August 29, 2024 • 10 mins
The Athletic's Astros beat writer, Chandler Rome joins The A-Team for his weekly visit. He talks about the positive on-field workout videos that surfaced of Kyle Tucker today at Minute Maid Park. He talks about this upcoming tough series the Astros have against the Kansas City Royals at Minute Maid Park. Plus, the Astros have another tough series upcoming against a tough National League club.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
As for usual, each and every week, joined by chand
L Roma, the athletic who covers the Astros, joining us
here instead of on a Wednesday. During yesterday's Astros game
and victory ten nothing, He'll join us today from the ballpark.
We got a lot of different angles to take, but
there's a bunch of newness over there. First home games
this season for Hector Naris and Ben Gamble, first game
(00:21):
period for Jason Hayward. Hayward and Gamble are in tonight's lineup,
But of course we will start with somebody who was
playing catch and then throwing the baseball back in the
outfield today. Kyle Tucker both saw him on the field
and I believe he shared some thoughts on where things
stand with his status.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
What do you got for us today, Chandler And Hello, Hello.
Speaker 3 (00:42):
I'm not at the ballpark, so my flight I took
a direct from Philly that didn't get me home in
time to go to pregame. So just from seeing the
videos that my esteemed colleagues took, and I'm kind of
judging from what they said.
Speaker 2 (00:56):
It looks like he's moving a little bit better. But again.
Speaker 3 (01:01):
I'm not gonna basically, I'm at the point where it's
just kind of wake me up when he's fully running
the bases, because I think that's where there's actual movement
and actual we can talk about getting him out of
a rehab assignment. I thought it was funny that there
was all of a sudden he was sprinting this week,
but then Joe Espada had to clarify that he's sprinting
at fifty percent.
Speaker 2 (01:23):
I didn't know that.
Speaker 3 (01:24):
I didn't know that you could sprint, which is to
me is a full run, like full effort, but at
fifty percent effort. So he's not actually sprinting, which which
means there is still no timeline. There's no timetable. When
you see video of him running the bases at full speed,
that is when you know he is almost ready to
go on a rehab assignment.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
Okay, all of this, all of this other stuff is eyewashed.
Speaker 4 (01:48):
Okay, you have to settle this debate that we had earlier,
because I said, based on what I've seen, kind of
like you today. You're just looking at things that other
people have posted, and you know, talking with other people
and hearing the chatter and all that. If it were
game one of a playoff, series and you needed Kyle
Tucker out.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
There, would he be good to go? In your opinion,
I think he'd try to give it a go. I don't.
Speaker 3 (02:13):
I don't think he's I don't think he's at one
hundred percent yet, And I think they don't want to
get him out there unless he's at one hundred percent.
If it was the playoffs, yes, I think he would
try to give it a go. But do you want
to jeopardize him for presumably presumably for the playoffs by
running him out there now if he's seventy or seventy
five percent, that's something that they can't risk. I do think, however,
(02:37):
if they had a different roster construction, if they had
a way that he could come back and maybe d
H a lot more and then you know, gradually working
back in the right field, I think we'd be talking
a little bit more of a different story. But their
roster right now has so much limited flexibility, you know,
without they don't want to put al Resney outfield, Alex pregnant.
(02:59):
They have to keep wary of Alex pregnant and how
much they need to DH him with his elbow, and
you know, with Victor Carrattini, and Yiner Diaz needing to
be in the lineup together most days. I mean, one
of them is probably going to take a DH spot
so that they can't really bring another guy that is going.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
To solely be a DH and put him on the roster.
Speaker 3 (03:19):
So I do think though, if this roster construction was
a little bit differently, if it was constructed a little
bit different, maybe he'd be.
Speaker 2 (03:26):
Back in a more limited capacity.
Speaker 1 (03:28):
Already, as we kind of make our way through the
rest of the roster, a lot of things have continued
to change, as would be the case in most normal seasons,
but very interesting, I guess the decision today they're activating
Ryan Presley, which was not unexpected and very good news.
Chosen King Brian King, who just most recently appeared to
finish off the Spencer Arraghetty start yesterday as the player
(03:51):
that is optioned down. Just curious how that decision maybe
comes about and what are your expectations for this team
to do in a couple of days when September begins
and that roster figure hits twenty eight.
Speaker 2 (04:05):
I was a little surprised that it was Brian King.
Speaker 3 (04:07):
I understand why they did it, just because there's only
three guys in their bullpen with minor league options, Brian
and Brady, Caleb Ort and Brian King.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
None of those, neither of those other two guys are
getting optioned.
Speaker 3 (04:19):
I thought, you know you, I based kind of my
judgment and my thinking on how they're using these guys.
And I thought, when Brian King went out there on
Monday in a tie game to face Bryce Harper on
the road with the go ahead run on base over
Caleb Ferguson, who was rested, and they both were available.
When that was the lefty Joe a spot at chose,
(04:41):
that kind of demonstrated to me that Brian King.
Speaker 2 (04:44):
Was higher up on the bullpen hierarchy.
Speaker 3 (04:47):
And you saw the next day Caleb Ferguson came in
and was basically the mop up guy through two innings
in a game that they were down five runs.
Speaker 2 (04:54):
They just needed him to finish the game.
Speaker 3 (04:57):
It's a little bit more difficult with the roster Caleb
Ferguson and have options left, they would have had to
designate him for assignment. Do they want to have an
egg on their face about dfaing a guy that they
acquired at the trade deadline, albeit not for a big
return for a double a pitcher that I don't think
anyone who had ever heard of. Did they not want
that public perception that they failed at the trade deadline
(05:19):
with this minor trade.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
I'm not sure.
Speaker 3 (05:21):
Maybe they see something in Ferguson that they can maybe
unlock a little bit, but it's pretty clear that Caleb
Ferguson's not in the circle of trust, and Brian King,
I'm not sure he was in the middle of a
circle of trust, but he was right on the border,
maybe stepping into it.
Speaker 2 (05:36):
So I was a little bit surprised. Surprised is probably
the wrong word.
Speaker 3 (05:40):
I would not have been surprised if it would have
been Caleb Ferguson, but I understand.
Speaker 2 (05:45):
I guess why they did it.
Speaker 3 (05:46):
And then the thing that stinks for Brian King. He's
got to stay down fifteen days just because the rosters
expand on Sunday. He's not eligible to be called back
up unless there's an injury, so he will not be
the one picture called up on Sunday to expand the roster.
I think it's going to be Rafael Montero, just given
how well he's pitched in Sugarland, given the amount of
(06:09):
money they still owe him given the fact that he
does have major leagues. I mean, he does have big
game experience. He has been good in leverage situations before.
Maybe they think he went down there and iron some
stuff out, and I think it may honestly be there
may be a little bit of the Jose of Brayu
when they met with him. Maybe there was a handshake
agreement that said, you know what, if you go down
(06:31):
to Triple A and you show us that you're getting better,
we'll get.
Speaker 2 (06:35):
You back up here. Maybe there was something something to
that nature as well.
Speaker 3 (06:39):
So I think Rafael Montero will be in this bullpen
on Sunday, and position player wise, it's probably too easy
to say, saysar Salazar, just to give him a third
catcher and to allow you know, Victor Carrattini and Jiner
Diaz to play at the same time.
Speaker 4 (06:53):
Talking to chandeler Roam of the Athletic Here on Sports
Talk seven to ninety, I think this is a fascinating
series it's about to begin tonight because we all know
what the Kansas City Royals have been this year. I
just exploded onto the scene and it has not been flukish.
They've been good from the beginning of the season. But
when they swept the Astros out of town, I mean,
Hunter Brown was a mess. Spencer Arraghetti was a mess.
(07:17):
Those two are the furthest from that right now. And
that team was four and ten when they were done
with that series. This is a completely different Astro squad.
What do you make of this series before it even begins?
What do you think about how this thing could go
this time around?
Speaker 2 (07:31):
With four games here in Houston?
Speaker 3 (07:34):
I mean, Bobby with the truth, I mean, he's if
Aaron Judge didn't exist.
Speaker 2 (07:38):
He's the runaway al MVP. He's really really good. And
you know, it was funny. I was.
Speaker 3 (07:44):
I've been telling this to a couple of people, you know.
When I was writing about Yinar Diaz a couple of
weeks ago, I was looking up who's like, who was
among the best in baseball with runners in scoring position?
Speaker 2 (07:54):
Because Yner has been really good.
Speaker 3 (07:56):
And when I at the time I looked it up,
Yaner Diaz was fourth in.
Speaker 2 (07:59):
The league in batting averages, runners and scoring position.
Speaker 3 (08:02):
The top three guys were Bobby Wood, Junior, Salvador Perez,
and Vinnie pas Quentin. Come on, all Royals, that's somewhat
unsustainable hitting with runners in scoring position. You know, there
is an inherent art to you know, you know, being
clutched and things like that, but mainly a lot of
that is luck. A lot of that can be kind
(08:23):
of flucish, but you know, look, they're doing a really.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
Good job at driving runs home.
Speaker 3 (08:28):
Salvador Perez has been a great player for.
Speaker 2 (08:30):
A long time.
Speaker 3 (08:31):
And they had a sneaky good trade deadline too. You know,
Lucas Ersig's in their bullpen now. He was Mason Miller's
set up man in Oakland and he was just as
filthy as Mason Miller. Probably he doesn't throw one hundred
and two, but he's really really good. They had a
nice deadline and added and they're young, they're hungry, they
can run a little bit, and they've.
Speaker 2 (08:52):
Figured out how to win.
Speaker 3 (08:53):
And they're playing in a very difficult division, a division
that has three, possibly three playoff teams in it, and
they are right near the top.
Speaker 2 (09:03):
They were in first place as of a couple of
days ago. This is gonna be.
Speaker 3 (09:06):
This is a tough series and the Ashers are getting there.
They're getting their best starters. Brady Singer tonight has been
really good. Seth Lugo has regressed a little bit, but
I mean he had a sub two era for a
lot of this season, and Cole Reagan's is study.
Speaker 2 (09:23):
He's you could probably call him their ace.
Speaker 3 (09:26):
So I mean, this is a tough team and this
and it kind of fits in with this schedule. I mean,
this is a brutal schedule that they have really start
with that Boston series and then you know they're gonna
get a reprieve when they go to Cincinnati. But don't
look now, but the d Backs are really really good too,
and they get them next weekend, So this is not
an easy stretch for them, and they just have to
(09:46):
find a way to stay afloat.
Speaker 2 (09:48):
You know, you don't have to sweep all four games here, but.
Speaker 1 (09:52):
No, you do not. I think that's going to end
our conversations. The connection has gone sour, a dead spot
or something there. I think we're getting close to break anyway, Chandler,
we'll probably leave it there and appreciate the commentary, and
we got lots more for you as you join us
again next week. But really interesting stuff on the Brian
King decision, and he explained why I do think he's
(10:14):
quite obviously going to still be pitching for the Astros
at some point over the final thirty games, final month
of the season, let's say, and I'll have some interesting
decisions to make when it comes time to really put
together the roster that we think they'll need to come
end of October or end of September into October, when
they are headed to the postseason as American League West
Division champs for the eighth time in nine seasons. Again,
(10:35):
appreciate Chandler Rome, a beat writer for the Astros for
The Athletic, for his WEEKLYA.
Speaker 2 (10:40):
He didn't really settle our debate. No very diplomatic answer.
Speaker 1 (10:44):
He would give it a go, isn't Oh, he'd be
out there right. I think you're right. Probably he probably
one of those. Well, he went through warm ups and
then he went he left the court and went back inside,
and someone like Rockets has decided he's just probably not
going to be able to go, and we'll make it
a game time decision.
As for usual, each and every week, joined by chand
L Roma, the athletic who covers the Astros, joining us
here instead of on a Wednesday. During yesterday's Astros game
and victory ten nothing, He'll join us today from the ballpark.
We got a lot of different angles to take, but
there's a bunch of newness over there. First home games
this season for Hector Naris and Ben Gamble, first game
(00:21):
period for Jason Hayward. Hayward and Gamble are in tonight's lineup,
But of course we will start with somebody who was
playing catch and then throwing the baseball back in the
outfield today. Kyle Tucker both saw him on the field
and I believe he shared some thoughts on where things
stand with his status.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
What do you got for us today, Chandler And Hello, Hello.
Speaker 3 (00:42):
I'm not at the ballpark, so my flight I took
a direct from Philly that didn't get me home in
time to go to pregame. So just from seeing the
videos that my esteemed colleagues took, and I'm kind of
judging from what they said.
Speaker 2 (00:56):
It looks like he's moving a little bit better. But again.
Speaker 3 (01:01):
I'm not gonna basically, I'm at the point where it's
just kind of wake me up when he's fully running
the bases, because I think that's where there's actual movement
and actual we can talk about getting him out of
a rehab assignment. I thought it was funny that there
was all of a sudden he was sprinting this week,
but then Joe Espada had to clarify that he's sprinting
at fifty percent.
Speaker 2 (01:23):
I didn't know that.
Speaker 3 (01:24):
I didn't know that you could sprint, which is to
me is a full run, like full effort, but at
fifty percent effort. So he's not actually sprinting, which which
means there is still no timeline. There's no timetable. When
you see video of him running the bases at full speed,
that is when you know he is almost ready to
go on a rehab assignment.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
Okay, all of this, all of this other stuff is eyewashed.
Speaker 4 (01:48):
Okay, you have to settle this debate that we had earlier,
because I said, based on what I've seen, kind of
like you today. You're just looking at things that other
people have posted, and you know, talking with other people
and hearing the chatter and all that. If it were
game one of a playoff, series and you needed Kyle
Tucker out.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
There, would he be good to go? In your opinion,
I think he'd try to give it a go. I don't.
Speaker 3 (02:13):
I don't think he's I don't think he's at one
hundred percent yet, And I think they don't want to
get him out there unless he's at one hundred percent.
If it was the playoffs, yes, I think he would
try to give it a go. But do you want
to jeopardize him for presumably presumably for the playoffs by
running him out there now if he's seventy or seventy
five percent, that's something that they can't risk. I do think, however,
(02:37):
if they had a different roster construction, if they had
a way that he could come back and maybe d
H a lot more and then you know, gradually working
back in the right field, I think we'd be talking
a little bit more of a different story. But their
roster right now has so much limited flexibility, you know,
without they don't want to put al Resney outfield, Alex pregnant.
(02:59):
They have to keep wary of Alex pregnant and how
much they need to DH him with his elbow, and
you know, with Victor Carrattini, and Yiner Diaz needing to
be in the lineup together most days. I mean, one
of them is probably going to take a DH spot
so that they can't really bring another guy that is going.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
To solely be a DH and put him on the roster.
Speaker 3 (03:19):
So I do think though, if this roster construction was
a little bit differently, if it was constructed a little
bit different, maybe he'd be.
Speaker 2 (03:26):
Back in a more limited capacity.
Speaker 1 (03:28):
Already, as we kind of make our way through the
rest of the roster, a lot of things have continued
to change, as would be the case in most normal seasons,
but very interesting, I guess the decision today they're activating
Ryan Presley, which was not unexpected and very good news.
Chosen King Brian King, who just most recently appeared to
finish off the Spencer Arraghetty start yesterday as the player
(03:51):
that is optioned down. Just curious how that decision maybe
comes about and what are your expectations for this team
to do in a couple of days when September begins
and that roster figure hits twenty eight.
Speaker 2 (04:05):
I was a little surprised that it was Brian King.
Speaker 3 (04:07):
I understand why they did it, just because there's only
three guys in their bullpen with minor league options, Brian
and Brady, Caleb Ort and Brian King.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
None of those, neither of those other two guys are
getting optioned.
Speaker 3 (04:19):
I thought, you know you, I based kind of my
judgment and my thinking on how they're using these guys.
And I thought, when Brian King went out there on
Monday in a tie game to face Bryce Harper on
the road with the go ahead run on base over
Caleb Ferguson, who was rested, and they both were available.
When that was the lefty Joe a spot at chose,
(04:41):
that kind of demonstrated to me that Brian King.
Speaker 2 (04:44):
Was higher up on the bullpen hierarchy.
Speaker 3 (04:47):
And you saw the next day Caleb Ferguson came in
and was basically the mop up guy through two innings
in a game that they were down five runs.
Speaker 2 (04:54):
They just needed him to finish the game.
Speaker 3 (04:57):
It's a little bit more difficult with the roster Caleb
Ferguson and have options left, they would have had to
designate him for assignment. Do they want to have an
egg on their face about dfaing a guy that they
acquired at the trade deadline, albeit not for a big
return for a double a pitcher that I don't think
anyone who had ever heard of. Did they not want
that public perception that they failed at the trade deadline
(05:19):
with this minor trade.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
I'm not sure.
Speaker 3 (05:21):
Maybe they see something in Ferguson that they can maybe
unlock a little bit, but it's pretty clear that Caleb
Ferguson's not in the circle of trust, and Brian King,
I'm not sure he was in the middle of a
circle of trust, but he was right on the border,
maybe stepping into it.
Speaker 2 (05:36):
So I was a little bit surprised. Surprised is probably
the wrong word.
Speaker 3 (05:40):
I would not have been surprised if it would have
been Caleb Ferguson, but I understand.
Speaker 2 (05:45):
I guess why they did it.
Speaker 3 (05:46):
And then the thing that stinks for Brian King. He's
got to stay down fifteen days just because the rosters
expand on Sunday. He's not eligible to be called back
up unless there's an injury, so he will not be
the one picture called up on Sunday to expand the roster.
I think it's going to be Rafael Montero, just given
how well he's pitched in Sugarland, given the amount of
(06:09):
money they still owe him given the fact that he
does have major leagues. I mean, he does have big
game experience. He has been good in leverage situations before.
Maybe they think he went down there and iron some
stuff out, and I think it may honestly be there
may be a little bit of the Jose of Brayu
when they met with him. Maybe there was a handshake
agreement that said, you know what, if you go down
(06:31):
to Triple A and you show us that you're getting better,
we'll get.
Speaker 2 (06:35):
You back up here. Maybe there was something something to
that nature as well.
Speaker 3 (06:39):
So I think Rafael Montero will be in this bullpen
on Sunday, and position player wise, it's probably too easy
to say, saysar Salazar, just to give him a third
catcher and to allow you know, Victor Carrattini and Jiner
Diaz to play at the same time.
Speaker 4 (06:53):
Talking to chandeler Roam of the Athletic Here on Sports
Talk seven to ninety, I think this is a fascinating
series it's about to begin tonight because we all know
what the Kansas City Royals have been this year. I
just exploded onto the scene and it has not been flukish.
They've been good from the beginning of the season. But
when they swept the Astros out of town, I mean,
Hunter Brown was a mess. Spencer Arraghetti was a mess.
(07:17):
Those two are the furthest from that right now. And
that team was four and ten when they were done
with that series. This is a completely different Astro squad.
What do you make of this series before it even begins?
What do you think about how this thing could go
this time around?
Speaker 2 (07:31):
With four games here in Houston?
Speaker 3 (07:34):
I mean, Bobby with the truth, I mean, he's if
Aaron Judge didn't exist.
Speaker 2 (07:38):
He's the runaway al MVP. He's really really good. And
you know, it was funny. I was.
Speaker 3 (07:44):
I've been telling this to a couple of people, you know.
When I was writing about Yinar Diaz a couple of
weeks ago, I was looking up who's like, who was
among the best in baseball with runners in scoring position?
Speaker 2 (07:54):
Because Yner has been really good.
Speaker 3 (07:56):
And when I at the time I looked it up,
Yaner Diaz was fourth in.
Speaker 2 (07:59):
The league in batting averages, runners and scoring position.
Speaker 3 (08:02):
The top three guys were Bobby Wood, Junior, Salvador Perez,
and Vinnie pas Quentin. Come on, all Royals, that's somewhat
unsustainable hitting with runners in scoring position. You know, there
is an inherent art to you know, you know, being
clutched and things like that, but mainly a lot of
that is luck. A lot of that can be kind
(08:23):
of flucish, but you know, look, they're doing a really.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
Good job at driving runs home.
Speaker 3 (08:28):
Salvador Perez has been a great player for.
Speaker 2 (08:30):
A long time.
Speaker 3 (08:31):
And they had a sneaky good trade deadline too. You know,
Lucas Ersig's in their bullpen now. He was Mason Miller's
set up man in Oakland and he was just as
filthy as Mason Miller. Probably he doesn't throw one hundred
and two, but he's really really good. They had a
nice deadline and added and they're young, they're hungry, they
can run a little bit, and they've.
Speaker 2 (08:52):
Figured out how to win.
Speaker 3 (08:53):
And they're playing in a very difficult division, a division
that has three, possibly three playoff teams in it, and
they are right near the top.
Speaker 2 (09:03):
They were in first place as of a couple of
days ago. This is gonna be.
Speaker 3 (09:06):
This is a tough series and the Ashers are getting there.
They're getting their best starters. Brady Singer tonight has been
really good. Seth Lugo has regressed a little bit, but
I mean he had a sub two era for a
lot of this season, and Cole Reagan's is study.
Speaker 2 (09:23):
He's you could probably call him their ace.
Speaker 3 (09:26):
So I mean, this is a tough team and this
and it kind of fits in with this schedule. I mean,
this is a brutal schedule that they have really start
with that Boston series and then you know they're gonna
get a reprieve when they go to Cincinnati. But don't
look now, but the d Backs are really really good too,
and they get them next weekend, So this is not
an easy stretch for them, and they just have to
(09:46):
find a way to stay afloat.
Speaker 2 (09:48):
You know, you don't have to sweep all four games here, but.
Speaker 1 (09:52):
No, you do not. I think that's going to end
our conversations. The connection has gone sour, a dead spot
or something there. I think we're getting close to break anyway, Chandler,
we'll probably leave it there and appreciate the commentary, and
we got lots more for you as you join us
again next week. But really interesting stuff on the Brian
King decision, and he explained why I do think he's
(10:14):
quite obviously going to still be pitching for the Astros
at some point over the final thirty games, final month
of the season, let's say, and I'll have some interesting
decisions to make when it comes time to really put
together the roster that we think they'll need to come
end of October or end of September into October, when
they are headed to the postseason as American League West
Division champs for the eighth time in nine seasons. Again,
(10:35):
appreciate Chandler Rome, a beat writer for the Astros for
The Athletic, for his WEEKLYA.
Speaker 2 (10:40):
He didn't really settle our debate. No very diplomatic answer.
Speaker 1 (10:44):
He would give it a go, isn't Oh, he'd be
out there right. I think you're right. Probably he probably
one of those. Well, he went through warm ups and
then he went he left the court and went back inside,
and someone like Rockets has decided he's just probably not
going to be able to go, and we'll make it
a game time decision.
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