Houston Astros vs Baltimore Orioles | August 25, 2024 | MLB Full Game Replay

here tonight and Astros team tied for six in the AL in runs per game tied for 12 and the majors in runs per game Altuve bregman Diaz Peña kartini and gaml den zenzo at first dubon McCormack no your Don Alvarez not sure whether he'll be available Off the Bench but he likely will play tomorrow yeah that's a big Miss right now in that lineup the way yordan Alvarez has swung the bat and in big moments that's the guy that you want at the plate yeah and this is an Astros team they can hit the fast ball number one in the majors in batting average against two seamers and four seamers pretty aggressive don't walk a ton we'll see how they fa against Dean Kramer the right-hander the 28-year-old from Stockton California and you can see there the K rate and the walk rate yeah pretty close to Major League average a little above on the base on ball rate and you look at the pit pitch usage there and you know when you go down the mix there by pitch is thrown over 10% of the time he uses all of them very well but his out pitch is that split finger fast ball and you compare him to the most effective ones in the big league so far this year and certainly the Young right-hander from Atlanta schellen box got a good one and then certainly Logan Gilbert out in Seattle is one of the best ones Dean Kramer right in the middle there with one of the most effective Splitters in major league baseball this year yeah guy who was a 14th round pick by the Dodgers out of unlb he came to the Orioles in the Manu Machado deal you're sitting there saying oh yeah that's right Machado played for the Dodgers I forgot about that but Kramer has done well that splitter it wasn't like he acquired a totally new pitch it really is a change up that he changed the grip on yeah and it's really effective against both lefties and righties saw him pumping up the volume on Pitch come here's Jose Altuve and ready to go here from Camden Yards and here's the guy in the batter's box that has the highest lifetime average ever in this ballpark and the first offering in the game is in there for a strike says Martin [Applause] rerer Cramer last time out against the Mets six Innings two hits just one run pitched well that one missing outside but his last two times out he's pitched quite well last year was kind of a solid year for him but this season there's been some regression and not in the good way especially ear in the year a little turn on the iil with the right tricep strain from May 21st to July [Music] 3rd now Altuve at 404 in this part swing and a miss Kramer able to get him Jo Altuve gone on strikes well you get right off the bat against Jose Altuve the almost a full mix of pitches finishing off with a curveball right there and this is Dean Kramer's formula he's got to mix it up become unpredictable and throw enough strikes in order to get hitters to chase just like that and here is Alex bregman bregman takes just a tiny bit low and ball one bregman who season got off to a tough start but he's right at the ship of late he's been dealing with a bad elbow flyball right field santand there wandering in two down so Anthony or I should say gregman retired as santand makes the catch and now it is Yer Diaz well this guy we touched on it a couple of times Eduardo yand Diaz he's the DH in this one but last 50 games he hitting 350 as average sits at 302 yeah a lot of damage he's done it off the fast ball two seamers and Cutters everything hard be surprised to see Kramer go after him maybe more with the off speed pitches on hitters counts that's dribbled foul you can get that kind of offensive production out of your catcher position boy that that that's really Surplus value especially the pop expected slugging from Diaz 485 this year his his thump in that bat is real the bat speed is real yeah last year he hit 23 home runs kind of an under the radar season with an Ops over 840 and the pitch you see that pitch right there the two seamer the Sinker it was in in on purpose just to get him thinking hard but most likely 3-1 you rarely will see him being challenged lately with the heater on the ground that's to short and Henderson handles and throws him out one two three and Kramer continues to do good work in the first inning the Orioles will come up to hit when we come back here on sore Oriol starting lineup for Brandon Hyde and this has been a pretty roia offense for most of the year they're second in the AL third in the majors in runs per game and tied for first in The Bigs with most homers hit it'll go Slater Rutman and Henderson santand there the cleanup hitter and menz cower Rivera Urus and Jackson holiday is going to hit nin and now it's us Kikuchi the guy they will face well the bottom two numbers tell you all you need to know that's why he's people covered him that high strikeout rate and in that low walk rate he goes right after people and certainly uh Houston wanted to get their hands on him and tweak him a little bit so far so good fewer curveballs more sliders and especially more sliders on the first pitch please see here yeah strike one that's what you're looking for here's Austin Slater Slater a guy that they got from the Reds in July the best way to sum him up he's a guy throughout his career especially in San Francisco is used against lefties he's got more career plate appearances against lefties tell you what you can make a beautiful living if you can hit lefties consistently well he was part of that team with the Giants in 20121 that won 107 games with a really platoon specific type lineup and he had a great year he Ops 900 against left-hander so for Hyde he's a nice weapon to have today he starts in left field speaking of left field look where the left fielder is for the Astros way in the Gap and Center Field playing way in right center and that might be an indication as a hitter the way that they're going to pitch you you're going to pitch you away might show you something soft in to get you to chase but there is a lot of room down the line in left field anything hit over the third basem should be three yeah a lot of space out there that one hammered a curling [Music] foul it's almost like you play Left Field in the Houston home ballark because of the Crawford boxes being short here it's just the opposite but almost a similar philosophy you say Kikuchi the left-hander from Japan He's 33 years old he'll be a free agent at the end of the year and hoping to use that deep high wall to his advantage in left a good job here by Slater to battle him that last fast B at 96 from kuchi say Kikuchi made his debut in 19 with the Mariners moved on as a free agent to the Blue Jays and that's for the Astros got at the deadline it's always been a little mystery behind him as to why his stuff hasn't played up a little bit more in terms of his overall numbers because hitters don't like facing him that fast Ball's got life to it he's got swing and Miss stuff here's pitch number nine of the at back in the air out to left center field and on the move and pulling it down is Chaz McCormick I mean that was basically in straightway center field just about and it almost looked like it was hit into the Gap in terms of how they were positioned yeah big time hang time and you see him go 32 slider this is something that you say Kikuchi was not doing before he has the confidence to be able to throw that slider in hitters counts 3-2 and it works for him brilliantly again in the first hitter here's adley Rutman now first offering misses but one of the keys to us kikuchi's success we learned last year sleep he left the start early Le towards the end of last season where he had cramps and after the game he told reporters that the reason he felt like he cramped up was because he only got 11-hour sleep he normally gets 13 or 14 hours sleep a Dead series come on he would not have lasted on the 1986 New York Mets 11 hours of sleep in a month maybe 13 14 is as sleep it's in bed at 11 up at 1 he would have slept through the entire fun the whole parade everything all in two strikes on adley rut first overall pick in the 2019 draft a 1-1 can you make the Matrix joke you can call him the knee there you go one the Rutman career real good numbers I mean three of the nine hits have left the park on the ground is short right at pñ and there's two away and the batter now will be gunar Henderson no score just getting going and here is gunar Henderson the outstanding young short stop for the Oriol I mean all those numbers pretty ridiculous and you consider by winds above replacement on fan grabs he's put up the fourth best season in The Bigs in the air and that scor center field but McCormick waits for it and Henderson retired that's the inning Kikuchi gets him one they started 12 and 24 and now from that point on May 9th afterwards well it got a lot better and since June 19th they had the best record in the American League and their playoff odds have bumped up to 89% for their first year manager Joe aspat the 48-year old getting a chance to chat with Justin berlander which is something we will do later in the broadcast but the Astros I mean it's amazing they were on June 18th 10 games back 24 games later they were in first place and now it's the Mariners looking up back five in the Lost column and first pitch swinging Peña lifts that to Center for Colton cower all right so here's how it started Astros Mariners watch the white I mean they're at 92% for the Mariners and then sound effects free of charge and the Astros right now at 89% man and that fall ended up costing Scott service his job Victor kartini now and I had a conversation with Dana Brown during patting practice and he was telling me about Joe asata he said if it would have been any other new manager coming in taking over for Dusty Baker he doesn't know if the team would have responded the same way because Joe had and understood the climate of that Clubhouse when it went well and when it did not he did not panic and the players did not panic didn't try to do anything different he knew he had injuries but he knew that he had talent in that Clubhouse led by that guy right behind him Jose Altuve [Music] I mean you think about Joe SP and the connection in the other Dugout because he and Brandon Hyde are brother-in-laws and beyond that just coaching together I mean you go back to 2006 in Greensboro and Brandon Hyde was the manager Joe as spoted just Fresh Off retirement was his hitting coach and Eddie you're connected to both of them you coached with them I did with the Marlins and they were with the Marlins organization and you can finish the story but happens to be that that man right there his wife introduced his her sister to Joe spot yep who was living out in their guest house in Jupiter pretty cool they went to dinner last night Joe uh did pass along the information that Brandon paid it is his City so py should pay yeah there we go great pick from back in the day their time with the Marlins and now asata in first place hide a game out and try to get back to the playoffs and since then that picture has grown two beautiful daughters also for the asadas so there's there's Mar X Marlins everywhere having success right all over the place everywhere but [Music] Miami hey I'm one two 97 to 2004 oh we were talking about you not Yelich or Ozuna or no that's right right two balls no strikes and Pitch missing to gaml one of the areas where Kramer has struggled this year year the walk rate is just about 10% last year it was 7.5% the year before that it was 6.6% so for some reason the command has gone in the wrong direction fir that one in there there's usually a direct correlation between homers giving up and command when you start giving up loud contact that'll chase you out of the strikes on a bit but he's been much better as of late more like last year here comes a 3-1 and that's a strike gaml getting the start in right field claimed off of waivers from the Mets take a peek here he foul tip that I think he did no but Ben is asking was that a strike on the call or on the chck swing and that one is in for a strike throw to Second tag by Henderson strike him out throw throw him out and the inning is over edley Rutman a one up throw gunar Henderson with a great tag and that'll end the top half of inning number two take a drink everybody out there well first we take a look at the strike out Kramer freezes G on that Watchman on a bounce that's if we want to throw it you throw it right there on the runner side second base side to be able to get the Bas Runner make it easy on Henderson here bottom of the second no score John shy David col Ardo Perez us say Kikuchi facing the switch hitter Anthony santand takes upstairs santon dere 38 home runs he had his breakout year in 2022 when he hit 33 free agent at the end of the year Ian Burns they're two big possible free agents and he was an All-Star this year for seamer missing that time and now it is three and one you talking to Brandon Hyde before the game he mentioned it's not just about the 38 home runs that Santan der has hit it's the big ones in the air out towards right field gamble going back slowing down and santand retired a big Grand Slam he hit the other night in this series was as good as it gets their bench just erupted one of the biggest eruptions all years by all accounts he's fun he's got good personality yes been clutch Big Time Talent you're going to start already huh here's aloy Jimenez can't quantify you can't quantify clutch can't I know you know but I got I can no yeah I again you're just it's the good players if you're a good player you're a good player right good hitters or good hitters I was clutch every time my dad hit I knew food was going to be on the table that was clutch H love do that's why I can quantify it it's my dad the one one it helped the Pete roses on base every time he came up yeah and Joe Morgan it's a good thing but you still got to bring him in and that's the thing that the elite hitters can do the Manny Ramirez's the Albert phol the cabreras those guys understood that when the were runners in scoring position they can use the other side of the field it was almost money that they would hit at to right center field yeah my position on the existence of clutch is just more I don't believe in the Step Up idea I believe in they maintain who they are in big spots and nice play over there by Den zenzo as he went sliding into foul ground on just a little Looper off the bat of jenez okay now let's take a look at the two last outs that were made this one right here by Eloy Jimenez two strikes two two count right here gets in on him to be able to get that jamm shot Anthony s had a 3-1 count still hit the ball to right field it's letting you know kikuchi's stuff is playing at a higher level yeah that slider Jam shots in the upper 80s strike one to Colton cowser cowser likely the front runner for Rookie of the Year in the American League Jackson Merill you know for much as everybody talks about Paul SK in the National League Merill with a walkoff today he leads the NL and wins above replacement among rookies it is cower is number two in the majors and then rookie home run leaders Michael Bush by the way is having a really fine season good defensively and then Jackson cheo's second half has been excellent by the way this in from Sarah Langs Jackson Merl has five game tying or goahead home runs in the ninth inning or later this season two more than anyone else in Major Baseball clutch amazing and so Sarah she's going to win rookie of the year he's just good stop poking me that one down it away two balls and two strikes Cody's having fun well it's like I haven't seen you guys in a little bit and immediately con's like which boot but buttons do I press two2 Here Comes cowser good Defender fifth overall pick and a draft few years back and a guy that can really go get it making get impact with the glove these are neither of these teams are particularly great defensively they're kind of middle of the packish in terms of the defensive metrics in the air Center field and McCormick makes the grab when we come back Jackson holiday will be miked up and we'll get a chance to chat with the 20e question via Twitter with the ash ask SNB so a fan might participate here let's just start with this what was it like yesterday coming through with that big pinch head yeah it was awesome um obviously my first time pinch hit in the big league so uh say it's a pretty good first experience but uh to be able to help our team win is is most important and um after the day we had the day before with Tony hitting the grand slam it was it was pretty awesome kramberg getting ready to work here as he faces Zack deso oh and holiday has it oh nice play Jackson Rivera screen you a little bit still that's all right I mean that's a hard play you're learning to play second base how difficult is the adjustment been what about a play like that yeah just trying to trying to be athletic as I can um obviously coming up as a short stop makes it a little bit easier but uh I'm learning on the fly so uh yeah just happy to have a spot and in the infield with the Orioles Mauricio dubon now and that one almost hit him Jackson holiday miked up what's been the most challenging thing for you moving from short to Second um probably the double play um kind of feeds just the all the footwork with that it's obviously um opposite way of short stop so just just learning that um has been has been challenging um but fun I mean um someone who enjoys working so uh be a to figure that out has been fun but that's probably the the biggest difference just moving to your right and uh getting everything going towards second base one and two uh dubon Kramer getting back to work all right so we got a question from a fan and uh who tweeted in this is Ethan from Oklahoma asking who is the life of the party at your wedding is it my brother yeah yeah um probably him or Hub give Hub a shout out because I I said that he was just a friend from home um in interview earlier this year so Ethan and hub Roberts who uh works with Oklahoma State so uh they were the life of the party for sure well the the photos that we just showed of your brother would seem to indicate that Ethan was the life of the party we got those from from Dad and from Ethan so can Ethan dance Ethan uh Ethan can really dance that's something that I was not passed down um I don't even think my dad can dance either so I don't know where he got it from um probably my mom but Ethan can really dance so uh yeah he's pretty funny to watch he's a little chattier than you too like he teases you behind your back to Mom and Dad he'll say I talked to Jackson today he said four words we talked 15 minutes yeah well he's got a lot to say and I just uh I just seem to listen so uh I don't always have a ton to say but uh like to think I'm a pretty good listener so I just let him ran every now I like it poed up back arway um I got a chance to come out and see you guys I was doing a Kansas Oklahoma State basketball game this winter and I saw you guys hit out what's the best fun thing you have you got pickle ball you got basketball whiffle ball what's the best thing at the house in stillw oh man that's uh that's tough we got we got all sorts of fun things my dad tried to build a playhouse at the at the land so uh you got the wole ball and um pickle ball and golf simulator we we cover it all cover it all so uh I don't know I like golfing so maybe the golf simulator during the during the cold months in Oklahoma was uh pretty fun for me now dad said that he does not play you in golf because you'll crush him but he says he is the king of pickle ball is that true that is definitely true I can't hang with him in pickle ball but I can definitely smoke going in golf Jaz McCormick here with a man at first no score we're in the third Jackson holiday miked up with us here on Sunday Night Baseball Jackson was it was it hard decision for you to sign out of high school professionally you know instead of going to college and knowing now you're 20 years old in the big leagues already yeah it was uh a little bit of a challenge um um obviously I went to I went to Oklahoma State Games and going to the Oklahoma State Regional against Arkansas and and seen the atmosphere there and and uh kind of what it means to be a college athlete and playing in college town was was really cool and that was something that really I mean caught my attention obviously I ended up getting drafted first so I was probably a little frowned upon not to not to sign but uh I mean those games are awesome and uh it's a it's a really cool experience to be a to play college that um I mean I got a lot of buddies that open in the state and they love it so uh it was a little bit of a challenge but I mean I think I made the right choice well you stepped your uncle yeah your Uncle Josh is the coach at Oklahoma State yep yep so uh Josh is there and E's committed there and um we got Josh's son Brady um him and Ethan play on the same high school team so there's all sorts of baseball going on still water for the holiday family and now there's a chance your brother could be the one one don't you think yeah yeah absolutely he's uh he's definitely got a chance so it's pretty [Applause] awesome well at least his uncle can't be upset that he's still wearing the same colors right that's right that's right we just just moved on to the Orioles black and orange kind of runs through the veins I guess and you got the whole family now it's not just St Louis that's tight but also Colorado cuz that's where your dad started you're heading now the whole family's going out huh oh yeah it'll be pretty awesome um got all the cousins and um both sides of the the family grandparents coming so uh really looking forward to that Jackson you're the man thank you so much thank you guys Jackson holiday in the Orioles coming up 789 no [Music] score and Phillies the rematch of the division series at Citizens Bank Park as come your way at 7 Eastern on ESPN ESPN Deportes and ESPN radio coverage begins at 6 with baseball tonight Sunday night countdown it's been a tough year injury wise for the Braves right now they have the third wild card spot Michael Harris by the way today hit by a pitch no fracture so that's good news man they have they have lost a lot and you can't say that out loud to most teams because the Orioles are sitting there saying we don't have Westberg Mount Castle's parking right now they need Grayson Rodriguez back on the Astro side Alvarez isn't playing tonight so I mean every team's dealing with everybody's dealing with it but Atlanta maybe the the best pitcher or one of the best pitchers in the game and maybe the best hitters one of the best hitters so have the Double Trouble Emanuel Rivera now three balls no strikes as Kikuchi misses inside and he walked him on four [Applause] pitches have cleanup duties after the game just tell Siri remind me to do the dishes [Music] tonight so man at first and the first base runner for the Orioles as Kikuchi had got the first six that he had faced Ron Rus and that one is in for a strikes say plate umpire Mark rerer Kone said it was a bit [Applause] High it missed the block of [Applause] cheese it's amazing how that one call right there the high slider gets Kikuchi right back in sync the fast ball then goes down in the zone 95 and now he finds himself up 02 foul chipped into the mid of the catcher kartini struck him out great sequence of pitches there classic pitching backwards as Eduardo said a couple of Sliders and then up and in with 96 right on by right into your kitchen [Applause] oh kuchi both he and kartini thought that it was a strike and could have had the corner at least the buffer just got the edge Jackson holiday awaiting A one0 and A over to first holiday at just 175 does have five homers of course Jackson as we chatted with him his younger brother Ethan he's got a chance to be the first overall pick in the draft next year dad Matt 15 years in the majors 36 home runs here's the one had 299 I don't think I remember I'm sorry Maddie 300 his career yeah think of a hitter using that right center Gap that's in there for a strike give's clutch you guys are [Applause] killing wasn't clutch enough to hit 300 though one point would that bother you Eduardo 299 or 300 no oh are you kidding me I hit 247 in my career I'll take 299 the Jackson holiday just a baby he doesn't turn 21 until December 4th he was the first overall pick in the 2022 draft and learning a new position playing second base and made a nice play earlier on the ground that's out to short Peña toss to tuve throw back to First on in time yeah and one thing that surprised me right there Altuve who was playing in the hole at second base had a long way to go for it you have to know that Jackson holiday can get down the line right here altu has to throw this on the Run just get the out don't throw it cuz if you throw that ball away Jackson uh Jackson ends up at second base and not something that the Astros would want with two outs keep him at first it'sit in for the strike to Austin Slater no score we're in the bottom of the third swing in a Miss Orioles for 53 3 and 31 through the end of June quick reminder we got our statcast broadcast going on over on ESPN 2 you can check that out 02 High Fly ball right field and gaml drifting back on the other side Justin Verlander will grab a headset and chat with us from the Astros Dugout no SC gorgeous cotton candy sky over Camden Yards here in Baltimore no score we go to the fourth and happy to be joined by Houston Astros pitcher Justin berlander down in the Houston Third Base Dugout how are you sir doing great thanks for having me hey um let's start here you're 41 years old you're aware of this if I had told 22-year-old Justin berland that's when you debuted you'd be pitching at 41 you would have said what uh oh in the a left field Slater back um I think I would have said I sure hope so you know obviously you need some luck and uh uh need to stay healthy but you know I had the ability to throw 100 mph when I was 22 so I would hope that maybe with the natural decline I'd still be able to throw 95 I actually remember telling Kenny Rog that when he told me I was too skinny at 22 I said I'll put on some weight you know I'm throwing 100 now so by the time your age I'll be throwing 95 so what was it like to face Willie May yeah thanks thanks I I don't get that enough in my locker room yeah I'm sure oh boy um you say Kikuchi when he came over when we spoke with Joe as spot the thing he said was that you you target players in trade and they look at different guys but with the pitchers and Kikuchi how can we make him better all right Justin Verlander was acquired from the Detroit Tigers how did they make you better um you know really it was quite simple um uh we sat down and it was the first time I had like a real analytics meeting we we weren't as up to date back then with the Tigers and um they sat down and showed me some data and uh basically the data said you throw your two seam um this percentage of the time which was quite a lot I used to pretty much throw my two seam every time I went arm side and four seam glove side and um they said your two seams basically not very good um you're doing the hitters a favor by throwing it and um look how good your for seam is it's one of the you know best in baseball so that was a pretty easy switch to make honestly and uh you know the swing and Miss went up and just the the the poor contact went up and you know the rest is history yeah Justin how do you balance using all the new data all the analytics and then still r retaining the feel that you came up as a feel guy and how do you keep how do you retain that kind of feel part of the game yeah you know uh it's something that's actually kind of difficult you can really get lost in in analytics and numbers and and um you know it's a game that's trended so much in that direction and um you know I think a lot about my bullpens um there's times where I get just so caught up with um what the pitch shape is doing what the ball is doing how it's spinning and uh there's been times since I've been here where it's like you know what I need to get back to just like feel in just uh going and throwing a bullpen and trying to locate the pitch and not worry about what the shape is but worry about how I'm throwing it and where I'm throwing it you know it's um external stimulus versus internal stimulus and you need to be able to do both but um you know you need to practice both or you lose it so you know feel something you it's practice down and you need to continue to do so even with all the analytics we have popped up Rivera makes the catch all right so you've been on the iil with the right shoulder issue also then some some neck soreness how are you feeling uh feeling good you know uh I try to stay positive with everything obviously a couple weird injuries this year that um unfortunately I I just uh couldn't avoid you know I didn't see him coming uh usually your body kind of gives you some warning signs but um you know like every injury of I had in my career I try to learn from him try to move forward and and uh particularly this neck injury I learned a lot uh some postural stuff that I think is going to really help me and hopefully push me to uh you know however long I go you have opinions on state of the game or for getting the starting pitcher more involved and how you go about doing something like that in baseball yeah you know I saw some of the proposals that were out there uh you know I I think it's a conversation that needs to be had quite frankly um you know teaching uh the current state of the game you know we talk a lot about feel um you know the feel has kind of gone out of the game um more recently coaches don't talk about it they talk about how nasty your stuff is how much you're spinning it how fast you're throwing it they don't talk about uh setting guys up located feeling stuff like that um and uh you know if we start dictating um pitchers starting pitchers in particular getting deeper in games I think those conversations will start to come back and um you know I don't think you want to lose that in this game it's it's too important I I don't think guys want to see uh you know every pitcher go out there and throw two or three Innings and get yanked you know uh pitchers are players too um we have names on our back and I think fans like to cheer for us and um you get those Marquee matchups that are fun you know you think back in the day you got you know uh David con and uh Randy Johnson you know Greg Maddox and Randy Johnson it's just uh you know those things uh haven't been around so much anymore we can add Justin berlander to that you said in your last answer at the end how far I can go how far can Justin Verlander go I mean only time will tell you know I'm not trying to put a cap on anything I I I I put in all the work behind the scenes you know there's a big shiny number that I'd really like to get to um that's going to be a few years away so uh got a lot of goals that one slapped down to left center field it'll touch down for a hit p on the move he can fly here's the throw to the pl and too late and you heard Justin Verlander say yeah the Astros have jumped out to a one- nothing lead had a front row seat for that one that was nice okay I love that you had a front row seat to this one because let's break this one down from your angle Gary Pettis and you had a very good angle to them home cower goes out to get it take me through this right now when you see Gary Pettis tough send right there I mean he got the ball in he got a speed um he pushed it there's uh two outs obviously that's in Gary's mind with two outs you got to you got to push the envelope a little bit I think if there's one out he probably does send him and gaml now um I get another random sort of pitching topic can you give me your perspective did it change at all nowadays we will hear managers talk about their starting pitcher and overtly say I want him to throw as hard as he can to as long as he can when you entered the game it was not like that no it was about getting outs you know it was about uh pitching to contact um you know obviously you would go for the strikeout when you needed it but um you know it it's changed quite a bit look I mean the analytics point it's it's it's going to be hard to put that Genie back in the bottle and I don't know if you can that's why things might need rules might need to be changed but um you know the harder you throw it the more you spin it the more your breaking ball moves the harder it is to hit that's that's pretty black and white but um you know there is a field that comes to to setting guys up getting guys out without showing them your best plan um you know all the stuff that we used to talk about uh uh you know I don't I don't feel like uh too many people talk about like talk about that stuff anymore and um like I said it's important and the second that uh guys start not looking to come out of the game after they're in the third time through the lineup and um you know the guy in the bullpen ready then then you have to start figuring out how to get guys out three or four times and that's when the thought process starts to change I tell you one of the things that comes through is how much you love this game but there it's twofold one what I feel is I know how much of a competitor you are and that's why you love it but you're also really curious and interested aren't you yeah very much so you know that's why uh you know I'm always trying to adapt always trying to learn um little flare that'll fall for a base hit into left field so gamble gets enough of it there's just so much uh you know right now I'm I'm I'm you know look at all the video we have so super slow-mo video that's the you know you'd be amazed at at what you can see and glean from this technology that we have now it's pretty cool it's it's and it's always getting better and um so you know on one hand I say that analytics uh needs to go away a little bit on the other hand you know it's a beautiful thing and you can learn a ton from it um so you know just always trying to adapt and the hitters are doing a good job adapting to spin and and the stuff that we're thrown at them they adapt so quickly I mean these guys are the best in the world um you know so it's a it's a constant back and forth in chess battle the zenzo here by the way Justin um not to push you towards your next career but you're doing a really nice job laying out when the ball is in play you know I got to let you guys do what you do that is drilled out towards left center field ooh indeed a bounce off the wall and that's going to score two disenzo into second and the Astros have increased their lead it's now three [Applause] nothing guys and it's not the top of the order it's been the middle to bottom part of the O order that is creating the damage second time around right here this pitch too much of the plate senzo who has very good bat speed gets this one solid hit one Bounce Off the Wall let's put it this way bregman's shot would have been a home run in 23 ballparks the Fly ball that he had hit this park is real the gaps are real and a lot of run score from first as you see Justin there with his hands pumping up what we got the Italian Stallion going there what do you got there Justin I don't know what I did I don't know what that looks I can't I don't have a TV screen to see what I look like I hope it's not too bad oh it's good oh oh the celebration that they were doing yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah morce dubon now Justin Verlander with us down to the Astros Dugout and he's been a good luck charm for his team as they've scored three times and all of it happening with two outs John shabby David Coen Eduardo Perez four straight hits for the Astros um how good is this Houston team good man Scrappy you know have dealt with a lot of uh lot of injuries and a lot of ups and downs a lot of downs early in the season particularly but um that's where this experience comes into play you know we've been been here done that kind of all the above and we know what the end goal is and we know where we expect to be and um you know early in the season when things weren't going well um the conversations in the locker room the temp you know the the the uh the up beatness in the locker room didn't go away you know there was uh just a lot of positivity here man that's why uh you know we have success year in and year out 0 and two Kramer fires okay Justin I get this question a lot and it's an easy question but kind of a tough one at the same time all your years all the hitters you face give give me your toughest outs toughest best hitters that you've seen or faced or played with you know is well played with uh Miguel gabera jumps right to the top of my mind um Jose Altuve um this guy right here to my right yordon um toughest outs you know uh Jim Tomy had some success against me I feel like it was feast or famine he had a bunch of home runs off me but I struck him out a bunch I think he would probably say he won the battle most of the time you know the guys that give me a lot of trouble are some of the guys that uh uh have like really good bats of ball cuz I don't miss by a ton I'm usually kind of around the zone and and I feel like I try to get you to chase a couple inches off and those guys that are able to handle that you know Eduardo uh um Perez pops my mind um on the ground that'll get no Henderson able to grab it it'll be an infield single G Anderson lays out and sto the run from scoring that's a heck of a play it's an infield hit though I'm going to correct you Justin you mean Salvador salador yeah yeah I had it I was about to jump right back into it you would have owned me brother you're all righty I'm not yeah you know it really honestly though analytics has helped me too also with uh with some scouting you know back then you just had to kind of figure it out on the Fly you were out there pitching you had some some scouting reports but um you know you're just kind of uh throwing and reacting to what the hitter's telling you which I really appreciate now I'm able to kind of meld the two together and adjust my game plan accordingly on the fly but um back then you know you didn't know what you didn't know would you have times as you started to learn analytics and get more advanced information where your eyes would tell you one thing and you'd be wrong absolutely um absolutely you know honestly looking at some of the stuff I looked back and I was like well no wonder that guy had success I kept throwing him the pitch he likes to hit you know Kramer ready here McCormick and that one up the middle holiday he'll grab it step on second on to First well there were two outs already Justin Verlander three runs in we appreciate the time thanks guys appreciate it and rewards fans with bonus bets for each home run that is hit by either team in Sunday Night Baseball scan the QR code to download the app and get started today what a play [Music] by the way that was awesome Justin great stuff yeah he's super [Music] sharp edley Rutman now the Astros have jumped out three nothing we're in the bottom half of inning number four and there's a strike to the switch in CER and no surprise Rutman the lowest first pitch swing rate in the majors as he takes strike [Applause] one on the ground softly hit Altuve charges one away we're going seam orientation I mean we're just we're just talking seam Shi and wake in The Dugout that's all that's it the seams are everything and what Justin was referring to earlier the highspeed cameras they get it out of your hand now you really get tremendous feedback now on what the seams do and how you can make the ball move first pitch in for a strike to gunar [Applause] [Music] [Applause] Henderson Anderson flyed to Center his first time awkward swing there it's nothing in [Music] two well this is an Orioles team that uses the Home Run ball to score they have the third highest rate in terms of percentage of runs via the Homer get about a little over 48% of their runs on the Homer the guess here would be that if they get back in this game the Home Run ball probably will be a factor a right field yes which is the amazing part they I mean they have guessed right just about every step of the way their drafting their development picking the right players moving the wall back and left field all their powers kind of going to right field now in this particular ballpark so they're among the league leaders and home runs with the big wall in left field so it is been a heck of a run for Baltimore on the decision-making part top to bottle check swing did he go no swing it's Roberto Ortiz down there here's the other thing when you put together a roster and front offices change it's never as simple as one guy figures everything out you're going to get help from different places that one rolled towards first the zenzo will take it himself and belly flop and tag the bag guys that actually was the smart play at first he understands kikuchi's coming in barreling in hard Plus Henderson as well for safety purposes that was actually very smart him you see Kikuchi right there Henderson if he goes standing up that could get pretty ugly zzo is giant by the way he goes 65 about 225 in that range so it's a good point any two down now I was mentioning about front offices the guy at the plate kind of dovetails into my point Anthony sandir the Orioles selected a kid in the rule five draft who was an AB ball in 2016 off the roster from the Cleveland then Indians that was Dan duette that did that and it was Anthony Santan there so I think that Cleveland the thought was probably that no one was was going to take him in the rule five because they didn't expect him to make the jump from a to the majors but credit the Orioles for identifying the tal and again Dan duette was the guy that that did that one hit in the air out towards Right Center gaml kuchi has been super sharp gets him one two three on 10 pitches how do you build a winner these two organizations have gone through similar circumstances you lose a 100 games you draft stars and then you pick out some ring sizes but you're talking about the likes of bregman and Tucker and then for the Orioles it seems like they have nailed some of their picks with guys like Rutman and Henderson that one drilled off the bat of Altuve but there to make the catch is [Applause] Slater so six Los seasons for the Astros between 09 and 14 including three times with 100 losses but the notable picks with Springer kareah bregman and Tucker they are still without Kyle Tucker they've won a couple of World Series in 17 and 22 but Tucker's out with that shin contusion that he suffered June 3rd hoping that they'll have him back the next couple weeks he's going to have to deal with some pain remember when he went to the IL he was was in the MVP conversation all around ball player base running defense power and a guy that's been durable his entire career he's a guy that posts all the time last year with all the injuries that they had it was Kyle Tucker the one that posted every single game gregman laces that one to left field and it's a base hit [Applause] now Mike Elias knows about what Houston went through because he was there for it and now you talk about five losing Seasons three with 100 losses and some of the notable draft picks the 1-1 in Rutman a 1-1 in Holiday cowser fifth overall second rounder and gunar Henderson so last year making the postseason for the first time since 2016 there's Mike Elias they executive VP and GM had a nice chat with him behind the cage pregame he had me laughing he said it's been a lot of EB and flow which is the bad one the e or the flow and I'm like am I really explaining this to the Yale guy he's done a excellent job and that one hit on the ground Henderson to Holiday returned to F sa and Diaz just did beat it out and I think one of the things that Mike Elias was able to do well is you have to bring people behind the scenes as we take a look at this Force out at second Bas theas did beat it out at first is brought in sigol who was pretty much the right-hand man of Jeff luno when it came to all the data and analytics I worked hand inand with Sig myog in 2013 when I was with the Astros as a bench coach and there's a lot of things behind the scenes that he was getting done on the analytical side of it tap back to the mound Kramer has it that's that but sigol I think was hired from NASA by the Astros absolutely Midway in the fifth and Houston leaves Baltimore it's three nothing Baltimore Mike Elias out front to the right Sig mol in the middle of your screen there just want to correct something a s did work at Nasa he was actually was hired by Jeff lunow to start the Cardinals new analytics department and then went along with lunal to Houston so started with the Cardinals and then onto the Astros that's where he were yeah just a different mind I was told there would be no math tonight thought we were going old school we had Jus Verlander on talking about clutch stats oh my gosh you guys clutching me up theoy Jimenez now ball to strike andz has done good work since coming over from the white Sid fouls that one back 308 17 games one thing that he has done is actually be taller at the plate used to be crouched down a little bit more as a White Sox player take a little bit of stress away from the legs to be able to keep him healthy on the field Eddie why does he hit the ball on the ground so much I think that's one of the things he has to come up when he was crouched down in the plate the first movement that you make is actually up and when you do that you actually cut the path of your of the batad and you chop everything on the ground try to stay tall throughout the entire thing and that way you can see pitches up in the zone a little bit better and not Chase those down yeah he hits the ball hard his exra velocity certainly I think 92 between 92 and 93 milph well above Major League average Met has debuted in 2019 he had 31 homers he has not get as many since he's had trouble staying healthy but it's hard to hit 31 homers again as he laces that line drive right he'll take that all day I was going to say it's hard to hit 31 homers if you're hitting the ball in the ground a lot first hit for the Orioles and here in the fifth a man aboard cower guys this is what 104.7 sounds like that's loud right there and that's the potential that aloy himz has little by little he's going to figure out that he has to use his height at the plate to his Advantage both cows are fly out his first time excellent overall numbers for the rookie man it first kuchi misses down it away you say kuchi has started against the Orioles twice already this year as you look at cower rookie ranks yeah he is the favorite right now to win the americ americ league rookie of the year but this left the of course with Toronto so he saw the O's a bunch two starts this year against Baltimore kuchi 174 the [Applause] ER the onew in the air out towards center field but cormick is there to make the [Applause] catch well the thing with Kikuchi that Houston has imparted on him is just simplify your approach basically a two-pitch approach tonight and a lot of Sliders first off the shorter arm swing and hiding the ball behind his backside coming in certainly throwing his slider consistently for strikes both early in the count and late in the count look at his slider usage 20 he's got 19 for 28 strikes on his slider T swinging a Miss from Emmanuel [Music] Rivera so it's slider for seamer tonight for the most part almost 90% of the time it's one of those two pitches completely simplified his approach the thing that does is that'll get him deeper in the game so you have to think as much about using all your pitches get those two pitches in the strike zone more often throw your slider for strikes early and late serving him well so far the O2 all right so earlier I told you about you say Kikuchi and the night before he starts he likes to get 13 to 14 hours sleep and I promise you that I have a better nugget than that on you say Kikuchi I think this is cool he has one son he's got one kid his name is Leo Daniel Kikuchi And that son Leo Daniel Kikuchi the middle name is Daniel for Daniel Vogal back come on that's his guy that is the truth they became fast friends in Seattle great great friends so teammates in Seattle teammates in Toronto but his son's middle name is Daniel for Daniel boo back I mean that you talk about an Odd Couple that's good that's really good drive safe everybody good night drop the mic did not see that coming no I'm here to help 97 just missed Leo Daniel good name it was 0 and two and Rivera has worked the count full now three balls and two strikes who's Felix who's osar check swing appeal to First did not go and it's Ball Four how about Rivera he goes from 0 and two and he works the walk yeah goes 02 to the walk and it was the second time that a hitter swung at the first pitch in a kuchi at bat this this night they've been patient kikuchi's shown that he's been able to throw strikes especially with the slider as con alluded earlier to now this is a good visit right here being able kartini to just slow Kikuchi down make sure they get the sign right with the runner at second even though it's all done done via pitch cast [Music] pitchcar selection of official jerseys caps t-shirts Collectibles and more you can gear up with your favorite team at mlbshop.com [Music] one of the things I love down with Mound visits and sometimes you know normally with a a mound visit with a Japanese player you have the translator visit but you have Luis heel for example he goes out with a translator sometimes as well and the translator will cover their mouth as well it's it's unbelievable it's like it's basically like the translator is miming the pitching coach covering his mou paranoia will destroy you oh my gosh the [Music] one by the way Chaz McCormick in center field is way over to his left our right big gap yeah they their defensive positioning Outfield wise has been hyper aggressive in this game I mean from our seat you can really see it it's something that probably does not get talked about enough in today's world of baseball in terms of run prevention and why it's so hard to hit we focus so much on the infield and infield positioning at shift or lack of shift but in the Outfield that is where extra base hits are taken away in the air that is clber left Center Fai way back go and we are tied Ramone Rus and CNL how about that so many things happening here first of all the three-run home run something that the Orioles have done a lot of this year they come back to tie this bad boy on a pitch up in the zone and uras gets on top of it but then cion El Bez in the bullpen I mean we were just there we were having this conversation that's six home runs and he's caught with his seven and an eighth hat in the ballpack [Applause] pitch clock violation I believe was just called yeah it's one and nothing well that's a tough one too right there after a three-run [Applause] homer rer saying no no no no that's he called time before that expired though get you in for a strike and it's one one he did disengage though at the 1 second Mark but it's not he can't disengage and reset the clock he's got to call time and when he raised his hands that's not time well you said disengage well okay should he go with a 2 second I'm just saying a disengagement in and of itself doesn't reset the clock point taken wow how about per come on you have size eight hat come on I've got my hat here so he has a seven and an eighth right it's an infielders type glove yeah I have an orial cap but M's an eight yeah yeah this is Boi's style right here that is in oh yeah I was hoping that's a pretty good catch man that you made yeah it's tough tough but he right there that's impressive because he told me after the fifth inning he does not attempt any of that he starts doing all the weighted ball routines and getting ready for the game but after but from the fifth inning until that fifth inning and it's the bottom of the fifth wow the one not to mention that pitch was way above the strike zone yeah you don't see too many four seam fast balls 95 plus that get hit that hard that high how many times do you see a bullpen pitcher right a pitchure in the bullpen check the video of his catch in the air right field down the line and that one is just foul Slater the other way that's funny he's got the iPad to watch his [Music] catch just to the right of the [Applause] wall it's a good home run hitters part for the lefties at high wall and right kuchi had to work hard here in the inning gets the swing and Miss Slater is gone but the Damage Done on the Home Run ball and it landed right where it was supposed to Eduardo making the play size 8 CNL live number six on the season was that my belly button gra the [Music] Buddha CNL Perez making the grab with the cap out six time he's done that pretty amazing now de Kramer back to work and delivers a strike to Victor kartini 33 we're in the top of the six John shamby David Coen and wo Perez new life for Dean Kramer indeed back in the wayo pitch counts in good shape the Orioles they should get some help September 1st or thereabouts when they get Zack effin back and an Orioles team that is eighth out of 15 teams in the American League in team erra on the ground but foul to me what's interesting is the last two nights the Astros have had two run leads both games they've ended up losing they had a three-run lead today now they saw that go away again with another big home run for [Music] monoral it's interesting to see me to see how they'll react the next four [Music] Innings fouled back well the Orioles we documented earlier third in the majors in percentage of runs via the Home Run ball now one to tie things up and so here's al2 base team now even with Baltimore two two it's a little bit H you guys know that I love to pound on the Homer play in the postseason thing the last six years in the playoffs if you out Homer your opponent you play 850 baseall you got the small ball uh stats there St can we go on over sacrifice mons now yes cover a whole half inning on sack punon yeah win expectation chart yes or run expectation chart well I can tell you this in the postseason games I I played in the Home Run ball played a big role yeah including uh Jim litz off of Mark wallers in 1996 was a pretty big one no doubt slider slider Atlanta about to go up 3 to one and close this out Jim L said nope little three run home run to tie it up six to six yep kartini ninth pitch of the back a little bit high and that is a real good plate appearance Two walks and an RBI single and a better backdrop better backdrop on the walk folks play ball is baseball's Global youth initiative that highlights the fun and accessible ways to play our great game to learn more including how to find a league near you go to playball.org and follow it playball on X Facebook and Instagram or the grand IG as the kids call the Orioles by the way have out homered their opponent 64 times this year most in the majors and it is a play that works in a regular season as well have no [Music] fear in the air Center field cower is there got a good jump on it good Defender out there Colton cower mention the Orioles are not a great defensive team by outs above average they are tied for 17 among the 30 teams by defensive run save they are 21st so that would put them you know 15 is Big League average slightly below average but they do have a couple of good Defenders out there on the field cowers want them have good team speed generally speaking so you would it's a little bit surprising I I would anticipate that to improve over the next few years because they do have so many good athletes around the field here's Zach disenzo now two run double his last time up you almost forget the Astros began the year with Jose Abu as their first baseman he ended up he was in in the middle of a a 3year 58.5 million deal in year two and he ended up getting released in the middle of June yeah that's a tough one right there they have not had a lot of production from that position at first swaging a Miss really good pitch there the strike out and that's number five for Kramer and I'll tell you this if I'm Jose AB Bru one thing that I would do is go play winterfall that's a splitter it's a nasty one catch senzo out in front of it as the ball Dives good angle right here great arm action as as a hitter you're completely full two Bon fouls one back great camera shot too right there of the spin on that Kramer splitter it didn't run it didn't have a lot of horizontal movement that was straight vertical down which righty on righty that's what you're looking for out straight back to Bon getting the start tonight and left field he's two for two with a couple of hits positional versatility that's his thing he starts this year in left right and Center first second third and short so I asked them today in the clubhouse if I let you run out to any position where you going and he said second base he said him a short stop by Nature probably second at this point is the spot I most like I didn't tell Jose altu that one to Third and arus gets the out there he took a Peak at first and then went to Second sorry you got a Hall of Famer at second base on Houston right now and speaking of college football adley Rutman kicking for Oregon State Christian mcaffrey back to receive watch him watch him yes get him adley number 87 and he helps him wasn't a great kick was it like to the 20 15 yd line he picked the right Spore tell you the right SP he wasn't a dummy though he tackled him with that left shoulder not the right one maybe he's going for the high of the pooch kick maybe [Music] there swinging a missx all right con I have something that I want to Broach with you I haven't gotten a chance to do this on national TV but I've had this thought before I'm just curious you're take on this and yours too Eduardo love adley Rutman awesome career so far and he is going to be I think you know one of the best catchers we've seen in quite some time he wears number 35 you can't give him M Cena's number yeah that's I agree you Cena was a great pitcher he's a Hall of Famer in the Hall of Fame it's it's always the Yankee no disrespect a Yankee thing it's a Yankee thing it happens man swanging a miss and Rutman down on I am not taking any type of shot at adley Rutman in any way I'm just saying like see in the Hall of Fame yes yeah and I understand to Yankee ping what you're saying but I think you also have to understand a little bit about the history and I was surprised that Adie decided to take that number yeah as well great player great young man just a thought yeah no it's a valid thought definitely I think we all thought that when adley first was given that number or took it on the ground to the right side Altuve and gunar Henderson retired and there's two away so much talent on this Baltimore to so much young Talent it's it's pretty incredible to have this many players who are this young to have this of success absolutely and I think it it reminds me a lot and we talked about it earlier the Houston Astros when they started becoming really good with bregman kareah Altuve that core was there then you got Tucker added to it and this is pretty much the same thing a lot of people say well that's what happens when you were that bad for that long you end up getting a lot of the first picks in the country but a lot of teams Miss yeah that's one thing that they have not done is Miss yes I mean so the Orioles for example look Rutman was the 1-1 but he's panned out and has been a really good player gor Henderson was a second round pick so that means a lot of people had a chance to select Gunner Henderson credit to the Oriols for identifying the talent and developing yeah developing good point and there was a lot of development to be had with Gunner Henderson and I think there still will be and there still has to be development with gunar Henderson maybe a little on the offensive side he's been fantastic but on the defensive side is where a lot of the development has to come as well yeah the parallels between these organizations are are remarkable we showed it in our opening to Jim Crane's credit the owner of the Astros trying to keep this window open longer for this core nucleus of players who have gotten them seven straight American League Championship Series and when people were calling for a breakdown again with the slow start earlier this year from Houston they never wavered and that's right from the top Jim Crane said no way you talked to Dana Brown the GM same thing every interview they did nope we're going to come back we're going to be in this thing and look at him [Music] now sand d [Music] will reach and it looks like Joe a spot he had nerys up and we have a pitching [Music] change one what's in your wallet Sunday Night Baseball from orial park at Canon yards it's my first those game and it's my birthday happy birthday young man August 25th speaking of which it's my mom's birthday really I want to say Happy Birthday to mom Suzanne you're at home I love you happy Birthday Mom you say Kikuchi think get his numbers responsible for the runner at first it's also Doug glanville's birthday douge G happy birthday a partner on the radio side they they wandered wed over just from Radio just to to bother you guys tonight Ravi and Williamsport in for a strike to aloy Jimenez going have to dumb it down over here cuz Dougies he's a little different level of intellect over there hen guy yes see the numbers with the Cubs for Hector nerys this is his season debut back with the [Music] Astros was uneven the performance with the cub ultimately he was thrust into the closer role was not really where they intended to have him pitch walks were an issue base runners were an issue pitch with traffic a lot but still the splitter is the pitch yeah it's a swing and Miss pitch which is so desirable for teams in a pennant race or even in postseason taking the ball out of play with with members in your Bullpen can be a Difference Maker and if he gets that splitter right like we just saw he can miss backs I don't know about you guys but I was excited to see him in that clubhouse oh he's great I went straight to his locker and started spraying the cologne he's got some good ones popped in the air right field that one hanging up forever Altuve oh almost squirted out of his glove the old ice cream cone nerys comes in gets him menz and the Oriol leave a oh 33 your Little League World Series champs in Williamsport Carl ravage on the cold air Lake Mary winning over Chinese Taipei from the southeast so cool and a lot of people from Florida calling you know just wanting to be a part of a Kevin Ulan the head coach with the Florida Gators today also sending them a message really cool all around congratulations think Mary's right by where my buddy Stan bang Gundy lives fired up huge baseball fan friends with Freddy Gonzalez the bench coach of the Orioles Smith here and there's a strike to Chaz MC for 9-1 and2 scheduled for the Astros 33 we in the seventh Houston LED 3 nothing and then a three-run homer by Ron Rus tied things up Smith going high octane and Jasmine corack you see him struggling this year hitting 190 on the season with four home runs he tried to start pulling the baseball one of the biggest mistakes he could have done steps straight into the plate his power has always been right center field once you start start try to pull the ball cutting off the [Music] swing out at 98 inside you don't see too many modern hitters stand as far off the plate as he does for that point you just made that he does kind of dive into it rarely do you see that picture of somebody that far up the dish that one is in there and McCormick is gone yeah lost at the plate touching on that point guy I remember having a close stance being far from the plate I'm dating myself a little here is Mike Schmidt Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt used to dive in but he used to use that Top Hand really well so strong with that right hand and hit it out front and still be able to pull the ball here's Altuve old for three with a pair of strikeouts [Applause] Tu was in the on Deck Circle during the Friday game and a young kid shouted out if you hit a homer can I have your bat and Altuve obliged and obliged he actually hit the Homer and gave the kid his Bat pretty neat gave him gave him a bat yeah gave him aat good point job and altu waving at that one in fact he is Homer in each of the last two games here in Camden we told you coming in a lifetime 404 hitter over 150 of bats in this SP he's reached safely in every game that he's played here but 0 for three tonight so that streak is in Jeopardy one thing Jose has done tonight is swings and misses he had three against Kramer now already with one here four swings and misses in this game one and two one out base is empty we're in the seven on the ground Henderson on the back hand he play and now tuve retired there's two down gunar Henderson who's been catching ground balls and actually on the Run throwing it look how many steps he takes here one two three four and then gets a little on the side and is able to throw a strike over to first base it's been one of his problems this year at Short has 19 errors 12 of them via the throw lately every ground ball doesn't matter if it's in front of him to his left or to his right he's had to throw it on the run something I think that he'll work on in the offseason but during the season they're allowing him to just make that play rman drives this one left field that's pretty well struck Slater back and that one is gone Alex bregman will touch them all and the Astros have retaken the lead it is 43 regman with number [Applause] 21 Cony did you see Alex's reaction when he hit it when he hit it he thought the ball was going to go because it would have been a home run in any ballpark even this one here but then he hesitated out of the box and he's like I better get going hanging breaking ball hits it out in front pull side that's Alex bregman right here he's like okay this Ball's gone and then when he hits it he's like uh wait a second I better get going in the air out towards left Center and that one is gone janner Diaz they go back to back Diaz number 16 and the Astros on top 53 a no hold that one that was a bomb there the exit velocity on the top left check it out that's Elite stuff right there 111 the distance 455 ft that's sweeper stays up and yer is Yaya time right there here's Jeremy Peña now and Ardo when you talk about exit velocity and launch angle and they combined to make a barrel but when you're looking at something that's 110 and 27° that's kind of perfect right yeah it does not matter what kind of wind is playing or wall or wall that would have been over the greaty wall of [Music] China that one hit over 110 in terms of the exit velocity if you're wondering this year balls hit 110 mil an hour or harder the batting average is 775 so that's why there's so much emphasis on exit vlo just the process of hitting it hard talked with Matt holiday earlier today Jackson holiday's father and he said talking about the K like sort of the starting point was let's try to hit it hard and far but and conversely the pitchers are trying to to stop that process to induce weak contacts so trying pitchers trying to keep him from hitting it hard and hitters trying to hit as hard as they can one and two Smith swag in a Miss B Smith overwhelms pay you there but two home runs the Astros on top yeah and if you look at what the Astros have been able to do tonight seven two out hits and five two out runs and it was bregman giving them the lead and yer adding it adding to it shout out Joey vad he was the first miked up player on Sunday night BAS baseball maybe we should start calling it The botle Mike but earlier this week he announced his retirement in one of the the better hitters we've seen over the course of the last 15 20 years and a smart interesting personality four years from now we could see him representing Canada in the breaking category right I'll tell you the other thing too is he also is a huge chess guy he he made a funny comment that he has never been on the front page of the paper in Canada as a baseball player but he did make it as a chess player yeah so he's he's got a he's got a large interest in in chess but I mean just super interesting unbelievable career a guy with power and about as interesting as it gets to talk hitting with had a conversation with Jim wman who coached him and managed him also in Cincinnati and asking him where he falls in the Cincinnati greates right was never able to win a World Series there but the numbers are absolutely ridiculous with what he was able to do as we looked at the most times leading the league and on base percentage did it seven times look at those names yeah pretty sick yeah there's no question it you look at you know the way he went about it I asked him some time ago go about how he learned about the value of getting on base and he said reading about Ted Williams and then obviously paying attention to a guy like Barry Bonds in his [Music] career couple years ago I get a chance to sit down with him too just one other thought on Joey bado and it was it was a lot of fun to ask him a bunch of questions just about hitting and about understanding the strike zone one of the things I asked him about is some years he' swing at the first pitch a lot and some years he wouldn't and he admitted to me that sometimes it was about just changing messaging the other thing I asked him about was the strike zone so the thing I asked him was kind of you know how how does he see it and how did you you train your eye in terms of figuring out what's a ball what's a strike pitch a little bit High and a count one and two and I basically asked him I said you know so what does the strike zone look like exactly to Joey bot is it you know is it Like A Beautiful Mind there like equations floating around that's in the air center field mccormic back and makes the catch I did I really said I said what does a strike zone look like to Joey V I said does it look like a beautiful mind or there equations and here's what he said it is most definitely not that uh that impressive or dramatic the balls they they look really really far away like um when it's a strike I I it just it it feels it's very much a feel thing so feels like a strike as it comes in um the balls feel so clearly far away that um that uh it's just it's it just Everything feels uncomfortable so I couldn't do anything with my bat I couldn't hit a line drive or attempt to hit a flyball or a home run I feel like the visual of him closing his eyes saying it just feels so far away well then there's a real new school approach hint in there about I can't do anything with that pitch that looks far away anyway so I might as well take it and there's a chance I'm going to walk and get on base and over 40% of the time he did exactly that got on base in his career as opposed to choke up and bite it off and try to hit that ball that's down and Away 2 in off the plate hit a little weak ground ball you know take it yeah and then take your base one of the greatest players ever from Canada I think but you know one of the three greatest between Larry Walker Fergie Jenkins and Joey vad those would be the three greatest I think there's a pretty good chance we'll see Joey vado in Cooper stown yeah I'll tell you this with all the numbers that have been retired in Cincinnati from 1 5 10 11 in the air left field off the bat of arus that one well struck towards the corner oh how about duban racing forever and then crashes hard into the wall what a play Mauricio duban and he is hurting he went full on into the wall out there and one of the things as and we've made this observation already with Ras at the plate he is playing in almost left center field he's got a long way to go here to get this baseball focusing on the ball not on the wall nowhere to break Embrace and yes there's a padding there but there's no give to that pading straight concrete right behind it to make the third out ball stays in glove he ran3 ft to make that catch I mean that is a hall at full speed at full speed all right we'll go to commercial we'll come back and we will check on Mauricio duban after this Mauricio duah being led off the field after a spectacular catch like he is okay we'll check to see if he's going to stay in this game but he certainly got his Bell rung as he was able to Rob extra bases from Ramon Rus and then straight into that wall he hits fourth this inning yeah that padding is not that thick down the line again concrete right behind it no give it's a heck of a play that's as good as it gets I mean that duon can fly fly and he that was everything he's got get a grw up born in Honduras grew up in Sacramento Derek Jeter was his favorite player but as he spent time growing up in Sacramento the other guy he really loved was Brandon Crawford and then he got a chance to play Crawford with the Giants personal Defender all over and in left field made a wonderful catch right there hopefully is able to stay in the game all right CNL Perez the new pitcher as he delivers ball one to Victor kartini hit on the ground gunar Henderson and one away artini retired for the first time tonight what was it 130 ft 130 ft that's the longest catch by an astro this year there you go go got to figure it's one of the longer runs that any outfielder made this year I mean it just it seemed like he was running forever and a lot of left fielders and a lot of teams we talked about it earlier you did about where the positioning is aggressive when it comes to the shifting of the outfielders and they're trusting in that speed to be able to be of a play stays a ball stays in the air for long enough they're trusting the speed can run it down that's so 130 ft he goes and as we showed you stat cast powered by Google cloud and the guy that delivered that Sprint speed of just under 30 ft per second Duan back in the [Music] Dugout outside and a count one and two Cel Perez delivering downstairs he's already made a big play in this game catching a home run in his cap after we previewed it with Eduardo out in the bull P so he's up two to one on me today it's inside and buzzes the Tower of Gamble just in case then gaml hits one I'm ready he almost putch you that one by the way I made him nervous but not there he's getting ready he camped on that one oh man 32 and that's outside in ball four gaml will take his base I'm still buzzing about the catch from Deon I can't I mean I'm still lit up man the guy covered so much ground by the way on that play where dubon catches and bangs into the corner that ball would have been a home run in 28 ballparks the only two it would not be a home run in here and Chase Field nice job by Ryan oarn who pinch hit for Rivera and stays in the game defensively as he picks that one well that surprises me not a home run at Chase Field where it sort of curves just like it does in this ballpark interesting Baltimore's taken tough to a whole new level this year I mean we have a catcher play nine innings or eight Innings with orbital fractures after he took a ball off his face oh my gosh James [Music] mccan Zach to zenzo [Music] here got an RBI double sandwich between a ground out and a strike out that one flared down the right side and foul this kid just 24 years old 12th round pick out of Ohio State in 2022 Edie mentioned they've been looking for some production at first base first couple of months it was Jose Abu but they didn't see him in spring training he was bothered by a wrist injury so he went down and at multiple levels SL 306 386 517 it's that Softly on the ground marus charges unloads and over throws o herd gamble to third Den zenzo into second the gold Glover ramono Rus throws it away and that's been one of the issues in the past I'll say month is the defense on the left side of the infield for the Orioles has not been as consistent as they would like it to be in as they were used to seeing earlier in this first half of the [Music] year so now in the top of the E with one out Runners at second and third and Drew French the pitching coach will head out for a visit on the mound folks eligible Capital One Rewards card holders you can redeem your rewards for tickets to your favorite MLB teams throughout the season of capital 1 entertainment visit Capital 1.com Entertainment for more [Music] information and so Brandon HDE with Matt Bowman getting loose infield comes in one out Runners at second and third and Jake Meyers is going to hit for duah flyball right field sandir circles back makes the catch throw to the plate and it's too late in offline and the Run scores down to third goes de zenzo the Astros pick up some insurance it's 63 Meyers a pinch hit sack fly guys that's not easy to do right there Myers has been sitting on the bench coming in against the Lefty that can bring it get the ball in the air hit it solid deep enough to be able to drive one in and also even if there's two outs now move the runner over to third Jaz McCormick now foric gold for three with a couple of strikeouts the 10 Astros L it three nothing the Orioles tied it up at three and now Houston back on top 63 was mentioning earlier for the Orioles they get off to this great start but since the 1st of July they're 23 and 24 and in danger of falling to 23 and 25 and that one just foul wow I me that that didn't miss by much oh sh when Myers hit it I don't think he knew where the ball went yeah M cormi had a weird [Music] [Applause] reaction you're right that was close jeez two two swag in a Miss Perez gets McCormick and he's down down on strikes but the Astros collect an insurance run it is 63 going Bottom eight Sunday Night Baseball on the ESPN is presented by Capital One what's in your wallet there's our guy making plays learning at the feet of the master CNL Perez he does have better hair get good hair it's educational too you can teach the fans how to do that if you didn't bring your glove yep wear your hat R A Bru 3 41 that strikeout rate at 32% so he Strikes Out 32% of the batters that he faces Big League average is 22% and this is an Astros team the pitching can be uneven the one thing that they do con you talk about the modern game of baseball yeah you're trying to get bad contact but the first thing you're trying trying to do is get swing and miss and they get a ton of swing and miss and a ton of strikeouts especially late in the game you get a lead down the stretch or in postseason it's what every organization wants take the ball out of play win the game this is the team I would not want to face in postseason because of their Bullpen five ball left field have McCormick who shifted over to left makes the catch Meyers is now in Center Google Cloud AI knows that 102 mph exit velocity with the 38° launch angle and the fact it's 95° out means that ball is going to carry 6.6 ft further on catch the game like never before with Google Cloud AI I think even as well and I'm sure for Orioles fans it's frustrating watching them not play to the level they played early if they're able to get their guys [Music] healthy being hot going into the playoffs as much as people think it's a thing it's not a thing yeah that's the Texas Rangers right well but it depend I mean it and and there are examples though I mean remember that year the Dodgers just lost a bazillion in a row going in like it's the 2,000 Yankees limped into the playoffs and won the Wild Card ended up winning the World Series without the wild card they wouldn't wouldn't even sniffed the playoffs just remember last year and we look at the pictures right now from the Orioles that are on the I it's it's a considerable amount of really good arms that's that's a Sant Point you're right I mean they need more time to get these guys healthy so the first round by could be huge but Rodriguez web and kme should be back in the middle of September there about and effin the beginning of September and then they're hoping for Wester plays third and some second but they're hoping to get him back middle of September as well so huge pieces and there he is just protecting that that right hand it's hard you watch it every day you get frustrated by you know a team that played so well it's just it's really difficult for teams to play at the same level the whole year James mccan would chew off that cast with his teeth I still can't believe he played eight Innings I know I he got hit in the face I I I can't get over that that one in there for strike three and Slater is gone Peña has gotten the first two wow I mean that's just awful and that scene was so scary and he caught the rest of the game like that I mean that's unbelievable how do you catch him one I closed that is hockey level tough I said what was your biggest concern after getting hit said my wife that she was so concerned about him and he goes the kids kids saw me playing again they were like oh that's [Music] fine there's adley Rutman now turns around to hit left-handed Rond go for three all from the right side he debuted May 21st of 22 and that really is kind of the marking point for when things started to turn around for the Orioles and they began on the trajectory that we see right now help lead him to the playoffs last year and again an Allstar each of the last two years or this year and last year I guess the better way to put [Applause] it you're an astro fan just think about adding ector NYS back to this bullpenning rotation shorten shortens their staff big time especially with haer now closing and Presley coming back soon from the ilil [Applause] there's haer got the weighted ball now he doesn't have the waiting rushman down on strikes Abu Mak short work of the Orioles in the bottom of the eighth Wicked slider off the table [Music] we're back and with the best coverage in today's game let's take a look at the dubon catch through the T-Mobile multiv view whoa Mauricio duban going 130 ft the T-Mobile multiv view right there best coverage in today's game and duban with a great hit yeah some of the I don't know was that ey black that he got on his forehead or how's yeah ey black everywhere after that yeah had to come out of the game as Matt bman comes in delivers outside to Jose Alba nothing but respect for your teammates when you make a play like that like a wi receiver going over the middle you know you're going to get crushed that's in for a strike to Altuve who's got a chance to extend his Camden Yard streak he's reached safely in every game played at C that's where he crashed right into the fork down there did he take a right or a left that's what Yogi used to say when you come to a fork take it [Music] yeah I black all over that fork I saw that [Music] tuve fouls that one [Music] away say tuve nine times in Allstar in the MVP three times won the batting [Music] title and he was here for the hard stuff I mean he debuted in 2011 so he got a chance to watch the losing and experience the winning he has gone on strikes Bowman gets him you know altuve's got a little old school in him that he guesses he'll go up there and look for pitches and he obviously guessed wrong there more times than not he guesses right that right there orial fan putting down the 0 for five for Jose Altuve yeah but I'll tell you this Jose Altuve as long as the team wins he's okay [Music] yep ragman's been all square business tonight Square contact even the outs are hard bregman is the first guy that I heard talk about an approach a specific type of approach against one of those carry foring fast balls he's the first guy that I ever heard I think he told A-Rod on a Sunday night broadcast he was looking at swinging above the ball or a ball above and I'd never heard that that you have guys now that think about okay this guy has spin has carry so where I'm anticipating or thinking the ball's going to be I'm actually going to bring my bat to a place that I don't actually see it as being I I swing over the ball yeah yeah and I'll tell you what though I remember a lot of people saying and you heard the phrase slider bat speed right and what we saw was a lot of bat had going under the baseball I used to think any pitch above 95 mph I always tried to swing above that baseball yeah the old saying is the difference between feel and real well that doesn't feel very good foul ball off Yer Diaz foot not wearing a pad that reaction's more off the toe yeah they're without one of their top players on a foul ball off the shin the contusion for Kyle Tucker still out that was June 3D tell what this guy is a stud gerer Diaz bman delivers outside with that yeah the first thing Joe asato wanted to talk about was his improved catching ability behind the plate cuz we know he can swing the bat but he's worked very hard on the defensive end as well the onew swing in a Miss Bowman gets him and that's that will go to the bottom of the ninth last chance for the Orioles atos leaded 63 no errors for the Astros 32 and one for the Orioles as we go to the bottom of the nin Josh ha has come on to close this one out but we're going to have a a quick delay because hater was not happy with the front edge of the mound and the landing spot so he went and told Mark rerer [Music] and they're going to need to get some clay and a tamper and they're going to need to fix the the front edge of the bound that guy in the walkie-talkie is he's got a direct line to the guy with the tamper and the clay [Music] yes so the the problem for every reliever is is you're coming into a mound that's been used a lot and the holes are already done out so when you throw your first few warm-up pitches and if you're Landing half in and half out of somebody else's hole and that's dangerous for you as a pitcher you could twist your ankle you could just you how you land and where you land is everything for a pitcher terms of command control balance F getting a little Restless the tamper is out and I believe what that bucket says is it's world class play and it takes some guts to make this call you know I I didn't have the guts to do it if I was a pitcher I didn't want to delay the game or call you know go through this process that we're watching right here but you know hater knows himself he knows where what he wants to do so fill the hole up you can see the way he was Landing he didn't he didn't like how it felt he immediately points down you throw the ball 100 milph and you're generating that kind of lower half speed you better be sure about where you're Landing I'll give you a weird take but I anecdotally by my eyes I think this is something that happens so much more rarely in the game than it used to happen I feel like you'd have guys have a problem with a hole more frequently I don't know whether they've changed the clay or what but for the most part the the Mounds stay pretty sturdy I don't I don't feel like you see this a ton I again I feel like when you played you probably saw it a little bit more absolutely yeah there's no doubt about it that everything has improved in the game not only the grass the Clay World Class Clay World Class clay grounds Crews do a great job across the major league so yes that that is that's a very valid point haer I think is happy with the front edge of the mound big guy he gets extension 63 and yeah striking up 39% of the batters that he faces 5year $95 million free agent deal with the Astros got off to a slow start blew a couple saves early but all the metrics in the under the hood look were all the same including those numbers you just showed still an elite strikeout pitcher and here's gunar Henderson that one missing off the Inside Edge and ball one Henderson o for three the Orioles have been held to just two hits in the [Applause] game's a 33 game until the seventh when the Astros got back to- back homers from bregman and Diaz added a run and a sack fly in the eighth and here we are Anderson fouls heater back that one at 98 [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] three and one now haer and that's outside and it's ball four and the lead off man is on base and impatient half bat right there for gunar Henderson he knows they need base runners I don't think he had any intention on 3-1 to swing and now it's Anthony sandir who's 0 for two he's also wed in for a strike to the switch hitter batting [Applause] right got one down and in the Orioles we mentioned Jordan Westberg but the other guy that didn't play tonight that's usually quite good against lefties is Ryan mountcastle and he's got a a bit of a wrist issue so they were a little short-handed on hit foul you know what I love about the game is the great hitters look at really good hitters and great hitters while they're hitting you know they take a look at what they're doing right see Anthony santand there right there and right behind them is yordon Alvarez just Keening and just taking a good look at Sant andere in his approach it's too high arms [Applause] [Music] crossed just keeping an eye what's going on in the game and see him right there to your right arms crossed Alex Centron next to yordan drilled center field Meyers there he makes the [Applause] catch the reason I say that about yordon out who's going to play a very important part of the Houston Astros we know about his heroics in the postseason is the conversations I've had with him he is an advanced level hitting guy understanding how he is being set up being able to make adjustments in game and slowing the game [Music] down here's aloy Jimenez now you're on Alvarez for as as much as on Center Stage he's delivered in the playoffs and the numbers don't know that everybody I mean he is off to an incredible start to his career on the ground and that's the short and this could end it to out Tu B on the first and that's the ball game haer closes it out and the Astros win it here 63 well they use the Home Run ball late Alex bregman and yer Diaz and the Astros out Homer the Orioles and win the game Houston's Bullpen three scoreless and hitless innings in Relief really good stuff for the Astros P fellas enjoyed it good to see it love the boo Happy Birthday to mom Astros wi it over the Oriol 63 we'll see you next week when the Braves face off against the Phillies up next [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music]