HOUSTON, TX - This week’s Astroline will be hosted by Astros television broadcaster Geoff Blum and Astros radio broadcaster Steve Sparks live from Pluckers Wing Bar, tomorrow, Feb. 6 at 6 p.m. CT. The show will feature exclusive, pre-recorded interviews with Astros owner and chairman Jim Crane, General Manager James Click and Astros Manager Dusty Baker.
Tomorrow’s Astroline, presented by Karbach Brewing Co., will air live on the Astros Radio Network, Astros flagship KBME SportsTalk 790 AM/94.5 FM HD-2, will be streamed on Facebook Live and will be available in podcast form at Astros.com/Podcasts following the broadcast. All shows are scheduled to broadcast on KBME SportsTalk 790, but are subject to change due to scheduling conflicts. Astroline broadcasts live, weekly from 6-7 p.m. CT during the offseason.
For the seventh consecutive season, Astroline airs from Pluckers Wing Bar, which is located at 1400 Shepherd Dr., Houston, Texas, 77007. Astroline runs through March and is open to all Astros fans with no admission charge.
Crane named Click the Astros13th general manager in franchise history on Monday, introducing him to the Houston media on Tuesday. Click is joining the Astros from Tampa Bay, where he spent the last 14 years. Click’s latest role with the Rays was VP of Baseball Operations, where he was involved in guiding and overseeing all aspects of the baseball operations department.
Baker was named the Astros 19th manager in franchise history on Jan. 29th. Baker joins the Astros as one of the most successful managers in Major League history. His 1,863 career wins are top among active managers and rank 15th al-time. In his 22 seasons as a manager, Baker has also developed a reputation as one of the most respected managers among players, his peers and members of the media.
Blum is entering his eighth season on the Astros television broadcast team, his fourth as the everyday color analyst for Astros telecasts. Blum, who retired after 14 Major League seasons as an infielder (1999-2012), made the transition from the playing field to the broadcast booth in 2013. During his playing career, Blum had two stints with the Astros, totaling five seasons in Houston (2002-03, 2008-10). Throughout his tenure with the Astros, Blum hit .259 with 228 RBI, 46 homers, 77 doubles and a .711 OPS. A switch hitter, Blum was known as one of the top pinch-hitters and utility players in the game, appearing at four infield positions for nine straight seasons (2000-08). He appeared in the postseason three times in his career (2005-06, 2011).
Sparks is entering his eighth season as the Astros radio color commentator after being named to the post on Feb. 13, 2013. Prior to joining the Astros radio broadcast team, Sparks served as a pre- and postgame analyst for Astros television games over several seasons following a 17-year playing career. A knuckleballer in his playing days, Sparks pitched in the Major Leagues in parts of nine seasons (1995-2004) for the Brewers, Angels, Tigers, A’s and Diamondbacks. His best season came in 2001 for Detroit when he went 14-9 with a 3.65 ERA and a Major League-best eight complete games while tallying 232.0 innings pitched.
Astroline preliminary schedule (subject to change).
Day Date Station
Thurs. Feb. 13 KBME
Thurs Feb. 20 KBME
Tues. Feb. 25* KBME
Wed. Mar. 4* KBME
Wed. Mar. 11* KBME
Fri. Mar. 20* KBME
*live from West Palm