The Astros Stop Lollygagging And Start Streaking

ICE MAN jumps into the Ice Cave to celebrate a much-needed Astros sweep and the start of a real winning streak. The vibe shifts from frustration to urgency as we talk power bats, cleaner pitching, and why the AL West is still there for the taking.
• the “win now” mindset and why streaks matter
• sweeping the Marlins and scoring 18 runs in three games
• Peña’s impact when healthy on defense and at the plate
• Yordan Alvarez’s MVP-level production and more big homers
• bullpen confidence, Abreu trending back and Hader closing
• the White Sox series, upcoming road stretch and the Rangers matchup
• trade deadline pressure and what help the roster still needs
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Transcript

Cold Open And Ice Cave Vibe

SPEAKER_02 0:03

Welcome to the ice page. Cold facts like the ice page. Iceman with the blitz about to open up a cold case. Talk about it over cold drink. Iceman in the building in the top of the couple. Any special with the touching how you feel with your ice man? When his wheels never out of pocket. And I am back in the ice page.

SPEAKER_00 0:21

This is a Thursday special.

The Win Now Message

SPEAKER_02 0:28

We talked on Monday.

SPEAKER_00 0:31

I put it out there. I said the time was now. So the Astros, I said you have to win now. None of this. Lollygagging. Win one, lose one. Lose two, win one. None of that. I talked about having a winning streak. And yes, the Astros have a winning streak. They finished off the Marlins on Wednesday night with a Wednesday night with a five to two win.

Marlins Sweep And Home Run Surge

SPEAKER_00 1:07

They sweep the series, scored eight runs the first game, five runs the second game of the series, five runs the third game of the series. That's an average of six runs a game. 18 runs in this series. Astros, Wednesday night, put out three home runs. That's right, three home runs. Pinha for the third straight game, because it's a home run. When healthy, he's one of the best in the biz. Playing shortstop, great defense. And when he's hitting and he's on, and he was on Wednesday night. He went three for four. So that was a good, good, good game by the Astros. News flash. Jordan Alvarez hits another home run. That gives him 34 for the year. And then Perettes comes right right behind him. Home run, back-to-back home runs for the second straight night. Last night it was Pinha and Alvarez. Tonight it was Alvarez and Perettes. Everyone, every, all the teams in the AL West lost tonight. So with this three-game winning streak, the Astros are only two games out of first place. That's right, two games out of first place in the AL West. They have a record of 50 and 54. But they needed these three wins. We need to keep the winning streak going. I said when the week started, I wanted a seven-game winning streak. We're up to three. Don't look now, baby. Astrals are heating up again. This team has that winning, winning, winning edge. They've been here before. I mean this series we had good hitting, good pitching, clutch hitting, hitting with power. Had everything in this series. Brian Abreu looks like he's getting back to normal. Gonna need him. Peter Lambert went out and did another quality start. It was great to see.

Standings Boost And Road Ahead

SPEAKER_00 3:37

Got some big games coming up on the road. We got a six-game road road series starting. We got a three-game home at the White Sox. Got three games with them. Then we go to the California. Is it the California Angels or the Anaheim Angels? I think it's the Los Angeles Angels now. Well we got the three, they got the Angels for three games. And then we come home for a big home series, a three-game set with the Rangers. That's gonna be big. But we had to take care of a business that's in front of us. This Friday, we got the White Sox. Gonna need our best pitching. White Sox are a good team. We have Aaron Getty, Brown, and Bianco going on the next series. We're gonna need some clutch clutch pitching. Friday and Saturday are 6.40 starts. Sunday's a one o'clock game. Tune in to your Astros. We need a streak, and it started. This is why I jumped on here on this Thursday. I have been doing weekend wrap-ups, but I thought it was important that I come in here and celebrate this sweep. Perettis up to 263. Like I said, Pina batting over 300 at 302.328, second in the major leagues, 77 RBIs, first in the major leagues, and 34 home runs. First in the major leagues. That's MVP type stuff. Walker had a hit tonight. We're gonna need to get him gone. Predus had two hits. Cam Smith came in late for defense. Same thing with Trammell. So we have some young guys like Spence trying to help out there a little bit. We're back in it, baby. This season is long from being over.

Trade Deadline Pressure And Needed Help

SPEAKER_00 6:17

I said the uh on Monday that uh this 15-game stretch before the trade deadline of August 3rd is very important. And I think the message got to the clubhouse. Good job, Joe Espada. We can always do better. Dana Brown keep working them phones. Because I see something special happening here. So mess this up. I think we still need some help. But until help arrives, we gotta do with what we got. Great three games. That's why I was like, okay, I'll just do another Monday weekend wrap-up. But I did tell you, when the Astros start winning, you're gonna hear from you're gonna hear more from me. Because I'm excited again, as you can tell in my voice. This is a good watch, not a bad watch. These are the youth nationals I can deal with. You have the MVP on your team. Let's don't waste it. Pina, superstar. Stay healthy. All too we got the night off tonight. He'll be back in the lineup on Friday. Still gonna need him to come to the party. I need Walker to come to the party, Cam Smith to come to the party. We got three or four dependable bats on this team right now. Just gonna need a little help. Pitching, Bianca looked good the other night. Had eight strikeouts, gave a few runs up, but for his first start in over a year. It was satisfactory. Still have Hader at the end of the bullpen. And like I said, if Brian Abreu can be the Brian Abreu of last year or the year before. We can make some things happen. This was the Astral's first sweep since May 24th. And that was against the Cubs. That's a good sign. It's the middle of July. It's getting hot. Big series Friday, starting Friday with the White Sox. You take them one at a time. You're at three. Let's get the four. Then we'll worry about Saturday. And then we'll worry about Sunday. And then I'll be back in here on Monday for the weekend wrap-up. I like to come back in on Monday for the weekend wrap-up with a six-game winning streak. You can't get there if you don't win the first three. Not even drinking the night in the cave. It is a Wednesday night.

Where To Listen And Final Rally Cry

SPEAKER_00 9:30

This podcast will be released on a Thursday morning at 10 a.m. And I appreciate all the support I'm getting out there, all the downloads. You can find all the Ice in the Cave, Houston Nashville's episodes on Spotify, iTunes Podcast, Amazon Music, BuzzSprout Podcast, which is my host. And I put them on my Twitter and I put them on my Facebook page. And I do share them with the public. I even post some on TikTok. The support has been amazing. It's always fun when the Astros are winning. So let's keep this winning streak going. I just wanted to have a quick wrap-up of the series podcast for this Thursday. Joe Espada made some good moves this these last three games. I know Dana's working them phones. But you gotta play with what you got. 16 runs in a three-game series, not bad. I'm sorry, 18 runs in the three-game series. Great, great, great series. Good hitting, good pitching, good defense. This is the Astros I can live with. I will wrap up the weekend coming up Monday. Enjoy this win. I just wanted to jump on and share the excitement. Be sure to support the show. Because we the Mastros, baby. We from the H Town. Which is the best town. Chabo Iceman. And yes, I jump back in the ice cave.

SPEAKER_02 11:25

Cold facts like the ice age. Ice man in the case. Keep this winning streak going. Tune in the number out of pocket. Watch it frozen. Listen to ice collect. And I am in the cave. I did that. I put the F one. I call it the fellow case. I can the case on everything like the ice in the case.

SPEAKER_01 12:03

I can the cave. I can the cave. I can the cave. I can the cave. I can the cave. I can the cave. I can the case what the ice of the case.