jordaens situation when he comes back. 161 00:06:53,399 --> 00:06:56,120 So I think this the trades will just cut into 162 00:06:56,160 --> 00:06:57,360 his bats a little bit. 163 00:06:57,319 --> 00:06:59,240 Speaker 2: Especially if he continues not to be productive. 164 00:07:00,120 --> 00:07:01,800 Speaker 3: Was a game in Miami, had a couple of hits, 165 00:07:01,800 --> 00:07:04,160 but still he's come up in some big spots and 166 00:07:04,199 --> 00:07:06,959 not been able to get it done. So you know, 167 00:07:07,160 --> 00:07:08,920 at this point in the season, you can't you know, 168 00:07:09,079 --> 00:07:11,519 you can't afford to run a guy out there who 169 00:07:12,240 --> 00:07:14,000 is struggling to play it. And now they have options 170 00:07:14,040 --> 00:07:16,079 where they can start somebody else and or Is gives 171 00:07:16,079 --> 00:07:17,959 them good at bats and can play some positions, and 172 00:07:18,000 --> 00:07:20,399 they could put somebody else in right field, like you said, 173 00:07:20,399 --> 00:07:24,199 whether Sanchez or or somebody else to get those abats 174 00:07:24,279 --> 00:07:25,360 until Smith can get going. 175 00:07:27,000 --> 00:07:29,279 Speaker 1: Last thing, Brian, I think I know the answer to this, 176 00:07:29,319 --> 00:07:31,399 but I want to get it from your perspective. The 177 00:07:31,439 --> 00:07:34,240 most encouraging thing about the Astros the rest of the 178 00:07:34,240 --> 00:07:38,000 way to me is the lineup is lengthened now that 179 00:07:38,040 --> 00:07:42,639 you have Sanchez, now that you have Cardl's Korea, You've 180 00:07:42,680 --> 00:07:45,800 got Jeremy Paynya back. That to me is the most 181 00:07:45,879 --> 00:07:48,360 encouraging thing about the rest of the way. What do 182 00:07:48,439 --> 00:07:50,759 you think is the biggest alarm going off in the 183 00:07:50,800 --> 00:07:53,759 Astros organization with these fifty or so games left to go. 184 00:07:55,920 --> 00:08:00,399 Speaker 3: I think it's probably depth, depth of pitching, both starting 185 00:08:00,399 --> 00:08:02,959 and relieving. I mean, Arraghetti's first start didn't go well. Yeah, 186 00:08:02,959 --> 00:08:04,519 he was a little rusty, so you know, you give 187 00:08:04,600 --> 00:08:07,399 him another one. J Javier hasn't thrown the ball great 188 00:08:07,639 --> 00:08:10,000 and his rehab starts, but you know he's going to 189 00:08:10,040 --> 00:08:13,279 be coming up here. Luis Garcia threw the ball really 190 00:08:13,279 --> 00:08:15,240 well last night at Triple A, so that's a positive. 191 00:08:15,040 --> 00:08:17,439 Speaker 2: But even on the relief side, I mean. 192 00:08:17,439 --> 00:08:20,079 Speaker 3: Who do you trust, you know, beyond those last two 193 00:08:20,079 --> 00:08:22,040 guys and a breaker and hater. I mean they went 194 00:08:22,040 --> 00:08:24,759 out and got a reliever, signed a reliever yesterday who 195 00:08:24,800 --> 00:08:27,199 had been with the Braves, and a guy that throws hard, 196 00:08:27,240 --> 00:08:29,120 and maybe they can change some of his usage and 197 00:08:29,160 --> 00:08:31,959 he can become a key guy. But do they have 198 00:08:32,080 --> 00:08:35,639 enough weapons in the bullpen? Is there enough starting pitching 199 00:08:35,720 --> 00:08:38,039 depth that can you know, match them up and get 200 00:08:38,039 --> 00:08:39,960 them get them through a long seven game series.