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<v Speaker 1>It is seven o'clock our hour early or the normal.

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<v Speaker 1>He's got an event he has to do. We're great

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<v Speaker 1>for him. I know it was a long trip and

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<v Speaker 1>back here and to get up this early. We appreciate

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<v Speaker 1>Steve Sparks Astros broadcasts here on our radio Sports Talk

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<v Speaker 1>seven to ninety for those Astros games every single day.

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<v Speaker 1>Good to have you on, Steve. We appreciate, we appreciate you.

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<v Speaker 1>I weekends like this you learn to me. You learn

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<v Speaker 1>a lot about your team. And I, Steve, I know,

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<v Speaker 1>ten to two wins and all that are fun. But

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<v Speaker 1>I kind of like when I see Gusto have to

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<v Speaker 1>fight through and get through it, when he scattering some

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<v Speaker 1>hits and they're scoring some runs, and you know when

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<v Speaker 1>somebody else different dubon yesterday, Christian Walker starting to get

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<v Speaker 1>a little hotter, and the way pain is energy, it

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<v Speaker 1>seems to be there's always somebody different. But when yesterday

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<v Speaker 1>or when the pitching staff starting pitching struggled, the bullpen

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<v Speaker 1>was there. But more importantly, the hitting seems to have

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<v Speaker 1>picked up, even though it hasn't been consistent. It starts

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<v Speaker 1>to look a little different from my optic Steve.

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<v Speaker 2>You know, you look at that series, and I look

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<v Speaker 2>back at the day before that because Brandon Walter didn't.

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<v Speaker 3>Pitch that well, right, but he pitched.

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<v Speaker 2>Six innings and they only had to cover eight innings

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<v Speaker 2>losing on the road, so you only had to use

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<v Speaker 2>two relievers the night before. So I think you're always

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<v Speaker 2>going into those road series, in particular Sean, trying to

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<v Speaker 2>win those series. And you win that first one, it's

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<v Speaker 2>certainly a luxury. But what Walter is able to do

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<v Speaker 2>as far as get deeper into the game despite not

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<v Speaker 2>having his best stuff, he got them six innings and

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<v Speaker 2>you had a loaded bullpen for yesterday's game and you

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<v Speaker 2>needed them, yep, And that's the reason why they won.

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<v Speaker 2>I mean, what Walter did the night before is the

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<v Speaker 2>reason why the Astros won yesterday.

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<v Speaker 4>Steven, are we on pace?

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<v Speaker 1>You've probably looked at the metrics or the analytics of

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<v Speaker 1>you know, the innings and usage and stuff, which you

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<v Speaker 1>do very well, the fresh leg starting pitching, I know,

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<v Speaker 1>with the injuries, but also the bullpen. Are we on

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<v Speaker 1>pace to say we're not giving them too much usage?

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<v Speaker 1>Are we on pace right now? Do you feel good

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<v Speaker 1>about the way they're being used?

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<v Speaker 3>I do? You know?

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<v Speaker 2>I think if you're able to keep a little bit

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<v Speaker 2>of a cushion, you're going to get creative, I think,

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<v Speaker 2>and that's what the Astros did in twenty twenty two.

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<v Speaker 2>They were more fresh and livelier than anybody else, especially

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<v Speaker 2>in the pitching department, because they went to that six

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<v Speaker 2>men rotation for more than half the season, and it

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<v Speaker 2>was very evident that the.

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<v Speaker 3>Astros were they still had a lot to go.

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<v Speaker 2>Remember the extra inning in Seattle, there was a famous

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<v Speaker 2>line by the Astros pitching coach Josh Miller said, Hey,

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<v Speaker 2>we still had one hundred pitches left in our in

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<v Speaker 2>our chamber.

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<v Speaker 3>They really did, you know.

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<v Speaker 2>They still had Urkidi and they had somebody else, and

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<v Speaker 2>I think they felt very comfortable that they could have

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<v Speaker 2>played another five or six innings. So I think that's

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<v Speaker 2>the goal for the Astros is to build this lead,

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<v Speaker 2>continue to play good baseball. Despite Jordan alvarezby an ounce

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<v Speaker 2>it's May third, I believe it is in Houston, still

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<v Speaker 2>ten games over five hundred in its absence.

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<v Speaker 3>But if you can continue to.

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<v Speaker 2>Increase that lead, I think you got a chance to

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<v Speaker 2>get creative. Maybe skip a guy, start keep a six

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<v Speaker 2>man rotation. I'm not sure how this looks right, but

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<v Speaker 2>maybe be creative with that injured list.

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<v Speaker 1>Steve Sparks Astro's broadcasters Weekly visit an hour sooner today,

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<v Speaker 1>got an event to go through and we'll we'll change

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<v Speaker 1>days or schedule for him anytime. Joined us here on

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<v Speaker 1>Sports Talk seven ninety Sean salisby show, Steve, you've been

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<v Speaker 1>in playing it and covering it all these years, You've seen,

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<v Speaker 1>you know, managers that have.

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<v Speaker 4>To make tough decisions in games.

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<v Speaker 1>I was just thinking, you know this morning, how often

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<v Speaker 1>you know, somebody reminded me of that.

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<v Speaker 4>How often in a game, in a series throughout the season.

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<v Speaker 1>I'm talking about those tough, tough decisions that come within

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<v Speaker 1>a game. How often do you see managers hapen to

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<v Speaker 1>make tough tough decisions in professional baseball?

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<v Speaker 3>You know, in a game to game decisions.

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<v Speaker 2>I think it varies just because you know your personnel

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<v Speaker 2>better than anybody else. And that's what that's probably my

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<v Speaker 2>favorite question is to ask a manager of the day after, is.

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<v Speaker 3>What was your toughest decision yesterday?

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<v Speaker 2>But when you think about toughest decisions for me, if

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<v Speaker 2>I was a coach or a manager, I think the

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<v Speaker 2>hardest part for me personally would be releasing guys, you know,

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<v Speaker 2>especially in the minor leagues.

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<v Speaker 3>I was thinking about this yesterday.

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<v Speaker 2>I played in the California League for three seasons, and

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<v Speaker 2>one year I had a minor league coach who had

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<v Speaker 2>five kids, and the last three weeks of the season,

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<v Speaker 2>his wife decided to take his four youngest kids back

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<v Speaker 2>home to Arizona for the rest of the season, and

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<v Speaker 2>his oldest kid was nine years old. He ended up

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<v Speaker 2>staying with his dad for the rest of the summer,

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<v Speaker 2>so he would be at the ballpark every.

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<v Speaker 3>Day, and we had a great time with him. But

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<v Speaker 3>he just became part of the team.

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<v Speaker 2>And I remember one day in Bakersfield, California. We were

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<v Speaker 2>stretching before batting practice one day and Ben, the oldest son,

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<v Speaker 2>he was nine years old, was just kind of sifting

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<v Speaker 2>through the rest of the players. Now keep in mind,

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<v Speaker 2>he was around his dad in the hotel rooms. He

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<v Speaker 2>heard all his dad's conversations on the landline back in

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<v Speaker 2>the hotels in those days, talking to the front office.

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<v Speaker 2>But he was running around with the guys on the

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<v Speaker 2>team and they were punching him and knocking him down

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<v Speaker 2>and just having a good time.

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<v Speaker 3>He finally he goes up to this one guy in.

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<v Speaker 2>Our team who was stretching, and he shook his hand

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<v Speaker 2>and he said, hey, John, Hey, I'm gonna miss you.

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<v Speaker 2>And John goes, oh, Ben, are you going home with

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<v Speaker 2>your brothers and sisters? He goes, no, I'm not going

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<v Speaker 2>anywhere you are. He goes, what, Yeah, I heard my

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<v Speaker 2>dad on the phone.

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<v Speaker 3>Oh my god, getting released after the game. Oh my god,

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<v Speaker 3>look at him.

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<v Speaker 2>We're going getting released after the game. And he goes, yeah,

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<v Speaker 2>you and Scott both, and then we all looked at

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<v Speaker 2>Scott and literally, these two guys got up out of

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<v Speaker 2>the stretch, went into the coach's office and got released

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<v Speaker 2>and we never saw him again. That's how they got

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<v Speaker 2>released from professional baseball by a nine year old in

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<v Speaker 2>front of their whole team.

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<v Speaker 4>Gosh, dang.

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah, it's one thing find out on the internet, but

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<v Speaker 1>the nine year old's got it before you do. Yeah,

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<v Speaker 1>I get the conversation. It's like, hey, breaking news. It's

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<v Speaker 1>not Jeff Passon. Happens to be the nine year old

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<v Speaker 1>who's the son of a kid out there during batting

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<v Speaker 1>practice and you guys are gone. And it's also part

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<v Speaker 1>of when you lose teammates like that, to go somewhere

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<v Speaker 1>else you never see him again.

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<v Speaker 4>David Craig.

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<v Speaker 1>When I was my rookie year, he wasn't nice to

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<v Speaker 1>me during training camp, and you know what he told

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<v Speaker 1>me after and make a long story short, and he

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<v Speaker 1>became one of my dear friends. He said, Sean, I

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<v Speaker 1>developed these relationships with guys I've learned, and then they

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<v Speaker 1>get cut or they're not here and he goes, and

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<v Speaker 1>it bothers me. He goes, So I'm a little cold.

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<v Speaker 1>Once you make the team. He was the first guy

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<v Speaker 1>to hug me, But during the whole time I wanted

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<v Speaker 1>to fight him because he he wasn't talking to me

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<v Speaker 1>very much. It wasn't because of his job. He'd been

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<v Speaker 1>in the league, but he didn't like that gut wrenching

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<v Speaker 1>feeling of forging relationships and then all of a sudden,

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<v Speaker 1>the guy's gone.

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<v Speaker 4>So making the team made it a little easier.

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<v Speaker 1>To for forge a long term relationship. Yeah, talk about

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<v Speaker 1>tough decisions and then having a nine year old come in.

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<v Speaker 1>That's not what a manager or teammates want to hear.

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<v Speaker 1>I would imagine, Steve Right.

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<v Speaker 2>It was brutal, though, I mean, losing your buddies, you know,

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<v Speaker 2>along the way through the minor leagues and you knew

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<v Speaker 2>it would never be the same, and you try to

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<v Speaker 2>keep in touch, but it's never the same as when

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<v Speaker 2>your teammates.

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<v Speaker 4>Steve, is this team good enough in your eyes? Right now?

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<v Speaker 1>I'm talking about with the with the injuries they have

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<v Speaker 1>right now, And I said, can you see them in

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<v Speaker 1>the World Series?

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<v Speaker 4>What's your answer?

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<v Speaker 3>Yeah, I can't.

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<v Speaker 2>I mean, I look at everybody, everybody's got warts Sean,

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<v Speaker 2>and I just feel I don't think Jordon's too far away.

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<v Speaker 2>And you say, look at them right now, but I

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<v Speaker 2>don't think they're too far away from getting their best

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<v Speaker 2>hitter back right And I think that's that's gonna make

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<v Speaker 2>everybody better. But you look at three guys in particular

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<v Speaker 2>offensively for this team, and we've talked enough about the pitching.

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<v Speaker 2>The pitching, there's no question they have as good at

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<v Speaker 2>pitching as anybody in.

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<v Speaker 3>Baseball Amen one through thirteen, yep. But they need jord On.

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<v Speaker 2>But but there's three guys in particular, Pana, Myers and

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<v Speaker 2>Paradus have the have three of the top eleven upticks

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<v Speaker 2>and ops of anybody in all of baseball. So when

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<v Speaker 2>you look at those guys and see their improvement. Jake,

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<v Speaker 2>he's got the second best road batting average in baseball

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<v Speaker 2>behind Aaron Judge. I mean, there's some crazy stuff kind

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<v Speaker 2>of going on right now, but you've got enough guys

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<v Speaker 2>in there that are putting together some kind of breakout

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<v Speaker 2>seasons and it's fun to watch that stuff.

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<v Speaker 1>Steve, he's about eighty or eighty or ninety points higher

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<v Speaker 1>than you said when the spring training you said, I

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<v Speaker 1>don't care what he hits, the way he plays defense,

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<v Speaker 1>We're going to be fine.

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<v Speaker 4>And this bonus and blessing.

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<v Speaker 1>So you've covered baseball for a long time and watched

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<v Speaker 1>him closely since he's been here. Why there's got to

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<v Speaker 1>be it's not just always you know the ball's falling

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<v Speaker 1>where they you know where nobody is. Now what is

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<v Speaker 1>You can't keep hitting it like that and it just

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<v Speaker 1>be an aberration at least maybe it can seventy five

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<v Speaker 1>eighty games in, but you see it every day. Why

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<v Speaker 1>is he better? Why is he making so much contact?

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<v Speaker 1>Why is he so confident right now?

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<v Speaker 2>I think he really concentrated on the right things in

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<v Speaker 2>the offseason. I played against his dad in the minor leagues,

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<v Speaker 2>and his dad helped him in the in the off season,

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<v Speaker 2>talking about approach and figure out what you hit best,

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<v Speaker 2>where's your zone, and concentrate on that early in the count.

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<v Speaker 3>I think it's as simple as that.

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<v Speaker 2>He's swinging at better pitches, he knows himself better, and

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<v Speaker 2>he's sticking to a plan.

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<v Speaker 3>He's staying up the middle.

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<v Speaker 2>He's not pulling off, trying to pull balls up in

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<v Speaker 2>the air, something that he's not really good at to

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<v Speaker 2>begin with. He's just staying in the middle of the diamond,

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<v Speaker 2>staying gap to gap, using his speed, stealing bases, still

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<v Speaker 2>two bases yesterday. He's just doing the things that he's

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<v Speaker 2>capable of. And to learn yourself. You know, three or

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<v Speaker 2>four years in, probably more healthy than he's ever been.

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<v Speaker 2>I think you're starting to see somebody's really starting to

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<v Speaker 2>blossom into who they can be. And and you get,

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<v Speaker 2>you know, almost halfway into the season. Now you figure

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<v Speaker 2>out this guy is not only one of the best

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<v Speaker 2>center fielders in baseball, this guy is starting to be

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<v Speaker 2>a threat offensively too.

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah, no doubt, Steve Sparks. So one final question, Steve,

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<v Speaker 1>I know you've got some stuff.

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<v Speaker 3>To do today.

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<v Speaker 1>Is with this team and the pitching what do you

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<v Speaker 1>do to play the game with you speaking a tough decisions?

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<v Speaker 1>You'd be the manager and the general manager combined right now,

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<v Speaker 1>And we're sitting in a room and all of a sudden, Garcia,

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<v Speaker 1>we start to see, you know, he's improving. I don't

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<v Speaker 1>know how long it's going to be, but let's just

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<v Speaker 1>the what if game and then Arraghetti and then Xavier

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<v Speaker 1>what pumped it up to ninety five last week throwing?

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<v Speaker 1>So it doesn't feel maybe I don't know when not far?

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<v Speaker 1>Is is it fifteen days? Is it forty five days?

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<v Speaker 3>Too much?

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<v Speaker 1>But let's just say the pitching continues like it has

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<v Speaker 1>and these guys are healthy. Talking about tough decisions. How

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<v Speaker 1>do you keep a full roster of pitchers engaged?

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<v Speaker 2>I think that usually takes care of itself, number one,

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<v Speaker 2>But I mean, you love problems like this, right Thinking

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<v Speaker 2>about Christian Xavier at points that like long term for sure,

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<v Speaker 2>and they signed him up and locked him up to

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<v Speaker 2>a long term deal. Long term you want him as

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<v Speaker 2>a starter, but he's he's really excelled as a reliever

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<v Speaker 2>at times, and he's ninety five without adrenaline in a bullpen,

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<v Speaker 2>in on the side fields in Florida. Right now, I

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<v Speaker 2>can't I can't even imagine where he could probably touch

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<v Speaker 2>in a one or two inning stint, you know, in

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<v Speaker 2>game action. So that's a possibility. I mean, there's there's

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<v Speaker 2>limitless possibilities. But I'll go to this too. You get

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<v Speaker 2>a lot of guys healthy, say Luis Garcia, Spencer Arrighetty,

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<v Speaker 2>Lance McCullers, JP France. You mix and match, and you

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<v Speaker 2>can piggyback, you know, on certain days with with with

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<v Speaker 2>a couple of starters and have them go four and

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<v Speaker 2>four and that's another rest day for your bullpen.

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<v Speaker 3>Things like that. I think what you're trying to do

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<v Speaker 3>is keep these guys as fresh as possible.

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<v Speaker 2>While you're winning these games, and then continue to play

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<v Speaker 2>great baseball. The record in one run games is certainly

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<v Speaker 2>flip flop from years past. I think they're fifteen and

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<v Speaker 2>seven now after yesterday's game. So winning close games is

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<v Speaker 2>I think probably a byproduct. You know, twenty two comeback

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<v Speaker 2>wins is a lot of it. That's a great trait.

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<v Speaker 2>We've talked about that. The two outruns that they scored

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<v Speaker 2>this year, they're up among the leaders, and in their pitching,

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<v Speaker 2>I think they've got a lot of good traits of

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<v Speaker 2>good teams.

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah, and at no time in the history of baseball

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<v Speaker 1>or sports anywhere has anybody complained about having too much pitching.

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<v Speaker 4>It'll never happen, So there you go. Good problem to have.

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<v Speaker 1>Hey, enjoy your event today, brother, hit him straight, and

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<v Speaker 1>then we'll do it again next Monday. We appreciate you

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<v Speaker 1>moving it around so you could join us today.

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<v Speaker 3>Good talking to you, you too, brother.

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<v Speaker 4>Thank you.

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<v Speaker 1>That's a great Steve Spark solid ball striker, Solid ball striker.