The Matt Thomas Show with Ross - Astros Get Swept vs Guardians… Jake Meyers Goes Down, Are the Astros Just The Most Snake Bit Team In The MLB?

Episode Date: July 10, 2025

Astros Get Swept vs Guardians… Jake Meyers Goes Down, Are The Astros Just The Most Snake Bit Team In The MLB?...

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Starting point is 00:00:53 and IHardt Radio Station. The Astros! The Rockets! And the Rockets! This is Sports Talk 790. Your home for your home teams From the Parsons Imagine Next Studios This is Chas McCormick
Starting point is 00:01:14 Right now, it's your shot at $1,000 on Sports Talk 790 Just enter this nationwide keyword At sports790.com Bonus, that's bonus Enter it now at sports790.com Hi there Much larger than life You said
Starting point is 00:01:37 Lunch timers Ross via real This is the Matt Thomas show With Ross 10-01 in H-town Good morning and welcome to a Thursday edition of the Matt Thomas show with Ross
Starting point is 00:02:02 We're actually in Sugarland Atelier Brewing And this is Sports Talk 790 Get started There is some concern With Jake Myers in center field The assistant athletic trainer Eric Velasquez is out talking with Myers
Starting point is 00:02:23 who's down on one knee. Jake, he missed the last two games with tightness in his calf. Taylor Trebell also over there as well, coming over from left field. So this is not good news for Jake Myers. You wonder if this is a recurrence of that calf tightness that kept him out the last couple of days and forced him out of the game on Sunday against the Dodgers. Well, he's having a long conversation with Joe Espada.
Starting point is 00:02:53 He's on one knee. He's not putting any pressure on that left calf, but it looks like... Yeah, he's flexing his right leg there. That's all I got. Playing that sound bite, it just makes me even sadder than it was. Big Byers' president is... He's only had five tall boys already here. They massacred my boy.
Starting point is 00:04:02 Oh, oh dear. I'm trying to get our friend Frank who's listening to the show who's here before. Before we even started the show, I said, have a 9 o'clock. And he was like, no, I'll wait until 2.30 after my big meetings. He's got places to go. He does. I'll be dialing up some flights. You can't, yeah, you can't go to a big meeting making multimillion-dollar deals with a couple of pints underneath you.
Starting point is 00:04:22 Well, you might. Are you going to tell me it hadn't been done before? That's true. Come on now. All right. We are here at Taya Brewing, and if you want to cry your tears away or crying your beer, right? You can cry in your beer, right? If you're a tear in my beer, that's a song.
Starting point is 00:04:36 To tear into beer? Yes. I'm ready for the beers when they start flowing. Yeah. This place. is absolutely amazing. It's three and a half acres. Come by. We're going to be here until two o'clock. Ross and I are in these comfy chairs. I'm going to fall asleep. There's a significant chance we might nap during the show. So we may need you to like cover a couple of segments. Yes. That would be helpful. And if you do want to have a drink with me, I will at two o'clock because I did Uber here.
Starting point is 00:05:01 Shout out to my guy, Tabari. And I will have a sip with you because I did not Uber here. Okay. So, by the way, it was not a bad drive. I'm 52 miles from my house. But the great thing about Taya Brewing is there's a lot of people in Houston that just are such craft connoisseurs, they will go all different parts of town. Now, if you're working or whatnot, I can't get over today, I get it, but you got to come by here. This place says Great Pit Barbecue. They've got a pizza oven downstairs. We're in the second building on the left-hand side, right behind the barbecue pits. If you want to come to the second floor.
Starting point is 00:05:29 Upstairs. Lots of TVs here. We've got some giveaways coming up. Gordie brought the, I mean, the most amazing wind box. Register to win box We call it an RTW, register to win box. We do? I've been in the business 30 years.
Starting point is 00:05:44 I've never heard of that before. Are you serious? RTW? Oh, that's because you're Mr. Fancy Matt. You just show up and then everybody sets everything up for you and you leave. Us who rolled up our sleeves and came up through the promo crew, know that it's RTW. That feels very rude, but it's fair, and I'll move on from that. Yeah, yeah.
Starting point is 00:06:03 All of us were broadcasting prodigies like you, Matt. So at 2 o'clock today, we're going to drop for some Astros tickets. We're going to draw for some space cowboy tickets. We're going to be drawn for, I believe, some golf. And look, we know you guys day drink. We just do. We've heard you. We've known you.
Starting point is 00:06:20 We've met you. So if you're coming to have some beers today and bring the dog, bring the kids. There's pickleball out here. There's a big plague land area. And if you're going to drink, have some just Uber. But if you live in the sugar land area and you can have one and be responsible and eat and sit out a couple of hours. I mean, again, we only endorse. responsible consumption.
Starting point is 00:06:40 But this is definitely a very, very nice place, and we're very happy to be here. I frankly don't particularly care about the game last night. Look, losing three straight to the Guardians is not fun. Now, the positive is the Yankees beat the Mariners again last night, and so you have only lost a half game in the standings. It's six and a half over Seattle. Seattle plays today, so if the Astros, if the Yankees win,
Starting point is 00:07:05 that makes it back to seven. and it does kill some of the buzz you had after knocking off the Dodgers three times in Los Angeles. But I'm going to paint a picture for you. So my pregame show ends at 640 yesterday, SportsRB, and then I go have some dinner. Yes. And then I go sit in my chair in the press area. And the guy next to me says, is that Jake Myers out there being helped off the field? I'm like, helped on the field doing what?
Starting point is 00:07:33 Oh, man. Yeah. It was at the beginning of the broadcast when I saw it, and he was being, like, helped off, like you said. Like, not to the clubhouse. Not walking on his own. To the tunnels. Yeah, the right field tunnel.
Starting point is 00:07:46 He couldn't even go to the dugout. It didn't look good. So the calf muscle is something that hurts NBA players that calves usually turn into something that Tyrese Halliburton had. And Kevin Durant. And Kevin Durant. Grant, among others. Damien Lillard, right?
Starting point is 00:08:09 Or is he something else? I don't know if he did come back from an injury. I don't remember if it was calf. It might have been. It might have been knee. Who knows? But there have been a variety of NBA athletes that have gone to the... Caff to Achilles' pipeline.
Starting point is 00:08:23 It's like an indirect shot. It's a connecting flight. It's one you don't want to take. Yeah, you're on dark breast airlines. You're changing planes. You went from Houston to... Seattle and you're changing playing to Denver because you know what it does make sense it's a logical step it's linear as compared to like when Ross we sent Ross in the Super Bowl Houston to Indian
Starting point is 00:08:45 Apples through Orlando that is correct and I'm sorry about that's all right I mean I wasn't that's why when you you have to use Thomas Travels compared to Gordy Travel Gordy Travel this makes you go all sorts of strange places that's that's true actually it was Farb Enterprise oh was it Farber Enterprise oh that's even worse okay so um after the game Joe Espada said I wouldn't have put him out there if I wasn't told by the player, the training staff, my own eyes, that he was ready to go. And I can buy that. Yes. Joe Espada is not going to put a player out there unless he feels like it's completely confident that he's able to go.
Starting point is 00:09:27 Now, if you go exclusively off what the player says, the player is going to want to play no matter what. Jake Myers is having a good season. Jake Myers is wanting to play. Jake Myers knows the Astros offense has been less and superior, even though Taylor-Termel's had a little bit of success. Friend of the show, Cooper Hummel, not so much this series. That's really I call the Jonathan Allen curse. Yeah, that's true.
Starting point is 00:09:51 Sorry about the Jay. But he's anxious. He doesn't want to miss time. Correct. That's what the player is going to tell you. And we can buy, if this was in a vacuum, and this was a one-off, it would be easy to say,
Starting point is 00:10:08 you know what, setbacks happen, especially with soft tissue injuries, how many times have we seen this in every single sport, where guys come back from this, but we are seeing a pattern that we cannot ignore.
Starting point is 00:10:22 Now, I trust that the Astros have hired very good medical staff. They're not using guys out of vans. These are guys that have been well experienced, that have been around a very long time. They know what they're doing, and all that type of stuff. I don't think that they're being.
Starting point is 00:10:35 cheap and getting a bunch of interns. But we can't ignore the pattern. We can't ignore that this somehow continues to happen with return to play, where James Click was talking about it around 21, 22, involving Jake Myers. With Jake Myers coming back from his shoulder injury and possibly getting rushed back. In JP France, same situation, I think, too, right? And JP France, correct? And that's the problem.
Starting point is 00:11:00 We're building a laundry list. And that's the issue here. Yordaun Alvarez, Jake Myers, 28th. J.P. France, Lance McCullors Jr., Luis Garcia is two years removed from Tommy John's surgery. And that is just rare for guys to be out that long. And that has to make you question what is going on here? Are they just the unluckiest team in baseball? Or are there things that are being mishandled that need to be corrected?
Starting point is 00:11:28 Well, and you can't answer it and I can't answer. No, I can't because it's only happening with the inside intelligence of the organization. We're not looking at imaging. you're not looking at x-rays, I'm not looking at x-rays. We have not been invited to any Dana Brown, Jim Crane, medical conversations. We've never been invited, and I have a very good feeling we'll never will. And I'm trying my best to say
Starting point is 00:11:57 there are too many adults in the room that would allow a player to get back out there just because he says, I'm good. I cannot imagine. And Joe Esposal said this. They've had testing them. There was ultrasounds. There was all that kind of thing.
Starting point is 00:12:17 Again, they're just not going, how you feeling today, bro? It doesn't work that way. So let me give you that side of the fence. They're not doing that, Ross. They're not going, Jake, how are you feeling today? Good. All right, you're in. They're not doing that.
Starting point is 00:12:32 So let's flip to the other side of the fence. The other side of the fence is saying that maybe there was the people that are looking at these results are there's mixed, mixed diagnosis. I'd like to say that every doctor that you've ever been with in your life has always been able to pencil your issues. Sometimes it doesn't work out that way. Doctors, just like everybody in life, make mistakes. And maybe there's a bad batch of physicians that are watching
Starting point is 00:12:57 over the Astros right now. Because not that, again, see, here's the thing. We're dealing with too many unknowns. and that's what I think holds us back here. Because I could say, somebody could text me and say, well, hey, I was in a room, I know what's going on. Okay, that's nice. And then tell us.
Starting point is 00:13:20 But if I can't use that information and you aren't public with it. Now, they have been more forthcoming with the announcement of the injuries and what's what the guys are doing. Rehab and all that. But Yoran Alvarez is nowhere close to picking up about at this point. Nope. he's doing what they call. Oh, the dry batting. Dry swinging, dry swinging. Which I did a lot of dry swinging when I was younger and I didn't like it. It wasn't fun.
Starting point is 00:13:45 Okay. Pena, nothing close yet. And again, these are all separate things. There's no, like, no one's drinking an elixir in the Astros club house that provides injuries, right? I mean, nobody's drinking a Kool-Aid. That's the thing that makes this so difficult is what you're saying. We're talking about Jake Meyer is a muscle injury. We're talking about Yordon Alvarez's a hand fracture.
Starting point is 00:14:09 we're talking about Jeremy Pena, a rib issue, and then these guys with their arm issues as well. It's all different things. But when you have James Click saying we need to review our return-to-play process, and then he gets fired three months, and we have no idea if there was any sort of investigation or if they looked at it at all. And then you have Dana Brown saying that maybe they did make a mistake
Starting point is 00:14:32 in letting Yordon play through the handpane, then, yeah, I think it's fair play to say maybe something needs to be exact. So the reality is this, we can't do that. The only person that would ask for a full examination of the medical procedures of this baseball organization is the owner. And that's Jim's responsibility. Yeah. And how about the players? How are the players feeling about this?
Starting point is 00:14:55 How are the players' union feeling about this? Matt, if I put you in this clubhouse right now and you're the sixth outfielder and you see this guy, this guy, this guy get hurt and come back and get rushed, wouldn't you be questioning? man, is something wrong here or is this a bunch of bad luck? Wouldn't you be saying, if you went to a doctor and you knew five guys who went to that doctor and they were all getting rushed back, wouldn't you be concerned that if you had an injury, you would be getting rushed back? It would be natural to do that. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:15:22 Yep. All right. If you want to chime in on this, again, a lot of this for us is unknown. Yes. And so we're doing as much guessing as you are. And the difference is we have microphones, and we are here to, discuss, but I cannot speak as an authority on the medical procedures. I cannot express to you that I have any inside information, and no one does.
Starting point is 00:15:46 There's not even whispers. There's not even peep. They're not even a player that's anonymously going to someone and saying, hey, we're concerned. Maybe that's a benefit to the Astros, that no one has at least said an astro front office member, an astro player who shall remain nameless, says, I'm concerned about my organization. That's not happening. Right. If that does happen, then the fireworks go off.
Starting point is 00:16:12 But until that does happen, if it ever does and hopefully it doesn't, maybe they are just the most snake bit team in Major League Baseball. It's possible. That is a possibility. 713-212-5-790. If you want to join us, 7-1-3-212-5-7-90, we are at Talyard Brewing in Sugarland. If you want to come by here, have some lunch. They've got the barbecue pit already working. They've got a pizza oven downstairs. They've got a Got a lot of different things for you to choose from. And the flights of beer are absolutely amazing.
Starting point is 00:16:41 Usually 12 to 14 on tap. I think they've had it as mentioned as 17. And Ross says he wants to try all of them starting at 2 o'clock. Let's see. How many flights would that be? Four and a half? We'll get you four, four and a half, somewhere in that range. 713-1-2-1-2-7-9.
Starting point is 00:16:54 We're live at Talia. On Sports Talk, 790. Time is 1021. Matt and Ross, we're Italia brewing. Our sales rep, Rob Logan, is here. Yes. Rob's a nice guy. We wore a white belt today.
Starting point is 00:17:10 I don't know how he's pulling it off. Okay, it ties together. He's got white shoes and a white belt and a white shirt. I think he's matching. So he's basically going to play 18. What we got over here? Fashionista. Lulu Lemons on today?
Starting point is 00:17:21 Yeah, you're in your car. You're in your caprice. So I don't even know why you're talking to anybody. I haven't owned a white belt since I was in the sixth grade. Rob, you look sharp. I'm saying Rob's pulling it off. Okay. Go meet.
Starting point is 00:17:35 Come meet Rob and see if he's pulling off. Because the last guy I saw a wore a white bell was Justin Verlender, and he's pulling it off beautifully. No, it ties together very well with the white shoes. God. Okay. That's just my opinion. I mean, I'm no fashion expert either.
Starting point is 00:17:49 You look fine today. I mean, I'm in jeans and a polo, which is my go-to. That's my formal, actually. I got you. Sweatpants and a T-shirt is my normal. Yeah. If I'm going formal as a t-shirt. A T-I-Polo, yeah.
Starting point is 00:18:00 All right. 7-1-3-2-2-5-79 if you want to get in. Brian McTaggart is going to join us at 11 o'clock today. I just don't get it coming up at 1130. The news at noon. And just thoughts and prayers about Jake Myers? It was concerning when it happened, and people were using the A word, which I didn't want to hear.
Starting point is 00:18:26 They are saying it's a calf strain again, but it also was concerning when at the end of the night he would not answer those questions, and he basically walked off on him. The question was, the one that we would have. Just some bad context. The question was it was kind of fake because there was a shower in the background. Yeah. Was, does this hurt more or less than your original injury?
Starting point is 00:18:45 And he paused. And Jake is, he pauses, looks at the PR people. Yeah. And says, do I have to answer that? Now, Jake is not. Oh, God. Jake is not a huge talker to begin with. Nice guy.
Starting point is 00:18:59 We like him a lot. Because you're the president of the fan club. Yes. Love Jake. But I would not say he's got a career as an analyst and baseball when it's all said and done. He just is, you know, what? Excuse you?
Starting point is 00:19:13 No, I think he'd be the first one to tell you that. Eh, well, all right, fine. So he's not, you know, he'll have probably more to say on Friday, as hopefully will the team. Okay. Maybe he can write a statement. He can articulate it better at that point. He clearly didn't want to answer those questions.
Starting point is 00:19:32 And, I mean, let's just be practical about this. if he didn't hurt it worse, he would have said, no, I'm good. This is not as bad. That's exactly right. This is a minor setback. He would have answered the question immediately. That's right. You could have lied, too.
Starting point is 00:19:45 Well, what do I say you guys? The average person lies four times a day. It would have been lying. What's the average for the Astros training staff? They're going to get you. That was a joke. They're going to hunt you down like rabbit dogs. Hello, Astros' PR team.
Starting point is 00:19:59 That was a joke. My name is Ross. Actually, my name is Matt. I'm the one that says that. No, no. Stop. Look at him. Jonathan.
Starting point is 00:20:08 Don't try to throw me out of the bus. It was a joke. It's very, very unfortunate. Guys are dropping like flies, man. It's ridiculous. And the reality is this. We love what Tremel and Hummel and short, but you can't win with that.
Starting point is 00:20:29 Kennedy, Corona. With one end. Shea Whitcomb. Shea Whitcomb. And the boys, we love all he is. And look, thank God. Dubon is actually hitting the ball pretty well. Nice long hitting streak for him.
Starting point is 00:20:39 I mean, Tramel's been hitting too. Yeah. Before yesterday, he had some hits. He had a three-run bomb in this series. They tried to come back in all three of these games. Right. I mean, you've got to give it to the doubt. And how about the fact that Jose Al-Tube is the only one hitting with runners in scoring position?
Starting point is 00:20:55 Everybody else can't do it. Yeah. Yeah, you're right. He's got their three hits with runners and scoring position. That's it. Other than that, they are 0 for 35 or something like that, yeah. They were two for 21, minus 219 plus 7. Okay, two for over 26 in the last two games.
Starting point is 00:21:12 Everyone else not named Jose Altube, over 26. That's why Jose Altube is the greatest astro of them all. Not greatest base runner of all time. Maybe the worst. But certainly the best of all astro player of all time. Why? Because he got a couple hits in these losses against Cleveland in the winters. Did you see what he did in Los Angeles this past weekend?
Starting point is 00:21:30 Oh, my God. He's amazing. He is, I was talking about this, I think, on, I don't remember which post game I recently worked, but dude is so clutch. Like, okay, you think of like the clutches players you've ever seen in your life? I'm thinking Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods,
Starting point is 00:21:45 those types of guys. He's just, he just has a feel for the moment. It's insane. Now, if you were to build a Mount Rushmore of clutch Houston athletes, he's on the far left. Yeah. James Hardin, not on the Mount Rushmore. We appreciate you, James.
Starting point is 00:22:02 And he did have some game winners. And unfortunately, as much as I love bags and bids, they're not that list either. No, not at all. And that's why many people like yourself have Jose Al-TuVey already is the greatest of all time. Regular season, the nods go to, definitely goes to Bagwell over Al-Tuve, but I do count the postseason as a huge part of it. And that's the reason why I've done, he's the greatest of all time. So who else in that Mount Rushmore of Clutch Houston Athletes? We must be in mid-July. Oh, we are in mid-July. I'm going to try to think how, Lance Berkman, actually.
Starting point is 00:22:35 I think deserves consideration on that list. Kim Elijah Juan. Of course. That's easy. So let's move Elijah Juan over next to Altuve. So those two are locked in, locked in. Warren Moon, no. Matt Schaub, no.
Starting point is 00:22:55 No, no. Earl Campbell, no. I'm trying to think of the greatest athletes. I'll tell you now, he hasn't really done it in the playoffs much yet. But that rookie season, C.J. Stroud looked like he was well on his way with those clutch games against Jeremy Payneau had a fan I mean George Springer had a great
Starting point is 00:23:11 but if you're putting those two guys up on that Mount Rushmore thing that means it's not an overly deep list right right all right we'll talk to Dwayne we come back if you want to follow up Dwayne you are welcome to join us at 713212 5799 713 212 5790 it is
Starting point is 00:23:28 July meaning not a lot of piping hot sports issues beyond what is happening here but just the look of Jake Myers being helped off the field sports RV. Not good. Not good at all. Not good for anybody.
Starting point is 00:23:45 No. 713-212-5-790. That's 7-13-212-5-7-90. Time is 1034. Matt and Ross and Santa Claus with us here today from Taya Bruin. Yeah. There is nothing more enjoyable than watching adult men drink beer at 1034. the morning. Santa Claus
Starting point is 00:24:07 vacationing in Sugarland, Texas. Yeah, Santa is here. So if you want to go by and say it's Santa and get an early gift. He didn't bring any, he didn't bring Mrs. Claus with him, which is sad. Well, you know, Santa gets around. Yeah, Santa's literally. Santa's always like an eternal free agent.
Starting point is 00:24:24 You think Santa sleeps around on Mrs. Claus? He goes to literally every house. You know, I don't think Santa wants his personal business out there. I'm just asking if you think he does. I'm not asking you to confirm. I'm saying that Santa... He can slow down time.
Starting point is 00:24:42 Does it always ask for cookies when he arrives? So he can take his time and do it right. He's not asking for cookies every single time we get to the house. Just think about that for a minute. Maybe he is. Sugar cookie? And milk. All right.
Starting point is 00:25:00 1035 on Sports Talk 790. Man, stricken beers at 1034. What's going to do that? We can't have one to take the edge off during the area. I'm not going to tell anybody if you don't. All right, we'll say a word. 713, 212. 570.
Starting point is 00:25:15 We're Italian brewing and Sugarline. Come on by. We've got to register to win some tickets, some golf passes, Astro tickets, Sugarland, Space Cowboy tickets, and some golf. If you want to register for a chance to win those things. Astros tickets, Space Cowboy tickets, and Golf Passes and Pit Barbecue. You're going to get a plate? Duh.
Starting point is 00:25:33 Okay. I've had lots of barbecue the last two weeks. We're getting it next week. Next week we're going to the booth. Booth Barbecue And we're going to start sizing it up top to bottom So okay you're going to start making a journal right Yes
Starting point is 00:25:47 A barbecue journal We've been to one place so far Yes That's we went to Rinkertons Yes we went to Rinkertons And it was delicious, you liked it One to 10 we give it a solid eight I'll give it an eight and a half nine
Starting point is 00:25:58 There was a big beef rib we had there Did we get a we didn't get a beef? We shared a beef rib No we didn't All right That was somebody else I thought we did You said a beef ribs
Starting point is 00:26:07 Which You know Do you know how big a beef rib grown men can share beef ribs. Yeah, what are you talking about? They're like two and a half pounds. Yeah. You crushing one by yourself, Jonathan? Oh, he's young. His girl wants to put ranch dressing all over it too.
Starting point is 00:26:21 That's pretty funny. That's your line of the week so far, man. 7-1-3-212-5-790. Let's talk to Dwayne and El Paso. Dwayne, good morning. You're on 790. What's going on? Good morning, gentlemen. I'm looking at the Dodgers from a different look as well as the Astros.
Starting point is 00:26:43 The Astros have come from a third place position all the way to first place, and now they're pretty much holding first until, you know, somebody comes along and takes it away from them. But I really don't think that they're going to get it taken away from them because they're playing. When they were in L.A., the reason that they beat the Dodgers was because they were playing baseball like they have been playing it each and every day going through that this season until you know when they got up to first place and the Dodgers there's no excuse except that they're
Starting point is 00:27:21 not playing ball the same way they were playing ball before the astros came into town they're not you know and and the thing is is that the Astros got a lot of players yeah they're going to say well yeah we're injured or this and that but with the players that they're the Astros have right now, all nine of them or all eight of them that are starting, they beat the best team in baseball. And it's not going to change because one series, they lost three or, you know, they lost two. It's going to stay the same. And the Astros are going to take care of their business there in Houston and whenever they get into the playoffs. And there's a lot of teams right now that are
Starting point is 00:28:05 dealing for this position as far as getting into the playoffs. And the Astros are there now. The Dodgers are there now. And I look, I take the Dodgers were 15 of 28 before the Astros
Starting point is 00:28:21 came into town. And that's when everything started falling downhill. But I'm, you know, I'm going to continue to support them because of that. But I got a question for you all. The third baseman who plays for the Astros. Can he get voted into the home run derby in the All-Star game?
Starting point is 00:28:42 Well, he's going to the All-Star game, and Dwayne, thank you for the phone call. He was announced yesterday. That was quite a bit there. Thank you, Dwayne. So he's in the awesome... Put him on the Senate floor. That was a filibuster de jure. I think Gerard's like, man, I got work to do.
Starting point is 00:29:00 Man, sorry, go ahead. Isak Paredes is in the All-Star game. He could play in the Home Run Derby. He could? I don't want him to. I don't want any Astro ever again in the Home Run Derby. It's definitely overblown.
Starting point is 00:29:13 I don't think there's a real Home Run Derby curse. I do. Okay. Who won last year's Home Run Derby? Don't care. I have no idea. It's fine. Whoever they were, you didn't hear about him getting nervous.
Starting point is 00:29:25 Whoever it was, bad at 206, with two stents on the injure list. There's no data to support what you're talking about. Well, it's like there's no such thing as a madden curse, and that still happens. Yeah, that's true. There is no madden curse. There's no such thing as curses, by the way. You're right. Maybe one.
Starting point is 00:29:43 No, I can speak from experience. No such thing as a curse. Oh, I thought you're talking about the Jonathan Allen cursed. Ooh, that is bad. Boy, by Cooper, how much can you? Oh, what, four strikeouts last night? I'm right about that? Let's see.
Starting point is 00:29:53 Yeah, Oscar Hernandez one last year. He gets hurt. He just heard. He's hurt. He's hurt. He's saying, okay. I've been in his fan club for, like, three years. He's having the best season of his career.
Starting point is 00:30:00 All I said was he's like a three years. Jake Myers' fan club was when he first came up. What was that, 21? Yeah. So, shot your bum ass up, Jonathan? That's only on Wednesdays. You can't do it today. Sorry, you can't.
Starting point is 00:30:14 And you can't make fun of him. He's not with us today. You're right. You're right. I'm sorry. We're out of the cage. You can touch your microphone off. He could.
Starting point is 00:30:24 So, yeah, I don't care. Now, it's funny, Framber Val, this has not been named just yet. Bobby Witt Jr. was in it last year. How was his second half? He's probably fine. I believe you've had it in 184. That's not true. Alec Bome, how was he?
Starting point is 00:30:37 Alec Bome was in the... Is he even the major leagues anymore? There's some slim pickets here at the old home run derby last year. It's almost like when the NBA has their all-star, their slam dunk competition. There are people that are largely ever heard of before. Now, the home-run contest has a little more popularity with recognizable players. Uh-huh. But not to the level of...
Starting point is 00:30:58 Like, who would you want to go see? For instance, Jose Ramirez, who had another home run yesterday? He didn't even go on the All-Star game. I'm going to have had enough, Jose Ramirez. It's ridiculous. He's so good. He kills the Astros. Well, home runs in each of the three games, right?
Starting point is 00:31:13 Bobby Witt, Jr. last year, pre-All-Star break, he had a nine, here we go. 9-28 OPS, post-all-Star break. He had a 1,054 OPS. He was in the home-run derby. He only played in 14 games, though, so, no, I'm just kidding on that. With a higher home-run rate. All right. Well, then good. Send all your Astros to the All-Star game.
Starting point is 00:31:32 Send him to the home run derby. Okay, if you're guys hurting himself getting in 20 hacks, he's out of shape. Yeah, don't put, yeah, don't put a Yasek Paredes in there. Let me tell you, Ross, we, because of course I'm an astro buddy, we don't need anybody else hurt. You know what, you're right? He had a hamstring issue recently, right? Right. So, or was it, I don't remember what it was.
Starting point is 00:31:54 So, yeah, okay, keep him out. You're right. Keep him out of the game. You got named? You put it on your ledger. He's all good. If I'm the Astros, I would, if I'm Joe Espada, I would lob a phone call and say, you know what, Dave Roberts, we don't use our guys. Let's get a free trip to Atlanta out of it.
Starting point is 00:32:14 Nice city. Get lost on one of the 48 peach tree streets they have there. He'll be fine. He'll have a driver. I guess they would have drivers. All right, 1043 on Sports Talks. So, Bernie. Brian McTaggart's going to join us in about 17 minutes.
Starting point is 00:32:28 It's maybe not exactly 11 o'clock, but pretty close. We'll talk to him. We will talk to you. We are here at Italian Brewing, where the barbecue is being prepared as we speak. We've got craft beer, like 12 or 13 or 14 different opportunities for you in a sample. That's it. I get one pint of each. What do you think?
Starting point is 00:32:47 We have to scoop you up. I'm planning for a safe ride at home. Can I put the equipment in your car? I mean, I guess you could. Yeah. I'm tired of being your equipment, bitch. Why do I got to carry it? Oh?
Starting point is 00:32:58 I wouldn't call you my equipment, bitch. But? I mean, you kind of are. 713-212-5-790. 7-1-3-212-1-2-5-790. 10-43 on Sports Talk 790. It's here, it's high-e-roo. A personal recommendation is the sausage and peppers pizza here.
Starting point is 00:33:20 That is my personal selection. The sausage and peppers pizza. Yeah, I mean, to die for. They put a little drizzle of some sort of like olive oil or whatever on top. Oh, my God. Ooh, Lordy. All right. Sounds good.
Starting point is 00:33:35 All right. Tom and downtown sending us a note. Santa Claus is a catchphrase is ho, ho, ho. And he knows which ones are naughty. Hmm. You think Santa Claus goes to the single divorcee mom's house first? You always try to set me up. Correct.
Starting point is 00:33:59 You can say I have an answer. You know what? I'm taking strike one on that. I'm going to let that one go down the pipe. Wait, what? What did you say? Funny, Santa Claus thing, the exact same thing? You were thinking.
Starting point is 00:34:15 See, I hit the reverse, Uno reverse card on you. I set you up. I'm giving you a draw four. By the way, Uno. Yes? Underrated game. Nobody's underrated. Uno.
Starting point is 00:34:27 It's a spectacular. It's the greatest. You can play Uno drinking game. I do that when I go camping. You hit somebody, if you hit somebody with a job. draw they got a drink what's up what about skip and if you win everybody else has to drink oh really oh i like that and were you uh were you uh were you when it like were you'd watch the person say uno like a hawk yeah okay now what are your house rules do you have to say uno when you get a one card
Starting point is 00:34:50 and when you win or just when you get one card one card just one card okay the game is uno not zero yeah exactly i'm with you i'm with you yeah but some people try to say you say you got to say it when you win too you guys say who says that i don't know just telling you nobody's a made up rule i say it when you win, guys. No, see? See? I told you. The game is not zero.
Starting point is 00:35:10 The game is Uno. The game is not settle? You got to say Uno when you get one card and you got to say Uno. No, you don't. The game is not. I got none. No, that's ridiculous. No, if you look at the official rules, Jonathan, that's not.
Starting point is 00:35:23 They don't know how to tell you a own game, man. But as long as you, no, this is the thing. If you establish it as a house rule before the game, you got to do it. House rules or House rules, Maddie? No, no, no. I'm not adding rules to block. blackjack or to poker because it's house rules you've never seen that like same thing when you go to somebody's house and they got a pool table you got to play their rules are you playing ball and in on the
Starting point is 00:35:42 trash are you lining them behind the second diamond you've got to establish it in house rules or house rules okay i'm saying i as the president of the national uno society you only say uno when you have one card i'm with you and that's in the official rules but if somebody establishes house rules beforehand you got to abide jay it 10 152 on 790. Hello, Jay. Hey, I was listening to you guys earlier, and I said the organization has something to do with these injuries? What do you mean?
Starting point is 00:36:14 No, no, no, no. Yeah, they're hitting with baseball bats. No, yeah. They're pouring like hot lava on their arms. Now, let me ask you, don't they got a dietitian, strength coach, and all this good stuff? Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. Yes. But you know what?
Starting point is 00:36:33 It's too bad that they're going to go into the All-Star break with the six-game losing streak. Why do you say that? No, they're not. Because the Rangers are going to sweep them just like the Indians did. Do you see the Probables lined up in this series? They're going to get swept, believe me. I'll call you after the All-Star Break. Okay, call us back.
Starting point is 00:36:56 Call us back. Yeah, we'll call you back after the All-Star Break. The Hunter Brown and Frauber Valdez are throwing in this series. Let me tell you something right now. I guarantee they're not being swept. I put my name on that. No chance.
Starting point is 00:37:13 There's a chance. I looked over it, Matt, with a test there when he said no chance. You know, hold on. I'm putting my name on it. I can stutter. I'm with your, the asteros are not getting swept by the Rangers this weekend.
Starting point is 00:37:25 No. McCullors, let's see. Yeah, yeah, that'd be fine. McCullors. Ooh, they got DeGrom against Framber, though. Ooh, and Avaldi against Hunter. Ooh. No, no, no, no.
Starting point is 00:37:35 It's overrated. Don't, don't look too deep into it. Okay. And it's like a Zach Short and Cooper Hummel on the boys. Okay, that's enough from you. John and downtown on 790. John, good morning to you. How are you doing?
Starting point is 00:37:48 Good. Thomas, I'm going to, you know, we are astrophans all the way, okay? Well, I didn't think you weren't. I wasn't judging your Astrofand. I've been in Astrofen since there was a cold 45 up there in southeastern, okay? And we as a little group that we hang out together, we know we were in the military and all that kind of thing. You know, okay, we're, you know, and we've been watching them and, you know, we get the flex planes. And where's, where's the power hitter?
Starting point is 00:38:23 And they're talking about entering a person from the Astros to do a home run derby. I'm sorry, guy, but we don't see any power hitter at all. Isak Paredes has 19 home runs. Well, I mean, who's got, but where? He got 19 home runs, okay, but when you enter the home round derby, it's a whole different story. I don't want him in the home run derby. I don't want you getting mad at me for. I don't want him playing in it.
Starting point is 00:38:51 No, I agree with you. I agree with you. The guy's got 19 home runs. He's hit 30 before in his career. If you hit 30 home runs, you got... Oh, yeah. Yeah, his OPS is, I think, second and among third baseman in baseball
Starting point is 00:39:02 in the American League. He's got power. It's going to be interesting in the second half. You know, it's going to be a very interesting second half, and we're hoping that they go, you know, they stay where they are. So what we can do is hope. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:39:21 So, anyway, you have a good day. You too. You know what? I hope you have a great day, John. Wait a minute. The rule is, y'all drink when you're here, not when you're at home on a phone. No, John wasn't drinking. I'm sorry, was it? Yeah. Whatever.
Starting point is 00:39:38 I'm trying to be nicer these days, Matt. No, you're not. You've taken about four shots at me so far. That's not true. I'm starting to count them. Okay, you should. Isaac Paredes is making a back-to-back all-star appearances, by the way. 19 home runs in 89 games, you've got power.
Starting point is 00:39:59 I'm sorry. I mean, that's just... OPS is what? OPS. 826, slugging 468. That's, yeah. When you have an OPS in 2025 of above 800, you're a power hitter. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:40:12 All right. So, there you go. But I don't want them hitting the homeowner. Of course, their biggest power hitter is out. Einer Diaz is showing a little power. I would say, now, not only to get into the semantics of this, but if you're hitting over 20 home runs, I say you have some power. You got some pop in the bat?
Starting point is 00:40:28 What would you say? Yeah, I would not classify somebody. It's 20 as a problem. power hitter, but pop in the back. I think you're in the 30, 35, 40 range would make you a power hitter. 20 to 25 some pop, what about 25 plus? You got some power. 30 plus power hitter.
Starting point is 00:40:43 Correct. And Isaac Predus is pacing for significantly above 30 home runs. Yeah. There we go. And especially because he uses the ballpark in which he plays his home games into his advantage. Pull hitter, that's why the trade made terrific sense to bring a guy here who loves to hit the Crawford boxes. Christian Walker loves hit the Crawford boxes.
Starting point is 00:41:01 Well, when does he come off the paternity list? Now, you know, I mean, hey, stick with your baby and get all the skin-to-skin contact you can and all that. But when's he coming back? Skin-to-skin contact? Yeah, you didn't see they do the date? See? This guy, Ryan knows what I'm talking about? Yeah, you're supposed to put the, you're supposed to take your shirt off and put the baby on you and you're skin-to-kind contact.
Starting point is 00:41:22 It's good for the baby's development or something like that. This is before you. When you had your babies at home in the wood, in the log cabin, see, that was a shot. Oh, no, I'm going to stop. Check. I'm stopping. the middle. I, well,
Starting point is 00:41:34 damn it. Nope. We're at Taya Brewing, where I may be day drinking myself here in a matter of moments. Brian McTagger will join us in a matter moments as well. Brian McTaggart. Brian McTaggart.
Starting point is 00:41:47 Brian McTaggart. That lives are good to be here now and then. Oh, yes. He's coming by? Doesn't he live in the area? No, he lives in League City. Oh, that's close enough. Just saying, if you live anywhere within 50 miles here, you could come by.
Starting point is 00:41:56 I live within 50 miles. I came out here and hang out with y'all. Yeah. We're here to 2 o'clock this afternoon. We need a sausage pizza up here, pronto. I will split one with you. All right, very good. 713-212-5-7-90.
Starting point is 00:42:10 7-1-3-21-2-5-7. What's it called? Skin-to-Skin contact? Okay. I think it's, that must be a very 2024 phrase. I mean, you can have the skin-to-skin contact when you're playing baseball, too, right? With who? With your baby.
Starting point is 00:42:28 You're not like you're saying, I'll see you in a month. No, he's not taking the baby on first base. and the little sling. I don't think. Give it a little baby helmet. That would be a little weird. Trying to shield them off from the line drives? That's not good at all.
Starting point is 00:42:44 Algae'm good incentive. All right, anyways. Yeah, get out of here. 713-212-5-790. If you miss the first hour, the Matt Thomas show here with Ross, we are at Taya Brewing. You need to come by and have some lunch. Ross and I just ordered a sausage pizza. It's going to be magnificent.
Starting point is 00:43:02 You also learn the minutia of the Uno playing rules and skin-to-skin contact with new fathers. What other show in the marketplace, as you would say, Matt, is going to give... There isn't a single show. That type of content. That's why Brian McTaggart insists on being one of those every Thursday at 11 o'clock on 70. Tags, how are things? I'm good. How are you? Good.
Starting point is 00:43:25 All right, let's put things in perspective here. So you're in the clubhouse after the game yesterday, and you're, asked or somebody asked among the scrum about does it hurt less or more for Jake Myers and he didn't want to answer. Were you just like dumb found out? They're like, uh-oh. Yeah, that was me who asked him. I mean, we were told that Myers wasn't going to talk, but me and Chandler and Matt Kawahara waited him out anyway. I mean, we need to hear that from him. And Myers is a great guy and was kind enough to do a, you know, a short interview. So props to him. But yeah, he, uh, when he was asked that question. He gave a long pause and then asked a member of PR staff if he has to answer that.
Starting point is 00:44:09 And then he didn't answer it. And that's fine. His prerogative, I'm just glad he talked and gave us some kind of update. But, you know, he was hurting. I mean, he was walking around really gingerly, you know, limping pretty noticeably. So did not look very comfortable. So, yeah, it's, you know, I don't have good vibes for Jake Myers. You know, I hope he's okay, but it didn't look good. You know, the reality is this, and we've spent the first hour primarily talking about this. We're not doctors. We don't have the inside intelligence from the organization.
Starting point is 00:44:43 We do know what Joe Espada said. We do know what an athlete wants to do. He wants to play. We know that a manager is not going to put a player out there just exclusively based off of the players saying to you, I feel good. So as you're watching this unfold, we were at the ballpark yesterday, seeing him. him being helped off the field, could he have just made a bad move? What I can't accept is anyone trying to rush him back on the field. And I think there are probably some that are thinking, why are you putting a player out
Starting point is 00:45:20 there that isn't 100%. I just can't fathom, even if there is malpractice, even if there is a misdiagnosis, that anyone would say rough at a rough you know fight through this Nancy get on the field we need you immediately and that's my point is that I know people want to find the answer and want to crucify everybody
Starting point is 00:45:41 but come on I just think that that's not in the DNA of the manager and of the player yeah for sure spot is not going to put him out there if he doesn't get total clearance from medical staff if Myers doesn't say hey I'm good to go and Myers before the game was
Starting point is 00:45:56 was hey I'm good to go I mean, he did it. He told us he did a 20 to 25 minute workout. He did sprinting. He did cuts. No issues. He looked and felled 100%. And then something happened just when he was jogging back out, you know, jogging back out there. So, yeah, I don't think in this case, you can't point a finger to anyone and say, boy, they rushed them back because I guess the information everybody was getting, including the player, was like, I'm good to go. And so, hey, he's good to go. Medical staff cleared him. He's doing these. workouts without any issues. He's not feeling it. Let's put him in the lineup. And it's not even like he was, the weird thing is, I mean, it's not like he was running the first or going first to third. I mean, he was just jogging the center field and started limping all of a sudden. So just really a strange deal. So I guess they'll give us some sort of update on Friday, so we're in conjecture mode for the next 48 hours. This is just another name to the seemingly endless list of injuries.
Starting point is 00:46:57 and did we finally see the Astros, Brian, get caught up in the moment, go, you know what, we're running out of depth. The bottom third of the order just didn't provide much. If not for Jose Al-Tube, they wouldn't be a runner in scoring position, scoring. Where are we with this squad of, hey, this has been good to see some of these younger guys get an opportunity, but, man, we've got to start getting some healthy players back on the field. Yeah, I think that's 100% fair. I mean, I think their injuries offensively have caught up with them. think there's any doubt. I mean, you don't have
Starting point is 00:47:29 Penae for that series. You don't have Christian Walker who, you know, had a really good road trip and was swinging the bat really well. Of course, Alvarez is out. And I mean, that's three, three, you're like it or not, Walker's still a guy you want in the middle of your lineup at this point.
Starting point is 00:47:45 So three middle of the lineup guys that you just don't have and you're replacing them with guys that they brought in the spring training as non-raster players for depth for their defense, you know, as pieces. And now they're getting the bats of the bottom of the order. It's just a big drop off, you know, offensively.
Starting point is 00:48:01 And, yeah, I mean, it's definitely catching up to him a little bit. And, you know, Walker can be on the fraternity list three days, which is up now. Of course, tomorrow, I mean, today they're off. So I would suspect he's in the lineup tomorrow. And now it looks like Jake's going to be out a while. So they're in a tough spot. And they don't want to rush these guys back from injuries because they don't want to risk re-injuring. They also have a, you know, still have a pretty good lead in the division,
Starting point is 00:48:28 so they can take a little bit of time, but certainly they have to start getting some healthy bodies back in this lineup sooner than later. Brian McTaggart with us here on Sports Talk 790. And with that, you're talking about bodies. I think it's interesting now three weeks away from the trade deadline. Where do you think we are? Because it could be guys coming back, and then if you make a trade,
Starting point is 00:48:51 and then that person you trade for doesn't need the playing time. if everybody's coming back healthy, and that could be both on the pitching side and the position player's side. Yeah, I think there's no doubt. I think we've said it before. I think they're going to look to get a bat, a left-handed bat.
Starting point is 00:49:05 I mean, Daniel Brown has even admitted that after Alvarez, you know, had his setback. He said that, you know, hasn't changed their thoughts on the trade deadline. They're still going to be in the market for a left-handed bat. I still think they're going to go after a starting pitcher. I mean, I've been kind of back-and-forth on that, and I'm back on the camp of a,
Starting point is 00:49:25 I think they want to add a, starting pitcher from the aspect of you still don't know when these guys are coming back. I mean, Arrogatti was supposed to be out six weeks, and I don't think he's faced hitters yet. And he got injured in early April. So these rehabs have been slow,
Starting point is 00:49:41 and there's been, you know, guys that have had setbacks here and there. So I think it behooves them to go out, look at the starting pitcher market as well. Just to get another arm in here, you can plug in the rotation. So you're not having to, you know, rely on, on some guy who was a non-raster invite you to camp.
Starting point is 00:49:58 I mean, Brandon Walter did a really nice job last night other than the two pitches. The homers, and those were good pitches. I mean, but still, if they can get better with their pitching staff and add a veteran arm, then they probably should try to do that. Yeah, and interesting, wondering how Lance McCuller Jr., you know, factors into that. He's been so up and down, but of course, the start in L.A. was very good.
Starting point is 00:50:20 and I would say like the last couple of innings of that, Brian, he looked about as locked in as I've seen him this year. Yeah, he did. And props to Lance. I mean, he was not coming off a good start. He's facing the Dodgers. You know, Dodgers Stadium is a place that he's pitched very, very well in his career. Of course, that, you know, start of game seven of the World Series.
Starting point is 00:50:41 But, yeah, I think it be the Astros, you would definitely like to see Lance, you know, get his feet under him a little bit, you know, start to build some consistent starts here and there. chance to do that against the Rangers lineup that's not very good. So his last start before the All-Star break, so I think he'll be fired up for that. But he's done, Lance has done better than I, you know,
Starting point is 00:51:02 I thought he would at this point. I mean, he's had a couple of stinkers, but for the most part, he's gone out there and competed. And, you know, I thought done a pretty nice job, and Dodger Stadium was one of his better starts. A couple more minutes here with Brian McTagher here on the Matt Thomas show with Ross. Do you think, if you pulled Jose
Starting point is 00:51:20 Altuva aside, he would tell you, Tags, I love playing second base. I mean, I did left field because I'm a good teammate and whatnot, but I'm really comfortable and enjoying what I'm doing right now, and I think it's indirectly helping me feel more comfortable with the plate, or do you say, you know what, he's just hitting a matter what position he plays? I think probably a little of both. I think deep down he wants to play second,
Starting point is 00:51:43 but he also put in a lot of time and effort into trying to learn left field in the offseason. You know, with the injuries that they have, it's, you know, you need to bond to play other places, so I see why they're playing him at second right now. And there's probably an element to where he does feel really comfortable there. Does that carry over at the plate? You know, I'm not sure. I think Joseo Tube is going to hit or he's not.
Starting point is 00:52:03 I don't think he's going to take his defensive position with him. But I mean, I meant to look up the numbers yesterday. I think he's probably approaching as many games at second now than he is in left field. It'll be interesting to see if they start getting guys back healthy when Penae comes back. If he plays on left field a little more, they continue, you know, to play him at second base. But all in all, I think the move to left field work in that your defense on the infield
Starting point is 00:52:28 got a lot better with him in left field. I mean, he's not a great left fielder, but certainly he's not a great second baseman either. And the infield defense is so important to this team. And it had gotten a lot better with Altuvay and left field. I mean, they were the, I think they were the best defensive team in baseball. So all in all, it was a transition that made sense, and it was working. So when they get Pena back, definitely have to keep an eye on how they handle Al-Tube in his playing time positionally.
Starting point is 00:52:58 Lastly, there are two space cowboys. One is John Singleton, who continues to always crush at the AAA level. The major league numbers have been mixed. And Bryce Matthews, we have seen a plethora of new players come to the Astros this year and have all had some levels of success, but regression back to the norm in the last week or so. any chance one or both see Major League playing opportunities for the Astros before the end of the year?
Starting point is 00:53:26 Yeah, I think there's a chance. I'll probably say Singleton more. I could see him as a bat they bring up but at some point maybe in September when they had a couple of guys get that left-handed bat. Matthews, from what I'm hearing, just defensively is not there at second base yet.
Starting point is 00:53:42 I mean, he came up as a shortstop in college and the defense is just not there. And that goes back to what I was talking about before. you know, this team really stresses defense. It's really important of what they do. He's going to have to button that up a little bit. Also, a lot of swing and miss there, too. So he's got things to work on.
Starting point is 00:54:00 I do think at some point next year he's probably your starting second baseman, but I don't know if he's going to get to the big leagues this year. If he does, I don't think he's going to come in here and play a big role. It could be an end-of-the-year type thing. But I would say probably we won't see Matthews until next year unless there's just, you know, more injuries and there's no way around it. but he's still got work to do down in AAA. Of course, he is playing in the futures game this week,
Starting point is 00:54:23 so props to him for that. But he's still got some stuff he's got to do. Tags, great stuff. As always, thank you for the visit, and we'll talk again next Thursday before the start of the second half of the season. All right, sounds good. Thanks, guys. You got it. Brian McTaggart, MLB.com,
Starting point is 00:54:39 and on the Astros beat here on Sports Talk 790. Ross, there is a college football coach that would like to see a salary cap in place. Hmm. Hmm. Don't. Don't you already looked. Are you show prepping with this show of this TV?
Starting point is 00:54:55 No, it's on my list of things. Oh, I didn't send you one. I've been getting bad at that since this morning shift. That's my bad. So we call Ross the advanced planner of the Matt Thomas show with Ross. I came up and set all this up. I don't want to hear it. I helped you, though.
Starting point is 00:55:12 713-212-5-790. 7-1-3-21-2-5-7-90. We're a Talia-Rub-Yer. brewing. Please come by and say hello. Where's my pizza? It's coming. We've got some golf giveaways, some Astro ticket giveaway, space, Cowboys Giveaways as well. So come on by and say hello.
Starting point is 00:55:28 Grab a pint and meet Santa Claus while you're here and meet some... On his off time. He's enjoying some downtime before the busy fall schedule coming up. 713-212-5-790. 11-15 on Sports Talk 790.
Starting point is 00:55:49 This sausage pizza Oh, my God. I know. I'm not supposed to be eating on air. That's fine. I'm going to have to wait. We're at Talia Brewing. We have a pair of Astro tickets to give away.
Starting point is 00:56:00 Matter of fact, what are the, I think they're, let me see what they are. Hold on. Oh, let me take a look. We have a four packet, oh, a four pack a ticket. And parking, August 17th. Do you want to go, Ross? Yes. All right.
Starting point is 00:56:14 We will, you have until 2 o'clock today. All right. To register. If somebody wins, they want to take me. I'm ready to go. You don't need to go. You go to plenty of games. By the way, Clanton went to the game yesterday. Clinton, who never can do a 10th inning show or non-deck show, was at the game last night.
Starting point is 00:56:28 He's busy, man. He's a big star. God Almighty. It's not easy being Mr. Rockface. Or Mr. Clinton. Correct. All right. So if you are, I want to come by, we got four tickets. Okay.
Starting point is 00:56:41 And Dugga and parking for the Astros' Orioles game on August 17th. Awesome. And come on by. I will be here until 2 o'clock today. And we'll draw it 2 o'clock. So if you can't make it until like 1.15. Come by and have some lunch. Boudan balls, which are really good here too.
Starting point is 00:56:59 Okay. The pizza, this. Had it a boot hand ball, baby? I know. Gordy's already had four orders of it. He's actually back there rolling him for him. He's like, man. Let me show you how to do this now, man.
Starting point is 00:57:09 Yeah, man, we don't have this good like this and we all know. What did you say? What did you say? All right. I just don't get it as coming up at 1130. We don't stereotype on this show. We do not. That's one thing we don't like to do.
Starting point is 00:57:24 We don't like two things. Stereotyping and cowboy fans. All right, 713, 212, 5 is 790. 713-212-5-790. So, Big 12 Media Days wrapped up yesterday. And he, Dian Sanders, was the headliner. I mean, even Joe Storty is like, Matt, I can only be on your show for a few more minutes
Starting point is 00:57:47 because he's got. He's coming up. He's coming up, and you know what he's going to say. He did not answer questions from all the media because he was anti-athletic. So anybody from the athletic to ask a question? He's stonewalling the athletic now? Yeah. Apparently, he's mad at CBS.
Starting point is 00:58:03 Yes. He's mad at the athletic. He'll be mad. But he got mad at like the CBS Boulder guy. Yeah. It was like CBS, Denver. We talk about you all the time. I don't care.
Starting point is 00:58:12 There was some national CBS article that he was mad at. Yeah. That's so hilarious. So he is calling. for a salary cap in college football. Quote, I wish there was a cap. Like the top of the line player makes this. And if you're not that type of guy,
Starting point is 00:58:29 you know you're not going to make that. That's what the NFL does. So the problem is you've got a guy that's not that darn good, but he can go to another school and they give him a half million dollars. You can't compete with that. And it don't make sense. Now, these are the things that we're going to come up. a salary cap would make sense if it's going to be a professional sport.
Starting point is 00:58:52 And if you're going to have the salary cap, for example, major league baseball, the 30 owners get together, and then they get together with their players union, and then they go from there. Well, they don't have one in baseball, of course. But you know what I'm saying? Like in the NBA, in the NFL, it's collectively bargained between a player's union and the owners.
Starting point is 00:59:10 There's really no way to do that in college football. To make the salary cap is the same at Colorado, what it is at Alabama or Texas or Iowa State or whatever. Because there's something collectively bargained. There is no... I mean, the NCAA is the governing body, but these conferences act on their own. And these conferences, a lot of them make enemies. Like Big Ten and SEC are together.
Starting point is 00:59:31 But they don't want to deal with the Big 12 or the Pac-12. Do you think the Big Ten and the SEC have any interest in making sure life is fair for the ACC schools? Exactly. They're trying to box them out of the playoff already. Right, right. So it behooves all the things. 32 NFL owners and 30 NBA owners to try to kind of work together. That's not the case with these conferences. And by the way, does Colorado want Ball State to all of a sudden have a chance?
Starting point is 00:59:59 No. No. So do you think he's saying that just to be politically correct? Because I think there's so much political correctness right now with these coaches in college football. They're always asked about NAL. They're saying, you know, we need regulation. We need this. We need this.
Starting point is 01:00:18 And while I don't disagree with them, I don't think they're telling us what they want. They're telling us what we want to hear. Why would Alabama and Michigan and Ohio State and Miami and any of these top-shelf schools, why would they want regulation? They wouldn't do them any good. They don't want to give Missouri a chance. No.
Starting point is 01:00:38 And not at all. This to me comes across as a direct relation to what we were talking about with that big Texas Tech booster, giving up all the millions of dollars. and I think he's jealous that Colorado doesn't have a guy like what Texas Tech has. Yeah, he even mentioned him in this same press conference. Talking about Joey McGuire, the Texas Tech coach, saying, Joey's got some money. Joey, where are you at, baby?
Starting point is 01:00:58 Spending that money. Once upon time, you guys are talking about junk about me going into the portal. Now everybody's going in the portal, and it's okay. He doesn't want to lose kids to Lubbock. Yeah, there was some other cruel. I don't see you in this article, but he was like, hey, give me some of that money. Joey, why don't you send some of that my way? So while every one of these coaches are saying, I don't know what the problem, you know, because there is no firm set of rules.
Starting point is 01:01:22 Yeah. No. They're trying, but people are confused by them. I'm confused by them. I don't even bring them up because I don't even know what is like the direct payments and how that's working out and whatnot. This is, yeah, this is why I always said the current system needs to either, A, stay the way it was or B, be completely blown up. And they didn't, they did the in between, which is the worst possible for the coaches, for the coaches, for the. players, for the athletic directors, for everyone.
Starting point is 01:01:47 They did the, ah, you give them some money, and we're going to keep our hands out of it. You guys figure it out. That was the worst possible thing the NCAA could have done, and they did it. What they should have done is said, all right, we're going to start opening it up to compensation. We're going to believe this name, image and likeness thing is legit. And here's how it's going to work. Now they had this clearinghouse that Gordy told us about a couple weeks ago. I know.
Starting point is 01:02:07 When is the Gordy, what is the clearinghouse? If the clearinghouse says, no, you can't do this, they're just going to go back the old-fashioned way. Underneath the table in an envelope. Exactly. You're either A, going to go under the table, or B, who are they to say that a player's market is not what somebody is willing to pay them? Hey, if the offensive tackle guy's getting $5 million to go to Texas Tech, that's what he's worth. That's his market. If somebody paid that.
Starting point is 01:02:33 If somebody's willing to pay it, that's your market, that's that. We don't need some clearinghouse overseeing and saying, no, he's overpaid. He can't go there. What? That's his choice. and I'm going back to the initial point of if the clearinghouse tells me no, I got friends in low places. All right. The bagmen are back, baby.
Starting point is 01:02:52 Yeah. Let's go to, man, we are all, we've been in El Paso today. We're going to San Diego now. Can we get somebody in Houston? Can we? We are a Houston sports show last time I checked, but Johnny and San Diego on 790. Hi, Johnny. Good morning.
Starting point is 01:03:05 Hey, what's up, Matt, Ross. I'm no longer in San Diego. Used to be in San Diego, just retired. I am. I want to talk to you guys about this. Thank you. I want to lay out a little bit of a story, but I wanted to talk to you guys about these tickets you're giving away.
Starting point is 01:03:23 Now, imagine, if you will, a 22-year-old young man on his birthday, August 17th, 2005, he's at an Astros Cubs game, and the Astros let him down. Cubs beat him, right? Four days later, he shifts off to boot camp. does a couple months of there. It comes out Friday graduates from boot camp the day the World Series
Starting point is 01:03:48 against the Chicago White Sox is starting. And he doesn't get to go to any of that either. 20 years later, he's a husband, a father, a veteran. His birthday is coming up, August 17th, 2025. I'm just saying it all fits perfectly. He's got a family of four. Birthday, huge Astros fan.
Starting point is 01:04:11 Only problem is, I'm in Dallas. I can't make it down there by your 2 o'clock deadline. Let's work something out, guys. We have people sitting in front of us saying Italian brewing that are like, shut you a bum ass up. You're getting a lot of headshack. Yeah, you are, Johnny. You've been told your number one by four different people here.
Starting point is 01:04:32 These people who have already entered. And a dog. Lady the dog is giving you the middle finger, too, by the way. Oh, that's not nice. All right, thanks, guys. Y'all have a good one. Where is your son, by the way? Where is he?
Starting point is 01:04:45 No, he's talking. He's the guy. Oh, him? I thought it was his son he was talking about. He just retired. How may I? Retired from the military, yeah. Oh, that's the guy.
Starting point is 01:04:57 I thought he was retired, retired. He's probably, I don't know, Navy of Marines if he was in San Diego. Well, that didn't end well for him, did it? Well, that's fine. He can get a proxy, like when we have somebody for the, uh, well, the Vegas Survivor Contest for one week. Yeah. If you can send a proxy over here, we can sign them up.
Starting point is 01:05:17 You know what? I just don't get that last phone call, which is a perfect segue. He was asking for tickets. You miss 100% of the shots you don't take, but that one was blocked. That's true. He's getting the DeKimbe Matumbo finger wagga from people over here. I got news for you. Ladies got a better chance of winning the tickets than my man in Dallas does.
Starting point is 01:05:33 But we appreciate him. Next time. All right, 713, 212-790. 7-1-3-212-5-790. If there's something in your... life you just don't get okay jonathan your first up you've been quite the last half hour i've got something i got something all right we'll judge it next here on sports talk seven ninety do you have something in your life that you just don't get no need to worry no need to
Starting point is 01:06:07 we will discuss the topics to see if we comprehend the things that may confuse our friends it's time to say i just don't get it i'm a show with ross continues here from Talia Brewing where we don't, our people that are here, we've a nice group of assembled and they're not drinking enough. Ross will be paying for your Uber's home, so if you need to partake in that. Not true.
Starting point is 01:06:35 All right, come on, you get a gift card or something, right? Yeah, actually. Can we use a promo code, Ross? No, that doesn't charge you extra here. Oh, that's not good. All right, 713, 2,1, 5, 7.9. Something in your life you just don't get. 7.1. I know you do.
Starting point is 01:06:51 713, 2, 1, 2, 5, 790. We've got some gift cards a giveaway as well. Yes. And if you have to, and we've got the tickets to see the Astros against the Brewers August 17th. Four packet tickets. Those are good seats. Those are our seats. These are good seats. What does that mean? Probably Client was
Starting point is 01:07:07 sat in these seats last night. Yeah, he probably did. Real odor. Real grandeur there. 713-212-5-790. Jonathan's back at our studios of our producer. Jonathan, I ask you one question. What don't you get? I really am not understanding, and I'm going back to NIL topic, I don't
Starting point is 01:07:25 get the whole point of since like the 80s with Reggie Bush and all that stuff we want to pay the athletes. Oh, hold on. Reggie Bush was 2005. We're not that old. Okay, okay, okay. Come on, bro. Okay, okay. You get the gist. Did you say Reggie Bush in the 80s? Are you drunk?
Starting point is 01:07:43 Let me give my point across. You can't be drinking back in the office. These young kids got no respect to the time. Let me get a point across. The whole point was to get the shady stuff over with, right? Right? Yes. So when we go and get NIL, I'm saying we as in college athletes, that was okay. It was good.
Starting point is 01:08:03 And now it's a problem and we're going to go and make a collective and restrict athletes for going to certain schools because of the money they get is too much and is a problem. It just seems like it's going in a full circle back to where it's going to be the same way as NCAA banning. name, invention, likeness, and not paying athletes, but now it's going to be the same way because no one knows how corrupt or how strict these people are going to be with the money. And it could be like, oh, you're going to this team. I want that commitment to go this way. Oh, I can just block your funding. And like Matt said, yeah, I can go underneath the table and do the envelope stuff again.
Starting point is 01:08:41 But I don't understand. I thought the whole point of NIL was to get away from that and give really the athlete's democracy. So I really don't understand what's this topic to keep going about about this collective. and everything. I don't understand it. He didn't get it. Ross, he doesn't get it. Matt, your thoughts? I'm a little for clumped. I need to have a slice of pizza first.
Starting point is 01:09:02 Well, you have your slice of pizza. I mean, he's just saying, yeah. I mean, the Reggie Bush thing in the 80s with his leather helmet and how it was. That was not the 80s. It was not. It was 2004 and 5. See, I got him. With his leather, he didn't have a leather helmet on? No, he did not.
Starting point is 01:09:18 Okay. Just asking. That, yeah, like you said, like we were kind of, of mentioning earlier that it's going to make things go back under the table. And this was all just mishandled basically at every step of the way. Ever since really, when did the TV contracts get into the mix here? 70s, 80s somewhere around there. Let me ask you this to piggyback off of Jonathan's point.
Starting point is 01:09:38 Let's say that XYZ school has every school has a salary cap. Yeah. Are they all going to be the same? That shouldn't be right. Number two, what if you go over your salary cap? What's a punishment? Yeah, is it a hard cap? What's the hard cap punishment?
Starting point is 01:09:54 What's a mid-level exception for these people? Exactly. Where's the apron? We don't know. And, oh, by the way, if the NCAA or whomever is supposed to be the governing body, are they going to go audit to make sure they're no under the... I mean, if you're an NFL team and you pay players beyond the salary cap, you would lose draft picks, you would be severely punished.
Starting point is 01:10:17 If Alabama was to give somebody a player $500,000 more than the cap, How do you suspend Alabama? Do you take away scholarships? I don't know. Who cares about that? Just take away the amateurism thing and make it semi-pro or whatever you want to call it, like the G-League or whatever. Make it the minor league, yeah.
Starting point is 01:10:37 But then if you make it the minor league, my point is if you make all college sports, okay, it's a minor league. You're just going to have to make football and maybe basketball a different entity. Okay, so then the people that are going to counter-argument is, well, they're getting school for free. did da da da da da da and this is why it's still happening and i don't understand why i get your point we're going to make it to amateur athletics but then that only strengthen those other points like why they're being why they're getting paid amateur athletes and then going to school like
Starting point is 01:11:04 you know it doesn't that's why it's like that right now it's amateur athletics was the NCAA once tax-exempt status if it's amateur athletics they don't get taxed on all their billions of revenues that they make oh okay okay it's about it always comes back to the money on it. That's crazy. That's crazy. I just, I think what this is going to ultimately do,
Starting point is 01:11:28 unless you get a governing board that is absolutely, I mean, really, really watching over things. We're going to eventually go back to under the table stuff. Well,
Starting point is 01:11:40 you're not going to, let me tell you something. Utah State is excited about a salary cap because they're going to say, well, once Alabama runs out of money and LSU runs out of money, and Ohio State runs out,
Starting point is 01:11:51 you'll go to the second tier schools and we'll get a chance to get some athletes. Alabama is like, I'm not going to let you go to Utah State. We want you, we're going to figure out a way to keep you, and if we've got to pay you on the side, so be it. And it'll be up to the NCAA or the conferences to police themselves.
Starting point is 01:12:10 You sound like a lot of corruption. It's going to happen. I think the word salary cap in amateur athletics cannot be used in the same sentence. No. No, but it hasn't been amateur athletics. for decades. Even though that's what it's called and that's what it's labeled,
Starting point is 01:12:26 that's not what it is. Do you have something a little more lighthearted sports ever you don't get? Maybe not, actually. I was going to bring up. Matt, did you see, are you familiar with wide receiver Demarcus Robinson? I am not. The San Francisco 49ers.
Starting point is 01:12:42 What does he do? He's a wide receiver for the 49ers. Thank you for that clarification. Okay, you're welcome. He was recently pulled over. and arrested and has now pled no contest to a DUI charge. DeMarcus Robinson last year made $3 million for his career, which I'm having trouble finding. He's made $15 million.
Starting point is 01:13:12 Why are these million dollar athletes not just having drivers take them everywhere? How often do we see and it keeps happening year after year after year? And you're going to afford an Uber Excel. Exactly. You get the black, Uber black. It's great nice. Do you understand I never want to drive again under any circumstance? I know, Matt. If you had $15 million in career earnings, you wouldn't be driving. I would want a bucks and blonde driving me everywhere humanly possible.
Starting point is 01:13:37 52 miles I drove here today to hang out with the great people in Tyler Brewing. I just don't get it. I don't get it either. How does a professional athlete millionaire get a DUI and how does this continue to always happen? Yeah. Or maybe you can handle your beer, so to speak. Well. How about don't risk it?
Starting point is 01:13:59 Again, hire me.com. Ross, we're always looking for extra income here on the show. Okay. Let's go executive drive athletes around. Dot net. Yeah, I mean, look at my other company, Remoteforu.biz is doing very well. I know. I heard it's Chapter 11.
Starting point is 01:14:16 It is not. It's doing quite well. Chapter 7. Which chapter are you on? The bankruptcy. You don't even know. A shot, too, Matt. What?
Starting point is 01:14:27 He took a shot at you. I thought you're kind of those. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. No, I was a joke. It wasn't a real shot. Oh, it's a shot. No, you can't take a shot at a fictional company. It doesn't exist.
Starting point is 01:14:36 That doesn't count. That's not a shot. It does exist. No, Fortune 500 company. Okay, yeah. Show me the paper. Show me the LLC. Go on the website.
Starting point is 01:14:43 Remotefew. com. Okay, I'm going to go there. Error 404. No, no, no. If it doesn't exist, it doesn't count as me taking a shot at it. People are constantly. It's not real.
Starting point is 01:14:53 It's fictional. People go to Rappelbees all the time. Yeah, that exists. They're at Billy's going, I can't get my game on. That's what they call RemoteForu. You're getting error. 4404 right here. You know what?
Starting point is 01:15:04 That's my second company I've created. Oh, Remember. Yeah, Err 404. You're everywhere. Do you remember my first company? No. 1-800 go F yourself? Okay, that one's doing quite well, actually.
Starting point is 01:15:14 You've heard of that. I mean, you know my company, right? Sure. Remotefor-you. No. Somebody tapped into my website. Yeah. You've been.
Starting point is 01:15:22 Oh, that's wrong. It's a deed also attack. All right, fine. No, it doesn't count as a shot. It's not real. He just doesn't like my creativity. I can see, I can tell. I'm always trying to reinvent myself.
Starting point is 01:15:36 He's keeping you on it. I've been doing radio for 34 years. I'm always trying to reinvent myself. You're like the share of radio. What? Speaking of that, I just don't get it. My man, Paul McCartney, just announced 20 more cities. Is he in debt?
Starting point is 01:15:52 No, he can't be. Does he have gambling debts? I don't know, but you know how much I love Paul McCartney? Is he living a castle in the upkeep is expensive? But my God, I mean, at what point do you go? My voice is giving out. I saw him two years ago at the Ricky's Arena in Fort Worth, and it was terrible. I paid $500 for those tickets.
Starting point is 01:16:10 He never belting anything out anyways. He's more of a soft singer. That's good. You don't know a live and let die then. Is he screaming in that one? Yes. I'll take your word for it. Yeah, I got my Paul McCartney fan club over here.
Starting point is 01:16:24 Okay, cool. All right. One more segment of I just don't get. What don't you get, Ross? Oh, I did. Don't say your partner. I said to Marcus Ross. Okay.
Starting point is 01:16:33 I'm getting DUIs. 713-212-5-790. If there's something in your life you just don't get, whether it's sports-wise or your life, 7-1-3-2-5-7-90. 7-1-3-212-5-7-90. It is Matt and Ross. We're here at Talia, Broom.
Starting point is 01:16:48 I don't get while you're not here enjoying some great brew and pizza. I might have a second slice here during the break, so you may have to cover the next segment. 713-212-5-790. That's 7-1-3-212-5-7-90. 11-45 on Sports Talk 7-90. All right, keep the music up. I got one quick one for you here.
Starting point is 01:17:10 Go ahead, Matthew. I follow Montgomery County Police Reporter. You do? On Facebook? Okay. That's really good. Okay. Because you want to know what's going on around your area.
Starting point is 01:17:22 And I live in Harris, County, but Montgomery County, all right. So you look through and you scroll and you're like, okay, oh, my God, it's terrible. That's terrible. And there's this woman that will be arrested for something. Usually it's the UI of some sort. That's obviously terrible. I go look at the, and this woman's got like 19 comments.
Starting point is 01:17:40 Okay. And I hit the comments. You know what it's most of the time they say? Wood. Or I can fix her? Yeah. Or come stay with me. I mean, what is wrong with people?
Starting point is 01:17:51 I just don't get it. You don't get it? I don't get why you'd go on the Montgomery County Police Facebook page with a woman who got arrested for a variety of things and said, would hit it? People are horny online? This is surprising you? I get it. What do you mean?
Starting point is 01:18:11 There's a whole Twitter account. Now, I don't follow this. Oh, yeah, you do. And I'm not going to out who does. If there's a whole Twitter account, it's called Mug Shotties. What? And it's their Mug. Mug shots.
Starting point is 01:18:24 This guy knows what I'm talking about. You know somebody that follows it. Yeah. It's not me. I told you. See, look, this guy's all on the mug shouts. Ryan knows. Ryan's looking at it.
Starting point is 01:18:37 Is Ryan's wife now that you look at those photos like that? She better not. She knows now. If you don't know, now she knows. She'll listen to the show, is she? I hope not. Yeah, Ryan, we'll keep you. You're going to get him in trouble.
Starting point is 01:18:50 We'll keep your identity a secret. It's Ryan. Jones. Yeah. All right. Brian Bones. All right. Let's go back on the phones.
Starting point is 01:18:59 Let's talk to Willa and Pearland. Willa, you're on 7.9. Willa, what don't you get, my friend? Okay. Well, first of all, good almost afternoon, fellas. What I don't get is, so I told my son, we were very excited. I want some tickets off the radio station to go see weekend. I tell the weekend.
Starting point is 01:19:19 I tell my son, we're going to see the weekend. and more importantly, we're going to see Playboy Cardi, right? So we're very excited. It takes a couple of months for them to get in. They get in, and I'm in Section 6-0-something in the NRG Stadium. That's pretty high, man. I just don't get it. Where'd you win them from?
Starting point is 01:19:41 From you guys. Oh. What do you think we're giving away four-shoes for free? In this economy? Come on, man. I'm all the way at that. top of the nose please i i can't bring you by noculars we got you in for free go steal some seats you'll be all right why don't you do the walk down of section 240 and call today that's a mile down i still
Starting point is 01:20:03 got to walk a mile down you know what you and your sunny exercise yeah we got you in the building look sorry for your free tickets and you want to sit you want to sit on the 40 podium so will i just called a complaint about his free tickets i was very excited last time i won some tickets for a boxing match. I was like right in the middle, great seats. I'm telling my son, oh, yeah, we're going to see Playboy Cardney. It's about to go down. I get to see something like, what?
Starting point is 01:20:30 602. Hey, I just don't get a breath. You're going to be sitting with other people. Damn. It doesn't sound like you appreciate it, Willa. Yeah. Willow's in the do not win list. Yeah, Weekends got to get his cash.
Starting point is 01:20:45 We were talking about the weekend yesterday. Weekend and UMG. How many songs did I download of the weekend after the show yesterday? That's okay. That's right. Brian and Pearland at 1154 on 7-90. Brian, what don't you get? Two things.
Starting point is 01:20:58 One, I still have never gotten. I get it. He's a good talent, but I've never understood why MLB goes out of their way to create a special rule for Shoahe Otani for when he pitches, and he comes out as a pitcher. He can still stay in the game without effect on the VH rule. They never want to have done anything else like that. No other sports league would have done that from a marquee player
Starting point is 01:21:20 to where they get extra fouls or anything like that to keep them on the floor. So I just don't get that. And second thing, I don't get, how in the world my man Jonathan Allen getting a short stick and not get to go on location as the producer while he's stuck back on the radio and you two
Starting point is 01:21:37 are getting to have some fun outside the office? Don't forget the pizza we're eating and the beer we're about to drink. Yeah, I don't get that either. The wonderful people we're hanging out with. slice. The good news is, Brian, I got explanations for you on both of those.
Starting point is 01:21:54 Number one, Jonathan's the producer. He's got to run the soundboard. He's got to answer phone calls. He's got to turn us off and on. That is the job. I did it for 10 years. I wasn't able to go out and all that type of stuff.
Starting point is 01:22:07 I had to stay home for Super Bowl trips and remotes and all that type of stuff. You got to put in your time. He ain't even been here a year. That's the way it goes. And I did not. Yeah, we know. You might be my favorite call after that, man.
Starting point is 01:22:20 I appreciate you. Don't listen to him. He's always starting to start stuff up. Matt is God's gift to radio. I was not God's gift to radio, so I put in my dues, and I'm out here now. You've got to put in your time. That's just the way it works.
Starting point is 01:22:33 Otherwise, we've got to get somebody to replace Jonathan, and if he came down here, there's nothing for him to do, unless he just wants to get drunk, which is fine. That's number one. Number two, Shohei Otani is the biggest star in baseball. They want, that's why they're made. they change the rule to allow you to. Zero problem with that.
Starting point is 01:22:51 Joe Hay's a star, generational, literally a generational talent. It doesn't hurt anything to keep him in there for D.H. You don't have to replace the D.H. Spot or whatever when he stops pitching. Whatever. It really hasn't affected the games. It's only affected him.
Starting point is 01:23:03 He's the hugest star in the sport. Major League Baseball recognizes that, and that's why they change the role. And maybe we'll get in a few more players in the next 20 years of do both. I mean, there are a lot of kids that are stars in high school to do both. It's been like that for decades. Yeah. The best hitter is the best pitchers.
Starting point is 01:23:18 the best pitcher on your little league team. And here's the thing I got news for you. Show you how Tony is not going to do it in five years. They're going to eventually make him just do one. And I would think you... Put your name on it? What? Yeah.
Starting point is 01:23:30 I'll put my name on it. Okay. I just got to write this. I think his pitching career will be done in three years. I think you've said that before. I have said it. Um, well, I think for 70 million bucks, you'd be get on that mound, pal. Because guess what?
Starting point is 01:23:41 If he gets Tommy John, he can still hit. That's true. That's what's the worst that could happen. Oh, he's just a hitter. He might as well throw him out there until his arm falls off. All right. One, Jerry and Golf Gate. Jerry, what don't you get?
Starting point is 01:23:52 Jera. Yeah. I just don't get how the United States keep coming up, you know, limp in world soccer. You know, all the talent, I mean, I've gone from outside the way to inside. I mean, I've gone all over the place and watch soccer, you know, youth soccer. and I don't get why they don't teach, you know, the ability to take the defender one-on-one. You know, I don't get that.
Starting point is 01:24:27 And they don't teach from the waist-up, you know, upper body, you know, techniques, you know. I just don't get it. They look terrible out there against Mexico. Good question. Thank you, Jerry. Let me ask you, Ross. Why is soccer limp? That was a weird way for him to put it.
Starting point is 01:24:48 Yeah, it's just not popular here. It's cultural. There are certain places you go, and, you know, crickets. The most popular sport in the world is football, and number two is cricket. None of those are big here in the United States. It is what it is. What's number one in the United States as far as youth playing? Youth playing?
Starting point is 01:25:08 Baseball, basketball? Shear numbers, or how popular it is? I don't know. Football is the most popular? Anyways, and then you would go, I would say, is hockey even more popular? popular here in America than soccer? No. No, you soccer is played by a lot of people.
Starting point is 01:25:23 It's played by a lot. But a lot of people realize it's boring and I'm tired of drinking. Oh, my God. Here we go. Capri sons and orange wedges. I want to go to a big grown man. I can't get girls that way. I got to go to a real man sport.
Starting point is 01:25:33 Soccer players aren't getting girls. Have you seen their wives? Are you insane? No, I have not. I don't pay attention to the sport when I pay to the wives. Yeah, because you know what the hell you're talking about. I'm just saying out of ignorance as per usual. And by the way, Jim Rome from 1993 wants his takes back.
Starting point is 01:25:47 No, no, no. He's talking about. I mean, come on. Seriously. So why do so many, answer my question. It's just not as popular here? I don't know. It's just culture.
Starting point is 01:25:56 So many, hundreds of thousands of kids play soccer, and they're like, I'm done. I mean, there are kids who stick with it. I think it's also problematic with Title IX, with men who pursue soccer into middle school and high school. They don't have a whole lot of college options. So where can they go? It's a lot of people have gotten rid of their men programs. So a lot of the men, they don't have a reason to stay because there's not the possibility of scholarships, or at least not high-level scholarships.
Starting point is 01:26:25 And from there, and maybe it's the development. Maybe the coaching isn't good enough. I don't know. It's probably a more nuanced conversation that we can have in this segment. But I think that's part of it, that it's not the most popular sport here anyways. It's fifth place. If that, I imagine the NHL revenues are bigger than the MLS. Right.
Starting point is 01:26:40 So that would put it minimum at fifth place as far as professional leagues here. and then, yeah, you can't get scholarships, and who else knows what else? I want to argue with you, but you made all but a lot of sense. So rare. All right. When we return, that's all I got.
Starting point is 01:27:01 That's how the show sometimes works here on 7-0. That's all I got. Man. Jakey poo? Seriously! Jake! Where's the water tower for Save Jake? I don't know.
Starting point is 01:27:17 We need to do something. Can I buy it? Can I buy your Photoshop account? You know how much that costs? I mean, you're worth it. You know what? I appreciate that, Matt. Yeah.
Starting point is 01:27:27 I mean, to get the material out there, save Jake? Yes. We could save Yordon, save Spencer, save GP. I think it's only $8 a month. That's nothing. Okay. Let's do it. Oh, God.
Starting point is 01:27:43 What are these poor Astro fans? You're in six and a half game lead That's good That's right That's right six and a half game league Thankfully the Mariners suck The Mariners are like By way we are team Yankees
Starting point is 01:27:57 Everybody on the count of three One two three Go Yankees I don't think we can't do it can we People are like What are you talking about? Go Yankees I can say it
Starting point is 01:28:07 Go Yankees Yeah go Yankees I can say it Getting a half game on them Go Yankees We're getting a nice crowd up here Matti They're all eating there
Starting point is 01:28:14 They're not drunk yet They're not throwing things out us, it's nice. Yeah, no fist fights yet. Plenty of time, though. Santa Claus made it here. We're good to go. We're locked and loaded, baby. Let's go. All right. All right. We present to you at 1208, the news shortly afternoon. And with that, it's 1208? What are you doing?
Starting point is 01:28:34 Who's running this show? All of us are. Well, Jonathan's technically producing it, but our man, Brian and Parenthoodlew wants him here hanging out with us. Okay. What do you got for the headlines? Matt, how about Amanda Anisimova, upsetting number one world ranked Arena Sabalinka in the Wimbledon semifinals. Your breakdown here on the news at noon. I've deviarded.
Starting point is 01:29:02 I will be watching it when I get home. You saw it right here. No, I'm not going to look at it. You're at Talier Brewing. We're at Talia Brewing, by the way, where are you going to have at burgers? You got some chicken sandwich. You got the pizza. We just knocked out the sauce of pizza.
Starting point is 01:29:14 You want some pizza with your parmesan? My God. Look at that. He's the guy at the Italian restaurant when the guy comes over to get the cheese. He's got a mountain. He never says when. It's like when you're hand breaks off, when your wrist breaks. Yeah.
Starting point is 01:29:32 Got arthritis over there. Jeez, my goodness. Back in all this Parmesan. Nice crowd here at Talier Brewing. Okay, fine. Topic A is, of course, what we just played there. Matt, Jake Myers, before the game even started exiting the game, he was in the lineup. he was taking the field.
Starting point is 01:29:51 Fortunately got hurt. Was helped off of the field. You heard some of the sound bites there. Didn't sound like he was in good spirits after the game. We're worried about Jake. And also, it is calling into question the Astros return to play process because this is not the first time. In a vacuum, you could ignore it.
Starting point is 01:30:11 But you're talking about this, Jordon Alvarez, J.P. France, Lance McCullors, Jr., whoever else on the list, it seems to have been an issue the last couple of years. I want to go back to a very simple question. This is for bed driving around town going, oh, there's another Astro Hurt player. In your heart, would Joe Espada, knowing what he has been told from the medical staff and from the player,
Starting point is 01:30:37 would he intentionally put somebody out there that wasn't ready to go play 100%? In July. I mean, this is game 6, the ALCS. Maybe you put a guy out there that's 75%. Uh-huh. I'm trying to go glass half full of this. I understand.
Starting point is 01:30:54 We're trying to see both sides of this. And my answer to your question is, I don't think he would. But I didn't think he would do that to Yordon. But do you think, okay, so I'm asking this. Is he getting bad information? That's a possibility. It's either, it's one of two things. Either this is the pile of coincidences or somebody,
Starting point is 01:31:12 there is some sort of malpractice happening within the training staff and the medicist. That there's being, there is misdiagnosis being done within the organization. Or letting players, or maybe. trusting the players too much. When Yordon says my hand is okay and they let him play, maybe they need to not trust him on that. Dana Brown said as much. And when Jake Myers says, yeah, I'm good to go. The player's always going to say, I'm good to go. This is what happened with Alex Bregman when he had hamstring issues and all that type of stuff. And he's wanting to go back and on, Jeremy Payne wanted to be back in the lineup on that Sunday. Then he didn't feel 100%
Starting point is 01:31:43 they did the imaging and it turned out he had a rib fracture. But Joe Espada did say after the game last night that they had proper testing. I believe it was an ultrasound. They said an ultrasound and no other imaging, but I don't know what else you take on us. I'm not a medical doctor anymore. I'm tired of pretending I'm a medical doctor. I know. I got my license revoked, so.
Starting point is 01:32:01 I know. I know. With an improper relationship. All right. So my point is, is that you just, we're never going to know the true story. Yeah. And again, I don't want to, I don't want to be glass-half full, or I'm naive, or I'm just, the only thing I can think of is, do they have a bad batch of?
Starting point is 01:32:21 of physicians? Is there one guy going rogue? He's like a Yankees fan? Is he always missing? I mean, look, I've changed doctors before on things. I think some people in life have had the change because the one specialist says one thing. And you go, I want to go get a second opinion. Right.
Starting point is 01:32:38 Of all the years, you don't want to send him out there knowing that the laundry list of injuries is immense. Yeah. I don't know, man. I don't know. that's all I can say I don't know but we're very very concerned something is just something doesn't seem right
Starting point is 01:32:58 I will just say now put it this way if it's a week from now he's back then this is water he's coming back in a week no he said no again we don't want to embellish this he was asked if it was worse and he didn't answer well I mean he could have lied again remember
Starting point is 01:33:13 lying is your friend oh well if he had been no it's a minor step back I should be fine in a couple days but then But then if he's gone two weeks, people were like, wait, but you said it was fine. He didn't say that. Okay, I'm just saying. So basically a non-answer is as bad as the bad answer.
Starting point is 01:33:28 I'm just saying it no news is bad news on that. Right. Especially when he turned to his right and you're like, do I have to answer that? Hey, guys, from the PR team, do I have to answer this question? No, okay, fine. Let's move on. Then he walked off, too. That was the strangest part.
Starting point is 01:33:45 Anything else at the news at noon? I mean, it's time for a break. All right. 7-13. I didn't prep anything. I've been eating pizza. We do call you Mr. Prep on the show. That's true.
Starting point is 01:34:00 7-13-212-2-5-790s. All right, we're giving away four really, really good tickets to the Astros Aereos game in August, which includes parking. We've got a nice crowd here at Talia Brewing. Three and a half acres, Talia Brewing. All right. Pit barbecue in the weekends. Pizza kitchen right now. Burgers and chicken right now.
Starting point is 01:34:21 We got a place for the dogs to go out and walk. Play place, or you can go play after the show? Play place. Yeah. You got a water slide this bad boy? No, they don't. They got pickleball, though. By the way, I'm going to say this again, and I don't mean to be disrespectful on this.
Starting point is 01:34:36 Uh-oh, uh-oh, but you're going to be. I just don't get it. You know you're with me on this. If you got hip arthritis, I get it. If you don't get on the tennis court. It doubles tennis is not that strenuous. I mean, I have a, oh, God.
Starting point is 01:34:59 Go ahead. Hate him. No, no, because I have a lot of friends that play it. I know. I know. Eme Adoka. He may doca is going to break you at half. He's going to crush me like a grape.
Starting point is 01:35:10 He and Raffel, and I'm not talking on a turn here. We will go on the road with the rockets. Yes. And they will get ballrooms, and they will tape up a pickleball court. That's how intense they are about it. Yeah, and there's yelling and screaming. At me or another pickleball court? like to see you on a team with IMA O'Doka at pickleball.
Starting point is 01:35:30 No, no. Watching him chew you out. He would dog cuss me like you wouldn't believe. He may has got the NBA player mentality still even though he's been a coach. Yeah, absolutely. I think that's why a big part of why the players love him. Yeah. So as Jarmi Smith Jr. said, he's got to screw loose.
Starting point is 01:35:45 So when we have Media Day coverage here on the show, the first question I'm going to say is, how's your pickleball game? And he'll give some really low, low key answer. He'll act like he's not the best and doesn't crush everyone. Yeah. He had never asked me to play. And I will, if they ask me to, I will play, but I will be embarrassed by my future performance. I've never played.
Starting point is 01:36:05 I mean, it looks pretty difficult with that little paddle. Well, it's a very small court, right? It's not even half the size. Right. Yeah. It's a good way to get active. I've got a good friend of mine who runs a pickleball professional league in St. Louis. I've seen pickleball on TV, get it off TV.
Starting point is 01:36:21 And I like sports. Wait a minute. You just told Ryan, you love all sports. I know. I do. If it's highest level of like the most, the best craziest good athletes on the planet are not playing pickleball. I'm just saying. So is pickleball a sport yes or no?
Starting point is 01:36:35 Yeah, it's a sport. Is bowling a sport? Yes. Darts? Cornhole. Tell me when you're, when it's not a sport. I don't know. I'm asking you, you have an opinion on these things. It doesn't matter.
Starting point is 01:36:50 What is this? Two to six? Is this semantics arguments? No. I'm not arguing with you. Just argue with you. That's two to six. Yeah, leave the semantic arguments for Adam and Adam.
Starting point is 01:36:59 I'm not going to argue. Let's see what else. Poker plan. No, definitely not a sport. Auto racing. If you can sit down the whole time. If you can do it in a wheelchair, it's not a sport. Well, hold on, unless it's a wheelchair sport.
Starting point is 01:37:12 Oh, there we go. You're done. You're done. I'm canceled. It's the Matt Thomas show with just Matt. Starting tomorrow. It's a mic off. And you don't have to move.
Starting point is 01:37:26 Poker is not a sport. It's a Matt Thomas Show with Gordy, 10 to 2, starting tomorrow. Have you ever seen that documentary murder ball with those guys that play wheelchair rugby? That's a sport. Okay. Auto racing, a sport? Yes or no? Uh-oh, you're getting cattle called here.
Starting point is 01:37:43 Now, you can't be fat because you're weighing down the car. I'm trying to think of, uh... No, you're sitting down the whole time. Ooh. But you're sweating in there. I mean, the vehicle, right? Yeah, it gets a little sweaty. Okay.
Starting point is 01:37:56 The air compressor is a little too much weight, huh? Drag racing? Yes or no? I don't know. Why are you doing this to me? You answer these questions. Because I think you're getting annihilated and I kind of like it. People are upset.
Starting point is 01:38:05 Yeah, they're, drag racing. It's started with a wheelchair comment, honestly. Now, it's not that much, it's not that physical, but your life is at risk. Does that shore up for it? That's the question. All right. These are great things we'll discuss. Okay, is go-kart racing a sport?
Starting point is 01:38:21 Oh, Jesus. No, no, no. We get a lot of opinions coming from the audience. We need to get like a show of hands on all these. It sounds more comfortable. Whatever the most popular answer is, that's what I'll answer. I just don't want to get any flack. Yeah, it's too late.
Starting point is 01:38:33 You're major trouble. All right, 1225 on Sports Talk 7-9. If you want to jump into the phones and come to Ross's defense, which is frankly indefensible, 7-13-213-2-5-7-90. I'm drowning out here. Let's get a call. Let's get a phone call. Yeah.
Starting point is 01:38:48 Somebody come to Ross's rescue because he's blushing like... Yeah, I managed to piss off every single person here somehow with my answers. Yeah. It's typical the case. It's a talent I have. It's better you than me. All right.
Starting point is 01:39:02 713, 212-5-790. 7-1-3-2-1-2-5-7-90. Astros did lose a three. Yes. How big of a buzzkill would you say it was when you're sitting there not watching the Astros beat the Dodgers three consecutive time? And, I mean, beat the crap out of them. And then I'm not mad.
Starting point is 01:39:23 They showed some fight. They fought back in all three games. The back end of the lineup is directly from here in Sugarland. Yeah. All those guys that batted at 6, 7, 8, 9 knew where we were, know where we are today right now. Nobody. Brandon Walter did it great.
Starting point is 01:39:39 I mean, give up the two home runs early and then really settled down after that. Didn't he retire like 17 in a row or something? You know, he hasn't walked anybody at home? Is that true? Yeah. I think he's only surrendered two walks as an Astro starter at this point. I mean, Hunter Brown had a bad. start whatever.
Starting point is 01:39:56 I'm not super concerned about that. If Ryan Gus will have a bad start, he's gone his butt though. Oh, because he thinks you hate Ryan Gusto. No, because if Ross is going to give criticism the same way, he's going to give Ryan Gus to having an okay star. He has to give the same thing, Hunter Brown. It's crazy that I'm giving Ryan Gusto, not as much grace as Hunter Brown. Come on.
Starting point is 01:40:16 Now, let's think logically about this. Jonathan. Hold the starter to the same caliber. Okay, one guy's an all-star, and then one guy's got an ERA almost five. So that means he should even get harsher criticism if he's a All-Star, right? What? No. He's, I think Jonathan is saying you're not being as hard on Hunter Brown as you are.
Starting point is 01:40:34 If you have one bed start and set of six, it's more easily forgivable. Speaking of that with Hunter Brown pitching on Sunday, I don't think he's toast for the All-Star game. Yeah, he's not pitching. You're going to be wrong? That's a gut feeling. L. Yeah. I don't think Josh Hader's pitching either.
Starting point is 01:40:49 Matter of fact, I wouldn't even go. Tell him to stay home. Yeah. Work on his hair? I mean, serious, I don't care what he works on. But they've got so many guys that are hurt. I literally, and I mean this in all seriousness, I want them bubble-wrapped. Nobody else.
Starting point is 01:41:02 I mean, imagine where this team would be offensively in the series against the Guardians if Jose Al-Tube didn't come through with all those key advance. Oh, they would have lost all three games like they did. But, I mean, you know what I mean. Yeah, I just don't get it. What was that ferocious offense? Well, Christian Walker was a big part of it in Dodger Stadium, where he rakes, and he went on the paternity list.
Starting point is 01:41:23 Jake Myers When did Jake Myers get hurt? He hadn't played in three days Although technically he gets a start for yesterday He gets service time for yesterday's game Did you know that? That's ridiculous Yeah
Starting point is 01:41:36 Once the lineup cards are exchanged It's one of those minutia rules of baseball Well that's stupid It should be when the first pitch is thrown I'm just telling you what they're telling me I'm going to contact my congressman You're going to go to Congress over this? Yes
Starting point is 01:41:50 Okay That seems like a little bit of a waste of time What do you can get Ted Cruz involved? No. Why don't you sit with him in a game and see how it goes? You know what? See, I'm not doing it. I'm not taking this bait.
Starting point is 01:42:05 Too bad. You need to. 713-212-5-790. 7-1-3-212-5-790. The Astros, every team has been discussed on ESPN of a trade they should make. Okay. What do you think the Astros, according to ESPN, should do for a trade? We'll think about it and talk about it next.
Starting point is 01:42:23 Oh, I didn't know. 713-212-5-790 7-1-3-21-2-5-7-90 Matt and Ross with you at 1232 we are at Carbock brew Not Carbock brough, that's one of our sponsors we're a Talleybrook Oh, they know Carbock they know Carbock they know Carbock they're not They're answering and tell you tell you know tell you knows who tallier it is Different parts of town you can catch the Crawford boxcast for free on the high hard radio Yeah
Starting point is 01:42:51 These are these are Brow broskies it's not like you know Broskees. Yeah. Okay. But we're a tire today. So that's what we are, and we're going to be there until 2 o'clock this afternoon. Look at y'all trying to catch me.
Starting point is 01:43:02 What are you going to talk about? Try to catch you. Yeah, y'all, shut your bum asses up. What you can do? I was just hearing the Crawford box guests. I was like, oh, that's the show that you do. Yes. But I am a tire man.
Starting point is 01:43:17 Okay. By the way, somebody on Twitter asking if you think pillow fighting is a sport. Huh. Yes. Do you want to be careful in? the answer on that? You know what? I've come with some definitive answers. Darts is a sport. Okay. Pillow fighting
Starting point is 01:43:32 is a sport. It's all sports. Everything is. It all is a sport. Every one of it. Cornhole. Horse racing. Horse racing, sure. For the horse. That's right. It's good. All right. So ESPN has a list of deals that
Starting point is 01:43:50 teams should be making. Okay. Who did this? Jeff Passing? No, he's a douche. Let's see. Let's see. We go with here. I don't even know who it was. It doesn't matter. Jesse Wallace? Oh, it was Jeff that did this?
Starting point is 01:44:04 So now you've got to read it in Jeff Pass and voice. No, I don't do Jeff Pass in voice. Okay. So he suggests the two weaknesses the Astros have, which are no surprise, starting pitching and left-handed hitting. Yes. He says the best match would be a pitcher for the Kansas City Royals by the name of Seth Lugo. Seth Lugo is good.
Starting point is 01:44:24 Six and five, ERA of two. point six seven his whip is just over one what's his contract situation what does mr pass and tell us uh doesn't say that come on jeff uh what if the royals are 46 and 48 that puts some unless they're on some sort of that could be a fringe third wild card even the guardians who lost yesterday or beat the astros are a fringe wildcard team they are they are the uh 15 they're three games back mariners and red side Sox are tied for the third wild card. There are three games back of them.
Starting point is 01:44:59 That doesn't seem like it's a whole lot to overcome. It's not. Would the Royals be willing to make a move like that? I guess the question is going to be how many teams are going to be sellers of the deadline? Lugo's making $15 million this year, and he would be, he has a $15 million player option for next year. Which I would imagine he would opt out of, 36, but he's pretty good. I would treat it like a rental. Oh, man.
Starting point is 01:45:28 Because here's the thing. And look, I'm sure all the Astro fans have listened to us right now. Brandon Walter would be, thank you very much for all your work. And who else is that rotation? I'm losing names. Ryan Gusto. Your favorite. Colton Gordon.
Starting point is 01:45:43 Yeah. Lance McCuller's Jr. Hunter Brown. Frumber Valdez. Provided they stand bubble wrap the whole time? Yeah, that's six. Yeah. And then...
Starting point is 01:45:54 I mean, you have to weigh, when's Arigetti coming back? how good is it going to be? When's Javier coming back? How good is he going to be? See, my philosophy is if any of them come back, it's a bonus. Yeah. But when you have a limited amount of resources to trade away like the Astros do, you do have to weigh those things and try to maybe bank on,
Starting point is 01:46:12 okay, if at least one of these guys we can possibly plug into a playoff rotation, then you're in a good spot. You're already in a great spot with Hunter Brown and Frommervaldez is your one-two punch. It's the best one-two punch in baseball. Yeah. It really is. I mean, you've got legitimate Sayung for both of those guys.
Starting point is 01:46:29 Well, they win her tonight, I don't know, but they're going to be in the mix. Yes. So here's the question. Are you doing this just to win the division, or do you think that once you get into the playoffs, you've got a deep enough group to do it with any of those players I just mentioned
Starting point is 01:46:44 coming back off of injury? Maybe I'm crazy, but I would prioritize the lineup over. Now, of course, both would be great. Yeah. But as we talk about, they have a limited amount of resources. to trade away.
Starting point is 01:46:57 And let me tell you, gang, you all know this. I think it's been very painful for Dana Brown to move all these players like he has the last couple of years. I know. It's like his babies. Well, but he's, number one thing he was brought here to do was to replenish the draft, or the minor league system, and he's trying to,
Starting point is 01:47:14 and he's got two 100, in the top 200 guys in there with Bryce Matthews and, what is it, Yonika, Walter Yonick, the catcher from the first round of last year. But he's, he wants to keep it that way. Yes, I mean, he was hired here, and Jim Crane said, all right, we've got no farm system, you've got to build that up. We've got a major league team that you need to keep competitive.
Starting point is 01:47:34 And, oh, by the way, we want to stay under the tax for at least, you know, not be into multiple years of the tax. It's difficult. It's very difficult, and yet they're still winning. I mean, seriously, we've talked about this with y'all so many times. How many of you, in March, for a team that was talked about winning anywhere between, say, 85 and 88 games, would have a six and a half game lead past the halfway point of the season. There's nobody, not even the most diehard of Astro fan would have thought it would have been as good as this has turned out to be.
Starting point is 01:48:06 Yeah, it's insane. Meanwhile, we are still winging out about injuries. When you are running through the list and trying to figure out what's going on and who's doing things and who's talking and who's not talking, you're supposed to be 10 games on the first place. You're supposed to be thinking about, do you trade Farber Valley? there's the deadline to get something back in return. Do you trade this? Do you trade that?
Starting point is 01:48:30 What are you going to do with this particular position? Should you bring some young guys up? You know, it's talking about what playoff rotation is going to become? Yeah, we're talking playoff rotation. We're talking two-seed. We're talking about where you and Gordy are going to party on the road during the playoffs? Well, those are work trips, Matt. Those are like 16-hour days.
Starting point is 01:48:48 I know you don't go. You don't do those because you're fancy, Matt, and I get that. That's fine. You're in your five-diamond hotels, and you're in your private jets. don't do any of that. Yeah. You fly commercial. We're flying commercial and we're at the home suites. Are you? Yeah. With one bed, one twin bed. And we're mixing up ramen to eat. Oh, poor kids. Boiling up some water. I know. That's what I'm saying. In most respects here, we should be blessed where this Astros team is. Oh, foo. You think we're here at Sports Talk 790.
Starting point is 01:49:16 You don't appreciate the Astros. You know what I'm saying? I mean, we could be, look, what is Cincinnati doing right now? We've been here, man. We did obligatory Astros. That was 10 years ago. I forgot what that's all about. I didn't. It was bad. I did those post-game shows, a lot of them. I've produced some of them. Hour and a half, hour and a half on a 9-to-1 loss to the Dodgers or whatever.
Starting point is 01:49:38 At 1 o'clock in the morning, you got to go to 130. No, I don't. I'm letting the show now. No, the ball says stay at 1-30. I'm like, why am I taking these calls? I got coast-to-coast people calling me to... To calls about Planet Naburu. Naburu, that's exactly right.
Starting point is 01:49:52 I forgot him. So, yeah, planet Naburu, talk, talk has gone away. It's now, what are we doing with the Astros and the injuries? And we do have to figure this out. I mean, is who? No, you know what, we don't? We don't have to do it. It's Jim Crane's going to have to do it.
Starting point is 01:50:08 I want to hear some more on this because it's like, well, I said, the coincidences are piling up. At some point, enough coincidence pile up to you have to say, is this not a coincidence? Is there any part of you? And I don't know what, you don't necessarily break yourself into different pieces. Is there any party that goes, this is a horrific, bad season with a bunch of coincidences all in a row. I would say yes.
Starting point is 01:50:28 I mean, it's possible, especially in baseball of all sports, where coincidence is king. It's not like the team doesn't have a medical staff. It doesn't like the team doesn't have a strength coach. You know what I'm saying? You could say if you don't have a nutrition and the Astros don't spend money on. They don't have a nutritionist. This guy's like, eh, eat what you want. Yeah, go get your cheeseburger.
Starting point is 01:50:47 You want to work out? Nah, it's all right. It's all right. You're right. But it keeps piling up. and a lot of times the common denominator is guys coming back. So let me say this. If we were to do the deep dive, okay, if you're Jim Crane and Jim says,
Starting point is 01:51:01 hey, Matt and Ross, listen to your show makes a lot of sense. What should I do? What would you do? Do you go get an independent physician? Do you get a different group of doctors and say, let's take a look at the report? First thing I'm doing is pulling the players and saying, do you trust these guys? Are they going to be honest with you? I would hope so.
Starting point is 01:51:19 Or yeah, have whoever, I don't know who the team rep is, It used to be... So if I'm hurt, and I don't think it's my fault, but maybe it is my fault. Am I going to be completely honest? Well, I would hope so. Are you going to come to me and say, Matt, how did you hurt your knee? Well, I didn't take good job.
Starting point is 01:51:42 I didn't do a good job in rehab. You might lie to me, but if I'm someone who says, do you think you got the 100% proper medical care, I would imagine that you would be honest if you thought you were getting the best from your doctor. But what if that person wants you to defend the organization? So he doesn't get sideways. Yeah, okay. You could possibly, yeah, get some biased answers with that.
Starting point is 01:52:00 Yeah, I don't know. I don't know what the right answer is. I don't know how forthcoming the athletes would be. The one thing I mentioned this before earlier in the show. You can do like an anonymous, you know, like I said, whoever the, I don't know who the PA rep is. There are enough. I have that guy go around. There are enough news sources, mainstream, the ESPNs, the Athletics, the CNN,
Starting point is 01:52:19 that if there was something really wrong with how the Astros treated their players, wouldn't you think we'd heard it by now? I would think so, but that doesn't mean it can't happen in the future. That doesn't mean that sometimes things don't come to the light. And there could be a player telling that to a reporter but saying, hey, don't go public with this. To where they haven't reached that limit. What I don't want is I don't want to see a book from an ex-astro player 10 years from now going, man, you wouldn't believe what crappy care I guess.
Starting point is 01:52:46 It could happen. And it also could be one guy. One guy isn't always, maybe it's that one guy who feels slighted or has a vendetta. Like Mike Fires. Well, Mike Fires. Sure. All he did was tell the truth. Rat.
Starting point is 01:53:02 What happened to honesty is the best policy? Honesty sucks. I'd rather lie to people. Much easier. Well, Mike Fires disagrees. Especially when he's getting shelled and he thinks they're still cheating. That's why he did it. Yeah, well, yeah.
Starting point is 01:53:13 And plus, if you notice in the last, it feels like every two months, some other ex-players are saying, oh, yeah, everybody was doing the same thing the house was we're doing. Where is Mike fires right now this moment? Is he still in Mexico? I'm not going to answer that question. I know where I'd like to put him. 713-212-5-790. 7-1-3-212-5-7-90.
Starting point is 01:53:33 If you want to join us on Twitter, you may do that as well. At SportsMT, at SportsRV, and at Sports Talk 7-90. We'll talk to more of you in a minute. We are here at Talia Brewing, where the pizza is being served. It's delicious. The brew is great. And there are actually people working here. I'm so proud of you guys over there.
Starting point is 01:53:47 We have locked our listeners in. cannot leave tallyer brewing under any circumstance you haven't had 15 beers yet sir and called your uber he's close i think he's had enough that he can't figure out how to open the door yeah look at he's locked he's locked himself in what is nice being here today we've had a really nice nice people here they're laughing your jokes are making you feel better about yourself i know they got past i'm beating into it i'm like making a joke every six seconds because i just want the uh i want the validation they got past your wheelchair comment that got a lot of booze why don't bring that back up uh i thought we were past that. We're deleting that from the podcast.
Starting point is 01:54:20 We're going to play that on the Friday open, by the way. Oh, hell no. Okay, okay. No, no, no, no, no. Don't do that, Jonathan. All right. You know, it's been nice. No, precedent's getting said.
Starting point is 01:54:33 That's fine. Hey, he, Cooper Hummelizing isn't in a hit since Jonathan was going to get a three-hit day. You know what? At least me and him are cool. That's all it matters. Yeah, that's true. He likes you because you thought he was going to get three hits. And then you got in his head and now he's cursed.
Starting point is 01:54:47 No, Matt got in his head. A lot of strikeouts, a lot of strikeouts yesterday. You know what has been cool? I was at the Astros game last night and some listeners came and said hello. And the number one question was it wasn't about the Astros. What was it about, Matt? You said about Rocket Season. Ooh, it has to be.
Starting point is 01:55:02 Do you know how many times, and our buddies over here just asked about this? Yes. I've had more of that in May and June that I probably had the previous five May and June's combined. Yeah, that's probably accurate. And you keep calling it the most anticipated rocket season. Since Chris Paul, in my mind. Yeah, I'm wondering if it's even more than that. Now, before they get Chris Paul was what?
Starting point is 01:55:28 They got him for the 17-18 season. That's right. They won 65 that year? Got the game seven of the Western Finals. No, in, yeah, that year. The year before was that when, was that the San Antonio debacle? When James went like one for 11? And Manu Ginovli blocked James Hardin shot right in front of me.
Starting point is 01:55:49 Oh, my God. So they were getting to the plungers. It missed the ultimate spurs fan. It's just texting me during it. I want to throw a phone at her. I mean, the cock was down to zero. Of course, he was going to shoot. He had to go for a block.
Starting point is 01:55:57 Shut up, Manny Genobley. But yes. So I'm trying to think of where they were to where they could be in that scenario, related to where they are now. So, yeah, they were a two seed. Now they add Kevin Durant. I wouldn't, yeah, can you argue this is even more anticipated? Well, here's the thing.
Starting point is 01:56:12 When Chris Paul was here, was he in his prime? He was to the tail end of his prime. Not the score that Katie is, for sure. Also, there was a lot. Nobody is saying, I'm not so sure how this fits with Kevin Durant. Remember, people were saying that, oh, well, they're both one- How could James and Chris be on the floor at the same time? And then they were idiots.
Starting point is 01:56:33 Not idiots, but, I mean, it was just like- You could call it people idiots now. Well, you know, God, I'm getting in trouble again. Yep, you are. God. They were not thinking things through. Right. Because, of course, they could gel.
Starting point is 01:56:45 together and they did. Yeah. And they were wildly successful. 65 wins, like you said, a game seven of the, arguably, the 2018 Warriors, literally, arguably the greatest team of all time. So I would say maybe
Starting point is 01:56:59 even this is more of a, more anticipated because fewer people are doubting that this can work. The only question mark being how healthy Kevin Duran is going to be. I would say for sure, there is lesser doubt that this can work. People were legitimately worried about whether Chris and James could be on the
Starting point is 01:57:15 floor at the same time. And they were on the floor. They were just fine. And then Mike Dantone did a good job of when one... Stagger him. You staggered him, for sure. But it's nice. I mean, I drove here from downtown this morning and Kevin Durant's the billboards up. I mean, yeah. The Rockets are smart. They're printing the number seven jerseys out there. Yes, sir. That Toein-Forteed is a good businessman. You could pre-order this number seven jersey now. Now, he was 35, right, for most of his career? Yeah, I think he was seven in Brooklyn, right? Yeah. Those are the two numbers he is worn. Okay. But it's exciting to me.
Starting point is 01:57:46 And I'm telling you all, gang, don't sleep on Dorian Fennie Smith. He is a very nice 3-N-D basketball player. And Clint Capela is going to come back and help his squad, too. Love Clint. And you still have the young guys. You have Jabari Smith, whose contract official was signed today. You have Fred Van Vlid who's officially back. You've got...
Starting point is 01:58:05 And look, there have been some Fred the tractors out there. But E. May loves Fred. head coaches love veteran point guard they don't have to worry about. That's why Chris has been able to, Chris Paul's been able to be in the NBA as long as he has. You didn't even mention him in Thompson? Yeah.
Starting point is 01:58:20 Do you remember the phrase we were using for Jalen Green, third year leap? This is it? For amend Thompson, third year leap? What would be the leap to you? Hmm. He's already first team all defense, so obviously that sting.
Starting point is 01:58:35 Defensive player of the year? I mean, that's just so difficult. And a lot of times they defer to big. men with that. Yeah. Because of the people get in fall in love with
Starting point is 01:58:43 block shots, numbers. If Victor Wimbunyama is healthy, he's going to be the favorite. Right. I would say. It's a lot
Starting point is 01:58:49 more difficult for wing players to win a defensive player of the year than big men. But first team all defense, you start there, and then what are we
Starting point is 01:58:56 talking about from there? 18 per game? Are we talking about what was he last year? 12? The shot is a little more of a further distance. More than just
Starting point is 01:59:06 basically a dunker spot guy. Corner threes. wasn't bad, better at corner threes, better in the mid-range? He was, there was part, like, you even saw growth in that series, that first-round series, where people forget this, they're talking about how great
Starting point is 01:59:23 him in Thompson is and how he's untradable. Two games into that series, we were talking about should he be benched for Jabari's Mitt Jr. But by the end of... Whoa, whoa. Yes, it did come up. Don't... One Rocket Twitter fan probably said that.
Starting point is 01:59:35 No, there was people that were calling in and talking about that, because he had that bad, because they were packing the paint every time he was in there. He had a couple of bad shooting games. and people were saying, hey, he could still get his minutes, but maybe Jabari-Smith Jr. should start because he could stretch the floor with the three-point shot. That was happening.
Starting point is 01:59:49 Okay. Well, I am team of men. I'm me too. And I think he's only going to get better. And that's why I thought from the jump he was untradable. And the rocket said as much. It wasn't 12 points per game last year. It was 14.
Starting point is 02:00:01 Can he give me 18? How many is Jabari Smith going to give you this year? Ooh, that's another good question. Everybody can't go up, especially with Kevin Durant coming. Well, you are also, you have to find somebody to replace the minutes that Jalen gave you when he was playing all 82 games. He was 21 a game. Yeah. You're hoping Durant's minimum 25.
Starting point is 02:00:21 Okay. Dylan Brooks, Dylan Brooks is like 15 a game almost. So you're going to be missing that out. Dorian Finney Smith is around 8 to 10, I would probably guess. And Clint Capello is a pick and roll guy. You're very good on that. Okay. There are some options.
Starting point is 02:00:34 But at least it's nice as compared to who is Christian Wood? You can feel the buzz. Yeah. And the Texans will obviously have a serious buzz coming in. Training camps coming up in a couple of weeks. Yes. Could this be the best 12 calendar months in Houston sports history? Could this be?
Starting point is 02:00:51 Yeah, well. Ooh. What would it take for that? What would it take? Astros to get back to the World Series. 18 was close. Or how about this? At least the ALCS.
Starting point is 02:01:03 So 18, you had the Rockets in the Western Finals. you had the Astros and the ALCS. Lost of Boston, yeah. Were the 18 Texans any good? When did they make that big leap turnaround? I can't remember. Well, that was, when JJ Watt intercepted Cincinnati, was that? What year was that?
Starting point is 02:01:21 That was a little earlier than that, right? That was like 2010, I think. 11 and 5, 18, and they lost in the wild card to the Colts. And then, of course, my Houston Cougars, going to win the Big 12 championship game, the Big 12 media predictions are out not by the league but by their media brethren
Starting point is 02:01:39 They have them picked 13th out of 16 So you're saying there's a chance Is that bad? It's not great We were like 15th last year We're gonna shock the world this year Your football not usually on anyone's radar So it's fine
Starting point is 02:01:57 That's right We got a first game with an enormous tilt with SFA Huge Then we'll have another one with the cross-town rival Rice Oh man The Bayou Bucket. Then we have, I think you've got a game at Oregon State. I thought they were going to OU.
Starting point is 02:02:12 No, that was a couple years ago. Yeah. Or was the year? Okay. Okay. Yeah, OU just want. What's the big? Oh, there's a shut up.
Starting point is 02:02:20 Oh, you just want to play us? There we go. Texas doesn't want to play us. Yeah, because they want to actually sell tickets. No, we can sell tickets. We got U.H. LSU at Energy in a couple of years, I think. Oh, yeah. Oof.
Starting point is 02:02:32 The non-con is SFA, Colorado, and Oregon State? Colorado's in Congress. conference. Oh, okay. I'm sorry. SFA Rice in the Oregon State. Yeah, that's a murder as wrong right there. That's not bad.
Starting point is 02:02:42 Those should be all three consecutive game days. ESPN plus game days. Stop. They don't even have it. The Ocho game days? After Ohio State, what you got? I believe it's... What sectional Louisiana school do you have, they're playing?
Starting point is 02:02:59 No, it's UTSA. We're a T-L-Y-A-R-L-A-R-D. T-L-Y-A-R-D. Bring the dog, bring your kids, playland, pickleball. Ross and I will play you in pickleball at 2 o'clock today. What I'm Italian. And we are in Sugarland and Imperial Boulevard. If you ever come to Space Cowboy Games, you have got to come here before and grab yourself a pint before it.
Starting point is 02:03:22 Okay. That is the number one rule. And you can see future Astros. Pickleball and Pints. Yeah, for sure, for sure. 713-212-5-790. Bonnie is here. One of our great listeners.
Starting point is 02:03:34 Just come by and say hello. So nice to have you, all of you with us. She made sure I followed her back on Instagram, which I did. Look at you. At Sports RV. Try to build it up or appreciate your follows. I'll follow you back. Appreciate it.
Starting point is 02:03:46 You know, it's funny. I only mentioned my Instagram once in a while at SportsMT, and the number is growing. It's been very nice. Yeah, whatever. I don't want to hear it. All right. Let's talk to some people here at 713, 212-5-790. 7-1-3-2-790.
Starting point is 02:04:03 We are with you today here at Tired until 2 o'clock this afternoon. Dave is with us on 70. Thanks for holding a good afternoon. Hey, how you doing? Hi. The Astros just need to realize that they're back home playing American League teams and not still on that Cream Puff National League part of their schedule. Thanks, Dave.
Starting point is 02:04:29 Anything else? He gave a little jettling hung up. Yeah, this Creepuff National Leaguers? That's what Dave said. I can't have no response for that whatsoever. Well, I mean, they did beat up on the National League first place teams. They were all first place teams. Yeah.
Starting point is 02:04:49 And the Dodgers and the Phillies and the Cubs are all legitimate World Series contenders. And the Astros beat them all. Sweat two of them. Yeah. But the lowly guardians who had lost 10 consecutive games. They're just too good. Yeah. What did I tell you?
Starting point is 02:05:04 I want no more. I want no more Jose Ramirez in my life. Are we going, that's baseball and injuries, right? That's what we're going with for this series. We're going to go. Because I don't think it's a letdown. No, they were closed. I don't think Jose Al-Tubei woke up Monday morning and said,
Starting point is 02:05:16 you know what, these are Cleveland. I'm just going to mail these ones in. It's not like they lost every game 11 to 1. They did fight back. In 2 of the 3. Yeah. They fought back. Right.
Starting point is 02:05:26 And all of them. And Josh Hader gives up a grand slam. It's only out in one ballpark. He's okay. But it doesn't matter where it is, right? No, it did. It does when it's in the one ballpark. They were in.
Starting point is 02:05:36 Yeah, that's true. All right. So the Astros of a day off today. We'll be back in action tomorrow against the Texas Rangers. And it's funny because I would ask Brian Bogosovic, can you bury the Rangers in July? And he said, no, you can't. But they are double digits down in America. They put a lot of dirt on them.
Starting point is 02:05:53 You certainly can't. You certainly can't. Yeah, they're 10 back. Do people in Ireland didn't even care at this point? No. They're worried about Cowboys training camp coming up. Yeah. That's a loud noise, man.
Starting point is 02:06:08 That's okay. I like a little crowd noise. Yeah, a little lobby. Yeah, they're all staring at us like, what are these guys doing? doing now. 713, 212. 5790.
Starting point is 02:06:18 713212-1-2-5-7-9-0. We were talking about the great 12 months coming up. Yes. So, with your crystal ball in front of you right now, we've kind of said, I think NBA finals, or it's not a great deal, is that
Starting point is 02:06:36 what we're going to go with on the Rockets? NBA finals are bust? I would say Western finals are bust. I still don't think they're better than the Oklahoma City Thunder. Okay, so West. Western finals or bus would be fair to say. What is it fair to say about the Texans? Do you have to finally get to an AFC championship game?
Starting point is 02:06:52 Divisional. Okay, let's just say it. Let's say they go 10 and 7 again and are out in the division around again. You're not going to lose fans. But those fans are going to become dormant. They're going to say, wait me up when you get somewhere that you haven't gone before. It's the bar. They will not have surpassed the bar.
Starting point is 02:07:14 bar, but that's the bar that they've set. And if you go to the bar, it's neither a disappointment, and it's not something to really get excited about. Let me ask you about this. And this is convoluted because it's about NFL and salary caps and whatnot. If you have only achieved the semifinal, or the conference semifinals, and you haven't gone past it, and you're not going to pay C.J. Stride, this ungodly amount of money that quarterbacks get. Do you feel like it's a missed opportunity that you could not go further, even when you had a quarterback that wasn't making crazy money?
Starting point is 02:07:46 Yeah, it would be a missed opportunity. And Nick Casario has recognized that. I mean, they signed a lot of free agents and brought guys in, like, Daniel Hunter and... Don't you think Cowboy fans feel that way? When Dak Prescott was drafted all those years ago... His first, they went, what, 15 and won his first year? Something crazy like that? And they're like, this guy's on a rookie contract, the future is bright, and then all of a sudden
Starting point is 02:08:04 you pay him this ungodly amount of money, and they're having to wiggle around getting players. They had the young Dak Prescott in the best offensive line in football. Yeah. And they didn't go to a NFC championship. championship game. That's a huge discipline. So that's what I'm saying.
Starting point is 02:08:18 It's almost like if you're a fan of a team and you've got that quarterback, which obviously the Texans have, you have to almost exceed expectations with a young quarterback before that guy starts making great money. Either that or you're paying him a lot of money and you're hoping to get
Starting point is 02:08:34 value in other positions. The windows can get small, especially with rookies who are overperforming their rookie deal. I mean, that's fine. I like that it's that way because of the hard cap of the NFL that's why you get as much parody as we have.
Starting point is 02:08:48 Right. Okay. So if you maintain status quo, could a group of fans go, I'm done? This is who they are and I'm not going to, you know, I'll wait for that Saturday Walcker game.
Starting point is 02:09:02 But you're missing out an opportunity to take over the city. I mean, how much more value are the Astros have? And we know this, Matt, 10 years ago. It's a baseball town now, but it wouldn't like that. 10, 12 years.
Starting point is 02:09:12 And one Super Bowl run for the Texans would change it in a millisecond. We're talking about this sleeping giant, but it just ain't waking up because, I mean, the team just has not, it has not warranted it. So the defense is getting better, and all the guys are locked and loaded contract-wise. Yes. And the quarterback is still not making crazy money. And you went and got wide receiver help in the offseason with the draft. Yes. And you got Christian Kirk, too.
Starting point is 02:09:39 And you feel like that Joe Mixican had the same kind of year that he had to get a little. the year before. The only thing that's holding them back is the position that was their greatest detriment the season before. Yes, and we brought it up earlier in the week. Pro Football Focus has them 30-second offensive line, fantasy points, CBS,
Starting point is 02:09:59 and I think, I don't know, some website called like Sharp Football Analysis, like everywhere I look, they are the 32nd offensive line. So if you have these metric websites, now again, they're just a bunch of dorks, okay? But if all of them have that consistency, about where the team is.
Starting point is 02:10:14 It's hard to say that it's average. That's right. But, I mean, okay. Do championship teams neglect one position two straight years and expect to be better the following year? You're just going to have... A couple things are going to have to happen.
Starting point is 02:10:32 CJ Strata is going to have to rise above it, especially with the past catching options that he has. You're going to hope that the new offensive coordinator, Nick Cayley, can better scheme around these types of things. By the way, Nick Haley is having a lot of pressure on him. Yes, he does? Because Bobby Sloick has been raked over the colds here. Yeah, funny how quick that was.
Starting point is 02:10:54 Absolutely. And you're going to need Cam Robinson to not a lot of the pressures like he did last year. He still wasn't like a bad overall tackle. Arionte Urstery is going to have to grow up fast, and then Blake Fisher is going to have to get better. And what's going to happen at the center spot, whether it's Jake Andrews who you drafted or Jared Patterson or whoever, juice grugs.
Starting point is 02:11:14 So just be, you know what, be average with everything else being exemplary, and maybe you can reach that spot that you have never reached before. 713-213-2-790. 7-1-2-7-9-0. It is the Matt Thomas Show with Ross. We are Italian brewing on Imperial Boulevard and Sugar Lane, three and a half acres of fun and pizza and burgers and sandwiches and pit barbecue in the weekends. Place to bring the dog, place to get a flight of beer, get some sample. of some of the best stuff that you'll find here in the city, Houston, all at Talier Brewing. Instagram is a great place to find them, T-A-L-A-R-D, and certainly T-A-R-R-D, and certainly Talyardbrewing.
Starting point is 02:11:51 com. Welcome back to the Matt Thomas Show with Ross. Hi, Ross. We're at Talia Brewing. Feeling of love today, Matt. There's so many nice people here. I know. We didn't get heckled once yet.
Starting point is 02:12:05 Oh, we did. Behind the scenes. Oh, that's true. There are a lot of shots being taken out of us. Yeah, with some of your comments. deserved. Yeah, we try to get out as much as we can. Yes.
Starting point is 02:12:16 Everybody's saying, yeah, you guys need to get out more, and I agree. Yeah. We didn't like a mascot or something to come with us. Because, I mean, we're handsome enough guys, but you don't want to stare at us for four hours. Yes. Brian McTagrebobo, if you missed our visit with him, we're going to replay that for you coming up at the bottom of the hour here on Sports Talk,
Starting point is 02:12:32 so he'll give us this thoughts on that. What else is going on? Okay, we talked a little bit about these media days. The Big 12th just finished theirs. What's that guy's name? Campbell, something or other Camel? Cody Campbell, right? Cody Campbell. Cody Campbell is a...
Starting point is 02:12:50 He doesn't like publicity. He doesn't like publicity, so what do you do? You run to the Big 12 meeting days and offer yourself up for radio shows. According to our caller yesterday. I mean, honestly, let me ask you this. That's fine. Take your talk show head off for a second here. Would that interest you as a listener?
Starting point is 02:13:11 Hmm. If I was a big tech fan, I would want to hear. Now, if I'm doing Caleb, K-L-L-B-B or whatever. Yeah, I don't want to hear about the guy. I don't know how forthcoming he would be about details about all this type of stuff. But, yeah, I would say if it is specific to my interest, yes, more than my college team. Otherwise, no.
Starting point is 02:13:33 So we have generic guy coming on the show, and he has just donated X amount of money. I mean, what do you say? Where did you get your money from? Yeah, you're really rich. That's cool. Why did you choose Group A over Group B? Yeah. How much are you willing to spend? What's the budget looking like long term? I guess you know what? Maybe there's good questions that it could be interesting.
Starting point is 02:13:51 If he's willing to be forthcoming about a return on investment, how much does he? Is he, let's just say he's spending $5 million on this offensive tackle, right? Right. I mean, is he expecting to recoup zero percent of that, correct? I mean, is that guy going to speak? There's no way that a Texas Tech, I can say this with almost certainty. There's no way that a Texas Tech athlete can reach another. people.
Starting point is 02:14:14 Yeah. That would justify $5.1 million. Yeah, exactly. What is he speaking for? What appearance is he doing? What autographs is he signing? I mean, because Cody Campbell, I thought, divested from his businesses. I don't know what he does now or, you know, what is this?
Starting point is 02:14:29 Travel the country, apparently. Between Wimbledon and Dallas. Yeah, what is this money going towards, I guess, is my question. Yeah. Yeah, I don't know. But I will give Cody the respect that this is a man that was obviously made a lot of money, sold his companies, and everybody has money they want to spend towards a variety of things, whether it be for charitable purposes. Now, there's another thing that's a,
Starting point is 02:14:56 you could say, well, wait a minute, you could give $5 million to a children's cancer fund as compared to giving it to one offensive lineman just play football for your school. And that is correct. So that opens up a new can of worms. But that could be the case with anybody, whether they're doing radio interviews or not. Yeah, but it's all he can just say, you know, shit's bummed ass up. It's my money. I'll spend it out of one. That's exactly right. But you have to know that that could be part of the territory. I imagine he does
Starting point is 02:15:23 do philanthropic efforts. Usually, if you're giving $5 million to a football player, that's not usually, I haven't done this one of only a few years, but I'm going to presume that if I was to look at the portfolio of Cody Campbell, my guess is there is a lot of charitable dollars being placed as well. I would imagine.
Starting point is 02:15:41 especially with tax write-offs. You can write off a donation to a school, but I don't know about to an NIA. My guess is there's the Campbell School of something at Tech. There maybe is a Campbell cancel center, you know, something like that. Who knows? Yeah.
Starting point is 02:15:59 But that's one of the things is funny, and I always dream of winning the lottery. Who doesn't, right? Who doesn't? And it's almost like you want to tell the world you're now insanely rich, but there's also a part of you that does. doesn't want to because everybody's going to, and their mother's going to come after you for something.
Starting point is 02:16:14 Yeah, like the people that show up and claim their lottery with a mask on, that's what I would do. I don't need to hear from all my third and four. Because put it this way, if I was to win the lottery, it was to gain $75 million. I don't want to give away a lot of money to variety of medical things, different charities and whatnot. But there'll be somebody that I can't give it to or didn't think about it that will be a little, you know, it's almost like, it's a terrible analogy. You know, I'm here for that. Nolan Ryan was told me many a time He says I try to sign as many autographs as I can't
Starting point is 02:16:45 I sign 99 of the 100 The 100th person Who doesn't get that autograph It says we'll go out and tell the whole world That Nolan Ryan didn't sign the baseball Right yeah and then they'll say never meet your heroes Right you know what I'm saying Yeah I get it you can't cover all the bases man
Starting point is 02:17:02 But Cody Campbell He's covering the Texas Tech base He's What he is doing is he's not doing it just because he wants to take care of a young man who needs five million dollars. He's doing it because he knows that young man wouldn't even sniff Texas Tech University, if not for that $5 million. There is a reason why that young man is going to play in Lubbock as compared to maybe being offered to play at Penn State, Ohio, State, Florida, whatever. So he's, and the thing about Cody is, and I don't know him, I've only heard a couple of sound bites.
Starting point is 02:17:35 you can't hide the fact. You're trying to, what is it, not pistol whip, a cash whip, people. I've got all this money. I'm tired of Texas Tech going eight and four every year. What's the number one thing I can do as a big Red Raider fan that can help change this? I want to win games. I'm going to go get the biggest amount of money I can give to a player and make sure that the number one tackle in the country or whatever position plays
Starting point is 02:18:02 is going to my school. I think that's cool. There's people talk about all this money that gets spent and how the haves and the have-nots and the haves will always be the haves. Well, with this new NIL system, now it's going to get a little more regulated. We'll see how it goes from here.
Starting point is 02:18:16 But if you are, Cody Campbell, Texas Tech alum, before you could pay guys under the table, but you couldn't probably spend the amount of funds that you're doing here, and you can't do your best to make your sports teams relevant. You know the number one thing I'm very curious about? Not the number one thing, but one of the things I'm most curious about
Starting point is 02:18:33 is will we find a school that is not on the radar right now that might be on the radar in five years exclusively for NIL purposes? For instance, SMU's got a lot of money coming their way. But SMU had money before this NIL and then we'll have money after. Could we ever, ever see, just for a pure example,
Starting point is 02:18:59 Northern Illinois, some tech, giant who went to Northern Illinois that said, you know what? I want Northern Illinois to be on the same football landscape as Notre Dame. Here's $10 million. No, you're going to need much more millions than that.
Starting point is 02:19:16 And I think with, I think Texas Tech, with the proper amount of millionaire and millions of funding, at least for a short while, it might be short-lived, but for a couple of years they should be able to compete. And I mean, we have, I think the greatest
Starting point is 02:19:32 example we can bring is they haven't want to National Championship, but they've been involved in multiple championship games, I believe. The Oregon Ducks and what Phil Knight has done there. Right. But we're talking about multi-multe billion dollar. I mean, one of the richest people on the planet who's invested all this money, has
Starting point is 02:19:48 the backing of Nike, and they still haven't won a national championship. Well, that's my question, too, is that, is this example of the money that is now going to Lubbock that never really got there? If it doesn't pay off, is he going to regret it? Well, is he going to say, or is anybody going to say no matter what amount of money you throw in Lubbock to Texas Tech, they're just not capable of ever being a national title contender?
Starting point is 02:20:15 Because you would think if you're giving one player $5 million, there's going to be other money coming for other players. The Texas Tech directive has, we've been talking about this for the last couple of years. It has a lot of money. Not just Cody, but there's a lot of Texas Tech has been positively taken advantage of. this system. They paid the softball player a million dollars. Yeah, I thought maybe Cody was involved with that too. I don't know that. But point being is this, you are seeing
Starting point is 02:20:40 all this money going to this school in Lubbock that never was talked about with being a half 10 years ago. And if it does, if you don't win a national championship, and you're not routinely playing in a high-end playoff game, that what does it ultimately say about the future of Texas
Starting point is 02:20:57 Tech Athletics, that even money can't buy your championships? That's what I'm saying, it's a little bit of a slippery slope. You applaud the money being given out. Yeah. You love your school, but this is really the last gas effort to be a national power. That's, yeah, I mean, that's up for Cody Campbell to answer. If he feels like it's a, it's been a proper use of his resources, obviously he feels like
Starting point is 02:21:16 it right now. But if he's not getting the results on the field that he's expecting in the next couple of years, could there be some regrets? And would he even admit that publicly? Probably not. 1.30 is our time. We'll talk to Brian McTaggart next. It is the Matt Thomas show with Ross.
Starting point is 02:21:28 We come to you from Talier Brewing here on Sports Talk 7-9. If you want to jump into the conversation, you may do. so at 713-212-5-790. 7-1-3-212-5-7-90. Welcome back to the Matt Thomas show with Ross here on Sports Talk 790, broadcasting alive from Talyard Brewing in Sugarland. Every Thursday we are joined by Brian McTaggart, but it's early in the show, so some of you may have missed a great conversation, so we wanted to bring that to you, folks.
Starting point is 02:22:02 Again, of course, a lot going on with the Astros right now with the Jake Myers injury last night as well. That's how the conversation started earlier in the show with Brian McTaggart. Yeah, that was me who asked him. I mean, we were told that Myers wasn't going to talk, but me and Chandler and Matt Kawahara waited about anyway. I mean, we need to hear that from him. And Myers is a great guy and was kind enough to do a short interview, so props to him. But yeah, when he was asked that question, he gave a long pause and then asked a member of PR staff if he has to answer that. And then he didn't answer it.
Starting point is 02:22:40 And that's fine. His prerogative, I'm just glad he talked and gave us some kind of update. But, you know, he was hurting. I mean, he was walking around really gingerly, you know, limping pretty noticeably. So did not look very comfortable. So, yeah, it's, you know, I don't have good vibes for Jake Meyer. I hope he's okay, but it didn't look good. You know, the reality is this, and we've spent the first hour primarily talking about this,
Starting point is 02:23:08 we're not doctors, we don't have the inside intelligence from the organization. We do know what Joe Espada said. We do know what an athlete wants to do. He wants to play. We know that a manager is not going to put a player out there just exclusively based off of the players saying to you, I feel good. So as you're watching this unfold, we were at the ballpark yesterday, seeing him being helped off the field, could he have just made a bad move? What I can't accept is anyone trying to rush him back on the field. And I think there are probably some that are thinking, why are you putting a player out there that isn't 100%.
Starting point is 02:23:52 I just can't fathom, even if there is malpractice. even if there is a misdiagnosis, that anyone would say, rough, you know, fight through this, Nancy, get on the field, we need you immediately. And that's my point is that
Starting point is 02:24:06 I know people want to find the answer and want to crucify everybody, but come on. I just think that that's not in the DNA of the manager and of the player. Yeah, for sure. Spot is not going to put him out there if he doesn't get total players from medical staff.
Starting point is 02:24:22 If Myers doesn't say, hey, I'm good to go. And Myers, before the game, was, was, hey, I'm good to go. I mean, he did it, he told us he did a 20 to 25 minute workout. He did sprinting. He did cuts. No issues. He looked, he looked and fell to 100%.
Starting point is 02:24:37 And then something happened just when he was jogging back out, you know, jogging back out there. So, yes, I don't think, in this case, you can't point a finger to anyone and say, boy, they rushed them back. Because I guess the information everybody was getting, including the player was like, I'm good to go. And so, hey, he's good to go. Medical staff cleared him. He's doing these workouts without any issues. He's not feeling it. Let's put him in the lineup.
Starting point is 02:25:02 And it's not even like he was, the weird thing is, I mean, it's not like he was running the first or going first to third. I mean, he was just jogging the center field and started limping all of a sudden. So just really a strange deal. So I guess they'll give us some sort of update on Fridays or in a conjecture mode for the next 48 hours. This is just another name to the. seemingly endless list of injuries. And did we finally see the Astros, Brian, get caught up in the moment, go, you know what,
Starting point is 02:25:32 we're running out of depth. The bottom third of the order just didn't provide much. If not for Jose L. Tuva, they wouldn't be a runner in scoring position, scoring. Where are we with this squad of, hey, this has been good to see some of these younger guys get an opportunity, but man, we've got to start getting some healthy players back on the field. Yeah, I think that's 100% fair. I mean, I think their injuries offensively have caught up with them.
Starting point is 02:25:56 I don't think there's any doubt. I mean, you don't have Pena for that series. You don't have Christian Walker who, you know, had a really good road trip. And was swinging the bat really well. Of course, Alvarez is out. And, I mean, that's three, three of your, you know, like it or not, Walker's still a guy you want in the middle of your lineup at this point. So three middle of the lineup guys that you just don't have
Starting point is 02:26:19 and you're replacing them with guys that they brought in the spring training as non-roster players for depth for their defense, you know, as pieces. And now they're getting the bats of the bottom of the order. It's just a big drop off, you know, offensively. And, yeah, I mean, it's definitely catching up to him a little bit. And, you know, Walker can be on the fraternity list three days, which is up now. Of course, tomorrow, I mean, today they're off. So I would suspect he's in the lineup tomorrow.
Starting point is 02:26:45 And now it looks like Jake's going to be out a while. So they're in a tough spot. and they don't want to rush these guys back from injuries because they don't want to risk re-injuring. They also have a, you know, still have a pretty good lead in the division, so they can take a little bit of time, but certainly they have to start getting some healthy bodies back in this lineup sooner than later. Brian McTaggart with us here on Sports Talk 790, and with that, you're talking about bodies. I think it's interesting now three weeks away from the trade deadline. Where do you think we are?
Starting point is 02:27:17 because it could be guys coming back, and then if you make a trade, and then that person you trade for doesn't need the playing time if everybody's coming back healthy. And that could be both on the pitching side and the position player's side. Yeah, I think there's no doubt. I think we've said it before. I think they're going to look to get a bat, a left-handed bat. I mean, Daniel Brown has even admitted that after Alvarez, you know,
Starting point is 02:27:39 had his setback. He said that it hasn't changed their thoughts on the trade deadline. They're still going to be in the market for a left-handed bat. I still think they're going to go after a starting pitcher. I mean, I've been kind of back and forth on that, and I'm back in the camp of, I think they want to add a starting pitcher from the aspect of, you still don't know when these guys are coming back. I mean, Arogati was supposed to be out six weeks, and I don't think he's faced hitters yet. And, you know, he got injured in early April. So these rehabs have been slow, and there's been, you know, guys that had setbacks here and there.
Starting point is 02:28:12 So I think it behooves them to go out and look at the starting pitcher market as well, just, to get another arm in here, you can plug in the rotation, so you're not having to, you know, rely on, you know, some guy who was, you know, a non-raster invitee to camp. I mean, Brandon Walter did a really nice job last night, other than the two pitches, the homers, and those were good pitches. I mean, but still, if they can get better with their pitching staff and add a veteran arm, then they probably should try to do that. Yeah, and interesting, wondering how Lance McCuller's Jr., you know, factors into that.
Starting point is 02:28:45 to he's been so up and down but of course this the start in l.A. was very good and i would say like the last couple of inings of that uh brian he looked about as locked in as i've seen him this year yeah he did and props to lance i mean he was not coming off a good start he's facing the dodgers uh you know dodger stadiums a place that he's pitched very very well in his career of course that uh you know a start of game seven of the world series but yeah i think if you the astros you would definitely like to see lance you know get get his feet under him a little bit it, you know, start to build some consistent starts here and there. Chance to do that against the Rangers lineup.
Starting point is 02:29:21 It's not very good. So his last start before the All-Star break, so I think he'll be fired up for that. But he's done, Lance has done better than I, you know, I thought he would at this point. I mean, he's had a couple of stinkers, but for the most part, he's gone out there and competed. And, you know, I thought done a pretty nice job, and Dodger Stadium was one of his better starts. There you go, Brian McTaggart, some of the conversation. You can catch it in full at sport. Talk 790.com.
Starting point is 02:29:51 It is the Matt Thomas show with Ross. We do have to take one more break. We'll wrap things up from Talleyre Brewing in Sugar Land after these short messages. Final segment here from Tallier Brewing, and we have had such a nice get-together. We had lots of people come by for lunch today. People bringing their computers and working, drinking pints, doing it responsibly, bringing the dogs. Really nice to meet you folks, and we wish we could get out more often. We're going to try to the next few months.
Starting point is 02:30:17 and the one thing I noticed was you are way more handsome in person than you are on radio. And I thought that's very nice people to say that. Yeah, that is nice. And I think they're totally 100% correct. So you think I'm more handsome outside of the studio? Oh, you're talking about me? No, me. Oh, I'm sorry.
Starting point is 02:30:31 You're talking about me. No, like, you are one handsome devil. When they say you're a beautiful ball man, I'm like, yes. Oh, here's a picture. Who's this? Tired. Oh, there you go. What's up, Tyler?
Starting point is 02:30:41 And I'm going to have a flight after the show today. And then I'm going to have something to eat some more, and then responsibly drive back home. home so. Okay. And you might have several flights. I did not drive here, Matthew. I know.
Starting point is 02:30:56 It's a yababadoo time at 2 o'clock. It's going to the restroom in your own pants. You've got a got a day. Hey, you know what? We all have our crosses to bear. Yeah, that's true. Every time they turn on that, more beer comes out. I can't believe it.
Starting point is 02:31:14 So I got to keep drinking it. My buddy John from a. of the University of Houston Cougar Productions is already knocking back one. Oh, okay, great. I'm going to talk to him. I've talked to you all the time. I never get to talk to John. John's the great person that sets me up for these great University of Houston assignments.
Starting point is 02:31:29 Okay. Like versus Our Lady the Lake games and whatnot. Is HCC on the schedule this year, too? Well, that's great, man. It's funny that you ask. I don't, we don't know our schedule just yet, but I do write it. down. And we were talking about non-conference scheduling.
Starting point is 02:31:50 No, I think it's awesome, Matt. You get on ESP. Now, we are going to Los Vegas. Now, I'm not me, but I'm talking about University of Houston. Why aren't you going? Because I'll be with the Rockets. Okay. We've got Florida State playing at TOTA Center.
Starting point is 02:32:01 Wonderful. We're going to play in the Barclays Center, I think, against Kansas State maybe. I don't know. Somebody good. Kansas State. It would be a league game. But there are going to be a few less spectacular games. we do have New Orleans coming in
Starting point is 02:32:18 really yeah for 10,000 MT bucks oh no I used to know University of New Orleans what I did know this it's on the tip of your tongue
Starting point is 02:32:32 I know it if you say it you're going to say it I'm going to be mad just tell me Privateers Yeah see I was going to say I was going to say Mountaineers or Chanticleers And I knew those were both wrong But I couldn't think of it All right
Starting point is 02:32:45 one more for you. A non-conference game, December the 29th. Okay. Middle Tennessee State. I can't remember. The Blue Raiders. The Blue Raiders, that's right. But you know what, every number one team in the country plays a bunch of...
Starting point is 02:33:01 Of course. But you know what? It just gives us more opportunity to brag about how great the team is. I like that I pulled up the schedule for you guys, and they have the NCAA tournament Final Four already on this schedule. Good. They should. That's cool.
Starting point is 02:33:15 Yeah. Be nice to win them. Do you know what I did for my school? What did you do for your school? I got COVID for my school. They benefit. No, when you do something for someone, they benefit from it. I sacrificed sleep.
Starting point is 02:33:29 No, they didn't help them at all. Unless they're invested in Pfizer. That's right. Probably, yeah. I just took a lot of ibuprofen. Okay. No Paxilovid? I kept calling the team doctor for the Rock,
Starting point is 02:33:41 and he's like, just keep amping up your Advil. Yeah, you're fine. you're doing great you lost a little weight from it I did lose some weight from it fortunately and then I had to go to San Antonio Watch and lose a game well at least it wasn't like it was
Starting point is 02:33:57 a heartbreaking fashion or anything that'd be tough that game against Jackson State can't come fast enough yeah get revenge on Jackson State well it's got to be somebody beat him by 70 you know I think I did five or six games last year
Starting point is 02:34:17 I think the closest game was 40 points. That said something. No, man, it's nice. You're on ESPN Plus. You're getting exposure. I put a suit on. Yeah, you got a new, you got new suits. I did get new suits.
Starting point is 02:34:27 I know. I did get new suits. You used to wear the ones where I was looking at you, you were your dad's suit. But now they look like your suits, and that's good. Thank you very much. Because you had lost weight, you know. Yeah. All right.
Starting point is 02:34:35 So tomorrow on the show, we have... What's tomorrow? Friday? Friday. Anything goes Friday in the show. Okay. Complete, intense breakdown or preview, I should say, of the Astros versus the Rangers. Huge.
Starting point is 02:34:46 We have non-Florida stories tomorrow on the radio program. Of course. And we're going to be out of here at Talyard, but not here at Talyard. We're going to be back in our studios. Yes. Back in the cage. Yeah. But we didn't come back out of Tired.
Starting point is 02:34:57 It's cool. Yeah, it's nice. Your thoughts on the pizza we had today? I thought it was great. There you go. If it's free, it's you. See how you are. It was good.
Starting point is 02:35:08 Yep. They got the wood fire down there? Downstairs, yeah. Yeah. I could tell. I love wood fire. Of course. Thin crust?
Starting point is 02:35:15 Perfect. Expect nothing less. There you go. All right. What are we watching for sports tonight? Do we have anything to watch? There's got to be some baseball on. Actually, you know, the White Sox, the Yankees and the Mariners play.
Starting point is 02:35:29 Oh, let's go. MLB Network. Let's go Yankees. Say it, Matt. All right, we have a little bit of breaking news. Oh, does it, I meant to mention this like three times earlier. Is it the transaction? No, but go ahead and tell me.
Starting point is 02:35:41 Oh, Christian Walker activated. Shea Wickham. Shea Wickham sit down. Shay will be here to join us to get your autographs here. Yeah, She should be here shortly. He knows the way. He knows the roads. I'm surprised Gordy isn't running into the talk on microphone here.
Starting point is 02:35:55 Okay. The number one overall recruit in high school football. Yes? Had a choice between Texas, Yeah, I saw this. Miami, A&M, and LSU. And he is going to Louisiana State. Would they pony up?
Starting point is 02:36:17 Six foot five, 285 pounds from Irwinville, Louisiana. Irwinville, Louisiana? Luis, he did the hat thing. Oh, he's with the hats. And Sports Center broadcast it. I got to go targets now, baby. I'm looking for the NIL money on this. There's got to be money here.
Starting point is 02:36:36 Yeah. Come on, Gordy. Where's the Gordy? Where we got in the NIL? We actually, we paid less than the actual. Oh. Oh. They offered less in A&M.
Starting point is 02:36:46 Because they threw in some Boudan. That's right. 4.6 million and all the cracklings you can eat. He gave you six rings of Boudan, baby. He doesn't have to go to class either, which most of LSU students go to anyway. Yeah, is he going to be general studies? Or administrative studies. He's going to be his degrees in swamp opery, looking at the various swamps.
Starting point is 02:37:08 Yeah. Fan boat operation. Upon further investigation, he realized the Aggies. head and one crap. Oh, here we go. Shots at the Aggies. All right, before I get you out of here, let's say about risehealth.com. R-I-I-I-Z-E-Halth.com is a wonderful company that wants to help you with your erectile dysfunction.
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Starting point is 02:37:58 If you want to get it solved and get help quickly, long-lasting, to get the confidence and power you want in the bedroom, it's risehealth.com, R-I-I-Z-E-Halth.com, and the promo code is M-T-20. Thanks to the group here at Talia Brewing. Thanks for our listeners that came by. It was nice to meet so many nice people today. Yes. Better than hanging out with you exclusive to you for four hours. Yeah, I'm going to go ahead and wholeheartedly agree with you on that one.
Starting point is 02:38:23 It's an anything goes Friday tomorrow. Up next, it's cruising with claim. And I believe Chandlerone. Chandler Rome is in. You're going to want to listen to that after yesterday. That might be spicy. No holds barred. It's the C team.
Starting point is 02:38:39 Ooh. Next. Sports Talk, 7. Thank you.

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