HE'S ALL INNES
Ken Hoffman cheers on a controversial sports host's return
Sep 16, 2019, 1:07 pm
HE'S ALL INNES
This article originally appeared on CultureMap.
I can't wait for former radio sports talk host Josh Innes to unleash, and I do mean release the hounds, his new daily podcast on Monday, September 16. It happens to be the exact day that his contract with his old station officially expires.
It's not my nature to stick my nose in other stations' business, but Innes got nailed so hard that they should name an aisle at Home Depot after him. I expect Innes to unload enough dirty laundry to open a laundromat. No paywall, so it'll be a free-for-all on most podcast streaming outlets. You'll find it, just listen for the gnashing of teeth coming from station general managers' offices.
Here's the thing. Several years ago, a local TV station needed a new weather forecaster. They hired a super-slick weatherman from Los Angeles. He didn't look, dress, or talk like Houston. Eventually, actually in short order, the station bid him goodbye. The real problem wasn't the weatherman. The station should have dismissed the person who hired Mr. Cool from L.A.
Continue on CultureMap to hear about McDonald's joining the chicken sandwich game.
As Opening Day draws near, the Astros have a renewed sense of optimism thanks to some savvy offseason moves made to bolster their roster and keep the team's championship window open for the foreseeable future.
This year, the lineup will look a little different without Alex Bregman and Kyle Tucker. Still, Houston has multiple players on this team who could have breakout seasons and fill the offensive void left behind by the two departing All-Stars.
Cam Smith
During the offseason, the Astros made the controversial choice to trade Tucker to the Cubs for Isaac Parades, Hayden Wesneski and Chicago’s highly rated prospect Cam Smith.
Parades and Wesneski were acquired to give Houston a third baseman and another potential starting pitcher to add to their rotation. Smith was supposed to be a prospect with high potential who could become a good player in the coming years. However, the Astros likely did not expect the 22-year-old to break out during Spring Training as he did.
The former Florida State Seminole had an impressive .342 batting average with four homers. He also showcased he can play multiple positions, having spent time at third base and in right field during Grapefruit League games.
Smith was getting reps in the outfield as a way to get his bat in the lineup and has looked good out there so far.
Thanks to his stellar play during Spring Training, Smith earned a spot on the Astros' Opening Day roster, becoming the third-fastest position player in MLB history to make the majors having only played 32 minor league games. Houston has found their new everyday right fielder and another lethal bat to add to the lineup for the foreseeable future.
“His approach at the plate, his swing decisions, how hard he’s hitting the ball, we need some of that type of hitter in our lineup, something last year that we somewhat struggled with. If we could add players like him in our lineup, it would stretch our lineup even further.” Astros’ manager Joe Espada said about Smith.
Zach Dezenzo
The Astros' other Spring Training breakout player was Zach Dezenzo, who just earned his first-ever Opening Day roster spot.
The 24-year-old hit .415 (17-for-41) with two homers and made appearances at multiple positions this spring, further solidifying his spot on this roster as a necessary depth piece.
The former Ohio State Buckeye made the big league roster as a utility player, as he can play both corner outfield field positions in addition to first and third base.
“He’s had a great spring.” Espada said about Dezenzo. “His defense in the outfield has been better than what I thought. He actually picked up on it pretty quickly”.
With the recent news that Jon Singleton was cut, and Christian Walker is dealing with an oblique injury, it would seem Dezenzo has a chance to see most of his playing time at first base and fill in at third base or left field this season when needed.
Jeremy Pena
Houston's best hitter during Spring Training wasn’t Jose Altuve, Yordan Alvarez or Yanier Diaz, but instead was Jeremy Pena.
The 27-year-old is entering his fourth big league season with the Astros and is looking to recapture some of the offensive magic he had during his 2022 rookie campaign.
Pena has seen his OPS drop slightly over the last three years, but could become one of the best hitters in the Astros' lineup this season with the amount of work he put into his swing during the offseason.
The fruits of his labor paid off, for Houston’s shortstop had a .475 batting average with two homers and drove in 10 runs during Spring Training,
Despite the roster turnover, the Astros still have an elite team in place to compete for the top spot in the American League West and become a playoff team again.