The Matt Thomas Show with Ross - Astros Manager Joe Espada Talks State of Team Through The First 16 Games

Episode Date: April 15, 2025

Astros Manager Joe Espada Talks State of Team Through The First 16 Games

All right. Let's go ahead and talk about, well, with the team yesterday, obviously not going the way that you wanted. Been a little bit of an up and down season. Of course, as we know, I saw this from Brian McTaggart. Did you know that you guys have started seven and nine now, five out of the last six years for those going to the ALCS. So, I mean, it's not the worst omen ever. There you go. There you go. I'll take that. You know, and you meant you said it. You know, it's kind of be a little up and down. you know, the first two weeks of the season, you know, it's been kind of a struggle, finding consistency on a few areas of our game. But, you know, for the most part, I've been pleased, you know, we are getting some pretty good pitching, you know, offensively, some up and downs.

I feel like we're doing some good things at the plate. We're finding a way to get on base by walking something we didn't do well last year. I think we are right now like fifth in the league and walk rate. Seeing a ton of pitches. We just haven't been able to really capitalize on those innings when we find a lot of people on base. So we'll continue to keep grinding and we'll find a way to get through this. Yeah, it's funny.

It's been up and down to the extent where you guys haven't won two games in a row. And Fraubber who pitched for you last night has kind of been that guy up and down. What is happening to him, especially in a start like last night, where he's giving up more extra base hits than he ever has in a start? You know what? I think, you know, yesterday it's something that we, you know, we don't get to see Valdez have nights like that very often. You know, I just found his pitches were up in the zone.

Sinker, not really down inducing the ground balls. Early in the game, it did. But, you know, kind of third, fourth inning stuff starting to stay up. breaking ball, usually he varies that pitch with two strikes, get swinging misses. He wasn't getting the width that he normally gets him. You know, he'll get, he'll put this behind him and we'll get ready for the next one. Skip, we talk about your pitching and, you know, how good it's been, particularly in the bullpen as well so far this year. But you look at the opponent's your face. I mean, the Angels coming out of this weekend, I think we're leading baseball

in home runs hit. And then you go to this series with the Cardinals who lead all the baseball and batting average. And I just watching that team last night for the first time this year, like, they just put up such good, hard at bats. It's hard to get out in that lineup. Well, you know, is that what we can expect more of that these next couple of games? Yeah, and, you know, they have

a pretty good balance lineup. They've got some lefties, righties, they can put two and, you know, they can have some guys with the bench. They can come in and give you quality at bats. They got back to both skills. They do have some speed. So it's not an easy lineup to navigate. So we need to make our adjustments.

and win this one today. I was out, you know, I was out in spring training early in camp and, you know, when pitchers and catchers report. I know, and I saw you guys work on it every day. The catchers with Victor and Janair, you know, throwing balls to first, throwing balls a second, throw balls to third. It seems like this year those teams are being a little bit more aggressive on you guys and taking bases.

Is that, I mean, obviously you guys see it. What can you do to counterbalance that other than just continue to work with your catchers on timing and be? being, you know, the recognition of guys on base and when they're, you know, looking like they're going to steal. Yeah, but you know what? It will take more than just the catchers throwing guys out. We need an opportunity. My pitchers need to give us, you know, a little better, more time for those guys to throw people out. We need to do a better job, interrupting the running game, you know, not asking for us to leap, league and cock stealing, but we need to, you know, reduce the amount of stolen base attempts that we are getting early this.

here. And we are highlighting that. We try and make some adjustments. I think the last couple of games have been better picking the guys, you know, that we know they're going to run, the counts are going to run, asking our pitches to hold the ball, some slight steps. You know, also the element of the clock is also something that teams are using. We need to do a better job of using the clock to time our picks you first or inside moves and such such as things. Talking with manager Joe Espada and Skip, you know, one of the biggest storylines throughout spring training, of course, was, oh my gosh, Al-Tuvae and left, and, you know, what's that going to look like? Small sample size through the first few weeks, but, man, I'd see you guys are

one of the better teams defensively in those defensive metrics, and so far, so good with Al-Tuvae and left and Cam Smith and right. I feel like both those guys have been doing their job. Yeah, they've been working their Aster soft man. Credit to them. You know, I think we, you know, we work really hard this off season to consider making these moves and and we know we did it thinking about the sacrifices that some of these players we're going to have to make moving positions and and altouva has been such a pro and and you know it's only been two weeks we got a lot of room a lot of room to grow as as a club but you know so far we finding ourselves in the top five in the defensive matrix and credit goes to our players and our

coaches that are really getting these players ready to play yeah and joe i think we've talked about this before i am the president of the jake Myers fan club i i think he also deserves some credit. I mean, what makes him so good to you out there in center field? Is it just the reads, the jumps, and just everything, the speed? Everything. You know, he gets good jumps. His perception off the ball off the

bat is excellent. Something that we also seen of Jake this year, he's been actually more of a leader on the outfield having two inexperienced outfielers next to him to his left and right. So he's been taking more charge, moving those guys,

you know, be more vocal. you know, moving those guys we counts. And we, you know, we need to give Jake Myers some credit of the, the development of both Altuway and Ken Smith and defense also in the outfield. A lot of credit goes to Jake. He's really taking charge out there in the outfield. Skip, I saw the, obviously, the torpedo bats became a big topic a couple weeks ago across the league.

I saw Maricio Dubon pregame on Sunday in the clubhouse. And he was showing us his torpedo bat. He was all excited about it. And sure enough, a hit on Sunday, two hits last night. Is it just happens to answer? Or is this thing maybe working for Doobie? I think he's working for Doobie, but let's not take anything away from his ability to get the barrel to the ball. You know, he knows how to do that.

So, you know, maybe some credit, he really likes the bat. So maybe some credit to the bat. He feels like he's getting, you know, the right part of the barrel on the ball. and he feels like the bullies jumping a little bit more off his bat. And, you know, anything that you can use to, you know, build confidence, this guys are willing to use that. And so far, this is working out for Dubon. Astor's manager, Joe Espada, with us here on Sports Talk 790.

State of the rotation, as it is right now, Ryan Gusto with a pretty solid start for you on Saturday and is tab to start again. how you feeling about where you are there and also Lance McCuller's Jr., where we're feeling about his progress? Lance McCullough, Jr., feeling really good about his progress. He'll make it start this weekend with our double-A club. And if that goes well,

he's knocking on the door, he's making his first major league starting a couple of years. So I'm really happy for him, thrill about where he's at right now. His level of confidence is, you know, over the roof right now. So I feel really good about that. And Guso gave us a pretty good start.

You know, right now we are talking things through. I also like the way he has come and solidify our pen. But, you know, he's that arm that can be used in a hybrid role where he can give you starts. He can come in and give you some multiple innings out of the bullpen. But he did a really nice job and he's first started with us. And on Lance McCullors, Jr., what have your conversations been like with him? because I remember, like, for example, when Charlie Morton first came to Houston, he had had major injuries, and he talked about being injury prone and being, you know,

that's a term that I don't really like. And it was something that's kind of mentally in the back of his mind. And we all kind of feel like that with Lance McCullors Jr., he's unfortunately had these setbacks, but, you know, Charlie Morton's been healthy every year since he first got here. So wanting that for Lance McCullors Jr., I'm just curious what your conversations have been like that in the approach of the organization as well. You know what? I'm going to start. I think the biggest part of Lance station right now where he's at is his state of mind. He is in a really good place. He is, he's worked really hard to accept the fact that this injuries has been part of his career. He is, he understands the changes he had to make to his routine. He, you know, he's a man of faith where he put everything in the United States. He is, he understands the changes he had to make to his routine. He, you know, he's a man of faith where he put everything in the hands of God. And I feel like moving forward, he is in a place where, you know, Joe, I know where

I'm at. I'm getting a second chance. I'm going to make the best out of these second chance. You know, he said, Joe, you know, I'm the team, these organizations have given me so much that I'm willing to give back, whatever it takes for me to get back on the mount. And he's doing that. And when your mind is in the right place, I think your heart follows. And, and that's where Lanz is. and once we get him back and we get him going, I think he could be a big piece for us because when he's healthy, he's a really good pitcher. All right, Joe Espada, with us here on Sports Talk 790.

Thanks for the time, Joe, and well, when you need to bounce back win, not bad to have Hunter Brown on the mound. That's right. That's right, fellas. We have him on the mound and he's ready to go. He knows the importance of these games, getting this game today. Maybe we're serious tomorrow.

All right. Thanks a lot. Appreciate the time. We'll talk to you down the road. All right, fellas. Take care. Thanks, Skip. Thank you. All right.