The Matt Thomas Show with Ross - Astros Playoff Rotation, The 0-0 Texans & Gordy Parody

Episode Date: September 25, 2020

So much larger than life. Yeah. Lunch timers is the Matt Thomas show. 12 o'clock at H-town. What's happening, luncht timers? Good afternoon to you, and welcome to a special Friday edition of the Matt Thomas show.

We are coming to you from the Toyota Center. Now, you're saying to yourself, wait a minute, Matt. I listen to your show only one day a week for one minute per week and it's for you to introduce the strippers and wake them up we had to do that yesterday

because today we're being semi-official I'm actually wearing I'm actually wearing nice pants a nice rocket shirt I got dress shoes on I've actually dressed for the occasion after the normal well basically what you wear every day

well I'm not in sweatpants today that's true I went with a khaki shorts in case it got a little warm I saw I was going to get into the 80s, perhaps. Right. I'm shocked that you're dressed up like this. I look good, don't I? Well, I wouldn't go that far, but I figure you're going to be sweating a little bit in those khaki pants.

You know, it's fine. I'm cold-blooded by nature. We are here. Is our collection, 1999? No. I'm just asking. No, no. It got to be 2004.

Can you turn me up a little as I can hear myself just a little more? Yeah, Matt wants to hear himself more. Yeah, that's exactly. There we go much better. We're at the corner of what is this street right here? Is this clay? No. This is, isn't it? Polk?

Polk and LaBranch. I don't know. We're outside. It's very pleasant, frankly. We're at the corner of the Toyota Center, all right? Yeah, I mean, where the big R is, and you guys, you know we're talking about. It's the voter registration drive today for the Houston Rockets. Okay.

And they are sponsoring it. And so if you are not registered to vote, today would be a perfect day. They're going to be out here until 2 o'clock this afternoon doing that. And we're going to be out here to 3. So we might be by ourselves out of here in the middle of the street between 2 and 3. Matt will be registering you to vote from two to three. Yeah. And I think you're going to get a special rocket shirt.

The rocket shop is open to get some big discounts. Clutches here. You get elbow bumped by about 50 people because no one's high-fiving or hugging or fist-bubbing. We're going right to the elbow. And if you're a big fan of late 1990s R&B and rap, they are blasting it on the speakers. Because our sister station, 93-7, the beat is here. Yes. So that's what they're playing.

Okay. So it's kind of, I'm jamming. Seventh-grade me is ecstatic. to hear Mike Carrey and P. Diddy and Mace. Okay, I don't know who two of the three of those people are. But it's an ambiance, if you will. You don't know who P. Diddy and Mace are? Definitely don't know who Mace is.

Okay. Oh, geez. You didn't buy Harlem World from Sam Goody back in the day? No, no. Yeah, and then it had the MGA ball and MJG collab on that CD? Oh, man, great album, Matt. Well, why don't you send it to me? Okay.

You'll listen to it on the next road trip. We'll listen to it on the next road trip. Yeah, that's right. We gotta go somewhere. I don't, I mean, Lake Charles, the limit's too high. Tim, if you're listening, what up? But, God, can you lower them a little bit? Are they, is everything good over there? Well, I know you win.

No, I don't think, I mean, I don't, I mean, Lake Charles still is a mess, I think. Yeah, that's what I'm asking. I don't know. But, yeah, Lake Charles, yeah, if those limits get dropped a little, but I can go, because I got bills to pay children and expensive. That sounds terrible. It is, you know, it's good. They're good kids.

But you still, I mean, nobody's really, I mean, we're not blaring on a speaker, so you still could awaken the strippers. awaken the strippers. Strippers, they need to vote two. You know what? You might be right. Hour number two. Hour two, one o'clock. So those of you that only listen to one day a week for one minute,

you've got to listen to me for a second minute at one o'clock. Yeah, you might want to turn this way, though. There are some rockets officials that are kind of close. Yeah, that'd be kind of confusing. Why are you waking up strippers? What do you, would you call me? Yeah, that was the worst. Can we peel the curtain back? Yeah, oh, when you were at Twin Peaks?

Yes. eats drinks scenic views and Matt harassing the waitresses no it wasn't harassment at all it was frankly just one douche customer right yeah or was it a caller or email I can't remember no well somebody who had absolutely no if no ties to you're doing yeah had no idea what the show is what the essence is on a Friday and so I said good morning strippers at Twin Peaks yeah not looking at them not staring at them just saying what I normally say frankly when I say good morning strippers I stare at you morning anything else. Thank you. Because there's glitter usually on your shirt occasionally. That's not usually man. I've locked it off. Okay. It's hard to get off. And this guy either called or sent a scathing email. I don't know what it was. It was an email. But it was so off base. Just mind your own damn business. If you don't know the show,

that don't get involved in the show. There you go. I may have put that on a t-shirt. If you don't know the, uh, why are you all up in the Kool-Aid and you don't know the flavor. That's what you're saying, Matt? That what the kids are saying? I mean, That's what I said when I was a kid. Okay, so technically a kid at one point said that. All right. It is that anything goes Friday today. So, and look, the most important thing is with us being out here is, first of all, it's a glorious day.

Second of all, beautiful. If you haven't voted, we get this chance. Registered. Every year. Register. If you've not registered it, come on out. I don't care who you vote for because we don't talk politics. No.

I'm just saying you're not doing yourself or anybody in this country any favors by not voting. Yeah, I've already seen a couple dozen people sign up for voting. Nice. You can get a mask. You can get a shirt. Say how to clutch. Clutch his suit smells like he just got it dry cleaned yesterday, so that's good. He probably knew he was going to be sweating his, you know what, off here? My guess his clutch hasn't put the clutched uniform on.

And so he got really, he's been eaten really heavily. A lot of carb loading, if you will. He's going to drop 10 LBs today. Yeah, probably. But he's out here, so come out. That's what I'm saying. If you all want to lose weight the right way, go become a mascot. When I was in high school, I was Portly.

He'd be borderline obese. Yes. I would drop six, seven pounds after a Friday night football game. You look like a major league umpire. You had the hair and the in the build. Thanks, I think. All right. If you'd like to join us today, we can take your phone calls.

Yes. Because it is anything goes Friday. And Ross explained the essence of the audience what anything goes Friday is. Well, Matt, anything you want to get to, whether it's on the sports slate or non-sports related, you call the phone line 713-212-7-90. Look, the leash is usually longer. than normal and than any other show because we are the most interactive show the most in america and kalu thinks he's interactive i've heard that show there you know no interaction monday through

thursday we are very very open and interactive even on friday the leash gets even longer at 713 212 5 790 so if you want to talk about the texans and how they're going to go 0 and 3 even though matt will say they're o and 1 if they lose we can get to that yeah by the way i went on a pittsburgh radio show yesterday and i explained the oh and what they say they're like that makes up lot of sense. No, they probably hung up on it. Because they're kind of saying the same thing. Yeah. Because they play the Giants. The Giants aren't a real NFL team. They're in the rotten five, so that makes them more of the worst. And then they beat Jeff Driscoll. Yeah. So, do the Steelers only know who they are? Hmm. Well, I guess we'll find out this week when they crush the Texans.

All right, on the show today, besides your phone calls, it again, 713-212-5-790. 7-1-3-2-5-790. We got the Chris Gordy horrible football Friday parody. Wonderful. He has given us a laid-back country style and then he went full pop last week I remind him two days ahead of time because there's very few things in Friday I look forward to I mean we're in a pandemic yes the economy is down

we have civil unrest right I just we need something to smile with at least once per week and that's why the Chris Gordy horrible football party's parody is such an important part of the show you look forward to on a Friday a fillet of fish and then a well during that of course yeah 1250 Chris Gordy's parody coming up One o'clock, the gentleman's who show I went on yesterday, he's coming on our show. Oh, really? At Tim Benz, who is a columnist for the Pittsburgh Review Journal.

There's a Post-Gazette. Is he on that one of them? He's got a long title, too. Okay. What does that mean? I mean, he does a lot of things, too, like I do. Is he your vice president of content? No, no. Like you do?

I think he does. Well, you know, I have multiple jobs. Do you? Yeah, I'm here at least 45 times a year. I guess. Closer to 50, the last handful of years. Yeah, but we don't make you do that. You do that for extra money. But it's a job. That's true.

You get paid handsomely for it, so I don't want to hear it. Hansomily is a strong term. It's comfortable, but it's not handsomely. Okay. You know, these fresh slacks of mine can't pay for themselves. I'll be honest. When do you buy those? I'm going to tell you the truth. I probably didn't buy them. Okay, when did your wife buy those? Probably, I mean, I've gone down in size each of the last five or six years, so it's got to be something recent.

That's why God invented belts. You wear the same pants forever. But if you have, like, the biggest ways I ever had was a 44. Oh, wow. So if you go from a 44, right now I'm at a 36, you try to cinch that up. That looks ridiculously uncomp-it-look-it-look-unkept. It looks like you need to go style it up a little bit. Okay.

I mean, don't you ever, have you ever gone down multiple sizes? Or up? I fluctuated for being, you know, anything goes Friday. between 34 and 36 since high school. That's good. That's consistency. I would not recommend the 44 to 36 route. Actually, I dipped into 38s in the middle of college, but that's it. Never hit a 40.

Not for more than a year, no. That's good. So once you get 40, it's embarrassing. Yeah. And it's also harder to find clothes. You can find 40s pretty much anywhere. You get to 42, 44, you've got to go to big and tall places. And that's when it's like, yeah, we'll see when the 30s.

6 to start getting tight, that's when I know it's time to... When you had to Dunlap? Yeah, it's time to... Yeah, I got that a little bit right now. You get a little bit of a belly. Yeah, it's not much. It's not fine. Thank you, Matt. You carry your weight well.

That's what I tell myself in the mirror every morning. Thank you. All right, let's get to some of the headlines today quickly. The Astros are going to win the second playoff spot in the American League West tonight. They got the drop the match number down to one yesterday, and they did so by pound on the, you know what, out of Lance Lynn. By the way, Lance Lunds are really good.

picture. Yes. His beard is awful. It looks like, um, what's the, you know, an edger? No, you know what he looks like? It looks like he's on deadliest catch. Like those grizzled guys going out to Alaska for six months? No, what those guys are the, the duck whispers. Oh, Duck Dynasty? Dynasty. No, those beards are even longer. That's more Dallas cycle. No, that's the problem is it wasn't the length that bothered me. It was the unevenness. It needs to be edged. That's what I'm saying. I like those guys on deadliest catch, they don't even care. They just...

So if you're going to be like a cyan candidate, which he's not going to win, or you're going to be like the ace of a team, you got to... I mean, James' beard, you know, Hardin's beard is frothy. Yeah. But it's kept.

It's well kept. You can tell he oils that bad boy up daily. So what were you more bothered by? That beard, Runetto Doors'r's hair, or lack thereof, he needs to go Kenny Smith and cut that bad boy off. I mean, he's got patches up there. Yeah. Or were you more alarmed at howluck?

poor the Texas Rangers are. For a team that bragged about, here we come in 2020, they're a hot mess. And that's why the Astros will beat them to a pulp tonight again and will clinch the second spot in the American League. Well, they are well favored in tonight's game and Jose Arquite on the mound for the Astros.

Who do you want for your first three pitchers? If Arquite who holds his own tonight, he's your second starter, yes? Is he? Well, who's getting bumped? Who's your one? What is that cranky? You're going, Zach, cranky? Absolutely. Erkity ahead of McCullors? McCullors will put tomorrow so by day off wise yes

I'll let you pontificate about this you're going Franbear game three no you're going McCullors going McCullors yeah I might rather have Fromm Bear from bear from then and and you have Christian Javier now as your two lead dog got the bullpen yeah that's good that bolsters the bullpen just saying yeah just saying 713 212 5 790 7 1 3 2 1 2 5 790 it 790 it is the Matt Thomas show. We are live at TOTA center at LaBranch and Polk. It is your opportunity to register to vote. It's your opportunity to listen to us. We greatly appreciate that here on Sports Talk 790. Right now, a word for improve my erection.com. Erectile dysfunction is a very

serious conversation that we try to keep it as lighthearted as possible with it. But it affects marriages. It affects intimacy. It affects your sexual wellness. It affects how you feel about yourself. And that's why you need to call 281-49-6. 3355. 281. 496. 3355. You can also check them on the line

and improve my erection.com. Dr. Rourke and his wife, do you want to visit with you. I promise you they'll go through a practical approach that will not rely on shots and pills for the long term. You're looking for long-term satisfaction.

You'll be able to get it today by calling 281-4963355 or checking out improved by erection.com. And how about Lance McCullors? Hey, it's Lance McCullors. Back to Matt Thomas. Curve ball, swinging a misstrike three.

On Sports Talk 790, your home for Houston Astros baseball. I'm just happy that we actually played a liner of somebody that is actually still a Houston athlete. Yeah. I mean, I'm literally stunned by that. Well, show's been a long time, Matt. We've recruited a lot of liners. You've outlasted the careers of a lot of middling Astros and Rockets. Speaking of lasting careers, and not that we're going to spend a lot of time.

because we got Scottie and Brian want to get to a phone that anything goes Friday. How does Ryan Fitzpatrick survive in the NFL? He wins a handful of games a year. I mean, handful. Picking a picture. Yeah. What's up, Soob. How does he do it?

He was great last night. The Dolphins' defense made Garner Mitch whose life absolutely miserable. Their defense is one of the worst in the league. 30th coming in, right? It was, yes, according to the Rod and 5. Maybe you know what you are? You're the rotten five curse. Why? That teams find out that you put them in the rotten five,

and all of a sudden they perform way better than they're supposed to. Okay, so you've got the Jets beating the Colts in this weekend. I didn't say that. All right, yeah. That's not get crazy now. But my point is, did you watch, I didn't watch a whole lot of it because I was watching the Astros. I had the Astros. Well, once the Astros got up 10 runs, I was focused on the Lakers Nuggets and then the Monday Night Football.

By the way, I'm feeling good about my Lakers and 5. That's good. I don't even think I made it. I think I said Lakers in six, maybe. You know, because it's easy to make something in six, no matter what it is. Well, I thought the Nuggets are a very good team. And they are. It was a close game last night.

They haven't embarrassed themselves. No. But just the Lakers are better. Lakers are better. Anthony Davis was fantastic. Do you think he's done, and this is last time the NBA for a while, I think he's done more for his image in the bubble than maybe, well, I'll say this. Jamal Murray.

I was going to say, Jamal Murray. Jamal Murray's image has gone. Way north. Yeah. I think Anthony Davis for being a superstar has gained even more credibility. Don't put your hand down like that. He's great. Yeah.

I hate to say, but he's great. Because the thing about Anthony Davis is, does he fold in the playoffs? Does he get hurt a lot? He's been healthy. He's played, and he is just about unstoppable. Yeah, I thought he was. Well, he's supposed to be IP. So far, he's okay.

So far he's been MVP is what he's been. Yes, right. I wonder if he'll, he might, he's looking right now like he's going be finals MVP if they make the finals and win the championship uh do you give miami a chance absolutely i think miami is as is going to be pretty good yeah jimmy buckets bam out of bio i mean they've got some good shooters on that team they play good defense and erx bolster's a good coach i'm mad at jimmy buckets why because sometimes you know if you know about jimmy buckets at all he loves being known from tomball yeah he got no time for houston he and agedown yeah see i love that

actually no that's not my problem go ahead it's vain it's vain it's way just wait In my point. Okay. So when Jimmy Buckets comes to town, whether it's one of every uniform he's been in, instead of saying from Marquette, I always say six, whatever he is, from Tomball. I thought he would appreciate that. Okay. Giving me nothing.

What do you mean giving you nothing? No fist bump, no, appreciate that. Hold on. You don't like Jimmy Buckets because he doesn't acknowledge you saying he's from Tomball? I'm saying I don't like, listen to me. I said that just bothers me in that one part. Well, he's from Marquette. What do you want him to do?

Because when Pat Beverly, when he was with the Clippers, I still say he's from Chicago, and he always comes by and says, thank you. Okay. And then he asks how my wife is, which is really odd. But the point being is this. If I'm giving him Tom Ball love, like Ryan Archie Diakano. You know who that is, right? Yeah, sure.

I'm the only PA announcer in the league that gets his name right. Right. He thanked me in the elevator after the game. Okay. So you're just making this about yourself. Jimmy Buckets doesn't acknowledge you and you hate him now. I didn't say I hated him. Well, you said you don't like him.

I said, I'm mad at him. Oh, geez. So what do you want from him? I would like, hey, hey, I appreciate that. Well, he went to Marquette. But he's from Tom Ball, and he represents Tom Ball. That's right. And he doesn't represent Houston.

That's okay. What if I would have said... This Tom Ball is not Houston. What if I would have said six, whatever he has six, six from Houston? He'd come over and said, it's Tom Ball. Yeah, well, that's because you're getting something factually incorrect. I just think sometimes you got to prop up your PA announcers. Well, you're not his P.

He, PA announcer. One time a year I am. Okay. 713, 212.570. 713, 2.1, 2.5.7. I'm just looking for a little... I'm just trying to make it as comfortable as possible. So maybe if he wants to come play for the Rockets at some point, I'd be all for that.

All right, I cannot get my cursor to work, so you're going to have to help me out of the boat. I can't help you. Oh, there it is. Let's go to... Oh my God, this is such a nightmare. All right, Brendan, pop this up for me. Scott in Jersey Village on the Matt Thomas or anything goes Friday. goes Friday. Scott, thank you very much for holding on. Good afternoon.

Yeah, for a good afternoon. How are you doing, Matt? Great. Thanks for calling. What's up? Excellent. Well, I just wanted to quickly talk about the stroves, and I was thinking about, I was thinking how cool it would be if they put Grinky in to start the second game and put Framber or Kitty to play game one, because let's say we win game one by chance, and now you have Grinky going in two, or if you lose the first game, Hey, you feel good because you got your age, so you got a veteran Grinky going in game two,

so you have that to fall back on. So I was thinking to be kind of neat to see Grinky in two, especially in a short three-game series. I think that game two is very pivotal because you can either wrap it up or save your season. So I like them in two. And then really, my real reason for this call on my anything goes Friday is I'm barbecuing a brisket.

I'm smoking a brisket tonight, and I'm also smoking some babyback ribs and a whole chicken, and I'm really excited. And I just wanted to know, if you had any baddie tea, you know, tips for me to smoke this bad boy tonight. I'm super pumped, and I'll hang up a list. No throws. Thank you.

I am not a brisket smoker. What kind of smoker are you? I don't smoke. I've never smoked a cigarette my life. Okay. I am a steak griller like a mutter. I'm a tenderizer, if you will. I'm a mariner.

Now, as far as ribs, yeah, I don't know about smoking, but as far as ribs, I like the 3-2-1 method, Matt. That's where I think you do three hours. I think it's three hours in the oven, two hours smoked, and one hour on the grill or something like that. Let me look that up again. That seems like a lot of work for ribs. Yeah, smoke for, no, sorry, the other way.

Smoke for three hours, wrap for two, and then sauce and smoke for one hour, the 3-2-1 method. What if you skipped one of those three? Wouldn't the ribs are going to be hot? Yeah. That's not going to be as good, Matt. You're telling me six hours to cook ribs? Yeah.

They better be the best ribs ever ahead of my... entire life. Well, man, you're Mr. Adi. Let me ask you this. This is no BS here. If I took two sets of ribs, cooked by the same person. Okay. One was cooked for six hours

and one was cooked for an hour and a half. You really think you could tell the difference? You think you couldn't? I think... Get them soups. I think... Look, Matt, I mean, I know you're not a Michelin chef and neither am I, but I mean...

I'm just talking about. telling you, I can't do my radio show before you tag it. Nice me. You can crush me during a break. I think over barbecue cook guy is a slightly overrated. And you know I'm right. No, I don't. Well, have you had six hours smoked ribs?

Yeah, I'm sure I've gone to excellent barbecue restaurants. No, you don't even like barbecue. And you haven't even been in any of the heritage barbony places in Houston. I like ribs. The nicest place you've been is like Smokey Joe's or Poked Joe's or something. Yeah. Not true. But here's what we're going to do.

Next summer, when normalcy kicks in, let's have a rib contest. Okay. And y'all can come in and say, Matt, come taste my eight-hour ribs. Matt's going to slather. Matt's going to put his in the oven and then slather sweet baby rays on there. I'm not cooking them. I'll taste them. And I will say, and you will put four sets of ribs in front of me, and I won't be able to tell you if they were one with smoked longer than the other.

I just won't be able to do it. Okay. Well, that's just because you have a child's palate. You do like the. You know what? I'll tell you why. Because you like your ribs with an MC in front of them. You like a Mac rib. That's how you don't know what the hell you're eating, all right?

I do like the McRib. I got to be honest with you. I'm not going to lie to you. Back to the more important thing. I do not put Jose or Kiti in the starting spot. Okay. Zach Rankie makes $36 million a year. All right.

You got to earn that money. That's what you brought him here for. Yeah. Yeah. He's my game one guy. Okay. Now, his ERA has been a little bit iffy the last three or four weeks. Yes.

And his verbiage is always very iffy or like thereof. I mean, and at the end of the day, you're hoping to get, what, six out of them, max? Yeah, that's okay. Okay. No, I think the way the lineup has been set, you keep the pitching wise. Now, Burkini bombs today. That's where the Frommberg conversation comes into play. And Christian Javier.

You don't want to make a rash decision based off one start. Oh, I think you can do that. right now because all three of them Jose's got limited experience he does have one World Series victory under his belt but it's also this is a guy that's also only pitched since the early September because of COVID I mean you have to weigh body

of work and how and how they've been pitching as of late as well so it's going to be a tough decision for for Dusty Baker but hey that's why he makes the big bucks I think if Jose pitches well today it does not become a difficult decision that's and that's the thing he's looking for he doesn't have to go back to the hotel tonight and he's eating his granola and his

raisin brand and his bananas Prune juice. Prune juice, whatever, and have to figure that out. Yeah. Let's take a short time out. 1228. We are live downtown. Isn't that funny how you're on location?

You always say we're live? We are live. Could you imagine if I said we're on tape delay. We record this at 8.30 this morning. No, you can hear the music from 937 the beat, I'm sure. So we are coming to you today from LaBranch and Polk for the Rockets registration, vote of voter registration get together. So if you've not done so yet, they're here until 2 o'clock.

It's nice. It's easy. You get a mask. You get some other T-shirts, good stuff. You get to see Clutch the Barrier. before he sweats profusely. It's really a win-win deal for everybody. You're not going to see him sweating. He's wearing a that's trying to suit. All right now, I want to tell you about Big City Wings. You know that they have

specials every single day? Yes, they do. You know what today is? Margarita Madden. I was going to say, some kind of alcohol. That's the thing about Big City Wings is every day they have a great alcohol special. Because they understand that we all didn't take the edge off. Now, we don't want you going out there getting ripper and drunk, I swear to God, if I find out your... We don't want you going to every to every drinking special. Yeah, we don't need your...

They'll be black. Okay. We just want you to be in a good position where you're enjoying yourself as long as you're responsible. And you're not driving under any circumstance. Plus, half-priced appetizers after 9 o'clock tonight. So if you want to watch hoops, you want to watch the Astros, you want to get $3 margaritas. You can do that today at any of the eight Big City Wing locations. By the one near you, you go to Big Citywings.com. Big on wings, big on specials every single day in $3.

And $3.00 margaritas today at Big City Wings. 1233, anything goes Friday. we are 17 minutes away from the parody. The horrible. And I don't have an idea what it's about. Me either. I don't know what song it is. It doesn't matter.

It's just the gospel. Is he going to say Big Ben at some point? Yeah. And Deshawn. And Bill O'Brien. No, Watt's on. He always likes to rhyme Watton. Oh, is there a reference to the Watt brothers in this parody?

Oh, yeah. He's going to say Wats. Remember that one of the greatest ones of all time was the Monster Man? but he's like, it's a SWAT from JJ Watt. The Monaster Mar. Stop Lamar. That one was on.

Stop Lamar. Let's go to Brian and Sagemont, 1234 on 7.90. Brian, good afternoon. Thank you for holding. Thanks for take with my call. I had a comment about the Texans and Steelers game. Now, I'm not 100% sure about this, but as far as I can remember, The Texans usually play the Steelers pretty well,

and although I'm not expecting them to, you know, be any different from the last two weeks, I would not be surprised if they did a whole lot better against the Steelers than they had. And I just wanted to hear what you guys think about that. I know it's a different team and it's a new year, but I just feel like the... Yeah, I don't think there's a great history between the two teams. In fact, I'll tell you this, Brian, the only tech... The two Texan Steeler games I remember. One of them I wasn't here, and one, Ross and I were in Las Vegas on a Monday night to watch.

That's right. And we got a late touchdown for a second half over. Yeah. Neither one of us had the Texans even being close in the game. I don't remember where the score was. But we were surrounded by Texans fans ironically enough. I don't know if it was because they were fans, it was just because they were all betting the Texans. Because the line was pretty healthy, I think, in favor of Pittsburgh.

The only other time I remember the Steelers and Texans really playing here, Remember when they wanted to open the roof? Yes. I wasn't living here at the time. We're going to wear the home whites. It's going to be hot, and we're going to sweat the Steelers out in their black jerseys, and we're going to open up the roof. And they got destroyed.

And you know, I don't blame them for that. You know how last Monday you were like fourth down and close? That was the right call. That's the right call for the Texans. Wear white outside with northern teams coming in, open the roof, and make them wear their dark jerseys. That's the right call. This is the problem.

all the fans were pissed off because they're sweating their faces off as the Texans are getting destroyed. So you have now tactically, I agree that if you want to try to sweat them out and you're used to the heat, that's fine. But also you're pissing off your entire fan base, which that was what kind of made a mistake. And that's what the Texans have done really since then in terms of opening the roof is that even on a 68 degree day. Like I remember one time going to see the Jaguars and Texans playing a week 17. I think the Texans had to win the game to make the playoffs. Don't hold me to that. But 68 degrees inside that stadium felt like 58.

It's pretty damn chilly. They lost 27 to 7 to that game. Which one? The one we went to? No, 2005. Oh, that one, okay, the black uniform. I'm blacking out on this. 2017, the Steelers beat the Texans 34 to 6.

Why don't I remember that? Well, because all the losses are about the same. Was that the Tom Savage year? I think so. Well, it got to be some Brock Oswald. Oh, T.J. 8 started that game. He was 7 to 16 for 83 yards. Yeah, and the whole game.

I mean, I'll be honest with you. Of all the teams in the NFL, AFC that don't have a history, I would put the Texans, the problem, and the Steelers is like 1 in 1A, right? Probably. Because at least the Texans and the Bengals of play together in the playoffs. Twice, yes. The Texans also went to Cincinnati.

Remember the year the Bengals were undefeated and they beat them? So there's a little history. I mean, I'm trying to think of teams that have... Texans, Dolphins or Jets? No, the Dolphins, I just remember beatdowns. I don't really remember Texans Dolphins. Yeah, maybe that's in the same group. Yeah, I don't have much recollection of it.

It's a brand new team. So Deshawns never faced the Pittsburgh Steelers, right? Basically then? I don't think so, no. No, so yeah, I would not put any sort of historical perspective of this. So today's his day is what you're saying. No, I'm not saying. I mean, Sunday.

I mean, I could. We've got to make our picks at 1.30. Uh-oh. The line, by the way, we're going with on the picks is minus 4. Yes. It's got me thinking. Okay, Matt. I know you're a Texan Ra Rha fan one number one. Well, you know the Texans are O and O.

Sounds like so big of Texans Ra Raffan number one would say. Well, I mean, call me Matt the Texan. Texan Matt. Texan Matt believes the Texan. So it's like your fantasy league. I'm 0 and 2 in one of my two fantasy leagues. Yeah? I'm zero and zero on my mind.

No, you're not. Because I can go nine and as we play a 14 game season. I can go nine and three the rest of the way. Are you going to, though? No, but I just in my mind, I think I can. Well, we'll see. Because here's the bit. If the Texans lose this game and...

Do they go back to 0-1-3 or they all-in-one? What if they lose by 10 in this one? They're all in their own three. Okay. Because the first two games are a better indication of who they are. Okay. JJ's going to be pissed because he's going to lose to his brothers. That's true.

And it's going to be... He's going to get on the zoom and he's going to pound his fist on the table. Sick of losing. Thanksgiving is going to be awkward. Yeah. By the way, you know, mom and dad walk can't go to the game. Oh, wait, he's going to be playing on Thanksgiving. Yeah, I know that.

What do you think about that? First time that three brothers in the same field play each other. Tough Nugies. Sorry. I would say put them in a sweet call today. Didn't all the Grankowski's get close to playing at once or something like that? Or the plays play against each other. I mean, you've had siblings play against each other all the time.

Yes, brother. I don't think there's three, though. There was three Grankowski's, but two of them were fringe NFL players. I don't know if they all were on the Sanchez. Were they all active that day? Yeah, I don't know. But this would be three NFL starters. Yes.

I'm going to lean with, put them in a suite, call it a day. Yeah, I don't see why not, but I'm a great human tragedy. It's not a human tragedy. But it's the first of its kind for that family. It is one of the royalty families of the NFL. It just is. Yeah. I mean, T.J. is becoming a terrific defensive play.

Derek serviceable is a fullback. We don't count fullbacks anymore, right? And JJ Watts still one of the best defensive players in the game today. Still is, as long as he plays. Yeah. I would say, let mom and dad go. I wouldn't see why not, but also, I mean, it is what it is.

I'm sorry that, you know, you'll be fine. The Watts will take care of it. Oh, yeah. They'll build asleep. Trust me. I'm not going to shed a tear for him. I'll put it that way. I just think it would be kind of cool.

If three of the Thomas has got to play in one game, I don't want to be there. What kind of game? kind of game. I don't know. What would your kids go professional at? Maybe pinnacle? What's Cam?

Because you already, you were trying to sell us that Cam was going to be a professional MLB pitcher. Because he struck out like three people in a little league game. Yeah, they didn't work out too well. He developed video games. That's okay. You're a pro pop. Hey, you can go pro in that.

Let me tell you something right now. I've got my pro athlete. Yeah. I'm going to send Carly to international waters to play volleyball somewhere professional. I was going to say she can't do it in America. Yeah. She made the eight team of her team today. Oh, really?

Yeah. Wow. Congratulations to Carly Thomas. She's a stud. I'm proud of her. I'm surprised you haven't mentioned that like six times throughout the show. Well, I would do it on Twitter, but then there would be some ugly people would take shots at me, so I'm not going to put my kids out there.

And I'll do it on Instagram and Facebook, but I won't do it. Okay. You people are meaner on Twitter than they are on IG and the Facebook? Yeah, because I can filter who goes and who sees that stuff. Oh, okay. Or Twitter, anybody can jump on. Well, you can put out a tweet and say only X amount of people. Only people I follow can respond to something like that.

Oh, okay. I think I'll do that. I'm pretty sure you can do that. I think you're right about that. Here, look, everyone can, here, you can change it. You can change it to everyone can reply, people you follow, or only people you mention. Ooh.

Okay, well, Carly Thomas 7th grade at Riverwood Junior High is on the 18. Riverwood. Let's go Longhorns. Let's go Longhorns. There you go, Matt. Get that Longhorn shirt back out. You know my picture when you call me, it's you in that Riverwood Longhorn's shirt. That's horrible.

By the way, I see football this weekend. Yeah, with college football. I was going to think about watching a little bit of the A&M game. Just kind of see what's going on with Kellan and if they're really going to be. Yeah, because you're a secret Aggie. Go ahead. They're playing Vanderbilt. They're a 31-point favorite. Wow. 31 to a conference opponent.

Does that show you how whack the SEC is and how bad the top is? Well. Don't you think it's a lot? It's the Commodores. It's Vanderbilt. It is what it is. But if you're the SEC and you're cashed that SEC money. Yeah.

You'd be able to think you'd be able to support a more competitive team. Everybody's got, I mean, you've got Kansas at the bottom of the Big 12, Rutgers at the, and Northwell. Northwestern is competitive sometimes. Sometimes. But, like, they're usually, when Northwestern being competitive is going 500. But, I mean, you've got the Rutgers is just awful at the bottom of the Big Ten. Well, there's some dregs of the ACC that's escaping me right now. Oh, Wake Forest.

Yeah, the Wake Forest and the, well, Duke. It's all right. They're okay. I'm going to go check on Big 12 because my son's Red Raiders are going to be hosting. They're 18-point dogs, I think. Oklahoma is 28-point favorite over Kansas State. Texas Tech is giving Texas Tech 17.5. Texas Tech is a home dog of 17.5 points.

Let's go longhorns. That game is at 2.30. Cam's got his ticket. On Sports Talk 790. He paid $25 for ticket. I said, you have better stay for four quarters. $25. That's the students are paying now.

That's not bad. Not bad. Stay four quarters. Yeah. All right, Chris Gordy's horrible football Friday parody is coming up next. Now, if you are a fan. of LSU and Mississippi State and if LSU's blown them out or LSU struggles. Mississippi State, Mike Leach's first game.

And you're thinking to yourself, well, I drink quite a bit. So why don't I try something different? College football fans that are frustrated with your team, I want you to try to take the edge off. And you can do that right now with some of the best whiskey in the world that is made right here in Texas, made right not too far from us in Waco. And that is Balcones distilling. You know, Balcones is one of the most decorated craft distilleries on the plightonies on the

Are you ready for awards? They've got 350 of them, both national and international awards, that are in their offices. That's how good Valcones is. They have the legendary baby blue. They have the pot still bourbon, which is terrific in an old-fashioned. They have their acclaimed Texas single malts. They've got basically anything for any whiskey fan out there. So do yourself a favor.

Go with a product that is made right here in Texas. Everything they produce goes from grain to glass. You'll buy it. You'll try it. You'll go, yes, Matt. Thank you for sending me to a Balconi's Distilling. Go to your favorite spirit store walking and say, Matt Thomas says, I must get some Balconi's Distilling,

and I promise you it'll be a great experience for you. That's Balcones Distilling. Distilled to appreciate. When I listen to the Matt Thomas Show, I don't even understand the eclectic nature of the show, the dichotomy, the ostentatiousness, the perfunctory that sounds about as smart as LeVar Ball. Back to the Matt Thomas show.

whoever he is. 1248, Sports Talk 790. We are live at the Toyota Center. He's compared to being on tape. For the Rockets registered to vote, everybody should be doing it. Probably will have the most votes in the history of the world. Would you take coming up in November?

Fair to say? Probably not, no. You don't think so? I've never seen this much push for voting, period, in the history of my life as a voter. It's definitely hiding, but, I mean, compared to back in the day? Well, I mean, my first, I voted in 19, I think my first vote was 92. Okay.

I don't remember any sort of push like this before. That's good. That's when you voted for Ross Perot, correct? Can you believe that was a possibility? You could vote for three different people. It's not, when I tell my kids that they're like, what? You could vote for three? I'm like, yeah, it's possible.

Ladies and gentlemen, if you were to vote for Ross, the greatest parody maker in the history of the world, you would not vote Chris Gordy I would probably go Weirdo Yankovitch Is that just Vic? I don't think it's Vitch Yankovic? Yeah Yankovic? Favorite Weirdo Yankovic parody would be Amish Paradise I'm gonna go with I lost on Jeopardy

Okay or beat it No, eat it, eat it, excuse me Yes, eat it was the pair of it Now the second greatest parody producer in Singer of all time Is the man you're about to hear now Ladies and gentlemen I present to you a Chris Gordy, horrible football Friday parody. His offense is so reckless, and he started 0 and 2,

and I bet half of Texas just wants to see him lose. Because going up to Pittsburgh, we know how it's going to go. The B. Sachs turnovers an ugly game. It's that damned all billi-o. We don't stand a chance with this hacking pants. hear the booze of a Sunday crowd He'll abandon the run Put the shaman shotgun

And watch as he goes down It's crap he plays every single Day, can't wait for him to go It's that ass-eaten grin over a bunch in They call the Man Billio That was brief I'm like gasping for air You know my favorite thing to do

When the parody is on is picture Chris Gordy's singing What he's singing Like, how high does he lift his chin to hit those notes? What was that? Are we near the harbor? Why did he only do one first? I think he ran out of time.

He probably did it in between just, he probably just did it now. My guess is he, in between the end of trenches show. Yeah, it's like, Matt just promoted my parody. I've got 44 minutes. That was a good one, though. I liked it. I don't know the original song. Yeah, you do.

No, I don't. Call it Rodeo. Garth Brooks. I'll take your word for it. Yeah. Yeah, a very famous country song. Okay. Oh, man.

It is disappointing when it ends. You know, you're right, Brandon. Brandon, how about this? Since you work with Gordy on that, can you help him with lyrics? Because I would love one more verse. That's so funny. I'll see what we can do next week.

What's I'm saying? He had to come to you and say, hey, here's what I'm doing. Let's add one more verse. Because when we sell the CD, adventure at the end of the year people are going to be asking for more and you know track three just lasts at like 50 seconds yeah how long was literally how long was that how long was that 57 seconds yeah come on now gordony give us at least 1 30 on the clock we were spoiled by chorus last week

it's true you get a toss to gorse in there for us that's true go that's okay yeah that again there you go all right but chin uh today's ridiculous topic made the worldwide way are you ready for this Okay. So the Chronicle Sports Twitter account puts out a story that Aaron Wilson put out about how the Texans have shown no initial interest, no talks, no discussion at all about them trying to sign Antonio Brown. Yes. That was the story. The story was they're not interested.

Okay. You would not normally think this would pop up on a Friday. But apparently one of those Gibronies on one of those Friday football shows, it may be an ESPN, said, hey, if there's anybody that's looking for a wide receiver help down the road, don't be surprised if the Houston Texans are on the short list because they've had some sort of conversation. So you went from a hearsay on a national TV show. And again, I'm just trying to fit the pieces of this puzzle here. Okay.

Because when I read the Chronicle Story, it was a. story about nothing. It would be like writing a story saying, today it's not going to rain. We've checked the radar. We've checked the satellite picture. We've gone on the computer models, and there's no rain. That's exactly what they did. They went and checked. Supposedly somebody inside the Texansville offices said, are y'all kicking the tires? No, we're not. This is ridiculous. And they wrote a story about it. Okay. So it was just a weird Chronicle headline. That was not the Chronicle's fault. It was more

of you have to react to it. When anybody puts something on the media, you have to almost react to it immediately. You have to refute. Which you either have to refute it or say there's legs to it. Yeah, with John McClain had put out a tweet that the Texans were not interested in Antonio Brown. I guess that's what the legs were for that story for the Chronicle. Right.

Okay. I mean, yeah, talking heads said this has happened before. I'm trying to remember what it was. It was with the Texans as well. Some talking head on NFL network said something, and people were running with it like it was gospel and then and then every local people have to say, okay, that's not true. It's just somebody speculating.

And these talking heads, I'm not even mad at them. They have to come up with salacious things to say and big names and name drop and this could happen and that could happen. You can say a team that makes sense. And that's an honest to gosh truth. You know that, by the way. The team that makes sense to grab another receiver would be the Houston, Texas. Because they have no downfield threat.

Randall Cobb is not practicing today. Kiki Kootie is a fumble machine, unfortunately, and Will Fuller, after being targeted 11 times last week, I targeted zero times on Sunday. If there's any team that could use wide receiving debt for its young quarterback, it's the Houston Texans. But there's a difference in saying it as an opinion as compared to going on a national show and running with it and saying, well, I've heard that the Texans might be interested. It's just what media has become in 2020. Yeah, that's the I've heard is Chris Broussard's favorite two words where he just makes stuff up and he like and just runs with it. So that's just the way media goes. So there you go.

The media, whatever ESPN show or NFL show you're talking about, they got their content and the Chronicle got their content and everybody wins. But I don't know. Everybody's getting clicks. Do you think the Chronicle's happy about this? Yeah. Probably not. Why not? I didn't click it.

I'm sure a lot of people did. Oh, I'm sure by the minority. I mean, you know, Dennis the Texan clicked it. Yeah. Battle Red Doug clicked it. Texan's Mercutio was all over this. Yeah, he was. Just for the record, I'm totally 100% against it.

There isn't a scenario. If he said, I have fixed my life, Rossi, I wouldn't believe him. Nor would I. But if it's like some kind of incentive-laden, no-money deal, I wouldn't care. Why not? If you can, when you sign a contract in the NFL, your goal is to have that contract, lived up to or have the player outperform that contract. And it's, if it's like a no-risk type of deal where you can get rid of them and it's not

going to cost you anything, I wouldn't have any problem with it. Yeah, I will actually go the other side and say I have a huge problem with that. I think he would be, for a locker room that has stuck together through a lot of hard times, I think he's the type of guy that would create some serious distraction because everywhere he's gone, he's created a distraction. Yeah, and I think he's legitimately think he needs medical professional health. He doesn't need to be in an NFL uniform. He needs to be probably in being psychiatric evaluation.

I agree. And hopefully whatever that is in his life gets fixed because I don't think he's mentally stable. And I don't think mentally stable people should be in the NFL. All right. Let's go to Pittsburgh next. Find out what the Steelers are thinking about this game. We'll do that with Tim Benz. He'll join us as our two of the Matt Thomas show continues here.

We are downtown at the TOTA center for the Rockets voter registration here on Sports Talk 7. This is the Matt Thomas show. 101, Sports Talk 790, hour two with you from the Tartar Center for the Rockets voter registration. Get together. You've still got another hour, so if you want to come on by and if you have not registered a vote, do so. Clutch, I think, is taking a lunch break and still Rocket T-shirts have been given away. Other swag and the discounts inside the rocket store. So you want to come on by and say hi.

The weather's actually very nice. Ross is going over to get us some margarages right now over at Poppacitos. It's walking this in sports RV, just saying. Let's say hi to a man who's been with us a couple of times here on the radio show. I was with him yesterday on his site. He is a Tribune Sports columnist in Pittsburgh for the Tribune Review. He is also the pregame host for the Pittsburgh Steelers on their radio network. Tim Ben's longtime Pittsburgh resident with us here on the Matt Thomas show.

I teased you yesterday about the Texans in my mind being O&O. and you thought the Steelers could do the same thing, having those first two games not going against world beaters in Denver and the New York Giants. So, Tim, where is the squad that you cover through the first two games of the year? Yeah, I like the way that you set that up, and if you kind of view it through the other lens, I think you can see a pretty good image of the Steelers.

You know, your logic is, hey, whatever you're predicting for the Texans, you likely predicted them at 0 and 2 to start. So if you said Texans 9 and 7 and they still probably got 9 wins in them, I'm kind of the same way with the Steelers. I was somebody who predicted them 10 and 6. I think a lot more people in Pittsburgh were more aggressive with their selection. So if you're like me and you had them at 10 and 6, two of your 10 wins were against New York and Denver to start.

And I bet anybody who had them at 11 and 5 or 12 and 4 thought the same thing. I think these next two games that they've got against the, the AFC South teams, Houston and Tennessee are swing games and not just swing games between, are they 10 and 6 and 11 and 5, 11 and 5 and 12 and 4, but I also think that there's swing games potentially the way a lot of people sort of checked off their wins and losses. Some people thought they beat the Texans and lose to the Titans, and I'm one of those, and I think others had it vice versa. So I kind of view them getting off to the start that they should have gotten off to,

and I would have preferred to see them play better in game two and they didn't game one just to show improvement going into game three. But I do think they were sharper overall in game one against the Giants, especially the last 32 minutes. Tim, a lot of coach speak coming from Houston on how ferocious and physical and intimidating that Pittsburgh Steelers defense is. So let's start with, I think, a huge concern for the Texans would be protecting against that front seven. how ferocious, in your words, had the Tex, as the Steelers defense been so far through the first two games?

Well, the front seven has been excellent. You know, they were overwhelming against the Giants, especially when it came to the Giants trying around with Sequin Barclay. They beat up the line of scrimmage of the Giants, and they also managed to do so without getting out of their lanes so that Seekwon could expose them, you know, by only having a few guys back. I mean, they made all the tackles they needed to make so that if Seacuan shan shone, took one, you know, he could have gone for 70, but they just never gave him that chance. So they were phenomenal against the run. They were very good against the past. They got seven sacks last week. Some of those were on Driscoll because he got confused and overwhelmed. I thought once you got in the game for Drew Locke, I would probably say against a starting

quarterback that wasn't playing catch-up the whole time. Maybe they get four or five, but still overwhelming. And I really do think that the matchup to watch in that context is T.J. Watt on the left side of the Steelers' defense against the right side of the Texans' offensive line. I heard from you Matt yesterday seems a job with everything else that I've heard from Matt. That's the softer spot to attack on the Texans O line. Similar to the Steelers right now. We'll see about David DeCastro coming back. I think he should.

If he does, then that should short things up. But, you know, the right side of the Texans O line, if that's where T. T.J. Watt lines up most of the time. I think he will. That's the spot to expose. The secondary for the Steelers hasn't been quite as good as it was last year. start, sort of by design with how much they've been attacking. But the secondary was such a bright spot last year, that the best secondary work we've seen

in years in Pittsburgh. And it's been a little bit more inconsistent so far to start 2020. Tim Benz joining us from Pittsburgh. He hosts the pregame show on the Steelers Radio Network. Tim, who has the best watt on the football field this Sunday? Who is it going to be? I think right now, based on what I've seen, you know, over the last couple of years, with injury considerations.

It's TJ, but I guess JJ had two sacks last week. You know, I've got some hometown bias. I've got some regional bias, how much I've seen Watt. I thought Watt was great last week, deserved player of the week, and I thought his stat line was not indicative of how great he was in week number one along with Bud Vucree. Now, he's being helped from Bud that maybe JJ isn't getting in Houston,

but I'll go with T.J. All right. So that being said, how much fun could JJ have against the Steelers' offensive line? I'm curious because I feel like if there's any vulnerability, it might be with the pass for us, the Texans need to get going, which they have not done so far in the first two weeks. Yeah, I think that's a fair concern. If the Steelers go about operations the way that we have been led to believe, and if De Castro comes back, certainly that helps.

He's an all pro. He's been hurt the first two weeks. It'll be rusty, but I'd rather have them than not. They're going to have Matt Filer then play left guard and shoots a corpour who barely has any playing time. The National Football League play right tackle. And he wasn't bad last week. I thought the better player was the rookie right guard that they started Kevin Dotson between the two. And if it were me, I'd put Matt Filer back out at right tackle again because he was very good there last year.

I'd want him helping out against Watt. You know, I think Watt could win a one-on-one matchup and would against Al-Billon-Aueva. I think Wach could definitely win a one-on-one matchup on the outside with Chukes of Cora for. I would bounce him around a lot and make everybody try to deal with him because he's going to be a handful for all the Steelers up front. The offensive line in general, especially running the football, has not been what it was in recent seasons. I thought it started to backslide last year,

and especially against the one, I have no reason. reason to believe it's found its footing against so far this season. Even the guys who deem themselves better run blockers, I think have been better against the past. Tim, has Ben all the way back from last year's injuries? Yeah, the arm strength looks good in that context. Yeah, I mean, I thought he looked very much like himself for better or worse last week. I thought the plays that he has made from the two-minute drive against the Giants on

have been prototype Ben Rostersberger, looting the rush, moving around to the pocket, not running, but stepping right up to the line of scrimmage, throwing off his back foot across his body and hitting people. And that's what Ben's done since 2004. And sometimes the mistakes that he made are born from that same mentality. And looking for more when it's just as easy to take the checkdown. I think we saw two of those examples against the Broncos. Luckily, one of them was dropped by one of the defensive backs.

So he looks very much like the Ben of old to me. The delivery is a little different by his own admission. spotting himself through three quarters more often and not so much over the top, but that might also kind of be the designs of the throws. And I think by the middle of the year, definitely towards the end of the year, that will be less of a talking point because I do think if he gets more in tune with some of his wide receivers will push it down the field more. Tim Ben, Spitzburg Steelers Radio Network, pregame host with us for a couple more minutes

on the Matt Thomas show. So, Tim, as you know, everybody, even fluky non-playoff teams can open up the season at 2-0. you almost gain a step of credibility and respect around the league if you get to 3-0. Help me decipher if this Pittsburgh's team is good enough to go to 3-0. How will they do it? Will they continue to pounce on the mistakes the Texans make? Or do you think that there's a little vulnerability because of the fact that the Steelers have not played great competition in the first two weeks? Oh, I think there's vulnerability.

I'll think there's vulnerability because as successful in a coach as Mike Tomlin has been, which is to say he's never had a losing season since taking over in 2007. He's only had two three and no starts. So it's not easy to go three and oh. He's done it so rarely. And he has going all in four. Now, he managed to turn that team into eight and eight respectable by the end of the season. So it's tough to do.

Like I said, I do think there's an issue there when it comes to the Texas front against the Steelers-O-Lon. I have some concerns. I have some concerns about Watson move around buying time, and the Steelers trying to cover all three of those wider states. Ebers, even if D'Anre Hopkins isn't available. So I think that's how the Texans can hang with them. I've sort of had this 27-23 score in my mind's eye the whole time with Watson running around and trying to make a huge play, gunning the bone to the end zone as time expires

and maybe like Joe Hayden knocking away at the last second. That's how close I think this game will be with the Texans losing by four. But I think it's going to be a respectable close game. I think the Steelers do it by making more big plays down the field. capitalizing on turnovers. That's one big thing. You've got to give them to do it's a lot of credit for. They got a lot of fluky good turnovers last year.

Everybody thought the turnover number would dissipate, but they've already gotten what's four so far this year. They've earned all of them. So I can still see them get the ball back once or twice in prime position, and they've been a little bit better, actually a lot better executing in the red zone than what they were. You're going to score some distance too. So I think they went about 27, 23 is what I've been calling all week.

You've given us a pretty realistic expectation of the game and potential outcome. Last question, no fans in Heinz Field again. How cranky are Cieler fans that are not able to go to games like it feels like now at least half the NFL teams are allowing their fans inside the buildings? Yeah, they're getting cranky. You know, it really hit me when I went to the pit Syracuse game on Saturday last week. We've been flip-flopping our media credentials within the paper, So I just covered the game from home on Sunday.

I'm going this Sunday. So it'll be my first dealer game without fans. But this is going to sound like it's a shot at Pitt, and I don't mean it to me. But I know what that stadium looks like watching pick games when there's like 25,000 people in the building. And you can space it out effectively. And that really hit me being at the pit game where I looked around at this vast expanse of yellow empty seats. And I thought to myself, well, you know, you could put 10 in here. And I know what it's going to look like.

It's not going to look all that different. You can do it. I think that realization is starting to watch over people. To be honest with you, the bigger angst, the bigger talking point, more than the Steelers, more than Pitt, the anger has been over high school football and limiting the capacity in the brawls and local districts, local counties, local schools, and the governor over how many, if at all parents should be allowed. Like, that's been the bigger talking point and the bigger political hot potato. Well, hopefully that doesn't happen here in the Lone Star State.

I guess at this point everybody is behaving themselves. Tim, thank you for the analysis. It was fun being with you yesterday and your show, and I appreciate you spending some time with me this afternoon and enjoy the weekend of college and pro-action. We appreciate it again. Yeah, I appreciate you coming on too. I always enjoyed being on.

I've been to Houston a number of times. Love it. Great to be on with you guys. Thanks again, Tim. Tim Benz, Pittsburgh Steelers Radio Network host and also Tribune Review Sports columnists as well. We appreciate him spending some time with us here on the show. All right, we're going to make our NFL picks coming up in 15 minutes. If you would like to join us,

We will open the phones up here. If you would like to be a part of our show, it's ridiculously simple. 713-212-5-790. 7-1-3-212-5-7-90. If you want to visit with us through Twitter, you may do that as well. At SportsMT, at SportsRV, and at Brendan Riley underscore Ross and I are here downtown at the Tota Center until 3 o'clock. Voter registration goes until 2. If you've not voted or not registered, you may do that.

And again, our NFL picks coming up in a few. But right now, we want to hear from you guys. What do you think is going to happen in Sunday's game? Does 2723 sound about right? 713-212-5-790. Right now, I want to tell you about the Shell Federal Credit Union. You know, you can use the equity in your home to borrow cash and use it as you wish. That's right.

You may have equity in your home if your home value is greater than the amount you owe. Now, what do you want to do with this money? You can use it for debt consolidation, home improvements, vacation, education, whatever you need. and the folks at the Shell FCU are specialists when it comes to home equity loans. You can also ask about their no closing cost program and lower rates than personal loans. For more details, check out their website, ShellFCU. This is Cougars head coach Dana Holerson. Matt's kind of like Shasta without putting on a costume.

He's a big old... The Matt Thomas show continues on Sports Talk 790. Houston. 34 years ago today. Wow, you were what, 22? I was in the eighth grade. I can tell you where I was 34 years ago at 121. It was a 135 first pitch.

It was an afternoon game because I think the Giants had to go somewhere. Getaway day. Okay. So I left school probably at 12. My stepfather, who I hated more than life itself, took me and two of my buddies, Danny and Roger, and three of us went and got upper field level seats

because the game was not sold out. I mean, I don't know if you know this or not, but Houston was a little slow on the uptick for this 86 team. Okay. So there may be 35,000 people there. Again, 135's tough. You know, 35 Gs and you would call it in your cell out in minimum. Yeah, for sure.

But back in the day, in the Astrodome days, no. So at this point, I was probably knocking back either a set of nachos or a hot dog. At 121. Maybe both. Or my point, myself, yeah. Knowing young Matt Thomas. September 25th, 1986, 8th grade,

me and my buddies, Danny and Roger, were laughing our asses off because we skipped school and we got away with it. We made up some baloney excuse, only to come find out that we didn't get away with it. We got punished and we got back. In what way? I think we had to do some... Suspension or something. I mean, not in-school kind of thing, just an hour or so.

Not like you to go sitting in a room with a steering. Oh. What is this is a great... What is this is a great? story. What is he, what are you interrupting me for? I actually know the reason why. You told me too. Hey! Don't give away company's secrets. I don't know what you want to say.

You told me we had some breaking news. You're supposed to play along, Brendan. Play along, Brendan. That's how radio works. Come on, Brendan. You got to warn me about that. What's the breaking news? Oh, geez. Josh James isn't quarantined. What happened? Probably didn't behave himself. Was he out traipsing around in one of his silk shirts?

Well, it'd be one thing if he was home and then went to Arlington. But that's not what the case is. They've been on the road since Sunday. He went and partied in Arlington? Or Seattle. Yeah. All right. What happened?

That's all what Mark Berman just put out. I have nothing more than that. Okay. I guess more details will come soon. Yeah. But you don't quarantine just because you like the hotel room service that much, right? Maybe. Okay, when I say when it says MLB sources, Josh James is in quarantine and is unavailable time.

He is either tested positive or violated some kind of protocol. Or is in the process of being tested. Hopefully that's the case. We don't want to put the car before the horse. But that's not a great sign. He must have been somewhere he wasn't supposed to be. Or he did everything. and you know what?

The COVID just, it's so powerful, it's still going to get you. The COVID doesn't discriminate, Matt. Well, it discriminates, and I don't think as much as we love the face mask, it doesn't 100% preclude you from getting it. No. But it helps. It helps a lot. And social distancing.

Yes. And not going to bars. Well. And restaurants. What if you're really horny? You need to pick up a chick. Well, I don't think Daniel House tested positive, did he? Well, I don't know.

I haven't heard anything. For what? Yeah, really. I'd like to say this is a great loss, but he has, and now he's pitched a lot better the last week, but his ERA is still ridiculous. Yeah, the Astros will be fine. But this is, I'm looking forward to getting more details.

Did he break protocol? Did he test positive? I mean, quarantine, they would have said positive tests. He would have positive tests, right? Quarantine means we're keeping an eye on it. Let's be honest, the Astros do not share a lot of information in advance. They're going to, they're only going to tell you something, and it's just who they are.

It's not an indictment against them. Well, I mean, it'd be nice if they were more forthcoming, but you've got a hippo situation involved here. It very easily could just be a he's getting tested because he needed to. It's coming down with ill. Here's the thing, Ross. It could just be he's just sick. It could be something as simplistic as that.

Maybe he's got flu-like symptoms. Which would then force a COVID test, which would then, let me tell you, if you have a massive cough or massive sneezing, they're going to be safe. They're going to put you in quarantine. Yeah. Now, if you quarantines, I mean he's got... How long's the quarantine? Because if it's... I mean, when I hear quarantine, I always think like 10 days, right off the top.

Well, quarantine... Doesn't necessarily have a time on it. Well, originally, it means 40 days. That's why they see... That's the qua route. That was when ships would come to port, they would have to stay out there for 40 days. Ooh, let me tell you. So you're telling me he had to be in a five-star hotel in Dallas for 40 days?

Yeah. that sounds like Matt Thomas is That's a huge room service tab All right So if anybody happens to see Any more about this pass along because at this point It'd be safe to say it's kind of vague Right if he tests negative for like three four days or something

He's okay right Yeah and John even says he could be caught up in contact racing too It feels like that's a new wave of this Well who got it is who got it Where were you in relation to that person who got it Yeah it was like Colonel Mustard In the Observatory with the COVID.

Well, with the candlestick. Well, yeah. You got COVID with the candlestick. Yeah, without his mask on. I hope there's not much to it. I really don't. I hope those are not. 713-212-5-790. 7-1-3-2-1-2-5-7-90.

If anything more comes of it, over the next hour and a half, we will be happy to pass it along. Hopefully it's something serious. Because I'll say what, if you're getting Josh James at 99, and this is the best he's throwing all year, there is a role for him. He's your... He's your...

One out of the fifth inning guy. Well, okay. You might go him six or seventh or something like that. Because there's nobody out of the bullpen that throws with the heat that he does. Your holdover to your potential, what would you say, would you say with set up and closer, I guess. Which could be Valdez, which could be Javier. Then you're going to our buddy this week that was on the show. You know, so...

I don't know. We've got to wait. But it's not a good sign. Presley. Yeah. So we were thinking of it? Well, I was going to say Brad Presley, but it's Brad Paisley. Ryan? Ryan Presley.

Yes. All right. It's time for us to do the Smollest Picks coming back. Uh-oh. And our esteemed producer, who, I mean, it's okay that Brennan's got a lead for a little bit, but he's crushing us. We'll make our picks, which will include the Texans game, and it's coming up next. Right now, a word for Big City Wings. If Brendan wins, I'm going to take him to Big City Wings.

What if he loses? Well, he's going to pay. I'm going to pull that. I'm going to get $3. Margaritas. I may have four or five of them. No salt, of course. If you like appetizers, they're half price tonight after 9 o'clock.

So you're watching the Astros game. You're watching Miami versus Boston. There must be some college football game of some note on. It's we're in the middle of the fall. Get with Big City Wings because they are big on wings, big on specials, big on delicious desserts and appetizers. And they are big on margaritas today. As long as you drink responsibly, they're $3 a pop. But any of the eight, soon to be nine big city wing locations.

To find the one near you, I go the one in Kingwood all the time. Tascasitas not too far. There's locations in Bear Creek. There's Pearland, the Markey Center, so many different locations. Finally one near you. Big CityWings.com. That's BigCityWings.com for half-price apps and $3. Margarita Menace.

We are former players. We are lifelong fans. And we're your home for your voice. Houston's going to have a voice with heard today. Sports Talk 790. Your most complete lineup in Houston Sports. All right, time for us to have our Schmo's pick contest, and here's how it works. Ross, myself, Brendan, will each select four NFL games against the spread.

Each of us are given 10,000 MT bucks. Minimum bet is 1,000 MT bucks. Max bet is 5,000 MT bucks, and among the four games, we must all choose the Houston Texans. We are all working off the same line. So far, the standings through two weeks go as follows. I am four wins and four losses. I have lost 2,000 M.T. bucks on the year.

Wonderful. Ross, you are 2 and 6 this year. But you have also lost 2,000 MT bucks. Yeah. So, you know, I'm putting my locks of the week are hitting. Or my locks of the week or not. I'm two for two on the locks of the week. And, of course, next week we'll be into October.

Yes, we will. Brendan, by the way, our newest member of the 790 family is 6 and 2. and is plus 10,000. So he has a 12,000 empty buck lead on us. Yeah, I believe he's going to start a loud, bombastic show on Saturday mornings here on Sports Talk 790. Probably taking over your show.

Better insights, better predictions. That's a fact. Probably better humor. I mean, all around, better show. Yeah, pretty much. We'll call it the sports BRBR show. Brendan, you have the honors, my friend. You get to pick first.

If you want to pick on a bunch of games we'll pick, we've got to hedge a little bit and change some games around. So, Brendan, you are first up with a six and two record. All right. I feel nervous this week now with the lead, but I'm going to stick with what's gotten me here. I like the Rams a lot this year as a whole. I've never quite bought into the bills, although I'm doubting myself there. However, the Rams are on the road and getting two and a half points. I don't think the home field advantage is what it normally is. I think the Rams are the better team. If you're going to give me points, I'm going to take the Rams, and I'm going to take them

for 4,000 MT bucks. Whoa! Multiple chings on that one. I went. Rams. plus $5,000, I think, last week. Ooh, you love you some Rams football. I do. Next up. All right. Next. The Minnesota Vikings are a team I thought would underperform and have done so. The Titans look good.

Ryan Tannahill still surprisingly good at the moment. Obviously, Derek Henry is what you think of. He hasn't been all that special. They're only two and a half point underdogs at Minnesota. I'm going to go with the Titans for 3,000 M.T. Bucks. Damn. They're getting two and a half, correct? No, the Titans are two and a half point dogs.

Oh, the dogs. Okay, I got you. All right, next up. Next, I'm going to go to Sunday night football. Hold on, hold on. I see the Titans is three-point favorites. Oh, do you? Okay, I'll take the points.

I'm sorry, two and a half-point favorites. So you're saying Tennessee minus a two-and-half. Well, if I'm getting two-and-a-half, I'll happily take them. No, you're laying two-and-half. Yeah, that is, oh, I'm sorry, I said dogs, didn't I? Yeah, no, I'm sorry. I'm giving two and a half. Okay, so you're this guy.

Hey, man. You don't sound like a guy at six and two. I'll go six and two when I fudge the lines too. I'm fighting for my points. I just said fudge. Ooh. All right. I'm scared for a second.

Next. Going to Sunday night football. The Packers plus three. I got that one right, correct? At New Orleans. I'm going to take the Packers in that one. They've impressed me. Drew Breeze doesn't look like the Drew Breeze I'm used to seeing.

I got the Packers. Four? 1,000 M.T. Bucks. That leaves you with 2,000 M.T. Bucks on the Texans and the Steelers. Yeah, I think the Texans keep this one a little bit closer,

but I don't know about four close. I'm going to take the Steelers minus four. For 2,000 MTBush. Yep, for 2000. All right. Next, I'll go. We will start with probably the least attractive game of the weekend. Philadelphia Eagles are not

oh and too bad. They've performed that well that way they're going to get fat and happy off of Cincinnati the Eagles cannot afford to go 0 and 3 especially when the Cowboys look very pedestrian so far in the NFC East race I will take Philadelphia minus four and a half Ross my big play the week 4,000 mtie bucks on the Eagles minus four and a half okay next the most attractive noon game is probably the Las Vegas radius the radius five and a half points England has to give them. They will be happy to give them to him.

I thought Derek Carr and company got fat and happy off of being a home. It's a shirt week because of the Monday night game. They've got to fly cross-country. New England had a chance to win in Seattle. I think Cam Newton has been a fantastic addition to that Patriots team. I will take New England minus the five and a half over Las Vegas for 3,000 M.T. Bucks. Next, the Monday night game, the game of the quasi-century.

I don't think Kansas City was as bad as they were in squeaking out a victory against the L.A. Chargers last week. And I think Baltimore's due to come down to earth a little bit. I think it's going to be a very high-scoring game. I think it's a very close game. Maybe Baltimore wins it, but I'm going to take the three-and-a-half. I like Kansas City, the defending Super Bowl champions in week three of a season, getting three-and-half.

I like KC. plus three-and-a-half over Baltimore for 2,000 M. And lastly, I wrestle with this as we've wrestled with us Every one of the Texans well we didn't wrestle with the first two weeks in the season right? No I could see 2723 Frankly I needed to be 2724 This is a very very very very small itsy bitty teeny weeny bet Texans I'll take plus four

Over Pittsburgh for 1,000 MT bucks Okay, never my picks Wow, what a whistle. You whist out on that one. If y'all want to call Texan, Matt, 713-212-5-790, 7-1-3-2-1-2-5-790. All right, well, it's time for me. We're one week away from October, but we're getting close. All right, let's start off.

You know what? Two of these are actually already had, Matt, our fade-m-tie picks. That just naturally happened. Cincinnati, I'm taking them. Philadelphia has three offensive linemen on IR. Carson-Wints has been a mess. I have some question marks about their running game, and they're at the skill position.

I'm taking Cincinnati plus the four and a half for 2,500 M.T. bucks. All right. Next. Well, this didn't work out from the last week. I did the Brendan Riley Specialize in. I went with the Lions. That was a disaster. But I still think they're getting a pretty good cushion against Arizona,

even though Kyla Murray has been running wild. I still think they can score some points in that one's got the highest total of the week. So I think it'll be a shootout that ends up with a one-score game. Five and a half a bit of a cushion. I'll take Detroit for $2,500 M.T. Are you going to bet every game at 2,500? No. All right.

You did do that last week? I did do that last week. I'm changing it up a little bit. We're going to go with the Fade MT on Monday night. I think Baltimore clearly better on both sides of the ball than the Chiefs. Even though the Chiefs are the second best team in the NFL right now, I think the Baltimore is number one. I'm going to go with them for 3,000 MT bucks minus three and a half. Five, six, it leaves 2,000 MT bucks.

I do the quick math on that. 2,000 M.T. bucks for the Houston Texans versus the Pittsburgh Steelers. Look, I thought about it all week. There's just not a world where I feel like the Texans O line and Deshawn Watson can keep up with the front seven of the Pittsburgh Steelers. They're not going to score that many points. I don't think the Steelers are either. I think this goes under, but I think it's just enough for the Pittsburgh Steelers to win.

I'll take them for the 2000 MT bucks. All right, so I like Houston Plus 4. Brandon and Ross say take the Steelers and give up the four. And that is our Schmo's picks for the week. Hey, what I want to do right now because we love the audience, I want to give away some passes to see the coming-of-age baseball movie, The Sandlot. This Wednesday, September the 30th, the drive-in at Soyer Yards. Not only are going to give you tickets for that,

we're going to throw in some new alcohol-free Heineken 0.0 to keep you hydrated during the show. So if you would like to go, we will open up the lines right now. All you got to do is say, hey, Brendan, I could use some passes, and we will take care of you. 713212-5-790 7-1-3-212-5-790 if you want the passes to see the sandlawn next Wednesday at the drive-in at soya yards for more information check out the website rooftop cinema club.com that's rooftop cinema club.com Time is 142. Any new on any new on Josh James? Do we know? He still remains in quarantine.

Will the Astros finish it off tonight? We'll talk about that next. Brian T. in 18 minutes here on the Matt Thomas show. Right now a word for hoops, basketball goals, and sporting equipment. You know, today would be a great day to get outside in front of your driveway and shoot baskets. And you could do that with a hoops basketball goal if you have one. If you don't have one, then I want you to call 281-351-98-22. They'll professionally install your goal.

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281-351-9822 and online. ProDunkhoops.com. is Bunby, and my wife is the biggest fan of the whitest man in America. Matt Thomas, Matt Troy. Reckless, ratchet, and don't give a fuck. So if the liners aren't insulting me, they're just old athletes. Not old, but like former athletes. I think you predetermine these liners when they run, right, basically?

No. It's a random rotation, Matthew. Just as long as they say insult MT at some point during the three hours. Yeah, then we're going to be okay. All right. So my Nostra Thomas selection of 14,000 stars from yesterday was the Astros are going to clinch a playoff spot tonight. Yes. As to who they're going to play, it could be the White Sox, it could be the Twins, it could be the Oakland Days. I don't think they're the favorites in any of them.

No. But anything can happen. Well, it is. It is a three-game series. Even the worst teams, even 100 lost teams beat 100-win teams in three-game series. The question is, every time the Astros have a huge outbreak offensively, what do they typically do the next day? Follow it up with more runs? No, usually it's one run on three hits.

Well, they went back-to-back double-digit runs in Colorado a while ago. Yeah, that's a little while ago like six weeks ago. Was it that long? I forgot. It was a while ago. Yeah. Well, six weeks feels like six years in 2020, so I'm not even sure. Can you believe the season is over with? Yes.

I mean, no. And so they're going to play Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. The three-game playoff series. And then the American League Division Series would start on Saturday. So they're essentially going to get one day off. If they win the series in three, they'll get two days off if they win the series in two. I think that's how it's going to work. I don't think the American, I don't think the division series will start on Friday.

But who knows? Maybe baseball's in a hurry to get this thing done with as soon as possible because they continue to have zero testing. Maybe Josh James ruins it a little bit today, but, you know, it has been a really, really good run from Major League Baseball. Frankly, it's been good for the NHL. It's been really good for the NBA. College football? Not so much.

College. Sign the Houston Cookers. I don't know. I have this shirt that I was going to wear for the Waco game for the game in Baylor, but I left Dallas that I'll wear this for this for North Texas. The question is, am I ever going to wear this shirt during the course theory? It's just a regular U.A shirt. What's the next on the schedule? It's Tulane a week from Thursday.

Ooh, the Green Wave. So we're talking about now almost two more weeks before they play a game. Is it Tulane? It's Tulane. That's the way it's in New Orleans. Tulane. It's kind of a party school. Hopefully they'll be okay.

They just gave Willie Fritz a big fat contract. Okay. And they went to a bowl game, I think, last year. You know how rare that is for Tulane? Good for the Green Wave. I get the Tulane Green Wave and the Tulane Green Wave and the Tulsa Golden Heart. hurricane mixed up sometimes. Yeah, same conference. So it kind of works out well for you. Yeah, same low-level conference. It's not low-level. Power six, baby. Okay. Power six.

7-1-3-21-25-7-90. 7-1-3-1-2-5-70. So what we'll do on Monday is we don't know the schedule. If it's a day game, it's a night game, it's going to probably depend. It's going to largely depend on where you go. By the way, when you play these games, you are the road team in each one of the three games. You know, like in college baseball where they flip it one game where they let the lower-seated team be the home team one time, that ain't happening. Okay. If you are the 6-C, which the Astros will be and they're locked into that spot, they will be always the visitor in those three games.

If they clinch. They're going to clinch. Let me tell you something, Ross. If they can't win one of three games against the Rangers and the Angels beat the Dodgers three straight times. You know this about Connoes-I's Estelling? I've been telling you about this great-tasting whiskey. You're going to go straight to the distillery and just open up a barrel for yourself.

What I want to do is I'm going to pop the top on an unopened bottle and get a straw and see how far it takes me. Don't do that, Matt. I will drink heavily if they don't make the playoffs. No, don't do that. Well, I'd be sad. Okay. We don't want you having alcohol poisoning or anything like that. Let me ask you this.

Always drink responsibly and plan for a safe frame home, Matt. I understand that. Honestly, though, what kind of overhaul are you looking at? What do you mean? because if they get out in three, would you kick the tires on moving? Would it change your viewpoint on how to spend money? Would it change your viewpoint on what you want to do with Dusty next year? Well, Dusty's already locked in for next year, right?

Those can be taken care of. I really, and it's not like I was the chairman of the Dusty Baker fan club. I mean, I'm just saying that I like him. It's been good with us. I think he's been dealt a tremendously bad hand of cards, meaning injuries. Yes. You lose your closer, you lose your DH, you lose your Syung.

You lose a little bit of everybody for a short period of time this year. I don't think the greatest manager in baseball would have done significantly better. Yeah, rookie of the year out for the year. Yeah, I would say this. You probably have to gauge how the guys have embraced him. Now, going from a very popular manager and AJ Hinch to him, no matter who the him was, it was going to be a tough call. Because AJ was really, really liked by his team.

Maybe some of that because of what he allowed and didn't try to stop. Maybe that's part of it. Who knows? But I would say even before all that, AJ Hinch was wily, Riley respected in that clubhouse because he's an ex-player. Not too old. I think he's in his early four.

I think he's younger than I am. And he's not too far distant from playing Major League Baseball. So to me, whoever took the job knew that it was going to happen, knew it was a no win, and that maybe it would just the initial thing would be, well, yeah, Dusty's cool, but he's no AJ. I think he'd probably say it with any manager, would you? I don't think, I don't think Dusty should be, they should go to each guy in the clubhouse and say,

what was Dusty like? I think you have to kind of take the clubhouse out of it and say, for the 50 games, did Dusty Baker put the best lineup possible out there? Did he call the right games? Did he do the right things in terms of pitching? Did he do the right things in terms of strategy? If you were to give a strategy on Dusty, probably a B, B minus somewhere in that range? Yeah, there's not a whole lot of decisions that he's going to have to make that aren't already pre-planned for and thought of.

With all the metrics of the organization. It's not that big of a deal. And, I mean, there's no way. Okay, I wouldn't say there's no way. But it would be foolish for the Astros to pick up his option, what, a couple months ago? What was it? Like 20 games into the season? Yeah, very soon to do it.

They picked it up, and then for you to backtrack on that, you just, you look like you know what you're doing. It looks like that you are fly, not fly by night. That's not the term. that you just waffle. Mickey Mouse operation. I wouldn't say Mickey Mouse. I think you waffle it. Mickey Mouse operation is telling somebody they're going to come manage your team next year

and then not offer on the contrary. That's Mickey Mouse to me. I think if you all of a sudden say, I like you, you're going to stay around, and then a month and a half later you all of a sudden hate him, that's more waffling to me. Wish you wash it. So at this point, I'm just telling you, I would be surprised if it's a move. but I also think that the Astros should be thinking about the long term

and I don't know if Dusty Baker is the guy long term. Not because he's not got plenty of skins on the wall. It's just Dusty's been around, you know, 70 plus years old. You know, I think they've got a lot of important decisions when it comes to free agency, and I think that part of the free agency process is these players are going to want to know who their manager is going to be. I don't know how much that plays into it. I think money plays into it more than anything else,

but I think they're going to want to know who the manager is. I think there have been players in the past that have said no to the guys because Buck Shawalter was their manager or Terry Collins was their manager, the gruff, but my way or the highway kind of guy? Well, depending on the money, probably. If money, all things are equal, if money's equal, maybe. But it's going to come down to the money. But the Astros aren't overspend.

And nobody's going to say Dusty's here, and George Springer's going to be like, you know, Dusty's here? Terrible, I'm out. Yeah, in George's case, I don't think that to be the case. Now, George did love AJ. They had a very, very tight relationship. But if George gets 30% more here than he gets anywhere else, he's going to resign with Astros. Right.

I think for George and not having any conversations about it because he doesn't want to have conversations about it. This is all just up for us for conjecture because he's the first one to say, I don't want to get into it. Or should he? That's every athlete on the end of their contract. It would be completely human of him to go, let's go get stinking rich. As he should. I think at the end of the day, regardless of where he ends, up. He will have the one or two biggest free agent contracts. Now, it might not be that big.

Look, Major League Baseball hadn't had a fan of the stands this year. Revenues, I don't know if you know, check this out, Ross, or down. Now, they do have a new television contract with Turner that's going to put a lot of money in their piggy bank. But 40,000 empty seats at every one of these ballparks, that hurts. So, and remember in the last couple of years, it feels like Major League Baseball has been very slow in the free agent signings that you, that you know, You didn't hear about guys signing to, like, March 1st just before the start of spring training. Yes. Now, there have been a couple exceptions, Gary Cole being one of them.

Mani Pichato had to wait. Bryce Harper had to wait. Dallas Keiko waited a while. They all got their money. They all got their money. So I don't blame George. Michael Brantley, to me, is interesting because Michael's had his best and his healthiest run as a major leaguer here. There'd be a spot for him.

I don't think Josh Reddick comes back unless he just wants to come on it at a bearer. minimum kind of deal? Well, yeah, Brian McTaggart and Jet Reddick seemed to disagree on that topic. Explain that quickly. Brian McTaggart tweeted that Josh Reddick was not going to be back, and Jet Reddick said, well, we want to be back, hashtag extension or something like that. And Jet, by the way, is his wife. Jet, yes. Jet Reddick is the wife of Josh Reddick. So they want to be back. It's a matter of do the asteros on them back and what kind of money. He just hasn't been an above-average

offensive player the last couple of years. I would take Josh Reddick over Miles Straw. Yeah. So would I. If you're going to keep a fourth outfit or I'd rather spend the money on Redick. As long as he doesn't price himself. How much money is he going to want? Yeah, we don't know. He's been overpaid the last couple years.

Well, he got what he, here's what he got. He got the four years. Three years would have been fair compensation. Nobody was offering him four. He got the four. So if you want to say that's over compensation, I get that. But, yeah. He played up his contract.

He got a lot of money more than anybody else is willing to offer, another year that was willing to offer. So if he wants to prolong his major league baseball career in Houston, he'll probably have to take a significant cut. Either that or move on elsewhere. And he did just buy a home here in town, so I don't if that makes a difference or not. But you're making that kind of money. Something is pretty quick.

What are the property taxes and implications, Matt? That I don't know because I roll mine into my mortgage now. Okay. I mean, more responsible, Rossi. I'll take your word. I don't know what that. None of that means anything to me. Well, until you buy a house, it'll be foreign territory, too.

Well, hopefully by the time I'm 65. Brian T. Smith joins us to start the final hour of the Matt Thomas Show. Please, you may join us as well. 713-212-5-790. Brian T from The Chronicle next on 790. This is the Matt Thomas Show. All right, we'd like to welcome you to this portion of the Matt Thomas show. It's theater of the mind.

Okay. So, Ross, we are on the plaza at the TOTA center. Yes. we used to have a tent the rockets gave us right their voter registration drive ended like a minute and a half ago yeah it's too ended it too it's 202 now they have taken the tent from us yeah so not like downtown's busy right now no but if you were to drive downtown at the toto center you'd see a very handsome white bald man me where i'm looking no i'm right here i still still looking and then we'd see you Yes. We're at a table. Do we get to keep our table to three o'clock? I can get that too.

Oh, okay. We're just sitting here. All right. What's the problem? Do a major market radio show. Yeah, what's the issue? It's just a little weird. It is what it is, Matt.

So now, of course, as we said, from two to three, you will register people to vote. Yeah, y'all come by, register for vote, M.T. for president. And by the way, I was going to take Ross to Papacitos to get a post-show beverage and fajitas or something. they don't allow certain people to eat inside there. So we're so on that. That's a shame. All right, enough about our bitching. Gotta stay safe, Matt.

We're very safe here right now. Yeah, we're in the open air. We're in the open air. I'm not worried about your droplet's getting over here. Oh, I got my mask on. Brian T. Smith, do you have your mask on right now? My mask is in the passenger seat as I drive, Matt. Are you coming to see me right now, BTS?

Tell the truth. You're too far away. I'm like around Kirby and Bissanette, and you're downtown. And Houston, you're way too far away from me right now. That's true. Houston, we are way too far downtown. All right, Brian. So where do you want to start?

Let's go to the Texans first. Yes. It feels like Pittsburgh isn't as good as they're 2-0. I firmly believe the Texans are as their 0-2. but if there was a game where you could kind of say, all right, we are better than what our record indicates, we are a 9 and 17,

we are a team that could compete, you got to get a win where you're not supposed to get one, and I would think Pittsburgh could be the potential spot. Are you buying that, or you're like, Matt, you're full of it. Philosophically, I totally buy into it, Matt. I just, who's to say the Texans are going to do it,

and until they do it, I'm not going to believe it, and none of their fans are. I mean, you would have to be, no offense to these people, they're nice people. You'd have to be traveling Texans Karen to right now feel adamantly strong. You know, personally, like hand on the Bible. Yes, 100 percent of Texans are going to win on Sunday at Pittsburgh. The only person who believes that right now is traveling Texans Karen.

That's it. Because the Texans haven't shown anything this season. And yes, they have played two very good teams, maybe the two best teams of the ESC. but Matt, they were horrible against those teams. And if you want to flip it upside down, they were outscored ahead in the Chronicle a little days ago, like 61 to 20 or some point when both of those games reached their breaking point. So Deshaun Watson's got to be better, and he's the least of their problems, but he's got to be better than the other quarterback on the field.

I mean, we can only, it's only year four. We can only say for so long, you know, Deshawn so great, Deshawn so great, well, he needs to be better than the other quarterback on the field. if the Texans are going to win a game that they're not supposed to win. So that's got to start Sunday. The lines obviously got to be better. Both sides, offensive defensive. The secondary's been, man.

The linebackers have been eh. The coaching's been puke. They have got to be better. Maybe it starts on Sunday at Pittsburgh. The optimistic part of me says, yeah, it could. Grade Deshawn Watson, don't give him any points for lousy receivers, lousy offensive lines. due to the best of your ability, give him a grade off of his first two weeks.

Deshawn Watson right now is grading at like a B-minus. Here's the thing. And I'm not, he gets a hard B-minus. I mean, that's it. He doesn't deserve a C, but he sure as heck does not deserve an A. Here's the thing, though, Matt. The Texans are the Texans or the Texans or the Texans thus far through two games. And they took away D'Andre Hopkins.

So, you know, Patrick Mahomes would be a B-B-1-1-2. plus in this situation, maybe an A-minus, but go find me anyone in the quarterback who would have a rotating backfield, the tight-ins come and go like they always do, and Bill O'Brien's offense, a little better last week, but they come and go, and you take away DeAndre Hopkins, who's lightened it up with Kyla Murray and Cliff Kingsbury in the air raid offense with Arizona. So Deshaun Watson has to be better, but the Texans have to be better for Deshawn Watson. But, yeah, it's a chicken or the egg thing right now. It's a really fun conversation to have philosophically with the Texans, as they always are.

But on some level, at some point, Deshaun Watson is going to have to be better and smarter, stop taking some of these facts. And honestly, like, at some point, he will either win a Super Bowl by constantly extending plays in like year eight, or he's going to get hurt finally at some point and get knocked out of the season and it wrecks the season. We'll find out what happens first. All right. On to the Astros.

As I told the audience a few minutes ago, I don't really care who they play. I think there'll be a significant underdog in the series. What I need for them to do, and look, Texas is a terrible indicator because the Rangers are pathetic, but they did go after their best pitcher and beat up Lance Linde at the tune of Niner and run yesterday. So you need sustained success. I believe that the Astros are going to win a wild card series, regardless of who they play. I have a feeling, Brian, it's going to be 9-7-6-5-8-6 as compared to a bunch of two-one ball games. Yeah, no, and that theory I completely buy into, Matt.

I mean, here's the thing, though. I think this is not an knock on you because you're just sticking to the facts as a major market radio host. But isn't it a little sad that Astros fans, Astros writers, the media, maybe a major market radio host gets like pumped up and excited and feels the burn of momentum because they put up 12 runs against the worst team in the AL. They were building horrible, awful Rangers. Like that happens in one game and it's like, oh, here's the breakthrough we've waited for all season. I don't know.

I haven't seen it yet. And ultimately, I fully agree with you. And I wrote this two weeks ago trying to maybe help the Astros along and I'm writing about on Sunday's Chronicle. if they don't get hot the next couple games, they're going to need an October miracle. I mean, I still, after more than a year, I don't trust Zach Grinky. I think more Astros fans are on board with that.

He could also, Zach Rinky could also throw six innings of shutout ball, Matt, you know, at Oakland Coliseum, if they're playing the A's. But I don't know what to expect was that Grinky. Tromber Valdez has a better ERA than Lance McCullors and that Grinky. their bullpen is pretty much a dumpster fire waiting to happen, but could have a good night. But ultimately, Matt, it comes down to their bats.

And they haven't hit all season like they're supposed to. If they're going to do anything in the Wild Card round, and the ALDS, and the ALCS, and the ALCS, and then maybe even the World Series, Alex Bregman, Michael Brantley, Carlos Correa, George Springer, Uly Garrio, Kyle Tucker, Joshua, whoever it is, that whole combination. and oh yeah, Jose Altuve hit due 25, my God. They have to do it together consistently for at least a few games.

Isn't it crazy how the baseball world works that next Friday when you and I visit, the series will be over with. Either we are fired up for a divisional series matchup or we are in the Brian. What move does new general manager James Click do first? What does Jim Crane do? and who is running the on-field manager, whether Dusty Baker is a guarantee to come back. Again, I think he's been dealt a terrible deck of cards,

but I think a first round exit, especially they dropped the first two games, I think Jim Crane, James-Click conversation is going to be pretty deep in somebody's office. Oh, yeah, let me be really honest. And I always say this every time I come on the year. I much prefer personally and professionally, Matt, when our local teams win because it makes my job a little more fun and easy.

but often they don't because this is the Texans and the disappointing rockets and the 2020 Astros, so I will say this now, too. If the Astros are out of the first round after struggling all year, even with that lineup, to be a 500 team, why in the world would you bring Dusty Baker back? I mean, I just, I don't get that. I didn't really get the hire at the first place. Maybe he will create the October miracle. But there's no way around it.

I mean, Astros fans questioned it from the start. They still want Hinch or the second coming of Hinch. he hasn't been great, as we expected, managing the bullpen. He's also, as you said, been dealt a horrible, a horrible hand this year. I mean, he lost Ferlander. He lost his sooner. He never had Jordan Alvarez. But in a 60-game season, and they get knocked out on the first round, or even for me, even the ALDS,

you still have a good enough lineup. Something's off. And I just believe if you're going to have an off-season mat of major change for the second straight year, it just, it makes sense to start new at manager and get a true clean slate. But we'll see. We'll find out, because here's the thing, much like, much like for Tita and Mori with the rockets and that whole combination and Mike and Tony kind of took the rug from underneath him, no one really knows what Jim Crane's thinking.

And that's going to, except for Jim Crane, and that's going to come down much more than click. That'll come down to Jim Crane. Does he really want to try to win a World Series? next year. If they get knocked on the first round, how do you bring Dusty Baker back? Yeah, I would lean towards that the cards were so bad, there's so many injuries with a fluky season with COVID. I don't think baseball would treat the Astro as well for making the move so fast. And I don't know how image conscious Jim would be, but I feel like that would get.

But do they care after the sign stealing scandal? I think everything went out the window. I don't think the Astros care about how they're looking. Again, it comes down to winning. Nobody will care how it looks one of those. Again, I would just at this point, not knowing what it's in front of me in the next handful of days, I would lean towards bringing him back, at least to see what he could do in a full season. And don't forget, by the way, Brian, as you would know, they got a whole year of fans back in stands next year that are going to be ruthless against this organization. And you don't know what's coming back, too. If this team takes steps back and doesn't sign free agents and George is gone, yeah, expectations are different. Maybe you need level-headedness in there because it could be a slight rebuild mode for the Astros organization. quick for a let you run. Give me a final score on the Texans Steelers on Sunday. Yeah, I mean, I picked 24 to 20 in The Chronicle that feels right to me. But I mean, come on. Come on. Texans. Like, fly up to Pittsburgh. Get J.J. Watt, the win that defines his career, not the Super Bowl, beat in the Watt brothers. Unleash, let Deshawn Cook and go up there and actually play offense. Like, use your receivers and your

tight-ins and maybe David Johnson can run for more than 31 yards. I'm picking officially 24-20 Steelers, but Matt, I would love on Sunday afternoon to be writing about the first Texans victory of the season. That would be kind of fun. Thanks, BTSS. I have a great weekend. We'll talk again next Friday. I guarantee you a lot to get to either an 0-and-3 Texans, Astros Division 12 series or out or one and two. I mean, there are so many variables.

Thank God for sports, my friend. Thank you, B.S. Appreciate it. Take care, Matt. Thank you. You got it. That's Brian T. Smith from the Houston Chronicle, with us every Friday at 2 o'clock here on Sports Talk 790.

Ross, it is you and me the rest of the way. If you missed the Gordy parody, well, it didn't last long. We're going to play it again for you coming up in about a half an hour from now. We'll also make you some money and some handicapping picks coming up, too, in the next 40 or so minutes. You went and checked in your car. Everything okay? Yeah, I just had to put some money into the meter. You want me to pay you back?

Yeah, I would like you to. It's costing me money to be out here. Go ahead and expense that account for me there. Seating into my very low. This is Craig Vigio. Vigio. Back to Matt Thomas on Sports Talk, 790. Oh, we're having some fun.

Your home of the Stroes. Texans injury report is out. Randall Cobb missed today, not injury-related. J.J. Watt, not injury-related. I think he's got to get the day off. Limited participation. Kenny Stills with illness, non-COVID-related. Peter Calumby hamstring.

You big Peter Calambai? Calamaii. Whatever. Are you a freak fan of his? Peter Kalambaii? I mean, has he been playing? I couldn't even tell you what he's done. Okay.

Duke Johnson ankle. All three of those gentlemen are questionable. How are you feeling though, Matt? That's what's important. I feel great. Okay. I mean, despite the fact I'm in khakis and it's 80 degrees outside. I'm going out.

Yeah, it's fine. We're in the shade, man. I feel like going out tonight. I look really. I mean, I feel like I should be going out. I'm dressed up for a special occasion here. here down of the downtown? You're wearing khakis and a polo.

That's your going out clothes? Well, I mean, am I going anywhere like to a, you know, debut town ball or anything? Hmm. Go have a country club happy hour then. Basically. Mike in the Heights at 22 on the Matt Thomas show. Mike, thank you for holding good afternoon. Hey, what's going on, guys?

I just got my hot take on the Astros. I'm not too much of a Texans fan myself. But what I think is going to happen tonight is I think we're going to clinch. I think a week from now, we're going to show the world that we're here to mean business. I think Jose or Kiti is going to shock a lot of people if you get blocked in for the playoffs. And I think we've got a bone to pick with the A's since we've been struggling with them all season. And particularly Mike Fears, I think we're going to show them what we're really made of, especially with Altuve, looking like it's heating up.

With the bat, I think we got a lot to prove to these guys. And with this shortened season, we got a lot of gas left in the tank. And we got a lot of damage left to be done. I like your positive attitude. We got to record that conversation right there and send it to the Astros. That'd be nice. Yeah, and how about Jose Al-Tube with three hits last night? Guess who's hitting over 300 since I said he would.

What is the total number now? He's four for 15. So that's over 300? Yeah. That's our 315 would make it 300. Yeah, good for you. Wait, no, it's not. Wait, it's around there.

So let me ask you this. Mike, are you saying this because you're just an optimist, when it comes to the Astros, or do you really, in your heart of hearts, believe that they're going to put this together because they're a veteran team that's been there and done that? You know what? I think it's a little bit of my optimism. I've got to be honest, but I've been a through-and-through Astros fan since the far back I can remember. And, yeah, they are a group of veterans that have been in a tough position before, and they can definitely pull themselves out. If we can get firing on all cylinders,

I think the rest of the league, they don't want to admit it. but I think they're all worried about what we can do because we've got a lot of big bath and we've got a lot of strong arms up there on the mound. And if we can just get everything rolling, I think we could get pretty deep into the playoffs. You know, I don't want to say we're going to take it all the way from the position we're in right now. But we've got a lot that we can show to the world. And we've had a pretty tough last year with the scandal and all that smoke. But once that dust starts to settle and if we play right,

I think our division is ours for the taking. Well, you know, from what we got left with the A's, I think we're going to play pretty strongly against the A's, and we just need to lock it in and set our sights on that trophy one more time. Mike, thank you for the phone call. I like Mike. I needed that conversation just because it's just been so when one of the bats going to wake up. When is that Grinky going to pitch well again?

When is the bullpen going to be able to be solidified 6, 7, 8, 9th inning? Mike made me feel better. They can put it together, Matt. And by the way, 4-15 is 267. Okay, so he's got work left to do. And we're working on it. But you know what? If it hits, by next Tuesday, you've got feeling hit.

That's right, man. I applaud you for that. Donald and A-leaf. The time is 225. You're on 7-90. Hi, Donald. Yeah, how you doing? I was just talking about the Texans.

You ask if they win, would I be a fan? I don't see them winning. I see them with a lot of destruction in their roles right here. They got a lot of people flying around trying to do things, but it's not a coordinated effort. I think right now if they just take the straps off the young man, look him in the space, and said, the heck with the guy that's supposed to be running our offense. You're the quarterback. Get out there. Let's see what you did. You did it, Clemson, and you did it well, and you're still the same guy.

Go for what you know. Don't be with the other guy I'm worried about what he's doing. Step in, snap up, and do your tank. Because one thing about you, you're a champion before you got you. Now make us champions. Don't worry about it. His bags are being packed.

Even with him and a big contract. Oh, by the way, he retained his homeboy from New England with him. I'm out. Matt, your thoughts? You know, when you get a call with that kind of depth. Bill O'Brien's packing his bags, he says. Dishon Watson. And what basically what Donald wanted was for him to not take direction from any of the coaches

and just improvise the entire time. The entire office. Yeah, just go out there and have fun, Matt. Be like a kid out there. I'm still not ready to comment on the call. Okay. You want to comment on it? I think, this is just me, I think Deshaun Watson should work within the offense and go with the play calls that Bill O'Brien is going to make.

But, I mean, I don't think Bill O'Brien is packing his bags either, unless this season just becomes an unmitigated disaster. Even then, I would question whether or not he would be let go. I would not endorse Deshaunson automolizing it every down and then just saying, everybody run down the field. I'll run to my left or I'll run to my right and I'll throw it down there and we'll play a game of 500. He's like a kid out there, Matt, or something. Thank you, Donald, for the phone call. I mean, the effort was there.

Because it did take time to hit the 10 digits. We're 10, 7-13. Yeah, same digits. Yeah. Colton in West Columbia at 227 on the Matt Thomas show. Hi, Colton. Hey, I got a question. What do y'all think about the rumors going around

with Mike and Tony potentially going to Philadelphia, Philadelphia and people saying that he could possibly lower James Hardin to Philadelphia with him. Well, I believe half of that. I believe that Mike Dantone is a very, very legitimate candidate for the Philadelphia 76ers. He wants coached there. It's not far from his home in the offseason in West Virginia. It's got stars, Rossi, right? It's got a team that's been in the playoffs.

It's underachieved. It's not like he'd have to start from scratch. I also don't believe, and I mentioned this the other day, this might be a gut feeling for next Tuesday, that the Simmons and B combination may be split up at the end of this year by trade somehow. Now, the short offseason may fix that. It may not want to put a gut feeling on that, but it's one of those scenarios that I think could be in play. The James Harden thing, Rossi, I don't want to be rude, so I won't say it. What?

It was a TV sports guy in Philadelphia. I don't trust TV sports guys, except Mark Berman. Slander, Matt. I don't want to slander. But I don't remember the last time a local 5, 6, and 10 sports reporter was able to get a big story that wasn't named Mark Berman. So you're saying NBC Sports Philadelphia completely uncredible. No.

And you hate whatever. What's that guy's name? John Clark or Don Clark. How many followers do you have? Billy Will Clark? No, it's John Clark. Is it John Clark? Is he work for the cable channel?

I'm going to guess he has more followers than you. I'm sure he does. It's Philadelphia. They're a bunch of mean sports fans there. Is he a local? Oh, he's got 108,000 followers, Matt. Okay, so is he work for the cable network or the local TV channel? That's a full 70, what?

78 more you. Okay, don't bring that up. I've been working forever to 30,000. It's never going to happen. And that's fine. I've lived with that. Okay. Tell me again, where does he work?

He works with NBC Sports Philly. The local channel or the cable. Because the cable network is Andy. And he's from Philly. This is his location is Philly 100 emoji. Oh, he's Philly 100 guy. Looks, 11 p.m. weekday sports anchor NBC 10 Ingalls game day finder.

Final. This is his location is Philly 100 emoji. Oh, he's Philly 100 guy. Looks, 11 p.m. weekday sports anchor, NBC 10 Ingles game day finder. Final. Eagles game plan host. Oh, yeah. There's no chance of stories.

Delco, raised. Temple made. Zero. What's Delco? Is that some kind of suburb of Philly or something? Okay. Yeah. Yeah, I will put it at zero.

I thought it was like a car battery. And I will apologize to John Clark if I'm wrong. Okay. But I will put local TV guy who host Philly's Game Day with probably a pom-pom in his left hand as zero credibility. Eagles game day. Eagles game day. Go Eagles. Fly.

Fly. Right here in your home Eagles football, Channel 10. I don't know, man. Verified check, $108,000. Sounds legit to me. Now, on the world of Twitter, he's kicking my ass. Yeah. This guy's way more famous than you are.

No doubt. But if I was on television, AT&T, like, could you imagine AT&T? Oh, look at his background photo. It's him with Super Bowl confetti. Oh, okay. He's doing competti angels. Confetti angels. I 100% do not believe the rumors now.

Why not? Because TV sports guy does that. He looks like he could be Kirk Cousin's cousin or something. Does he end his sports cast with Phillies? Lose 7 to 5 to the Mets. We'll get him tomorrow. Maybe. No, I'm buying it.

Not buying it. But if I'm wrong, I will retweet his, I have it on confirmed sources that John is right, and I'm wrong. But I'm willing to bet he's not right. All he's saying is that there's rumors that Harding could lure. I mean, Dan Tony could lure Hardin. Okay, well, that's not breaking news. That's just going to your, I guess you know what it is? It's just one person's Twitter.

I've been telling you to sensationalize fake news and rumors and innuendo for years to get followers, and you just won't do it. I'm not doing it. Shame on me. Remember when we did a side eye emoji on draft day or trade deadline day? Oh, I got Matt go F yourself constantly. That was hilarious. I didn't think it was funny at all.

People got so mad. So mad at me. All right. Let's get some more in from you guys. 713, 2, 1, 2, 5, 7.9. Let's review the calls. Mike in the Heights, overly optimistic, but really passionate astrophound. I love that.

I'm off of that. Donald and A Leaf wants Deshawn to completely improv everything. Yes. And then our last caller, Colton asking about the Dan Tony stuff. I think the Danone in the Philadelphia is real. Mike, good, Dan, yeah, he's going to be there. All right, good for him. 232.

Back to make you some money next on 7-90. Hey, it's James Arden. What a pass. What a finish. Listen to your home of the Rock. or you're a smart speaker, just as. Hey, Google, play Sports Talk 790 on IHR radio.

That is something else, folks. Real Texans talk H-Town sports all day. On Sports Talk 790. No other radio station set on my pretext. Home of your rockets, your Astros, and your talk. Time for you to make some money with our buddy Paul Nolan. Sports Investors Weekly. His Saturday and Sunday show, when you are running errands,

like I'm going to get oil change tomorrow and get a car tire fixed, guess what I'm doing at 10 o'clock in the morning? I'm getting in my car and I'll listen to Paul Nolan and his crew. Paul, good afternoon. Let's start with Green Bay and New Orleans. You are going with a big-time Sunday night matchup. How do you see things? Well, you know, first-week-first.

On the Green Bay side of the ball, they've been so interesting to watch the film on them. When you're breaking it down, you watch what they're doing. They're creating so many of these bunch formations to start. They're fourth most in the league right now. And just to put that in perspective in the last three years, they've been 23rd in that situation. It's been something that's a really nice job creating some havoc off the line and giving Aaron Rogers some really nice looks. In addition to that, they've used a lot of pre-snap motions.

The second in the league of that this year, again, last three years, very little of it, 21st in the league in terms of getting those looks, those pre-snap breeds. And, you know, Rogers has always said, he likes to have a couple base formations kind of the way Peyton Manning did. And he would be able to see what the defense is declaring and he would audible at the line. And he would, you know, easily re-review looking for what he would call the opposite kind of simple. But, you know, what Rogers is doing now is he's getting these looks. He's getting better declaration from the day. he's also getting the ball out of his hands faster 2.5 seconds, 7 fastest in the league. So there's a lot to be said for what Green Bay has done so far, and it's been really interesting.

Unfortunately, you have to look at the fact that they, in context, have played the Lions' lousy pass rush, Vikings, the worst pass rush in the league. A lot different story this week. New Orleans is doing a good job getting after the quarterback on the defensive side of the ball. They've been pretty good. face better competition at this point. And I just feel like the metrics are off here. To see this line at 3, I think it's a great value. New Orleans lay in 3.

The Saints have been so strong coming, you know, awful loss. And even more so, the Saints are 194 straight up in 21 and 2 against a spread in the regular season when they're hosting a teams with a 700-a-hire winning percentage. That goes back to 2006. There's a team that's thrived off of playing top-notch teams coming out. them. And another thing that we have, one of my favorite trends is a letdown situation that applies to Green Bay here. Teams that are favorites that win by more than two touchdowns and then go on the road and beat a team that was a favorite on the road and comes home.

There's 16 wins and 60 losses against the spread. It's just a tremendous trend that just continues to go. It's the perfect letdown shot. I would say New Orleans is a free pick here. Really nice play for your audience. All right. I like the games in which a team plays on Monday night, then flies all the way to New England for a game on Sunday to play the Patriots. Do you give LV a chance against New England? Well, yeah, but keep in mind, New England did the same thing.

New England went across, you know, and went even further up to Seattle. So they're in a similar situation. But I do like what you're talking about there, especially with Las Vegas, you know, having that emotional charge, you know, opening their stage. And let me tell you, this Vegas team has been outstanding. They got guys open everywhere. I couldn't be happier for Derek Korn and really the development that Gruden has done throughout this team. I love the attitude to the O-Line.

There are a bunch of dirt bags who want to fight every play. They are missing one starter, which hurts them a little bit. But for the most part, they really get up and they get after you. And they get guys open everywhere. You know, we've talked about Thel's and his abilities. We've talked about, you know, Josh Jacobs and his abilities. It's a really fun team to watch. Excuse me, Darren Waller.

Forgive me, I'm sorry about that. He's outstanding, and he's always open. And one of the things that I'm looking at here is the other side of the ball. Cam Newton has been nothing short of stellar. He's saying all the right things. He has a humble attitude coming at this thing. He has a little bit of a giant chip on his shoulder, I should say. Belichick has something to prove hearing people say that he's not going to be able to win without Brady.

And this team has really shown what they're about. The defense is still outstanding. I expect McCordy to have a better game than he did last week. He was kind of torched by D.K. McHep, which is something you never see. So I expect a much better game. He's always been great. If he's had a tough game, he's always bounced back with complete lockdown. So I really expect him to step up and be well.

You can't really talk about James White being back and the impact it'll have, especially with the way Newton has done such a great job of getting the ball downfield. 81% of his deep field throws have been accurate, which is just outstanding. His arm mechanic looks great. His feet have been great, and he's cut 95% of the offense last week. He's going against the team that the linebackers just simply can't cover anybody. I love this matchup here. New England is an easy win, minus five and a half right now.

I just think it's a great value in essence. You know, it's your job to tell people how terrific I am. You know that, buddy. I'm doing a great job of that, by the way. What do we got to do over you? What do I got to do? What do I got to do? Here's what I'm going to do.

Here's what I'm going to do. You're going to give the number out, and I'm going to sing it like I hear it on Saturday and Sunday morning to 10 o'clock. All right, so 2 and 0 on the air on week one, two totals, both overwin. Last week, 2 and 0 on the air, this week is going to be 2-0. But if they really want to win, I got three games this weekend. Texan Steelers, love that. game. There's no doubt, Bengals, Eagles, love that game as well. Panthers charges, love that game.

Three and all free at 888-366-3733. Plus, I have two college games tomorrow. Absolutely love them as well. It's a weekend pass. 888-366-3733. Dial us up, and you will start winning. 888 366 free See that's how you sell it Paul

you keep getting winning picks and I'll start saying that number You give wrong picks and I'm going to give out like I don't know 979 sex lines I don't know what we'll do but you keep going hot on these picks and we'll continue to give out your number

okay buddy hey have a great weekend we'll talk to you next week All right, Maddie. Take care. You got it, buddy. Paul Nolan. Saturday and Sunday, Sports Investors Weekly. Sports Talk 790.

Back to wrap things up after I tell you about Shaw's jewelry at the corner of West Gray and Montrose. If you are with someone that's looking for a ring upgrade, go to Shaw's. If you want to take that ring that she currently has and use it towards a purchase of something better, take it to Shaw's. If you saw something in a magazine or on a TV show or online. line and you can send a picture to Shaw's. They'll make it for you there because they're doing everything. A master jewelry. If you've got something in terms of repairs with your jewelry and necklace or a watch,

if you've got something in terms of repairs with your jewelry and necklace or a watch, you've got to think of Shaw's. Monday through Friday, 10 to 7, Saturday's 10 to 6. If you're downtown like I am, you're about 10 minutes away from Shaw's jewelry. West Gray and Montrose, go by and see them. Please tell them Matt Thomas sent you to the place that offers 0% financing for 12 months on most purchases. that's Charles Dury, the corner of West Grand Montrose. Left side to Westbrook on the baseline for the tie.

He makes it, and he's fouled. This is Russell Westbrook. One thing's for sure, I did not get my amazing style from Matt Thomas. Oh, Hammer job. Be shaking your head, Matt. Because you just admitted to me you wrote the liner to Russell Westbro. Oh, I mean, I suggested it to Mike Bobillon. Suggest you said, hey, Russ, do you mind reading this?

I saw you do it. That's not true. I did not go up to him with it, but the idea was mine, yes. Ladies and gentlemen, did you miss Chris Gordy's horrible football Friday parody? Of course I did. No, you did it because you were right here when you heard it. Oh, yeah, that's true. Ladies and gentlemen, here's Gordy singing absolutely atrocity of a song,

but he does it in the only Chris Gordy way. His offense is so reckless, and he started O and 2. Bye, MD. And I bet half of Texas just wants to see. him lose. Cause going up to Pittsburgh, we know how it's gonna go. The B-Sacks' turnovers an ugly game, it's that damned all billio. We don't stand a chance with his hacking pants, hear the booze of a Sunday crowd.

He'll abandon the run, put the shawning shotgun and watch as he goes down. It's crap he plays every single day, can't wait for him to go. It's that S eating grin over a butt chin. They call the Manville. He got butt chin in. He said S eating grin as well. That's not very nice. That was salty Gordy.

Oh, no. Did you write your phone? Oh, we're okay. All right, last call before I get out of here. And if y'all want to react to Gordy, I can take that too. We'll squeeze the time in. A team barely working today. Are they working a full three hours a day?

Yeah, because I got Astros on deck at six. You got Astros on deck? I do. Man, you're grinding out here, Matt. I'm talking about. Matt on 790. Good afternoon, Matt. Thank you for holding. Hey, thank you very much. And it's hard to follow up on your last 15 minutes. It's been very entertaining. And the end of the week, it's great. I got one for you. I'm a transplant from St. Louis and Cardo fan, diehard Cardo fan, but I was looking at stuff just two days ago,

the statistics. And give me 10 seconds here to share it. I want your opinion. But you look at Major League Baseball right now. The batting averages right now are about, There are nine points below last year at this time and 11 below two years ago. And that's including the National League and D.H. right now. So, you know, you had pitchers batting last year in the previous year, obviously. So, you know, hitting is really off. You look at the middle core, the Cubs, they've got some great hitters. They're not hitting very well.

That's just one example. And to me, to have that much of a drop, there's kind of be something to it. Is it because they're not taking batting practice? Does that really have that much of a fact? I don't know. You guys have good opinions. So I'm just curious. Thank you.

I think it's a byproduct of, first of all, the sample size is incredibly small. And I know he's comparing the numbers of 60 games compared to 60 a year ago. I think everything was rushed. I think no fans. I think adrenaline is gone. Whether it's positive for having your fans in stands, whether it's the booze of people that don't like you. I think you've got a couple new ballparks in play.

Especially in America. Like, so the Rangers, not, again, the West teams are playing, but the Rangers ballpark is not supposed to be hitter friendly. It was for the Astros yesterday. I think everything is just, I don't think you count anything this year in terms of a trend. That's why, when we were talking about Jose Altoou yesterday, Ross,

I don't believe this is the first sign-up to downturn in Jose's career. I think this is just a lousy season in a compact way. with a lot of extracurricular things not related to the game itself that Jose's had to kind of deal with. And that's why I think batting averages are down. I think everything, being in hotel rooms, not being able to go to your routine, not being able to get to the ballpark until a certain time. When you're on the road or you're at home, you get to enter your ballpark, your clubhouse whenever you want. You can take batting cages you're blue in the face at 1230 in the afternoon if you want to.

That's not a possibility anymore. This year, the average batting average batting average is 245. last year was 252 the year before that 248. I mean, it's a little bit low, and it hasn't been below 245 since actually like 1970. But if you look at OPS, the OPS is 740 average. It's higher than it's been like four in the last six years. So I don't know.

Maybe there's a little bit of that, and I don't know what the average is the road in home splits and stuff like that would be, but I wouldn't take make too much of it. Because the pitchers have had to deal with the same stuff. I don't think baseball's over the picture. and injured like crazy. Pitchers injuries, they're not getting as much time to warm up.

You're seeing ERAs explode a little bit. You know. You're taking out the specialist, the lefty specialist element as well. You've got to face three guys. That hurts, that hurts pitching more than it does hitting. I feel like starting pitching isn't going as long as it has in years past. You've also had seven- inning double-header games, less at bats. I don't know.

It's a gimmicky season. We don't know what to make it. Yeah, I will take nothing. away from 2020 and go this is a trend for the future yeah I agree Texans lose 2421 I think I'm taking Houston plus the points Steelers and a squeaker 23 16 Steelers I mean yeah Steelers Kimee Fairbann once again the MVP for the Texans now you know teams don't field go kickers don't like kicking in Heinz field one of the sides the stadium is a much more of a win in the other one. That's true. But Fairbant's one of the highest paid kickers in the league, Matt, so he'll be fine.

Well, that's really not my responsibility. It is a responsibility for you to be thinking about where you're going to watch the games this weekend. You should go to Big City Wings. They have wing specials every single day. So if you're going Sunday to Big City Wings, you should go today for half-price appetizers after 9 o'clock and $3.00 margaritas. But Sunday, you get 30 boneless wings for only $19.99 plus $3 bud light aluminums. You can watch all the games, the Texans, the Astero. all the NFL games, 30 boneless wings, $1999 with $3 bud light aluminums at Big City Wings. Find a location near you for Houston's Wing Joint. There are eight of them all around town. Go to Big CityWings.com. Open for dining, takeout, curbside pickup, and delivery, and adult beverages to go, which are absolutely scrumptious. 30 boneless wings this Sunday, 1999 at Big City Wings, with a big on sports and big on wings.

Thanks to the Rockets for having us out here. Where the other one's left? That's okay great atmosphere went 100 degree out a hundred degree day so it felt good Wexel and Klein are actually going to pull it in a full three-hour day very excited about that as I drive from downtown out to my Polatial state I'll talk to you guys for Astros on deck at six right here on sports talk 790 the a team is next