The Matt Thomas Show with Ross - Astros Sing “New York, New York”! College Football Is On Its Way!

Episode Date: August 28, 2026

Astros Sing “New York, New York”! College Football Is On Its Way!

This is Matt and Ross in the morning. 2 in the AM here on Sports Talk 790. Hello and welcome into a Friday edition of the Matt and Ross in the morning show. Oh, yeah, Jesus, you think is going to say I need to know every single detail. No. Doesn't he already know? He knows. He already knows, right?

I think he does. Go to Barry, 746. Matt and Ross in the morning on 790. You need a little clarification on the situation. That's all. Let's see what the big deal is. Hello. It is Friday, the first ever Friday for the morning edition of the program.

We have now transitioned, of course, fully. And we're all having our issues adjusting. First of all, Matt didn't even show up today. Second of all, this microphone still has a little bit of an echo in it, I think. Okay, that's great. So I'm going to have to move my microphone. microphones on a little bit here, but that's okay. I don't even know how bad you guys can hear that. Matt's adjusting so hard to the first week. He couldn't even make it through a full week,

right? Jonathan, dude's already, he's already bugged off on us. He's just, he snowflake that bad. He's out on a Friday. He's out on Monday, too. Dude couldn't even handle a whole week of the mornings. Okay, I'm kidding. He is already planned this weeks ago. It's his daughter's first weekend of volleyball game. So he's going to be in Rhode Island. So he's not going to be here. It'll be me flying solo for the first hour and then coming up at 7 o'clock Chris Gordy is going to join and hang out. In the meantime, it's like the solo six for me with Jonathan, of course. And we got the sounds at 630 coming up at 630 as well. And anything you guys want to get into, you are wide open available.

I'm going to be honest with you. I'm fighting a cold. So hosting solo in morning drive is a difficult enough task as it is. Also why I'm fighting off this cold and trying to give you guys as much energy as I can so you want to get in for a few minutes. Talk about whatever you like. You can. 713-212-7-90.

7-1-3-212-5-7-90. As I've been trying to adjust to this morning slog as well, at least you had the Astros playing on the East Coast time with the 605 starts. So we'll see what happens when it comes to the 7 o'clock starts when they get some home games eventually. But three games in New York for the Astros against the Yankees. three more coming up against the New York Mets. And look here. The team that we were all down on, rightfully so, because they played the 12 straight games, nine of them at home against under 500 teams. And then especially on the home one, losing two out of three each to the Mariners, Angels,

and athletics. Then of course, I mean, is it too cliche to say that's so Astros? Because it kind of does feel like it. They've been very good against teams above 500 this season. it's so astros of them to go up there in New York and take two out of three, which they were able to do with the 5-1 victory yesterday. Hayden West Nesky was very good. He had five innings of one-run ball, six strikeouts as well. He did go out there. They call it on the box score the five-plus because he did go out there for the sixth inning,

but he was not able to record out. Thankfully, Stephen O'Kert came in. Every day, O'Kert taking care of business. A.J. Blueball, getting you six out. It struggled a little bit for the final three outs. Was working a lot of counts. Got a couple of full counts. Got up to 32 pitches in those couple of innings.

But he was able to finish things out for the seventh and eighth. And then Josh Hader. Not only has Josh Hader been spectacular this year. I mean, the guy has got a 0.79 ERA on the season. It just feels like every time he goes out there. He's just mowing guys down and three pitchers are freeware. The night before he got. what was it, four outs on an inning and a third.

And I'm sorry, not the night before. It was a couple of nights before where he got the four outs. And then last night he gets the save on just eight pitches, seven of them from strikes. He just go on there and it's like he's in a bullpen session. People cannot hit him. A couple of strikeouts for him, eight pitches. It was the great, whatever you want to call it, the Grand Slam slave, a save, I should say. They were up four runs.

so it wasn't an actual save opportunity for Josh Hader. So he was able to get the save last night as well. Astros take two out of three against the New York Yankees, and I'm feeling good. You got the two-run shot from Christian Walker off of Garrett Cole. And you know you can hear Gary Cole not happy. For Pete's sake, it's only out in one ballpark, one out of 30 ballparks. Christian Walker home run.

Sorry, you played a Mickey Mouse Stadium. Sometimes it helps your guys out. sometimes it helps the other guys out. Just the most ridiculous. I don't know because the left porch is short, the right porch is short. At least the monster is kind of fun in Finway. But it feels like the most ban box Mickey Mouse Park in baseball, probably Yankee Stadium. So the short porch to right, Christian Walker taking advantage of that and able to hit the two-run shot.

Jeremy Payne, that was no cheapie that he hit to left to give you a little bit of insurance in the seventh inning. And then the Yankees defense. I mean, we're going to hear from Nick DeTurro coming up again in about 630. They can't catch. They can't throw. They can't do anything. I'm seeing the play right now. He passed it back to his third basement and get the throw.

Yes. It was, who was it? It was a Caballero and I can't remember in Lombard maybe. I think it was Lombard. It's two errors on one play that allowed the Astros to score a run. George Lombard bubbles the ball. It goes into the hands of Jose Caballero. he spins and airmails it to first base

and then Yainter Diaz is able to just kind of like chill at first base and then the Astros score the run with Christian Walker scoring on the air. It was a double error. They're bad. I mean, Trent Grisham can't catch anything out there in center field. Just everybody out there not good for the Yankees defense.

And that matters and I think that is going to end up costing them at some point in the postseason. We'll have to see. Because as we know here in Houston, Jeff Luno was a huge. proponent of getting good defenses out there on the field. And we know Joe Espada likes to do that as well. I mean, a lot of people asking why this move or that move is being made as well.

So there's a priority of defense. That's one of the big reasons. I mean, Dalton Varsho is available and he's been good in center field. Unfortunately, he hasn't been very good at the plate. But Yankees' defense has been a complete mess of the entire series. It's been a complete mess of the entire basically season. And it's funny to watch. They're just handing runs over to the Houston Astros.

So Astros get the win over the Yankees. I don't know if this is inspiring some kind of confidence. And we're going to say, oh, is this it? They're finally going to wake up because, well, we've had too many of these moments. They're 67 and 67 on the season. They're just a mid-team. And that's okay. That's who they are.

We'll see what kind of noise they can make if and when they make it to the playoffs. With the Rangers being off yesterday and the Seattle Mariners, they are now a full game ahead of the Rangers in the American League West, three games ahead of the Seattle Mariners, according to ESPN, 52% playoff odds at the moment. So we can get to that. We, of course, have NFL stuff going on, college football stuff going on,

Houston Texans, we can talk about anything you guys want to get to as well. It is a Friday edition, first week in the books. Well, okay, in four more hours, the first week will be in the books. Of the Matt Thomas Show with Ross in the, I'm sorry, Matt and Ross,

I should say. See, even I'm struggling to make the transition. Matt and Ross in the morning here on Sports Talk 790 with you until 10 o'clock. Chris Gordy will join at 7 o'clock at 830. We've got the Friday. I'm sorry's. I got a couple that I wrote. I kind of wrote these and I'm going to need some like deciphering from you, John.

I mean a little bit of help. I don't even know what this means. Deep cut. I know. Oh, I know. Yeah, I know. No, it's somewhat legible. Deep cut.

Oh, yeah. I got to apologize for that. Because it was, because it was the Dolly Parton song that Matt loved. It was like a number three hit. I called it a deep cut just to annoy him. And then it worked.

I felt bad about that. And then we got some other stuff that I need to apologize about as well. All right. As I said, with you until 10 a.m. Solo until 7. So you guys want to get in.

Phone lines open. 713-212-5-790. 7-13-212-5-7-90. You can also send tweets to at SportsRV. You can follow me on Instagram at SportsRV. You can follow me on Instagram at SportsRV as well. I'm sorry, he's coming up at 830. Sounds at 6.30 coming up at, you guessed it, 630.

Anything you want to get to, 7-1-3-21-5-790. 7-13-212-5-7-90. Oh, no. Breaking ball, and that's hit in the air. Right center, fairly deep. Going back on it is Jones. On to the warning track, and it's gone. Just over the fence for Christian Walker, a two-run shot.

And it's 3-0-0 Astros, number 24 for Walker. And two more runs for the Astros come with two outs. The Astros magical at the end of these innings, and Walker just rides one the other way. Just out. In right field for Christian Walker. Only out of one ballpark out of 30 in baseball. That's okay.

It all counts the same. Astros pitching shut down Yankees hitting anyways as they only score one run. Astros get the 5 to 1 victory over the Yankees last night. We're talking about that and anything you want to get to here. On Matt and Ross in the morning at 713-212-5-790. It is, and anything goes Friday at 7-13-212-5-7-90. We've got Sounds at 630 coming up in the next segment. Well, you will hear from Nick Tutro, who of course you can probably

imagine not too happy with the Houston Astros beating up on his New York Yankees and we'll have Chris Gordy joining us at 7 o'clock. Matt Thomas is out. He is visiting his daughter in Rhode Island as she is getting geared up for her first weekend of volleyball action so he'll be out today and tomorrow. In the meantime,

you got me, Ross, you got Jonathan, and you'll have Chris Gordy coming up at 7 o'clock. 713-212-5-790. The phone number if you guys want to get in, 7-13, 12-5-7-90. Let's go ahead and go out to the phones, starting with J-T in Illinois. J-T., how are things in Illinois? Great, man. I'm a long-time Astro fan, and I'll tell you that's one thing before I get to my point, so I know nothing about Houston traffic. But please tell Christina Cruz, she is the absolute goat when it comes as a traffic report across the U.S. I love her. But anyway, I said this on the, I'm a regular caller, by the way, to the post game shows throughout the season. But I said this a couple weeks ago.

And, well, I said it last weekend, even after the Astros lost two of three to the A's. And I continue to argue this. And callers can debate it all they want. But I say the margin in the American League between the worst team and the best team is so, so narrow. I just don't see much of a difference because everybody has a weakness. Like you said, the Yankees are terrible defensively, and that's what's going to lead to their ultimate demise. And if you look at the Astros, you know, if they can get to the finish line and you talk about their best series of the year, the three that come to mind are this one.

We just completed with the Yankees two of three. Our last series with the raise, we won that. our last series with the White Sox, we won that. And I think even the last series with Cleveland in the latter portion of June, when the Astros really needed that, they were able to win that series. But then, again, you lose to the Angels and you lose to the A's. But I'm just saying there's, in my opinion, there's just not much of a difference from the top to the bottom in the American League. And please, please, please don't blow this.

this weekend against the Mets, please take two of three. And the greatest thing you can say is a caller anywhere in the United States is I'll hang up and listen. All right. Thanks a lot, J.T. Yeah, if you go in terms of like among the best records with teams against teams above 500, Ashos are right there. Now, they don't have a lot. That's a function of them playing in the American League West. And there is no team with a record above 500 in the American League West at all in their entire division.

So they're 25 and 14. That's only, what, 30? games against teams above 500. Brewers are 37 and 21. You have the Braves at 37 and 23. And then the Astros are in that mix right now, at least as I sort them. I don't know if this means they have the highest percentage,

but I'm just looking at baseball reference. They have the expanded standings, I should say. That 25 and 14, they have a great record against teams above 500. Below 500, 42, and 30. 53. That's crazy. Now, do I want to say, oh, see, that gives me hope for them in the playoffs. Not really. I mean, it's nice and it's fun, and it's a smaller sample size, and they are able to beat up on some good teams. But that doesn't make me think that they're going to make some kind of great run in the American League, because I just don't see that in terms of the rotation and the lineup and the bullpen long term. But we'll see. Get into the playoffs, anything can happen, right? That's what we've been saying all year.

Get in the playoffs, anything can happen. Get in the playoffs, anything can happen. get in the playoffs anything can happen so we'll we'll see from there but the 25 and 14 record against teams above 500 is pretty good it's it's uh it's just funny because overall they've been a pile of mid and it and it just hasn't been a fun season but whatever for whatever reason against the better teams above 500 25 and 14 on the season all right 713 212 590 the phone number 713, 212, 5, 790. Christian and Lamarck, I believe, first appearance on the mornings here. Matt and Ross in the morning, Sports Talk, 790.

What's up, Christian? King, Ross, Louis, Rie. Oh, and Jonathan Allen. Morning, Christian. Hey, I'm just a surprise to you all that I'm on the mornings, too. I mean, I'm actually getting a chance to talk to y'all. Yeah, I didn't know you woke up this early, Christian. What are you doing?

up so early, man? You're all right? I'm not really up this early. I am kind of a night out. I normally am asleep on this time. Well, when I'm not watching Japanese mixed martial arts. Of course. Yeah, of course. If you follow me on Instagram, you would know. But still, though, I got a couple questions to ask. First of all, with the Astros taken two from those damned Yankees,

I mean, now the pressure is going to be on them to go all out to reach that magic number, because we're getting closer to the time when teams are getting ready to clinch for the postseason. What's the current percentage for them to reach that magic number? And also, since it said, And he didn't go. There was news yesterday that TKO group holdings, you know, the people behind the UFC, WWE, and Zupa Boxing,

they just bought a minority stake in the Zone group just to air their packages for, like, bars, restaurants, businesses, stuff like that. to certain promoters in the fight sports world or the regular sports world be worried about this type of oversaturation just to, you know, not let businesses have say and what they can and can't broadcast. I'll shut up and listen. All right, thank you, Christian.

First of all, you're asking about the Astros playoff odds, at least the way that ESPN has them. They say 52% to make the playoffs. I'm just looking at Fangrass pulling it up real quick. They have them at 44% to. to win the division also 52% to make the playoffs. As far as I would say when it comes to fighting and boxing and what you're talking about, the TKO group,

I mean, as much as they can get their hand on, the better. I didn't know that they were trying to buy DeZone. So DeZone, as I know it, is it Frank Warren? Who is the, there is a boxing promoter that started DeZone. I used to subscribe to the zone as a big-time lover of the fight game, but then it just got way too expensive. It was like two. They said it was going to be minimal expenses,

and then you were going to get all the pay-per-views, and then you didn't, and they jacked up the price, and they weren't getting as many subscribers as they thought, and honestly, they were doing like predatory practices with the subscriptions, which Amazon Prime and a bunch of other people are doing with that anyways. But I digress. So I don't subscribe to DeZone anymore.

I've really, I've gone from a huge, huge, huge boxing fan to not interested in the sport at all. outside of, I mean, the occasional Canelo fight and whoever else in terms of maybe Alexander Usick, who is the heavyweight champ, stuff like that. But I would say if they're getting a stake in that, good for them. Dana White seems to be a very good, smart businessman. I know he was on with Adam and talking about the power slap stuff, which I don't watch it all.

But they're going to be going up to Lubbock for that, I think. But good for them. I'd say as much exposure as they can try to get to. I like MMA. I love boxing. I just don't love the business of boxing and what it became, but the purity of the sport of going into a ring with just your fists and your wits. To me, like basically the purest of sports until, of course,

we get into the ugliness of, you know, people dying in the ring and injuries and all that type of stuff. But, I don't know, wishing them the best, if they're going to buy the zone and try to get more exposure and get on and more sports bars and stuff like that. Okay, Jason, I see you on hold. We do have to get to the sounds at 630 next as well. We got you coming up. We got Chris Gordy coming up. We're with you until 10 o'clock. It is Matt and Ross in the morning. Phone lines open on in anything goes Friday. 713-212-5-790. Well, that sounds very inviting.

Well, it all sounds exciting. That sounds like a threat. That sounds stupid. So it's sweet. Matt and Ross bring you sounds at 630. Still getting used to all the new elements in the morning. This is quite catchy. Quite catchy. Sounds at 630 here on Sports Talk 790.

Yes, it is Matt and Ross in the morning. As Matt is out in Rhode Island, as he is taking care of, watching. I don't even know what he's doing right now. Probably sleeping if I had to guess, then that's okay. But it is, you know, he's on Eastern Times. I'm over there, and maybe he's already getting used to waking up early, so he could be up, who's to say. But anyways, Matt is out today. He is out on Monday.

Meantime you got me, Ross v. Real, Jonathan Allen, is here as well. Chris Gordy joining at 7 o'clock and sounds at 630. So mentioned we had the Astros beating up on the Yankees five to one yesterday. Hayden Wesniewski, five innings of one-run ball. Josh Hater, closing it out at the end. In between, you had Stephen Ockert and AJ Blueball. doing their thing. Yankees bats quiet all evening long. Well, Nick Totoro, uh, sounds like, I guess, what does he mean he's retiring?

I don't know. Is he retiring from watching the Yankees? Let's hear from Nick Totoro, Yankees fan number one. This is why. This is why when you invest your heart and soul in this on a day-to-day basis, and you can't catch a ball, you can't move a runner over, you strike out, your strike out, your duty, on a day-to-day to watch this. And then you've got listen to the same it's it's just beyond beyond nothing ever changes you get a glimmer

of hope for a second and then boom you go right back to being who we are it's just I retire I fucking retire so does that mean he's retiring from watching the Yankees I don't believe that I think he's a little bit hurt there's 70

75 and 58 all right I want to retire from watching 67 and 67 baseball hey don't say that because that's So the caller mentioned earlier, like, they could very well lose two out of three to the Mets who were terrible. That would be the most astros thing ever. You lose series each to the Mariners, A's, and Angels. And you go up in New York and you beat up on the Yankees for two out of three. So I'm a little bit worried.

I'm just saying, 610 first pitch tonight here on Sports Talk 790. And yes, that'll be, that's about 12 hours from now and I'll be with you for the post game. About 15 hours from now here on Sports Talk 7.90. Yes, I will be taking a nap in between. So Nick Duturo, he's sad. Aw, poor guy. Been a lot of Yankees suffering for him since about 2009, but it's always fun to play a little bit of Nick Duturo on the sounds at 630.

Also, on the sounds at 630, we got Mike Vrabble on the newest Texans wide receiver. His name is Kayshan Booty. Now, I had to do a little bit of research, and we'll talk about this in a minute, but Mike Vrable on Kayshan Booty, who is now a Houston Texan wide receiver. somewhat some more sounds at 630. That was one place where we do have some depth and, you know, I think for all parties involved, that was probably the best thing. You know, without injuries, you know, Kishan probably would have been inactive, unfortunately.

It's just kind of the way it was. It's just with him not playing special teams. And I try to thank Kishan as many times as I could. I texted him again today. just his maturity his growth you know his ability to put into words last year and share his

own personal struggle but also the growth that he made from that that's positively going to affect a lot of people and I know that that wasn't easy for him to do and I've telling him all the time about how much I respect him for being able to do that

All right. So I was like, wait a second. What was the controversy? Now, I'd remember, I don't know if you remember this, Jonathan. In 2024, Kishan Booty was issued a warrant for his arrest because he was gambling online. Now, I forgot about that, but I remember now in LSU. He'd placed 8,900 wagers while underage, including at least six on LSU Tigers football games. Of course, he played for the LSU Tigers.

July of 24, all gambling charges against him were dropped, and there was a piece earlier this year. Booty admitted to being a problem gambler during his time at LSU. So Kayshan Booty is a reformed problem gambler. I guess that's what Mike Vrable was talking about, how he's going to help other people. Huh. So good for Kishon.

You know, Texas Tech could take a little bit of notes on how to resolve in light of, you know, gambling problems. Well, yeah, because they were trying to heal Brendan Sorsby by allowing him to throw the football, yes? Oh, this poor kid. Oh, he needs to throw the football. That's what really is going to help him. He needs to throw the football with Texas Tech Red Raiders on his jersey.

That's what's going to help him heal through this. Well, Kishon Booty, apparently, there was a Players Tribune article that he put out talking about being a problem gambler during his time at LSU. And I'd totally forgotten about the gambling thing anyways. But either way, Kisham Booty is a Houston Texan. Mike Frable talking about his inability to play on the special team, so he was probably going to be an active weekend, week out, and now he is with the Texans.

I don't know that he's going to be some bang-up number two and come out here, like gangbusters and get 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns or anything like that, but providing some depth, not costing the Texans a whole lot. You gave away Jalen Reed and a seventh round pick. I'm on board with Cajon Booty and the trade made by Nick Casario. Hopefully some of the other guys can step up. as well and play well. Whether it be Jalen Noel, whether it be something you can get

out of Tank Dell and you can be all okay at the wide receiver spot because losing Jaden Higgins said at Torn ACL who is by all accounts at Camp Star ready for a breakout season. That was a huge blow to the Texans as they try to improve on the offensive side of ball, which apparently was going very well for them

this week in joint practices with the Carolina Panthers. All right, quick break here on the Matt Thomas show with Rosh. See, I'm already calling it wrong. And Matt and Ross in the mornings on sports talk 790. Jason, you are coming up next. We'll have Chris Gordy coming on at 7 o'clock, 8.30. We will have your Friday. I'm sorry. And anything you guys want to get to at 713-212-5-790. It is Matt and Ross in the mornings. And in anything goes Friday at 7-13-212-5-790. You know, I kind of forgot about this, Jonathan. What's up?

Who is going to say good... We're going with good night strippers, I guess, at 8 o'clock? Yes, we did. But we haven't done it yet. This is the first week and then Matt's out. Well, I got it. He sent me a clip. Oh, okay.

Thought he was going to miss his first Friday? That's what I was wondering. Okay. We also got one from... You know what we should do? We should do a comparison. I got one from Christian and Lamarck. He sent me one as well.

Yeah. I put it in this system. We can go with that. We can... We'll play Matt. of course at 8 o'clock. So that's good. I'm glad Matt is covering his base

at 8 o'clock. Even though it really feels like we should do it like at 6 o'clock, but I understand. We're trying to get maximum exposure, so we're going to go with the good night strippers at 8 o'clock. And Christian Lamarck sent one as well. What a lovely fan base he has. You know, we do.

You guys are awesome. I said in my tweet, I mean it. I love you guys. You guys listening to us. I appreciate it over the years as well. And now we're transitioning in the morning. A lot of y'all have come and are listening now. You've been sending us tweets and all that type of stuff. Some of you, of course, are very upset because it doesn't work as well with your morning schedule or your afternoon schedule or whatever.

I understand that. I appreciate that. But this is just, I think, long term, we're going to be a better move for everyone involved. All right. 713-212-5-790, the phone number. Matt and Ross in the morning here on Sports Talk 790 without Matt. He'll be back on Tuesday. 713-212-5-7-90.

Jason and Katie has been waiting patiently, so let's get to him. What's up, Jason? Rossi, good morning, you took the words right out of my mouth. I was going to tell you I got a whisper because the strippers just did this one down for the night. Okay.

So let's get him a little bit. But one more thing before I get down to the Astros on the Rabel comment, he's probably the last person to be talking about booty right now, don't you think? Yeah, I think that's why he traded away, Kaysha. on booty, so he didn't have to answer booty questions every week, right?

There you go. Hey, two questions on the ad. One of them being, I'm assuming if the playoffs started today and, you know, hopefully we get there, you're going to go Hunter Brown, Lambert, and Witznowski, depending on how the rotation finishes out the season, right?

My question is, right now in the playoffs, when you have to go to that fourth starter, I've noticed, and for starters, I saw the Blanco start yesterday was awful, so I don't plan on him coming back the rest of the year. Would you ever consider maybe throwing Christian Javier three, four innings? Because he's looked good in the last couple of games until he hits that fourth, fifth inning mark, and then maybe piggyback came with a blue ball for a few innings to kind of leverage that gap. That's question one.

Question two, let's say Carlos does come back healthy. what do you do there with the field? Do you move your own to left field and let Cardo's D.H keep him off his feet? Do you move Jose to D.H? Move Brades over to second base. Kind of interested in kind of a kind of wanted to get your thoughts on that.

Yeah, I would feel like... Yeah, thank you. Yeah, so a couple of things there, Jason. First of all, I don't even know where you would go for a fourth starter. I don't know if it would be bullpen or... I mean, you're not going to...

There's not a whole whole... lot of options. I mean, Mike Burroughs is going to come back probably, especially when rosters expand coming up in September. He just threw some rehab again. He gave up some runs, but he had been very, very good in his rehab before that. So I don't know if we're going to get a look at Mike Burroughs. I'm not sure. I'm not even sure they're going to get out of a wild card where you only need those three guys anyways. I mean, Brown, Lambert, Wesniewski. Does that sound like an easy one, two, three, victory, victory, victory for the Astros anyway? I don't know.

You wouldn't need a fourth starter until a DS situation, at which point you might even go with a bullpen game, honestly. Or as you said, I mean, Javier and get whatever you can get from him and then just pull him and try to navigate things with your bullpen, which unfortunately has been gassed. I don't know. All these question marks are why I'm not anticipating. It's just hard for me to get excited for a team that's in first place.

I know we're almost into September and they're in first place and maybe I should be like, oh yeah, let's go. But it's, it doesn't feel like that at all. It feels bleh. They don't deserve to be a first place team.

They're five teams with a better record than them in the American League. They're just in a crappy division where you're 67 and 67 and you're in first place. And I have no confidence that they'll be able to get. I mean, maybe they can get into a wild card, but then DS and CS, hell no. They're not making the World Series. I've been saying that. In my mind, I don't want to say, you know, I don't like to be an absolutist and say 0.0% chance,

but it's just, it's just something that is not even entering my mind is something's going to happen. The lineup's not competitive enough and most importantly, the starting rotation is not competitive enough. So I just don't have a whole lot of reasons to believe they're going to be able to make any kind of run. Because the division is so bad, yeah, you can probably win the AOL West and then you're going to be the three seed going up against a six seed, which as of right now, I believe, is the Cleveland Guardians. But I don't know who their fourth starter would be.

I guess it would be Javier. I have maybe Burroughs. I mean, probably not Tatu Yemi or Ronell Blanco. I'm not sure. And it's just, I don't even feel that good about Peter Lambert was almost a quality start light. And then Hayden Wesonesneski was a quality start light yesterday. You still haven't had anybody go six innings since what, August 10th?

You're almost in like three weeks and nobody's even gone six innings in terms of a starting pitcher. So, yeah, I'm not feeling super confident about this team going forward. At least they're going to probably make the playoffs because their division is so bad. But then in terms of making any kind of move in the American League playoffs, I'm not bullish on that. But we'll see what happens. They're going to get there. They're going to play the games. And then I'm going to be rooting for them.

I'm a Houston Astros fan, born and Rick. lived in Houston my entire life, except for six years in Austin. But I'm an Astros fan, and I want him to win. But I just can't get up and get my pom-poms out for this team that is 67 and 67 with a negative 44 run differential. It just doesn't feel good. It doesn't feel like first place coming into September. But we'll see what happens. We've been waiting for things to turn and waiting for thing and waiting and waiting and waiting and waiting and waiting.

I'm done waiting. They're just a mid-team. Pitching hasn't turned the corner like we were hoping. In terms of Carlos Correa coming back, I don't know how well he's going to be able to move. I don't expect him to play the field, certainly not at shortstop or third base. I don't know, can you plug him into second base,

which is less rangy? He's probably going to have to DH, if anything, as you said. And then at that point, you're sticking Yorna Alvarez in left field, which would help with your outfield problem, and Yorna wants to play more in left. So I don't have a big problem with that. But Joe Spot, of course, has been trying to keep Yordon out of left field as much as possible. But the latest reports are that Carlos Correy is going to be available in September.

All right, quick break here on Matt and Ross in the morning here on Sports Talk 790. Jonathan Allen is here. I am here. Matt is not. Chris Gordy should be joining momentarily. Oh, I see him walking in right now. So Chris Gordy is here for the next three hours. You guys want to get in.

It isn't anything goes Friday as well. 713-212-5-790 is the phone number you want to get in. 7-13-212-5-7-90. Matt and Ross in the morning continues after this short break. This is Matt and Ross in the morning. Start spreading the new. Butter goes. Here's the pitch, driven to right field toward the corner.

That's trouble, and that is going to get down. Pena, racing around third. He's speeding in, and he'll score. An opposite field single for Paredes and the Astros lead won nothing. I retire. It's just beyond, beyond. Nothing ever changes. You get a glimmer of hope for a second and then boom.

You go right back to being who we are. It's just, I retire. I've been retired. You're going to retire? That was great. Watching the Yankees? What a great song this is. What did he say the other?

I think after the first game when they lost, he was like, the freaking Astros. They're not even the Cheetahs-A-Ros. They're cheating ass-roses. They're cheating ass-roes. And they're crushing us. We can't beat these guys. I retire. I give him credit.

He's a die-hard fan. But, man, overreaction Jackson. I mean, you've got to relax. One out of 162. They've still won 75 games. A few weeks ago, only won five in a row. He's like, I think this is it. I think this all World Series team.

And then, like, they lose two out of three. He's like, I can't do it anymore. His team sucks. You can't wear your heart on your sleeve that much. Come on, Nick. What was his name in the longest yard? Nicky to Toro. In the longest yard?

I don't remember. Brucey? Okay, we'll go with that. I don't know. I didn't catch it. Hi, Chris Gordy. What's up? How's it going?

Nice of you to hang out, bright and early. I appreciate you. Yeah, a lot less traffic around here in the Gala. than there was yesterday. Yeah, what? So you told me, I didn't even know this. 47 is in town. No, see, I thought he was 45.

Is he 45 times two? Yeah. Okay, he's 45 and 47. Okay, it's very confusing. So 47 was in town. You mean President Trump? Still in town. Okay.

I was wondering where he slept. I'm curious whether the president sleeps. Air Force One? It's not going to be the palace. So they go back to the airport? He sleeps on the plane? It's not going to be the Scottish Inn. They just surrounded

They're surrounded by cop cars In a fortress of security No, he's not gonna be at the He's not gonna be with Jed York In the trailer park or anything like that So he's gonna be a nice spot Yeah, I heard the airport Marriott's Nice this time of year

Yeah, I'm sure it's great You think that's where he was? Well, he's got to zip down to NASA today Maybe he was in maybe he's in like the Texas shaped pool downtown Yeah, could be that one That's nice. I think that bad boy's like 300 plus a night They showed him a picture you guys

Tremendous, that's where I would say Yeah, exactly. Do you ever try to like Do you ever try to like do a stay case in Houston, you look up those downtown hotels, you're like, oh my God. I'm going to stay vacation to my house. We've looked up the post oak. And even on a random Tuesday night, it ain't cheap.

Do they let you sleep in one of the Bentleys out on the floor? I mean, it's ridiculous. Tillman's like, we're going to make sure only the elite of elite stay here. Yeah, well, he's going to be right. That means I'm not going to be there. It'll be anywhere close near that bad boy. When they first opened, Sean Salsberg, is like, yeah, we hung out at the bar there. I'm like, Sean, if I go to the bar there, I'm going to need to take out a loan.

Yeah, they're only going to let me in through the service. interest. So, all right, anyways, welcome in to Matt and Ross in the morning here on Sports Talk 790. Chris Gordy is here. Jonathan Allen is here. Matt Thomas is out today and Monday. You guys can get in on anything goes Friday at 713-212-5-790. Brooduts too, Jonathan. You did? What? Oh, did you actually? Oh, okay. You'll see me in the break. Oh, wow. All right, I'm going to eat those while you talk. 713-212-5-790. How about my guy Hayden Wisnski?

Is he your guy? That's my guy. Why? Because every time I interview him, for one, he calls me by my name. He's very nice. So he's very, very down there. I always appreciate that when somebody knows your name. Yeah, I'm with you on that one.

I get it. Hayden Wisniewski, five innings of one-run ball. He wasn't super sharp. But, I mean, just the Astros in general, you, you, just when you feel like you're done with him and you couldn't inspire less confidence in the team, they go out and take two or three against the Yankees in New York. three hits one run with six strikeouts, that's, I mean, that's getting it done. Yeah, it was good enough. I mean, 91 pitches in five innings. He wasn't super efficient.

Man, you want all these guys to go eight innings? Oh, I want him to go six. Can you go six innings? Nobody goes six anymore. I want one guy to go six innings. It hasn't happened since August 10th. Nolan Ryan ain't walking through that door, Ross. Well, I'm not asking for Nolan, I throw 450 pitches every time I go out. No, I'm not asking that. 91 pitches. I just want one guy. I want one guy, I want one guy, a quality start. Can we get one quality start? That's what I'm asking for.

Hayden has given you, he did go seven against the Giants a few weeks ago. But he every time I'm, he was that on the 10th? He was the last one to go over six, I think. Yeah, it was him. But he is outside of the one blow up against the Mariners, where he gave up five earned, he has been money

every time out. He, and he is starting out with Peter Lambert struggling, Hayden Wisniewski might be your most trustworthy pitcher right now. That's how you know the team's not very good. Hunter Brown is, I mean, good. Peter Lambert spent, Peter Lambert was quality start light. He was five and two thirds with the two runs. You got a quality start light. You got two quality start lights in a row from Hayden Wesneske and Peter Lambert. But I would like

what's known as a quality start. That's all I'm asking for. And I understand that maybe too much. Just give them a chance to win. And then that's what they did two out of these three games. The bullpen kind of fell apart Wednesday night. But again, it's like the caller said earlier. Like you got to go take two out of three against the Mets. You can. cannot lose that series against that crappy team. No, it's a must-win series for the Houston Astros. But yeah, Stephen Ockert, I mean, he's been

19 holds this year. Dude has been nails. A.J. Blueball was running up the counts a little bit his second time out there, but he wasn't giving it. It's not like he was, you know. He's been strong, man. He's been very strong. He's pitched a ton out of the bullpen. Yeah, he's basically, I mean, the whole thing about

should they consider him as a starter, he's been such a good weapon all year out of that bullpen that, you know, it's So, like, you got to keep him in that role. And then not only has Josh Hater been as good as he has been. It's just been like it's been breezy for him most of the time he goes out. He got four outs the other night on 10 pitches, and he got you three outs yesterday on eight pitches, seven of them for strikes. He's just mowing people down.

It's just like he's out there throwing bullpen sessions. All right, go ahead. You're going to get a fastball or you're going to get a slider inside on righties. And that's it. Go ahead and see if you can hit it. I guess because they got that extra run on the stupid errors that. he didn't get the save. The Yankees' defense is Benny Hill quality.

It's horrible. My buddy texts to me, he goes, do they both get errors on that? And then sure enough, a minute later, they go, yeah, both guys get an error. Yeah, they were talking about it on the TV broadcast as well, because it rung up one, and they're like, shouldn't that be two errors?

And then, yeah, they rang up the other one. That was Little League. We've got to seen that in a Little League World Series. Yeah. The shortstop bungles the ball into the hands of the third basement Caballero, and then he spins and turns and throws. and Air Mill's the bad boy

That was nice That's Benny Hill music Absolutely Yeah it was terrible That was embarrassing The Yankees Honestly I have questions about the Yankees

As I mean the pitching is going to be good Garrett Cole is pretty good It was that one two run poke From Christian Walker's only out in One ballpark But it was the one they were playing in Oh do not apologize I mean

I'm not apologizing How many those balls Did Yordon hit in San Fran They're like well in any other ballpark, that would have been a home run. Literally one of them was like 29 out of 30. So yeah, it happens. And give and take and stuff like that.

But Gary Cole, for the most part, was very sharp. And he was looking pretty good. But he gave up the six, sorry, the three earned runs in six innings. A couple of those off the bat of Christian Walker. So it was nice for Christian Walker to get something going because we've been begging for him to show signs of life more consistently. But he got three hits. So that was nice to see.

Varsha didn't have a hit, but he did score a run. He's been a little bit better lately. So that's at least a positive. Altuve was over four. It's going to happen. 7.5 OPS. He's down to 0.1 more on the season. It's fine.

Look at Varsha the last couple of games, though. He's been coming on. Okay. Coming on? Yeah. Okay. He had two hits at each of the first two games of this series. Yeah, he had a little bit of hard hit contact.

He had the home run as well. In fact, he asked. The home run wasn't out of Cheapy, the one he hit. It was like 417. feet or something. He had a six-game hit streak snapped last night. Okay. Well, I need any kind of signs of life because after Pena, Alvarez, and Paredes, it's been

a wasteland. Well, for the most part. Let me just tell you, if you were hoping to get Cam Smith over four. Pitching-wise, if you were hoping to get Ronal Blanco right and get him back up here, good God. Okay, we're going to talk about that line when we come back. Ronell Blanco, not so hot in the minor leagues. Chris Gordy is

here. We're talking about the Astros and anything you guys want to get to. 7-13. 212-5-790 is the phone number. 7-13-212-5-7-90. Matt and Ross in the morning. We got Friday sorries coming up at 8.30. Matt is going to put the strippers to sleep at 8 o'clock, so make sure you stay tuned for that. And anything you guys want to get to, Chris Gordy hanging out.

Jonathan Allen is here as well. And meet Ross v. Real. 7-13-21-2-5-790. 7-13-21-2-5-790. College football getting underway. Oh, yeah. This weekend. Make sure, of course, you got your daisy dips while you're watching the game.

Download the Lockdown SEC podcast. Gear Up for the week. Oh, yeah. What's the biggest SEC matchup this week? This is week zero, so everybody's playing. Oh, so there's no big games except for the one in Dublin, Ireland. Of course. Is the Fort Worth Star Telegram guy going to be able to cover the game?

They said he's making, he's making the trip. And he's already in Dublin. He was asking for like food recommendations in Dublin. You know what I do? If I'm UNC and Jordan Hudson and Bill Belichick, I credential him for UNC. I go, hey, you can cover us. Yeah.

Why don't you watch a real, why don't you watch a real football team, Jordan Hudson? What's TCU's? She's athletic director over there, right? Whatever she is. TCU's coach, Sonny Dykes, right? Yeah. Every interaction I've had with Sonny, he's tremendously nice. I've been cool with them

But there's little things that leak out where you go Man, see you a little bit of a D-bag? I feel like that's every college coach Yeah, probably Who's the nicest, well-respect, most respected college coach where they've had like nothing negative Come out of there? Hmm. Current?

Yeah, sure. Or even recently. Kirby Smart's been, for being one of the most winningest coaches, he's been pretty... Kirby Smart's good. People will say Mac Brown, but people don't know what kind of control he had on Austin media when he was over there, like if you said,

oh, I can't believe you're saying anything negative about the Longhorn, so we're going to have to bar you from being on air. Like, he, like, people in Austin radio could not say anything bad about Longhorns. Well, they were good then. He would want to be pulling credentials too over there. Did you watch the Vince Doc yet? I have not.

Have you? No, I got a cute up. Okay. But I know the story. That's what I'm saying. I mean, I guess I'm curious Vince Young's perspective and stuff like that, but I guess I'm wary of it because I have heard stories over and over about Vince Young and his career and stuff like that.

So it's kind of, for me, it's old hat. Maybe there, I would imagine for sure there's going to be new information in there that I'm not aware of. But I can't say I'm champion at the bit to go check out the Vince Young. Somebody did have a theory, though, based on, so they show the highlight of U.T. USC, right? Wasn't it? U.T. just had to get a, or USC just had to get the first down. It was like a fourth and two. Yeah. And they ran the football. Lendell White.

And they said what happened was they think because Pete Carroll did that when he was in the Super Bowl with the Seahawks against the Patriots, the whole reason they threw it and didn't run it was because in the back of his mind he was like, oh, that stupid game against Texas. I saw that. I think that's ridiculous. First

of all, he wasn't the offensive coordinator in either situation. Second of all, it's like, I don't think they're at the two-yard line with Marshon Lynch. And he's like, well, I remember that time with Lindel White, it didn't work out. So let's just go ahead and throw it with Russell Wilson. I think it's a little bit much of a leap.

I don't think that's, I don't really buy that. Maybe subconsciously, because our subconscious are more powerful than we know, Gordy. But he also, again, he's not the offensive. He's a defensive guy. He wasn't the offensive coordinator in either situation. I did watch, we did get football underway last night. A bunch of the Division 2 FCS teams all got underway, so I'll watch some of those games.

You're watching Division 2 football? Yeah, they were streaming on ESPN Plus. You walk some of them. I didn't know. You're a sick individual. Even the teams you've heard of, they're playing teams you've never heard of. San Jose State versus USC this weekend. That should be, we'll get a good glimpse on USC.

Arkansas. They're supposed to be back. Oh my God. This Arkansas Pine Bluff Missouri line? The total is 60 and a half. Missouri is favored by 54.5. Yeah. That's going to be Thursday night.

So basically they're supposed to beat them like, what? 55 to 5. Yeah. It's about right. Oh my God. That's crazy. Yeah, there's a lot of... So you know how over the years we've had these really sexy week-one matchups?

There's not a lot of those this year. LSU Clemson is the headliner and there's a whole lot of does. I'm glad Texas learned their lesson not playing Ohio State in the first week. You get a Texas State warm up and then you get Ohio State. Yeah. So I like that. going to throw the ball people's feet. He can work out the kinks and we can watch.

Arch is ready for his Heisman campaign, baby. Let's go. Did you see Sark's quote on him the other day? No, I did not. He's getting too much swag. It was something like, yeah, you know, if Arch really picks it up and starts playing bat, like he's really going to invigorate this team and I'm like, what?

That's not exactly a glowing endorsement of the Hysman favorite. That's good. Challenge a young man, all right? I like that, Sark. Give him some tough love. That's what I said. I thought maybe he was downplaying it to make him, you know, kick him in the butt a little bit. Yeah, well, that'd be good.

All right. Easy has been holding patiently, so we'll go to him. Easy, appreciate you making some time to get on. What's up, Easy? You may have to. Your phone setting may not be right on there. No, I think I was doing it earlier, so I think we're good. I think it's easy.

Yeah, it's his phone. Yeah, it's his phone. All right, there we go. Oh, man, that was, man, what a great moment in Matt and Roe. Ross in the morning history right there. All right. Easy one to talk some Astros, but we were talking some college football. Yeah, you go to Ohio State, Texas. That'll be week two.

Yeah, a lot of the better games are all in week two and week three. But week one, it will be Auburn plays Baylor. So that'll be a good one over in Atlanta. In Atlanta? It was supposed to be a home game for Auburn, but the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl reset and said, hey,

if we give your guys NIL deals to, like, do commercials and promote the bowl, and Auburn said we'll do it. Okay. So we're just going to take the check from everyone. I can respect that. The pride of Willis, Texas, DJ Lagway, who was Gatoradee player the year a few years ago from the state of Texas, went to Florida, he's now the Baylor quarterback.

Okay. And was there some quotes coming out about Lagway in the offseason two? What was that? I can't remember. They've said he's been awesome since he's gotten to Baylor. So trying to save Dave Oranda's job out there. Somebody's got to. I guess he had a pretty big buyout, I think, or otherwise he would have been gone already.

Okay, we're going to take quick break here. On the Matt and Ross in the morning show. Matt is not here. Chris Gordy's hanging out. Easy is back. We'll get to him when we come back. You guys want to get in. And anything goes Friday.

713-212-5-790 is the phone number 7-13. 21-2-5-7-90 with you until 10 a.m. Matt and Ross in the morning on Sports Talk 790. So source is close to Sports Talk 790 Say Dana White was on with Adam and Adam yesterday Yeah, Dana White I keep going to say Dana Brown Unless I've been asleep

Dana Brown out Dana White was on with Dana Brown is a different color Dana Brown out Dana White in Mr. White Mr. what was the clue characters Oh I thought you were going with

Scarlet Reservoir Dogs Oh yeah that's true I forgot about that one too Why do I have to be Mr. Pink? Why have to tip? Yeah, so Dana White, head of UFC and all that. They're doing something called slap fighting.

I didn't know this was the thing. Hey, it's terrible. Middle school, they do old class of... Not slap boxing. Well, they got a different. They got a big one coming up in Lubbock. And apparently it's going to be the night before U of H plays at Texas Tech. I believe it's called Power Slap.

Okay. And so that's coming up. And so Dana White was on promoting it. He's like, hey, anybody from Houston, you know, make the trip. If you're going up to see the Coogs and the Red Raiders, you should come to our fight. Well, he asked Adam and Adam, are you guys coming? And Clanton goes, yeah, I'll come if Wex buys my flight. And Dana White goes, who's Wex?

And then they're like, oh, it's your co-host, okay. Yeah, that guy. And then Dana, I don't know where, just goes, wait, where are you guys at? Houston? He goes, I'm buying your flights. Y'all are coming. I mean, Dana White might not know this, but Houston in the Lubbock's, not an easy, cheap flight.

Right. Well, then Clanton said before the interview was over, his handler had already texted him, like, we've got your airfare and your hotel and everything. Dang. So. I'd be an uncomfortable position for me because I have zero interest in power slapsed. But you don't want to let down Dana White. Right, exactly.

I'm going to piss him off. I don't want to power slap me. So I told Clint, y'all better go. Better not disappoint Dana White. He's going to come beat your ass. Wasn't there an issue? Wasn't there an issue with him? Dana White and slapping his wife?

As many moons ago. Okay. I'm just asking. And then he launched a promotion called PowerSlaff? I don't know, man. That seems. It's a growing sport, Ross. It's a growing, you know, making money. I think it seems ridiculous.

They just stand there and slap each other. Is that what it is? It seems stupid. I'm sorry. See if you knock them out. I'm sorry. I have to give my opinion. Okay.

It seems dumb. And I don't want to get Power Slap by Dana White or anything like that. But if I give it a shot. I mean, if I had a chance to see it, I mean, look, if you're going to give me free, if you're going to give me free tickets, airfare and hotel, I'm going to go check it out. And I'm not going to tell you. In college, I went to little people wrestling. So, I mean, I think I'd go to.

We did that in, uh, we did that here, Sports Talk 790. Did you really? Yeah. It was, well, it was a different time. It was a different time. They still do it, by the way. Number two, it was with, um, it was called something else back then. rhymes with widget.

Yeah, you're not supposed to say that anymore. Little people wrestling. They came to Nakadoces out when I was over there. Yeah, we did one. It was at the local strip joint. I think it was myself and Matt Jackson. We did that promotion. Also, they had the pudding wrestling.

Oh, I think it's called micro wrestling. The Thrilla and Vanilla. I'm going to tell you, that was interesting. Our's in college came to Fred's, the big bar in Baton Rouge, and they set up a big tent outside. We men. came. Remember him? Yeah. See, Jackass? Was that the show? Yeah.

We man's still kicking it, right? I don't know. Vern Troyer. Not so much. Yeah. Thank you for bringing that one up. It's just really good. Well, I saw Austin Powers the other day. It reminded me. Well, he's dead, so. Easy. You got to follow that. Go ahead, easy. Hey, guys, you hear me?

Yes, go ahead. Hey, man, I couldn't, I couldn't wait to troll to Toro last night after. that I win. I was all over his trigger feet and I loved it. I was going to hit him with the Rosie Perez from White Man Can't Jump. Billy, you're stupid.

The Stooky brothers are the assholes and they're going to kill you. Second of all, gentlemen, at 8 o'clock, you're waking up the strippers. Are you putting them to sleep, right? Yeah, Matt's putting them to sleep, yes. Okay, cool. So I have a new

business venture, which in Houston needs to be called hard bodies. Now, I'm going to open a club. It's called soft bodies. Okay. Soft bodies. For the ladies that like the fully figured young men, hey, Gordy, we're taking applications. Every

Thursday's Burger night, which is if you look like Jay Burger, you're in. Gentlemen, I love the show. I love the morning time. Tell Matthew at day five, he can't be calling in. I'll hang up a All right, thank you. Thanks a lot, EZ. Appreciate it.

There you go. You want to go to Soft Bodies? I'm good. Okay. Thank you. Yeah. I won't be going to any sort of male-themed strip club, or any strip club, for that matter, anyways. Anyways, all right, 713-212-5-7-90 is the phone number. It's an anything goes Friday on Matt and Ross in the morning, very clearly. We meant to bring up about Renaulte Blanco. Oh, yeah, that's right. We teased that. Thank you.

He sucked last night. Ronald Blanco, let me just remind you, Ross. How bad was he? Well, coming into yesterday, Ronald Franco's AAA numbers, he was 1 and 0 with a 159 ERA. Okay. Today, Ronald Blanco's AAA ERA is 790.

Oh, so he's giving us an homage. He is, but not in a good way. No. What happened? 790 is a great radio station 790 is not a good ERA Oh, oh no Runno Blanco's line last night

And look, maybe just the Las Vegas Aviators are this good Mm-hmm But Renaud Blanco last night Ball does fly out Las Vegas Vegas. Two in a third innings Eight hits

Two walks Ten earned runs Ten Ernie Everybody he put on Oh, come on man Gave up three Three home runs, did have five strikeouts, but absolutely atrocious night from Renault Blanco. And what sucks about it is I read Joey Lopefito actually had a really good night, but it was good.

But it was all for not because Blanco put him in such a big hole. Yeah, Joey Loparvito recorded a season I six runs batted in last night. Drove in six. What was the final of this game? 28 to 27? Final was somebody get the extra point blocked? 13 to 8. What's that?

13 to 8. 13 to 8. I mean, that's the PCL for you. They were in Vegas, I'm imagining. Yes. Okay. But Roe Nell, dude, you ain't coming back up here, pitching like that. Good Lord.

Somebody was asking this earlier. Who's the Astro's fourth starter in a playoff series? Who's their top three? Brown-Lambert, Wesnowski, whatever you want to put them. and I'm not inspired by a bunch of confidence in any of them. I would say a piggyback of Christian Javier and Tatsuya-Mai. Oh, God.

Okay. Well, all right, whoever the Astros is playing in four. Hey, Mike Burroughs been doing well. In AAA? I thought he gave up like three runs in like three innings the last time he pitched or something like that. I thought he was doing well and then he didn't do so hot the last time. Okay. Well, whatever.

And it's Mike Burroughs. This is why this is like the most uninspiring, first place team I can ever think of in Houston sports history. That's why Dana Brown is out of a job. They fired their GM and they're 67 and 67. And I'm supposed to be getting all excited about them hitting the playoffs. Well, no, I will say if you take away the first month and a half when they were putrid.

Yeah. They've been much better. You kept saying there was those 500 teams, but yeah, but if we look at what they are the last three months, okay, what about the last one month? The last one month is probably about 500. Yeah. No, they had that run in late. live. Yeah, they went

12 out of 14 for one big stretch. And that was nice. Since then, I mean, come on, dude. They lost a series each to the Mariners Angels and A's. I get it. The A's literally are not trying to win baseball. But then they came back and beat a really good Yankee team in Yankee Stadium, took two out of three.

So that's what, they're frustrated team because when they try hard, play their best, they're pretty good. I mean, well, I'd like them to try against the bad team so they can get some breathing room in the American League West, but they don't want to do that. Do you know the Dodgers went into Atlanta last night and got swept?

Okay. Well, Atlanta's very good. Well, we still got to play them, too. Okay. Well, we'll see how all that goes. The third to last series of the season. In fact, it's the last home series of this regular season. Braves come into town.

Okay. Well, if you go, let's see, overall in the American League, the Astros have the sixth best record. Thankfully, the American League is just hot garbage and thankfully the American League West is the hottest of garbage I saw this guy who's a Dodger fan He was like, we were on a six game win I don't know, whatever, what's an LA accent?

Man, we were, Dave, we were on a six game. Yeah, sir. We were on a six game win streak. All we had to do was going to take your business in Atlanta. We got swept. It's brutal, bro. All right, we're going to take a break here on Sports Talk 790. We are with you until 10 o'clock.

is going to put the strippers to sleep coming up at 8. We got I'm sorry, he's at 830. We got you at 7-13-213-2-5-7-90. 7-1-3-2-9. Chris Gordy is hanging out. Matt is out. Jonathan Allen is here as well with you until 10 a.m. at 7-13-212-5-7-90.

7-48 a.m. here on Sports Talk 790. Hour number two, wrapping up of four. Matt and Ross in the morning here on Sports Talk 790. Matt out. He is in Rhode Island doing volleyball dad stuff. It's Friday already. Yeah, it was a pretty quick week, even though considering I was maybe sick for four out of the five days, but that's okay, we're going to make it. You got any Astros this weekend? Yes, I'm working the Astros tonight.

I will be hitting the nap hard about 10 o'clock. But you only have a post because a team will have the On Deck Show. Yes, many blessings. I love these East Coast games. Me too. Every night I've been like, like, the Astros game ends, and I'm like, ah, and I look at the clock, it's like nine. I'm like, oh, man, East Coast East Coast games are else. Yeah, the first game was like

9-45. That was the 9-7 back and forth one. That one took for freaking ever. Yeah. And so I'm trying to get used to this morning shift where I have to get up at like 5 in the morning. Thankfully, I live very close to the station, so it's not as difficult for me as say others named Matt or Jonathan, but it's

something I'm working on. I'm getting better at. How about this, the last week of the season when the Astros are on the West Coast? Two in Seattle, four in Sacramento. You guys are going to be catching those highlights in the morning. I'll be catching the extended highlights. That's fine.

I'll watch it on DVR. That's my plan. I'm just going to get up early and then we're just blasts it on DVR. You can watch a baseball game about 30 minutes on DVR. How about this? In Seattle, they play two in Seattle. One at, it's a Tuesday, Wednesday night special in Seattle. The first game is an 840 first pitch.

Game two is 9-10. Why is the second night 30 minutes later? I have no idea. Is one on national television or something with that? I mean, that doesn't make any sense. What the hell they're doing over there? Doesn't make any sense. And they loaned your ass this year.

Think about this, Ross. Think about what? Asters could, they get the home three against the Kansas City Royals. Let's say they take two out of three in that one. That'd be nice. Then they get swept by Atlanta and then go lose both games in Seattle and then lose the division in Sacramento. I'm just saying, that could happen. Well, beat the Yankee.

I mean, I'm sorry, you did beat the Yankees two out of three. Now you got the Mets coming up. Four against Chicago. You need to split that. Arizona's okay. I mean, they're good. Mets are terrible. They got some talent.

Yeah, what's their record, though? They are 60 and 74. Yeah, you should beat up on them. Just saying. Not that I'm super confident. Tonight will be... Hunter Brown. Hunter, I used to be an ace Brown.

Hey! He's figuring it out. 351 ERA is not terrible. Going for the Mets, Christian Scott, who is 4 and 3 with a 373 ERA. How come the Astros are always playing these bad teams with bad records? And then you look at their starting pitching, and they all got like ERAs under three.

Sub four. What the hell is this? Yeah, look, you got this guy, you said Christian Scott, and then you got Nate McLean tomorrow. He's got a 3.21 ERA. And then on Sunday, this dude, Zach Thornton's got a 2.88 ERA with a 115 whip. It's going on out there.

Every time they're going up against some bad team, they got a bunch of pitchers who are going to carve them up. I think it's that their offense has been putrid, right? And now what the Mets' story has been this year? Yeah, I guess so. The Mets have been terrible. They spent a whole ton of money. I wonder how Steve Cohen's feeling about David Stearns over there.

Doesn't it feel like this will be a series where Juan Soto finds his groove? Juan Soto always crushes the Astros ever since he was 19. years old. He's their best hitter this year. He's batting 283, which is I mean, that's... Yeah, what's his on base, though? Your best hitter is bad at 283. I'll stop with the... Stop with the averages, Gordy. 408 on base, per se. Oh, 408 on base,

that's elite. And then 21 homers, 52 Ribbyes. Then you got Carson Bench, who's been a nice outfielder for them. Jared Young, Bo Bichette. Bo Bichette has been a disaster for them. Is he turned in around at all?

Yeah, 312 on base. 7.04 OPS. For all the money they paid him? Not great. Yeah. So that's what I said. And Lindoror, I mean, that's been the... Lindorra was... Lindorah's been a disaster.

233. Marcus Simeon's been a disaster. Yeah. It all adds up. So this is a game tonight where Hunter Brown should have a nice night. In 947 OPS for one, so pretty good, but he's only played 84 games. That's had some injury issue. This reeks of a three to one type game.

Now, Hayter didn't pitch... Three to one Astros? Hater pitched Tuesday. He didn't pitch Wednesday. And he pitched last night. Yes. Only 10... Only 10 pitches, I think, yesterday.

I'm sorry, eight pitches. Eight pitches yesterday. Yeah, so he's available tonight. Yeah. I'm feeling good. Unless they do the whole thing. Well, we don't want to pitch him four and five days. You didn't have...

Yeah, I guess that could be an issue. You didn't have Brian O'Bray who pitch yesterday. So we'll see with that. Every day, O'cert did pitch. He pitched two out of three days before that. So I think... Abreu was starting... Four out of five-ish for him.

He was earned in trust again, and then he had one or two shaky outics recently. So we'll see. Okay, so line-up's not great. Starting pitching's not great, and the bullpen's not great. Defense is... For the Mets, you mean?

Oh, I'm talking about the Asher. Oh. Well, you can say the same about the Mets. Yeah, I guess so. Sunday game, by the way, Peacock. Oh, okay. What time is that?

Like a... 210. 210 on Peacock. Ethan Pecko, hopefully. All right, 713-212-5-790 is the phone number. 7-13-212-5-7-90. Matt Thomas, he's going to put these strippers to sleep in just a few minutes here, but Jeff and Eagle Lakes got on the phones. What's up, Jeff? Hey, Jeff.

Oh, good morning. Where are you? Where are you, Jeff? Well, I'm in Rosenberg. You're in Grand Central Station? It sounds bustling over there. What is going on? Say it again? Take a soft speaker. Okay, hold on. He's taking a soft speaker. Can you hear me?

Yes, much better. Yeah, I've got a question. Go ahead. Why would we even consider the GM from the mix? Look at what he has to work with and the money he spent, and they are terrible. You're talking about David Stearns? Yeah.

Yeah, he's been there for a couple years. years. I keep hearing that we have interest. We may have interest in him. Why will we? Because he was with the Astros in their heyday when they were rebuilding and Jeff Luna was here. And he did a good job with the Milwaukee Brewers and helping build them and what they've been doing. And he's been with the Mets a couple of years. And I don't know what the state of their farm system is. 24th. Okay, there you go. But he's only been there for like two years with the Mets. Obviously, they've swung and miss on a lot of big free agents that we just talked about. Rischette, Marcus Simeon, and guys like that.

But I think he's got a good relationship with Jim Crane, and he would welcome him back with open arms. But I don't know that he's going to be available. The thought is a lot of those moves they've... Okay, well, I'm just looking at his time there, and what he's done there, I don't think that would be something I want to deal with. Yeah. So they say they go by your track record.

Well, I'm looking at his track record at the number one man. All right, Jeff, yeah, thanks a lot. Appreciate it. Yeah, look, I mean, it's just, first of all, situations matter. I don't know exactly what's been going on with the Mets, but as I just said, they swung and miss on Marcus Simeon, on Boba Chet, on what I was going to say was. The thought is all the moves they've made

has been more dictated by the owner, as opposed to David Stern saying, oh, let's go get this guy. Yeah. By the way, Google was wrong. It says the bets in-season ranking, their farm system ranks 18th. But they said it ranks seventh coming into the year. So it was a top-10 farm system. Yeah, and I don't know how much Sterns had to do with building that up.

He's only been there since 2024. Right. In the last couple years. But he helped build the Brewers up. Brewers are one of the best teams in baseball. And then, of course, he was here in Houston in the developmental years when they were losing a bunch of games and trying to rebuild this farm system. And was highly thought of by Jeff Luno.

Highly thought of by Jeff Luno. Highly thought of by Jim Crane. so has a relationship here in Houston. So that's why David Searns is being mentioned as a possible ties to here in Houston. Yeah, they're not looking at, Jim Craig's not looking at the Mets going, oh, look at that. We need to get, who's the guy running that place? We need to get that guy. Yeah, it's about David Serns and who he is.

And, I mean, highly thought of as in baseball circles as well. But who knows, as of right now, he's got a job with the New York Mets and don't know exactly what the relationship is with Steve Cohen right now. but he is under contract with the Mets. Okay, quick break here. On Sports Talk 790, the Matt Thomas show with Ross. You guys want to get in 713-212-790 is the phone number 7-1-3-21-2-5-790. So apparently Matt has sent audio of him putting the strippers to bed, and we will hear that next here on Sports Talk 790.

This is Matt and Ross in the morning. 8 o'clock in H-town Good 3 of Matt and Ross in the morning This is Sports Talk 790 Yeah Steve, turn left, don't turn right, wait a second Turn left, turn right, bett took back, go behind, hit reverse He's carpooling with his friend Jim Beam

Jesus will give you unconditional prayers I will not Oh yeah Jesus you think is going to say I need to know every single detail No doesn't he argue now? He knows. I'm the one that needs to know. He already knows, right? I think he does.

Go to praise. 7.46. Matt and Rawls in the morning on 7.90. Oh, dear. That discussion stem from Matt will only offer his thoughts and prayers to you if he knows every minute detail about what you're asking for. Because he's the noziest individual on the planet. My gosh. All right.

Anyway, number three. of the Matt Thomas. Oh, wait, wait, wait, Matt and Ross in the mornings. I'm getting to, I'm getting to Justin. All right? Matt and Ross in the mornings here on Sports Talk 790. 6 to 10 a.m. Yes, we are with you. It is the all new. Matt and Ross in the morning. Well, Matt couldn't even make it through a whole week of shifts in the morning. So he's going to be out today. Chris Gordy is hanging out. He will be out on Monday as well. So that's four days on two days off. He's giving us the full Johnny Carson schedule is Matt Thomas. But Jonathan Allen is here hanging out. here at rosvi real with you fighting through a cold trying to make it we have i am sorry on fridays we have the friday sorries that's coming up at 830 you guys want to get in you can it's

anything goes friday 713 212 5790 is the phone number to get in 713 212 5 790 and gordon gordon appreciate you hanging out as well yeah i think matt should get on the uh the jimmy kimmel's schedule where kimmel takes off for like all summer doing he takes like all summer I feel like those guys all do that, right? No. Is Jimmy Falun? Well, okay. Well, does anybody notice?

If there's a Fallon in the woods and laughing and snickering at his own jokes, does anybody notice? I used to think he was funny, and then that, even that fell off. So bad. All those late that shows fell off. I think he's one of the most, I think we did a Fantasy Five of most unfunny people. And Matt took Jack Black and he got crushed. Oh.

Yeah, Jack Black's very small. I did Jimmy Fallon. I can't remember a carrot top or something like that. I can't remember what the list was. I won. Conan O'Brien, I think, is still, he's still my favorite of all time, and he's got the, I got to watch, they just drop new episodes on HBO of where he goes to other countries. Oh, it's really funny.

Really? Yeah. It was like Conan O'Brien and Azerbaijan? I think the new one he goes to India. Okay. Yeah. That's cool. It's fun. They're really funny.

He's like six foot five and red-headed, so he sticks out like a sore thumb in most places. You had, of course, the goat, Johnny Carson. Then you had Leno and Letterman, which. I just liked both. I was a rare. A lot of people were like, oh, you gotta choose one. I liked them both.

They were fine. I was a rare Lino guy. He was a little bit for your parents. Lino? Yeah, hey, fuck. We didn't win at J-walking. Yeah, I loved jaywalking. I loved headlines.

But the first live talk show I ever went to was Letterman, made my buddy were in the front row. Letterman just, I was just saying, I just don't get it for me. It wasn't that fun. Really? Yeah. And I don't understand I'm in the minority.

Also, when I was like a teenager, that's the last time I watched late-night TV. never watch James Corden, never, I don't watch Jimmy Fallon or Jimmy Kimmel or We're in high school though, we stayed up Stephen Colbert and watch Me and my buddies, we all became Conan fans Because it was just we're like, what is this? Conan was fun. It was a little bit different off the wall It was like the later late night late night with Conan O'Brien that was like afterwards

135 central It was when it got real late night and real weird All right Chris Gordon is hanging out like I said you guys can get in 713 212 5-790 Astros beat the Yankees 5 to 1 they won win the series two out of three. Nick Duturo is very, very upset. He's talking about retiring, becoming a Yankees fan. Now they have

three games coming up in of course in New York, but in a different stadium in Shea Stadium as they take on the New York Mets. You got Hunter Brown on the mound tonight, 610, first pitch here on Sports Talk 790. I'll have the post game for you

after that. Adam and Adam will have the Astros on deck for you coming up at 5 o'clock. You got preseason action tonight for your Houston Texans. No starters on either side of the ball are going to be making the start. But Texans and Panthers tonight, six o'clock the start there. And then we wait and we'll twiddle our thumbs for the opening weekend. September 13th, it will be the Houston Texans taking on the Buffalo Bills in week one of the NFL. Yeah, what's the point even watching tonight's Texans game? I don't think there is unless you're sick degenerate and you to bet on the Texans minus one and a half.

If you're a big Davis Mills, Truther, you can go Texans minus one and a half. Yeah, where are my people last week that were like, I can't believe the Texans are 0 and 2? No, stop. No, you said that, didn't they? There was some of that on Twitter. Why were they talking like this?

Oh, and 2? Why were they in the Bronx? Talking about the Houston Texans preseason record. That's crazy. So who is, I guess, Kenny Pickett? Is that who's going to go from Carolina? Yeah, Kenny Pickett versus Davis Mills. And how long is Millsie going to go?

Who knows? Who's even there anymore? Who did they get? Brett Rippin. Yeah, Brett Rippin. Oof, don't think he's making the roster. I guess I could be wrong, but we'll see. I'm ready for week one.

Bill's. Yeah, the last preseason game is just... Source is close to the show, say trades on Calci might be for under 44. And also the Texans plus the one and a half. The leading receiver for the Panthers last week was some dude named Jimmy Horn from Colorado. Really? Sixth round pick. I've never heard of Jimmy Horn.

Is he related to Joe Horn? I don't know. Is he? Oh, he's Jimmy Horn Jr. Who could forget? I don't know. How is Jimmy Horn Sr.? I'm looking it up right now. I forgot about Horn. Getting the cell phone out from under the... Look, if I got to Google the people who are playing this game tonight, I'm good.

Yeah, I don't think you should be locked in on the Houston Texans tonight, nor should anybody. I mean, why do they even have a preseason at this point? No Stargers in the first game. C.J. Straub played one series in the second game and then no didn't play at all. Yeah, he did. Offens look really good. He looked really good handing the ball off to Woody Marks. Dave Montgomery, we're saving his legs.

I'm okay with that. Now the season really starts. That'll be coming up September 13th, week one hosting the Buffalo. Let me ask you this. because we got fantasy drafts happening this weekend. Mm-hmm. Do you take a flyer at all? What do you do a Kishon Booty?

I don't know. Yeah, I'll do a 12th rounder on him. Okay. I don't know. Like, late round. I just don't know like what to. You can waver wire pickup. So Nico is still the one.

Yes. But does Booty slide up? Is he going to be the two? Like, yeah, booty's going to be, booty's going to be tough not making booty puns all year long. Booty's going to be the number two. Then you're going to have me, Xavier Hutchinson's going to slide in there. somehow. Jalen Gail and Noel.

Maybe I don't, I'm not expecting Tank Dell. I don't know what the, what's the latest on Tank Dell and how healthy he is, but I'm not expecting him to start the season healthy on the active roster. He's doing some things. I think that's what they say. Yeah. He's doing football activities. Oh, he's around. He's around. What does that even mean? He's here. He's using

like the stretching stretch bands or whatever. But here's my point. When rewind a couple years ago, when he had Nico was the one, Stefan Diggs was a very nice too, and he ate. Like, he had some, he had some games where like 80 yards in a touchdown.

So, like, the point I'm trying to make is, is that Kishon Booty now? Is he, like, the clear number two and going to have like 60 to 80 yards a week and like, okay? I don't think so. I don't think you're going to get. I mean, last year for the Patriots, he had around five, between five and 600 yards. Same thing for Jaden Higgins. Now, Jaden Higgins was expected to make a leap, and you're hoping he would get around 800 to close to a thousand yards. I just don't expect that type of role for Kisham Booty.

He's not a guy that you're just going to chunk and give like 10, 12 targets a game. Right. I just don't expect that, especially with the way the Texans' offenses, and the way they're going to be built, they're going to want to run the damn ball. D'Amico Ryan's going to want to run on first down. He's going to want to run second down. And they're going to hope for like third and five and let's get Nico Collins on a quick slant or something like that. I mean, that's going to be on schedule and let's win with defense and running game.

That's what they're going to want to do. Of course, they're not always going to be able to stay on schedule. But Kayshan Booty, I see more as like a field stretcher kind of guy, rather than somebody that's going to get a steady dose of 8, 9, 10 targets. Yeah, his, he averaged 16 yards a catch last year. Right, he's a big catch kind of guy, down the field, stretch, which I'm down with. But look in the playoffs, all four playoff games, five targets, six targets, five targets, four targets. So if he gets five targets a game for the Texans, I think that's solid for your number two.

Yeah. I mean, you're going to want around that much for Hutchinson and Hutchinson's kind of just a guy. To me, this means more volume for Dalton Schultz. He's going to have to step up. Well, he had a lot of volume last year. Yeah, especially towards the end of the year. So that's what I'm anticipating with all this.

But Booty had over 500 yards each of the last two seasons. Jaden Higgins last year had over 500 yards. So that's kind of the role he's going to be filling. Yeah, but you're expecting, you're projecting Jaden Higgins to make a second year leap and you're wanting Kishon Booty to fill that type of role. He might invigorated in a new spot. He goes, Hey, better offensive line, better run game.

CJ Stroud should be better this year. Yeah? If he's not, then he's just not the guy. That's all there is to it. All right, quick break here on Matt and Ross in the morning here on Sports Talk 790. Chris Gordy is hanging out. Matt is out. Jonathan Allen is here as well.

We got Friday. I'm as sorry is coming up at 830. Couple of on hold. We'll get to you the next segment as well. 713-212. 57790. The phone number 713-212-5-790. It's Houston's 190th birthday

this weekend. Woo! Let's go. I'm just learning this. KPRC Local 2 News. Happy birthday, Houston. I love you. Sam Houston? I guess Sam Houston. Briefly was the

capital of Texas. Was Houston. I did not know that. Oh, wow. Weird. wild stuff. I want to say we did Believe it or Not Houston before recently to the last couple of years. We're not doing believe it or not today, right? No, hell no. Matt's out. I'm not writing any questions, man. You know how much mental energy that takes? For the record. Ridiculous. I've said this for 15 years. I hate Believe it or not. You hate it? Why do you hate it? Because it's set up just for prize whores. It's all because Matt had this dream of becoming a talk show host one day.

You mean, yeah, I gave you a host. I don't learn anything. Oh, you don't learn anything. I learn a lot on believe it or not. Writing, believe it or not? Because, like, I'll be randomly at bar trivia, and I'll know a bunch of stuff randomly about, I don't even know, Archduke, Frank Ferdin and whatnot, just because of, I know a lot of ridiculous, dumb, innocuous facts

just because I have to go in research and write, believe it or not. And I'm like a big Jeopardy fan, but I guess it's just talk radio. Like, I'm tuning in. I'm what, man, I want, Astros have a big game tonight. Let me put on the radio, and I hear Matt, it's Nicholas Cage, believe it or not. Hey, yeah, come on, man. Did you know? He's Nicholas Coppola. He's Francis Ford Coppola's nephew, but he wanted to distance himself.

There you go. Whatever. He's a massive debts with the IRS. Yeah, he's the new, he takes any script that comes as well. Yeah, does he still do that? Is he still in debt with the IRS? Is he okay? The worst is, did you see the new Madden movie that's coming out?

It looks terrible. It looks so bad. It looks like Fat Nicholas Cage. It doesn't look like John Madden. He's not transforming himself at all. Christian Bale plays Christian Bell feels like he's taking checks from everyone now. He plays Al Davis.

He used to be like this, you know, this very serious actor. Like, I'm going to be in the machinist. I'm going to lose 90 pounds. And I'm going to be very serious. Shane Gillis is in it. And I don't even know, is he just playing Shane Gillis? Just like a football fan? Shane Gillis is in the Madden one?

Yeah. I don't know. I don't know. Shane Gillis is everywhere, too. Congratulations to him. Well, he's what it feels. I mean, like he's enjoy this run as long as you can. Shane Gillis.

I mean, I think he's pretty funny. He is funny. Mud Light commercials are good. His stand-up, he made a very inappropriate joke early, and people laughed. He goes, okay, Houston, kind of filling you out, see where we can go. Oh, you wouldn't saw him? Where was he?

At Toyota Center. Oh, okay. When was this? Last year. Oh, wasn't I supposed to go to that? I went with Wex. I think Clanton? Yeah, I think I was.

Oh, I don't know why I couldn't make it. Sorry, guys. All right, anyway, 7-13, 2-1-2-5-7. I got Friday. I'm sorry. It's coming to the next segment. a couple of y'all been holding patiently, so let's go ahead and start it off with Clay in Hockley. What's up, Clay?

Morning, guys. I got a couple questions for you all. Has any, anybody that won a division ever finished below 500 or that 5,500, and went on to win the World Series? It's happened before they made the playoffs, but I don't believe any below 500 team has won the World Series. Oh, yeah, the only that scares me about the actual. I mean, I think they're going to still be in the very thick of things with that Seattle, which is only a three games. series. Seattle, if it comes down to that, you know, like it did,

last year that they have to beat them. That's the only problem, the team that really scares me because they pretty much own the Astros this year. And then that stupid ballpark at Sacramento, we got to play four there to finish the season. Yeah. Go win. Go beat the A's. The A's are not trying to win

baseball games, okay? You can go, it's going to be in a minor league team. They're going to be fielding a minor league team in a minor league ballpark. You shouldn't be scared of the the AAA A's. It's ridiculous. Yeah, but the A's, I mean, against some teams, the weaker teams, the Astro just seem to slow. Yeah, well, they suck. The A's suck, and they're not trying to win baseball games, so go beat them. It looked like they were trying to win when they came to Dykin last weekend.

Yeah, we know three. We watched the whole series. I still can't name me three A's. Is it Butler? Lawrence Butler. Yeah. Oh, my God, Tommy. Poole. Brent is not playing. Brent Rooker is not playing. My LSU guy, Tommy White. Yeah, Tommy White. Okay, yeah. They're terrible. They're terrible baseball team. Go win. Like all the, they're going to play in Sacramento. Who crazy stuff happens in Sacramento? Yeah, they're a bad baseball team in Sacramento.

Go beat them. Sorry, Clay, go ahead. I got one more question for you. I got one more question for Chris. I think you're a big LSU fan, on you, Chris. I went to school there, and a huge fan. I'm just wondering what you think that Kiffin's going to, what is, I'm thinking of 10 and 2, 9 and 3 at the worst this year.

You know, I think that it might take Kiff at probably a year. of years of very much to get everything, you know, going the way he wants it and get everything, the staff just like he wants it. I'm just wondering what you think they're going to, what the record is going to be this year, and I hang up and listen. Yeah, that's, the goal is 10 and 2. They go 9 and 3, okay, it's at least a,

look, X's and O's on the field, he's pretty damn good. It's all the off-the-field crap that you've got to put up with, but I'd say that. Inside a game, he's pretty damn good. So, by the way, are you coming to Tiger Stadium, November? I don't think so. Can't afford that. I'm going.

Okay, well, that's good. good, man. I'm not making that Chris Gordy SEC locked on SEC cash. I think our guy, Sam, from big cities coming? Oh, well, I got to take out a loan or something, man. It's ridiculous. We don't have to go. We don't have to go to the game. I'm not tailgated before. Well, yeah, just get blasted and pass out on the grass. Sounds good.

Yeah. And then wake up and Archmanick started a game winner. I'm not going to drive four hours just to go get drunk. I can do that at home. But it's the first time, when's the last time Texas played in Baton Rouge? I don't know. You'd be able to answer that question better than I could. You're coming. Locking it.

No, I'm not going to lock it in. I'll get you a hotel. Okay, now we're talking. You get a hotel, maybe you find me a ticket, then maybe we can talk. My brother wants to go, so we'll see. I don't know. Maybe if I pick up a couple more endorsements. To answer the last call, the 2006 St. Louis Cardinals hold the record for the lowest regular season

winning percentage. They were 83 and 78. Okay, so there are two teams made it sub 500, but it was in short in seasons. The Astros, of course, when they made it in 2020, as did the Brewers, and then the Royals in a strike split season with a 50 and 53 record in 81. So for a full 162, no team has ever made it with a record below 500. Now that pitch, I mean, you got Chris Carpenter and his prime, and Adam Wainwright. Like, that Cardinals team had some really good pitching.

Well, this Astros team doesn't have really good much of anything. So we'll see what happens. We got really good Yordon. Really good Yord on, Triple Brown. He's tied with runs about in now. And then what else? Well, that's what we're asking for. Okay, Isaac Paredes.

We got bad altuvay. We got Varsho. We got Christian Walker. Hey, Christian Walker. We got Lamont Wade Jr. If Christian Walker could just get hot in the postseason, hit some dingers. Yeah.

Take that. He's got 24 bombs. It's impressive how bad his season has been OPS-P-S-wise, considering he's got 24 bombs. And Varsho, too. He just took the Blue Jays to the World Series. Oh, he carried the Blue Jays, the World Series. Vlad Guerrero Jr.

and George Springer and I don't even know, Alejandro, Kirk, and those guys didn't have anything to do with it? All right, let's relax. There's just a 500 team. It is what it is. Mac and Parallon, quickly, what's up? Let's see, let's see, quick. Believe it or not, five minutes of harmless radio.

Get him. Why hate it? Get them. I hate it. I don't. We have to agree to disagree. You asked a question earlier, why would you watch the last preseason game? Why would you watch any preseason game? I remember when they used to be called exhibition games, and there was, you know, 85 people in the stands,

and they had advanced practice. And then marketing of the NFL said, oh, we're going to add these games to the season ticket. package and we're going to call them preseason. They're junk. Anyways, the Astros, they're ahead. They stay ahead. They're in the playoffs. You know, things happen once you get in the playoffs.

We shouldn't have lost to the Tigers in what was it? 24. Hello. Yeah, two years ago. Why shouldn't they have lost to the Tigers? They had a better team. I mean, barely, I guess. And you were home.

Terrick Scouble carved you up and then you got bullpen gamed. You were home. You were home. He was a disaster. score runs. I mean, Frumless is okay. You say Cacucci can get in. Okay, who's your Terrick scubal?

If we get hot? Who's your, what's your Terrick's Coopold in this rotation? We don't have one. Yeah, I know. I'm worried about that. What is all this, all this, anything can happen in the playoffs? Who's the last really bad team to win a World Series? Well, not really bad, but we've seen teams that have struggled through the season and then get hot.

I mean, the Astros lost to two teams that got better on the back of the stretch of the second half of the season and the Braves and the Nationals. The 19 national has won 90 plus games. Right, but they got hot down the stretch. The Braves in 21, I'm going to look it up. They won like 90-95 games. But they were struggling at the trade deadline and put it

together. Yeah, okay. Are you rooting for him to lose? Yeah, Ross. No, I'm not rooting for them to lose. I'm from Houston, Texas. I want the Houston Astros to win. I'm from Houston, Texas, but I'm also not going to fool myself and thinking this is some kind winning team.

Who's even their best starting pitching? They haven't had a quality start in three weeks. I think Hunter Brown was a side of the game last year, right? Nobody outside the top three of the lineup can do anything. What are we talking about? There's 67 and 67. Show me a 500 team that won a world series ever. Show it to me, please.

So do you want to lose games and miss the playoffs? No, I don't want to lose games and miss the playoffs, but I'm not going to fool myself in them being some kind of contender. I'm not going to lie. to myself, Mac? Come on, dude. Yeah, I'm going to enjoy it. But I'm not going to act like.

I'm not going to trick myself in a thing. This is a really good baseball team. You already said? What did he say? I don't know. I'm not. What did he say? Okay.

Yeah, forget about it. Wait, what do you say? You can tell him one next commercial. All right, thank you. What did he say? Now are you going to tell me. Hunter Beezee. What did he say?

Hunter Bezzi. He got to go out there. Did he say Hunter Bezzi? No. Okay. I'm sorry, the 21 Braves did win. They won 88 games, so they didn't win 90 games when they beat the Astros.

Yeah. No, I just remember my buddy is a big Braves fan. I remember approaching that trade deadline. I think they got Jock Peterson, but it was, they were in real question at Braves team. And then they got hot. Yeah. They got in the postseason.

They got hot. Okay. Cool. Anything can happen. Get to the postseason. Look, we're all. This is not in anything can happen. Baseball team to me.

Dodgers. I'm trying to be realistic. Everybody's trying to be better than the Dodgers. No, I would like them to be better than the Texas Rangers. The Rangers are crap. Yeah, by one game. It's terrible. Still first place.

I'm not going to trick myself in calling this a good baseball team. If you guys want to do that, go ahead. Debbie Downer over here. Not being Debbie Downer. I'm being realistic Ross. Okay? That's what I'm being. All right, quick break here on the Matt

Man Ross show in the morning here on Sports Talk 790. 713, 212, 5790. is the phone number 713212-5-790. It's time. I'm sorry. To apologize. So sorry. For things,

misgivings, offenses. Whatever you've done this week, you need to apologize to somebody. I know you do. 713. 212 5790 713-213-212-5-790

By the way Astros in the month of August 11 and 12 23rd in ERA 17th and OPS They are mid You try to sell me otherwise That's fine But I'm not buying it at this moment

All right What are you sorry about folks 713-21-2-5-7-0-day. I got a couple apologies. Let's see. Earlier this week, when Dolly Parton unfortunately passed, there were some song, I don't even remember what it was. Here He Come Again, or Here Comes You Again.

Yes, something like that. Not a good song. Didn't care for it. But also, it was a number three hit. And just to incite anger from Matt Thomas, I called it a deep cut. And that was rude. I'd like to apologize for that.

I'm sorry, Matthew. even though you're not sitting here. Sorry. And one more. Matt got scolded a little bit by Joe Spotted. This is happening to you. It's happened to me. It's happened to all of us.

You ask a question. You get a little pushback from the manager or the player or whomever. And you know what? It's not always fun. We get a little bit of pushback. And so I brought it up multiple times because Matt got pushed back from Joe Spott. You know if that was rude as well? So I'd like to apologize for bringing that up multiple times.

So that's two apologies for me to one Matthew L. Thomas. I'm sorry. I didn't mean that. I know. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm going to go ahead and apologize to Dolly Parton. It's never been a big fan of her music. Nine of five's fine. Yeah.

What's the other word? Jolene. It's okay. I think Jolene's a jam. But I may have said, I may have said... I will always love you. It was a good song. When we found out Tim Curry pass the other day, I may have said the words, I enjoy Tim Curry's music more than Dolly Parton's. What do you mean?

Like him singing Rocky Horror Picture Horror? Did he sing on those? Oh, yeah. Okay. Oh. I think we need a deeper apology here. I mean, if that's his opinion, I don't have to apologize for his opinion. Tell me, if you were on a road trip, would you rather listen to the Rocky Horror Picture Show soundtrack or Dolly Parton?

Dolly Parton. Islanding's in the stream all day. I only stream's kind of a jam. But that's not even her. That's like a, that's a, that's a duo. It's a duet. I will always love you's good. Okay.

Who's picking hers over Whitney's? Nobody. Ain't nobody in the right damn mind. Nobody. But it's a good song. It's still a great song. Over Whitney's. Now you got to apologize.

Now you got to apologize. Dolly. Why are you besmirching this dead woman so much? Whitney's dead too. Oh yeah. Well, they're all dead. Sorry. It's wrong with you.

Okay. I don't think you have to apologize that hard. I want to apologize to Braden Smith, too, for thinking he was done for the season. Oh, is he okay? He's going to be okay. All right. That's good. Well, they talk about carting him off.

I know. They always give you these horror stories. Like, everybody has gotten in a prayer circle, and they handed out candles to the entire team. There's a vigil. Oh, he's going to be missing two weeks. They stop practice. When they stop practice for Ashen Gentie, they literally, like, everybody go home, guys. And they're like, oh, I got a high ankle spray.

I'm going back a couple weeks. Well, Wex brought it up. He goes, you know, a lot of these. joint practices, you're on the practice field and it's training camp, whatever. So even if it's a mild injury, the guy's not going to walk

off on it, they're going to go get the cart. And so he goes, it's just, we create this drama when he was carted off. Because in a game, when a guy is carted off, it's like, oh my God, it's serious. Because otherwise, the guy would just get up and walk off assisted or unassisted, right? But in a training camp,

the guys aren't going to get up and just walk off. They're going to cart them off and Whatever. But in our brains, when we hear carted off, we think torn ACL, torn MCL, torn Achilles. Braden Smith's going to be all right. It's going to be okay. Ali Gay, not so much. Yeah.

One of several LSU Tigers on this team now. Oh, okay. Kishon Booty, Derek Stingley, Ali Gay. Who else we got? Well, Al-Gay is hurt. I know. Sorry. Derek Stingley was hurt at LSU.

I mean, what did you play, like, eight games at LSU this whole entire of career? Christian, oh, Ed Ingram. Other LSU guy. Christian Walker owe him an apology. He called him a bum. He had a home run last night. He called him a bum. That seems a little rude.

He's been a bum. He's largely been a bum this year. He's not been a bum. I mean, he's okay. He's got OPS plus 109. Defensively, he's been good. Yeah. Jonathan, go ahead.

You need to apologize for something, I'm sure. I need to apologize for yesterday. This Insta-D-A stuff got me really wild up. And I felt like I was just, I just, went on a tangent and I let too much out. So I want to apologize to our listeners. You know, I'm sorry. Oh, sorry.

It's just something. This NCAA is just a horrible organization and they got to figure out what's going on because it's ruining other people's lives, man. Well, I think they know. They've been getting their ass kicked up and down the court. Do they, though? Do they? How many temporary restraining orders have gotten over there? Everybody's, everybody their grandma's got one.

Allowing the players. I get into a point where Lane Kiffin is telling people to go sue. Yeah, he knows what's up. Well, okay. Good old lane. So you guys think Trinidad Chamble is just on his own accord and said, you know what, I'm going to take this to Mississippi court to try to get another year of eligibility.

We don't think maybe the coaching staff called him and said, hey, man, you should go try this in a courtroom. Maybe. I don't hate the player. I hate the game. Look. Didn't that what the Louisiana governor said? He said, don't hate the player.

He did say that. That's true. I mean, don't know about it. Oh, that's good stuff. I want to apologize to ESPN viewers, too. You're no longer going to have the bottom line ticker during college football games. Yeah, what's that about? You want to hear my theory?

Yes. I think more and more people are doing what? Streaming games on the cell phone? You really want a ticker taking up an eighth of the frame on your screen? Come on, what is it, a 16th? Oh, sorry. It's fine. It's a little bit of a ticker, you get some score.

No, it's not in the way, Jonathan. Get a night. Get a TV. sit on your couch, watch ticker like a regular person. Also, we can get scores on our phones. Like, do we really need score updates? Yeah, absolutely. If something's like close in the fourth quarter, I see it on the ticker, I'll switch.

Well, I bet they will do like a warning. Like, hey, heads up. Auburn and Baylor are tied going to the fourth quarter. Okay, well, that's what I need. That's all I'm asking for. Because then I can tune in. I can pretend I'm locked in on Auburn and Baylor, which I won't be. But if it's close in the fourth quarter, I do want to see it.

But we don't need, at 8 o'clock at night, we don't need to know the Houston to Coogs beat Oregon State at 11 a.m. that morning. You know what I mean? Like, we don't need those scores throughout the day. All right. You know what? I want to apologize to Mac for yelling at him. Yeah. I mean, look, it's not his fault. The Astros are a pile of mid. They're 67 and 67, folks. And minus 44 run differential. I mean, it is what it is. As I said, 11 and 12 in August, 23rd in ERA, 17th in OPS. Ugh. Well, on behalf of Ross, it's not Max's fault.

half of Ross, I will apologize to the city of Houston. I'm sorry, Ross hates you. I love you, Houston. Doesn't love the city. Yeah, he does not love. I was born at the now defunct Park Plaza Hospital. I was born in the Houston Med Center. I've lived here my entire, I'm 41 years old now.

I lived in Austin for six years. Born and raised in Houston, Texas, okay? Going up to Memorial Park, McGregor Park, playing basketball at Spots Park. Growing up in Greenspoint, didn't get shot once. Doesn't mean you're putting on for. for the city. And bread.

I represent, okay? Absolutely. Everywhere I go, I'm in Seattle, wearing Houston Astros gear, okay, all around the city. Don't talk to me about not representing. But that doesn't mean I'm going to dilute myself, and I'm thinking this is a really good baseball team. You know what you sound like?

You sound like those Astros fans are calling and go, I've been a fan since the Colt 45 days. I have been a fan since the Colt 45 days. But I just don't believe in this team. I've been a fan since Craig Mizio was a catcher. Okay? Yeah. I did a lot of suffering in my days. I thought in 1998 when they got Randy Johnson, it was a done deal. They were going to win the World Series. Okay?

Yeah. I remember Warren Moon and in Lorenzo White and I don't know, Chris Dishman and all the other Oilers disappointing us every year. Okay? I was here for the Rockets Championship years. And yeah, it was 30 damn years ago. Born and bred Houston, Texas. but I'm not going to lie to myself and tell you this is a good baseball team. They're not. All right, I'm sorry for you. Quick break here on the Matt Thomas show with Ross.

Terry, we see you on hold. Anybody else you want to get in? You've got some apologies to make. 713-212-5-790. It is Matt Ross in the morning. Without Matt. He'll be back. I don't know, Tuesday-ish.

He is out in Rhode Island. With his daughter, I guess they spark up games this weekend. the Rhode Island Rams? All your fall sports. So soccer got started last week, college soccer. Division 2 football got underway last night.

Volleyball, I think it's underway this week, and then Big Boy college football. Oh, it's week zero. They play Sienna today at 3 o'clock. Sienna. Yeah, so shout out, Rody Rams. Hopefully they can beat up on Sienna.

Then they've got Holy Cross tomorrow. Oh, they... Wait a minute, what? They play three games. over a weekend. Damn. Sienna, then Holy Cross tomorrow, and then they will be at Central Connecticut State on Sunday. Central Connecticut State. Mm-hmm.

Throw out the records when those two get together. That's what I'm saying. And then they're going into the Ocean State Cup for the next week. So shout out, Rodee, the Rhode Island Rams volleyball. I've got them minus 280 versus Sienna today. I'm going to try to trade on that one on Calci. Calci.com trade on anything. I don't know if you can trade on Rhode Island women's volleyball, but I can try.

What is it? 24, 25, 26 hours from now, we will have college football back. As the TCU Hornfrogs take on Bill Belichick's Tar Heels out in Dublin, Ireland. Well, they're playing in Dublin, Ireland. It's a Texas Christian University horned frogs. Who's favorite in that one? I'm going to guess UNC minus three-ish? No, I'd go the other way. Oh, really?

Is TCU your favorite? I guess UNC was pretty bad last year. Yeah. They were atrocious. And they don't have their defensive coordinator for this game. Oh, Stephen Belichick. Is he okay? Nobody knows.

Yeah, they're not really talking. Oh, TCU minus eight and a half in that one. Okay, yeah, I totally made it. TCU minus eight and a half? Yeah. Damn. Hmm. Hmm.

Yeah, Hornfrog's a bit. Some of the guy's been pretty good there. I mean, they've been all right. They're fine. Play for a national championship. a couple years ago. Oh, really? Yeah, they went 8 and 4 last year.

Oh, wait, when they got destroyed. They went 8 and 4 last year. They played North Carolina in the opener. You remember that? North Carolina went down the field and scored the first touchdown and people like, oh, here comes Belichick. And then they got obliterated 48 to 14. Yeah, that was good times.

It was real good times. But for about five minutes, people thought Belichick was going to... Man, he dominated the NFL? He's about the dominate college football. Well, and then those five minutes, burned up pretty quick, unfortunately. All right, Terry in Ohio has been waiting patiently. Terry, what's up?

I want to apologize. You guys don't have a general manager. I got a question for you. Okay. You know what I think of make the Astros better? What's that? Do you see where the Reds, DFA, Smoor is, and Friedel?

No, I didn't. I think Smorez would be a good D.H. for Jordan and left hill. Okay. I believe he has like 19 home runs. He does. Yeah, I didn't know that it was also... He was also betting 208 on the season with a 705 OPS.

Damn, it's been that bad? Yeah, guys don't get kicked to the curb unless they're sucking, and this dude is sucking. So why would you go, man, he'd be a great pickup? Hey, has you got more home runs than a lot? year guys. 49 homers last year. We got enough of those guys. I'll take Suarez.

Christian Walker strikes out three times and hits a home run once a week. I mean, we got enough of those guys. Well, I just thought maybe it'd be a good pickup before probably the Mariners grab them. Mariners can have them. Well, Mariners will have first pick. I don't know how much he's making. All right. Thank you, Terry.

Appreciate it. The extra two seconds of contemplation by Terry. I think I'm over. I think I'm over that. It's all good. Svarez was... He was like a hot pickup a couple years ago, right? Yeah, for Seattle, literally last year.

He hit 49 home runs. And he was terrible with the Mariners. And then this year, yeah, OPS plus a 93, with 100 being League average, of course. He had an on-base percentage of 250, 255 last year for Seattle. Good God. He's been a negative player. I didn't realize it was that bad for him. Oh, it fell off, big time.

We did a Grand Slam recently. Great. T.J. Oh, actually, no, they both, they cleared waivers and they're going to remain with the Reds. So there you go. Nobody picked them up. Oh. This is fake news he's calling it here for me. Yeah, I know. Sorry, Terry. I didn't, I didn't realize those guys had been... They cleared waivers.

So nobody picked them up. Nobody wanted them. They're trash. Although if Dana Brown was still here, he went, Hey, man. No, Jim Craney picking up that bill. T.J. Friedel's been a disaster this year. 33 OPS Plus. Is that?

How is that even possible? God, those are Martin Aldonado numbers. His name was getting thrown around at the trade deadline. And then... Yeah. All right, we'll real quick ahead of the top of the hour. Steve, go ahead. Hey, uh, I just got in my vehicle.

Have you guys talked about Brett Strom coming back? We have not. He had been hired basically as a pitching consultant for the Astros. He will be in uniform. the dugout for them. So do you think this is maybe a thing where they're going to just have him in there and then going to get another pitching coach?

What do you think is going on there? I think he's just another voice to talk to for guys to bounce things off. I don't know how much it's going to move the needle and change the entire pitching staff. I like Brent Strom, smart dude. Yeah. Good to have him around. Folksy. Got the most out of Dallas Kigel. Got the most out of calling him.

Q years ago. I mean, he's overall, he was pretty damn good here. So I think at this point you look at what Tatsuyama's done, what Mike Burroughs did. I mean, it can't hurt, right? That pitching is not going to get worse with Brent Strom coming. You can either stay the same or maybe get better. So yeah, it's worth a shot. He's just been hanging around, let go by the Pirates last year.

It was let go by the Diamondbacks year before that. But, I mean, just somebody to talk to, smart guy, nose pitching. Yeah, can't hurt. I can't hurt, but I don't expect some kind of revolution to be sparked inside the Astros pitching staff. He could. What if he comes in and he goes, Mike Burroughs, why don't you throw your slider more? He goes, oh, think of that. It can happen.

We'll hold our breath on that. All right, final hour of the Matt Tom is show. I'm sorry, Matt and Ross in the morning here on Sports Talk 790. My goodness, I'm going to put money into the jar every time I say that wrong. Matt and Ross in the morning here on Sports Talk 790. I'm still fighting off cold. one hour to go. You guys want to get in. You can. 713, 212.5.790 is the phone number. 7132-1-2-5-790. We'll continue after this short break.

This is Matt and Ross in the morning. The Houston Astros take two out of three in the Bronx as they defeat the New York Yankees 5 to 1. Oh, what a jam. Suck it, Nick Duturo. This is why This is why When you invest your heart And soul in this

On a day-to-day basis You can't catch a ball You can't move a runner-over You strike out You strike out You do it On a day-to-day to watch this And then you've got to listen to the same

It's just beyond Beyond Nothing ever changes You get a glimmer of hope for a second And then boom You go right back to being who we are I just, I retire. I'm fucking retired.

No, you don't. You're a liar. It does make you feel good to see Nick Dutero all upset about the Astros being the Yankees. It just warms the cockles of your heart. Oh, yeah. He's a nostalgia of 17, 18, 19. Yeah, it reminds me of all those trips to Yankee Stadium where Astros had some great success. Not so much in.

2017 but after that 17 no they lost all three New York yeah they lost all three there 19 they won of course went on to the world series that was the Jose altouvae a roll as chapman 2022 was the we want Houston and then they swept them yeah that was beautiful nothing was better than the one one of those I was at it was rain in the forecast and they still went through everything they went through all the pregame so they people paid to park, people bought concessions, all this stuff. And then right before first pitch, they're like, we were in a weather delay. And then like an hour later, they go, the game has been postponed. I love when they do that. You don't get a refund on anything. You don't get a refund on your nachos. You don't get a refund on parking.

You should. Yankees' ownership, the Steinbrenners go, ah, see you tomorrow night. Well, yeah, good luck with that one. Game five, tomorrow night. Come on back and see us. So I'm happy, by the way. Don't confuse the two. I want the asteros to win.

I'm rooting for the assholes. I'm happy they won two out of three against the New York Yankees. I'm also not going to try to sell you that there's some great baseball team that is going to catch fire in the playoffs. Maybe it can happen. Certainly it's possible. But we shall see. Last night, Hayden Wesniewski, five innings pitched, one earn run, giving up a couple of walks, six strikeouts, 386 ERA, a quality start light for him.

Stephen Ocurt came in and took care of business in the sixth. Wesnese did pitch in the six, but a lot of base runner, and he was pulled. AJ Blue Ball was great. He got you six outs and how efficient has Josh Hader been? Eight pitches, seven of them for strikes, closing things out. Astros get the 5 to 1 win to improve to 67 and 67. The Rangers and the Mariners were idle.

So the Astros now game up in the West on the Rangers, three games up on the Seattle Mariners, and they start a three game set on the other side of New York. They will take on the Mets in Shea Stadium. Hunter Brown, your ace on the mound. Can you finally get a quality start? Can you finally get six innings for the first time since August 10th out of a starting pitcher for your Houston Astros? It's City Field, by the way.

Oh, City Field. What did I say? Shea Stadium. Yeah, that's what had been going to go. Back in my day, we called it Shea Stadium. City Field, home of the Mets. Yeah, whatever. It's been like that for only like a decade plus. Home of losing baseball.

Look, I'm sorry. I'm on short sleep and I've been fighting a cold for like, four days. Life is hard. Are there any familiar faces on the Mets? No former Astros, right? I mean, no, familiar faces. I mean, Juan Soda's a familiar face. I can still hear Joe...

Sean Manai is a familiar face. Joe Buck telling us how he was... Francisco Linder. Folks, he's only 20 years old or whatever it was. Yeah. Yeah. Juan Soda's been terrorizing the Astros since he was basically a teenager at this point. But that's okay. Why we know Boba Shett? He's not

been good. They traded Brooks Ralee, right? He's a Philly now. Sure, why not? Pride of A&M. Mm-hmm. Yeah. Aggie legend. What's that with Braden's shoemake Aggie legend as well?

Going on with that guy. Ceynall Perez was with them, but I believe he is gone now. Another Astros legend. Craig Kimbril was with them at one point. He's a royal now. Okay. Take your word for it. So there's a few.

Zach Short played a game with the Mets. Oh, wow. Another Astro's legend. So tonight it will be Hunter Brown versus Christian Scott. Got a decent ERA on the season 3.73. Then tomorrow listed Javier and McLean. McLean's been good. And then there are some other pitchers got an ERA under three for the Mets.

So they're throwing some, I don't even know why. They got all these starting pitchers that get with ERAs under four going up against the Astros. It seems like every time they play some losing bad team, they got some crazy guys to come out. of nowhere they're going to carve them up but hopefully that hasn't happened this weekend. Yeah. Be nice to get this got an early game today, 610 first pitch, and then we got afternoon games the next two days. 310 tomorrow, 210 Sunday.

So about 12 hours from now, I'll be with you on the Astros Tint and Call-in show here on Sports Talk 7-8. And you'll be talking about an Astros win. I think so too. I'll go with the, what's the total on this bad boy tonight? Let me go take a look. It looks like basically a 50-50 game. Astros at minus 105, Mets at 1 minus 102. That's basically about even money for each of them.

If I'm Joe Spott, I'm looking at Hunter Brown. They're going, Hunter? We need you to go be Hunter Brown for us, dude. None of this. None of this hype. What's been the deal with him pitching five innings the last couple games? It's been a lot of full counts, a lot of walks since he's come back. Now, we'll say last Saturday, that was the Joe Spott of mistake,

where he accidentally signaled to the bowl. then. Otherwise, Hunter Brown, probably would have gotten that last out. It would have been a six inning affair. Yeah, well, it was kind of a weird point, but I guess I get, he wasn't, he said he was pointed to the third base umpire, hey, time. But they went, no, you pointed to the outfield bullpen. It was like a close, it was like a close in point for Joe. It wasn't like a far out, like point to the bullpen and the arm was not extended, but whatever. I mean, that was just so weird. And it's, I didn't even know that was a baseball rule that you can't even point. You have to go to the bull. That's stupid.

Like you point out, you do a half point and you got to go out to the bullpen. That's ridiculous. You should just state what you're doing. Yeah. Hey, guys, I'm calling to the bullpen. Or, guys, I'm just going out for a visit. It's ridiculous. Do you have to state your purpose?

But yeah, 99% of the time Joe goes out there, he is going to the bullpen. So maybe it's a bit of a reflex for him. Either way. The two outs outings before that. Five innings against Seattle. Five innings at Sam Fran. You know what? You know what?

I'm calling it. Quality start tonight for Hunter Brown. Six innings one run? Play the under, play the under eight and quality start for Hunter Brown. You heard it here first. I'll give the Mets two. Six innings two run ball. Okay.

Astros win at 3. I don't care. Whatever you say, quality start tonight for Hunter Brown. You heard it here first. All right, we've got to take a quick break. It is the final hour of the Matt Ross in the morning on Sports Talk 790. Felipe, we see you on hold. We'll get to you next.

You guys want to get in. It is in anything goes Friday. Phone lines open. 713-2-2-790. 7-1-3-2-2-2-1-2. 5.7.9. In the 20 in the morning, Matt and Ross in the morning, on Sports Talk 790.

Until 10 o'clock, it'll be the Dan Matthews show then. And of course, Adam and Adam, we'll have you for the 18, 2 o'clock. Astros getting fired up against the Mets. Astros on deck coming up at 5 o'clock. Then the Stroes, and I'll be with you for

the Astros' 10th inning program. About 12 hours from now. Chris Gordy is hanging out. As Matt, Matt Thomas is out. You've got the roadie Rams taking on the Siena Saints. Is that what Matt said, I think, earlier this week? The Siena Saints versus Rhode Island volleyball. I might have to tune in. I think that's available for streaming on ESPN Plus, right?

I guess so. What is that? What division is Rhode Island? They're in the Atlantic 10. Okay. That's a pretty major conference. So shout out to Carly Thomas, wishing her the best. Rhode Island Rams in their first match of the season. I didn't know they play like three and three days. It's got a lot of work, feels like,

for the volleyball gals. But anyways, 713, 212,790 is the phone number you want to get in, 713-21, 25790. Chris Gordy is hanging out with Matt Thomas out. Jonathan Allen's been with us for the duration as well, and Paul in Champions Forest wants to talk some stroes.

What's up, Paul? I always like it when we beat those jankies. It doesn't feel bad, does it? You know what the best part was behind home plate? As Hater was throwing and it was 5 to 1, they all cleared out. They weren't a sole behind home plate. That's beautiful to see. So much, yeah, so much for loyalty.

Yeah. I actually listen to the last two innings on the road coming back from a ranch and Hempstead, but Hayter put them away. But, yeah, I always listen to, people call in and, you know, Astros this and Astros that, and this player needs to do this, and we need to get this player.

But I try to boil it down to really just a couple of things when we're not performing as well as we should. It is a team sport, however. We have to always remember that. But I wish there was an analytic on the amount of freaking walks, we gave up in the first half of this season. I think we averaged about five walks a game.

There were some games that we literally walked eight or nine, ten people are ridiculous. An analytic that would show, but for the amount of walks that we walked more than the opposing team, how many of those games would we have won? Well, I would venture a guess. In other words, how many of those people that got a free pass scored a run? that made the difference in the game, or minimally seven walks that we had versus their three walks. What would the score have been but for those free passes? You notice we call them free passes.

I would venture, I guess, that we'd be six or seven or eight or ten games above 500, maybe even 11, and we wouldn't be having this weird discussion about, Are we good or are we bad? You know, are we going to get in? You know, we're going to be like a 515 team that makes it to the playoff, blah, blah, blah. You know, free passes are just so – there's – easy for me to say, but if there's anything in baseball, it's avoidable, it's a free pass. That's why they call it a free pass.

Well, that's one of the reasons they call it a free pass. All right? Because the guy gets it for free. Anything else, Paul? Yeah, yeah. Hang on there, guys. That was a two-minute diatribe on walks being bad, so we're shot to speed up. Yeah, I know you like...

If that's where Mario you're talking about your... Do-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da. Okay. Take a chill-field guy, guys. I'm going to set you free. Number two, we're talking about Kristen Walker a lot. We need to leave this guy alone.

I mean, he's batting like 5.6 points under his lifetime batting average. So maybe seven or eight? Maybe. I don't know what it is. I didn't look at up. He's bad last year, too. Yeah, it was time out, but he's an RBI machine. Here's what we're talking about.

Because they keep batting him fourth or fifth. I mean, yeah, If you keep bat him there, he's going to luck in this and driving in some runs. Fair enough. But I'm giving you guys some free intel. No charge of this. Oh, thank God. Yeah, thank God, right?

Should I brought my notepad. You should have, man. So we need to be talking about one of my favorite players of all time future Hall of Famer, Jose Altuve, who's batting like 50 points below his lifetime average. So if we stop the walks, we're averaging about three per game now versus five, the first half this season. Altuve just needs to step it up a little bit. He's starting to, if he continues to do what he's been doing the last four or five weeks, I think we'll make it to the playoffs,

and I think we'll be fine. I'll hang up and listen to you guys make fun in your most recent caller. Bye. All right. Thank you, Paul. Appreciate it. Yeah, I mean, Christian Walker's coming under some fire, and he's, I mean, he started off the season like gangbusters and he just hadn't been good since basically the first, I think we did since May 1st yesterday or the day before on this show,

and his OPS was around like $650-ish or something like that, did hit the home run yesterday. Overall, is still a bounceback year from what you got last year. But Jose Al-Tuve certainly hasn't been where you wanted, but he's come alive somewhat in the month of August. OPS 814, 304 batting average, despite, I think he went 0-4 yesterday at the 3. go look that back up. But yeah, it wasn't a good day at the plate for Jose Altuva yesterday,

but had had a couple of hits in the first couple of games against Yankees. And he has been showing at least some signs of life. Some of it has been like infield hits. And it's not like he's been smacking the ball all over the field and hitting a bunch of home runs. But at least some signs of life from Jose Altuve would be quite nice. Yeah, that's the tough part, man. as if Altuve was just doing Altuve things with what Yoron and Pena are giving you. It would be a much better ball club. Yeah, you have the potential.

I mean, Varsho had a great season offensively last year, but he is taking a big step back. You have the potential to where I can really squint hard and say, is this a good Major League lineup to where you get Pena, Alvarez, Paredes? If Jose Altuve, you're not asking him to hit 300 the rest of the season, but he has for the month of August, Varsho can wake up a little bit.

Walker can. Yiner Diaz has shown some signs of life. Cam Smith can be up and down but can get hot at the right moment to where you could have. The lineup could be like six, seven deep. It just has not really happened consistently at all. But doesn't that make you, if this team just gets to the playoff, there's that potential. There's that potential. And Correa.

I'm not putting a whole lot of stock in Correa being available and effective towards the end of September. they said they want him to be ready, it could happen. Sure, certainly. I'm not saying it's a 0.0% chance. Aspata said, all those things. Al-Tubei has to be better. Varsho has to wake up. Christian Walker has to wake up. Yonner-Diaz has to keep going. Pam Smith has to be better.

You need better starting pitching as well. Like that's six things I just named. I mean, that's for them to be like a good team. Aspata said they expect Correa, quote, to be ready to go at some point in September. Well, Ross. Ready to go at what capacity? Today's August 28th. Is he going to be running around the field on third,

playing third base every day? I don't, I would be shocked if he's an everyday third baseman or something. Right. And then what are you going to do? You're going to put Isak Paredes at second, and then you're going to play Yornon and left in Eltuve D.H every day? I mean, what's going to happen there? Yeah, I would think if Kray is back,

once or twice a week he plays third base, and once or twice a week he DHS and you plug Yorna on the left. I mean, I don't know. we'll see we'll see but I I'm skeptical that Correa is going to be back and then be really good and effective as quickly as he's getting rushed back

like when Isak Pradis came back from his hamstring injury last year he just played DH I'm just telling you you get Korea back in some capacity you get the playoffs playoff Altovae shows up playoff L2e's been pretty good he has yes throughout his career age 36 was

we'll see. What was the, remember a couple years ago when they got to the playoffs and Jose Bray was terrible? And then he was that, he actually had some hits of the postseason. You're like, oh. Was that when they, they beat the twins? He was great. Yeah, they went to the LCS.

We were there. Right. That was in 2023, I think. I think so. Okay. Who knows? Just get out too many to the playoffs. Get him to the playoffs.

And then Dalton Varshow goes, hey, man, I helped lead the Blue Jays to the World Series last year. Okay. Yeah. If we want to spend a fairy tale, we can try. And Christian Walker goes, you know what, man, they brought me here to hit bombs. I'm going to crush bombs. Okay, you want to spend the fairy tale you can,

but you realize that's a fairy tale is what you're talking about right now. And Cam Smith goes, man, I'm really starting. These balls are looking like watermelons now. All right, then they're going to go nine deep and they're going to win the World Series. Just if everything you said happens are a World Series team. Sure. I mean, could half of that happen? What if half of that happens?

Then they're probably going to lose in the A. LCS. And that would be a nice Would you take that? I would be a nice run. It would be a surprising run. I wouldn't be super shocked if they made it out of a wildcard. I would be shocked if they make it out of a DS just with the way the state of the starting pitching is. But currently, personally.

Who would they? Given the standings, who would they match up against? They would play up with the, they would play the Guardians. Yeah, come on. And then if they won that, they would go against the White Sox. Who they've beaten already this year? Oh, they beat two out of three in one series and they got four with them coming up and the White Sox

have a better record and a better run differential and are a better team. Yeah. Has scored more runs and allowed fewer runs than you have. Let's go, man. This team can do it. Let's get to the postseason. They could, but one of the odds.

Okay. All right. Sure. It could happen. But they could win the World Series. I also could win the powerball three times in a row. Now, that's a stretch saying that won the World Series. Oh, no, no, you're going to spin into all this stuff, all these fairy tales. Playoffs.

They're 67 and 67. They're not a great baseball team. 38. I'm here on Sports Talk 790. Matt and Ross in the morning. Here on Sports Talk 790. Without Matt, he is volleyball dadding, harder than anyone's volleyball dadded as the Rhode Island Rams will be taking on the Siena Saints later today.

Go Rams. Chris Gordy's hanging out. Jonathan Allen is hanging on a couple of y'all in holds. Let's go ahead and get you guys in here. I appreciate y'all. I've been fighting off this cold for four hours. You guys have been great on the interaction on the phones and the Twitterverse. And of course, Gordy hanging out.

I appreciate him. Hans, you are next up on the phone lines. What's up, Hans? Hey, brother. How we doing? I'm making it. Hey, I hear you, man, battling that cold. I guess, I mean, you guys been talking about the playoff push.

I mean, the reality of us in Houston and being with the Astros, right, is we've been a little spoiled the last 10 years, right? We all know the playoff pushes we've made, the greatness we've had, our records in the World Series, whatever you want to put it. I mean, the way it looks at this year, it's really almost identical to last year. I mean, you guys were talking about Walker's stats. You guys were talking about Peretta's injury last year versus Correa's injury this year. it's identical to last year.

We are going to do one of two things, either make the playoffs or not make the playoffs because of our record. And I really think it comes down to, are we good enough to be the best team in the AL? Before we even get to that, are we good enough to even be in the playoffs? And I think for that, guys, it's pitching. Yes, hitting has dropped off a little bit second half of the year,

but first half the season, we were, I mean, four and close to four or five runs a game. Second half the year, I don't think it's been that. but pitching has been absolutely horrible all season. I mean, yes, Diesel was hurt for the majority of the year. Lambert picked up a lot, erigetti before we let him go, right? You got guys that stepped up and done their job. But the biggest thing that's always kept us so good towards a good push

has been the bullpen as well, and our bullpen is just not where it needs to be to make a deep run. We all know baseball now is get to the fifth, inning, especially in the playoffs, and then turn it over your bullpen. Outside a hater, maybe O'Kurt at times, man, the team is not where it needs to be on the pitching side. And then we flip a coin on when we're hot for hitting, right? So I guess that's a big synopsis of the year. But the biggest thing I just want to mention is, if we're going to make a playoff push, it's going to be now, right? We've got 27 games left. I think we got to go, we got to win every

series if we can. That's unrealistic, but if we can, we play four playoff contenders. in those games. And we just got to dig in and see what's going to happen to finish off the year. So I just want to give my two cents on that. I know you guys talk about baseball all the time, so enjoy hearing it. But yeah, your feedback on what do you think is going to be the biggest push or biggest thing outside of winning, what's going to be the thing that gets us to the playoff and gives us a little bit of a run? Because I don't know if we're odds to win a World Series. That's be realistic. But what's going to get us there, right? Yeah, thanks a lot, Hans. Appreciate it.

I mean, to me, it's going to have to be the starting pitching especially. And we've seen, you know, Peter Lambert has been slowing down somewhat. But last time out, he was close to a quality start. Hunter Brown needs to be ace Hunter Brown. Hayden Wesnesty, five innings of one-run ball. If he got you that in a playoff game, that'd be good. And, you know, Yankees are a playoff team. The Astros were going up against, and they won two out of three.

And they have a good record against teams above 500. So it's not the craziest thing. the world. But in the month of August, we were talking about this earlier, 11 and 12, 23rd in ERA, 17th and OPS. Overall in the season, 25th in ERA, 10th in OPS.

So the offense has slowed down significantly. You need some pieces of that to pick up, and it's really going to, it starts with starting pitching and getting deeper into games and being more consistent, especially when you get into deeper in the playoffs, you're going to have the seven game

series where you're going to need your 11 guys two, three nights in a row and you're going to need your starting pitching to help you out with that and the Astros haven't gotten anybody to get an out and pass the fifth inning, or I'm sorry, towards the sixth inning since August 10th.

The last guy to do that was Hayden was an Esky. So I need some quality starts in my life. And I did predict quality start tonight for Hunter Brown. Yeah. Well, he's got to be the guy. I mean, he is the bona fide ace.

You know, he's the guy that signed with Scott Boris and what's all the big money. I mean, he's got to come through for you. He's just not looked like his old self. So, you know, at times, we've seen it in small doses this year. And obviously the injury sidelining for a good bid. But we got to, if the Astros are going to do this and win this division and make a playoff run, they've got to get Hunter Brown back to being Hunter Brown. Yeah, because, I mean, the dreams of a two-seed and getting the week off and setting your rotation

and getting everybody in, you know, the elder statesman of this team and they're in the 30s, the altuvies, the walkers, to whomevers. Like that's out the window. You're not getting a two seed in the American League with the way that you've been scuffling about. So go take care of business against the Yankees.

I'm sorry, you did take care of business against the Yankees, take care of business against the Mets and get some quality starts. I'm just asking for six innings. Doesn't seem like I'm asking for a whole lot. How much does that suck? The Yankees are in that division, or in that the AL East. And as good as they're the second best record in the American League

and they're going to have to go wild card route because they can't pass the race. I think, I mean, my theory is that you should at least, while the Astros get in the playoffs, they should not have home, depending on the home field, but if the other team has a better record. Because the ALS is an abomination.

But at least the Astros are on top right now. Game ahead of the Rangers, three games ahead of the Mariners. Scott, we see you on. hold. We got one segment left. Matt Thomas show, I'm sorry, I should say Matt and Ross in the mornings here on Sports Talk 790. Chris Gordy, hanging out.

Jonathan Allen here as well. Final segment of the show after this quick break on Sports Talk 790. Final segment. Matt Ross in the morning. Without Matt. He'll be out today and Monday as Carly Thomas, congratulations to her

begins her collegiate volleyball career. And I don't believe this is breaking news. I believe she is the number one setter on the team. They're like five center of the squad. Don't jinx it. That's what I was told. Maybe I shouldn't have said it. I don't know. All right, sorry.

Whoops. Scott, River Oaks, go ahead. What's going on, fellas? All right, so I was calling to talk to Gordy. I don't get a chance to talk to you very much, Gordy, but I call into the Matt and Ross show are yet very a lot when they're in the afternoon. It's open to call in more

in the mornings also. So I grew up here in Houston, Gordy, a big Houston sports fan for college. I attended my freshman year at the University of Mississippi before I transferred to U of H. I'm an Ole Miss and U of H fan. But growing up here in Houston, I have a lot of friends that went to your school, LSU, and I know them very, very well. And they are going to give up on Lane Kiffin and no longer defend him right around the time. you know, they'll still believe in him once y'all lose in Oxford,

but once y'all lose to at Auburn and then come home and lose to Alabama, they're going to be done with him. So my question for you is, when are you going to get a lot? Goodness, I mean, if he sucks that back, glad you'll get him run him off. Geez. When are you going to give up on being, quit being a propaganda piece for him? Will you give it the full season and wait until you all finish six and six? He's in the coach of the game yet.

He hasn't a host a game. Look, he made you guys relevant. So y'all should be grateful for that. Ole Miss football was Matt Luke winning six games a year. So be grateful Lane Kiffin made you relevant. You're good now. Let's see if Pete Goldie can maintain it.

That's the test. No, it's not about it. You're 100% right. But, you know, every minute college football becomes a more and more toxic environment. And as they say, the cream rises to the crop, and he is proving by the day, starting with his departure at Ole Miss,

how much of a sleaze ball he is. You are right, though. That was known beforehand. I mean, you can't get mad at the guy. I went to a place where they actually win national championships. So we'll see what happens. And your analysis on recruiting NFL players to file. I didn't say anything about that.

Louisiana is not a policeball move. I don't agree with the move. We'll see what happens with it. The SEC's crack it down, saying they're going to suspend, you know, a coach who tries to do it. So we'll see what happens. But, I mean, again, he was brought there to win. win games. Let's see what he does. All right. Well, at least I respect you saying

that you don't agree with the move. I'm sure you said that before, but I didn't hear that. Check on SEC. Subscribe. We'll do. God, there's so much riding between me and my friends on this game. This game feels like a freaking Super Bowl. It's just a game.

Whoever loses is still alive for the playoffs. So it is, I'm glad it's week three and not like week 11. That's true. You do have time to recover, but it will hurt. I mean, objectively speaking, it will hurt a loss emotionally would hurt us more than it would probably hurt y'all, just because, A, it's on the road for y'all, and B, we're the ones that want revenge. So, God, that game just feels good.

But, hey, you never know. I mean, we both have games beforehand, Clemson and Louisville. It's not like, I mean, Louisville is better than Clemson, but those are real games, both of them. So, you know, we've got to take care of business one step at a time. Yeah, well, just avoid, if you're not going to Oxford. I would imagine for that game. No, no, I don't have a bullet per fest, so I won't be going to that one. Yeah, yeah.

That, uh, the Grove, for the first time in the history, it probably won't be such a friendly place that weekend, I can imagine. Well, anyways, I just had to give you a hard time. And I'll probably continue to be that at the time you're on the air, just to get updates on how the season's going. But, uh, all in good fun. You all take it easy. Have a good weekend.

All right. Thank you, Scott. Yeah, they're fired up a little college football smack. There's something happening. happened with these old miss fans where they forgot where they came from and they think they're like god's gift to football and like and and to hear every one of them tell it we are now better that we got rid of lane kiffin it's like i'm sorry that dude was winning 10 11 games there in oxford they didn't they never did that before like that dude made brought them to new heights

i get your anger at him that he left i get your angry that he left for a division rival or conference rival but like at least respect what the man did there look we weren't happy when sabin ended up at Alabama, but we still respected the hell out of what he did for LSU. Like, you know. Yeah, I'm just trying to look at all of the old, yeah, there were some, some rough times for Ole Miss. Yeah. 11 wins 10, 10, 10, 10 and 3, 13 and 2 last year.

The old joke was never ask an Ole Miss fans for directions to Atlanta. They've never been there. They've never played for an SEC title. Oh, they still haven't? Nope. Oh. Texas has. Texas has been in the conference two years and they've played for one.

Big season coming up for everyone. It's funny. Everybody's got to win. LSU, Ole Miss. As Sark has said, we're all in. Why? Can I hear that again? That's how his voice sounds, right?

We're all in. Hey, look, Arch has been really playing his butt off for us. That's how Sark talks. That's not how he talks. He's very high. Oh, come on. on. You can do an impression of Sark then.

I can't. I'm sick. Cop out. Hook a Longhorn football here on Sports Talk 790. He is high-pitched. Play. We got a Sark promo we can find right now. Just put Sark in.

This is Sports Talk 790. Coach Sark here. Yeah. Coach Sark here. 790 is your home for Long Lord football. And I told Arch that. That's how he told. Marsh what?

There we go. Is that one of them? Touchdown, Jackson. Let's see, here we go. Coach Sark here. Stay connected to the long. Hordeaux. Stop.

Just search. Sports Talk 790. Fuck him. He doesn't sound like what you're saying at all. All right. Get us out of here. My God. It's all right.

He's a good coach. I'm going to rest up. I'm going to take a big nap. I'll talk to you guys. The Astros' 10th inning show tonight. Gordy, Thank you for hanging out. Let's get a win.

Stromy's back. Matt, thanks for nothing. Jonathan Allen, thanks for hanging out for four hours. All you guys who called and tweeted and got involved in the show directly, I really appreciate you. You guys are awesome. Thank you very much. Dan Matthews will have you next.

He'll be alongside Josh Jordan for the next four hours. Just don't go anywhere. Keep it locked here. Houston's best sports talk is right here on Sports Talk 790. Your home for your home teams. SportsCorp.