The Matt Thomas Show with Ross - Brian McTaggart Talks Astros Surge In Offense

Episode Date: April 2, 2026

Brian McTaggart Talks Astros Surge In Offense 

is the Matt Thomas show with Ross. On Sports Talk 7.90, let's spend 10 quality minutes with our friend, a fine University of Houston graduate, long-time beatwriter for MLB.com, and Astros.com, Brian McTaggart, every Thursday here on the radio program. Five and two, are we raising the flag for an American League West title at Dijkin Park, Brian McTagher? I don't think so. Probably not a wise thing to do, but it does seem like. like the Astros have gotten off the slow starts year after year pretty much. So, yeah, I mean, after the first homestine, I think you take five and two for sure, especially after the way the first two games went. All right, we were asked to this from our audience earlier.

What is one or two of the most surprising things you have seen so far during this winning streak? Yeah, I think it's just the quality of the bats. I mean, they preached this all offseason and into spring training. And even, I don't know if you remember, the first few grapefruit league games, the spot is like, oh, we drew six walks, drew seven walks, and they were excited about the different approach that they have, but it's really been a point of emphasis with the new hitting coaches and their new hitting coordinator is let's make these pitchers work. Let's stay inside the strike zone, and it's really paid off. I mean, and it's across the board. I think one guy at the forefront

of it is the guy who was probably their biggest free swingers, Jose Al-Tuvie. I mean, his chase rate last year was 50 percent, and right, as of right now, it's like 34. That was his swing rate. Sorry, his chase rate is down like 16%. And even swinging in the zone. He was swinging in the zone last year at like 63%. And now it's less than 50%. He's got more walks than strikeouts.

And this is a guy who usually strikes out twice as many times as he walks. So up and down the lineup, they're really making the pitchers come in the zone. They're getting the starters out of the game early. To me, that's the biggest thing. And then I think I like what I see from the bullpen. They've been able to deploy these long relieves. a couple of times to chew up two or three in his blue ball looks really good. They got to get the closing situation ironed out, but a bray you look, you know, quite a bit better

yesterday. So, you know, a lot of things that if you're the Astros, you think this is positive and we can sustain this. What did you know about the hitting coaches coming in? And look, Astro fan base can be a finicky bunch. They're touting them highly now, but if they go on a streak where they only score three runs over a five-game stretch, they'll be calling for their job. So what did you know about them going in?

And I know there was co-hitting coaches last year. There is definitely a hierarchy chart this time around. Yeah, I think on Friday, Astros fans wanted everybody fired again. I think all we're talking about there. The fire spotted guys were back, and I haven't heard from them now, but they're probably having a rough time. But, yeah, I mean, they thought they obviously needed some different voices in the room. And they brought in Victor Rodriguez, who has done this for a very long time, has worked with some super elite players. some big time hitters.

And they brought in Anthony Ioposi, who had been with the Tigers. And, yeah, they wanted a hierarchy. So Rodriguez is the hitting coach. I opposed he's the assistant guy. And even they even promoted, you know, one of their, I guess, hitting gurus, a guy who knows more about hitting biomechanics than anybody in the game probably. And Dan Hennigan, he's their offensive coordinator, so to speak. You know, Karea, talking with Korea during spring training, he says he's gotten a lot of great information from him.

So it was time that they needed some new new leadership, I think, in their hitting room. And I think those guys have been instrumental in trying to get them to change their approach as a whole as a team. And so far it's working out. A couple more minutes here with Brian McTaggart on Sports Talk 790. Christian Vasquez goes deep yesterday, which then immediately sent Astros Twitter into he needs to play more often. Yonair Diaz, how would you describe his spring and how would you, you know, we don't have asking to describe the number so far. It's not been good at least behind the plate and

behind the dish at catching. So a thought or two about the long term in your mind future for Yarnier Diaz, not necessarily Christian Vasquez pushing for more playing time, but how much are we going to spend looking at Walter Yonix development this year at the minor leg level?

Yeah, I mean, the bats haven't been good from Diaz. The approach hasn't been great. He swung in missed at three balls outside the zone the other day. he's not making hard contact so they have to be concerned about that I mean the spring he looked okay

not great at the plate defensively I think he's making strides the colors gushed on him the other day about you know how well he called the pitches and so forth I know that Hunter Brown really trust him as well but he's going to have to hit a little bit and I think if they if you put Christian Vasquez as a starting catcher then

he's going to be Christian Vasquez that we expected and hit 200 and you know not to take anything away from him but he's a backup catcher at this point in his career. Long term, Yonik is the guy. He had a tremendous spring for them. Defensively, I think he's a major league ready starting catcher. He made some strides offensively in the grapefruit league. So he's starting out at AA, which he hasn't even played in double A yet. But if he can hit, I think Dana will move him pretty quickly. I think we could see him in AAA. And I think we'll come

to camp next year. If he has a good season at the plate, I think he could come to camp next year battling for definitely a spot on the roster, but maybe even a starting spot unless Diaz really gets it turned around at the plate. For a let you run, let's get a thought or two about when we should see Spencer Arrogati call up. Is there any time frame? Because I know there's a stretch now of two weeks without a day off. So the presumption is a six-man rotation will come into play at least for the short term. When do you expect that decision be made?

Yeah, I think it'll probably be another week. April, I think they have an off day April 10th. So maybe before they hit Seattle, I think they'll have to start. That's when they go like this 13-game stretch. So I think we're another week away from getting the six-man rotation. So Eric Getty is going to have another one or two starts down there. But it's nice that they have him. They have Jason Alexander and AAA, Colton Gordon.

You know, they have some guys that they would feel comfortable about coming up and adding to this rotation if they have to. Tag, safe travels to Sacramento. We'll talk again next Thursday. Thanks for the visit as always. All right, thanks, guys.