Host George Martin ( @AstrosFansUK ) is joined by special guest, 2013 No.1 overall MLB Draft pick for the Houston Astros, pitcher Mark Appel ( @markappel26 ). In a fascinating and revealing conversation, Appel sheds light on what he has been doing over the off-season and detailing how he is approaching setting goals for the 2023 season, after his emotional achievement of finally succeeding in making his Major League Baseball debut in 2022 for the Phillies. Following this, Appel opens up in detai...
Feb 28, 2023•1 hr 32 min•Ep. 15
Host George Martin ( @AstrosFansUK ) is joined by special guest, relief pitcher for the Houston Astros, Ryne Stanek ( @rstanek_55 ). An interesting and insightful conversation opens with an assessment of how Stanek views the Astros' 2021 season up to this point, before breaking down the team's experience of playing in front of loud and hostile crowds in all road games played and how they are managing not only to deal with it but using it to bond closer together. Stanek goes on to explain how his...
Sep 04, 2021•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 14
Host George Martin ( @AstrosFansUK ) is joined by special guest, pitcher for the Houston Astros, Kent Emanuel ( @KentEmanuel ). An entertaining and informative discussion begins by taking a closer look at his incredible Astros debut vs the Angels in April 2021, focusing on the emotions he felt at finally reaching the major league team and delivering such a memorable performance. Following this, Emanuel breaks down the differences in preparation and training for starting pitchers versus relievers...
Jul 10, 2021•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 13
Host George Martin ( @AstrosFansUK ) is joined by special guest, former Houston Astro from 2015-18, 'El Oso Blanco', Evan Gattis ( @BulldogBeing ). An extraordinary and starkly open conversation begins with Gattis' thoughts on the 2021 Astros, before taking a hugely in-depth look at his years with the club. This discussion begins with Gattis describing what it was like to be part of the vibrant 2015 Houston Astros who came close to advancing to the American League Championship Series, before det...
Jun 29, 2021•2 hr 4 min•Ep. 12
Host George Martin ( @AstrosFansUK ) is joined by special guest, lead play-by-play announcer for the Houston Astros Spanish radio broadcasts on KLAT 1010 AM, Francisco Romero ( @FRomeroAstros ). A fascinating and engaging discussion begins with Romero's assessment of the Houston Astros' 2021 season so far and stand-out performers, before looking at the makeup of the Spanish broadcast's listenership across the Latin world. The conversation goes on to explore the relationship between the Astros an...
May 18, 2021•58 min•Ep. 11
This week’s guest is the long-time field reporter for the Houston Astros for AT&T SportsNet SW, Julia Morales. An entertaining and insightful conversation takes an in-depth look at her daily routine as field reporter on a typical gameday and the many responsibilities attached to the role. Following this the discussion looks at how the trio of Morales, Todd Kalas and Geoff Blum have formed such a charismatic team on Astros broadcasts in recent years and how much this is appreciated by the fan...
Mar 11, 2021•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 10
This week’s guest is Alex Bierens De Haan, who until very recently worked for 6 years as the Houston Astros' team photographer. An insightful conversation looks at his journey into photography all the way from Sydney, Australia to join the Astros, discussing the relative popularity of baseball Down Under before taking an in-depth look at what his daily routines were as the Astros' photographer. The discussion goes on to assess what challenges De Haan had to overcome with the role in the relentle...
Mar 06, 2021•50 min•Ep. 9
This week’s guest is the former Houston Astros Director of Pro Scouting and later Special Assistant to the GM for Player Personnel, Kevin Goldstein. A lively and forthright discussion looks at how Goldstein came to join the Astros under Jeff Luhnow as a scout, before assessing what Goldstein's major roles at the club entailed. The conversation goes on to give an insight into Major League Baseball trades in practice, the relationship between opposing front offices and a view on what the Astros we...
Feb 27, 2021•51 min•Ep. 8
This week’s guest is the much-loved former Houston Astros president of 7 years, Reid Ryan. The conversation covers Reid’s overview on a variety of important issues in baseball ahead of the 2021 season. This includes a look into Major League Baseball’s reasoning behind the contraction of the minor leagues and further assessment of the potentially fractious forthcoming Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiations. Reid also takes a look back at the greatest successes in his Astros front office car...
Jan 30, 2021•27 min•Ep. 7
This week’s guest is another Houston Astros relief pitcher, the superb Ryan Pressly. The discussion opens with a range of wider-reaching baseball topics, including Pressly's thoughts on whether 2021 will see a full 162-game Major League Baseball schedule and the forthcoming Collective Bargaining Agreement renewal due, ahead of the 2022 season. Pressly then discusses how he felt having to pitch as a closer for the Astros in 2020 after Roberto Osuna's injury, plus working with Martin Maldonado, Ca...
Jan 24, 2021•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 6
This week’s guest is one of the Houston Astros' exciting young rookie pitchers who starred in the 2020 season, the explosive reliever Enoli Paredes. The interview covers how he felt upon making his debut in Major League Baseball, how it felt to play in such a uniquely unusual season, plus what the Astros' clubhouse was like in 2020 and the support offered by more experienced players. The discussion also looks at what it was like for Paredes to work under Brent Strom and Dusty Baker, before round...
Jan 16, 2021•32 min•Ep. 5
This week’s guest is the radio voice of the Houston Astros, lead play-by-play announcer Robert Ford. The discussion covers: his views on the early talking points of the coronavirus-affected 2020 MLB season, including the injury risks to players with short preparation and an assessment of the start to the season made by the 2020 Astros. This is followed by an illuminating look at Ford’s radio career journey, through 7 years in the minor leagues to his 8th season in his role with the Astros, befor...
Aug 14, 2020•44 min•Ep. 4
This week’s guest is former Houston Astros utility infielder/outfielder and present Oakland Athletics player Tony Kemp. The conversation includes: assessment of the belated and pandemic-pressurised 2020 MLB season now underway and how players are coping, a warm look back at Kemp’s 4 years with the Astros organisation, looking at understanding the pressures of playing under such an analytical microscope, before switching to discuss Kemp’s +1 Effect movement seeking to educate people on the subjec...
Aug 07, 2020•41 min•Ep. 3
This week’s guest is 2-time former Houston Astros infielder and present AT&T SportsNet SW co-commentator for the Astros, Geoff Blum. A heartfelt and illuminating discussion with Blum covers: the drawn-out MLB/MLBPA dispute over 2020 season proposals including its effect on Minor League Baseball, the health of the Astros in 2020 and beyond, plus the challenges facing Black players in MLB and what can be done to help, followed by a look through Blum’s MLB career, focusing on his two Astros ten...
Jun 14, 2020•1 hr 22 min•Ep. 2
Welcome to ‘Stros Across The Globe - the new podcast presenting an international view of the Houston Astros, hosted by George Martin a.k.a. @AstrosFansUK! Episode 1 features an hour-long interview with the Houston Astros lead television broadcast commentator for AT&T SportsNet SW, Todd Kalas. Topics covered include: MLB proposals for a shortened season in 2020, the 2019 Astros in review, the 2020 Astros in prospect, plus an in-depth discussion on Kalas’ routine for MLB ballgames, his favouri...
May 20, 2020•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 1
