Weekend Wrap-Up On Houston’s Road Trip Surge

Ice Man jumps on the mic because the Astros are finally giving us a real reason to believe again. We recap the win, the 5–2 road trip, and why we think Houston can push into the playoff picture if the pitching gets healthy and the roster gets one more outfield upgrade.
• Road trip wrap-up and why the series finish matters 
• Extra-innings win and late-inning scoring trend 
• Christian Walker’s big homer and what it signals 
• Rynel Delgado’s first MLB home run and early impact 
• Where the Astros sit in the AL West and wild card race 
• Offense leading the American League in hits 
• Pitching injuries as the main drag and why reinforcements change the outlook 
• Bullpen confidence with defined late-game roles 
• Outfield as the weak link and the need for a left-handed bat 
• Trade deadline stance as buyers, not sellers 
• Plans for more short post-game wrap-ups each week 
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Transcript

Welcome To The Ice Cave

SPEAKER_00 0:02

Welcome to the Ice K. Cold facts like the Ice Age. Iceman with the blizzard about to open up a cold case. Talk about it over cold drinks. Iceman in the building. What's going on, players? Iceman! And I am in the ice on the cave. Got a special addition here.

Road Trip Win And Late Heroics

SPEAKER_02 0:22

We're gonna call this one the weekend wrap up of the Eustin Astros.

unknown 0:26

You know I get active.

SPEAKER_02 0:27

They won again today. They are heating up just like this Texas heat. Now if you heard a bang a little earlier, that wasn't thunder outside. That was Christian Walker doing his thing.

SPEAKER_01 0:44

That ball drill. Christian Walker with a three-run hollow run. And the air show is looking at my floor. Second career hollow run for a sea walking against Kennedy Jansen. Seven to three lead.

SPEAKER_02 1:07

That's right. It was an afternoon delight. Finishing up the series with the Detroit Tigers on the road. A road trip that which the Astros went five and two. They take the series three games to four. And now they are coming home for a six-game stand. Yeah, what a win. Seven to five today. Extra innings. Your Astros are five and four in extra inning games this season. There was a big hit by Ronaldo Delgado. Trying to learn his name still. Recently brought up from the Minors. Big two run shot today. First home run in the major leagues for Delgado. So I've heard they got the ball back from a fan and did their trade now thing, and he's going to be able to keep his first home run ball. But what a win for the Astros. Isaac Perettis is heating up. He went three for five today.

Standings Update And Playoff Case

SPEAKER_02 2:10

And it brings the Astros to 42 and 44. Don't look now, but they are two games under 500. And only one game out of first. Awesome. That's awesome. Actually, it's a half game. It is a half game out of first. Correct me on that. It's the first time they've been two games under 500 since they were 6 and 8 this season. Way early in the season. So they battled back. Give Joe a spot of all the credit. This team's had a lot of injuries. They've underperformed in certain areas, and we'll get to that. But like I said, don't look now. They are in this American League West race. Actually, they're in the wild card race also, too, right now. A lot of season left. Got a whole second half of baseball still coming up. They cap off that, they cap off the road trip at 5-2. Very good road trip. If they can get their stuff together at home and get above 500 at home, this team's gonna make some noise. And they are starting to make some noise. On this road trip, they scored 19 runs from the seventh inning on. They've been getting large, they've been have they have been getting started late. You don't want to depend on that through the rest of the season. But they are showing on this last road trip that they can come from behind. So now they come home for a six-game homestand. They got the twins and the Rays. Get some home cooking, get to sleep in their own beds. So there's a good good opportunity for the Astros to really, really make some noise this coming week. They got, like I said, the twins tonight, 7 p.m. And don't look now, but the Astros are

Offense Surge And Key Bats

SPEAKER_02 4:40

a playoff team. I mean, you got Diordan Alvarez, MVP material. You got their hidden, they are they have the most hits in the American League right now. They have the most hits in the American League. Let that sink in. Their offense is like top four in a lot of c in a lot of categories.

Pitching Returns And Bullpen Questions

SPEAKER_02 5:05

It's been the pitching. And a big part of it is injuries. Now you got Hunter Brown coming back. He's been a few games back now. Josh Hayder is just on fire since he's been back for the last couple weeks. You got Javiera coming on the way back. You got McCullers coming on the way back. You got Blanco coming. So if this pitching can get it together, I mean the offense is there. Even through all the struggles, the offense is there. The hidden's there. Pinja's having a great year. Christian Walker is the guy that we traded for last season. Now he's proven that that was a good trade. You've got a young guy like Delgado coming in there and contributing already. Atube is showing signs of coming out of his mid-season slump, I would call it. So this team has the offensive capability to make some noise.

Outfield Fixes And Trade Deadline

SPEAKER_02 6:14

And they're doing this without a subpar outfield. That's the weak link on this team, is the outfield at the moment. The offense is doing great, but before this trade deadline, we need to go out and get a left-handed bat for the outfit. Somebody with some punch. They will be buyers. They will not be sellers at the trade deadline, which is, I think, around July 15th is the trade deadline. But the Astros can make some noise. I'm excited. They've been a tough watch all season. I give Joe a spot of all the credit, not to let this team just fold over. There's still some key components to this team from the dynasty. It's not like the team of a few years ago with a lot of young guys sprinkled in here, but I mean, if you can get your pitching, pitching wins. Hunter Brown is an ace. Cy Young candidate went healthy. We've had Lambert pitches some good games for us. E Mai from Japan is is starting to look like himself as he pitched in the Japan League. I think he's getting adjusted. Burrows is jury's out on Burroughs. He's looking good in some games, and some games he looks confused. The middle relief is suspect. I feel a lot better with Josh Hayder coming in to close. King has been doing really well for us as the setup man. If we can get Abreu's head case solved, we need him to contribute. But this team is showing potential. The outfield, like I said, I think there's going to be some moves in the outfield. Taylor Trammell's been doing really well for us. I think as of today he's batting 264. And Ronel Delgado, he's a multi-position player. Played second today. They gave Altubi a day off. He's batting 280 in his early appearances with the Astros. So we can do this. They've proven to us that this is an organization that doesn't quit. We've lost some good players over the last few years. But this team can work with what they got and still produce. Now, I don't want to say that we're going to be winning the World Series this year because that's going to be, the jury's out on that. But I think we can compete in the playoffs, but we will have to make some moves at the trade deadline. We will have to be buyers. We need some help in that outfield. And with Walker and Peretis and Alvarez and Pina, and if Altubi gets back to himself, we're going to be good. I need Jake Myers to wake up. 205 ain't going to cut it, Jake. Altubi, I see Altubi. He's going to be Altubi. When you least suspect it, he's going to come through. And he's been doing that of lately. I see I see something different in this team right now. This team is playing with a lot of togetherness. A lot more smiling. You do smile when you win. But it's contagious. If a clubhouse starts believing in themselves, and if your head coach can keep that together, you don't have to have superstars to win. You gotta have a team. What's the old saying? There's no eye and team.

Podcast Plans And Where To Follow

SPEAKER_02 10:19

So I wanted to jump on this podcast and and because I'm excited again. This is a podcast, a weekly podcast for the Astros that I've been wanting to get started. But the motivation was terrible early in the year. I just just give me a glimmer of hope. All I kept asking is give me a glimmer. Just a glimmer, and I'll start this podcast. Now I'm all in. Today, I'm saying the Astros will be a playoff team. Now, granted, injuries, major injuries, I mean injuries are gonna happen. This team can fight through it. A lot of young guys are growing up real fast. Cam Smith I think he's going to do some things for us this season. He's got some pop in that bat. Cam Smith will be a contributor and playing a hell of a right field. Bryce Matthews, I think it's he's at 193 batting right now. He's he needs some more minor league baseball than him. Just don't think he's ready for the show just yet. The jury is still out for Joe Luperfito. I'm a big fan of his. We traded him off to Toronto last season, and this season we traded back for him. So the organization believes in him. Dana Brown believes in him. Like I said, he's betting 221 right now. I think he can he can still be beneficial to this team. I don't think he's an everyday outfielder for us. But he can spell some of the other outfielders. But right, but right now we don't have any outfielders to spell. That's the weak link. The pitching is getting healthy. Like I said, we're a half game out of first place. This team can make some noise. The hidden's been there. Even with the weak output that we have. So if we can get some more pitchers back, which they are coming. The troops are coming. And get some young players producing. It's good to see Perettus watch it. I'm watching his average climb. Walker, he is who he is. Got a lot of popping that bat. Average hitter, probably in the 260s, but he's over 240 now. Let's get excited. Six-game homestand. Get a chance, go out to Minnesota. Well, it ain't Minimade no more. Dakon Park. I think I'm still gonna call it Minimade for a good while still. Get out there and watch some games. Turn the TV on. Hit a sports bar up. The Astros are fun to watch right now. I'm excited. As of today, the Iceman is all in. There are gonna be bad days. But I sure think there's gonna be a lot more good days. This is the weekend rap. Just wanted to jump on here. It's a short podcast. Most of them will be on the Houston Rap, uh the Houston Wrap-Up show. Just wanted to get some key points in. I started off this podcast, maybe wanting to do it once a week, every Monday. But more than likely, you're gonna hear from me two or three times a week. Short podcast. Most of them post-game wrap-ups. Because I'm excited again. I'm in the ice cave watching these games. And I want to talk about it. Let's get excited here, Houston. And the surrounding areas. Astros are going to do their thing. I'll be back this week, maybe Thursday. Right before the 4th of July weekend. I'll be busy during the weekend. Celebrating America's 250th. Having a few cold ones. And watching some Houston Astros baseball. But uh, I'll be back on here. You'll hear from me. Follow me on my social medias. You can download these episodes on Spotify, iTunes Podcast, Buzz Sprout Podcast. You can go to my Facebook page, Chris Kagel, Chris Ice Cagle. You can go to my Instagram, Ice in the Cave. You can find me on Twitter or X, as they call it now. I'm on TikTok. So before these podcasts happen, I am promoting them. And I will be announcing future shows this week. So when a post-game wrap-up comes up, I'll put it on my social media. But I'm excited, man. These Astros are gonna do something. Believe it. This team hasn't let us down for a lot of years. Still some work to do. But a whole second half of baseball still to go. We're playing until the end of September. Lots of baseball left. I'm the Iceman. I'm gonna talk to you soon again. Cheers for these cheer for these use and Astros. Cause I am. You have a good Monday.

Ice Cave Outro

SPEAKER_00 16:31

Iceman with the blizzard about to open up a cold case. Talk about it over cold drinks. Iceman in the building, any topic, we can talk about it. Any subject, we can touch it. How you feel, what you thought about it. When his bill is never out of pocket, check a bitch like what's in your wallet. One up on my shoulder, I get that. You know I get that. My heart on my sleep in the beat with a patch. Ice in your catch. Parent to moment, cause this ain't no caps, son. Ice with the M1, I call out the fashion and now to the game, son. Ice in the case, son. Everything blue like the ice in the cave, son. Ice in the cave. Ice ice in the cave. Ice in the cave. Ice ice ice ice in the cave. Ice in the cave.

unknown 17:17

Ice ice ice in the cave.