The Killer B's: Joel Blank & Jeremy Branham
09/27 Hour 2- Pick One: Kyle Tucker or Alex Bregman.
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You hear him talk about Tucker, one of the better all around outfielders in all of baseball. The price, to me, is going to be different. I don't think Braggman is going to be in the same stratosphere as Kyle Tucker. But who is the more important to extend? Is it Braggman or is it Tucker? It's a tough question. To me, I would say that my answer, Eileen Tucker. I would say Tucker simply because younger chance to get more, depending on what he wants. Yeah, it's going to be a higher price tag. But if you can solidify that Tucker and your Don are going to be in the top part of your lineup, you're going to have Altuve for a couple more years. And he's been a pretty good table setter. And you have yiner still. That the top of your lineup is still pretty damn good. And then you go and try and you backfill for third base. And however you want to replace Braggman. But we know that the slow start was a little longer this year. We know he's a little longer in the tooth. Yes, his defense means something. But if I have to pick between the two, I'm going to take Tucker. Tucker's the better player. I have no argument there. Braggman will be cheaper, won't cost as much. What makes this difficult for me is the position. I think it's more difficult to find a third baseman than it is to find an adequate corner outfielder. I think you can find some corner outfield bats that can be above average hitter. I don't know if you can find that at third base. Because what are your options if Braggman's gone? You're looking internally at Bryce Matthews, who's young and it only has a handful of games in AAA. It hasn't played third base a ton. Shay Whitcomb doesn't look like he can handle the position there defensively. Zack DeZinzo. I'm not sure he can handle the position defensively. They've been very reluctant to play them at third base at the big league level. So I'm not sure that you had-- those are your internal options. I don't think any of those are good options. You look at free agency. What's out there in free agency after Braggman? Really the only one that's decent, because Matt Chapman has already been signed, is Eugenio Suarez, who is playing currently with the Diamondbacks. And he's had some numbers. I mean, he's had a better offense of year than Braggman. And his defensive numbers are pretty good. If you end up with Suarez, I'm OK with that. But it does give you an idea of how vacant the position is in terms of options should Braggman go. If Kyle Tucker leaves at the end of next season, you can find some bats. Like, it's not the most difficult thing in the world to find some bats in the corner-out field. I still got a lean Tucker. All I even say, I just-- Kyle Tucker is way better than Alex Braggman. So Braggman has a lot of arguments that favor him in this conversation. He's just not the player that Kyle Tucker is. No, because I thought about that from the Braggman aspect of it, that it is just going to be a shorter term contract. And it's tougher to find a third base when it does place both sides of the ball like he does. But the argument, too, is when you look at it, I know people are going to say, well, you played without Tucker since he went down for three months and you still found a way to win. You somehow were able to tread water a lot longer than you were supposed to. But at the end of the day, you got to believe that a healthy Kyle Tucker is going to put up some pretty mammoth numbers the way he was playing. - I also don't believe in signing Kyle Tucker to the extension that Kyle Tucker is going to want, though. So for me, it might be neither. I lean neither. If you had to tell me what, you have to pick one, Braggman, you can't go neither, because I would go neither. It would be tough. - But then how do you answer that question in terms of how do you replace Kyle Tucker? - You have some outfield bets. They're probably better suited in two years than you currently have third base bats. And again, free agency, you can find corner outfield bets that are above average audience of players. You can't really do that at third. - I don't know who's free coming up this year, but it would be challenging based on how bad the depth was in their outfield already internally. I don't know that you have any guy that you'd feel comfortable replacing Kyle Tucker. - Well, I mean, the internal option would be Melton. It would be Melton. - Yeah, and I obviously, I just, I don't feel like Jacob Melton's in his first year is going to put up. I actually think he's going to be up next year. I think either. - I think he's up. I don't think he's going to put up the kind of all-star numbers that you were getting from Tucker. So if you're trying to replace some short-term. - You're not really looking for an all-star to replace either one. That's going to be very difficult to find an all-star in either position. - But I mean, you're looking at above average third baseman and all-star caliber outfielder. If you walk from both, I would think that one of the two positions you want to get an above average player for next year. - Well, I mean, Tucker's going to be around next year. - You're right. I mean, if you're just going to write it out, yeah. - The corner outfielders that signed in baseball this year, like, you know, Lorda Scouriel was okay. They were not that Travis Jerkson profile was a corner outfielder who signed this year. Like he was pretty good on a one-year deal. Cody Bellinger was a free agent this year. He had a pretty good year. Now he signed for a lot of money, but pretty good. Tae Oscar Hernandez, another player. Like that just gives you an idea. Show Hay Otani didn't play outfield this year, but can in the future when he's done, he's not recovering from a torn UCL. So those are your outfielders in free agency this past year. You start to look at third baseman, Matt Chapman. Like, and that's the end of the story. So free agency usually has more outfielders than it does third baseman. I think that would go year by year. And if you forecast this year, the only real free agent third baseman, there's two. There's Suarez, there's Brightman, that's it. Like there's going to be a lot more outfield options than there will be third base options. 713-780-3776, let's go out to the HRMP listener line. Paul, you're in the hive with the beach. What's up all? Hey fellas, so far can play third base because he'll be a free agent after this season. But, you know, I tend to lean towards neither. Also, the realistic window of this team does not really extend past next year because you're going to lose either Franber or Tucker or both. So there's to me no reason to sign really probably any of them. And if you're going to sign two of the three, it should be Franber and Tucker. Because the farm system, you know, it's gone. There's nothing to trade. You're not going to be able to make deadline trade. So at some point, this team's going to have to have a rebuild. The question is, when is that going to happen? So my answer would be neither, but for sure, it would not be fragment over Tucker-Bregman. Now, sort of have let go Carlos Brea at his peak. They let go George Springer at his peak. They let go Garrett Cole to speak. Breaigman's two or three years past his peak. Why? Why throw good money? I almost think after, but why throw more money at him? It doesn't make any sense. Tucker is still at his peak. So like you say, it's going to cost more, but, you know, it's also not my money. But realistically, it doesn't make sense to sign any of them unless you're going to do both Tucker and Franber. Appreciate it, Paul. Yeah, there's a lot of arguments for Breaigman, but at the end of the day, Tucker demise the better player. Profar hasn't played third base since 2018. But I know he came up as an infielder, was a utility guy. He really hasn't played a whole lot of infield in the last six, seven years, especially at third base. So I don't know if that is an option at this stage of jerks in Profar's career. And I would also disagree with the window. I don't like the, you know, the window is going to be done in two years. And maybe I'm a homer. I will allow you to call me a homer. But I don't hate the foundation that the Astros have, even if those guys are to leave. Franber, Tucker Breaigman, because you still have young players and Yiner Diaz, who I think is one of the better offensive catchers in all of baseball. Currently, now I do want to move him to first base. Say what you will about Peña's bat. Jeremy Peña is a top half shortstop in Major League Baseball that is young and under club control. You look at the pitching staff. You have a lot of good pitchers that are also under club control. Hunter Brown's not going anywhere. Spencer Aragetti, you know, what you think of him in the future. I think he's at least the middle of the rotation starter. What do you think of Luis Garcia coming back? Christian Javier is under contract. I think the Astros have a better foundation than people give them credit for. Jordan Alvarez didn't even mention him. How can I forget? Jordan Alvarez is under club control for a decent amount of time. Now the injury is bothering me. So I actually think the foundation in the window is in a much better shape than a lot of people would say. Yeah, I agree. That's that caught me immediately that I think they can compete. At what level kind of is going to be determined by, depending on who you lose, how you replace them. And I was looking at the third, the outfielders, the corner outfielders coming up for next year for free agency. And obviously, Soto's going to be out of your price range. But Bellinger, Tasker, Hernandez, Michael Conforto. Hanagar, I don't think it's going to be. Santander, who's going to get a lot of money. People want him with the Astros. Yeah, they will be expensive, right? And he's going to be expensive. But then if you go kind of in between Verdugo and Manuel Margo, if you're looking for a little more inexpensive. Nothing but basically other than that, not a whole hell of a lot. It's better in third, though. Yes, for sure. Better in third, though. Brian McTaggart, you're on Alvarez getting better quickly and walking on a treadmill. I've never been more excited for somebody to be walking on a treadmill than you're on Alvarez walking on a treadmill. Hold on, hold on. Danger zone. We went through this with Kyle Tucker in June, where he was running a treadmill. He was running on a treadmill, and then all of a sudden, he's not clear for running two days later. I'm going to check that damn treadmill. Yeah, let's pump the brakes a little bit on the excitement that he's on a treadmill. Besides, do you really want your not on a treadmill? We don't want him hustling and running anyway. Well, he's walking. Yeah, you would think that it's probably to loosen it up. I guess. But to your point, it is very, very talented. I don't want him on a treadmill. I'm stealing that take, my bad. 644 Dubon everyday player. I don't want him to be an everyday player, quite frankly. Pain you to third base. See, I don't think they're moving pain you to third and making Bryce Matthews their shortstop. If those two are your starting left side of the infield next year, I think it's pain you at short and Matthews at third, not the other way. Talk about the fact that Peña, the reason why he's above average too is for short stops, he can be an adequate hitter at a third base, if you move him to third base, there's more offensive expectation. Yeah, it's not as much as it used to be, but it is more than sure. You're right. I think it's a really good point. 7560, keep bragging and tug. Breggman can play first base when he's old at 35. No, he can't. 5798, to me, it's more important to extend Tucker. Breggman is great leadership, defense plate discipline. But Tucker has superior power and speed with more years remaining in his prime. Tucker is easily the better player. There's no doubt about that. You have some of the peripheral arguments that would favor Breggman. But in terms of who is better, Tucker or Breggman, it's Kyle Tucker by a landslide. Breggman would be nice to have, but Tucker is our future. I don't think he's our future. I think that he's gone after the end of next year. 7527, Tucker's baby shins must be protected, fair point. Nick Ahmed would cost pennies and can play third and hit. That might not be a terrible idea. Any good base free agents coming up. Want to throw up over the other two-third basement coming up? What's a base free agent? With the free agent or in the-- With the free agent. Aside from the two you mentioned with Breggie and-- I looked at it the other day, but I forget. Suarez, Yuan-Moncado. Yeah, he's a super, super big prospect that never panned out. He loved him, and Gio Urcello. Yeah, that's right. That's right. Yeah, I mean either-- Want to see your defense go down? I would sign the less expensive of Breggman and Suarez. I wouldn't hate if you ended up with Suarez. I really wouldn't. Suarez isn't bad. He's never really impressed me, but-- He means he hits dingers. He's a different hitter than Breggman. He's going to strike out more. He's not going to walk as much, but he's got some thump. And he's actually probably-- He's not a better third baseman, but he's a good third baseman. He's better than what people would say about it. He can handle his own at third. All right, Todd Callis, voice of the Houston Astros in Asagi, Cleveland? Are they going to play baseball today? We'll talk to the voice of the Astros Todd Callis when we come back. It is the B's on ESPN 97.5 and ESPN 92.5. [MUSIC PLAYING] Now back to the killer V's. On ESPN 97.5 and 92.5. Live for the Ferrantx Community Bank Studios, here's Joel Plankett, Jeremy Branham. Got him for the fourth year of the row. And this seven consecutive four season, the Astros. The seven consecutive four season, the Astros are the ALS champion. Todd Callis, the voice of the Houston Astros on the call. He's got spotty cell service in Cleveland. He was on the line, and then that Cleveland spotty cell service he dropped. Couple of updates on you're on here from Chandler Rome. You're on Alvarez has a brace on and is doing some work on the treadmill and weight room. There are still some boxes he has to check for the Astros to feel comfortable putting them on a postseason roster. That's from Chandler Rome of the athletic. All right, let's go out to the HR and PGess line. Just play the highlight. Todd Callis, the voice of the Astros, calling the divisional championship. How fun of a moment is that for you professionally, TK? Another divisional title for the Astros? Yeah, it's pretty cool. I mean, eighth straight playoff. Kevin Aldo, vehicle, season championships in the ALYX. It's very-- Mm. A Cleveland selfie-- Cleveland rocks. It rocks TK's phone right off the hook is what it does. We'll effort to get TK back, but having some spotty cell phone service in that terrible, terrible city. Sorry for all that I offended in Cleveland. But how do you take that news from your on brace on? Still some boxes to check. Still to feel comfortable for a postseason roster, like doing baseball activities. And the McTaggard says that Alvarez is getting better quickly walking on a treadmill. I love it. I think you've got four more days still, but before the time that you need them. And like I said, I expect them to play. I expect them to be good to go. And that's encouraging, because we never know until we actually know. And a lot of times, that's bad news. This time, it seems like it's good news. All right, TK's back on the Cleveland, just a tough, tough reception city. But TK, middle of that sitting, you were just talking about how cool it is to call another divisional championship. Yeah, especially this year with all the trials and tribulations of the athletes went through. It's going to be pretty special. It's up from where they were, 12 and 24. And then in gene, middle of game game, 10 games back, it's nice to have a weekend where they can get some rest and get ready for the postseason. TK, we look at the final three games here in Cleveland. We didn't know if they were going to mean anything or not. Now they obviously don't. For you, how do you want to see it play out? How do you expect it to play out? And for the Astros, is there anything right now on the field that they need to see and kind of wrap up before they get to Tuesday? So kind of surprisingly, Joe mentioned during his press conference or right afterwards that Alex blocked the play all three days, Frankie. He's the one guy with the elbow. And he thought maybe they'd give a breather too. But it sounds like the elbow is fine. Then Alex wants to be out there every day. Everybody else probably gets a day. The other DS, we're going to get a breather today. Jeremy Katie gets a breather. Jeremy, I think, has played every game since August 1/2. So he needs it. You're going to see the pictures used sporadically. JV, a stranger to Sam, probably not part of a postseason plan. So he's probably going to be unlimited tomorrow. But I think Renelle tonight, sent to Arageti on the bullpen either tonight or possibly tomorrow. And then they're going to just kind of give guys one game each of the leverage bullpen guys and not overback them. So it's not really going to be playing the normal way for Joe. But it's going to resemble the normal scene. They don't want to just give away these games because the Guardian is the Yankees still playing for something. The Yankees still trying to win the one-speed. And the Guardians need to pick up two games on the Yankees to pick up that speed in the American League. Why do you think they send down Whitcomb, man, brought up the zenzo? Yeah, that was just a question that I really wasn't sure what the answer was during that session. They said they wanted to get back some ADs. Say it's going to go to Vegas and play in the championship game tomorrow for the State Cowboys. But that's really the only place you can get ADs. So you're not going to stay down to get a lot of ADs. You're only going to get one game. I don't-- if he said it wasn't a reaction to what happened the other day, but you've got to wonder if you just-- they just wanted to have him clear and said, go down to Sugar Land, see what happens there on Saturday. Maybe take yourself a title home for little fake Cowboys. If you want the ALS, you get to celebrate a couple times and keep it from seeing. But they felt like they want to get back to zenzo some of that. He's an Ohio kid, Michael Ohio state. And here he is playing today in Cleveland. And he might get another start in the series, the first face, that's it. TK, how do you want it to play out now the rest of the way in the regular season across the American League? As it relates to who the Astros might play, we know it could be the Tigers. It could be the Royals. Both have the pros and the cons. But if you had your druthers or if you just want to go to who matches-- who do the Astros match up better with, how would you like that to go? I would like to see Minnesota win again. So taking the twin captain, two out of three to the Marlins. Didn't help the Astros at all, because now it gives the Tigers and the Royals an opportunity to potentially save some of their best pitchers for the wildcard series. You might see a parrot googling out Tuesday at 8-1. Here you might see a full Reagan, or a Seth Lugo Tuesday now at the NBA part. So I think the most important thing is a twin twin tonight, one of those other two teams, preferably the Royals, because we love 8-8 so much. And you have to get all the way to Sunday for the Tigers to meet too, but that's probably not going to happen. They're going to beat the White Sox one of the next two days, you would think. So preferably the Royals lose tonight. The twins win. And then at least the Royals up east, that's when we go tomorrow. And then if you can get that to Sunday, even better, but I'm not counting on the twins winning too in the Royals, it was easy. But it could happen to the city playing Atlanta. And they're obviously going for their own ballpark in the National League. But in terms of whoever I would see between the Royals and the Tigers, I think if you break it down, there's benefits to both. If you would have asked me back in August, I would have said that the Tigers are probably the team they'd rather play, but they are the hottest team in baseball right now. And they're playing with the serious mode though. So I'm not sure if you wish for the Tigers the way they've been rolling through the last month or two. Todd Callis, voice of the Astros, joining us on the HR&P guest line. I've seen a couple of articles starting to project and predict how these votes are going to go, or just their votes if they had one. Jason Stark leaving from Brevaldez off to top five. And his AOC Young saw the same thing from Keith Law. If you had a vote, is Robert in your top five? - Yeah, yeah, he's somewhere four or five I think. But he's done enough for me that he's carried this rotation for most of the season. There's been a first place on your ground, carrying an encouragement that they're getting with dominant in August. But from start to finish, Robert's been solid. It's kind of crazy that Renelle's not even tall enough as a top five contender in the fly-on building. So since the R-A's actually a better bomber and he's sounding at the defensive lower. But yes, I think Robert's probably a four or five for me this year in the American League fly-on. - TK, it's easy now as we get ready for the playoffs to keep talking about what's ahead, but what's behind us was nothing short of impressive in the way that this team did it. And I was curious from your perspective, covering every game like you do, what did you think was the actual turning point that got them to this point? A lot of people point to June 18th or 19th when they were at their lowest and everyone out too, they actually showed all that emotion. But I'm curious from your perspective. - Yeah, about a few people that in the clubhouse and the common thread seems to be that that's kept down in Mexico City, kind of got them turned around and they started playing more athletes baseball than they got back from that strip. They're on Alvarez at the time. You know, they had just been swept against the Cubs. They came off a social series against the Nationals. They'll get third leg of the road trip. They had a two game set down in Mexico City with an off day before and after. And as you guys probably remember, they lined up both teams, the Rockies and the Astros on the line. And you're not basically said, hey, let's treat this like a new opening day. Like, what's for that everything that happened? Today's all opening day and let's start from here. And that's kind of where they took off. They actually still didn't play great. I can feel the middle of June and then they played much better from June 18th on and they put that 10 game down instead of moved it down to one game by the officer break. But early on, they left by the Cubs. They were really struggling and I think that might have been one of the turning points is when they kind of bonded and went down the Mexico City plate two days and had two days off on the front side of the back side of that series, they kind of got them going the right direction. - Todd, I heard you talking earlier this week how the team has gone all out feeding you guys on the charters and you were gonna go all in on the trip to Cleveland since the final one of the year. How much food did you eat? What did you eat? - Well, they give us two options and I took care of both of them. They give us a brief light up and they put out some food. So I took care of some of that and then the most of the flight was up in the air. I think there was like, they could kick in for eaters and yeah, there was a prep stop for me for care. It's definitely gonna be needed and I don't know if these are needed to get back in the way you really get after because of these new flights that we're on is next level. I've never had better food ever before on a flight. - TK, any issues with the weather? We've heard some rumblings that maybe there's a chance that we might either get postponed or that the weather might play a factor this weekend. - Yeah, tonight right now is raining and so there's no repeat for the ashros right now. Kind of came out of nowhere. It happens a lot here, you're right by the lake and you get weather rolls in and out. So potential rains tomorrow but I think they worst day between the two tomorrow today or Sunday is gonna be Sunday. And if the gardeners aren't playing for a one seed and obviously after they watch the three seeds, I don't think either of these would be devastated if they don't play on Sunday. Obviously if Cleveland's still a lot for the one seed that changes their perspective. But yeah, I think tonight we're gonna be okay but right now it's raining and it is supposed to clear out near the next half hour or so but no repeat for the ashros on the field today. - I bet you brighten would be upset if they rain out on Sunday. TK, thanks for taking a few minutes, hanging out with us. Hopefully the weather cooperates in whatever way you want. I'm sure you wouldn't mind a day off on a Friday night in Cleveland. We'll catch up with you down the road. - That's good guys, good day, have a good weekend. - Todd Callis, Astro voice on the shin. More likely, Alex Breggman chasing numbers and the final year of his contract or he just wants the reps and wants to be fresh for the postseason. - I think Alex Breggman is chasing numbers and wanting everybody to know his elbows just fine. - That's what I was thinking. He wants to rack up those counting numbers. Say I'm guy, hey look at me, look at me. I'm putting up numbers. Look at, he's at 26 homers, 74 RBI. So 30's probably, I mean, it's possible, but 30's probably out of the equation. I bet you that he really would like to get to 30. - Oh, no doubt. I mean, a lot of people doubt it, he could get to 25. - I know, I know. I think Breggman's playing for the numbers. I don't think there's any doubt. Any doubt about that. I'm a little surprised to play in third base though and not de-hing. DeZinzo's de-hing today, Breggman's playing third. And I understand that they might not think DeZinzo is the third baseman defensively. Who cares? Who cares? - And I'm with you 'cause you don't want, I want the elbow to be 100% or as close as it can get on Tuesday. Plus from what we just saw from Whitcomb, if we need somebody that might have a spot on the post-season roster, show me you can play some defense. - Yeah. - There's an audition. - Exactly. - All right, 71-370-3776. It is the bees. All right, coming up next, who said it? We try to turn the tide and who said it. Brian will redo his five quotes said by ESPN 97-5 talent. Using that word loosely. And then we guess who said it. It is the bees on ESPN 97-5 and ESPN 97-2-5. - Hey, before you go to the break, a word for Banderford Air. Banderford does so much for you. But basically it's what they do before and after they do any work for you. That's the most important thing because when you're dealing with a service company, you hate the companies, especially if you've got like a home warranty program or something like that, where they show up, they just say that what they're gonna do, they give you everything verbally, real quickly. And then when they do the job, they do shoddy work. And at the end of the day, you've got nothing to back up what the he said she said was in case something goes wrong. Banderford Air backs up everything they do in writing and everything's guaranteed. That's the most important thing. Lock in their phone number right now. 281557 cool, 281557 cool. Maybe you wanna call them right now and you can go to vanderfordair.com and see all the services that they offer. 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From the work their workers are gonna do, the parts they use, the systems they install, the temperature that it gets to and the way the systems perform, it's all 100% guaranteed or your money back. Why would you go anywhere else? 'Cause that's what you want when you deal with a company that deals with service. Check 'em out today, vanderfordair.com and call them and save the number in your phone 'cause you never know when you're gonna need 'em, but when you need 'em, you need a company that's gonna be there for you every step of the way. 281557cool, vanderfordair.com. It's now time for super producer Brian McDonald, AKA Tremach. I'm rude to do his best to stump Joel and Jeremy. Well, I'm stumped. It's everyone's favorite segment. 'Cause everyone loves it. Yeah, everyone loves it. All right, exactly. Yes! Who said it? He said it, he said it. With the killer bees. He's gonna try his best to stump us. The voice guy said I'm taking far less than his best lately. Yeah, I don't think it's taking my best. This is the cockiness. I mean, it goes-- Yeah, I think it's timber right now. I think he's right. It's been rolling. We had a couple of weeks back at East River Nine and one other one, I think. Yeah, we will suffer. This is our last chance to take a matchup in September. Yeah. Let's give it all-- Get a bottle online. Let's win one for the gipper. Who said it? Yeah, I'll give him maximum effort here. All right, quote one, the Beatles are growing on me as they get older. But I'm not really a big Beatles guy. They're good. They're just-- Everyone's like, whoa, I don't know. I don't know if I'm there with them. [MUSIC PLAYING] So it's definitely not the morning show. I think it could be. They're also getting older. They're already old. Right. We're all getting older. Yeah, we get older every day. Today is the oldest day I've ever seen you, Joel. I don't think that I need your commentary because nothing but tries to scare us off to be stacked. That's just a act. I think it could be Lance. I think it could be Dale. I think it could be Joe. I think it could be Joe. I've only eliminated Granato. I heard Joe right away. Do you think it's Joe? Did you hear him say this? No, I did not. I did not. My gut feeling when I heard it was Joe. Just kind of the dilemma. But that's just-- Let's go for it. --the first glance. Do you want to go right away? Yeah, why not? Well, we've got to put a little care in it if we're going to beat Brian. We've got a few minutes, and our strategy hasn't been great lately anyways. Why not mix it up? OK. Let's just do it, Joe. Joe George. The Beatles are growing on me as I get older. And I'm not really a big man. That was my version. That was my first day of thought. Everyone's like, whoa! I don't know if I'm there. I said he was on the list. He was on my list of everyone's. He was on my list for everyone's. You just made the list. All right. I don't think you just made Joel's list. I quote two. You know, Joel's spot after the game. Did you see him in the locker room when they were about to pop champagne? He goes, well, probably not champagne so much as maybe Prosecco, because-- be more cost effective. But he said, because it's the vision. I mean, you won the-- you won the-- you won your division. But let's just pop Prosecco. Let's not spend so much for champagne. Huh. He said locker room and not clubhouse. So it's a casual. Does he go with-- I don't even know the word. What was the word, Prosecco? Prosecco. Sounds like something that belongs on a charcuterie board. No, it's alcohol. Sounds like a sliced meat. You think of prosciutto? I think a lot of things. Prociutto wouldn't be on a charcuterie board. It would, but he said Prosecco. Can you have-- this is a pairwell of the-- I have no idea. I've never had Prosecco. Oh, this one's tough. I agree with what you said about clubhouse. Like, to me it would be John, but he said locker room and not clubhouse, so I'm out on him. OK. How many people know what that-- what is that word again? Prosecco. Prosecco. His land's going to be cost-saving mode. He hangs out with a lot of the big-time chefs and the food, food, and drink. I think he could be. He's talking about somebody else's money, not his money, or his friend's money. I don't think Joe knows what that is. I don't think Paul does. Maybe he does. Dell, maybe-- I kind of lean Lance. Do you? Yes, why I said it. OK. OK, smart ass. My initial take was Dell, but I caught the wrong-- first one wrong, so it will go your way. I could see Dell saying it, too. So which way you want to go? Let's go, Dell. Jeremy, kick yourself. Ah, darn it. You know, Joe Spada, after the game-- It's even the last one over there about the cop champagne. He goes, we'll probably not be champagne so much as me. Oh, I knew it. I would be 2 and 0 if I was playing solo. Ah. Would you? I would, yeah. I really would. I don't know, you talked yourself out there at the end. I guess he wouldn't have talked yourself out of it if you're playing solo. All right, solo chance, solo chance here, three more to go. Quote number three. If you are-- if you're playing at the AAA level, you're a good baseball player. You're a great baseball player compared to the rest of the world. Cooper Hummel walking into an HGB, you're probably a top five baseball player who's ever walked into there. You being 29 isn't helping the Astros ranking. Sorry, that's just not how it works. Little contacts are talking about Cooper. Apparently Cooper Hummel had some comments about how low the Astros' farm system was ranked after they won the Pacific Coast League Championship. Man, that's a weird one. Yeah, that is-- That is-- I don't think the killer gees would have used this on their show. I really don't think Dale would. Well, I think Joe would have brought it up. I don't think so. Because we're the home of the space camp. OK. Joe is assistant PD. Yeah, but they're talking about Cooper Hummel saying that their pipeline should be better than it is. Yeah, there was a story, too, because Lisa said it to me. There was a story that they covered, too, about the fact that this was a bigger deal. This one's tough. The whole H.E.B. thing. Need it one more time? Yeah, this is a hard one. All right. If you are playing baseball at the AAA level, you're a good baseball player. You're a great baseball player compared to the rest of the world. Cooper Hummel walking into an H.E.B. You're probably a top five baseball player who's ever walked into there. But you being 29 isn't helping the Astros' rankings. Sorry, that's just not how it works. I think this is either Lance or Dale. OK. Because they're reading Cooper Hummel out of his story hours. What do you mean? Where are they getting the Cooper Hummel quote from? They would know Cooper Hummel. They're reading his name. I mean, they probably saw Cooper Hummel was talking trash to the pipeline rankings, and that their minor league system is getting disrespect. Who's pulling the H.E.B. part of that? See, that's why I think it's Lance or Dale. Well, you were on the trail the last time. Which one would you lean towards? Probably Lance. I don't know if this is a show topic for Dale. I think Lance is going back to my heart. We used him once already, right? Yeah, it never stops, Ryan. No. OK, call it. I don't think Dale is going to bring this up on his show. I really don't think Paul would bring it up on his show. Maybe if Joe was driving, but Paul's driving now, Paul said this is my ship now to Joe. But I think that that eliminates the H.E.B. The-- this part-- I think it's Lance. OK. Let's do it. Lance early. If you are playing, if it's a bullet level, you're a good baseball player. Thank you. You're a great baseball player compared to the rest of the world. Let's just not get it. Cooper Humble walking into an H.E.B. You're probably-- I was right on there. --baseball player who's ever walking. You were on the last two. Thank you. You found a lot of pictures back there. I can't believe Dale brought that up. You don't need to do it in a show. It's part of what made it a choice. Yeah, that surprises me. That's what-- because the sound-- like the quote sounded Dale. I just didn't think he would bring up on a show. Honestly, I thought that last part where-- sorry, that's just how it works. Like the negativity would have tipped you on Dell, but there might have been enough there that distracted from that. All right, quote number four over September, by the way. "Build it over the ocean so that Taylor Swift can't fly overseas. Taylor Swift is our greatest natural treasure-- our resource, sorry-- greatest natural resource. They should have to pay us taxes for Taylor Swift. She's our possession." I don't know who the hell else would say that. I don't think John feels that way. Paul, he's pretty-- I've checked out, so-- I just don't want to get skunked now, because we just took three health breakups. You can guess them, because I've already lost. I don't care. I am checking myself out, so I don't get injured in a game that's already been decided. OK, to me go and leave you in, though. Yeah. What's the difference between the fifth play and the first play? Um, Paul. "Build it over the ocean so that Taylor--" Yes, I got it right. "I got it right." That was our greatest natural resource. They should have to pay us taxes. Boom. OK, did you get skunked? I would have won if I went solo today. Yeah, there's some more to do there. Did you get the first one? I did. I did. Yeah, I would have had it, yeah. 'Cause one kind of should have-- It normally is, it's my fault. Give me the last one. All right, number five. You know what? But nobody asked about the false starts. Nobody asked about false starts. I mean, false starts is kind of his-- that's his gimmick. That's his wrestling gimmick. The false starter. He's out like Joe. Yeah. We'll go Joe. You know what, but nobody asked about the false starts. Nobody asked about the false starts. I mean, false starts is kind of his-- That's his gimmick, the false starter. Elena, the intern on the call board. I love Taylor Swift, and I too would say that about Taylor Swift. I love Taylor Swift, too. I think that intern's sending us-- I'm going to pass the note. I'm going to pass the note. Wow. Does that count as a DM? Does she just slide into our DM? I have a slit and it's her DM. That's all cardboard in a party. It is a little bit. It's a little inappropriate on us. Let's take this down to Laura and go ahead and-- HRP. And in this right now, it can't be slide into the DMs of the talent when you're an intern. Just kidding. All right, 71378j-- not kidding, but I don't think the call board is a DM. All right, 71378j-3776. Marwin Gonzalez has retired. The top utility players in Houston astro history. Where does he rank? It is the bees on ESPN 97.5 and ESPN 92.5. October Feshit rank is the top things you're going to be doing in early October. Make plans for Saturday, October 5th, Sunday, October 6th, for October 5th on the KEMA boardwalk. German beer, fantastic. German food, fantastic. Live music, cornhole tournament, Stein holding competitions, costume contest, and much, much more. It's going to be a great time. And it's free for you to attend, walk around. So head on out there, October 5th and October 6th. Now, beer tickets, beer steins, food tickets. They can be purchased at the event, or you can purchase them online today, kimaboardwalk.com. Some of the beer that you're going to sample, Shiner, Oktoberfest, New Belgium Atomic Pumpkin, Blue Moon, Belgian White, Yingling, Oktoberfest, and much, much more. Souvenir Steins, available for purchase right now, kimaboardwalk.com. The food, unbelievable. So flavorful. The food is so flavorful. Schnitzel on a stick. German beer brought were sausage on a stick. German potato salad, soft pretzel with the beer cheese. So good. Saturday, October 5th, live music from one till 10, Stein holding competition, cornhole tournament at night, and on Sunday, October 6th, we'll do it all over again. Live music till 9, starting at noon, and then the Stein holding competition at 5, cornhole at 5.30. Get out there, October 5th, October 6th, and you can check out the full schedule of events and bands. Concert lineup right now at kimaboardwalk.com. That's kimaboardwalk.com. [MUSIC PLAYING] It's dollars. It's one of the air and a left center field back at the one. It is gone. Tie game in the ninth, Marwin Gonzalez. And it's 3-3 as Gonzalez has his first home run of this postseason. You're locked in with a Killer B's on ESPN 97-5 and 92-5. Live from the Veritex Community Bank Studios, here's Joel Blanken, Jeremy Branham. Marwin Gonzalez has retired. He has called it quits, and his pro baseball career will always, always have 2017 from Marwin Gonzalez. Don't listen to all that other stuff that you heard about 2017 in the Astros. People forget that Marwin Gonzalez led the team in RBIs that year. He was the team leader in RBIs the year the Astros won the World Series. Marwin Gonzalez, he retired, courtesy, or kudos to Marwin on a very fine, majorly baseball career. Who were your top utility men in Astros baseball history? And where does Marwin fall into place? I think Marwin's right at the top. And regardless of what you get into with the video and the trash cans, I mean, look, he had one of the biggest hits in the history of the squad and was a game two of the World Series in LA. Some phenomenal moments, and he's got to be up there. I mean, you guys know more about the longstanding history of the team in terms of utility players than me. I would think Billy Spires has to be on that list in the top five. I don't know in terms of like was some of the guys, like Craig Reynolds, Tim Bogar. Bogar was more of an everyday guy. See, I have a huge bias to those that I saw. I never saw Craig Reynolds. So I can't really comment a whole lot on Craig Reynolds. And I tweeted this out to him and he like, I don't think Craig Reynolds came up very often because I think he was more of an everyday guy. But a bunch of the players that came up from the tech, the tweets and stuff, Jeff Blum was mentioned. A lead Miss Diaz was in the conversation. Jose Viscayino was somebody who came up often. You know, Viscayino was on that first World Series team. You know, had some big moments there. His longevity in Houston wasn't crazy though. Tony Kemp came up a couple of times, Terry Poole. A lot of people said Casey Candel. See, I didn't think Casey Candel was like a great player. I think he was just like an awesome clubhouse guy. Like to be a top five utility man in Astro's history, I don't know, a lot of the old timers said Denny Walling. But again, I never saw Denny Walling play. So like, it's hard for me to have Denny Walling on my top five whenever I never, I wasn't born. I wasn't born when Denny Walling was around. For me, my favorite one ever. And like somebody said, Craig Bigio, Craig Bigio is not an utility guy. Like he was an everyday player. Yes, he started in multiple positions over his career, but he was never a utility guy. He was an everyday starter at different positions throughout his career. Somebody said Orlando Palmero, Palmero wasn't a utility guy. He was more of a pinch hit type of guy. Mark Loretta came up. Loretta was somebody who would fill in everywhere. Demention Eric Bruntlet, Bruntlet came up a lot. I never thought Bruntlet was that good of a player though. I was never a huge Eric Bruntlet guy. - Jeff Kepinger? - Jeff Kepinger came up quite a bit. He didn't spend a whole lot of years with the Astros though. So he didn't crack my top five. Somebody said Mike Lamb. Lamb wasn't around a ton and Lamb kind of played it every day. He really wasn't a utility guy. - What was the guy that we had and we went back to Oakland. He came back. - Jed Lowry. - Lowry, there you go. Jed Lowry. Lowry was mostly an everyday guy until they called up colors. Correa. And then he kind of turned into more of a utility. Shared some time at third base with Luis Val Buena. But I think that you could put him on this list too. I think do bonds close, top five. So my top five, Bill Spires is my number one. I don't even think it's close. Bill Spires was one of my favorite players. Killer B era. He could do it all. He could play shortstop for you. Third base, second base, pinch hit. Loved me some Bill Spires. He could punt. You don't really do that in baseball. Yes, he could if you needed to. Bill Spires was my number one. Second to me was Marwin Gonzalez. Like Marwin Gonzalez time in Houston was fantastic. Marwin Gonzalez was here for eight years. Marwin Gonzalez, he was here for a long time. - That's longer than I thought. - He was really stinking good whenever you won a World Series. Were there other things in play? Some would say yes. He had 23 home runs, 90 RBI's led the team the year that you won the World Series. Marwin Gonzalez was top 20 in MVP voting that year. That's how good Marwin Gonzalez was. The year was dated again, whatever. 2500 bats hit 79 home runs in his career with the Astros. Marwin Gonzalez is my number two behind Bill Spires. Number three was a bit of a turncoat at times. Jeff Blum. Jeff Blum was really, and again, I'm talking like my time of being alive and watching Astro Baseball. Blum's my number three. Chris Burke's my number four. - I got it. - First one moment though. - He is one moment, but that moment matters. - Yeah, I know. That moment was big. - It has a huge weight on my scale. Was it a baseball player? No, but he's way up there because of that one moment. And then my number five, I got to go Marisha Dubon. I'm going to put Dubon slightly ahead of a led misdia. So Spires, Marwin, Blum, Burke, Dubie. - Yeah, Blummer had a big moment too. It just happened against you. - Yeah, unfortunately Zeke Elstasio had a very straight fastball that Blummer hit out rather easily. - That marathon game, that was tough. Yeah, I think your list is spot on. I'm like, yeah, I'm with you. I don't, I can't reference the guys I never saw play, but they're, was Darren Erst had considered a utility player? - No, and he wouldn't hear that long. - Yeah, I think he was doing that long because he played outfield first base. You know, they bounced him around wherever they needed him. - Yeah, I think he was only here for one year though. - I don't remember Erst had a couple years. - If it wasn't more than two. - Okay. - It was just a name that popped in the head. - '08 and '09. - Okay. - And he played every outfield position and first base. So I think that would qualify his utility. But two years sample, 34, 35 didn't have very good years. I wouldn't, I wouldn't have him cracking my top five. 7-1-3-7-8-0-3-7-7-6. John Cangelosi, he can throw a punch too. 2-9-7-1 says that you weren't born in the '80s. I was born Smagdab in the middle of the '80s in 1985. Oh, so Bill Spires is one, does Bijio count? No Bijio doesn't count. He was an everyday starter, multiple spots, but everyday starter. What about Jake Moriznek? See, I can't use an outfielder only as a utility guy. I feel like you can play- - No, yes, but he has to play multiple. - In a field and outfielders. And I'll give you first base outfield, but if you're playing only outfield, I can't call you an utility guy. You're an outfielder. - Yeah, you could go catch your first base. You could go outfield first base. If you get the luxury of a guy that can play infield and outfield, it's even better. Or multiple positions on the infield. - Like 194 says Tyler White. Tyler White was not a utility guy. He was not a utility guy. He might have played like two or three games at second base out of desperation. Tyler White was not a utility guy. - Are they calling him the Great White? - I think so. - Yeah, he's not a utility guy. This guy says Ray Sanchez with the Cubs talking about the Astros man. 9695 says Martin Spires, Blum, Dubon and Burke. That's pretty similar to mine. And instead of Martin, I think he missed Martin. - Is he really a utility guy though? 'Cause he only played second base pretty much. - Who's that? - Chris Burke. - He played outfield. - He played a lot of left field. - Maybe I missed a lot of left field. - He played outfield. - Okay, maybe I missed remembering how much he played out. - No, you could- - 'Cause he was supposed to only two positions. - Yeah, 'cause he was supposed to obviously be the heir apparent to Bidgeo and that never obviously worked out. But I just remember he was a pinch hitter in a second baseman. - Yeah, he played 218 games in the outfield. - Okay, all right. - He played 171 at second, 123 and left, 70 at the center. He played 42 at short, 36 at right. He played nine games at first, six at third. - Okay, very much qualified. - I didn't realize he had that many games at short. I don't remember what he was playing. - Yeah, I remember playing short. I didn't know how much. But he was drafted high too. Wasn't he like the first round pick out of Tennessee? - Pretty first round pick out of Tennessee. - Yeah, first round out of Tennessee, yeah. He was supposed to be Bidgeo's heir apparent and Bidgeo just kept going and kept going. And Burke probably wasn't a great big leaguer. Like he had some moments. He was okay. He wasn't a great big leaguer though. - The offense, I always thought was something to be desired, but he could play some defense. It wasn't stellar and be like outstanding, but he could play solid. - Yeah, he was solid. Evan Gaddis, I don't think Evan Gaddis is a utility guy. Don't consider him a utility guy. - He played first, did he? - Yeah, I don't remember. - Gaddis played just DH catching. - He's catching on one. - Three eight says Lance Berkman. Lance Berkman was an everyday starter. It might have been at multiple positions, but he was not a utility guy. He was playing every day, mostly one position. A 5-1-3, Mark Loretta. I think Loretta is up in that conversation. Kevin Bass is not a utility guy. Oso says Berkman played a few spots, but he's in the Bidgeo category, I would agree. The fact that Dubon won a gold glove, puts him tied at first with Morrowind? - No. - I don't even have Morrowind first. I have Bill Spires first. Why is the gold glove carrying so much weight here at 2-8-3-1? - I mean, look, I think in terms of making the top five, it's credible because he hasn't been here maybe as long, but the fact that he, that kind of personifies his ability to play multiple positions. - Well, especially since he won two gold gloves in the same season. - No, no, no, no. He didn't win two. He was finalist for two in the same season. - Okay, sorry, finalist for two. - But he didn't win the second base gold glove. He won the utility man gold glove. - Okay, either, okay, so finalist for two adds to the idea of the utility man. - Yeah, but mix it a home run there, brother. - No, I'm working, but. - I think Dubon is creeping higher because it was filled in gold glove last year, shows how good he is defensively. He is really good defensively. Eric Brontlet, the OG utility. I think they'll spires the OG utility. So spires Marwen Blomberk and Dubon for me, my top five. All right, 7-1-3-7-8-0-3-7-7-6. DJB Anime covers the Texans for espnaspn.com, joins us next. It's the bees on ESPN 97-5 and ESPN 92-5. - Owning a rental property sounds like a dream until you realize how much work goes into getting it ready. - Determinate competitive rent price, market the property, schedule the showing screen. Tenants draft the lease at a rent collection, handle maintenance request, maintain communication. - Whew, sound complicated? Renner's warehouse is here to take the hard work off your rental to-do list. 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