Dirt Diamond Sports Talk - A Baseball Podcast

Ryan Bokros and Walt Penberthy
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Baseball

Ryan Bokros and Wally Penberthy are two hometown Houston Astros fans who talk all about MLB baseball. Deep dives into stats, sabermetrics, the business of baseball, everyday life as a fan, and of course - the drama of wins and loses. Spark Podcast Network.

  1. 4d ago

    BURY THEM NOW The Astros Chance to Break Seattle

    The Astros escaped San Francisco with a series win — but did Houston really win it, or did the Giants simply find more ways to lose? Ryan and Wally break down a strange three-game set where the Astros were one strike from losing the opener, scored only three runs over the final two games, and somehow took the series after San Francisco repeatedly failed to capitalize on opportunities. We dig into Houston’s bullpen carrying the load, Hayden Wesneski continuing to provide much-needed innings, Josh Hader being stretched into a multi-inning weapon, and the lingering concerns surrounding a rotation that still doesn’t inspire complete confidence. Then it’s time for one of the biggest series of the season. The struggling Mariners arrive in Houston five games behind the Astros after finally snapping a six-game losing streak. We break down the Kirby-Lambert, Hancock-Wesneski and Woo-Brown pitching matchups, what has happened to Seattle’s offense, Cal Raleigh’s stunning falloff, Julio Rodríguez’s inability to carry the lineup, and why this weekend feels like a chance for Houston to put real distance between itself and a division rival. Finally, we take our first serious look at the remaining schedules. Houston opens a nine-game homestand against Seattle, the Angels and A’s while the Mariners are about to face a brutal stretch featuring Houston, Milwaukee, the Cubs and Phillies. The opportunity is sitting directly in front of the Astros. Good teams take advantage of stretches like this. Which kind of team will Houston choose to be? Dirt Diamond Sports Talk is a proud part of the Spark Podcast Network. Ryan Bokros and Walter Penberthy co-hosts.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    BURY THEM NOW The Astros Chance to Break Seattle

  2. Aug 11

    Astros Struggle in San Diego, Post Trade Deadline Acquisitions, What's Wrong with The Dodgers

    The Astros leave San Diego with another series loss, and this one exposed an increasingly frustrating problem: the offense is putting balls in play but not consistently doing damage. Ryan and Wally break down the Padres series, including Cam Smith’s huge two-homer opener, another gutsy Peter Lambert start, Bryan Abreu continuing to look like a legitimate leverage weapon again, and Daulton Varsho finally showing some power in an Astros uniform. But the bigger story is what happened after Friday. Houston managed only seven hits and four runs over the final two games, culminating in a bizarre Sunday loss where the Astros struck out only once yet finished with just two hits. We dig into the contact-quality problem, Houston’s inability to hit with runners in scoring position, Cristian Javier’s trouble finishing hitters, and what these offensive warning signs could mean down the stretch. Then we head to Los Angeles, where the powerhouse Dodgers suddenly look very human. They’ve lost eight of nine, their bullpen has collapsed, their once-massive NL West lead is shrinking, and even one of baseball’s deepest rosters is struggling to get its pitching, offense and bullpen working at the same time. Dirt Diamond Sports Talk is a proud part of the Spark Podcast Network. Ryan Bokros and Walter Penberthy co-hosts.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    Astros Struggle in San Diego, Post Trade Deadline Acquisitions, What's Wrong with The Dodgers

  3. Aug 10

    Astros Drop Series with The Jays, More Trade Talk, Looking Ahead to San Diego

    The trade deadline is over, the Astros made their choice, and now it’s time to see whether this roster is actually good enough to hold the AL West. Ryan and Wally recap a frustrating Blue Jays series where Houston lost two of three despite creating plenty of offense, getting excellent stretches of starting pitching, and actually outscoring Toronto across the three games. We dig into the missed opportunities, Hunter Brown’s near no-hit performance, Hayden Wesneski’s continued progress, Taylor Trammell’s huge swing, Bryan Abreu’s quiet resurgence, and the little execution mistakes that cost Houston a series it probably should have won. Then we take another look at the deadline. Daulton Varsho clearly improves center field, but the Astros ultimately chose not to add another pitcher. Was that the right gamble? Finally, we preview a dangerous Padres team that went the opposite direction at the deadline, loading up on pitching with Robbie Ray and Casey Mize. With San Diego fighting for a Wild Card spot and Houston trying to protect first place in the West, this weekend is a real post-deadline measuring stick. Dirt Diamond Sports Talk is a proud part of the Spark Podcast Network. Ryan Bokros and Walter Penberthy co-hosts.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    Astros Drop Series with The Jays, More Trade Talk, Looking Ahead to San Diego

  4. Aug 4

    Trade Deadline Talk, Astros Sweep The Rangers Out Of Town, Does One Move Make Them Better?

    Trade deadline day gave the Astros both an answer and a new set of questions. Ryan and Wally break down a busy MLB deadline, looking at which teams got better, who sold well, and which contenders may not have done enough. Then the focus turns to Houston’s big move: acquiring Daulton Varsho from the Blue Jays for Spencer Arrighetti. Varsho gives the Astros a real center fielder, Gold Glove defense, a left-handed bat, and stability in an outfield that has been a problem all season — but trading away Arrighetti without adding pitching creates a new layer of risk. The guys also recap the Astros’ huge sweep of the Rangers, a series that flipped the AL West race and helped push Houston into buyer mode. Finally, they dig into tonight’s frustrating loss to Toronto, where the Astros had 10 hits, five walks, and plenty of chances, but scored only one run in a game they probably should have won. Did the Astros do enough at the deadline? Is Varsho the right fit? Can the rotation hold up without another arm? And after taking over first place, is Houston actually built to hold the division? Dirt Diamond Sports Talk is a proud part of the Spark Podcast Network. Ryan Bokros and Walter Penberthy co-hosts.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    Trade Deadline Talk, Astros Sweep The Rangers Out Of Town, Does One Move Make Them Better?

  5. Jul 31

    Half A Game Back: The Astros Knock On the Door

    The Astros are back to .500, half a game behind the Rangers, and suddenly walking into one of the biggest series of the season. After a 5-1 road trip and a sweep of the Angels, Ryan and Wally break down how Houston found ways to win even when the games got weird. The Angels were a mess, but the Astros took advantage — including a four-run ninth with only one hit, a game where the bullpen had to rescue a starter who recorded just two outs, and a series finale that pushed Houston back to even. We dig heavily into the pitching, especially the bullpen’s dominant work against Anaheim. Cristian Javier’s five scoreless relief innings, Bryan Abreu’s continued trust-building, Steven Okert’s stability, Josh Hader’s late-inning role, and Hayden Wesneski’s return all get attention. Then we turn to the Rangers series, with first place in the AL West within reach and the trade deadline looming. Should the Astros buy aggressively, make smaller targeted moves, or avoid overpaying for a flawed roster? We also run through possible trade scenarios involving outfield help, bullpen arms, starting pitching, and the names that actually make sense for Houston. Dirt Diamond Sports Talk is a proud part of the Spark Podcast Network. Ryan Bokros and Walter Penberthy co-hosts.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    Half A Game Back: The Astros Knock On the Door

  6. Jul 28

    Two Out of Three, But Sunday Stunk: Astros Stay in the Hunt, But Still Have Huge Questions

    The Astros took two of three from the White Sox, and that matters. Friday showed the kind of offensive explosion this team still has in it. Saturday gave them the Hunter Brown start they have been waiting for all season. Peña is on fire, Paredes keeps producing in leverage, and Cam Smith gave them a badly needed sign of life from the outfield. But Sunday was ugly enough to keep everyone honest. The White Sox hit five home runs, Ronel Blanco still looked like a pitcher working his way back, the coverage arms got crushed, and Houston’s offense was basically three solo homers and a lot of quiet. Then there’s Yainer Díaz. The numbers are bad, and the process underneath is worse: lower exit velocity, lower hard-hit rate, lower barrel rate, lower launch angle, and way too many topped balls. The devil’s advocate case is that he still doesn’t strike out much, he has a real track record, and an oblique injury can wreck a hitter’s timing. But the Astros cannot pretend this version of Yainer is fine. Finally, the Peña question is where the deadline gets real. Trading him could reload the farm system, but keeping him keeps the season alive. Unless someone makes a ridiculous offer, Peña should stay. The Astros are not good enough to go all-in, but they are too close and too talented to sell off the heartbeat of the team. This still feels like selective-buy territory: add an outfielder, add a reliever, protect the future, and see if this flawed team can steal a flawed division. Dirt Diamond Sports Talk is a proud part of the Spark Podcast Network. Ryan Bokros and Walter Penberthy co-hosts.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    Two Out of Three, But Sunday Stunk: Astros Stay in the Hunt, But Still Have Huge Questions

  7. Jul 24

    Astros Sweep of the Fish, Positive Pitching Notes, More Trade Ideas

    The Astros answered a brutal Orioles sweep with exactly what they needed: a three-game sweep of the Marlins. We break down the key moments from the series, including Jeremy Peña’s power surge, Yordan Alvarez continuing to make the case against selling, Isaac Paredes providing protection in the middle of the lineup, and Peter Lambert continuing to stabilize the rotation. We also dig into the pitching side, including Ronel Blanco’s return, Bryan Abreu’s improved numbers since coming back, and what Lambert’s deeper stats say about whether his breakout is sustainable. Plus, we look ahead to the trade deadline and discuss whether the Astros should buy, sell, or take the selective-buyer path in a still-winnable AL West. Dirt Diamond Sports Talk is a proud part of the Spark Podcast Network. Ryan Bokros and Walter Penberthy co-hosts.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    Astros Sweep of the Fish, Positive Pitching Notes, More Trade Ideas

  8. Jul 21

    The Deadline Dilemma: Too Flawed to Buy, Too Talented To Sell - Astros in A Tight Spot

    The Astros’ deadline dilemma is getting complicated. After a brutal sweep by the Orioles, Houston looked like a team that might need to seriously consider selling. The pitching struggled, the offense went cold in key moments, and the Astros were swept despite out-hitting Baltimore in the series. But then came a much-needed response against Miami. Ronel Blanco returned from Tommy John surgery and gave Houston a usable start, Jeremy Peña came back with a huge grand slam, and Yordan Alvarez did what Yordan does — launching two more homers and reminding everyone why this team is hard to give up on. We break down the Orioles series, the pitching concerns, the offensive failures with runners in scoring position, Blanco’s return, Peña’s impact, and the big question facing the Astros at the trade deadline: should they buy, sell, or find a careful middle ground? Dirt Diamond Sports Talk is a proud part of the Spark Podcast Network. Ryan Bokros and Walter Penberthy co-hosts.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    The Deadline Dilemma: Too Flawed to Buy, Too Talented To Sell - Astros in A Tight Spot
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Ryan Bokros and Wally Penberthy are two hometown Houston Astros fans who talk all about MLB baseball. Deep dives into stats, sabermetrics, the business of baseball, everyday life as a fan, and of course - the drama of wins and loses. Spark Podcast Network.

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