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<v Speaker 1>John Salisbury Show.

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<v Speaker 2>It's time for our eight o'clock weekly visit with Astros

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<v Speaker 2>broadcaster Steve steven Sparks. I just died to go formal today, Steven.

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<v Speaker 2>You ever get in trouble while your mom she called you,

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<v Speaker 2>Stephen had to? I know you did. You're not the

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<v Speaker 2>you unless you were there? Were you the kiss ass child?

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<v Speaker 1>Steve? Welcome in, buddy, How you doing?

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<v Speaker 3>Never got in trouble?

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<v Speaker 1>You never got in trouble? Ever, I don't believe.

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<v Speaker 3>I don't believe so you you.

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<v Speaker 2>Were the teacher's pet, right, let me ask you how

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<v Speaker 2>many times did you have to do after school suspension

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<v Speaker 2>truthfully in your life?

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<v Speaker 3>Uh?

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<v Speaker 4>Sean, were of the age we got, we got, we

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<v Speaker 4>got paddled, right.

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<v Speaker 3>I had a teacher who had a paddle called pistol pete,

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<v Speaker 3>and I might I might as well called a pistol Stephen,

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<v Speaker 3>because because I own that thing. Yeah, I got in trouble.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah I figured you were, but you but it was

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<v Speaker 2>the kind of trouble that like the teacher still like

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<v Speaker 2>smirking and said he's so cute, he's so so nice

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<v Speaker 2>and sweet. But just a little bit to let everybody

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<v Speaker 2>know that you still had it in you. I well

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<v Speaker 2>believe it because I know the feeling and you're exactly right.

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<v Speaker 2>People laugh and think we're kidding. My vice we had,

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<v Speaker 2>the vice principal was the swat giver, and it's true.

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<v Speaker 2>Think about how times have change, Steve. Now, could you

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<v Speaker 2>imagine telling your kid you're twenty twenty five with all

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<v Speaker 2>this going on, and so we say, hey, you go

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<v Speaker 2>down the principal office to get your aspect with a paddle.

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah, not happening.

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<v Speaker 2>I remember.

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<v Speaker 4>I remember at one point they used to do it

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<v Speaker 4>a how hallway, like, all right, go outside the hall,

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<v Speaker 4>still go outside the hall, bend over, and then somewhere

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<v Speaker 4>halfway through this stuff, for.

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<v Speaker 3>Some reason, things change and they had to get a witness.

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<v Speaker 4>They had to get another teacher from the room next

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<v Speaker 4>door to watch, just to make.

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<v Speaker 2>Sure you were an abusive or there wasn't going overboard

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<v Speaker 2>type of thing.

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<v Speaker 3>Yeah, just to make sure that they didn't whack you time.

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<v Speaker 2>I guess I love it, man. Those were the days

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<v Speaker 2>Chuck Leaf. We didn't want to go to Chuck Leaf's office.

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<v Speaker 2>I remember the name right back in the days Eastmarks

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<v Speaker 2>Joys Is. Some guys are a little risty, like at hockey.

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<v Speaker 2>Oh the rister, the one timer, Yeah, no doubt about it.

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<v Speaker 2>Steve rough weekend in some ways. I mean, you're not

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<v Speaker 2>supposed to lose to the Chicago White Sox, but they did.

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<v Speaker 2>Let's start on Sunday and we can work our way

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<v Speaker 2>back your initial thoughts about eighty seven pitches and Lance

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<v Speaker 2>mccullor's first appearance and felt like ten years. But what

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<v Speaker 2>in the last couple of years, what'd you think about

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<v Speaker 2>it from the visuals?

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<v Speaker 3>Well, I can't imagine all that was going through is mind,

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<v Speaker 3>nine hundred and.

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<v Speaker 4>Fifteen days since the last time he pitched on a

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<v Speaker 4>big league mound. So just just to get to that point,

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<v Speaker 4>I mean that was very encouraging, you know, very happy

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<v Speaker 4>for him to be able to do what he did.

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<v Speaker 4>And I thought the ball came out of his hand

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<v Speaker 4>really nice. He talked about not having a great feel

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<v Speaker 4>as far as landing his brain ball, but I thought

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<v Speaker 4>he threw some really good curves. The slider was a

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<v Speaker 4>little probably breaking a little earlier than he thought, but

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<v Speaker 4>I mean it was huge. I mean, he can spin

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<v Speaker 4>the ball as well as anybody, and the change up

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<v Speaker 4>was really good.

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<v Speaker 3>So the thing that's going to make his change up

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<v Speaker 3>and everything.

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<v Speaker 4>Else a little better, especially if he throws maybe a

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<v Speaker 4>mile per hour or two miles fur slower than he

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<v Speaker 4>did a couple of years ago. Is to make sure

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<v Speaker 4>he uses his fastball inside, especially the lefties, to be

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<v Speaker 4>able to dot the fastball and get it in there

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<v Speaker 4>to get him off of that change up, because the

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<v Speaker 4>change up is a great swing and miss pitch. But

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<v Speaker 4>all in all, you know what he was able to do.

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<v Speaker 4>I came away very encouraged making some big pitches and

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<v Speaker 4>big moments and getting through that and hearing his comments

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<v Speaker 4>afterwards how how good he felt, was very encouraging.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, Steve, when does a guy know, I mean, that's

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<v Speaker 2>a long time. I guess we're all speculating, but you're

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<v Speaker 2>around it and you see it, and I can kind

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<v Speaker 2>of speak from when it's a knee injury in football,

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<v Speaker 2>when they know that confidence is back. I can put

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<v Speaker 2>my leg in the ground. I'm ready to go. Well,

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<v Speaker 2>when do you think it kicks in or it's like

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<v Speaker 2>you know, as you mentioned the first time, you're kind

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<v Speaker 2>of feeling your way through it.

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<v Speaker 1>And all the emotion, the raw emotion.

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<v Speaker 2>That's going through getting back on the mound, When do

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<v Speaker 2>you know, how long does it take before you settle

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<v Speaker 2>in to say I'm in the rotation, this is who

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<v Speaker 2>I am and I feel great about it. How long

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<v Speaker 2>does that take, Steve, so you almost trust that your

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<v Speaker 2>rehab worked. When does that happen?

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<v Speaker 3>You know?

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<v Speaker 4>I can't get into his head, and I can't imagine

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<v Speaker 4>all the thoughts that ran through his mind. I just

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<v Speaker 4>know for me, my mind wasn't real clear unless I

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<v Speaker 4>exercise some really disciplined things on the mound, like pre

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<v Speaker 4>pitch routines and things like that.

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<v Speaker 3>But I bet he was thinking about so many doctors and.

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<v Speaker 4>Rehab right and you know, then he would, you know,

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<v Speaker 4>maybe be behind the count too, and oh and scramble

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<v Speaker 4>to get back in it. I think he will know

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<v Speaker 4>that he's all the way back once he just sees

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<v Speaker 4>the glove and hits it, you know, And we can

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<v Speaker 4>talk about basketball, we can talk about golf, we can

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<v Speaker 4>talk about.

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<v Speaker 3>Football, Sean.

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<v Speaker 4>When you're when you're throwing a leading a guy with

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<v Speaker 4>the past, you're not thinking about mechanics.

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<v Speaker 3>You're ripping it and that's it. You just react.

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<v Speaker 4>And I think that's when Lance is at his best,

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<v Speaker 4>and he's going to know he's all the way back.

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<v Speaker 4>He's not thinking about an injury or rehab or how

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<v Speaker 4>long it's been since he's been out there. He's seeing

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<v Speaker 4>the glove.

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<v Speaker 3>And hitting it. That's simple.

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<v Speaker 2>The mechanics are the last thing, Steve. If you think

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<v Speaker 2>about when you're going good, right when you're finally, it's

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<v Speaker 2>because it's just it's I've worked on these a million

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<v Speaker 2>Now when you start when you need to, I'm talking

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<v Speaker 2>about that day pitching. I don't want it's like you

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<v Speaker 2>read golf died. Just Hey, if you can't fit your

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<v Speaker 2>swing thoughts on a three by five card, you got

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<v Speaker 2>too many of them so to be able to flood,

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<v Speaker 2>you know, get rid of the clutter and you just

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<v Speaker 2>let it rip.

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<v Speaker 3>Yeah, that's a great point, but you have to practice that.

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<v Speaker 1>Show yes, exactly, if you're on.

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<v Speaker 4>The if you're on the if you're on the driving range,

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<v Speaker 4>or you're throwing a bulletpen, or you're you're taking batting

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<v Speaker 4>practice or whatever it is, there's part of that practice

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<v Speaker 4>that does need to be mechanics.

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<v Speaker 1>You got to agree.

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<v Speaker 3>You may have to go to the iPad or whatever.

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<v Speaker 4>It is part of its mechanics, but part of it

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<v Speaker 4>and maybe fifty percent and sometimes seventy five percent has

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<v Speaker 4>to be on the mental part of what you need

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<v Speaker 4>to do to be successful, and it's got to be

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<v Speaker 4>real simple. It's got to be just seeing the glove

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<v Speaker 4>and hitting it, because you can't think about mechanics and

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<v Speaker 4>compete against the best players in the world.

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<v Speaker 3>You just can't, right, I mean, you just have to react.

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<v Speaker 4>So you have to practice that way, and you have

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<v Speaker 4>to be disciplined and learn how the latter stages in

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<v Speaker 4>your last couple of rounds in batting practice just has

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<v Speaker 4>to be see the ball and hit the ball, and

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<v Speaker 4>trust the work that you did with your mechanics will

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<v Speaker 4>show up.

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<v Speaker 1>No doubt about it.

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<v Speaker 2>Steve sparks for his regular Monday eight o'clock visit here

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<v Speaker 2>on Sports Talk seven ninety All Right, Steve, maybe from

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<v Speaker 2>the weekend or maybe just so far the overall body

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<v Speaker 2>of work, even though it's early. What are your concerned

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<v Speaker 2>about right now?

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<v Speaker 4>I'm not. I'm not super concerned. I think some of

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<v Speaker 4>these guys are gonna get going. I would say my

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<v Speaker 4>biggest probably concern is Jordan's health.

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<v Speaker 1>Maybe, Yeah, how where are we with this? Yeah? What's

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<v Speaker 1>going on?

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<v Speaker 4>Dana said yesterday that we'll know in a day or two,

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<v Speaker 4>but he just didn't feel comfortable with his right hand

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<v Speaker 4>and batting practice on Saturday. So they just want to

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<v Speaker 4>They just want to get whatever's in there out of there.

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<v Speaker 4>They don't feel like anything other than rest is what's

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<v Speaker 4>gonna help him to fill out his best. So I

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<v Speaker 4>think that's probably my biggest concern because he's your best

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<v Speaker 4>He's your best hitter, that's plain and simple. But I

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<v Speaker 4>think you were seeing signs with Jan er Diez coming

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<v Speaker 4>around the last couple of weeks starting to drive the ball,

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<v Speaker 4>Kristen Walker with more extra bases, the Astros nine hole hitters,

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<v Speaker 4>whoever they put.

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<v Speaker 3>In the nine holes is going to bang.

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<v Speaker 4>But uh, they took Cam Smith out of the lineup

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<v Speaker 4>last couple of days. Last time they did that, he

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<v Speaker 4>was able to reset and come back for a couple

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<v Speaker 4>of weeks span and really drive the ball. So I

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<v Speaker 4>just I just feel, and I've said this in our

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<v Speaker 4>pregame show a couple of times in the last week,

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<v Speaker 4>just waiting on three or four guys to get hot

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<v Speaker 4>at the same time. You know, Jeremy Payne has been great.

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<v Speaker 4>He leaves all sort stops in war. You know, that's

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<v Speaker 4>including Bobby whitt. So there's some guys that are doing

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<v Speaker 4>some pretty good things, but there's still three or four

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<v Speaker 4>guys that we know there's a lot more in there.

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<v Speaker 2>Steve and I don't even want to really talk much

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<v Speaker 2>about this because I like to throw good stuff out

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<v Speaker 2>into that atmosphere and out into space. But let's just

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<v Speaker 2>say you had to go without Jordon for an extended

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<v Speaker 2>amount of time. How capable are they carrying this? Even

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<v Speaker 2>though he's bapp struggled this year the long ball, We

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<v Speaker 2>get that, but we also know what the result is

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<v Speaker 2>when he's feeling good and how quickly he can.

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<v Speaker 1>Turn it around.

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<v Speaker 2>Is this team set up well enough to deal with

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<v Speaker 2>an extended amount without him?

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<v Speaker 3>Think about what they've been able to do.

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<v Speaker 4>Jordon hasn't hasn't hit that well all season, right, you know,

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<v Speaker 4>and he talks about it. He said, when the numbers

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<v Speaker 4>show up, that'll tell you I'm where I need to be.

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<v Speaker 4>It's about the numbers. And he's right. They're still waiting

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<v Speaker 4>on him. Last year, his May he had four RBIs.

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<v Speaker 4>So there's periods sometimes when your superstar goes away a

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<v Speaker 4>little bit, so to speak. You know that they're not

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<v Speaker 4>capitalizing and other guys have to chip in. And they've

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<v Speaker 4>got enough guys in their lineup with Esach and Kristin

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<v Speaker 4>Walker and Paynya and Altuve and nier Diez, and you

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<v Speaker 4>know we can we can go up and down a

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<v Speaker 4>little bit and say, you know, with a few of

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<v Speaker 4>these guys getting warmer, is.

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<v Speaker 3>It heats up? And I trust that they will.

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<v Speaker 4>You know, I think they're good hitters, that they'll score

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<v Speaker 4>plenty of runs with this pitching.

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<v Speaker 3>Their pitching's really good.

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<v Speaker 2>Steve Sparks regular eight o'clock visit here for a few

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<v Speaker 2>more minutes here on the Sean Salisbury Show. ASTROS broadcaster

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<v Speaker 2>Steve Zach de Zendel de Zenzo five years from now,

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<v Speaker 2>where do you see him?

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<v Speaker 1>What position? What kind of player do you see from him?

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<v Speaker 2>With just just the early returns from last year and

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<v Speaker 2>this year his improvement, and where do you see him

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<v Speaker 2>playing one hundred and fifty games a year.

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<v Speaker 3>Well, I see a lot of signs of him coming

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<v Speaker 3>alive at the play.

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<v Speaker 1>Yes, for sure.

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<v Speaker 4>I think with more playing time, anybody who's young is

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<v Speaker 4>able to do this with only playing two or three

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<v Speaker 4>times a week, that's that's a great indication that they

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<v Speaker 4>can make adjustments. They can stay ready. You know, they're

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<v Speaker 4>working very hard behind the scenes to be ready. And

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<v Speaker 4>I just love how athletic he is. You know, he

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<v Speaker 4>can play different positions. He moves really well.

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<v Speaker 3>You know, he's six foot six inches.

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<v Speaker 2>Time with Steve the first I don't mean interrupted, the

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<v Speaker 2>first time I stood next to him. I'm six five too.

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<v Speaker 2>Oh you know, you see stuff it says a big

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<v Speaker 2>cat on TV. I'm six five about two forty and

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<v Speaker 2>I stood next to him and he's an outside line

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<v Speaker 2>but he really is. That's an outside linebacker. This got

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<v Speaker 2>movement like a wide receiver, you know what I mean.

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<v Speaker 2>It's it's a freak. Well, nowadays our linebackers can run

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<v Speaker 2>like those guys and are there just as athletic. But

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<v Speaker 2>I was actually shocked, not surprised, shocked when I stood

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<v Speaker 2>next to him.

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<v Speaker 1>I didn't realize he was that big.

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<v Speaker 3>He's got that Jeff Samarga type body.

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<v Speaker 2>Yes, and even even a little thicker yeah, yes, no doubt.

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<v Speaker 3>Yeah, he's very athletic. So I don't know what kind

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<v Speaker 3>of opportunities will be there.

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<v Speaker 4>I just know he's gonna he's gonna work to a

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<v Speaker 4>degree where he's gonna maximize his talent, and I think

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<v Speaker 4>he's got a lot of talent, so what whatever's there

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<v Speaker 4>for him, I think he'll take advantage of. And I

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<v Speaker 4>think that's what you you get really encouraged about. And

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<v Speaker 4>those are the guys that you invest in, Sean, Yes,

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<v Speaker 4>long term, short term, whatever it is. But once you

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<v Speaker 4>get to know guys a little bit personally and you

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<v Speaker 4>see the way they go about their business, you invest

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<v Speaker 4>in those players.

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<v Speaker 2>Hey, Steve, quickly for you. I know you've got a

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<v Speaker 2>lot going on this uh, this team. You know, people

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<v Speaker 2>talk about windows opening and closing right a lot of

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<v Speaker 2>you know, it's Springer gone and Corea gone and then Verlin.

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<v Speaker 2>I mean it happens every year we go through this conversation.

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<v Speaker 2>But with this, with this influx of young players and

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<v Speaker 2>bringing up parades in and who's playing it and just

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<v Speaker 2>some changes and it looks different. But window wide open,

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<v Speaker 2>half open? I mean, champions is this championship caliber run?

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<v Speaker 2>Continue with the current roster as it's set up forget

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<v Speaker 2>trades in any of that. How it's set up is

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<v Speaker 2>the is the window still wide open for you?

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<v Speaker 4>I think just from what I see that the astros

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<v Speaker 4>are as good as anybody in the American League.

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<v Speaker 3>I think once they start hitting right.

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<v Speaker 4>Now, they're a game over five hundred, and they get

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<v Speaker 4>to five, six, seven games over five hundred and just

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<v Speaker 4>grind away through this summer. I think they're set up

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<v Speaker 4>for not only a regular season type of winning, but

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<v Speaker 4>for also playoff winning. When you look at Hunter Brown

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<v Speaker 4>and from Er Valdez and whoever you're going to slot

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<v Speaker 4>in the hole, I think they're set up for the

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<v Speaker 4>playoffs very well too. So I think they've got as

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<v Speaker 4>good of a chance as anybody in the American League,

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<v Speaker 4>because I don't see anybody running away with anything. The

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<v Speaker 4>Astros won the series against the Tigers, they won a

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<v Speaker 4>series against the Mets, they won a series against the

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<v Speaker 4>San Diego Padres. They can compete with anybody, and they

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<v Speaker 4>can certainly pitch with anybody. And I think that's what

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<v Speaker 4>what's gonna matter down the road.

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<v Speaker 2>And Steve with that the record, I mean, you know,

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<v Speaker 2>sometimes what is the record saying they are considering the

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<v Speaker 2>fact that Jordan hasn't got going, we're waiting for Christian Walker.

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<v Speaker 2>He sent his hard I mean, I actually feel pretty

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<v Speaker 2>good about where they are pitching, for sure. Other than

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<v Speaker 2>a couple hiccups, but I feel pretty damn good about

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<v Speaker 2>where they are, considering they haven't exploded two or three

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<v Speaker 2>games in a row much at all, and the Big

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<v Speaker 2>Boppers still aren't going yet.

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<v Speaker 3>I think you're exactly right.

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<v Speaker 4>I think I think I think you could be pretty

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<v Speaker 4>confident that this pitching, barring injuries, are going to stay

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<v Speaker 4>very sound. I think their bullpen has a sub three

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<v Speaker 4>year I think second in the league, and they're starting

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<v Speaker 4>pitching is really consistent. And once you get these guys,

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<v Speaker 4>if they if they're thinking about they're getting ready to

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<v Speaker 4>go on a seventeen game run with no off days,

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<v Speaker 4>and they go to a six man rotation, give these

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<v Speaker 4>guys even a little bit more of a breather. They

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<v Speaker 4>go out there more fresh. I think you're going to

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<v Speaker 4>see even better from the from the rotation. So it's

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<v Speaker 4>pretty exciting in that regard. But I don't think anybody

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<v Speaker 4>in the American League is gonna run away from anything.

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<v Speaker 3>I just don't see. I don't see a clear cut

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<v Speaker 3>favorite right now.

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<v Speaker 2>It's gonna make for a hell of a run too,

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<v Speaker 2>a hell of a competition and fun baseball season to watch. Yeah,

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<v Speaker 2>it sure is, Steve great. Hopefully we won't. We'll get

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<v Speaker 2>we'll get great news and it won't be long news

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<v Speaker 2>about Jordon Alvarez and get him going. We appreciate you,

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<v Speaker 2>my man, and we'll do it again next Monday, and

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<v Speaker 2>thanks for joining.

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<v Speaker 1>Us as always.

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<v Speaker 3>All right, thanks for having me, Sean.

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<v Speaker 2>You bet that's great. Steve Sparks, good information, good stuff.

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<v Speaker 2>Let's come back and talk. Dan was concerned about Jordan

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<v Speaker 2>all along, and we even asked the question here, is

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<v Speaker 2>there some bothering him because it felt odd not having power?

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<v Speaker 2>Which one was it? And should we be concerned about

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<v Speaker 2>the other stuff, not even the injury about Jrdan or

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<v Speaker 2>is it just injury related? We'll come back and discuss

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<v Speaker 2>Sports Talk seven and ninety