WHY THE DELAY?
Here's one puzzling, no-brainer move the Houston Astros continue to drag out
Dec 22, 2022, 2:12 pm
Will they be back? Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images.
Apology from Houston Astros broadcaster highlights glaring problem with "standards"
With Dusty Baker back chewing toothpicks into splinters, Michael Brantley recalled to active duty, a new .300-hitting first baseman, Jeff Bagwell whispering into Jim Crane’s ear, no shift gobbling up Kyle Tucker and Yordan Alvarez base hits, and Yuli Gurriel staring at the phone waiting for a call, it looks like the Astros good-time machine is ready to roll intact for 2023.
Except for one important piece of the Astros brand.
The Astros TV broadcast team of Todd Kalas, Geoff Blum and Julia Morales is unsigned for next year. And spring training is only seven weeks away. Already? Time flies when you’re celebrating another World Series.
Kalas, Blum and Morales may not drive in runs or throw quality starts, but they are super critical to the overall Astros product. They are like comfort food, put on the Astros game, and you’re good until goodnight. The Astros are on TV more than 160 times – plus practically guaranteed playoffs – between spring and autumn. When there’s nothing on TV … wait, the Astros are on. We’re good. What number channel is AT&T Sports Southwest again?
What is taking the Astros this long to announce that Kalas, Blum and Morales will be back for another season? Just git’er done.
You know the expression, you don’t know what you got ‘til it’s gone? Well, we do know what we got when Kalas, Blum and Morales aren’t in the Astros TV booth.
We got Apple TV, ESPN and TBS, and it ain’t good. It was excruciating last season watching Apple TV turn an Astros game into open mic night at Giggles Comedy Club. ESPN and TBS are OK, but they don’t “get” the Astros like our regular crew. Kalas, Blum and Morales are just the right blend of attentive play-by-play, clever analysis and personality insight.
Kalas joined the Astros in 2017 after stints with Mets, Reds, Phillies and Tampa Bay. During the offseason, he works football, basketball and baseball games in Louisiana, and University of South Florida hoops. His dad was legendary Phillies broadcaster Harry Kalas.
Blum went straight into the Astros booth after hanging up his cleats – 15 years in the bigs with the Expos, Astros (twice), Rays, Padres, White Sox and Diamondbacks. He has a World Series ring from the 2005 White Sox, when he (gasp) homered against the Astros. He and his wife have four daughters, three of them triplets.
Morales is the dean of the broadcast team, having joined the Astros in 2013. Her father Victor Morales once ran for the U.S. Senate from Texas. She is married to former MLB player Matt Clark and she has her own line of baseball fashion called baseball y’all.
It’s important that we get our TV broadcasters under contract and settled in. Baseball on TV is big business. Each team is guaranteed $60 million per year from the national networks, with another $40 million (on average) coming from local outlets. Houston is a big time market, No. 8 on Nielsen’s national map. There are more than 2.5 million TV homes in the Houston area. Don’t make us fret over our announcers.
Borrowing from that sports media expert Buzz Lightyear, it’s time to get Kalas, Blum and Morales signed ... to 2023 and beyond.
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Sunday night matchups don't get much exciting than this, as the Houston Texans host the Detroit Lions in prime-time at NRG.
The Lions come into this game on a six-game winning streak looking every bit of the best team in football. Houston on the other hand has lost two of their last three games with a struggling offense unable to protect their quarterback.
CJ Stroud has only one passing touchdown over this span, and is clearly having trouble adjusting to life without Stefon Diggs and Nico Collins.
If Houston is going to come away with an upset victory, they will need big performances from Tank Dell and Joe Mixon. After catching 4 passes against the Colts two weeks ago, Mixon not only failed to catch a single pass against the Jets, but he wasn't even targeted.
Considering the Texans' offensive line issues, choosing not to use Mixon as a pass catcher is hard to fathom. Especially since he and Dell are the team's top 2 playmakers.
What's working in the Texans' favor?
They play this game at home, where they are undefeated this season. A lot of the team's protection issues have popped up on the road, so communication should be easier for the offense on their home turf.
Bulls on Parade
We have good news and bad news about the defense this week. On the positive side, Azeez Al-Shaair and Jimmy Ward have returned to practice. If they're able to contribute on Sunday night, that would give the defense a lift.
And now for the bad news. Will Anderson has yet to practice this week after rolling his ankle in the Jets game. If he is unable to practice on Friday, it's hard to imagine he'll be active against Detroit.
X-factors
The Texans have to show some improvement on the offensive line this week.
Houston must lean on Joe Mixon again, as Nico Collins isn't expected to play.
Lions' Amon-Ra St. Brown is one of the best receivers in the league, and he does most of his damage from the slot. If the Texans continue to deploy Jalen Pitre against premier receivers in man coverage, St. Brown is going to light up the scoreboard.
What would a win over the Lions mean to Houston?
The Texans are no longer considered a true championship contender because of their losses to the Packers, Vikings, and Jets. In fact, the Bills are the only team with a winning record that the Texans have beaten.
An upset win over the streaking Lions would change that narrative.
What does Vegas think?
The Lions are currently favored by 3.5 and the total is set at 49 points.
Don't miss the full preview of Texans-Lions in the video above!
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