Sphere is here to change the game. Sphere is a soccer-inspired concept designed by Michael Chabala, former Dynamo soccer player. His focus is on the quality of play, rather than minutes on the field, connecting people, and doing more with a ball than just scoring goals.
I've heard about Sphere for some time now and would often see people wearing the shirts. I finally decided it was time to check them out. When I first walked into Sphere, I was a little nervous. It had been a while since I played soccer. But good thing about the class, no soccer skill was required, and everyone was super friendly and welcoming. People were introducing themselves to me and my friend. It was then that I realized each class is focused on teamwork and making friends on and off the pitch. Sphere believes this is where players become friends, friends become teammates, and teammates become family.
The class was awesome. My friend and I took a "45" class. It was a great combination of working the entire body, especially abs and cardio. The class is definitely one of a kind. It was such a cool atmosphere on the pitch, they lower the lights, and blast the music. It's a party in the room for sure! Your workout is coordinated with the beats of the music. The instructors are so passionate, they make you feel that you want to work out hard. The class was a combination of body weight exercises, using a small resistance band, cardio, and abs. If you're looking for a great new way to work out, this is it. My friend and I were army crawling at one point, but by the end of the class we were dripping sweat, high-fiving all of our teammates, and feeling great!
There are several different classes to choose from. So, whether you are the avid soccer player, or don't play soccer at all, there is a class for everyone. Be sure to go to https://www.sphere.club/ , to check out the schedule of classes and times.
How Astros surging ace raises key questions about Houston's short, long-term rotation moves
Jul 25, 2024, 5:39 pm
It's no secret to Astros fans that the ascension of Hunter Brown is one of the primary reasons the team was able to rebound from a disastrous start to the season.
Astros manager Joe Espada has seen enough from Brown to start throwing around the word “ace” when talking about him.
Joe Espada on Hunter Brown: "He's having that ace feeling to him. We are expecting him to go out there and deliver what he just did. We knew all along that is in him and now he's starting to turn the corner. He's starting to have that swag where he knows 'my team needs a win.'"
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) July 24, 2024
And it appears the biggest key to Brown's turnaround was mixing in a two-seam fastball to keep right-handed hitters honest. Brown needed a pitch that could command the inside of the plate, which allows his other pitches to be more effective.
We learned just recently, from Chandler Rome of The Athletic, that Alex Bregman was the one that suggested the addition of the two-seam fastball to Brown's arsenal.
Come to find out, Bregman often shares advice on how to attack hitters. Or he'll ask pitchers why they chose a certain pitch in a specific situation.
This just goes to show that veteran leadership can make a big difference. Especially on a team with so many young pitchers and catchers. Bregman was able to help Brown when no pitching coach could.
For Brown, this small tweak could be the catalyst that changes the course of his career. And the Astros season for that matter.
However, some will say the difference in Brown is more about confidence than anything else. But confidence only builds after repeated success. Nobody knows where Brown would be without the two-seam fastball.
Looking ahead
If the Astros do make the playoffs, where will Espada slot Brown in the playoff rotation? Framber Valdez has the playoff experience, so he'll probably be penciled in as the number one starter.
Justin Verlander (neck) still isn't facing live batters, so it's hard to count on him. Ronel Blanco has been an All-Star level pitcher this season, but he doesn't have any experience pitching playoff games for the Astros.
So it wouldn't be surprising at all if Brown is the team's number two starter. In all likelihood, whoever is pitching the best at the end of the season may get the nod. But it's fun to discuss in the meantime.
Finally, how does Hunter Brown's arrival impact the Astros' plans at the trade deadline? And how could that affect Justin Verlander's future with the club?
Be sure to check out the video above for the full conversation!
Catch our weekly Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast. Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and Charlie Pallilo discuss varied Astros topics. The first post for the week generally goes up Monday afternoon (second part released Tuesday) via The SportsMap HOU YouTube channel or listen to episodes in their entirety at Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
