The Matt Thomas Show with Ross - Astros Final Week Starts, Fred VanVleet Might Be Out For The Season, C.J Gardner Johnson Released??

Episode Date: September 23, 2025

Astros Final Week Starts, Fred VanVleet Might Be Out For The Season, C.J Gardner Johnson Released??

is the Matt Thomas show with Ross. Welcome to a Tuesday edition of the Matt Thomas show at Ross. This is Sports Talk 790. I mean, we were just talking yesterday about Media Day being next Monday, which will still be there, obviously, and still very excited. Fred Van Fleet won't. They're not going to wheel them in. No, Fred will be bandaged up and going into hiding.

What is happening? You know, I have. have a problem in my life. I deep sigh a lot in my life and people tend to think it's something because it's bad. And I just sometimes I just, I probably should stop doing it because everybody says, what's the matter with you? That right there was a legitimate deep sigh. It's in your subconscious then maybe, Matt.

Maybe so. You sides are not good. Well, at the end of the day, we deep side because the Astros got swept. Correct. The Texans are on three. And they will not win the AMC South. Fred Van Fleet has gone down with an ACL injury. I mean, can I say the heart and soul, the Rockets? So here's a strange thing about Fred Van Bleed. There was a lot of Fred Van Vleet haters over the course of the year because he is a streaky shooter.

He never was a pure shooter. He was a streaky shooter. I'm just going to say it. Kids who don't know ball. I'm saying it. What's up? He is one thing I've learned about E. May I doka in the two years that I've called the games. He values his point guard for so much more than just dribbling the basketball. Exactly.

Exactly. And it's about on-coran awareness. It's about- For general ship. Putting the team in motion, the occasional three. And sometimes Fred, let me tell you, Fred in that Golden State series, for the most part, I remember being just amazing. I don't remember if it was every single game, I mean, a couple of goal games here and there. He was like their best player in the playoffs.

Men Thompson had a good couple games late, but he was bad early. Yeah, we know that Jalen was only good for one. Thus, now he's wearing Sun's gear, but that's not here nor there. Point being is this. Good coaches value really, really strong floor general leader, whatever you want to say it, point guards. And the Rockets lost theirs. Doesn't mean the season is over.

It doesn't mean there are there opportunities for other guys to step up. But not only did Fred Ross do a great job of being your on-floor leader, he also put a boatload of minutes for you. He was a 35-minute-a-night guy for the most part. and that's a lot to ask for anybody to replace 35 minutes of generally speaking excellent basketball. He was a good defender despite the fact he was getting a little bit older in age. He just knew the passing lanes. He didn't take any guff from anybody.

So this Rockets back court, obviously, I'm still a part of it, but it had a lot of moxie to it when you had Dylan and Fred and a man. you've lost two parts of that not necessarily beating in the chest but I mean come at me let's go I'm ready for you what do you want to throw at me that's tough they were 41 and 19 with Fred Van Vleet 11 and 11 without him

I mean that's that's basically where I would go with that basically a 56 win pace with him a 41 win pace without him that's where they were last year he is I will say heart and soul of this Rockets as you said and you can't look at the box score and know what Fred Van Vleet was bringing, getting them into their offense,

being part of that new attitude era of Houston Rockets basketball, where we're not going to take anything from anybody. Big part of that was Fred Van Vleet. And Alpern Shingoon can grow and get better. Amin Thompson can grow and get better. Same thing for Reed Shepard. That's what you're going to need now with him, because also of note is the Rockets are basically hard-capped.

They cannot shuffle around and add a veteran guy. going to have to make a trade if they want to go with the point guard. So it's going to look like at least at the start of the season, they're going to rely on what a men Thompson and Reese Shepard can bring. Yeah, I don't even know what kind of shuffling they can do. The NBA salary cap is probably the most difficult thing to discuss. You need a PhD to know what the heck's going on and that thing. There are aprons and there are exceptions. I'm not going to get into that because it's boring, it's convoluted, and it's hard to explain. The reality is, the reality is, again, if you take anybody that you do trust when it talks about the NBA, the Rockets

short of a trade, have zero flexibility in this situation. Correct. That's why I understand. So you could make a trade. I mean, Russell Westbrook is still a free agent. I don't know what you could do if you, I mean, I don't think you could bring them in a minimum. I don't think they're in a situation. I don't think they could, no.

So, yeah, this is a roster that's going to have to rely on what's here. Now, you can't do a signing trade with like a new guy, right? There would be no way. I don't think. You know what? I can't even give you to answer that. And I refuse to give you the answer because it's probably wrong. Thank you.

But here's the thing. You've got a deep basketball team. You had a deep basketball team that was super deep when you had Fred Van Blaine. Now it's on his deep and you have to replace those minutes. That means a man. Thompson's going to take the next step in his development. That means that Reed Shepard, I mean,

if the pressure wasn't already significantly higher this year on him than it was last year, it's probably even ramped up a little bit more because of that. He's got a chance to prevent maybe be the starting point guard of this team. Who knows? You could go him in Thompson. You could go Aaron Holiday if you want to. I don't know if

Aaron Holiday is a 30-minute player for you as a point guard. Probably not. Shouldn't be. How about that? Ideally. Yeah. But again, If you mayadoka offense does not rely on the point guard to score with so many different options, but you're looking again, like I said before, Rossi, you're looking for that floor general, that floor leader in Aaron Holiday, veteran guy, competitive as hell. But you've got younger people behind him that you would think could probably take that over if indeed Reed Sheper does take that next step. But yeah, this is not exactly what I was wanting to think about opening up the Tuesday show. we ended the program yesterday at 2 o'clock.

It was way off the bingo card. Way off. Yeah. So we will get to a little bit more of that as a show. There really isn't a whole lot to say except sorry Fred. Right? I mean, I don't know. You know.

Yeah. These things happen. I'm sorry, Fred. I'm sorry to me. I'm sorry to me too. Because I like Fred. Houston Sports is losing. I went 0.1-4 fantasy leagues.

Oh, yeah. You lost it. Manchester City gave up a draw in the 92nd minute. I'm having a bad sports week. Matt. I lost Rames plus three and a half. Yes, you did. Not going great. Yeah. I lost Fred. Doesn't know my name and that's okay.

But Fred always cared about where I was broadcasting from when he would do the post game interviews. He'd say, where are you at? That's very nice. Let's consider it. I mean, at least he didn't care. I mean, at least he did it's like, no, I'm not doing it. He would always come out with me. That's good. Yeah. So, um, if you're a Reed Shepherd fan, Rudhard.

Yes. Doreen Phenney Smith. I mean, if you move a man at the point, you could move Dorian to the two. I, you know, again, I don't We'll find out more information. Obviously next Monday, Rockets Media Day. My assumption is Rossi that the Rockets will remain very silent about this as they mull this over.

Yeah, they have some things to figure out. And, I mean, injuries happen. It sucks. But to have it, I mean, it's just, it's like spoiling a welcome party for Kevin Durant. Is what it feels. Well, it's a little, I mean, clearly it's a buzzkill. Yes.

Because you were looking at this veteran, been there, done there, lineup. You got this guy that can lead. You just give the ball to Kevin Durant, put it in the right spot, make your occasional three when necessary. You need a game off because you played a lot of minutes the night before, or maybe Fred's minutes would have gone diminished a little bit because of the added depth to the lineup. There wasn't a pressure to play 35 minutes a game.

So I'm going to keep an eye on Kevin Durant. Bubble wrap? Yes, that sounds good. Yeah, I mean, again, who knows what happened, how it went down. It doesn't really matter at this point. Yeah, they could be any. I mean, you can do that running drills, working out, whatever they're doing. Right, right, right.

All right. So that's a great way to open up the program today is the little Fred Van Bleet spotlight on what could have been for 2020, 25, 26. It's not how I wanted to talk rockets at the end of September. I don't disagree with you on that. All right. We have the Astros opening up. I mean, this is it. Oh, I didn't mean to go, Kenny Loggins on you.

is it. You're going to do that later? Maybe tomorrow, when they win? Opening song tomorrow. Any songs about Sacramento? No. You do a little California dreaming. There's a lot of songs about California.

There is. But I always feel like when I hear California dream, and I'm thinking about Southern California. Okay. There's only really one song about Northern California that I can think of if you're going to San Francisco, but we're not going to San Francisco. We're going to Sacramento.

What about the North Cal Blues? Who sings that? Jig. Tom Thompson. Tom Thompson. That's okay. We'll have to check the Billboard Top 100 on that.

All right. We got Joe a spot at 1230. Before that, we've got gut fillings at 1130. The NFL rewind at 120. And I'm going to tell you something. I was pissed off watching the Detroit Baltimore game yesterday. You'll tell us why. After you tell us about something else, too.

1021 on the Matt Thomas show at Ross. I would say this show is. about 99% sports, right? 1% non-stuff. That'd be a fair comp on that. 99 to 1? All right, maybe not. On this show? Let me go. As a producer, maybe

maybe in 75. All right, listen to me to this very carefully. Both of you, and we're going back to sports in a second, because I want to talk about Detroit and Baltimore for last night. Okay. So I went and checked Facebook just for, we're quick. Oh, no. See, that was your first mistake. And that is a mistake. There is a

page called True Stories, which I do not follow, but you know, they throw things on there thinking that you may be interested in your algorithm. And clearly you're interested because you're reading it on air. And they win. And I read these, I look at these things like, that's not very interesting to me. But this one was so interesting to me that I'm going to read you a little bit of it. Okay. You need some reading music or? No, no, it's about Hall and Oates.

That's the reason why you play this. Oh, okay. Okay. Darrell Hall is the lead. Yes. He sings 99% of the songs. Okay. John Oates is the writer does lyrics, does music, and he's number two.

Maybe he's his muse. Whatever. But it's not Oates and Hall, it's Hall in Oates. Okay. John Oates is the black-haired guy with the mustache, now the mustache is gone. Here's what he said in this story that made me go, wow, this is interesting. John Oates once admitted he slept with so many women in the Hall-N-Oates glory years that he lost count somewhere past 1,000, and he even

says it nearly destroyed him. How did it nearly destroy him? Oates leaned... I mean, besides syphilis. Oates leaned in the chaos. Backstage groupies, endless lines of coke, champagne on hotel carpets, nights that blurred into weeks.

He letters said it felt living in a bubble of excess where normal life didn't exist. The wildest part, Oates doesn't even remember signing some of the contracts that lost him millions of dollars. He was too high, too distracted, too busy chasing the next thrill. At one point he had to sell off his cars,

his guitar, as the Aspen home, just to climb out of the debt he's racked up. Now, this was many years ago now. He's in a much better spot. But I was just blown away by the fact that John Oates, who isn't really even the main guy in Hall of Oates, says he lost count somewhere past a thousand. Now, was he talking about these contracts?

Was he in Darrell Hall? Is that why they were feuding? No, this is this bad, Let's go back 40 years when they were stars. Now, they have been feuding and don't speak to each other anymore. It's been resolved. They're not suing each other anymore. But I just, that's just my daily edition of, Matt, what did you do looking at Facebook

period during the break? And that's what I found is that John Oates got a lot of loving back in the day. This is surprising you? Everything I just heard about cocaine, sex, and champagne doesn't surprise me at all. It's a long brand for a roster. Yeah, it's 1980s. So I guess the question would be if John and Paul got most of it back in the Beatles, days that George and Ringo probably also

did their fair share as well. Yeah, they were crushing it. What do you mean? Yeah. But I just, I did not anticipate John Oates being in the Thousand Sex Club. Yeah. It's like, this guy won't shut up about his octopus's garden. Can we go good with you, John? Exactly.

All right, back to sports. I decided to bring that up, but I'm sorry. I just, sometimes I just saw something. I was like, this is weird. All right, so I'm watching Detroit in Baltimore yesterday. I had fantasy players on both sides, which kept me involved in the game all to the very last. I think I won by a point and a half. So the Toros are all to a three and a start.

Thank you very much. You're welcome for gifting you, Jemir Gibbs. Thank you very much. Did you get your three and a half on the catches? In the first half. Oh, congratulations. Good for you. Yeah.

I need you to mail in that ticket for me. I will be happy to. All right. So, first of all, the game was excellent. High scoring. It paced while the thing. The game was over like in three hours. I mean, you know, those games don't start until 715, 720,

so it was not like it was dragging on the 1045. It had Lamar Jackson some supremacy. Detroit just played better and deserved to win the football game. Baltimore made somewhat of a late comeback, but it was too little too late, and the Lions won the game. Two things came to mind. One, Lamar was good, but not great. And I know you have been very team Lamar of the last couple years.

I think you've picked the Ravens to go to the Super Bowl the last couple of years, or at least you have done in the past. Well, they were the odds on favorites to start the season, so I pretty much went shock, which I didn't realize. He runs into some, he tries to keep plays alive almost too long, Ross. It works out for him a lot. It does. But when it doesn't work out, it's bad.

It's bad. That was number one thing. The number two thing I thought was, there was some massive innovation on both teams with the offense in terms of double pitchbacks, half-back tosses. Now, Derek Henry shouldn't be doing it. But there were Big Stone's fourth-down

completion plays late in the game by Detroit. I'm going to tell you something, Texans fans. You can find bright, innovative minds to run offenses in the NFL. And they don't have to have Patriot ties or Nick Aserio ties.

Because it feels like that... Nick Casario disagrees. Well, it's fine, but it's going to ultimately really cost them in the end. It was an entertaining game that had great athletes. Now remember, these teams also have many more targets.

Detroit's got a one-two running back punch between David Montgomery and Jemir Gibbs that the Texans would die for one of them, much less getting both of them. It also gave me the assumption that the Texans are nowhere close to those elite teams. They're just not.

So, when you always want me to be a fan, it's just easier. It's easier to say, you know what, they're just so much better that at some point when the Texans get away from being the Patriot way, maybe I'll become a fan.

Because Detroit lost its coordinator's Rossi. Did they not? Yes, they did. And they were doing both of them. And they were dialing up some amazing things yesterday. And I was very, very impressed with Detroit. I was impressed with Baltimore as well, but I was more impressive with Detroit

going on the road on a Monday night and winning that football game. The Texans are so. so far away from that that we're just running in circles. We're in the hamster in that wheel that's going nowhere. Yeah, both of those

teams have much better players. They do. Than the Texans have on their offense. Both of those teams. But it's not because the Texans have lost players because of free agency. It's because of hurt players, largely. Mixon,

hurts. Tink Delon being gone, hurts. and the offensive line not paying attention to that for a long time hurts. That's their fault. If we rank those teams, if we rank these teams, the Texans are third in the offensive line, their third at pass catcher, they're third in the running game. And their third right now, they're third at the quarterback. So, yeah, it's, to me, I'm not saying I've seen a bunch of lot of, you know,

creative stuff from Nick Kaling, he's blowing me away. But you look like a smarter offensive coordinator when you have players who execute. Like if they're doing all these crazy pitchbacks and stuff like they're doing the Lions, they're probably getting blown up because Titus Howard is getting blown up or whoever else in the... You can't try those things. Because Lakin Tomlinson is whiffing on his blocks and there's a D tackle on the back. And then you say, what are they doing? They're getting too cute.

They just suck everywhere. They're just not good. They're just not good. The offense is horrible. basically at every level. And that's Nick Cayley too. I'm not trying to necessarily shore up for him. I'm just saying he'll look a lot smarter. Bobby Slovak would look a genius his first year. Absolutely. They had good players. And they played well. And Joe Mixon was healthy and

Laramie Tunso and whoever else in the offensive line was better. Titus Howard now looks just over the hill. And he was better three years ago now at this point. And again, it's malpractice. The Texans did not attack the offensive line. Yeah. And you know, D'Amico Ryan says they're close and I say in the NFL you're always close. It's always a handful of plays. But as you said, as far as, I mean, everything on the field last night,

you are correct to say it doesn't look like they're close. It doesn't look like they are. From the lions and the Ravens, no. And those are the teams that are looking to win a Super Bowl. And that's where... They're on the chase, as are the Texans. If you are in year three of who is supposed to be your franchise quarterback and year three of your new head coach,

this is supposed to be a breakout year. This is supposed to be where you're supposed to make that leap. And it ain't happened. They're doing the exact opposite. They're 0 and 3. And looking progressively worse every week against weaker competition every week. Good time to be a Houston sports fan.

1030. Sports Talk 790. 713-212-5-790. 7-1-3-212-5-7-90. If we're in a bleak, moment right now. What was our last triple bleak? It feels like

we've had some in Houston. I think it was around like Deshawn Watson was begging for a trade and then got his slap with 25 lawsuits. Yeah. Rockets were in the midst of a rebuild. We were reading affidavits that said digital stimulation on them. That was not fun times. And how the Houstonian had to be

involved with the different tables and chairs and rooms. Tows and gyrations. It's not good times. A lot of we did way too much towel talk. It was tough. He brought his own towel. We in Sports Radio went to when Sports Radio 101, they said, you don't need to bring a towel conversation unless it involves a son-lawful.

The masseuse said he brought his own towel, and that was a red flag. Yes, it was. The question was the size of a washcloth. All right. 713-212-5-7.9.7.7.0. So Ross and I, during the break, actually is more just me talking out loud, and Ross is like, don't do this to yourself. And I'm like, okay.

We are trying to figure out who we're supposed to be rooting for this week. Now, ultimately, the number one thing is if the Astros, they go 6 and 0, I'm going to guarantee they're in. Okay, I'm just going to say that right. If they go 6 and 0, it's a guaranteed wild card. Okay? Uh-huh. I think probably 5 and 1 gets them in. 4 and 2, I cannot guarantee 3 and 3 would make.

make me just profoundly sad and, you know, and then a losing road trip would just be the end of the season. I really think 5-1 and 1 in 6-0 guarantee it. 4-2 could be certainly very iffy. So right now you have the, you've got four teams fighting for three spots. I think the Yankees are definitely and it's a walled card, okay? The Red Sox, the Guardians, the Astros, and the Tigers are fighting. for those last three. The Tigers and the Guardians are competing for the America League Central.

They play each other mono-a-mano for the next three days. You have the Red Sox who are trying to stay alive and keep their wild card. They are playing, obviously, the last six games, and their games are against the... Oh, they're at Toronto, who doesn't have to play for anything, except they want to win the America League East because they're at least. over the Yankees is too. So they don't need as much help. They just need to win something this week. So I'm not going to explain this to you again because I think I've lost 90% of the audience.

I'm confused. I wanted to ask you to start over, but I also want to keep our listeners. No, no, I want to apologize for the last 40 seconds. Okay. All I will say is this. The good part of this is everybody is playing everybody with exception of the Mariners. The Mariners are playing the Rockies. Everybody else has something to fight for against team. that are also fighting for a spot. Win one game over the weekend. One game. Yeah, I know.

And they're like, we could have a sliver of hope. Yeah. Came in and took your lunch and took your lady. Yeah. And laid her down sweetly in front of you. Yeah,

put perfume on you too. Said, this is how she smelled when I was making sweet love to her. Hmm. I thought you, okay, yeah. Let's go a different direction.

I'm done. I got to clip that. You don't have to. So I want all of you to think about this for the next what is first pitch tonight 905. Think about this for the next nine hours at least.

Okay. Five in one week. Four and two. Should be good enough. Should be. No, we don't have to think about anything. Go win the games. Because I was thinking about two out of three over the weekend. Well, guess what? They got swept. They didn't matter what we're thinking about.

It matters what they go out and do. Go out there and win the games. So frustrating. Yes, yes. Look, when this is all said and done, even if they continue to collapse and miss the playoffs, the injuries, we will point back to it and it will be valid. It will be a valid excuse. To most reasonably thinking Astrofx. However, Astro's Twitter is going to bring their pitchforks out. And you should be better than the A's and the Angels. That's just a fact. You are better than the A's and the Angels, so go prove it. Because I'll say this. If they don't win this week, it will be on them because,

even with this hodgepodge lineup they have, they're better than those two teams. They just are. Yes. This will be a fundamental fail if the Astros do not make the playoffs. Isn't that weird? Think about this for a second.

The baseball season is 26 weeks, give or take. 25 of these weeks were like, man, the Astros, they've gone through so many injuries and so much despair and they're competitive and it's fun and it's interesting. here we are Rossi in week 26 and if they don't make the playoffs it'll be totally their fault

yes that's not how sports are supposed to work well it's laid out in front of them they shouldn't even be here honestly but do you see my point the A's and the Angels are terrible

yes and even though the games A's been playing better and they got some talent what's their record they are they have seven You have 84? So you know what? There's 73.

88 ball. The Angels are 7886. First of all, going to play in Sacramento means nothing. There's no fans there. This is not a home field advantage for either one of the two teams the Astros are about to play. I will tell you, Christian Javier is a fly ball pitcher and the ball flies out of there. That's not, again, you're not giving me hope here. I'm really mad at you, and that's fine.

We can get past that. The ball flies out of there in Sacramento for our fly ball pitcher, Christian Javier. Because I was thinking about that. Because the odds they have minus 110 apiece. They have it as even, Vegas. So I was like, what? And then I thought about it. Oh, Javier.

I don't even want to, you want to guess what the total is? Who are they throwing? Javier versus Jeffrey Springs, who has a 4.17 ERA. Over under is 10. And a half. Oh, wow. I'm using the number of that kind of stuff. That's pretty high for a baseball game, folks.

It is Sacramento, though. That's what I'm saying. I'm a little worried. Can Javier learn Frombers' curveball and throw it correctly? 5 and 1 this week, your squad's going to the playoffs. Just think about that for a minute. Okay. 1044, the Matt Thomas show with Ross, 7-1-3-212.

I mean, you know, I believe that because you're going to have Detroit and Cleveland beating each other up. And then you're going to have Toronto and the Red Sox beating each other up. When your games and we'll go from there. Yeah, that's it. That's it. That's it. 213, 212, 579. 713, 212, 790.

The Matt Thomas Show at Ross. We have gut feelings at 1130. Joe Espotted 1230. NFL Rewat today coming up at 120 as, are we going to play all those special teams' touchdowns? Every single one. Even the one that hurt you, that cost you,

it cost us, some more than others? You're going to maybe throw up. I can't do that. At least Jamir Gibbs got me. That he did. 1045 on Sports Talk 790. 1050. Matt and Ross with you here.

Gut feelings at 1130. We're going to take your phone calls up until then. Joe is spotted 1230. Something I found out, the games are in West Sacramento, and I thought to myself, when somebody says West something, you think it's like suburbs, I'm like, I asked Buddy Man,

I said at the NBA League meetings, I said, how far is West Sacramento from downtown? He goes, that's about a couple hundred feet. They're like, you could walk from your hotel in downtown, San Francisco. It's like a couple blocks west. It literally is. I was like, wow, I felt dumb because... Like South Houston.

Right. South Houston's past Hobby Airport. That's... Yeah. South Houston isn't, you know, on... Carolina. Yeah, Carolina and Hamilton. It's not there. That's funny. So, yeah, I was like, oh, damn, that's a smaller town. Because I thought, man, this must be a McArdle Hall for the people of Sacramento

go down to West Sacramento. It's like when you go to a small Texas town, they call it historic downtown. And you go there and you're like, wait, what? It's like two blocks. Yeah, that's right. That's right. That's right. 713, 212.790.

It is about Thomas Hill Rose. Matter of fact, Ross, next year, I'm going to when I get to Sacramento later this year. I'm going to go to West Sacramento and take a picture of the ballpark and say, I was there. I was there. 713-212-5-790. Let's talk to the great people. Houston will start with Mark and humble on the Matt Thomas Show. Ross.

Mark, thank you for holding and good morning. Mark! Mark! Hey, let's play. What is he doing? It sounds like he's a stirway on a train. I'm sorry. Mark, where were you? Mark, are you on a freight train? You're my fault.

No, your Astros in Texas might be, though. Oh, hey, hey, hey. A freight train to success. Are you in the last train to Clarksville? No. Y'all walked into that. Fair enough. Midnight train to Georgia.

Hey, look, I have real question. Real question. Now, do you, all right, two things. Y'all may have talked about it before. I don't even know. But check it out. Do you agree with Paredes being in the, first of all, playing in the series of that magnitude having,

he didn't even play in, you know, at least Yorta and played in Sugar Land. He didn't even play. So I don't know about rhythm and all of that. I wanted to get your comments to see if you even agreed with him playing in the series of that magnitude. And secondly, If he plays, why he bat him in the three slot?

That's one. Two, do you have the courage to not back Christian Walker in the series? I never understand why they keep pushing him up in the lineup. They sat him for keratinia on Saturday. Yeah, two things, Mark. Mark, he didn't play Saturday. Hold on a regular basis. No, regular.

We're down to six games. I mean, there's no more regular to it. No, no, no, no. And number two, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on. Number two. Go go, go, go. Number two, your man Purnas hit a home run on Sunday. What that means?

That means he's got won't play him. Clearly he can swing the back. Yeah. Okay, okay, I grant you, I grant you one. Two, do you agree with him being in the three-slide? You know what, at this point, Mark? Mark, I don't care. Do you want L. Tuvei up there? Look.

It's not Murderer's Row. I can't answer that until I know about Jeremy Payne. We're going to update at 1230, but how Jeremy Payne is feeling. ahead of, this is who he was ahead of in the lineup on Sunday. Hazus, Sanchez, Christian Walker, Yiner Diaz, Jake Myers, Zach Cole, Dubon. Who do you want getting more played appearances?

I'd roll the dice with a Paredes and he got a home run that day. Yeah. Hello? I'm saying that day, bro. I'm talking about Friday and Saturday when things were... Friday. Friday. Okay, Friday. This is who was out...

This is who was behind Paratus on Friday. Al-Tuvay. O for four. Zach Cole. 0 for 4. Christian Walker, 0 for 3. Yonair Diaz, 0 for 3. Jesus, O for 3. Hesu Sancher, 1 for 3. One hit behind him. I got you. So y'all are saying, what's to use it?

It doesn't matter. I'm saying. Shuffle it however you want. Hey, Mark, are you a wrestling fan? You know who the rock is? Yes, I do. You know what he says, don't you? It doesn't matter what he says. It doesn't matter what the lineup is. It doesn't matter. He was your best hitter on Friday.

They had three hits. He got one of the hits in a walk. They had one walk the whole game. Isaac Prentish drew it. And three hits, he had one of those. He was your best hitter. Get back on the train, Mark. Get on the train of Georgia, go.

Let's go. All right, let's go. Let's go. Look, I got you on all that. All right, good. Ninety is coming off of the series he came off of. Did he not warrant being up in the lineup as opposed to, y'all got what I'm saying?

Y'all got you at the end of the end of the game. today. I'm talking about going into Friday in context. I feel like Jan Ardenas would have been better. I'm really looking at... I know. You're trying to find something. It felt like to me, and thank you for the phone call. Everybody's struggling. Everybody struggling. Everybody hurts.

Yeah, as my good friends, Ariane would say. Sometimes. I mean, I appreciate the retro look at the lineup. Yeah, oh, look, in theory, yeah, we keep talking about this. This guy shouldn't be... Jose O'Tooey's not a cleanup hitter. Yeah,

in theory, if he, guess what? If you crossed him across the line of the other dugout, he's hitting like eighth or ninth. And that's Seattle line up he is for sure. But guess what? He plays for Houston.

So I agree, Jose Altova is not a cleanup hitter. Isaac Paredes off of a ham, with his hamstring off his bone, is not a three hitter. But in this lineup, he is. Yeah, this is not a major league championship lineup.

And there's too much, too much sugar-lan. I mean, and Zach Coen knows it. There's Walker who's been terrible. Yeah. Deez has been underperforming. Hacer Sanchez has been an abomination since basically his first game.

And you can't, by the way, you throw a left hand or you've lost him for the game. Yeah. I mean, Cam Smith, quite frankly, has ran out of gas for like two months. Yeah. And it's just, then it's whoever else. Dubon and, you know, Jake Myers. Jake's been getting some hits since he come back. But again, there's no punch.

He's not prime Mike Trout. Okay, he's just not. Yeah, exactly. Let's laugh so we don't cry, Matthew. All right, we're coming back with an R&M song. We're just going to do it. This is the Matt Thomas Show with Ross. 790 Matt Thomas Show with Ross repertoire, but it just kind of fits.

You know what? It's going to feel better because the Astros are going to go 5 and 1. Shut up. They're going to go 5 in 1 this week. I'm going to ask you this. Say it into your existence. Astros 5 and 1. Manifest.

Astros 5 and 1. Because don't you think, and look, I make very few good points on the show. But isn't my point valid here? You 25 weeks of, you're gritty fighting it out. And then if you don't make the playoffs, have to play in the 80s and angels. It's going to really hurt. Because you even you play all this year just to get to this point to play.

I've been talking about these last. This game for two months now, Rossi. It's like you play all year and you win the AFC South and you win the wild card and you're riding high and then you lose division and the season's over and you feel like it was a failure. Yeah, that's why I'm not a fan of theirs. I feel cleansed. Nobody's, I'm a fan of the Astros. That's the problem I have. Nobody's happy unless you win it all.

Right. It's all about when are you not? First, when do you decide you are not happy with the result of the season? Rocky's fans is about March 32nd. Before they love spring training. Yeah. Turn it up. Astros fans.

Yeah. A's fans checked out about April. Ace fans checked out when they was like, you're moving to Sacramento. You're moving to Sacramento. West Sacramento. Don't confuse that. So when do we, you always are disappointed at the end of the season unless you win. It's about when does it come?

Hopefully, not in the next six days. Speak it, say it, believe it. Five and one. Matter of fact, let's get some T-shirts made, five and one. That seems, I mean, by the time you get those to press, Yeah, you're right. They're going to be O and two. Just kidding.

You don't know that. Funny joke. You can't be kidding. You could be very true. I hope or not. All right, let's go to the phones. Okay. Well, that song makes you just want to just forget about life for a few days.

By the way, I got some silver linings for you. I was talking about Christian Javier being a big flyball pitcher. Historically, yes, but this year so far, no, he's been more of a ground ball guy. So you're saying there's a chance. Or it's short sample sizes. I was going to say he's pitched like five times. Yeah, very short sample size. He's changed up the repertoire, though, right?

Stephen Huffman on 790. Steve, thank you for waiting and good morning. Good morning, Matt. By the way, I just drove down Kingwood Drive. I picked up a couple of Seattle Mariner home run balls. Oh, come on, Steve. Well, Matt, I got, I like your prediction of five. and one or six and no.

If two things happen. Number one, don't pitch to Nick Kurtz. What is he hitting about $750 against us? And try to find a way to get Alvarez to play baseball this week. Well, it sounds like if it happens at all, it's going to be in Anaheim. He did not go to Sacramento. So if there's any chance he plays, it's going to be in against the Angels. But, man, what are you looking at?

I mean, if his ankle is, I mean, it can't be in 100%. It's probably jacked up and injected with all sorts of things. I mean, Jesus, we're just... I'm not counting on the Alvarez. I'm counting on the guys that are putting the uniforms on that can actually walk. Well, except Walker. That's true. That's true. Thank you, Steve, for the phone call.

By the way, Nick Kurtz. Yeah, what about Nick Kurtz? He's very good. He's very good. He's like, for a rookie, he's climbing up the Astro Killer Ranks. You see, go ahead. Yeah, is he Astro Killer 1 this week? Mike Trout doesn't do it.

No, Mike Trout's been owned by Astro's pitching. I mean, most. When Mike Trout's not going to the Hall of Fame, but, um. What? I don't think so. Mike Trout? I don't know. I don't think, I don't think it's a foregone conclusion.

He's not going to the baseball Hall of Fame? Is this a hot thing? He got 400 home runs. But don't you, I don't know. Let me rephrase. You sure? Let me help you up. Are you sure?

He's going to Hall Fink. Okay. Is he getting the first ballot? Matt, he's got like four MVPs. I can't remember. One's last time he got one. I think the only guy with more MVPs than him is like Barry Bonds. Okay, then I'll stick a step back.

Okay, hold on. Sorry, only three MvPs. He's going to help. Okay, 11-time All-Star, three-time MVP. Okay, forget what I said. 400 home runs career OPS 975. Okay, forget what I. I said. That is the third worst baseball take you over here in the show in the history of the show.

Good thing they're going to call you Mr. MLB. Oh my God. You got that right. The worst take of all time is Michael Brantley was better than Mike Trout. That was horrible. That was the worst. Second one was that Ken Griffey should not be a first ballot Hall of Famer. That popped into my mind when you just said what you said. Yeah. First of all, Mike Trout's not done. I know he's, hey, he's up to 125 games this year. That's a mountain for him. So, you know, and I should have gone back to the earlier year. But it feels like to me, Ross, the last five or six years, he just doesn't play very much. He hasn't racked up.

Yeah. This is his game games played. Well, 2020 was COVID shortened. But since then, 21 on 36, 119, 82, 29, 229, 125. Okay. So this year's actually, yeah, so he's going to be 100, he's going to be close to 130 this year. Yeah. He's been breaking down for sure.

I should, let me, I'll rephrase. He has not been playing a Hall of Fame player the last five years. Yes. First six or seven, he was. He was the best. Dynamic. He was one of the best players. He was on track to be the best player ever.

In reality, a lot of it is because the angels have been so bad that he's so out of sight, out of mind. He really is. But that's the thing, though. If the Angels were any good, he probably won four or five MVP's. He led baseball in war five seasons and won the MVP three times. If the Angels were like ripping off 95 wins those years, he'd probably have five MVP's. He's sitting there going, I have done all this for this organization. and I am never going to

I'm never going to even know what a ring looks like. No. All right, let's go to Ron at 1107 on 7. Ronnie. Ron, good morning to you. Ron. I hadn't talked to you in Ross in a long time. What's up, Ron? I met y'all in Vegas about two years ago, man.

Y'all ain't y'all going back in October again? I'm hoping if the Rockets go the in-season tournament. Oh, okay. Yeah, I got a couple things. Thanks for y'all, man. I'm going to just kind of listen for y'all comment. First of all, man, I'm like the caller, like two callers ago. Anybody but Christian Walker in a clean-off spot, man.

I'm tired of that guy. Hey, he leads the team at RBI. I don't care what he leads to team is. I don't care. But, and, you know, I know I probably wouldn't do it if I was a coach. But, man, I'm kind of like, I'd rather see the ball and or Karen Tini off the bed over that guy, man. he's going to hit a home run and he's going to strike out. And last but not least, listen to this, man.

I'm a die-hard Astro fan, but I said this about two or three years ago. If the Astros don't go to the playoff again in my lifetime, I'm okay with it. Because for the last like nine to ten years, man, they didn't did so much, you know, to inspire me about the Astro's. And what casual fans don't realize what the Astros are doing right now, you don't see it often. The only team I can remember doing that is the Lana Braves. I can't remember the Yankees doing that, even Boston, you know, winning their division that many years in a row. He's a happy man.

Thank you, Ron. Good to hear your voice. Nice to hear from you again. I mean, I'm happy. I've seen two Astro World Series in my lifetime. Yeah. I mean, this has been a fantastic run. I mean, I'm pleased this punch.

I like them to win more. Getting the 22 one was huge. 22 helped because 17 by the last. itself would have been and still asterick filled honestly it's it's the right there were the rightful champions they couldn't cheat in the playoffs

because the crowds are too loud they tried but here's today's obligatory 2017 question for you oh oh if manfred goes to the asteroids and says spill the beans and they all collectively

go no suck it is he pulling them is he pulling the trophy from them is he saying I got enough you without having to ask you questions? No, I don't think so. No way. No way. You'd have a massive lawsuit on your hands with Jim Crane, plausible deniability. So, I guess looking back at it, why'd they do it then? They did it because they said there would be no repercussions and they knew that everyone, they knew, they knew other teams were doing it and they figured they wouldn't be the lone soul full guys. And they were though. Yankees got a harshly worded letter.

Red Sox got their watches taken away. Red Sox got Apple Watch. See, that's what the thing. They're like, oh, Red Sox said Apple Watches. Yankees were doing this. Carlos Beltran bought this from the Yankees. Yeah, they said there won't be in a repercussions. We'll tell them what we're doing and whatever.

Alex Corey got his job back. I mean, people. AJ Hinch got his job back. Multiple discussions about the Dodgers cheating as well that never came out. Mookie Betts cheating two different places. Who is the guy Eric Crats that said the Brewers were doing it or the Rockies or somebody else? So if we could rewind up. our life to 2017. Should the Astros just said, shut your bum ass up? Yeah. You ain't got nothing

on us. You got Mike 5. You know what? You, what you got? Your lead witness is a guy that we left of the playoff roster and we didn't resign the next year. Bitter bitch. Sorry, bye. Instead, they told the truth and didn't work out well. They should never should have done to begin with. I'm not trying to excuse it. Trust me, it's embarrassing. But you, to the point, 2022 helps considerably. Because if I'm sitting there as an astro fan bump around this country of ours. In the only World Series championship they have is 2017. No one in the world

would give it any credibility. And some of that respect of it, it's not the same, but it's like the Lakers won the championship in the bubble. People give the Lakers crap for winning that championship. They just do this. That wasn't a real season. They really won. Well, it's mostly LeBron haters. That's true.

Let's talk to Stunna on the Matt Thomas show with Ross at 1111. Stunna, what do you got today? What's going on, Ross? You know, since you're talking about that 2017, hey, they're using iPads now in the dugout. Is that kind of similar to what the Astros would have been doing? No. It's not.

It's not because you're doing, you know, looking at iPads and they're looking at what's going on. That's not looking at signals. They're looking at, yeah, they are in real time. They were signaling in real time. with the banging of the trash can, what was coming? That's completely different. Okay, and my last thing is, man, I used to be worried by scoring runs. Now I'm just worried about getting hits.

Man, I can look at that lineup in the game, and it's over two, over two, over two, one for four. I'm like, oh, my God, we have to get a hit. I mean, you got a guy on second and third, nobody out. and we go up there and strike out, strike out, and ground out to the third base. And the next guy, I mean, the next team, they do the exact same thing.

Oh, wait a minute, they get theirs out to the outfield, bringing in and run. And I'm looking at all the team, it's not injuries, it's just execution. Somebody got to connect with the ball. That's all that got, man. I'm on. Thank you, Stana.

We're going to be connecting. The Astros are going to connect with the ball this week. That'd be great. When Jose Ibrahim got towards the end of his run, my expectations were so low, I was like, okay, if he works like five, six pitches, I'm going to count this as a win for his at bat. Yeah, I think Todd Callis is a lot of that.

Well, at least the pitching got deep in the inning. There's an astro in this lineup that's where I am with him right now. Can you guess who it is? Is it rhyme with Bistian Talker? It rhymes with Bezos Manchez. You know, he's in 11th in September. He looks like Yoron Alvarez when he walks to the plate and then he looks, then he plays. He does look like many Yoron Alvarez.

You get confused. And then he performs like Casey Candell after that. That's old school 80. That's O.G. Astros. He's hitting in the month of September, 11 with an OPS of 431. Cam Smith's like, man, I can do better than that. Come on now. And this is getting platoon advantage almost every time he's out there.

He's going against favorable matches. He doesn't have to face lefties ever. he's gay and 1-11. His OPS coming in this season against righties was like 800 plus. What happened, man? Love hurts.

Freaking hurts. Everybody hurts. Turn around, Maddie. Six games. Get your t-shirts ready, baby. 5-1. Hashtag 5-1. 1114. Mine says 4-2 and hope.

If y'all are printing shirts says 3-3-G-TFO, I don't want those shirts. 1114 on Sports Talk 790. Got feelings are coming up. 10 minutes from now. This is where you get to call in to make your predictions. Are you with us on team 5 and 1?

Are you against us? I'm going to put a poll question up as a matter of fact. Now, those that... Now, how could anybody be against that? No, I should say, do you think they'll go 5 and 1 this week? Okay. I'm telling you, gang, 5 and 1 get you in. Don't ask me that.

I can't guarantee 4 and 2. Although I still feels good at 4-12 because everybody's beating each other up eventually, you would think. But the problem is you don't have tiebreakers against the tigers or the guardians. You have no tiebreakers against anybody. Yeah. Everybody. Every tie-brer you lose.

That's the funny thing to me because, you know, all these people are like, yeah, we need bad teams. They crush the good teams. How is that possible when every good team they're up against, they lost the tightbreaker, except the Rangers who, well, they're out. They're five. I think they could be eliminated tonight. Oh, good. Yeah, it's Cleveland, Boston, Detroit, Houston.

Four teams for three spots. Somebody's going to be sad. Imagine Detroit. Detroit had what, how big was early that I tell you, 14 and a half? He said 14 and a half. Yeah. It was at least 12 and a half. Okay.

If they're on, if they, and they lose the series of the Guardians, then they go to Boston. And Boston's going to have a home field. It's going to be a Fenway Park. for the final three. You talk about A.J. Hinch hate. Ooh, Lordy. He was the shoe in for manager of the year,

about three months in of the year. He was shoeing for home field advantage throughout the playoffs. What a long, strange season it's been. Let's go to Steve and Katie on the Matt Thomas show at Ross. Steve, good morning. Hey, Matt. Are you the top sports radio guy in the city

or maybe in the nation? Just say yes. then you know top gun Tom Cruise she said are you a good pilot and she said yes and she said then I don't have to worry about your scene career so Matt I have one comment

and I know you backed it up but you are the best basketball analysis in the city maybe the country but your baseball Mike Trout Hold on hold on hold on I'm not going to let you go any further

I just corrected myself 30 seconds after I said it I know you did I said I said Do you correct? Yeah, yeah. I mean, I do not, I do not deserve. I didn't fall my sword on it. I didn't go, you're wrong. I'm like, you know what?

I forgot. He had eight or nine. My, as Ross would say, my recency bias got got me caught up in that. And so it did. So I had 15 seconds. You know what you have? You just felt like my trout like I don't. So you're biased.

No, actually, he doesn't bother me. I actually kind of feel sorry for him. But I don't want to be good because if he's really, really good, that means the angels are competitive. and they have been competitive. So, yeah. I wish we could have him when he was in his prime, you know. Right now, but he ain't in his prime anymore.

So there you go. But he's, again, thanks for the phone call. I just add into this check. I know. That's right. That's what we're here for? Yeah. What do they call when you have on your brain fart?

Brain fart. Yeah, at a 15 second brain fart. That happens. Out of four hours, not bad. Are you kidding me? 15 seconds out of a 30-year broadcast career? 35 years? Well, we can point to a few more instances out of 30 years.

What did you say? Friday opens. You'll see a little more. A little more brain farts from that. I may have said inappropriate things, but, you know. Yeah, I don't, I don't really remember a sports take that I just fell on my, that I just would continue not to give up on. I mean, there's not like, there's not like something today that's like, you still don't,

you still don't have it right. Kyle Tucker, Kyle Tucker under seven and a half. That's how we feeling? Mid. Mid. How's his calf? Can I tell you some? Is he coming back?

You're probably going to win the bet. I wouldn't do it. I understand. I think he's hurt this year. He went into a nasty slump this year. I understand the five tool capability. I'm team Kyle Tucker. I get it.

But I don't, I'm not even, I mean, I'm not even doing it. I mean, I know Juan Soto's having a good year for the Mets. But in five years now, is Juan Soto going to help me? That ginormous contract going to hurt them with getting other players? Maybe not because it's New York. but I'm not team 10-year guy. I lean more towards the Jim Crane thought process than I do than the I'm going to outspend guys. And out-and-out give them these super long contracts.

Juan Soto's deal was like 15 years or something, right? Yeah. Even the Bobby Witt deal with Kansas City, that's just buying out Arbiers. Yeah, that was arbitration. Yeah, Juan Soto's, can you believe he's still only 26? I remember when he just turned 20. Yeah, well, we don't have to talk about that. Yeah, we don't have to talk about that.

But, yeah, well, Kyle Tucker, well, Juan Soto rallied his year big time. He has, he's been great. He's been great while the team has been terrible. He's, yeah, he's got an OPS of 934 now, Juan Soto. But he's a butcher in the field. That's the thing. Kyle Tucker is gold glove caliber.

Yeah. And he was Opie. He's 5-2. He is. He is, but it's two straight years of injury. Now, again, last year was just flukish. I don't know how he suffered the cap injury. He's played 133 games this year. Soto or Tucker? Tucker.

Okay. And what are the numbers this year? 854 OPS. Excellent. Yeah, 270 average. Excuse me, 22 home runs. Wrigley Field, that's not spectacular. A lot of National League ballparks are very hitter-friendly.

I mean, he's, look, he's a star. But I'm not giving him 10 years 400 million dollars. That's just crazy. That's crazy to me. It's price. Yeah. Again, I will, and we said this with Bregman, like there's a certain couple of teams who are involved. There's two different markets in the free agency.

There's the Dodgers, Yankees, Mets, maybe Red Sox Cubs market, basically, and then there's everyone else. Yeah. If those teams aren't interested in you, it goes way down. you're in opt-out country. It's not like there's a lack of a middle class, but there's a significant drop between Team 4, spending-wise, and Team 5. There is a middle-class.

Astros are in upper-middle. After-class, yeah. We're living in Memorial. We don't live in a Rokes. We're living in Memorial. Yeah, it's not bad. I live a little bit more. I'll live anywhere where I'm now because I'm damn far,

but that's different issue. Kingwood's, King was nice. It's beautiful. It's too freaking far. Before we get to gut feelings, Roger on 790. Hello, Roger. what's going on, fellas.

First real quick about the asteros, I just don't see five and one. Four and two is possibility just because we don't do the things right. You just don't, you know, the other day with Naylor, he's surveying the field, boom, bunch of left and nobody home, and he said, like a big boy got the first without even a, without, without, without, even close. And then you got, you know, just putting the bat on the ball, the guys get these infield hits. And just because they're not striking out, and it's always, you know, know, put the bat on the ball, things might happen, you know, let them fill it.

And we're just not doing enough of that this year to give ourselves our own breaks. I just hate to say that about us, man, but we're just not that team again. And there's six games left to see if we can catch fire. I mean, of course, well, for. You know, I'm an actual stand all my life. So, yeah, of course, but, man, I just don't see it, fellas. And I don't even want to talk about any other. I don't want to give nobody bad by us about injury.

So I'm going to just leave it at that, fellas. Have a good. Have a good week. All right. When all the sports teams suffering the same time, it does drag you down. You know what I don't like? Something Rogers did. A lot of people are doing it. I don't want to hear about the injuries, and then you go and give your take. I mean, the injuries are the reason why the team is where they are.

You have Yordon Alvarez playing 140 games. This is an issue, friends. Yeah, we had somebody last, it was Friday, I think. They were like, I don't want to hear about Yorda and Alvarez. You don't want to hear about one of the best players in baseball being hurt. That's legitimate excuse. You can say you don't want to hear about it, but it's legit. If you, if he's like Predates is playing 140 games, guess what?

He's probably cracking 30 home runs. Yeah. That's like the Texans offense. I don't want to hear about the lack of an offensive line and run game. That's a big part of why everything that's happening. You can't just say, I don't want to hear about. And that means it's not relevant or it's not valid. It is, it's a classic if-then statement.

If the Texans had an offensive line, maybe, that C.J. Stroud would throw more accurate passes or have ability to throw down field. If the Astros head, Yaron-Alvarez and Isak Paredes, and for that matter, Jake Myers playing all year long. Now, again, injuries are a part of sports. No team goes injury-free.

But to this level, it's the storyline. You know, it's like built for success. Yes. We're on our way. Astros 2025. We were hurt a lot. That's a theme.

That's their hashtag? Yeah, we were heard a lot. Build for this. built for the hospital injured built for medical care built for IL built for long term injury list

built for a long term shuttle between Shirley and Houston for said players gut feelings they're deductible early that's true gut feelings are up next

713212 57790 713212 570 if there is a gut feeling you have I've asked a simple question Ross and it's on my poll question at Sports 790.com. Are you team on team 5 and 1 this week? So far, six votes are in.

Very small sample size. I can tell you this because I went to U of H. Four of you are in. Two or you are not. Thus, 67%. 713. 212.579. Get your gut feelings in right now.

713-212-5-7-90. Listen up. So appealing. Go to Russ and Matt Thomas. Yo, they got a good feeling. This is their gut feeling on the Matt Thomas show. I was not here last Tuesday. I was hanging out with my NBA brethren,

so I did not make any gut feeling. So I cannot wait to hear how you guys did last week. And if you have a gut feeling for this week, 713-1-3-2-790, 7-1-2-790, 7-1-2-5-7-90. I'm just going to sit back and listen to all your accurate gut feelings from the last Tuesday. Oh, my God, what was I thinking?

Let's go. Let's hear them. Let's hear them. I cannot wait to hear these. Texans, two touchdowns and win versus the Jaguars, I said. Strike one. Astros win the American League West. Strike two.

Hey, we got a 1.2% chance or whatever it is. Keep going. AJ Blueball, four innings pitch, one earn run. I think it was three innings of shutout. So that wasn't the worst one. I'll actually, because I'm in a giving mood, I'll give you credit for that one. And that was it for me. Look at this.

Jonathan Allen, you remember what you said? Texans go, oh and three. No, you said, well, you did say that a week ago. Two weeks ago, he did say Texans, O and three, and I was mad at him. Also, last week he said Astro sweep the Rangers. Oh, I forgot. Oh, good for you. Good for you.

It's got a bittersweet, no, but I mean. Yeah, I mean, they did. Then they got their ass beat button there. I forgot about that. And so we did gut feelings in the 1 o'clock hour with Adam Clanton. Is that because you forgot at 1130? No. It's because we actually, because we got, it was a Tuesday and we had wall-to-wall Texans.

Oh, I said. Good job. So we pushed it back. Yeah, yeah, good job. People were very upset about the Texans and the Buccaneers. Now they're upset about the Texans and the Jaguars. And Nick Haley. Adam Clanton's had the Texans and chiefs going, oh and three.

The Chiefs won. And he had Joe Mixin and missing the entire season. TBD. I think I have got that one too. And he has the Texans not making the playoffs, which is looking pretty good. Okay. So, let's go. By the way, if you want on to vote on my poll question,

are you on Team 5 and 1 this week? 28 votes are in. It's a small sample size. We'd like to get it to maybe 2,800. It would be nice. 57% of you say, hell yeah. 40%. No, I'm hurting. 43%? There's a healthy

dose of cynicism out there. Have you met Astros' Twitter? I'm surprised it's only 43%. Have you voted yet? I did. And you said? I believe it's, what do they call it? Secret ballot? You've been very consistent on foreign, too. That's personal information that

I don't have to tell you who I voted for in any election, Matt. All right, that's fine. I did 5-1. But I'm super optimistic about it after this weekend. It's theirs. This computer is completely frozen. It's theirs. It's theirs for the Taken. Just win the games.

What's been sitting there in front of them for, yeah, about a month. All right. Number one, Astros are making the playoffs. Write that down. That's a gut feeling. Okay. Number two, Cougars win by at least two touchdowns at Oregon State this Friday. Wow.

So that's going to be 14 or more. Okay. Number three, the rockets do not pick up anybody to replace Fred Van Bleet. Okay. Man, you got, you're unloading. It's been a couple weeks. Yeah.

Number four, A.M. Wins against Auburn, covers a spread. Ooh, is that at home or on the road? That's at home. Auburn back-to-back road weeks after a tough week at Oklahoma. That current spread, by way, just to make sure we're staying accurate here on that, be let's see here you want the live line or the closing

line I want the spread right now at six and a half I'll take A&M giving up the six and a half to beat Auburn in College Station Okay And I got some more but I'll let you guys go next 713-212-5-790 You have any gut feelings you want to brag about them let's go 7132-1-790

Astros make the playoffs They go four and two in their final six Okay So you're not team 5 and 1 your team four and two. So that would be a no. Okay, that's fine. I don't care.

As long as I get in. Hell, if they go two and four, make the playoffs, I don't care. I mean, that'd be kind of hard, but it's possible. Texans win, but do not cover six and a half. See, let me just tell you how fraudulent I am. You ready for this? No. I either think they're going to blow the Titans out or lose the game.

I don't think it comes down. Nothing in between. Nothing in between. Okay. I mean, that's a gut feeling. Can I put both down as I count? It's fine. All right.

That's what you feel in your gut. So put it this way. The line will not be an issue. Okay. You should put that down as it's my prognostication on my gut feeling. The line will not be an issue. Okay. All right.

Jonathan, anything for you? Yeah. It's this week four. If Texans don't win against the Titans team looking throughout the weeks, they're not going to get a win to possibly week seven today versus C-Ox. If the Texans go 0 and 4, they'll go 0 and 6. Yes. Like they have, they like absolutely.

It's a must win game. This is a must win. This is a must win. This is a must win game. Okay. Oh, and if they go 0 and 4, they'll go 0 and 7.

Is that we're saying? Or 06? It's 0.6 because it's, yeah, I'll put this one down. I'm going to another Texans one to you. If the Texans lose this week, they are not making the playoffs at all.

Even a late, late little birth. Because I've already said the AFC South champions are in Indianapolis. Okay. Do you want to rent that one down to? Hold on. Hold on. What's say that again?

The Colts were going to win the AFC South. Yeah, you said that. Okay. And if the Texans lose this week, they're not making the playoffs. Yeah. And that's going to put Hannah so pissed off because she's trying to get herself a refurbist stadium this year, or at least on the ballot or some sort of conversation piece. That ain't going to fly.

Hannah is going to be pissed. Meanwhile, Cal is going to just buy the newest version of NBA 2K. You want to make some more, you want to say some more. Say it. It's got, I'm going to judge you. Just say it. No. Because I was actually going to say Woody Marks is going to split snaps with Nick Chubb,

but he basically did that this weekend. I was going to say that's something crazy now. It's 33, 30. 33 snaps to 30. All right. Those are ours. Now it's your turn. 713, 212, 5, 790.

I want to make some sort of, I don't know exactly how to put it, though. I think amend Thompson is going to be a good point guard. How do I say that? Well, first of all, are you assuming he's going to be the point guard? Yes. So you would, would you like to say something along the lines of ball and hand running point is amend more than anybody else? Turnover percentage will go way down.

I don't see that's what to say. All right, I'm going to let you think about it for a minute. I'm just going to put amend Thompson. We'll amend as we'll amend as we need to. Sad three times fast. 713. 212.790. Your gut feelings are next.

1144, Sports Talk, 790. 713-212-5-790. 7-1-3-2-5-7-90. We have a segment now for you guys to get in with your gut feelings. We've got folks that want to get in. That's that. So let's do that right now.

7-13-212-5-7-90. Anthony, dear Park. What's in your gut this week, Anthony? Hey, good morning, guys. Hey, so I have two. My first one is I think the Astros will head into the weekend in the second wild card spot. And I'm basing that just off of who the Red Sox and Guardians are playing this week. And my second gut feeling is that Kaylin DeBoer gets off the hot seat in Alabama,

upsets Georgia this weekend. Ooh, I like it. I like that very much. Thank you very much. I can't speak to how that's going to go at all. Okay. You know, I was thinking about this, and I don't mean to segue to something from college football. But this whole NIL thing has obviously changed the landscape of sports and how teams can go from super good, super bad pretty quick.

Case in point Oklahoma State, case in point, Clemson, who else? Who's falling off the map? Florida. You know Florida State last year went two and ten, right? Yes. They're the eighth ranked team in the country right now. That's a quick turnaround. That's not quick. That's like...

Lightning fast. Lightning fast. A nanosecond. But didn't they make the... Almost make the playoffs. Two years ago, yeah. But how do you go from almost making the national playoff to 2 and 10 to being the 8th-ranking team of the country? Money.

Probably. Yeah. Alabama, Georgia. That's a good match. By the way, we did not bring this up at all. It's on college. Did you see who the natural rivalries are for the next four years for the schools in the SEC? The natural rivalries? You're like the teams you'll play every year for the next four years?

I did not. A&M will be playing Texas every year. Oh, really? Yes. What about OU? They'll be playing Missouri every four years. So Texas, wait, so Texas and OU aren't playing every year? Hold on the next four years?

No, no, no. I think that's OU. natural rivalries. Hold on. I want to get this right, because I don't want to give me the wrong ones here. Let's see.

These are talk for one second. Follow me on Instagram at SportsRV. I really would appreciate it. Uploaded a video yesterday. I've been trying to put more content on there. Build up followership.

It would really help me in the growth of my media career. If you give me a follow on Instagram at SportsRV, I would appreciate it. So Texas yearly rivalries will be A&M, Arkansas, and Oklahoma. Oh, so you pick three. That's interesting.

A&M will be Texas, LSU, and Missouri. So A&M, Oklahoma will not play every year. Now, you can't play each other, but those are the guarantee for the next four, three years. Okay. So basically, we were talking with today about there are so many odd schools that don't have them, they want to just say,

all right, we're going to have to throw you a bone. It sounds like to me what they did is each of the schools went to them and said, give me one, we have to play you every year. and my guess is Texas said we have to play Oklahoma every year. You have to.

And my guest's A&M said we have to play Texas every year. Probably. No, I don't think I... Who does LSU say they have to play every year? Who's his LSUs? I'm curious. LSU probably would have said well, there are naturals are Arkansas,

Old Miss, and A&M. Really? I'm curious, maybe Gordi had an answer to that. When LSU went to the table and said, we have to play somebody every year, A&M and them have been kind of a rivalry. But over the years, though, I feel like it's been LSU and Alabama. No, I'm just, I'm assuming this was in play.

The word on the streets was each school said, okay, you're not going to get who you exactly want, but who's the one you have to have? Arkansas, Old Miss, and A&M, what would be the one that LSU said, we absolutely have to play you? I don't think any of those three, right? Who is LSU's biggest SEC rival? I would say Alabama over the years. Alabama, I'm sure, had to say, we want to play Auburn every year.

You can't have those schools not playing. Like, for instance, Alabama's three are Auburn, makes sense. Tennessee, okay. Kind of historic. Mississippi State. I mean, everybody's getting a dog in the group. Yeah, why didn't Texas or something? Why didn't they go to the pound the table and say, Kentucky and Vanderbilt?

You've got to play those guys every year. That's right. Yeah. Well, Vandy's been pretty good. It is kind of nice that they were saying, you know what? We'll let you have one, but you're not getting all three. That's interesting. 713-212-5-7-90.

7-1-3-21-2-5-7-90. So how does Kentucky get? Kentucky gets Florida, Tennessee, and I can't even tell with this third. Oh, South Carolina. Poor South Carolina, they got nobody. Yeah. Well, they play Clemson every year. Yeah, but that's a different conference, though.

I'm just saying. South Carolinas every year are Georgia, Florida, and Kentucky. Now, these things will change every four years, so... Okay. Why? If it's your historical rival, it's your historical rival. Annual opponents of what they call them. I can't...

Problem is, are you ever going to see a moment where you are, where Texas chooses Oklahoma over A&M? And you're probably saying, well, of course they would, because that's the biggest rival. But I can't imagine A&M... I would think they would... That game, you have to have that game every year. At the state fair, at the common bowl, split 50-50, that game

has to be every year. You know why I agree with you on that? Because we've had, we lived without A&M Texas for the longest time. We did. We're going to get it back. Everybody moved on. Yeah. I need my Fletcher's Corny Dog and my wax cup of paper, wax cup of beer and my disappointing losses. I need them. Are y'all going to win this year? Let's just say, uh, the, um, the shouts for let's make sure we go to the OU Texas game this year have turned to whispers

with me and the crew. Me and the crew are not as enthused. I almost was going to buy you a really rude gift. What would that be? Tickets to the Alamo Bowl. They might end up there. Art's not very good.

But how? How does this happen? He was a chosen one. He was a Trevor Lawrence. Exactly. He's a Trevor Lawrence of college football. That's your example. Everybody hits their ceiling somewhere. You and me, it's here.

Man, I see now, you have any rope? I can get you a knife. I'm too much of a wist. Get you a butter knife. Too much of a wist for that. Everyone finds their ceiling somewhere. And maybe.

Archmanning's ceiling. How about we not give up on him just yet? I'm not giving up on him. He's flexing on the same person people. That was bad. Come on. He shouldn't have done that. I'll tell you my biggest concern.

My concern wasn't decision making, which was my biggest issue with him last year. He fumbling, I think I could convince myself that he didn't play last year because of decision making and fumbling. No, because those can be fixed. Accuracy, I feel like, is a bigger issue. Long term.

So if he's not going to be accurate, he's not going to be elite. And your legacy, in your legacy, at least for the universe, Texas to me, is beating Oklahoma a couple times while you're there. Look, Garrett Gilbert was a five-star

supposed to be all-world. He wouldn't, he didn't turn out to be anything in college. There's five-star, and I keep going back to the Malachi Nelson and who else,

whoever else, Nico Yama Love and all the other five. There's like five-five-star quarterbacks in his class, and I don't think any of them are doing very well. Maybe there's one. I can't remember.

All right. Love hurts, ladies and gentlemen, we'll explain that. And the news at noon coming up in a minute, 1158, here on Sports Talk 790.

This is the Matt Thomas show with Ross. to rebound and thank you for the triple from Fred Van Bleet and I look forward to more Fred Van Bleet three-pointers in the 2026, 20-27 season. You mean in the deep playoff run. See you in May, baby. See you in May.

May 15th, Freddie V. We need you, baby. That would be. What's eight months from now? That'd be May. How long are ACLs out for, Tip the way? At least nine months, probably. Yeah, but you don't really start jumping until that, like.

He can't jump anyways. It's fine. Yeah, he's going to do it. Jonathan, he's going to do a bit of set shots. Yeah, he had dunk since 2014, so we're all good. You know, you know what? I was running that nine months, yeah. Yeah, see?

Oh, you tore your ACL. We're making you a friend band leader of the show. Okay, I got you. Wait, this time last year, you tore your ACL? I had surgery this time. in August last year. So I was like to him. Were you running by nine months?

I was running by, so I got, I got surgery in August. I was running on the treadmill and everything by December. And I had meniscus and ACL. His is just ACO. So he should be a faster recovery. How long were you in the hospital for? Just for a day, just got the surgery and then I got home after like six hours. They give you some good meds?

Oh, I was gone. Let me tell you some. I've only been in the hospital overnight a couple times of my entire life. You would think it'd be fun. it's not. They wake you up every four hours to check your vitals. You can't get good sleep. Yeah, I would say hospitals today doesn't sound like fun.

And the nurses have hairy underarms. It's not great. Oh, what nurses are you going to? Were you in France? Big and mean ones. Get up, sir, drink, have your meds. You can't have a nurse ratchet. I wanted something on the menu.

Nope, it's not in your part of your diet. Oh, damn. All right, that's nothing about my life. I would have snuck you a cheeseburger. Why don't you let me know? No. Okay. Well, never mind. I don't want to be in the hospital again for that.

Okay. But thank you for the thought, though. Mets are already down 1-0, by the way. Oh, to Washington. Time now for the news and noon. We got a little bit of breaking news and open up the news at noon to 12-07. Okay. I think it's worth of the second one.

It's at least two. Would you say even... For this part of the country? For this part of the country? Yeah, I'll give it three. Three. This part of the season? No, we're good.

Three's five. No, no, yeah, three's good. Five's max. Three's good. Mike Gundy out. At Oklahoma State, he has been fired according to

multiple reports. Horrible start to the season for Oklahoma State. And the second longest tenured football coach in Division I college football. Here's the reason why. He barely held on to his job last year. Okay. Then you go on national television to a game at Oregon and you lose, what, by 60 points?

69 to 3. And then you lose at home to Tulsa. That was the death nail. They weren't going to let this thing simmer. No. Longest head coach tenured in FBS is Kirk Ferrence at Iowa. Second was Mike Gundy, third Kyle Whittingham. So he'd been there since 2005, 170 wins at Oklahoma State.

Now, let me ask you this, not knowing the program at all, the T-Boon Pickens family has shelled hundreds of millions of dollars towards them, correct? Yes. Has that drained? Is that gone? Has that been used up? He passed, so I don't know what happened to his estate. And if the children or whoever are, I think he won't, I think he did bequeath a lot of his money to the program.

The reality is this, I, again, I'm just speaking in generalities. I don't know if there is a outside of the Pickens family, if there is a lot of money available to just. Yeah, like who's the next heritage? I don't know. But Gundy felt like to me he was, we'll do this. the right way without having to use NIL. If you are, if you are saying that NIL, you can win without NIL, you're fooling yourself. Go ask what's going on at Clemson right now.

Dabo Sweeney. Yeah. Dabo's like, we're not using the portal. We're not using NIL. Well, you're going to be getting your old school traditional. Why are you going to be getting your old school ass whoops? You'll be six and six. I'll be enjoy that.

Man, losing to Tulsa at home. At home. Woo. That'll get you fired. And well, also losing by 60 on the road, it's going to get you fired too. 10 and a... I mean, 69 to 3. That's what they did to Savannah State back of the day.

Back in the day. They were 10.5 point favorites to the Tulsa Golden Hurricane. Mm-hmm. Tulsa had just come off a back-to-back losses to New Mexico State and Navy. So let's put this in perspective for you, Cougar fans here. Cougars are 3-0. Yes. I think we're double-digit favorites at Oregon State this Friday.

Let's go. That puts it at four. If you beat Oklahoma State, that's five there. It feels like a guaranteed win Saturday. Or is it on Thursday or Friday because you never know when you guys are playing. Oh, Oregon State's Friday, the Oklahoma State game is in a couple weeks. I think they have on Tuesday afternoon, I think. That's, no, we're not a matchian team.

Stop it. Oh, I'm sorry. We need one more when to get to a bowl. That's going to happen. We're going to a bowl game. Go and bowling, Maddie. We're going bowling, Houston. See you in Mobile.

Let's go. No, I want bigger than that. Memphis? Memphis for the Liberty Bowl? Give me TechS Bowl at an RG. Let's go. I'll go to that game. Yeah, we'll get you some tickets.

How are you going? How am I my tech U of H tickets looking? You can call 713 Go Coogs, baby. Let's go. All right, that's a easy number. Okay, well, I need your CVV. I need your zip code. You get the STFU for me.

Oh, hang it. Continue on with the news at noon. Yes, Matt, okay. Well, that was some big breaking news. Of course, we know the big news here in Houston is your Houston Astros. With the biggest road trip of the season. Last weekend was the biggest series of the season, and, well, they got swept. So now back at it against the athletics for three games at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento.

Christian Javier, followed up by Hunter Brown and Frumber Valdez in the 3rd. three games set against the Sacramento A's. You have declared 5 and 1. Are you sticking to that? I am the people that vote on Twitter or not. 76 votes are in. What? That's a small sample size.

Hell yeah, 38%. No, I'm hurting 62%. Get your vote in right now on my Twitter account at SportsMT. Are you on Team 5 and 1 this week? 38%. Yes, 62% say no. That's tough. Marcus is hoping, but nervous,

this team just doesn't have it this year. Jesse was a long-winded thing. Okay. Cassius Clay, four and two. Michael says he's on team 6-0. Thank you, Michael, for your shout out there, at Tyreman, Ford. 6-0. All right. It's possible. By the way, speaking of Twitter polls, I put one up yesterday.

Is C.J. Stroud, a franchise quarterback? How's that going, by the way? 50.3% yes. 49.7%? No. So if that is the case, and you show that Nick Cacero, is he going to give him franchise type money? I think he has to buy the phone. I think the jury's out. I think you get a little more of a sample size this year. Right now, he's still to the stage right now where you have to pay him. You have to pay him. And you know what you do? Because what's the alternative? You know what the successful teams do, Ross? They win when their quarterbacks are on rookie contracts. And the Texans are going to let those days slip slide away.

They spent while he was on the rookie contract They just have not won Except they didn't spend on an offensive line I mean they've spent to go fill players in But that's about as far as it got Anything else going on? Mention Rockets, Astros We got a changing quarterback in the NFL

Well I was trying to bring this up Because I did this poll On February 9th of 2004 is CJ Strouder franchise quarterback And it was 96% yes We got some more NFL news that will bring you coming up at the 1 o'clock hour coming up at 120. Joe Spot at 1230, 15, 17 minutes from now. Let's go with you get. Come on in you.

There's some good NFL news we can dive into coming up at 120. And as you said, the manager of your Houston Astros ahead of the two biggest series of the year following the biggest of the series of the year. Let's last weekend. Oh, look at Sports Hust's sentence. What? Don't go right in NW for that Oregon State game just yet. Beaver's are 0 and 4 so they will be desperate for a win. And this is the first trip up there. I think U.A. should win, but Houston Sports is cursed right now, so I can't take a damn thing for granted. Damn, sports hutch. You know what?

The University of Houston will set us free from this nasty aura around the city of Houston right now. I think the beavers could be dangerous. Why? Beaver's are always dangerous. They've got big chompers. They don't, they got their ass kicked. by Oregon this week. So you think you're just going to head over there

and roll over the beavers. I don't care if we're going by one point. I don't care. I'm not betting on it. I'm not sure as hell don't care. I just don't think the beavers are going to lay down easy. Beavors can lay down easily sometimes. Look at their season so far.

Sometimes they're stout and strong. It depends if you've got to work for it. I think you're going to have to go up there and you're going to have to work for those. We're going to work for that beaver win. Zero problem with that. Long-ass flight. Guys will get up there early, get them hydrated,

ready to go. charged and knock that beaver out. 713-212-5-790. 7-13-212-5-790. I'm not scared no damn beaver. I've seen a lot of beavers in my time. They don't scare me at all. Not at all.

All right, let's go to 1223 on the Matt Thomas show with Ross. We have a family friend who is power washing our house today, getting rid of some mildew and also cleaning on our gutters. I just got a terrible text My wife's like he has to go to the gas station to get some more gas Because the power washer needs more gas I didn't realize my house was such bad shape Well that sounds like the guy you hired is irresponsible

No no he's a good person He really is a good guy Okay And he's got him from the work release prison program That's not I said a family friend Oh that isn't bored So what's wrong with that? You can be a friend that you know

I don't have friends in prison I don't have friends in prison at this point Well that sounds like you don't have fun friends that feels fair you don't live life until you know somebody that's been in prison yeah man like hey I know you try to get back on your feet I give you a couple hundred bucks power watch the house

I had a roommate when I was single before I got married that called me and he was a co-worker of mine when I was working at KSCV many many years ago and he called me at 1 o'clock in morning he said hey I'm in jail can bail me out I'm like what did you do and he goes well I got a speeding ticket I said well that's not going to get you and he goes well I didn't have my insurance I said that's strike two

he was number three I hit a car car that was parked. I said, okay, I'm on my way. Wow. So that's as, that's as the worst as I had to go bail out of jail. Of course he did. But that was the worst. I've never had anybody go to prison. Oh, okay.

Unless you want to go. I don't want to go. You get three squares a day, I guess. And you get a physical, good workout. That might be an option when I get laid off. Kevin on 790 before we talk to Joe's spot of Kevin. Good afternoon to you. Hello.

Kevin. Oh, Kevin. Kevin Shirley. Yes. Go ahead, Kevin. You speak. I'm a native Houstonian for 50-something years, and I've seen quarterbacks come and go.

DJ Shrout is not a franchise quarterback, because he lost a dog, okay? After his rookie season, he was barking and doing everything. I have not seen anything. Barking like a dog, what does that mean? Well, he said the dog in me with his rookie season. That's what he was doing.

He was barking and saying he had the goods, and nothing's happened since then. And every time you talk about the offensive lines, that's one element. Yeah. But it all boils down to see Dave Stroud's comfortable with the team and who he is. And he's not throwing the ball and pinpointed where it needs to be at all. I don't know if he's playing scared or is he hurt.

But it's CJ Stroud. if not the other elements of the game is CJ. I'm going to... No new contract. All right. Thank you, Kevin. I'm going to place blame all around. I'm going to tell you his offensive line is the worst in the NFL, and it's been the worst for the first three weeks of the season.

I don't even know what PFF's telling me, but I don't even... I think the new rankings drop tomorrow. Three weeks in, they've been bottom. I think besides Nico Collins, there isn't a single receiver that scares anybody in the secondary. Christian Kirk's guy, he had a couple of catches. I'm optimistic about him. There's no running game to speak of, and I think you got a first time play caller who's a little overmatched.

Other than that, it's not C.J. Stroud's fault. Actually, beyond that it's C.J. Strauss Fault. He's not been good. He's below average. He's a bottom 10 quarterback right now. He looks like he's moving slow like the end of last year still. Not that he was ever fast. He was never, you know, he's never going to be confused with Lamar Jackson or Josh Allen.

No. And he runs in a terrible sex. We were sitting there in the book, man. I was like, he is lumbering. Yeah. He does need some confidence. And an offensive line is the best confidence builder you can find out there. Really quick, KJ, before we talk to Joe.

Hello, KJ. Hello, hey J. I was listening. Thank you. I was a side of know real quick. About 10 years ago, Matt, you gave me a nickname Reverend KJ. I did. My supervisor calls me Reverend KJ or Rev.

He's listened to me several times. Let me tell you some right now, KJ. You are always until your last day on calling you. show my last day or you will always be to me the reverend kj my man i appreciate out real quick i hear a lot of complaints about the o line and obviously it is atrocious with a capital of atroche that said j j has regressed pitifully uh is it to the point where we should be questioning the money not necessarily my thing is this i see routinely over the years teams with bad offensive line playing who are still able to uh to uh to uh uh

present a manageable offense. Again, they're not elite by any stress. The only players that I've seen playing legally with a bad offensive line in recent years was Joe Burrow. So I understand that the offensive line is bad. I'm not giving them a pass. No way to shape or form. I genuinely do think the play calling is what's holding us back to them because you're running, and again, you're probably just trying to overcompensate for the offensive line. There's a detriment of actually running the conflict of playing. You're running these tight splits in the zone deep nickel. and down defenses with only two and times maybe three receivers

going out and there's just too many dbs out that doesn't even get the ball off because you're trying to run the bunch formation so much to protect your offensive line and it's not working. It needs to be some switch, either an approach, mindset, or just flat out, hey, look, the line

is trash, let's just go out there and sling and see what happens because what you're doing right now isn't working and we're looking at by the slow 2.0. Love it so, fellas, and I'll be listening again. Thank you very much. Joe, a spot, out of next after Ross tells you about Centrogenics. We always look forward to talking with the manager of your Houston Astros, and we'll do that again right now. Sacramento, California, the site for a three-game series with the A's, then a quick trip to L.A.

4-3 against Anaheimers, and then hopefully a nice postseason run. Joe Espada with us here on the show. Skip, good morning. How are things? Yeah, good morning, guys. Things are well here in Sacramento. Like you mentioned, it comes down to. this week right here. Very important week for us, man.

It is important, and I brought this parallel, and I don't know how you treat it. You play 26 weeks. And 25 of those weeks this year have been, this team is overachieved. It's had so many injuries. You've had so many different lineups, so many guys overperforming, so many guys underperforming, and that it's a wonderful story. The Astros have been a competitive. And now it's in your hands. I know you've got to worry about some scoreboard watching, and I know you hate doing that. But realistically, You guys go 5 and 1 this week. You're going to the postseason.

I mean, I hate to dumb it down, but does that kind of have the feeling in your mind as well? Just win and discover everybody else? Yeah, you know, I think Destiny is still in our hands. We decide our future. And how we treat the next week is crucial. And we have been in this position before. I've been here long enough where we entering the last week of the season

down a game and a half, two games out, you know, from the division. Like, we have been in this position before. So this is not new for us. It's how we handle business today on the baseball field, how we play our game, not letting this past series, you know, affect our focus and our preparation. None of that. I think it's in the past. Today is a new day.

It's a brand new week, and we have to take the field and fight. This is a dog fight and, you know, don't count this team out. I hear and I read stuff where people think that we're out. We're not out. We're very much in this fight. Joe, what was the hardest part about that Seattle series? Was it that Seattle just came in super hot and just nothing you could do to stop them? Was it missed opportunities on your part, a combination of both?

Because, look, we knew Seattle was good coming in, but they really had a successful weekend in your ballpark. Yeah, yeah, they did. And, you know, we knew coming in that they have made some changes to the roster that are acquired some players. They've been playing some really good ball. And they outplayed us. And, you know, we have some opportunities. We didn't play our best.

And credit to, you know, Seattle, they beat us. But it's in the past. We have six very important games. There's going to be, you know, a lot of folks, you know, watching the school board. and we, you know, we all, it's going to be fun. I'm really looking forward to this week because this is what you play for and this is what the team is built for, and I'm looking forward to it. You had to make a late scratch on Sunday for Jeremy Pena did not play.

Can you update the folks on how he's doing right now? Yeah, so we are going, I'm going to get to the ballpark here early and we're going to see how we feels. He got some treatment yesterday. It went well. But for me, to make, to put him in the lineup, I have to see how he's, feels in the next hour or two. With that, keeping on the injury front, well, not injured because Isok Peritas did play for

you this weekend. How did you feel about the way he looked? Obviously, had the big home run, how he's moving, and potentially playing him in the field. Is that on the table? You know, a play on the field, I don't think we're still quite there yet. He is moving okay. For me, it's more, can he react? You know, that quick first step, playing third base, charging on a slow roller. You know, we're not quite there yet. And it's just more how he feels mentally trusting his leg to make that kind of push and move.

But he is, you know, he's feeling good. For now, the plan is to continue to deach him, and we need his bat. We need his offense to continue to be as good as he's been all year. Astros manager, Joe Spottable is here on Sports Talk 790. You got the series here in Sacramento. We know that the ball can fly out there. Is there anything you tell your hitters or pitchers to do anything differently? Or do you just try to keep everything the same?

Yeah, I know. We keep things the same. We can. You know, you got to pitch to, we want to pitch to our strength, you know, exploit the hitters' weaknesses. As a hitting club, we, you know, we have an approach. that we have to carry out. We got to get on base.

We really not need to score early and set the tone from the very beginning. And we know that this could be a high-scoring series. You cannot score enough runs here in Sacramento. We knew that the last time we came here. And we understand the importance of us playing our best. And, you know, again, I'm really looking forward to see our boys go out there and get this last push for the last week of the season. I always think, Joe, that managers in baseball, when it comes to playoffs, have to manage differently.

You don't give the leash of the starting pitcher as much as you would. Maybe you make a change in your lineup. You move guys around a couple of different spots. Will you find yourself this week doing a little more of that? Because, let's face it, this is de facto playoff time, even though there are still six games left to go in the regular season. Yes, this is, you know, we got to treat this week like the playoffs. We have to We have to attack and stay on the offensive

from the very beginning And I got to treat each game as, you know, do or die, do or die game. Like, we have to play well from, we have to do our best win all six games, right? So, you know, how we play and how I manage, it's just playoff. So things might look different.

I might do something differently just because it's all hands on that. Lineups change all the time in the middle of July and August. That just happens. Do you anticipate keeping it in Penn this week, or do you think there will be some fluctuation with these lineups depending on who you're pitching and how guys are doing it? What do you think, putting your crystal ball out about what you think you're going to be putting on that lineup car for the next week or so?

You know, we have some guys that are going to be hitting in their spots. You know, we have guys that are, they get paid a lot of money to get on base and to drive people in. This is, that's what we, we have them in the lineup. And we lean on those guys and we believe in those guys. And I trust those guys because they, they've done it for a very long time. So changing things around and trying to get all different. And, of course, the last game, that's not the way, the way it goes. You know, but doing things differently, maybe running a little bit more.

or maybe, you know, maybe we've got to get guys over early in the game trying to get an extra run. Things like that, I think, are needed. But we just need to trust our guys and let them do their thing. And hopefully, you know, we can score a ton of runs and go here on a run on a nice run. I know, Joe, this will be an update for in a couple of days, but I know that Yordon will not be available for you, or at least you're anticipating available for the A series.

what do you know at this point, again, things could change on the daily here about Yordon and about maybe trying to get him in at some point in the Anaheim series if he's available to do so. Yeah, it'd be great. It'd be great. I know he's feeling better every day. It'd be great if we could get him on the field, but this is, you know, this is a day-by-day thing. See how he feels and we continue to monitor his progress. But we have to do it. You know, he's not here right now. We have to do it without him. and I know that we have the guys here in place to get this done. I don't want to go macro too much because we got six games in front,

but the season as a whole, one of your starting pitchers, Fromber, gave you double-digit quality starts in a row, but the last two months have just been a different kind of player. Not necessarily what happened, but where is that guy that we saw in April and May that was giving you seven innings with his eyes closed? He's still there. I think he has struggle commanding and his pitches and finishing hitters off.

But I know he's still there. And one thing I do know that he's got one more big starts to come in here in the next few days. And we need that guy to show up. And I know he's very capable of doing that. I know he wants to do it. And we have to prepare him to give us the best start of the season right when we need it. she's right now. One of the silver lines over the weekend. Very good performance by your bullpen. Only had to use Brian Abray you once. You're feeling pretty good about the guys you got back there

if you can get those starts that you need, good starts that you need to follow up with the bullpen. Yeah. Yeah, they're rested and we score early and our starters give us a good five, six innings and we can hand the ball to our bullpen who's done a really nice job. We'll be great. That's the strategy. But it starts with us setting the tone early. scoring some early runs and putting the pressure on our opponents. We cannot, you know, wait around and wait to the last innings.

You know, if we get out, swing to the bat well, get some people on base, get some hits with many scoring position, give our starter something to relax on or just do something be comfortable on. That would be great. Joe, thank you for the weekly visits. We hope they do not end today. I hope that you and I are visiting again next week prior to the Wild Card

series. We really appreciate it. And a good luck this week in Sacramento and Anaheim. All right, fellas. Thank you. You got a gel spotted with us here on Sports Talk 790. 1242 is at time. I'm going to go look at my poll question, see how we're doing. No, we don't have to do that. I mean, it's my responsibility.

I did put a poll. Okay, we'll forget it. 1242 on Sports Talk 790. 4-2 and pray. 5 and 1 and celebrate. 3-3 and 3-3 and really pray. 3-3. Go to church, put some money in the till.

3-3-Kankoon. It's going to be fine. What it won't. And our lives will move on. Because we've got the Texans. Oh, now I'm walking out of here. Yeah, you get out. You got work to do.

Matt Thomas Show with Ross continues. You're on Sports Talk 790. I figured out the guaranteed way for the Astros to make the playoffs. Oh, stop. Follow me on Instagram at Sports. Oh my God. You said if I followed you there, we're going to beat the Mariners. No, I didn't say that.

Yes, you did. No, not true. Yes, you did. Follow me Instagram at SportsMT and the Astros will make the playoffs. Okay, and if they don't unfollow SportsMT. False promises. If these false promises don't come through, you got to unfollow them. No.

You're going to want to see all the goodness of my life. All right. So here comes the poll question. Okay. I'm looking for Team 5 and 1. people and I've been a little dismayed by the fact there's little faith in this. 37% are hell yeah, 63% are no, I'm hurting. You're not on Team 5 and 1.

Are you serious? That's, that's an astro negativity out there. Didn't it start out like 70, 30 the other way? Yeah. Change quickly. And the negative Nancy's came in. Mm-hmm. So if you want to vote, it's at SportsMT.

Matter of fact, I will vote. I'll go vote from my burners. Yeah. Wade Busters, H-O-U is bullish on the team, by the way. My burner is at Sports Talk 790. Oh, is it really? I just pinned to the very top. So if you're on Team 5 and 1 this, we get your voting, because right now you're in the minority.

37%. I don't want to read between the lines on this. But sometimes you take conversation pieces. Okay. I think he was direct messaging or at least sending a message to Christian Walker. Bro, we're going to sit your ass on a bench if you can't give us anything. he could put Victor Caratini at first base and at least get more

I mean not trying to put everything on Christian Walker You lose some defensively but he's been a better hitter for the balance of the season Yeah, that's absolutely accurate Well at least it's not like he's old and in the first year of a long longer deal He's only got two years left, it's not a long deal It's a medium-sized deal It's not great Not a Kyle Tucker nine-year deal

I'm thinking 10 plus Okay that's that'd be true So I don't know lineup shifting? I don't anticipate a lot of gotta get a day's rest because there's no more rest.

It's it. Six games left. 203 with a 565 OPS in September for Christian Walker. The easy answer is going to be what does this team do for 2026?

You could move from Christian Walker, but you're also going to have to pay a lot of that salary. You'd have to pay a bunch of the salary, yeah. Everybody can now be traded because teams are having to pick up tabs.

They just got off to bad start with that oblique injury to start the season and it just feels like it... But there was never a good enough run. There was never a man, this month of blank. Well, July maybe. July was close. But he was like 800 OPS. It wasn't like a thousand to bring the number.

It wasn't enough to bring everything else out. Strike out count was still very high. Again, some of the things about we, I don't think we were expecting Prime Albert Pooleholz when he got here. No. He was never a great batting average guy. He had a lot of slug. He had 245, 250, and he got like 30,

mom. So you had to take him that. He's got 23 bombs, which is I mean, when you look at the numbers, more than you think. But you were thinking for a guy who loved hitting at Dyken Park, that the Crawford boxes would have been his best friend. Okay, OPS Plus averages 100. The last three years, 122? Excellent. 120? Good. 90. That was his last year in Arizona. No, this year. This year is 90. Oh, 90? Honestly, it feels worse. It does. But 90 means 10% below average. When you're at first base, you can't be below average offensively when you're at first base. You need somebody hitting.

You're supposed to have some big boppers, as it were, in your lineups at first base. It's just... Now, he is wearing the brunt of it because he was the free agent acquisition. And this team has had... I like the deal when it was made. It's what, three years, $60 million? It was good. It seemed like a good deal. But you know what?

Maybe there was a sign that it wasn't a good deal because when asked, did Arizona make you an offer? They said, no, bye. 833 OPS in July, 829 in August, 565 in September. This is the worst month he's had all season, all season. Compare him to Yiner Diaz. What's his September been like? I'm trying to equally place the blame other. Like Al-Tube September has been great.

Al-Tube has been declining. And this is the thing, too. Can we say, oh, they're going to bounce back next year? Well, they're each going to be a year older. They're well over 30. Mm-hmm. Hold on. Let me pull up Yiner.

You want month by month on Yianna? Yeah, give me September Yonair Diaz. Okay. July, he was good. 842. Yeah, I like it. August 676 OPS. Way below average.

September 703. Which is not good. Not good. He had a really good. Everybody, what happened in July? And then there's another thing that hurt from this weekend. Do you see everybody in their mother was running on him again? Yeah.

Probably the pitchers, but it's also he just. I still said, I gave you a. gut feeling a long time ago. He's got to move to first base. For who? I mean, Christian Walker's there right now. You can move him. But I think the thought would be to put Aesac Paredes at first. Yeah, because you're not moving

Carlos Cray off a third. He's, yeah. Esoc Paredes solid at third, good to above. Carl's Cray's better. He still got that cannon, man. He does. His range isn't as great as it used to be, but he makes up for it for insanely accurate throws.

Accurate and strong. The The combination of strength and accuracy from his third base throws are very impressive. Oh, no, there's, let me tell you, when we put this season to bed, there's going to be a lot of difficult conversations happening over there in downtown Houston. Normally it's like, oh, Astros off season, whatever. We have a lot to talk about to figure out. Well, now I'm not going to do it right now because we've got other things to get to. That's true. We have a rotation to figure out.

Yes. We have an infield that's congested to figure out. I mean, and we talked about this a little bit yesterday. I don't think Fromber coming back on a qualifying offer is completely off the table. I think the number one thing, if you were to say among your pecking order of things to concern yourself with or address, is starting pitching. Okay. Yeah, is blue ball going to be in the mix? What's happened?

What's the latest on Aragutty and some of those other guys? Lance McCullors, Albatross around your neck right now. Speaking of trades with a lot of money sent the other way. He's untradable. You can send, oh, nobody's, Rafael Montero got traded. Nobody's untradable for the money. If you could get a clean bill of hell for land, you could trade him. But again, you're also inheriting a lot of that contract.

Is it legal to send more money than the guy's contract is worth? Asking for a friend named Jim Crane. You're not sending a bonus. A little cherry on top? No. No. Yeah, he's making 18. We're going to send you 20.

Ladies and gentlemen, I always tell you all. how Rudy is. This is a classic example of how Rudy is. I'm just asking if you could do that. No, you can't. You're not giving them interest. It's one year left of the country. You can have my yacht for a week. 1257. The final hour of the show

will feature coming up in 25 minutes. Ross's NFL rewind. And believe it or not today is all things about Mike Gundy. He has been fired. He didn't get to resign, Rossi. He got fired. Well, I mean, can you say he didn't deserve it? he was getting his ass whooped and was really smug about it. You can't do both.

No. Now he used to be 40. Now he's got to be what, late 50s? He is 58. Yeah, late 50s. That was 18 years ago when he said that? Okay, I got a real quick gut feeling for you. Is he a head coach in college football next year?

No. Will he be a head coach than three years? Yes. Sit a year out and then come. Yeah. Get him on TV. Now it's going to be a program that you're not. like FS1.

Well, it's going to be, it's going to be like a Mike Herman. I mean, Central Arkansas, Fort Atlantic. Fort Atlantic type thing, yeah. I don't think he's Power 4. Well, Tulsa doesn't want them.

Trying to think of smaller schools in Oklahoma. Tulsa says we're good. Or Roberts doesn't even have football. 1258, final hour of the Matt Thomas show with Ross. If you guys want to come on in and join us, you may do so. 713-212-790. That's 7-1-2-2-5-7-90. This is the Matt Thomas'

show with Ross. Never in the history of the Matt Thomas show at Ross. Do we have two sets of breaking news going out at the same time? Suck it A team. Hit the sounder again.

Hit it one more time. That's three. I'm going to add a fourth one because we're going to add them together. Hit it again. Hey team, you can suck it. Relax. Do you want Texans or baseball? Oh my God.

Texans. The Texans are releasing C.J. Garner Johnson. I told you all. Wow. I am the Texans insider. What did you say? I said, this guy's going to be one and done. I didn't realize.

I'd be three weeks and done. I told you all. Stop listening to the YouTube shows who are unemployed. Listen to people that are employed. Me. Told you this guy was no good. Out. See ya.

Bye. He probably told Domingo to suck it. Domingo's like suck it back out, bitch. Suck it back? Yeah. According to Aaron Wilson, the Texans have released C.J. Gardner Johnson after friction behind the scenes. Duh!

I am the insider! With him complaining about his role, wanting to blitz more per league sources, and even communicating that he wanted to be traded. I cannot say this clearly enough. I told you L. CJ Garner Johnson. He's been with four teams in his NFL career. Wow.

There is a reason for it. He's not a good dude. That was quick. I'm pretty surprised that it happened this way. Would you like the second bit of breaking news? Not nearly as... It's not nearly as... That's kind of earth-shattering.

Wow. That's pretty big. That's huge. What the hell? What the hell, C.J. Gardner Johnson? Does this mean Jimmy Ward's coming back? he's been cleared means are a mess

they wouldn't they wouldn't got c j garner johnson they thought he would be a guy that only could be here but be here for the long term problem is he's got a rep and the rep is not a good guy bye wow you're you're shook by this aren't you i'm not shook okay i'm surprised would you like would you like the second bit of good news yes you know give me some more major league baseball music uh you You know what? No, we'll do without music. Here we go. Major League Baseball Sports RV. Okay.

Just announced, the ABS system is approved for use through the 2026 season. Here's how it works. You get two challenges per team. Okay. The team keeps them successful. So if you keep, the umpire keeps sucking, you get to keep on challenging. Oh, that's good. Okay. Unlimited. Challenges initiated only by the pitcher, the catcher, and the batter with a tap of the hat or helmet. Okay. If you go to an extra inning,

if you have zero remaining, you get an extra one. That's good. And everybody in the stadium will see it because the graphics in the stadium will be determining whether or not there'll be no secrets. So the technology is in place. Yes, it is. They can get every single.

You got it. And they won't. Okay. It's a step in the right direction. I'll take steps. Are you kidding me? As compared to flying blind? Nope. I'll take the step. Will we eventually see the full thing? Don't know. But I'm happy in 2026. The ABS is in play.

He is, by the way, I just saw this on Twitter. CJ, I mean, CJ Gardner Johnson. Do you said release in CJ? I was like, what? Sorry, I didn't need to do that to you. Because during the break, Matt was acting like a nuclear bomb just got dropped on somewhere. I was like, what the heck is going on here? Because he told me not to, we do this on the show. We tell him not to look at breaking news or me not to look at breaking news so we can have natural on-air reactions.

I was like, oh my God, this sounds crazy. But anyways, CJ Gardner Johnson has played 96% of the defensive snaps for the Texans this year. It must be so bad over there. Should we call Aaron Wilson? You want to? We could? Let's call Aaron Wilson. Are you want to call them? Call them on air?

Call them. You text it. Okay. I'll take a phone call. We'll do that. This is some big stuff. Big, big, big stuff. Mike and Katie on 790, Mike, thanks for holding and good afternoon to you. Mike, did you wait? Yes. Hi.

How you doing, buddy? Amazing. Okay. I'm being an after span for all my life and always will be, but I guess, honestly, this is not the year for us. So I'd think I'd rather for them not to make the playoff Stop! Stop!

Stop! Stop! Listen! We're going to be swept. So I'd rather just go down with the sunset and we group for next year. Mike, this is a terrible take of yours. I mean, I called a female listener,

her take Asinine yesterday. So I can do the same to you. That's an acidine take. Why would you want that? Why do you care if they get swept or not? How about make the playoffs and maybe not get swept or maybe win a game or maybe, I don't know, win the series? Why would you want to be a fan to root against going to the playoffs? Walk me through that.

Well, let me say. The last eight years, we've been the Astros. Everybody knows the Astro being winning and be embarrassed, you know, the way we're going to get sweat. We don't have the team. Be honest. We don't not have the team this year. So we'd rather not even make the playoffs, fire a lot of coaches that we need to fire a lot of people. group. That's horrible, Mike.

That's horrible defeatist. There's no guarantee they're going to get. What if they win the series? What if they win two games? They can't beat the Boston Red Sox or whoever in two games for two games? They can't win two out of three against them? I can bet you a steak out from Perry's and take on it. I bet you'll take out from Perry's.

What? Did they get swept? We don't got the manager. Yep. We don't have a what? They swept the Rangers last week. That was last week, buddy. That was last week. This team is open down. Open down. It's a roller. So guess what? It could be up this week.

Could be up for two weeks. Okay, you guys, you're going to remember me. Oh, I remember you all right. I remember you for being a completely defeatist fan, is what I remember you for. That's just the, you can't go through life like this. You cannot do this, people. They're going to make the playoffs, I think. And then they're going to see what happens.

Teams can catch lightning in a bottle. Is it likely no? Is it possible? Yes. The only way to be a miracle story is to be in the play. playoffs, me in the game. I mean, come on. This is now like three or four calls we're taking.

Stop this. Stop it. What is that? I don't want my team to make the playoffs? That's ridiculous. It's utterly ridiculous. If it was like a, maybe, maybe if you're talking about the, like, NBA and they're getting into the lottery.

Because the NBA at 8 seat has no chance. I can maybe wrap my head around that. This is baseball. There's miracle stories in baseball all. a time. And this is the team that has made deep runs in the playoffs year after year after year, except last year. Mark me down for I just don't get it. How this keeps happening. Your Texans, by the way, are imploding. You just got CJ Gardner Johnson and you're releasing him after three weeks. This is a full-on implosion. And you think Jimmy Ward, who's been spending

the last two months defending himself going to fix this when he was a mid to begin with? Aaron Wilson says it'll come on. I'm asking about next segment. We'll see. Let's go right now. Yeah, screw the NFL rewind. That's it. This is an NFL rewound. This is NFL current. We don't need to rewind anything. Yeah. I am the Texans insider. I continue to give you info. I don't let you down, folks. I just don't.

I told you this guy was a bad dude and wasn't going to be around for long. I didn't anticipate three weeks. This is bad. This is shocking. This is bad. Bad, bad. This is C.J. Garner Johnson M. Fing. Damico Ryan's, and he ain't got time for that. Damico said, oh, cool story, bro. You're off the team. Get out, bitch.

He said he called him a bitch, probably. And then C.J. is like, you want to throw hands? And he goes, like, squared up. I think, and then Domingo's like, bring it. I'll just kick you in the knee. And remember you got hurt? Remember her during training camp? Yes. I really hurt you.

And you said he was going to be out for the year. I'm actually so shocked that Matt was right. Thank you very much. I'm not going to let you down, Jonathan. I'm not going to let you down, Jonathan. I didn't let you down about Larry McTunsell. I didn't let you down about the Buffalo receiver. What's his face?

I even forgot his name already. Stefan Diggs? I don't. I want everyone to shout it from the Ruth Tops. You're not the Texans insider. SportsMT is the Texans insider. No, you're not. Yeah, I am.

I'm claiming it. You didn't say he was going to be. I'll let go week three. You know why? Because I'm busy on the air. I can't be an insider. I can't check sources when I'm on the, when I'm on the air.

He's not the media pass my eyes. Come on. Thank you. I'm going to, why don't you suck it, YouTubers. Y'all don't know crap. Jesus Christ. Why don't you go there and go to Cal's barbecue and hang out with him.

All right. Aaron Wilson's the next segment. Next segment here on 790. Our next guest is a Texans insider. Like me. An actual one. He may be actually, but I'm going to pretend that I'm one.

Aaron Wilson, always comes on when we need him like at a spur of the moment. Aaron, we're going to buy you. You, me and Ross are going to lunch and I'm buying. Ross will take care of the tip. How are you, sir? I'm great, sir. Yes. I swear to God we're doing it. We're going to lunch. We're going to talk a lot of shop. We're going to rip on a lot of people and be really petty.

So just be ready for that. Okay. You ready? Here we go. CJ Gardner Johnson. I didn't like the signing. I thought it was a troubled past. What's that? Trade, whatever. I don't care. He got here. I thought he was won and done. it best. I know that there was a message of, hey, I want to put my feet on the ground, be there some way. This is a horrible, horrible implosion type of decision. Now, they had to. Yeah. Tell me why. I'm sorry. Go ahead.

There was major friction behind the scenes involving CJ we've been hearing about for weeks. We didn't know if it was going to, you know, lead to, I tend to, when it comes to lock, room issues, if it's going to lead to a release or trade, or some kind of act like a benching. That's when I normally will act. You know, you never know. Could it get better? Is it festering?

But I was getting in feedback that he'd asked for a trade. They did not, obviously, entertain that, that he was complaining about his role. He wanted to blitz more often. He did have one quarterback hit. He had no interceptions. He was critical of teammates and their play in the secondary, throwing guys under the bus.

It was basically like almost as if he wanted to get kicked out. A lot of people said it was the same motor's operandi that, you know, causing the fall in favor in other cities across the NFL. And it was a repeat of that behavior here with the Texans. And yeah, I mean, you know, these are things that can cost you your job. Ultimately, they're only three. They don't need more problems, you know, behind the scenes. And they've shown this before.

They will move on if they're having an issue like Deonté Johnson. We watched him pout after a playoff game that they won because he didn't get the ball enough. and he was promptly fired. So there are consequences at Kirby Drive if you don't do things the way that they want you to. And so I would say, yeah, there is discipline, and this is discipline-related. They already restructured his contract.

They have to eat the money. I don't have that in front of me. I'm just kind of scrambled. I'm in the appointment to write my story. But, yeah, it's not good, obviously. And now next man up is MJ Stewart probably. Yeah, so Aaron, the defense is disappointed, but it hasn't been atrocious. I mean, there's been some mistackles, a couple of plays here and there.

What was his biggest bitch? And can you, I'm asking you decide with him, because I don't think there's a way to, but what is going through his mind that got him so irritated? He had a certain expectation of what he thought his role and the way he saw himself as a player in the defense. And that did not coincide with how the team saw him. and so when you got that kind of disconnect, Matt, you know, you can either not put up with it or you can decide we're going to move on. Would not surprise me if he'd asked to be released, have not heard that yet,

efforting that, you know, as I continue to report throughout the day, but had asked for a trade previously. So we'll see what happened here, but he wasn't happy. Yeah, can you give us at Ross with you as well, Aaron? Can you give us any semblance of a timeline? Like when did this, I mean, was this from the word go? How long did this take to come to a boil? Go ahead.

When I started hearing stuff, it was after the Rams game. I don't know what happens for that. I hadn't heard that, you know, there was some concern about how he was fit. That was when he joined the team. There was some concern after you joined the team that, hey, this may not work out from, you know, different people close to the situation. And then it really started to go downhill after they lose. to the Rams. And that was a game where he blamed other people for the touchdown that was allowed. It appeared to be, you know, his coverage area. There was things like that. It was a lot

of finger pointing, and I think in 0-3, they're just not going to put up with it. It was interesting because he just did a Instagram live where he talked about Romans and built it a day. Fans stick with us. I believe that was just a day ago. So now for this to be over, for them to push the button on this, obviously something happened. But, But, you know, I'm not going to know more than I do. I'm telling you that there were problems, and I don't know what else, you know, Jim Carriens might say about it tomorrow. Obviously, it would be a major topic.

You get the reaction from the locker room and talk to the guys that will place them. I'll see. Hopefully there's some defensive backs there to address this. But, you know, these are things normally that do you get you in trouble, no matter how talented you are. He was definitely, I'm told, complaining a lot. He wanted to Blitzmore. He was critical of teammates' performance.

He thought some guys were making too much money. I mean, he went in. Wow. He's very opinionated. And all of that happened. He's extremely nice to us as far as, like, you know, he was polite and, you know, any of any issues with him. He was in answer his questions.

He would hold court. He was entertaining. But, you know, we're not working with him. We're just covering him. So, obviously, these things were up people the wrong way. I was told that by five different people. people that there was a problem. They just couldn't predict, you know, how is the team going to react to it?

Obviously, now they have. And it's over. The CJ Gardner-Johnson era in Houston lasted three games. Aaron Wilson, KPRC, too, with us here on Sports Talk 790. So what does this mean going forward? Do we know that there was the No Bill, Jimmy Ward thing going on there? Is Jimmy Ward coming back? And do you think that factored in this decision?

What's going on there? They could get him back at some point, get him back in the mix. He is still not 100% ready. He's healthy. He's doing well. He's just, you know, he's not eligible. Right now he needs another week at least on the PUP list. So it's going to be a couple weeks.

It's not going to happen right now. But at some point do I see him getting in the mix? Sure, M.G. Stewart has the opportunity if he plays well to get this job. And I think that that's kind of, you know, you may even see at some point, you know, what is, you know, do they look at Jane and Reed? There's a lot of things that can happen.

So how did he play, in your opinion? Just okay. He didn't really make any earth-shattering play. He was playing okay. And how is the guy that has bounced around from team to team to team? How does his agent try to find him a spot? I mean, seriously.

I mean, when he joined him, the team I was told for him to get another year here. It was going to have to be like perfect type of situation. Like, I mean, like, he's going to have to really tell the line. And I think it was hard for him to do that. You just, you know, ultimately, you're not a psychologist, but you are who you are, right? They'll have our own behaviors. We don't have our own idiosyncrasies.

always perfect, but there are certain basic standards of professionalism. And in the Texan's mind, and I don't think this is them being weird at all. I mean, imagine, like, let's say you work with someone and they said that you're not going on the radio, you're not a good teammate, and you just shouldn't make so much money, and you shouldn't, they should get more air time. And, I mean, how long would that fly at IHeart Radio in 790? Clearly you've been texting with Ross way too much lately, apparently. Yeah, that was between us, Aaron.

That was between us, man. I'm sorry. You can't burn sources, Aaron. You know that? Don't be burning sources. That guy's disclaimer. That would be, you know, trying to be relational about the interlatable about this and just you're conversational.

But yeah, there is no issue. It's 79. We're kidding. We're kidding. Well, thank you, Aaron, for the update on. short notice. Again, we owe you a large lunch with appetizer coming up at the not too distant future friend. Thank you for the visit. I'll be ready

if you text me whatever you are. I will do. We'll get it before the end of the season, for sure. Or maybe right after the season. You may be available like in early January. Our afternoons are going to free up pretty soon here. Well, his might be too. Those Sundays won't be too busy after a while. CJ Garner Johnson.

Gone. Gone. Seriously, I'm telling you, Damico wants to throw hands with people. But talking about somebody else's pay, though? That's insane. That's crazy. Seriously, what a bad dude. Well, look, and that obviously, Dimeco wants a certain culture in the locker room.

Laramie Metsal didn't fit it. C.J. Gardner-Johnson does not fit it either. Stefan Diggs didn't fit it. Everybody said he was great. No, they didn't. And then he tore his ACL. Yeah. These are, quote-unquote, team captains.

All right, on the phones next. Ross's NFL rewinding up to wait for another week. You'll be rewinding two weeks of NFL stuff. Okay. We're going to talk to our friend Biscuit next. You guys want to get in as well. are the Texans imploding? Open-ended.

Don't even answer. Well, let's see. They're 0-3. They're getting worse by the week, and they just let go one of their big off-season acquisitions. I'll let you all into that. Mell it over. 713-212-5-7-Und. You know what? We could invite Aaron to go to see us on Cyprus on Thursday.

We're going to be at the Big City Wings at 2330 Tuckerton Road. This has been a very busy 10-2 show in terms of news headlines. I mean, we get screwed on almost every major trade, but we got Mike Gundy fired the day at Oklahoma State. We got the ABS challenge system in place in baseball. Huge! And we got CJ Gardner Johnson being released for being a, you know what? Wow.

That's good. We did good today. All piled up in one day. I mean, it could have been spread out against time on three days. We could have had CJ released yesterday. We could have dosed it out. That's true. We're binging on news.

We're news binging. Which means we're going to get nothing for like six months. Don't even worry about that. Let's talk about the show now. Let's go, baby. Five and one, baby. Five and one. I'm team five and one, baby.

Let's go. Team five and one. What was the third bit of news you said? CJ Gardner Johnson. ABS and Mike Gundy. Oh yeah, Mike Gundy. Yeah, we've been wearing out that breaking news sounder. It's true.

No, okay, hold on. We'll quickly. Individually, would you, you were doing three for C.J. Gardner, one for A. or two apiece? ABS is three. Oh. It's a massive rule.

Okay. I agree. Gundy's two. It's historical. Gundy's two, but because we're in Texas neighboring state, it's three. C.J. Garner's three.

All three is today. Wow. What do you think? Great? I think so. Yeah. I mean, in the history of baseball, it's been balls and strikes by the empire.

It's a major change. Yeah. We knew it's coming. It's, I guess it's not that huge breaking because you knew it was on the way. But still, as far as his... They could have also said, no, as we're not ready for you. Yeah, historic moment in baseball history for sure.

Yeah. Let's go to Biscuit on 790. Biscuit, good afternoon to you. Top of the evening in the afternoon, my brothers. Hey, before I get to my CJ take a Cougar Matt, I'm watching the W the other night, man. One of our finest, man, she's doing real good at that sideline reporter for the... Oh, Vanessa, yeah, we're very happy for her.

Yeah, she's been doing some WMBA silent reporting. That's good for her. I know. she's from my hometown, so I'm always looking following her. By the way, are we ready? I think there's still a good chance we're getting WMBA basketball here. And I know there'll be some people that'll be excited about it. I don't know if there'll be a massive run for it,

but there'll be some people that'll be excited for it. I think so. I think it's a market for it. And if you check that, I don't know if you've checked out any of the games, the playoffs games, they're sold out, even without CC plan. I will say this. For where the league is today compared to where it was when I was calling games,

I mean, Ross, night and day is an understanding. I mean, such a big difference. Again, it's nothing close to the NBA game, but it's a lot. I mean, it has really improved. And I will give them, I will give the league, the sport, the instruction, the athletes credit. And Caitlin Clark's a star. There's no other way around it. She's a star that transcends her sport.

And when you have a player like that that does so, you got to give them their flowers. Right. getting the CJ, man And I got a, you know, I'm a cowboy fan So I know a little bit A couple of my buddies and my nephew Were Eagle fans And I asked them when they made the trade

And a lot of them, man, they were, you know They could see it coming Because he's a malcontent, right? He's one of those guys that Thinks he's better than what he actually is And he wouldn't have got cut, man, if he was playing Well, but he ain't playing well And then you're going to talk noise too

I think the friction and the insider didn't say it, but I think he'd want to play Petri's role. But, you know, D'Meco likes Petri, man. He wants to be up around moving, because he's not good in space, and he gets beat. And so he wants to play up front. And, you know, D'Mico, he's the captain of the ship, man.

He ain't going to tell him what to do. And so hit the door, Jack. That's what it is. Well, you cannot, look, and thank you, Biscuit for the phone call. Rossi, I really believe that Domingo is a super, super players coach. A lot of those ex-N-Ba NFL coaches are. They are, I know what you go through. I know the grind.

I did it myself. I'm going to overly defend you, but I'm going to be tough on you because I'm tough on myself. And when you got a brand new cat coming in here telling him who should play, if the story is true about he's money pocket watching people, I mean, there is no room in an NFL locker room for pocket watching. There just isn't. Absurd.

I couldn't believe when he's that. That's pretty insane. Do I believe it? 100%. C.J. Garner Johnson played for a Super Bowl champion, Rossi, and they're like, we don't need you. Get out. Yeah. I mean, my initial thought, and the reports were that he was a cap casualty.

Because, I mean, they were up against it. were the Eagles, but probably helped move him along because he had, it was a one year, 20, sorry, three year 27 million dollar deal he signed with the Eagles. He was one year into that and then got traded away. New Orleans, Philadelphia, Detroit, back to Philadelphia to Houston, and now looking for his sixth different spot, and he was a 2019 fourth round pick, and he is pocket watching. Casario, wins someone. When's the single second? When's the burner going to turn up on him?

I think it is right now. It needs to be. You're all in three. I know. There can be some issues out of the way. But, you know, no, no. No, there's issues. What was that?

That was just me doing terrible impersonation. Okay. You're right? No, I'm not good. I need coffee bad, actually. Okay. I've been trying to cut back in my coffee and it's not working. You're going to get better sleep, man.

I know. Deep breaths. I'm trying to get you to relax for 10 years. That's not going to happen. I'm just who I am. I'm just charged. I got a big volleyball game tonight. Okay.

My five and one week is going to start tonight. Yeah. Oh, you're all five and one for the... Astros, of course, yeah. I hope you're right. Me too. I don't want to not talk about playoff baseball. Because guess what we're going to do in Houston?

We're not going to, we're not going to care about the baseball playoffs. You and are going to get as much calls about the American and National League playoffs that we got for the Detroit Baltimore game last night. Which is zero. No, we're not going to. We are such a, we are such a Houston-centric town. If it ain't about us, we don't care about anybody else.

I don't know. This Mike Gundy stuff's interesting. He's gone. He's gone. Mike Gundy, believe it or not, is up next. Ross got to get working. Come on now. 713-212-5-790. 7-1-3-212-5-790. If you want to play, believe it or not, all things Mike Gundy, that's next here on 790.

We have Brian Bogus 790. That's a big get right there. Tomorrow. Shut your bum ass up, mate. News and new. Maybe Eddie Nunez. I thought a director at the University of Houston. There are some cranky cougar fans

that are pissed that all the Texas Tech fans are buying the tickets. Then you know what? Go buy them first. It's very simple. It's very simple. Your enrollment's over 40K. That's what the stadium holds.

Let's get in there, folks. Yeah. If you don't want Texas Tech, infiltrate in the stadium, then just buy the tickets. I know we Josh a lot about Cougars fans, but I mean, seriously, though. No, no, no, no. I'm being a 100% serious to you. We don't have enough people that care.

Why? Why, why, why? You're 3-0. Willie Fritz is a good hire. He's an excellent hire. He'll be on the show tomorrow. Connor Wegman is an exciting name. Yeah, yeah.

This is a big game against a known, you know. We just don't have a great fan base. That's what I'm saying. It's like, why? And like I said, I'm not trying to be mean. You know, no, no, no. Real talk here, Maddie. Real talk.

Real talk. Real talk. Why? I don't get it. Our students, our students for the last 40 years just go to school. They don't live it. They don't breathe it. Now, granted, there's been a lot of futility. I mean, how many top 25 teams have we had in the last 20 years? Three. Am I right?

Did Art Bryles do get you one? Someone might have got you one or two. Herman got you one or two? So five and 25 years? I mean, come on. Are you in others receiving's votes yet? I don't know. We'll be up there and we beat Texas Tech and hopefully be in Oregon.

I mean, we'll get some top 25 votes so if we could be at Oregon State. You've got to beat up on those beavers. I'm ready to knock that beaver out. Let's go. My point is this. We don't, we have a, we have a largely ambivalent fan base.

We're good, we're good, bad. It's all right. Well, we have, our die-hards are 20,000. the diehard's University of Texas are 250,000. Let's get those numbers up, Maddie. So, you know what? If you're a Houston Cougar fan and you don't want to see Texas Tech Nation fill the building, and go buy the tickets right this second.

Very simple. It's very simple. And come on, 6 o'clock on a Saturday 9 in early October? Oh, let's go. Did you say 713 go Cooke's? Yes. That's so easy. With 2-0s, folks.

In 839-44-5-151-3. Don't put a you in there. That's Washington State. Five minutes left to go on the show. What should we do? We should play America's fastest growing sports radio game show. We simply call it B. Believe it or not, and here's how it works. You call 713-212-5-790. 7-13-212-5-790. Today's edition of Believe it or not is all things about Mike Gundy. I'll read you to tell him about Mike's tape is completely utterly accurate. You'll say this.

Believe it. If the same as erroneous, full of bonk and made up, you will say this. Not. Two believe or not in a row when you either a pair of tickets to see the toadies live December the 29th of the House of Blues or a four pack of tickets with pit passes to Monster Jam, October 18th Energy Stadium. Montja Jam, those tickets are available also at Ticketmaster.com. Bill on 7-90, Bill, what's your favorite toady song? Win one Texans. All right. Mike Gundy graduated in 1990 with a degree.

and sports management. Believe it or not. It's unbelievable, so believe it. Nope, secondary education. Goddy. Yeah, I know. Rubin on 7.9 and Rubin, what was your favorite part of today's 10-2 radio show? I like listening to these callers that are always complaining about the game and never going to the game. You need to support our team. Mike Gundy played at Oklahoma State and was only an assistant or head coach at Oklahoma State.

Believe it or not? Not. That's right. He also coached Maryland and Baylor. Statement number two for the win, Mike Gundy is still the fifth all-time leading passer in Oklahoma State history behind Brandon Whedon and Zach Robinson. Believe it or not?

Believe it. That is correct. Congratulations. Believe it. Renee on 790. Renee, you're ready to play, believe it or not? Believe it. In 1990, Mike Gundy was an undrafted signing of the Washington Redskins,

but he was released in training. camp and turn to coaching. Believe it or not? Not. That is correct. Statement number two for the win. Renee, you've never won before, I don't think. Here we go. In 21 seasons at Oklahoma State, Mike Gundy won 10 or more games just four times. Believe it or not. No, eight times. I'm sorry. Troy on 790, Troy, what was your fair part of today? You send the two radio show? probably C.J. Gardner crashing out. That makes sense. In 21 seasons at Oklahoma State, Mike Gundy finished in the top 10 of the polls just twice. Believe it or not? Not.

That's a believe it. I'm sorry, but thank you for listening. John on 790. John, you're ready to play, believe it or not? I'm always ready, Matt. Mike Gundy spoke at the funeral for T. Boone Pickens in 2019, which was held at the Gallagher-Iba Arena. Believe it or not. not he certainly did it was eloquent too thank you for playing James on 790 James you ready to play believe it or not Mike Gundy has three sons all with Gnames

Gunner Gavin Gage believe it or not Believe it that's correct you're a winner Bossy Gunner Gundy Gunner Gundy hey everybody go get your team 5 and 1 t-shirts available nowhere 4 2 in 1st Three things, shame. Up next, four hours of C.J. Garner Johnson Talk,

the team on Sports Talk 790s.