WEBVTT 1 00:00:20.359 --> 00:00:23.160 Hello and welcome to Batlips and Nerds, the baseball podcast 2 00:00:23.160 --> 00:00:25.120 with a British twist. I am your host this evening 3 00:00:25.160 --> 00:00:28.920 for Russell Easam and I am in person with the 4 00:00:28.960 --> 00:00:29.920 amazing Ben Carter. 5 00:00:30.039 --> 00:00:30.239 Ben. 6 00:00:30.280 --> 00:00:31.879 How are we doing? I'm very good us. 7 00:00:31.920 --> 00:00:33.320 This is a bit weird for us to be sat 8 00:00:33.359 --> 00:00:35.840 here chatting in person and not over a video screen, 9 00:00:35.880 --> 00:00:38.079 but it's very exciting first event of the year to 10 00:00:38.359 --> 00:00:41.320 come watch baseball fellow fans, so no looking forward to it. 11 00:00:41.679 --> 00:00:44.159 Yes, and as Ben semi alluded to there, the reason 12 00:00:44.200 --> 00:00:46.640 why we are here in person is because we are 13 00:00:46.719 --> 00:00:50.280 down at Moonshoot, which is in the Westfields in London, 14 00:00:50.439 --> 00:00:54.399 to have the first MLB clubhouse event of the year. 15 00:00:54.719 --> 00:00:57.320 The event being put on by Europe and Week Clubhouse 16 00:00:57.439 --> 00:01:00.280 and ourselves to try and get people to come down 17 00:01:00.560 --> 00:01:04.159 and watch baseball together and build that community of people 18 00:01:04.239 --> 00:01:07.000 who know that other people of baseball in this country. 19 00:01:07.040 --> 00:01:09.000 Because if it wasn't for things like this, I wouldn't 20 00:01:09.040 --> 00:01:10.599 have known the Backflipsky Nerds existed. 21 00:01:11.120 --> 00:01:13.959 Yeah, it's the main place that we've met everyone basically, 22 00:01:13.959 --> 00:01:16.239 isn't It's always funny of these relationships started. 23 00:01:16.480 --> 00:01:17.640 What all of them did for me anyway. 24 00:01:17.680 --> 00:01:20.040 Online you know, you write stuff or hop on the 25 00:01:20.040 --> 00:01:22.079 podcast and meet people, but it's nice to actually have 26 00:01:22.079 --> 00:01:23.920 a chance to see them in real life, have a beer, 27 00:01:23.959 --> 00:01:26.719 watch a game, banter about whatever's going on in the world. 28 00:01:27.079 --> 00:01:29.200 So yeah, no, it's nice to be be all back 29 00:01:29.200 --> 00:01:31.840 together for Opening weekend and get a chance to catch up. 30 00:01:32.519 --> 00:01:32.719 Yeah. 31 00:01:32.760 --> 00:01:35.439 So we've had three days of baseball when I don't 32 00:01:35.439 --> 00:01:39.400 know where your attention has been. Has it been a 33 00:01:39.400 --> 00:01:41.760 side that now plays in a short porch that isn't 34 00:01:41.840 --> 00:01:45.760 Yankee Stadium. Have you been watching a broad, broader set 35 00:01:45.760 --> 00:01:49.079 of games beyond just what happens at the Steinbrenner Arena. 36 00:01:49.280 --> 00:01:50.840 I've not been watching a ton of the games. 37 00:01:50.879 --> 00:01:53.079 Actually, we went together on Opening Day, so I watched 38 00:01:53.079 --> 00:01:54.439 them of the baseball there with you, which was that 39 00:01:54.519 --> 00:01:58.159 was good fun, some really interesting, exciting games at nights, 40 00:01:58.200 --> 00:02:01.560 and some closes looking a little bit shake as we discussed, 41 00:02:01.640 --> 00:02:04.239 that was fun. I didn't watch much Friday or Saturday. 42 00:02:04.280 --> 00:02:06.040 I saw the highlights of the Ray's Rockies game. We 43 00:02:06.040 --> 00:02:09.199 were discussing a little bit earlier. Last night's game was 44 00:02:09.199 --> 00:02:11.479 was really funny because the Rockies gave up. I think 45 00:02:11.479 --> 00:02:14.719 it was like twelve hits, five walks, an Tenia Sindetela 46 00:02:14.759 --> 00:02:16.599 had one of the strangest pitching lines you'll ever see, 47 00:02:16.800 --> 00:02:18.599 and yet the Rockies managed to win two to one 48 00:02:19.159 --> 00:02:20.759 on the back of some amazing defense, which is worth 49 00:02:20.800 --> 00:02:22.439 looking up. But that was my first taste of seeing 50 00:02:22.479 --> 00:02:25.599 some action from Steinbrenner Field, which is a bit. 51 00:02:25.639 --> 00:02:25.840 Yeah. 52 00:02:25.840 --> 00:02:27.759 Still it doesn't feel like a Major League park when 53 00:02:27.759 --> 00:02:29.919 you see it on TV. But no, I've been trying 54 00:02:29.919 --> 00:02:31.439 to keep across all the games that are taking place, 55 00:02:31.439 --> 00:02:33.680 watching the highlights, keeping up with it. It has been 56 00:02:33.719 --> 00:02:35.719 a real over day of baseball, but you know, missed 57 00:02:35.719 --> 00:02:38.439 it after the long winter, I believe. 58 00:02:38.319 --> 00:02:39.159 Yeah, definitely. 59 00:02:39.400 --> 00:02:42.439 Obviously we watched those games on Friday. I watched a 60 00:02:42.520 --> 00:02:45.439 little bit more on Friday night, and then last night 61 00:02:45.479 --> 00:02:48.319 I was with my partner and her housemates and know, 62 00:02:49.039 --> 00:02:52.120 they permitted me to put on the baseball while we 63 00:02:52.120 --> 00:02:54.479 were chatting and having a good evening. So we put 64 00:02:54.479 --> 00:02:57.759 on the first game, which was the Brewers Yankees match, 65 00:02:57.919 --> 00:03:00.800 and yeah, suffice to say, two or three of them 66 00:03:00.800 --> 00:03:03.680 were really questioning what's normal about baseball because it was 67 00:03:03.719 --> 00:03:05.919 like home run, home run, home run, and they were like, 68 00:03:07.240 --> 00:03:09.759 is this normal? And me and my Barner Brenan were 69 00:03:09.800 --> 00:03:13.919 just like, yeah, no, that's not really normal. I think 70 00:03:14.080 --> 00:03:16.840 I don't think anybody would have said that would have happened. 71 00:03:16.879 --> 00:03:20.120 I think having the different lead of hitters going like 72 00:03:20.240 --> 00:03:23.439 back to back going hitting home runs, I will hold 73 00:03:23.479 --> 00:03:25.840 my head up and I think, like quite a few people, 74 00:03:26.240 --> 00:03:29.840 I was lively and probably loudly questioning Austin Wills as 75 00:03:29.879 --> 00:03:32.800 a lead off hitter just as he smacked that home 76 00:03:32.879 --> 00:03:33.919 run on Thursday night. 77 00:03:34.199 --> 00:03:36.560 Yeah, that was a great moment Russell berating the Yankees 78 00:03:36.599 --> 00:03:38.879 putting Austin Well's leadoff just to watch him then smash 79 00:03:38.919 --> 00:03:42.639 one over the fence. And yeah, last night's Yankees game, Yeah, 80 00:03:42.680 --> 00:03:44.360 first time in history, right that it was back to 81 00:03:44.400 --> 00:03:46.400 back to back home runs in the first three pitchers 82 00:03:46.439 --> 00:03:48.479 of the game. I think we're going to get onto 83 00:03:48.560 --> 00:03:50.400 the other talking point from that from that game or 84 00:03:50.439 --> 00:03:53.039 from the bats a little bit later on. But yeah, 85 00:03:53.120 --> 00:03:55.840 poorn Ester Cortez, that was not a nice reintroduction to 86 00:03:56.120 --> 00:03:58.199 the stadium in his first start as a brewer. 87 00:03:58.199 --> 00:04:00.360 That was that was brutal to watch. So yeah, good 88 00:04:00.400 --> 00:04:01.240 to have baseball back. 89 00:04:02.479 --> 00:04:04.719 I think we're gonna we're gonna grab George maybe now 90 00:04:05.520 --> 00:04:07.840 of MLBUK Clubhouse. Maybe talk to him a little bit 91 00:04:07.879 --> 00:04:09.800 about what we're doing here and what those guys have 92 00:04:09.879 --> 00:04:10.919 got planned for the rest of the season. 93 00:04:10.960 --> 00:04:15.479 So I'm going to cleverly tilt our GoPro and introduce him. 94 00:04:15.599 --> 00:04:16.720 He's live, George. 95 00:04:16.879 --> 00:04:18.240 Thank you for I'm going to give you this mic 96 00:04:18.279 --> 00:04:20.160 and then maybe we'll wen chare it a little bit. 97 00:04:20.199 --> 00:04:22.399 But I guess we've just been mentioned that we're here 98 00:04:22.439 --> 00:04:24.600 first event of the year. Nicely everyone in person again, 99 00:04:25.360 --> 00:04:26.680 how are you doing? What does it mean to be 100 00:04:26.720 --> 00:04:28.399 back with people watching baseball again? 101 00:04:29.319 --> 00:04:31.319 Firstly, thanks for having me on here and it's it's 102 00:04:31.319 --> 00:04:32.079 brilliant to be back. 103 00:04:32.120 --> 00:04:34.959 I think we will miss baseball Junior off season as always, 104 00:04:35.519 --> 00:04:37.959 and the chance to enjoy it in public and with 105 00:04:38.240 --> 00:04:40.920 these fans that we've known and grown to love over 106 00:04:40.959 --> 00:04:44.120 the years, and this whole experience as a shared community 107 00:04:44.279 --> 00:04:47.319 is wonderful and I think we're just looking to grow 108 00:04:47.360 --> 00:04:49.680 that year on the year, and I'm excited about the 109 00:04:49.680 --> 00:04:52.519 whole revamp. Obviously we've got the NIBUK Clubhouse and I'll 110 00:04:52.600 --> 00:04:55.360 side you guys with the revamp backflips and under the 111 00:04:55.839 --> 00:04:58.480 europe Fan Network. I think the future is very exciting. 112 00:04:58.759 --> 00:05:01.000 I really can't wait to see the future holds this year. 113 00:05:01.800 --> 00:05:02.120 Brilliant. 114 00:05:02.199 --> 00:05:05.160 Yeah, I feel people have seen on Socialist the rebrand obviously, 115 00:05:05.279 --> 00:05:08.600 we also now have shining new logos and colors and everything, 116 00:05:08.600 --> 00:05:10.199 which is very exciting. As you say, what what does 117 00:05:10.240 --> 00:05:12.680 it mean for you guys as far as what's like 118 00:05:12.800 --> 00:05:14.959 changing in terms of your approach this year, What are 119 00:05:15.000 --> 00:05:16.480 you going to be doing differently? What can fans come 120 00:05:16.519 --> 00:05:19.000 to expect from the new you know, MLBUK Clubhouse. 121 00:05:19.959 --> 00:05:22.480 I think it's just more about understanding that there are 122 00:05:22.800 --> 00:05:24.959 you know, there's a very wide kind of fan base 123 00:05:24.959 --> 00:05:26.959 out there, and we're trying to appeal to everyone in 124 00:05:27.000 --> 00:05:27.720 a way which makes sense. 125 00:05:27.759 --> 00:05:30.279 Everyone's difficult because you've got existing. 126 00:05:29.879 --> 00:05:32.399 Fans who don't want to be pandered to, like is 127 00:05:32.439 --> 00:05:34.160 if they've never watched the game before, and you've got 128 00:05:34.199 --> 00:05:36.800 new fans who really are coming absolutely fresh to the sport, 129 00:05:36.800 --> 00:05:39.000 and we you know, we can't stress us enough. We've 130 00:05:39.000 --> 00:05:41.319 always been looking to get these people on board and 131 00:05:41.560 --> 00:05:43.720 get them into this community and show how welcoming it is. 132 00:05:43.959 --> 00:05:45.000 So I think in terms of the. 133 00:05:44.920 --> 00:05:47.759 Rebrand, it's just it just sounds cliched and a bit 134 00:05:48.079 --> 00:05:50.439 business jogony, but it's just be more approachable and to 135 00:05:50.480 --> 00:05:53.120 be more clear in terms of like who we are 136 00:05:53.199 --> 00:05:55.439 what we are, uh And I think that's going to 137 00:05:55.519 --> 00:05:57.759 become more and more apparent over the course of this season. 138 00:05:58.279 --> 00:06:00.600 Our goal, as we've always stress this, is to have 139 00:06:00.639 --> 00:06:02.560 events not just in London but around the whole of 140 00:06:02.560 --> 00:06:05.560 the UK because it's it's MLB UK clubhouse for a reason. 141 00:06:06.000 --> 00:06:08.720 It's it really is a movement and the more we 142 00:06:08.759 --> 00:06:11.480 can get people to understand that and buy into it, 143 00:06:11.480 --> 00:06:13.519 the more everyone everyone knows gonna benefit from it. Because 144 00:06:13.519 --> 00:06:16.120 it's a wonderful sport. We're always at pains to stress 145 00:06:16.160 --> 00:06:18.360 that it will. We welcome fans of all thirty teams 146 00:06:18.439 --> 00:06:20.040 or fans of no teams. You know, if you just 147 00:06:20.160 --> 00:06:22.000 like the sport but you don't actually even have a team, 148 00:06:22.000 --> 00:06:24.040 you're more absolutely welcome to come. It's not it's not 149 00:06:24.079 --> 00:06:26.120 a close It's never ever been a closed shop, and 150 00:06:26.160 --> 00:06:28.000 that's exactly what we want to try and emphasize with 151 00:06:28.040 --> 00:06:30.319 the with the rebrand and the kind of freshness with it. 152 00:06:30.879 --> 00:06:32.839 Yeah, I think there's a brilliant sentiment to go with 153 00:06:32.920 --> 00:06:36.279 It's something that I have found coming into baseball in 154 00:06:36.600 --> 00:06:39.399 playing either the sport or being kind of that fandom 155 00:06:39.480 --> 00:06:41.240 is that it's been generally been a great like open 156 00:06:41.319 --> 00:06:44.560 environment where pretty much anybody you come in you can 157 00:06:44.600 --> 00:06:46.800 be like there's there's no gatekeeping here, there's no we're 158 00:06:46.800 --> 00:06:48.040 not one of that. Like we all want you to 159 00:06:48.120 --> 00:06:50.720 love the sport that we love, so please do if 160 00:06:50.720 --> 00:06:52.839 you find the opportunity in the future to come down 161 00:06:52.839 --> 00:06:56.560 to one of these events. Maybe jumping the gun slightly, 162 00:06:56.600 --> 00:06:58.920 but I think kind of there has been another location 163 00:06:59.000 --> 00:07:03.000 outside of London kind of decided as what we'll try 164 00:07:03.040 --> 00:07:04.519 and do with what I think are going to be 165 00:07:04.600 --> 00:07:07.279 attempts at kind of like monthly events now throughout the 166 00:07:07.279 --> 00:07:07.800 rest of the year. 167 00:07:07.839 --> 00:07:10.759 George definitely, I think, I mean that's for us is 168 00:07:11.079 --> 00:07:11.959 really the priority. 169 00:07:12.000 --> 00:07:14.360 I think we I don't want to let the cat 170 00:07:14.360 --> 00:07:15.959 out the bag too much, but I think in terms 171 00:07:16.000 --> 00:07:17.639 of from em and m or b UK clubhouse side 172 00:07:17.680 --> 00:07:20.319 of things, we're looking to actually get a couple of 173 00:07:20.319 --> 00:07:20.959 other people. 174 00:07:20.759 --> 00:07:22.839 Involved on board with with our group. 175 00:07:23.160 --> 00:07:25.680 So if you're listening and think that that's something which 176 00:07:26.399 --> 00:07:28.160 would be an attractive option to you in terms of 177 00:07:28.240 --> 00:07:30.959 you know, helping us do what we do on social media, 178 00:07:31.000 --> 00:07:33.720 staying active on there and kind of being in touch 179 00:07:33.759 --> 00:07:36.920 with the community of baseball, of MLB fans in the UK. 180 00:07:37.439 --> 00:07:39.240 You know, by it means drop us a DM on 181 00:07:39.519 --> 00:07:41.439 any any social media platform that we're on. We're going 182 00:07:41.519 --> 00:07:44.240 to look to expand to other platforms like Blue Sky, 183 00:07:44.240 --> 00:07:45.920 et cetera as well this year, So don't feel like 184 00:07:45.920 --> 00:07:48.879 you're limited to Twitter or Instagram or any whatever. 185 00:07:49.120 --> 00:07:50.480 We're going to be out there. We're going to be 186 00:07:50.519 --> 00:07:52.000 active and we're going to look to expand. 187 00:07:52.079 --> 00:07:54.399 So I think working with you guys for us is 188 00:07:54.480 --> 00:07:56.879 very very important as well, because we cover kind of 189 00:07:56.959 --> 00:07:58.560 like different sides of the same coin. 190 00:07:58.639 --> 00:08:00.519 We deal with the sort of community side of it 191 00:08:00.519 --> 00:08:01.199 as we always have. 192 00:08:01.439 --> 00:08:03.519 And then you've got bat Flips who are very much 193 00:08:03.560 --> 00:08:07.879 involved with like grassroots baseball with the statistical and numerical 194 00:08:07.920 --> 00:08:09.959 side of baseball, and I think it marries up really 195 00:08:09.959 --> 00:08:12.519 well because everyone enjoys baseball in their own different ways 196 00:08:12.519 --> 00:08:14.319 and we kind of have that perfect blend. 197 00:08:14.319 --> 00:08:16.040 So I'm really really excited for what this year's got 198 00:08:16.120 --> 00:08:16.959 in store for us. 199 00:08:17.639 --> 00:08:17.839 Yeah. 200 00:08:17.959 --> 00:08:20.639 Likewise, I mean, it's funny we obviously have been We've 201 00:08:20.680 --> 00:08:22.519 known you guys for so long now that these defens 202 00:08:22.519 --> 00:08:25.800 that have happened in the past, and yeah, I mean 203 00:08:26.000 --> 00:08:28.480 we met on quite a few occasions obviously going back 204 00:08:28.519 --> 00:08:31.040 I think maybe pre London Series twenty nineteen even you know, 205 00:08:31.040 --> 00:08:33.600 when these events are taking place on a smaller scale, 206 00:08:33.639 --> 00:08:35.039 but it's cool for us and I'll be a little 207 00:08:35.039 --> 00:08:37.120 bit close together in terms of how we're a bit more. 208 00:08:37.120 --> 00:08:39.399 We're doing forward and trying to connect with fans. So yeah, 209 00:08:39.399 --> 00:08:41.559 I would definitely encourage people for just com to check 210 00:08:41.600 --> 00:08:43.120 these events out and get involved as much as they 211 00:08:43.159 --> 00:08:45.440 can do. I guess for anyone who hasn't been down 212 00:08:45.480 --> 00:08:47.480 to an event before thinking about coming along, what can 213 00:08:47.480 --> 00:08:50.080 they expect when they come down to someone like Moonshot 214 00:08:50.159 --> 00:08:51.399 and want to see a game of some fans? 215 00:08:52.240 --> 00:08:55.399 I think, firstly, as I said before, a welcoming atmosphere, 216 00:08:55.879 --> 00:08:58.960 we always myself and Nick, who you hopefully will know 217 00:08:59.039 --> 00:09:02.559 from online if you're listening to this also runs the 218 00:09:02.600 --> 00:09:06.159 Early Angels UK and what we focus on every time 219 00:09:06.159 --> 00:09:07.799 at these events is to make sure that we're approaching 220 00:09:07.799 --> 00:09:10.200 people who we can tell are new at the events 221 00:09:10.200 --> 00:09:12.360 that we've never seen before. Get to know them, get 222 00:09:12.399 --> 00:09:14.639 to speak to them, see what their connection is with baseball, 223 00:09:14.679 --> 00:09:17.759 what they enjoy and try and you know, really understand 224 00:09:17.759 --> 00:09:20.360 how this community works, because I think it's safe to 225 00:09:20.360 --> 00:09:23.720 say that fans in the UK frame will be are 226 00:09:23.720 --> 00:09:26.279 slightly different from fans that perhaps in America. Obviously you're 227 00:09:26.279 --> 00:09:27.519 gonna get a lot of expats here, but if you're 228 00:09:27.519 --> 00:09:30.639 talking about specifically British fans, everyone enjoys the game in 229 00:09:30.639 --> 00:09:32.480 a slightly different way. And that's the same if you're 230 00:09:32.480 --> 00:09:34.279 going to the Far East, you looking at Japan and Career. 231 00:09:34.399 --> 00:09:36.720 Everyone's got their own kind of fan character and the 232 00:09:36.759 --> 00:09:38.840 fact and the way that they enjoy it. So it's 233 00:09:39.000 --> 00:09:41.240 it's very very important to us to try and reach 234 00:09:41.279 --> 00:09:43.600 out to everyone and make sure that we understand what 235 00:09:43.600 --> 00:09:44.480 those nuances are. 236 00:09:45.519 --> 00:09:47.320 Brilliant. Yeah, I mean it was funny when we got here. 237 00:09:47.320 --> 00:09:50.000 It was myself obviously in my Rocky jersey, the people 238 00:09:50.000 --> 00:09:52.360 watching can see and a Raised fan came in next 239 00:09:52.399 --> 00:09:54.360 so literally as all thirty teams represented here and we 240 00:09:54.360 --> 00:09:56.759 were able to get Raised Rockies straight onto the TV 241 00:09:56.919 --> 00:09:59.480 to watch first up. So look, they'll be fans from 242 00:09:59.480 --> 00:10:01.559 every team here. There'll be games on all the TVs. 243 00:10:01.559 --> 00:10:04.120 It is good fun, nice chat baseball through with with 244 00:10:04.159 --> 00:10:07.399 fellow nerds and fellow backflip enthusiasts, so so No, definitely 245 00:10:07.399 --> 00:10:09.360 recommend it for the Kambia Shane get you want to 246 00:10:09.360 --> 00:10:11.600 not talk a little bit about the Astros, George, How 247 00:10:11.600 --> 00:10:13.000 are you feeling about the season upcoming? 248 00:10:13.080 --> 00:10:14.480 How is Astros fans uk going? 249 00:10:14.519 --> 00:10:16.559 Tell us a little bit about twenty twenty five in 250 00:10:16.639 --> 00:10:17.399 the Astros world. 251 00:10:18.399 --> 00:10:21.080 Yeah, a lot of change once again for the Astros. 252 00:10:21.320 --> 00:10:26.080 Obviously having traded Kyle Tucker away before he would hit 253 00:10:26.080 --> 00:10:27.919 free agency at the end of this year, and having 254 00:10:27.960 --> 00:10:31.120 lost Alex Bregman in free agency, a very different feel 255 00:10:31.159 --> 00:10:34.159 to the Astros. But honestly, and I know I am 256 00:10:34.200 --> 00:10:38.000 guilty of being slightly over positive at times in general 257 00:10:38.000 --> 00:10:39.759 when it comes to the Astros, but I genuinely have 258 00:10:40.480 --> 00:10:43.320 just a bit but I do have. I do have 259 00:10:43.360 --> 00:10:45.679 a genuine level of optimism for this team. I don't 260 00:10:45.720 --> 00:10:48.000 know how far they can go, but in terms of 261 00:10:48.159 --> 00:10:50.320 the actual makeup of this team, I think having Eas 262 00:10:50.320 --> 00:10:52.840 at Parade's third base is is looking like a really 263 00:10:52.840 --> 00:10:55.639 good acquisition, even though he doors because he's taking a 264 00:10:55.679 --> 00:10:57.279 lot of pictures. One of the worst things for us 265 00:10:57.360 --> 00:10:59.960 last season was that we became obsessed with this ultra 266 00:11:00.000 --> 00:11:02.639 aggressive mindset of the plate, and there's so many, so 267 00:11:02.639 --> 00:11:06.200 many games where we'd be you know, five to seven pitchers, 268 00:11:06.240 --> 00:11:09.159 eight pitchers, three up, three down and putting the pilot 269 00:11:09.159 --> 00:11:11.600 of the pressure back onto our pitchers. And it was 270 00:11:11.639 --> 00:11:13.080 a miracle last season that we were able to even 271 00:11:13.080 --> 00:11:15.360 win the division considering the volume of pitching injuries that 272 00:11:15.399 --> 00:11:17.600 we had and the makeshift kind of rotation that we 273 00:11:17.720 --> 00:11:19.679 put together. Was it was actually an incredible job we 274 00:11:19.720 --> 00:11:21.879 did after a disastrous first six weeks. In terms of 275 00:11:21.879 --> 00:11:24.720 this year, very excited about the team. I think having 276 00:11:24.720 --> 00:11:26.679 won that first series against the Mets was very important 277 00:11:26.679 --> 00:11:26.919 for us. 278 00:11:27.279 --> 00:11:28.080 Struggles at home. 279 00:11:28.399 --> 00:11:30.639 Still not quite hitting yet, but obviously it's very very 280 00:11:30.639 --> 00:11:31.720 early doors in the season. 281 00:11:31.720 --> 00:11:33.000 I think there's that that will come. 282 00:11:33.440 --> 00:11:36.480 But yeah, good to see how two V not bothered 283 00:11:36.480 --> 00:11:38.000 by the switch to left field in terms of his 284 00:11:38.080 --> 00:11:38.799 actual hitting. 285 00:11:38.919 --> 00:11:41.080 Lady got five hits in that first series. 286 00:11:42.799 --> 00:11:45.080 Yeah, I'm just I'm just very very optimistic about the 287 00:11:45.240 --> 00:11:46.639 fact that this team is going to grow together. 288 00:11:46.679 --> 00:11:48.159 There's reasons to be confident that. 289 00:11:48.879 --> 00:11:53.759 Naturally, every team is guided and you know, dictated to 290 00:11:53.799 --> 00:11:54.840 by the health of the players. 291 00:11:55.080 --> 00:11:56.559 If we have two or three key injuries, we could 292 00:11:56.559 --> 00:11:57.159 be in big problems. 293 00:11:57.159 --> 00:11:58.679 But I think that's the same form almost any team 294 00:11:58.679 --> 00:12:01.440 that's not the Dodgers or the Mets pretty much because 295 00:12:01.440 --> 00:12:04.279 it's they've kind of have unlimited pockets. 296 00:12:04.279 --> 00:12:06.720 But it is what it is in terms of Astros fans. K. 297 00:12:06.879 --> 00:12:10.279 Yeah, my content this season, yeah, really expanding it got 298 00:12:10.320 --> 00:12:13.759 my my next Day recaps, which I've just revamped in 299 00:12:13.840 --> 00:12:16.639 terms of according it the extra innings Next Day recap. 300 00:12:16.639 --> 00:12:17.200 So I checked that out. 301 00:12:17.200 --> 00:12:20.159 If you're an Astros fan listening, I'm also on YouTube now, 302 00:12:20.159 --> 00:12:23.120 so give the YouTube channel a check. So yeah, pretty 303 00:12:23.159 --> 00:12:29.399 much all platforms, whether it's Twitter, slash x, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok. 304 00:12:29.159 --> 00:12:30.440 All of them really, you know, YouTube. 305 00:12:30.480 --> 00:12:33.039 So I'm very very excited to really push it, try 306 00:12:33.039 --> 00:12:35.279 and grow this Astros fan base, which is what I'm 307 00:12:35.360 --> 00:12:38.600 what I'm very passionate about in the UK and across 308 00:12:38.639 --> 00:12:41.440 the world, and indeed with the fans back in America's well. 309 00:12:41.440 --> 00:12:43.759 I'm hoping to get out to use to myself later 310 00:12:43.840 --> 00:12:46.440 this season and looking forward to just interacting with everyone. 311 00:12:46.799 --> 00:12:49.000 Heah no, that's all for George. 312 00:12:49.039 --> 00:12:51.360 Yeah, Like the from our perspective, I think both the 313 00:12:51.679 --> 00:12:53.679 BTM and the E team both had the Astros of 314 00:12:53.759 --> 00:12:55.679 like eighty eight or eighty nine wins. 315 00:12:55.240 --> 00:12:55.480 I think. 316 00:12:55.720 --> 00:12:58.360 So it's like I think they have a system that 317 00:12:58.399 --> 00:13:00.840 we all trust that like the same people that are 318 00:13:00.879 --> 00:13:03.120 still in place, like behind the scenes, the same place 319 00:13:03.200 --> 00:13:05.080 is still in place kind of at those key levels 320 00:13:05.080 --> 00:13:07.240 that you're like, you know what, you've aren't the trust 321 00:13:07.240 --> 00:13:08.679 the same way that you kind of have with the 322 00:13:08.759 --> 00:13:11.159 Rays where it's like you don't quite know how it's 323 00:13:11.159 --> 00:13:13.559 going to fit all together exactly right now, but they've 324 00:13:13.559 --> 00:13:17.039 aren't that trust. You have players like Framburg going who 325 00:13:17.200 --> 00:13:20.399 going into his free agency, somebody who could could be 326 00:13:20.440 --> 00:13:22.799 maybe looking at like a one hundred and like one 327 00:13:22.840 --> 00:13:24.960 hundred and fifty two hundred million dollar contract out there 328 00:13:25.240 --> 00:13:28.000 from what he's doing like through seven innings on opening day, 329 00:13:28.000 --> 00:13:29.600 which is only like the one of two guys who 330 00:13:29.679 --> 00:13:32.679 actually did that massive like innings before, where I think, like, 331 00:13:33.200 --> 00:13:35.360 once again, like who knows, you could even see Lance 332 00:13:35.399 --> 00:13:38.120 mccullors throw a pitch, which would which would be a 333 00:13:38.200 --> 00:13:38.879 dream as someone. 334 00:13:39.799 --> 00:13:42.200 Yeah, absolutely he's actually pitching today, I think for the 335 00:13:42.240 --> 00:13:45.240 Space Cowboys in a rehab start. So yeah, I'm just 336 00:13:45.879 --> 00:13:48.000 I feel for him so much. He's had such an 337 00:13:48.000 --> 00:13:50.120 injury nightmare. I really really hope that this is the 338 00:13:50.200 --> 00:13:52.159 year where he can actually finally get back out that 339 00:13:52.159 --> 00:13:54.000 he hasn't pitched for us since that ward tier is 340 00:13:54.000 --> 00:13:55.720 in twenty twenty two where he got actually destroyed by 341 00:13:55.720 --> 00:13:56.679 the Phillies in game three. 342 00:13:56.759 --> 00:13:59.679 So yeah, we'll we'll see. 343 00:13:59.720 --> 00:14:01.679 But it's I agree with you that the thing for 344 00:14:01.759 --> 00:14:03.840 us at the Astros is that, like I said, the 345 00:14:03.879 --> 00:14:07.080 process and that and the whole kind of the pitching 346 00:14:07.159 --> 00:14:09.519 lab and and all that is is I don't know 347 00:14:09.519 --> 00:14:11.360 what they do, like the ins and outs of it, 348 00:14:11.399 --> 00:14:13.279 but it's incredible and it is tried and tested, and 349 00:14:13.360 --> 00:14:17.840 our overseas, you know, our international acquisitions are arguably second 350 00:14:17.840 --> 00:14:19.559 to none. It's certainly in the top two or three 351 00:14:19.600 --> 00:14:22.360 and made in MLB, and you know it, just when 352 00:14:22.519 --> 00:14:25.039 you think, oh, the Astros are gonna that they've lost 353 00:14:25.080 --> 00:14:27.080 another key piece, suddenly we've got someone coming from like 354 00:14:27.200 --> 00:14:30.480 Dominican Republican Venezuela's like throwing ninety eight ninety nine, and 355 00:14:30.519 --> 00:14:33.480 you're thinking, wow, okay, this is just another piece to 356 00:14:33.679 --> 00:14:35.320 add to the puzzle. So I think, you know, it's 357 00:14:35.759 --> 00:14:37.559 it's going to be an exciting division. I think that 358 00:14:37.559 --> 00:14:39.759 the Rangers feel like they are prime to have a 359 00:14:39.759 --> 00:14:42.080 bigger year than obviously what was very poor for them 360 00:14:42.159 --> 00:14:44.559 last year. I've got to be honest with you, I'm 361 00:14:44.600 --> 00:14:46.519 never gonna believe in the Mariners ever. I'm never ever 362 00:14:46.559 --> 00:14:48.879 going to believe in them. They've got I think that 363 00:14:48.960 --> 00:14:52.519 they are. That they're pitching is still even even with injuries, 364 00:14:52.559 --> 00:14:56.279 it's still very, very, very good. And I I love 365 00:14:56.320 --> 00:14:58.120 watching I love watching their pictures do what they do. 366 00:14:58.480 --> 00:15:01.080 But their offense is just not there and I don't 367 00:15:01.120 --> 00:15:02.639 I don't think that's going to change the season. And 368 00:15:02.639 --> 00:15:05.440 then also the mindset. I think for them, it's a 369 00:15:05.480 --> 00:15:07.440 bit like they've got a mental block which they can't 370 00:15:07.440 --> 00:15:10.799 get over. And I mean, and then look at the 371 00:15:10.879 --> 00:15:13.559 Angels again, I think the Angels have got so much 372 00:15:13.600 --> 00:15:15.639 to prove in terms of to actually be taken seriously. 373 00:15:15.679 --> 00:15:18.840 That's that's the key stumbling block for them, is that 374 00:15:19.559 --> 00:15:21.039 I think they actually had quite a good offseason in 375 00:15:21.120 --> 00:15:22.840 terms of picking up players that look like on paper 376 00:15:22.840 --> 00:15:24.840 they should be fairly dependable and not they're not going 377 00:15:24.840 --> 00:15:26.559 to be world beaters, but the ones that should actually 378 00:15:26.559 --> 00:15:27.759 just get them through a season. 379 00:15:27.840 --> 00:15:29.200 Yeah, but that's been the Angels of maybe in the 380 00:15:29.279 --> 00:15:31.000 last five years, you've kind of thought the one year 381 00:15:31.039 --> 00:15:32.879 deals have been The one year deals have never been 382 00:15:32.879 --> 00:15:36.440 the problem. It's the how seemingly no prospect has come 383 00:15:36.480 --> 00:15:39.600 through that system, and there's been good since Mike Trout. 384 00:15:39.759 --> 00:15:41.600 I'll give Shanuel a bit of an opportunity, and it 385 00:15:41.639 --> 00:15:43.960 doesn't help, like, I know, run down and gets a 386 00:15:43.960 --> 00:15:46.559 lot of stick and and potentially like deservedly so, but 387 00:15:46.600 --> 00:15:49.600 like it doesn't really help the like the guy that 388 00:15:49.679 --> 00:15:52.960 you put bank on to be like that corner of 389 00:15:52.960 --> 00:15:55.039 if I it's just like, yeah, you know what, Like 390 00:15:55.279 --> 00:15:58.519 I kind of don't really like baseball and I'm injured. 391 00:15:59.039 --> 00:16:02.759 Oh and I'm in it again. I'm injured again. Like no, 392 00:16:03.639 --> 00:16:07.080 no aspersions against the man's character or whatever earlier and 393 00:16:07.159 --> 00:16:10.120 stuff like that. But like there's a reason why the 394 00:16:11.399 --> 00:16:13.720 like national fans will still love Strasbourg even though he 395 00:16:13.720 --> 00:16:15.840 basically played for like I don't know, five innings after 396 00:16:15.919 --> 00:16:17.879 that contract. Even then Rendona's done the same. 397 00:16:19.000 --> 00:16:21.000 I think we're I think we're the Angels, and it's 398 00:16:21.039 --> 00:16:23.519 obviously it's old ground, but I think if I was 399 00:16:23.519 --> 00:16:26.480 an Angles fan, I'd still be pulling my hair out 400 00:16:26.480 --> 00:16:27.960 of the fact that they didn't cash in on a 401 00:16:28.039 --> 00:16:29.559