PARTY TIME
Gow Media's listener appreciation party was an event to remember
Aug 3, 2018, 11:16 am
Loyal listeners were treated to an evening of food fun and up close conversation with some of their favorite ESPN 97.5 personalities Thursday evening as part of a Listener appreciation event put on by the station.
The station opened their doors at 6 p.m. to a line of excited fans who were ushered up an elevator to the Gow Media lobby where they were treated to catered food, an open bar, and an opportunity to sit in on a live broadcast of The Blitz with Fred Faour and AJ Hoffman.
“I was great to see them talk in person because you don’t ever get to see it,” Michael Chan explained. “Seeing it in person, like some of the arguments and when they go back and forth, it’s a lot of fun.”
On top of the food and drink, listeners had the opportunity to meet and speak with many of the station’s on air personalities including Faour, Charlie Pallilo, Raheel Ramzanali, and Lance Zierlein.
“Whenever I first started getting into media I knew fairly early on that radio is the closest to the one-to-one medium.” Pallilo remarked. “When done well it feels more like interaction from the host or hosts to the individual listener.”
Pallilo entertained guests on one end of the Gow Media lobby by successfully fielding guest-submitted sports trivia questions in an attempt to stump the daytime show host for prizes. Across the same lobby, Faour and Hoffman mingled with fans in familiar territory: a poker table.
The entire station was fair game, and guests were encouraged to weave their way in and out of the production side of the building, giving listeners the opportunity to see just where and how their favorite shows are made.
“No business can have 100 percent customer satisfaction, no sports opinion I have is going to have 100 percent agreement; I wouldn’t want that,” Pallilo added.”But this event, I think got close to--if not--100 percent satisfaction.”
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The Houston Astros are finally starting to show signs of turning the corner. After a sluggish start to the season, the offense is beginning to click, the pitching staff remains dominant, and the impact of the Kyle Tucker trade is starting to look like a clear win.
One of the more encouraging developments has been the recent plate discipline from Christian Walker. Known for his power but also for chasing pitches out of the zone, Walker has now drawn multiple walks in four straight games. It's a sign that his approach is tightening up—and he's recovered from his oblique discomfort, starting every game this season.
Yainer Diaz has also provided a much-needed spark. After a quiet stretch at the plate, Diaz came alive with a grand slam against the Angels, his most impactful swing of the year and a potential sign that his bat is heating up.
But the biggest buzz in Houston may be around the players acquired in the Kyle Tucker trade. Cam Smith has looked like he belongs in the big leagues, holding his own at the plate and flashing confidence in the field. Isaac Paredes, meanwhile, has posted a higher OPS than Alex Bregman, while right-hander Hayden Wesneski turned heads by striking out 10 Angels in a dominant start. Early returns suggest the deal could pay off big for the Astros.
Statistically, the Astros offense is still a work in progress, but it's no longer at the bottom of the barrel. After sitting dead last in slugging and near the bottom in OPS last week, Houston has climbed to 23rd in team OPS—right in the mix with the Rangers and Mariners. Slugging percentage still lags behind (27th overall), but there's some movement in the right direction.
Houston has scored the 21st-most runs in the league—better than only the Rangers in the AL West. Yet thanks to strong pitching, the Astros sit at +2 in run differential, the only team in the division with a positive mark.
That pitching has been the backbone of the team so far. Houston ranks 13th in ERA at 3.69, is third in opponent batting average (.190), and leads all of Major League Baseball in strikeouts with 166. It’s a staff that keeps them in every game and has the potential to dominate when the offense catches up.
The early season numbers still reflect a team trying to find its footing, but the signs are there. If the recent progress continues—Walker’s improved discipline, Diaz’s power, and the emergence of new contributors—Houston could soon be back to the top of the AL West.
We have so much more to cover. Don't miss the video below as we examine the topics above and much, much more!
The MLB season is finally upon us! Join Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and Charlie Pallilo for the Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast which drops each Monday afternoon, with an additional episode now on Thursday!
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