4th AND A MILE WITH PAUL MUTH
Houston Sportscast: Episode 2 "Brick by Brick"
Jan 12, 2021, 10:07 am
4th AND A MILE WITH PAUL MUTH
In this episode we talk about the Texans botching literally everything, the Rockets figuring things out, and the Astros making one whole move.
7:40 - Texans hire a firm to find GM, then completely ignore them
14:30 - Let's talk Nick Caserio (new Texans GM)
23:20 - Cal McNair wants to "build a wall"
27:15 - Deshaun wants out, left Cal on "read"
32;20 - Deshaun for Tua?
38:20 - Is Texans ownership too loyal or too absent?
43:28 - Weekly Rockets rundown
55:53 - Harden still leaving?
1:00:20 - Head Coach Stephen Silas impressions
1:04:52 - Gerrit Cole Drama
1:14:45 - new free agent RHP Ryne Stanek impressions
*The opinions expressed in this podcast do not reflect the views of Gow Media.
Two first-place teams, identical records, and a weekend set with serious measuring-stick energy.
The Houston Astros and Chicago Cubs open a three-game series Friday night at Daikin Park, in what could quietly be one of the more telling matchups of the summer. Both teams enter at 48-33, each atop their respective divisions — but trending in slightly different directions.
The Astros have been red-hot, going 7-3 over their last 10 while outscoring opponents by 11 runs. They've done it behind one of the best pitching staffs in baseball, with a collective 3.41 ERA that ranks second in the American League. Houston has also been dominant at home, where they’ve compiled a 30-13 record — a stat that looms large heading into this weekend.
On the other side, the Cubs have held their ground in the NL Central but have shown some recent shakiness. They're 5-5 over their last 10 games and have given up 5.66 runs per game over that stretch. Still, the offense remains dangerous, ranking fifth in on-base percentage across the majors. Kyle Tucker leads the way with a .287 average, 16 homers, and 49 RBIs, while Michael Busch has been hot of late, collecting 12 hits in his last 37 at-bats.
Friday’s pitching matchup features Houston’s Brandon Walter (0-1, 3.80 ERA, 1.10 WHIP) and Chicago’s Cade Horton (3-1, 3.73 ERA, 1.29 WHIP), a promising young arm making one of his biggest starts of the season on the road. Horton will have his hands full with Isaac Paredes, who’s slugged 16 homers on the year, and Mauricio Dubón, who’s found a groove with four home runs over his last 10 games.
It’s the first meeting of the season between these two clubs — and if the trends continue, it may not be the last time they cross paths when it really counts.
BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Astros -112, Cubs -107; over/under is 8 1/2 runs
Here's a preview of Joe Espada's Game 1 lineup.
The first thing that stands out is rookie Cam Smith is hitting cleanup, followed by Jake Meyers. Victor Caratini is the DH and is hitting sixth. Christian Walker is all the way down at seventh, followed by Yainer Diaz, and Taylor Trammell who is playing left field.
How the mighty have fallen.
Pretty wild to see Walker and Diaz hitting this low in the lineup. However, it's justified, based on performance. Walker is hitting a pathetic .214 and Diaz is slightly better sporting a .238 batting average.
Screenshot via: MLB.com
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*ChatGPT assisted.
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