The Matt Thomas Show with Ross - Astros Take Game 2 In Toronto, Do You Have Faith? Texans Back On Practice Field Today

Episode Date: September 11, 2025

Astros Take Game 2 In Toronto, Do You Have Faith?  Texans Back On Practice Field Today

is the Matt Thomas show with Ross. Good morning. And welcome to a Thursday edition of the Matt Thomas show with Ross. This is Sports Talk 790. The end. And keep first place sports RV because the Rangers and Mariners don't ever want to lose. Nobody said it was going to be easy. I lost faith 24 hours ago. Faith is something you can gain and lose Craig quickly.

You just said that about a lot of things in the last 24 hours. Good morning, everyone. Matt and Ross with you here. I'll just make this very clear and very simple. In the world of life, in the world of journalism, in the world of communication, Ross and I are the 100% toy department. Yes. There are a lot of heavy hearts today for a variety of things that have happened, obviously, yesterday,

and the anniversary of 9-11. for other folks to get to, that's not what we do. But we feel the same way you feel many of you about the same things that have happened in the anniversary and whatnot. So I'll just say this. We are here to do a four-hour sports show to kind of try to take you away from that, and we're going to try to do that. We're going to try to laugh a little bit. We're going to try to have some analysis. We've got Astros baseball today, and that's what we're going to do.

But we clearly understand that there are a lot of other more pressing issues in the world going on today. And it's a little simple for our radio show that we do. Let's just leave it at that. I've got nothing to add. Okay, very good. All right. Sports Harvey, you did the 10th inning show yesterday. Yes, I did.

And people were excited. They already ready to gain those American League West T-shirts at the local. Uh-huh. I only will mention it because they don't spend enough money with us. Uh, shmattomy. Uh, and, uh... I spend money. Not enough.

With Adam? Not the right show, though. That's right thing. You're so funny. Go ahead. Sorry. Ted the two. But yeah, the Astros are doing their thing.

Well, yeah, they won. Jason Alexander is maybe God's gift of pitching. He's the goat. I mean, he is saving, he's literally, it's not an overstatement to say he's saving their season. ERA is under three as a starter. Yes. And the number one thing I saw last night after he gave you at seven frames last night, seven? Seven innings of shutout ball against the frigging Blue Jays on the road.

I mean, a hit a team that can smack the ball. obviously no Dante Bichette, but they stuck everybody else there. Or Bo Bouchette either. What did I say, Dante? This is his dad. This is dad. Yeah, Dante's son, Bo. Yes.

By the way, they don't sound like he's going to be back any time soon. It sounded like it was a pretty severe injury he suffered. That's a shame. I'm not shedding tear. Sorry. May it affect the- Astros are the last team that should be shedding tears about other people injuries. But you got Jason Alexander.

Yes. Out of nowhere. Out of nowhere. Out of literally nowhere. Yeah. is more valuable than Framber Valdez, is more valuable than Christian Javier, is more valued than Lance McCullors.

Well, 32-year-old, 32-year-old, I mean, journeyman. The journeyman. Literally a journeyman. 2.82 ERA is an astro. It's out there, dicing everyone up with a change-up. That little frisbee change-up he throws is one of my favorite. No, excuse me.

That's a sweeper. No, it's not a sweeper, Maddie. He does throw a sweeper, but it sweeps the other way. Well, it is kind of a sweeping change up. If you want to sweep, that's your own thing. That's what I'm judging. Okay, good.

I'll also have you break down whether or not three of Abrae's last four pitches were sinkers as they were categorized. But he doesn't really throw a sinker, but I guess he does. Do you think the TV crew, and I've never asked this, I guess I could? Do you think they just have to guess sometimes? The thing pops up and then they just say. But yeah, they discuss it because sometimes things get miscategorized. Like, you know, a Frommers trying to groove in a fastball at like 92, and they call it a change. up. Like for instance, if I was

pitching, I would just say Evis. It would stay on the screen the entire time. Yeah, but I mean, you know, just go with the old breaking ball or fastball. Yeah. Like, if I got on a hill right now and try to throw as hard as I could, I might hit 40 miles an hour. I have faith. Before

you tear your labrum, I think you can get over 40 once. Yeah, but I mean... After you're in me under. That would take everything in my power to throw it as hard as I could. Yeah. A 40 mile per hour pitch to a major league hitter. is like literally a pitching machine that's broken. Well, it's going to be a ball.

I don't know if you can get it to 60 feet. At 40 miles an hour? That's physics there. 60 foot six. All right. Anyways, Matt. What were we talking about? Jason Alexander.

Jason Alexander, of course, we'll get to Bray you in a second. But yeah, he has been fantastic. He has been a godsend. DFAed from the A's earlier this year and he's saving the Astros season. That's like wait, Watchers, you're going to Weight Watchers clinic and saying, we can't help you lose weight. You go to the A's. You're like, the A's don't

want you, no one wants you. Except Dana Brown found him on, I mean, literally in a scrap heap. Mm-hmm. And now he's the second most important pitcher in the Astros rotation. And I can't even believe I'm saying it. Because I really thought that Aragetti, once he got tuned in and tuned up and going was going to be

that guy that was going to be potentially the third guy in the starting rotation. Astros playoff series starts today. if there's a deciding game three, it's Jason Alexander or the mound. And first of all, there's nobody else. Secondly, he deserves the opportunity. Yeah, we'll see what Javier is doing forward

and how much, you know, I mean, he does have more of a track record and stuff like that, but yeah, going off of, you're only as good as your last game, it's Jason Alexander, it's not even a question. Off your last game, how about your last two months? Yeah. He's been great. And then Brian Abray through 30 pitches on Tuesday.

Wouldn't even sure he was going to be available yesterday. When I heard he was warming up, I'm like, oh, my God, please don't do this injury thing again. Please don't hurt his arm. And he goes out there. And not only was he good yesterday, but he didn't have to throw a bunch of pitches. Now, if I see him tonight, there's no way. I'm going to enforce him to throw his with his left hand. I would be shocked.

There's no chance. I would call it criminal negligence. No chance. No way. No how. Never going to. You heard me. All right.

Brian and Bray will not pitch in today's game. All right. We even said this yesterday with Bogus Evo. We're like, well, we just need to have some, you know, some low leverage situation so they don't need them. And literally six hours later, they got to go to him. Back caller we had a few weeks ago that I made fun of me, got mad at me for asking for Billy Wagner to come back.

They will fly Billy Wagner in from Virginia to close out the game the night before Brian and Brue pitches again. He threw 11 pitches yesterday. That's 41 in two days. No chance. No way, no how. I'm booking it. Velo was down.

again why are you doing this? I'm just saying doing this because I'm worried so you didn't want him out there once he was out there it was whatever thank God it was economical thank God it was economical I was out of there

and actually believe me or not I had confidence that he was going to get it done to me to me it was as much about I need to go out there and prove I'm a closer and I think it was are you are your arm okay Yes, it is. I'm going to have the medical staff and getting granted if that medical staff can give good information or not, who knows,

they certainly have a sketch a year. But if he said, I can do this, I can give you an inning. He probably needed to do it for his own mental health sake as much as what he did. It was great for everyone. First of all, yeah, he hadn't pitched since Friday. Before pitching two days ago, he had not pitched since Friday the 5th. So he got three days off of entering games. So if you get three days off, you can pitch two days in a row in theory.

It's not ideal when somebody throws 30 pitches, but it happens. So all of that being said, they went to him. And Brian O'Bray even said himself after the game, doesn't normally talk after games, but he did that Joe Espada came to and said, yeah, you're my guy. I have confidence in you. And people always ask, what does Joe Espada do and blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, want to crush him. But this is what he does, and we've talked about this, Matt. He's a player's manager.

He backs his guys. He shows confidence. And if you talk to professional baseball, or baseball, basketball, football, whatever, they talk about how confidence is so important. And so Joe Espada shows confidence in his guys. He showed confidence in his guy, and he got the job done. And he also can give you a storyline that kind of makes sense,

but there was really a ulterior motive. I'll tell you what that is. Oh, wow. After this. My brain's in a pretzel right now. Not like that pretzel that cult are trying to sell, are you? No, like any ants. Have you seen that person?

No, I have what's wrong with it. Go, do me this favor. Seriously, do this right now. This is live ready. Just put Colts pretzel? Colts pretzel. In Twitter and see what it shows up. Okay.

Do it right now. Oh, yeah, that was, you're talking about this one? Yep. Yeah, that was a month ago. Yeah. You just saw it now? No, I'm saying what I asked you if it was a cult's pretzel and you're like, is your stomach and a colts?

It looks like a turd. I'll just say it. 713-212-5-790 7-1-3-212-5-790 Brian McTaggart's going to join us at 11 o'clock looking forward to his visit with us as he does every Thursday at that time I was not surprised Rossi about Jose L-Tube and not being the line-up yesterday

I think the mistake... You should not have been. I think the mistake running second to third was a... I'm in my head a little bit. bit. I've been in Major League Baseball a long time. I'm going to get to 3,000 hits on the greatest Astrof and all. Sometimes you need a day just to clear your head and get right because that was a terrible mistake. It'd be one thing if his bat could justify the occasional base running

mistake, which is not occasional. It's a lot. And for his career, it has. But right now it's not. And so to me, I know what Joe said, but it was, Jose, you're not, you weren't ready to play yesterday. You were not in tune with what was going on in the game. I need you to sit and just think about it for a day. And I think it happens to a lot of majorly players. It's not an indictment against Jose. It's just an indictment of this is a, he's individually in a terrible rut right now. his baseball team is playing 420 baseball

for a better part of two months. You've got plenty of reinforcements. Urias can play second base. Dubon can play second base. You got Alboros who's playing left field almost every day. He can play left field in Toronto. It's on a real deep ballpark. You know what I mean?

It's just the, it's a turf field. It kind of just all made a lot of sense. That's why it was easy. It's in his last seven games, most importantly. But I mean, that's the reason why. Like, you don't get a choice of this. I know you want to, I know you want to compete. I know you want to win.

but you're not playing today. Why do you do this to me? I'm sorry. She had a dress is not even close to her knees. All right. That's probably smart. Thank you. You told me to change,

you told me to put on MOUB network. See, folks, he calls me out on air when we were, what was on golf? Golf. We were watching golf, which is an actual sport at least, and he said put on MOPB network.

And then he calls me out on air, Jonathan. This is what he does. I mean, she's looking smoking today. There's no doubt, mean. Now everybody, you're not here, but Ross made a reaction first. I saw him. That was my fault. Yeah. But I didn't say anything. It was your, it was your reaction, my follow-up. Oh, the pillow fight championships are on. We're good. Oh, yeah. On the Ocho, that's good. Yeah. But do you kind of buy into what I'm saying? That yesterday was, I don't care what your body says. I don't care what you come in and try to convince me.

Otherwise, you're not playing today. Yeah, I mean, I don't know. I don't know if it was just because of the base running gaff. I mean, we were kind of used to that. I think it's more like he's been feeling at the plate. He had hit. had 069 for seven games, and they tried to give him the day off. He did pinch hit and strike out. But he just needed a day to clear his head. And Joe Spada talked about it. He said he sat down with them and said, we're going to give you a day off this week. What day did they want to choose?

And they chose yesterday. And hopefully he's back up in the lineup today. I don't know if it's... And it works how well it's a day game after night game, so that does help. Kind of like we were talking about with Brian Bogus Advocates. Like, is this... Is he just, is at the end of the season, dog days? Is this decline because he's 35 years old?

Is this just a regular old, a two-based slump? Which we've seen before. Where he gets in a slump, he gets in his head, and he starts swinging and everything and pressing. And he did last night, the pinch hit opportunity. Yeah. Well, so we've seen this from him before, but then, of course, as we know, he can get as hot as anyone on the planet when he's right. And hopefully he's saving that for this stretch, because they need it. And when he is on one of those hot streaks,

it's basically when people say, well, the best of Altuve is gone. And then he'll get six hits in a series. And then he'll hit two home runs. He is still a leader in home runs. Although Yarnar Dia is getting a little closer. Not close enough, but. No, not close enough, Matt.

But I feel pretty good. I feel like you should respect my baseball analysis. What I give you that. So you want a pat on your, hold on. Hold on. Let's go to the team leaders in home runs. Please do that. So he's, Yiner Diaz is tied with somebody who's been out with a hamstring off their bone for two months, right?

Correct. And you want a pat on the back. Yes, I said sneaky. Okay, but yeah, he's not leading the team, though. I know. So he's not leading the team. Where is he? Is he third on the team or where?

You're looking it up, not me? I'm looking it up. Okay, he's behind out too. I'm trying to look at it. He's behind Christian Walker. He's behind. So he's third on the team. You said he would lead the team.

Yordon's been out all season. Yes. Yes. Esoc Paredes has been out for like two months. Exactly. You want a pat on the back. I would like, yes, some applause. Okay.

Minor applause. So, I mean, all things being equal in normal situations, he'd probably be fifth. Correct. And you want to, you want praise for saying he'd be first. You're speaking truth, yes. Because no one else said it. No, no one else could say he's going to have a sticky pick. Yeah, no one else was as wrong like you.

No, you're up. I'm close. Close. Could you hear it? Can you folks wrap your head around what goes on in this man's brain? The person who is third. should be fifth, he wants a pat on the back for saying they'd be first. By the way, that's actually insane.

I'm sorry, stop what you're talking about. This pillow fighting championships are awesome. This pillow fighting thing is unbelievable. You have two men, you have a referee, you have a ring. And I would say the guys are weighing about 160 pounds, maybe give or take. Would that be fair in saying that? These guys are probably, yeah, they might be in a 154. They might be in a super welterweight.

They're being separate. And they have, well, this guy on the right looks way heavier than the guy on the left. Yeah, he does. They have one open hand. Yeah. They have a pillow on the other hand. You can only strike your competitor with the pillow. But you can block with your left, yeah.

Correct. And you can use your legs, I believe it's a block as well, right? Yeah, I guess like it. And they're wearing tennis shoes. They're pulling up with their cross trainers. Oh! And the pillow leaves one of the guy's hands. I want to see somebody get knocked out.

What's in these pillows? Nichols. Oh, now he did a flip. Let me tell you. This is way more interesting than our show is. I'm going to be really honest with you. No, please listen to the show. Okay, please listen to the show. Yeah, cut that out of the podcast. Thank you, Jonathan. And again, what do you tell your kids

that when you're in your 20s, how did you make a living? Well, you know, some people, I was a pizza delivery driver. I mean, this guy looks like he could be 30. I was a teacher. What did you do, Dad? Well, I was a professional pillow fighter. Now, the issue that all of us that are grown ass men are thinking about us, why are we watching dudes doing this? Where are the female pillow fighters?

Scandily clad, I'm sure you're assuming. Is there any other way? Yeah, they could wear clothes. I guess they could. All right. Back at. So the Cardinals and the Mariners, they go 13 last night sports RV? Yeah, at least we're, you know what? The Mariners won the game, but at least the bullpen got taxed.

It's a war of attrition, Matt. Would you like the bad news now? What's the bad news? The Angels are in town for a weekend series with a Mariners. Oh, well, so what? Angels came in town for the Astros and they split a four-game series. Oh, God, you brought that up. Sorry, beat the Angels. Earn your spot in the AOS. Astros didn't do it. All right. Now they're in a dog fight. You brought that up. That's terrible. 713-212-5-790. 7-1-3-212-5-790. If you're on Twitter, I want to follow us there. It's at SportsMT, at SportsRV, and at Sports Talk 7-9. And, of course, following me on the Instagram.

Instagram will guarantee an Astro's victory today. You follow me on Instagram, or as the kids say, the Graham or IG, at SportsMT, and the Astros will beat the Toronto Blue Jays. You're just handing out false promises. No, I'm delivering on them, because tomorrow we'll be discussing about how the Astros beat the Blue Jays for a second consecutive time,

and to keep their lead of one game, one measly little game. Blue Jays at a minus 160. that's a heavy favorite for baseball right well you guarantee it victory so we'll talk about it tomorrow you said to bring it up tomorrow so I got free reign you did say that at sports 17 Instagram follow me learn live love 713

212 570 7197197171 3212 5790 Rossi I love the NBA the commissioner said something really goofy yesterday that I'm not real thrilled with I know what you're talking about you saw it We'll discuss it next here on Sports Talk 7. 1033 on Matt Topes Show with Ross. It is Thursday. By the way, we got A&M and Notre Dame Saturday.

Are you excited about that? I'm curious. Yeah. Sure. It's a classic rivalry. I'll tell you what. I think it's the right thing to do. Play it in week three.

Get those cupcakes out of the way first. I'd rather have, yeah, rather have the big games, I would say, in the, not in week one. Yeah. Personally. So we're going to be in some pretty decent NBA conversation in a few weeks. Obviously, the season has to get underway. And the excitement level for Kevin Durant being here and all the changes of rockets.

I mean, the rockets are legitimately Rossi A. And I'm not telling you something you don't know already, but they're legitimately an NBA title contender. They're depending on what Vegas, they're fourth or fifth. I mean, sometimes they're even third. It depends. But again, but to say the rockets are expected to make a deep playoff, would be very fair to say. So I think, I don't know, but my thinking is we'll get some more NBA chatter on the show,

which you and I would both agree with, and I appreciate. So Adam Sover, and I don't know where he was asked this, but I saw this tweet from Rachel Nichols yesterday. By the way, sneaky, by the way. I'm a Rachel Nichols fan. Jimmy Butler agrees. Deep breath. Okay.

So Adam Sover, this is her tweet, was asked about the rising cost to watch a season of NBC. games as a fan of a particular team. I thought there was media of like a video of this or no. There could be, but I just saw the tweet. And she says, considering all the games are either on cable or streaming services, now either they're on their regional channel like Space City, which again, that's a cost that people are accustomed to. But now you have to, if you want to watch a steady diet of games,

like for instance, there are many games of Rockets are on this year that are going to be what they call Peacock Exclusives that Space City can't broadcast. There's also going to be a number of games on prom. Amazon Prime that are also exclusive to Prime. So we're not talking about 20. We're talking between Peacock exclusives and Prime Exclusive, maybe eight or nine, but that's still a lot. So he was asked about this. Silver says that there are a bunch of games that will go on free broadcast TV and that fans can also consume the league in other ways besides watching games,

noting that the NBA is a highlight league. I like Adam Silver He has to use his inside voice next time He basically just told the audience If you can't afford it Just catch the highlights I don't know if If I'm

God Commission I'm going to be seeing the commission Commissioner are going to be breaking bread next week Okay He can't say that It's kind of bollers if you ask me Explain.

Yeah, I want to hear this. I don't know. It's just, you know, he's worried about other things. The problems he's making money for his league. If you guys have a problem with it, you don't want to support. Okay, you know, just go catch the highlights. That's, if you want to say that's baller, okay. I think that's a PR bad mistake, but that's not.

On a business side, yes. I get where he's saying is like, oh, look, people, I think in 2025, every league's a highlight league. I mean, people aren't sitting down watching three hours a year. Yankees Tigers, they're catching the highlights for the most part if you're not a fan. And the NBA is very highlight-driven league.

Absolutely. When there's big dunks or big plays or whatever, that just gets the buzz. The way I interpret it is he's not overly concerned that fans are concerned about how it's going to, how it's cost it's going to be to view the league. Yeah, he is dismissing something that is a real problem. He's trivializing it. Absolutely.

So I just saw that. I get what he's saying, but he shouldn't have said, as you said. Yeah, inside boys works out well because Here's the reality of it. And even Charles Barkley brought this up. And you know Charles has been very outspoken about the new television deals. He said the owners, and Adam works for the owners, the owners got their check. They're going to be making more money on their NBA television deals between ESPN, Amazon, and Peacock, NBC,

have they ever had before. And that they knew this would be a byproduct of that. You have a quote? I believe I have it. All right. Play it. There's a huge amount of our content that people can essentially consume for free. I mean, this is very much a highlights-based sport.

You know, so, you know, Instagram, TikTok, you know, Twitter, you name it, any service, you know, the New York Times, for that matter, to the extent that your content is not behind a paid firewall. There's an enormous amount of content out there. YouTube, by another example, that people, that is advertising-based that consumers can consume. That didn't help. He's like, he's catch the highlights. He's saying, look, if you would like to watch our games, we've given you more opportunity to watch the games.

It's just saying going to be free. Now, there'll be some free games. NBC is going to have double-headers on Tuesday nights. There's going to be some ESPN games. I mean, not ESPN, because ESPN is still cable. There'll be some ABC games. So you're going to still see plenty of games. And the NBC package on Tuesday is going to be really good.

You have a chance either seeing one or two per games every Tuesday night and they're going to do Sunday night NBA games once the NFL season's over with. Yeah. And I mean, that's, we talked about this and we talked about this with the NFL literally last week about taking the check now and what it means for the long-term health of your league. Do you remember what you did Friday night, by the way? I forgot to ask you this. Well, I was watching the, what do you mean? Did you, what were you doing Friday?

Were you? I was at the post-game show. Okay. So did you-12-inning slog. This was a worst game in the history of sport. Sorry for your loss. Did you catch any of the Kansas City, St. Niagara Charger game?

Yeah, I watched it all. I mean, I had it on. Huh. I didn't watch any of it. Wow. I had Travis Kelsey, too. It was a good game. Yeah, it was a great game.

Yeah, great game. Yeah, Matt, I had TV 1, Astros, TV 2, Chiefs and Chargers. Let's go, baby. It's 2025. TVs are cheap. The problem is this. I have very cheap TVs, don't rob me. So, no, I'm not going to bargain.

I'm going to argue that. I'm talking to you. So the reality is this. I was at a volleyball game. We went to go eat after. And just as I told you what was going to happen, there was no YouTube to be found on the broadcast of the... Yeah, it was very simple.

It was TV2 has an Amazon fire stick on it, put the YouTube on on it. I'm talking about bars, restaurants. I don't know. I didn't go to a bar. I'm telling you I did. Okay, you were. Yeah. And how many drinks do you have? Zero.

Oh. I had an unsweet take. Thanks for asking. Probably could have had a drink after the loss because it was a trip to Burnham, Long-ass trip, but that's a different issue for a different time. Okay. Point being is that these television networks, it's not just, and not television, it's these sports. It's not just basketball.

It's the NFL. They're going to get the check and they're going to put it on you to go get it. If you want it bad enough, you can get it. Yeah, I would imagine sports bars. I mean, we can ask our guy Sam or Big City Wings. I'm sure he had it on. Most of these, yeah, exactly. I don't know.

I think sports bars probably had it on. some people have really old TVs, but some places have newer smart TVs, and you can just pull up the app on the TV. If you're a sports bar on Friday night, I'm not talking about just in Houston, I'm talking about it. And you didn't have the game on,

you're losing, because you're going to have to reinvent the way that you watch your sports. Now, I'm curious, you know, the DirecTV business package is different than the... Yes, right. I would imagine.

I think it does have basically access to every game. Okay. So maybe that's not even a fair indicator. If you buy Sunday, if you buy a business Sunday ticket or whatever. Right, right. which I know that Big City Wings does. So, yeah, they're saying

we're going to give you more places to watch, but we're not giving it to you for free anymore. Because we're taking their checks, and that's what we talked about. How much are they taking a robbing Peter to pay Paul, whatever you want to call? Cutting their nose despite their face. See, but they're not really doing that

because they're taking a check. Cutting your nose is... What if they're shaving and getting stubble and getting slight cuts? I don't know. Somebody can probably probably come up with a better turn of phrase.

I feel what Matt's coming from though. Long term, short term gain for long term pain. But they don't get the pain. Yeah, if their league doesn't grow, that's pain. How about if they take two steps forward, but eventually take three steps back? Okay, whatever.

We're done. Again, I would have, if I was commissioned, I'd say inside voice. Yeah. It's going to be like, I mean, if you are an NBA fan, Look, I don't know how big our audience is. I kind of have a feeling for it, but you're going to have plenty of chance to see everybody you want to see.

You always want to grow the game. How much does it matter by getting maximum eyeballs and catching people? Like, how does one, how does a league grow? But I'll say this, in the NBA's defense, Tuesday nights on NBC, what has Tuesday nights been in the past? You know, dramas, Chicago fire, Chicago PD, sitcoms, you know. 19-1-1 rescue. 9-1. Austin.

Oh, America's Got Talent. Guess what? All kicked to the curb. Every Tuesday night, NBC, the big network is going to give you one, and if your local station wants to do it, they can give you two games per night on that Tuesday. So you are getting more access,

middle of the week, over-the-air broadcast than you would be in years past. Because the thing about last year, it was mostly TNT, a lot of ESPN, and a few ABCs. Now you're getting a full slate of games on NBA, on NBC with the greatest. theme song maybe in sports television history. It is the greatest.

Drafted number one. The promos even are good. Have you seen the promos of Channel 2's doing? No. They're dancing. They're going, da, da, da, and they're like mixing in the local. Who's they? Like Randy McAvoy's dancing on there? No, it's the news anchors.

Like Daniela Guzman. She's going, da, da, da, da, da, da, da. Daniela Guzma. Yeah. No, I didn't, I don't watch a lot of local news. That's I'm here for you. I'm sure to tell you. Unless it's after Sunday night football.

And then by the third murder, I are like, I need to turn this off. All right, this is already getting me fired up. This is a childhood later. Childhood, it's called real life right now. That's childhood for me. And John Tesh was in the middle of the Clippers' home court getting on the... It's game number five at the Garden. Houston Rockets, New York Knicks.

For the NBA championship. It's a guy that used to voice it is dead, but they're going to use his AI to try to recreate the introductions. Which, again, what I want to hear is I'm going to hear how he's going to say Memphis Grizzlies. I'm sure they can find enough phrases where he's close enough and they'll stitch it together, Matt. Yeah. That's what AI is here for? Yeah. Matter of fact, you and I could probably take time off to do an AI show.

Yeah, we'll be replaced quite shortly. Budget cuts. 1045. Let's move on to something else. 713-212-5-790. 7-1-3-212-5-7-90. Texans are back on the practice field. We will discuss what needs to happen this week with them next.

10.50, we have a little bit of a shorter show today. Not much, just a half hour shorter, because we will go into Astrosondek mode at 1 o'clock. Brian McTagger joins us in 10 minutes here on Sports Talk 7.9. I just don't get it come up at 1130, and we're going to keep that extraordinarily lighthearted. I mean, please. Can we keep it extraordinarily lighthearted?

Uh-huh. There's a lot of stuff in life that's much more serious that we don't get. Kind of doesn't even have to be said. News at noon coming up, and the Rotten Five, the debut of the Rotten Five. 16 teams lost last Sunday and Monday and Thursday and Friday, Rossi. Five of those 16 make it to the rotten five. Yes, so we have a research team on it right now. Really?

How big is the team? Well, there's 17 of us on staff, yeah. I think in 401K and... That's my personalities. What's the employee? What's the rate? That's none of your business. Oh, okay.

It's competitive. Are you looking for a new job already? It'll be a matter of time. I don't think we can afford you. So this guy is the pillow. fighting championship. He just won the championship. He wins $5,000. Oh, wow. That's it? Wait, what's

the points? How do you even win that? You just hit him a couple times? I'm guessing he's sweating profusely. Is it like a 10-9 must system? And it's brought to you by a manscaped. That's good. That's a good spasa. Everybody's got to do it. He got himself a belt out of it. That's good.

All right. Texans on the practice field today. To me, watch me a second. I can do this. I think it's Nico Collins is going to be involved in the offense so much more Monday. I don't know. I don't think he checked out. I don't think he tuned out.

I don't think CJ forgot about him. But there's got to be some combination of the things that, I mean, was the Rams secondary good? Was the pass rush too strong that CJ couldn't look downfield? I mean, the longest play the Texans had on the entire day was 23 yards. that's typically not going to get it done in the NFL, especially for Nico Collins, who can stretch receivers and go deep down the field with the best of them. I think this week, if we were to spy in on the Texas practice,

they're going to make a concerted effort to get the ball down the field more. So I think they kind of have to. If you don't have a downfield threat, then you're wasting Nico Collins. Well, if you can't pass it, you can't get the ball down field. Well, that's going to be, no, everybody's telling me not to worry about it because it was just a one-week bit, so I'm not going to be. Who told you not to worry about it? Everybody on Twitter said that offensive line.

That's not true. Okay. I think most people are concerned about the Texans' offensive line. Well, I just want to make sure I'm giving them a benefit for the doubt. Okay. You got people changing around. Maybe Cam Robinson won't miss any time this week.

Did you not hear me tell you, Arionte Ursary was like rated like the 63rd out of 65 tackles? He's a rookie. He's a rookie. No. Armand Mimbu is number one. He's a rookie. Yeah, but he was a higher draft.

That's true. I think Kelvin B. Banks, Longhorn legend. He had a good week too. Do you think that DiMico keeps Urshare at the same spot regardless of what's going on? Do you think we're going to see this fluctuating? Put him at left tackle and take his lumps. That's what I say. I mean, what's the state of everybody? How's the injury report looking?

Obviously, they don't want to put Cam Robinson at right tackle and they don't trust the rest of the guys. Derek Fisher and the like over there. Or Blake Fisher. Or Blake Fisher. What I say? What did I say? Derek Brooks? You said Derek Fisher. Derek Fisher. It doesn't really matter what Fisher I'm talking about. Again, nobody knows who the offensive line. Nobody cares.

Just keep the quarterback upright. If not, you can see Davis Mills this week. People care who the offensive line is when you have good player. When you have marquee players, with guys who are making pro-bles. Right. Like I said, I remember when you and I talked the other day, we recited the Texans offensive line because it was good. Yes. We bragged about him.

Now these are just jags. That's rude. It's not wrong, but it's rude. Well, I mean, Ursury can't be that. He's got to be good. Yeah, Arionte Ursari, being a household name for the Texans, would either be a very good thing or a very bad thing. I feel like a lot of Texans fans learn Kenyon Green's name.

Yes. And it wasn't for a good thing. Yeah. It was, oh, no. Are you really telling me he's going to not play again this week, or he's getting bench, or he's hurt? Oh, man. I mean, they're going to be known, obviously, they're going to be known for the wrong reasons.

because we're going to be sitting there and look, Kevin Harlan on the on the broadcast on Sunday was talking about. I mean, he spent half of his prep going into the huddles talking about, well, look who's here, look who's here, look who's here. I don't remember seeing that a lot when I watch my NFL games with Alim. You didn't see the massive transformation

that Texans went from it almost felt like from play to play. It can't happen. But maybe there's not enough depth. Not maybe. There isn't enough depth. I mean, yeah, most teams don't have, you know, pro bowl tackles waiting in the wings. Right.

Texans don't have it. That's just not good. I'm worried. I'm worried, Matt. But they are favored in the game. How much? Two and a half, right? So it opened it one.

They got a point in a half head of their direction? That's pretty good. I saw it. Two and a half was the first I saw, so I didn't know. I didn't see the opening line. Well, again, there's different people doing different lines. That's true. There's those email guys that are looking for pre-plugs.

They're not going to get them from a, us, but that's, you know. I'll give them plugs if I use their data. Mm-mm. No, they've got to pay. 713-212-5-790. 7-1-2-1-2-5-7-90. One of my very good friends is their sign-in reporter for the Buccaneers, and you're going to

have them on your show on Monday. Well, I'm in New York hanging out with Commissioner Silver, yeah. Okay. You're out Monday? And Tuesday and Wednesday. Okay. And we'll figure something out. Well, Monday's going to be, you know, four hours of, you know,

know how like we do preview radio. That's true. Four straight hours of, we're going to recap the last Buccaneers-Texins matchup, which was amazing. I believe the Texans won that game. Did they not? Yes.

Late touchdown two. Ooh. Tanked out, wouldn't it? No, they couldn't have played with the... Two years ago? No, because you played all the four divisions, so it couldn't have been... Oh, no, that's not necessarily true

because you have the 17th game, yeah. Buccaneers' Texans history. Vanemarie would know this right away I feel like I'm letting the audience down I'm sorry Matt No you didn't apologize Not your fault Yeah 39 to 37

2023 November 5th How was Baker May I think Baker had a good game Did he not? Yeah Baker Baker was good CJ's shot was better

Yeah take 15 yard pass Tank now Into the game You know it's funny Is Baker Mayfield A guy that we just don't talk enough about That was the Dario Gumbawali kicker game. Oh.

Yeah. Now Monday was, Sunday was the Darya Gumbulli fumble game. That was basically when it was like, C.J. Stroud is the real freaking deal. Yeah. He had 470 yards and five touchdowns in that game. And decent offensive line protection. Maybe the last time he had it. Oh, man.

How does he throw 470 and 5 TDs as a rookie? Three steps and go. For two years. Yeah. That's how it's been. It's not good. Time now to spend 10 quality minutes with our good friend, Brian McTaggart, MLB.com. On the Astros beat, he'll be with the local nine in Atlanta for the weekend series against the hated Atlanta Braves. By the way, they've been, I think, fully eliminated from any playoff contention.

And if you put tag on the screen for me, I appreciate it. Brian, it's a strange situation here. You've either got teams in the midst of a. really die-hard, tough pendant race, or you got teams just playing out the string. So it's a completely mixed bag between now and the end of the year. Yeah, I mean, the, yeah, you're right. I mean, they're going to play nine games against teams that are completely out of it. I mean, we all know those games can be a little bit dangerous because those teams have

nothing to lose, but those are also teams that could be resting players or shutting guys down for the season. So they're definitely teams they should take advantage of, you know, especially at the end the year going to the A's and the Angels. I mean, those teams have been out of it for a while. But it's all going to come down to the next week's homestand. I mean, that's massive. I mean, you know, three teams battling it out for the division title.

The Astros are the only one of the three. They gets to play both of them, and they get to play both of them at home. The Mariners haven't been good on the road. You know, the Astros haven't played very well at home, frankly, in the second half of the season. So if they can win both those series, you know, I think it'll set them up very well in the final week to try to close this thing out. But, you know, if they go into this homestand next week and lay an egg, they're, you know, they could be in some trouble. Because if they're now chasing winds and chasing the Mariners or chasing the Rangers, gets a lot more difficult. Every loss this time of year feels like it's compounded with frustration.

I thought that the setback two days ago really, really hurt, A, because of Garcia, B, because they gave up the game late. And the fact that you really had some serious doubts about the role of Brian and Reagan in the ninth inning. And yesterday he came back and was really good. Not only did he get things done in the ninth inning, but he did it with a low amount of pitches. What do you notice? What do you think about Brian Abrayu's ability? Very early on when he replaced Hater, it was great.

But it feels like for a better part of a month, it's been difficult for him to kind of assume that role now that Josh has been gone. Yeah, and he's not alone in that. We've seen that through the years. When closers go on the IL or you lose a closer to free agency or whatever, sometimes there's an adjustment period. Sometimes a guy comes in and just can't do it. I remember Will Harris taking over his closer.

He'd been such a great setup, man, and just couldn't get it done. And they had to move him back to the setup, or I'm not going to say that's happening with the Brayu. But Abraeu's issue is just when he lets the lead-off guy get on base, he gets in trouble. And that happens a lot. I think he's let I think around 18% of the lead-off hitter get on base via a walk. I mean, he's got really good stuff. He just needs to stay in the zone a little bit more, and he did that yesterday. I mean, he came out, you could tell that, I mean, that he was going to come in there and throw strikes and not spray the ball like he did the night before.

And, you know, I think props to Joe Espada for putting him back out there. I mean, no one expected that he was going to be ready to pitch. But they needed him to go out there and, you know, he didn't probably have, you know, a lot left as far as pitch is going. And he went out there and threw strikes and dominated and got it done. And I think that will be worlds for their confidence as bad as the loss was in Toronto. in the first game. I think last night's game was one of their biggest wins and probably the biggest swing of the battle of the season

was by Yanar Diaz with that Homer in the ninth inning. How concerned are you about his velocity being down a tick or two? Not concerned. I mean, he was second day in a row. I mean, he's pitched a ton of innings again. You'd love to get him more rest if you're Astros. You just don't have that luxury. I mean, they're just so thin in the bullpen right now.

I mean, they're pretty much a bullpen. pinman short than other teams because McCullors isn't pitching at all. So I think we're just at that point of the season when guys are trying to give it everything they have and they're tired. And, you know, if they're Astros, you've got to hope you can maybe win the division by two or three games and just shut some of these guys down on the final weekend. But with the way this thing's going, I don't think that's going to be the case. This looks like it's going to go down right to the wire.

Brian McTaggart Astros.com with us here on Sports Talk 790. great outing last night from Jason Alexander. I guess if we're calling it a fluid situation, but as of this moment, he could be your third starter in a playoff scenario, just as we all predicted. Yeah. Didn't we all say that at the beginning of the year?

They would get him off waivers and he'd be their third starter. I don't know. I wrote that. I think maybe not. But yeah, you're right. I mean, if you look at their playoff rotation now, it's clearly going to be Hunter Brown and Framber Valdez. I mean, despite all the things that's gone on with Framber last couple of months. He's still your

second best option as a starting pitcher. He's a guy that dominated in the playoffs before like he did in 22. So he's going to be your number two. But yeah, Alexander, he's probably your number three. I mean, we're not sure what Christian Javier is yet. You know, he's going to get the ball today. He's certainly got a chance over the next 16 games or however many

starts. He has three, three, four starts to maybe solidify his spot. But with the way Alexander through yesterday, they had won his previous seven starts before that. Just the guy that competes and throws strikes and doesn't do it overpowering, you know, throws that chains up to lefties and righties and just isn't afraid of anything. He's your number three starter. I mean, I think at this point in the season, he's probably earned that.

And that probably speaks more to the injuries they've had to anything else, but also a tip of the hat to him for, you know, really coming here and making an impact. I was talking to Ross earlier in the day about Jose Altubay getting the day off. and you would think those days off would be few and far between, especially this late in the season. Combination of things, day game, night game. You have turf field. Every one of these games are impactful.

Oh, by the way, he's in a slump. The base running situation wasn't great the other day going from second to third and extra innings. I'm guessing Jose went to him and said, I'm ready to go. I want to play. And I think probably Joe said, I'm going to go ahead and just give you the chance to sit back and relax on this one. I felt like yesterday was as much a mental day for Jose as compared to just getting him off his feet.

Yeah, no doubt. I mean, I think there were a lot of reasons. I mean, you just ran them all down while you want to sit him. And, you know, he did get the pinch hit at bat. But you're right. He needed a break. And Joe said that, you know, he talked to Altovae after the game on Tuesday. I'm sure it was that point that.

I mean, Joe probably made up his mind. He was going to give him the day. And they probably talked about it after the game. So give him a chance. to, you know, go to bed with a clear head and come to the park yesterday and not have to, you know, worry about getting ready or, you know, studying the starter or all that. And, you know, this, you know, he's a guy that's, I think, played him more games than anybody else. So it's been a real grind for him and he has not played well for over a month now. And, you know, Jose Al-Tube is a very prideful guy.

And I know this is probably wearing on him big time. And, but he's also a guy that can turn it around in a dime where we could see him go like, you know, seven for 16 in a series. And, you know, an absolute carry-a-team. So that could happen this weekend in Atlanta, who knows, but certainly they need him to get going here over these final 16 games because he's going to hit high in the lineup. He's going to be in the middle of some of their, you know, with Alvarez. And if they can get him going,

they make him feel a lot better. You mentioned Lance McCuller, Jr. a couple of minutes ago. Is he just mop-up, low leverage, you need an arm to throw an inning? because it feels like, and you kind of alluded to it, that just isn't a defined role for him right now. Yeah, I think so. I mean, we saw him come in. I don't know how long ago it was the X-Rating game a few days ago.

And, you know, he hasn't, I don't know if he's even warmed up since. I think it may have it's pretty clear. He's probably not going to make the playoff roster. And then, you know, they might have to have some difficult conversations about him in the offseason. But it was just clear. He just doesn't have the stuff. I mean, he's just, you know, he's throwing 92, you know, hitting 93. You know, he's getting some swing and miss.

He can pitch a little bit, but the fastball just isn't there. And he's not throwing enough strikes. And it's probably extremely frustrating for him. And this is probably a low point of his career. But yeah, it certainly looks like, I don't mean, mop-up is one way to put it. I mean, I hate to say that about a guy. But the Astros don't blow any teams out. And they generally don't get blown out.

So there's no opportunities to throw a guy out there in a six-run game. They just don't have those. they got to keep going to the same guys over and over. And, you know, it's clear to a spot out with the way he's used his bullpen. He's not one of those guys. Yeah, as you mentioned, we talked about a brayu, but the rest of the bullpen as well, they end up in these high leverage situations and it's going to continue to happen. I mean, I would say there's a lot of concerns on this team, but especially in the pecking

order out of a brayu, I just, it's hard for me to have real confidence in this bullpen down the stretch here. Totally agree. I think losing Hater was just a massive blow to this team. I mean, you could put Bennett, Susa, and Orr in there as well. But losing Hater, you know, a guy who's having a tremendous season, now you're moving guys into roles or not used to. It just takes a key arm out of your bullpen. And I agree.

I mean, I think that's the real issue they're going to have is just closing out games. And, you know, if their starter goes six innings, how do you piece together those final four innings? And then how do you do it again two days later in pressure situations in the postseason against they're going to be playing very, very good teams, Toronto, Detroit, you know, Seattle or whomever. So that's going to be a real challenge going forward. You know, I guess there's still a chance Hager could come back. I don't think he's even throwing yet. So it seems unlikely.

But, yeah, I think that's just the one issue. They're really going to have to overcome. And that's why, you know, I really don't see them making a long playoff run. It's just with the injuries they've had to the bullpen. So let's wrap up our conversation with a little bit of a glass half-full situation. They have had all these things from runners-and-scoring position to slumps to injuries to bullpen to whatnot. And they're still sitting here with a game leading America League West. If they are to survive this, if you were to write the storyline of, wow, these last 15 games were so good because of,

how would you fill that out, do you think? Or how does it have to happen? I think they're going to have to, I think it's going to come down to hitting. I mean, they're just going to have to get a few guys hot. They're going to have to outslug a few teams. They can't come home and go, you know, two for 30 with runners and scoring position in a series. They're going to get beat. They're just going to have to, I just think they're going to have to outscore outslug teams.

I mean, their pitching is what it is. You feel good when Hunter Brown takes the ball. Not sure about Valdez. I mean, Alexandria, you feel pretty good. Beyond that, who knows? So they're just going to have to find a way to score runs and not getting these prolonged slumps. not only not getting slumps, but come through in the clutch. I mean, the runners in scoring position cannot be an issue.

So to me, that's what it's going to come down to is just can they hit? Can they hit over these final six games enough to get them to that division title? McTaggart, great stuff. As always, friends, safe travels to the ATL, and we'll talk you with you again next week. All right, thanks, guys. That's Brian McTaggart, MLB.com with us here at 1114 on Sports Talk 790. I just don't get it. Rossi, an extremely lighthearted edition

if I just don't get it coming up at about 15 minutes here on Sports Talk, 70. If there's something in life you just don't get. There's a lot I don't get. I know, but we're trying to keep it light. 713-212-5-790. 7-1-3-212-5-7-90. Matt and Ross with you at 1119 on Sports Talk 7-0.

So McTaggart says Rossi, they've just got a hit. Will that be enough? Bullpen makes me nervous. Isn't it crazy? If we went back and listened to our air checks of our show, three months ago, we would be talking about how nails this bullpen is. We were talking about there was a plethora of left-handed relievers. Josh Hader is having his best season by far as an Astro in the two seasons.

He was so good he made the All-Star team. You had Brian O'Reilly, the earn-run average of under one as an eighth inning guy. You had Caleb Ored, and you had, who else has been the mix? not Colton Gordon Stephen Okert Who was the guy that was so good Got hurt and then suck Got let him go a few weeks back

All these names are just running Running a mix to me Oh you're talking about Sean Dubin Sean Dubin? Remember how good Sean Dubin was It was good for a couple months? Yeah They got DFAed poor guy And like four bad outings

They're like all right that's enough And then you had Taylor Scott who sucked Yes Released him He got released from another team Got out of yeah And then he came back and he sucked again So he was here for a short term

How did it happen? Well, Josh Hayter and Benet Souza got hurt and Brian Abray who's been shaky the last few times out. So we were saying. A Caleb Moore got hurt too. Yeah. We were going, Benet's, we're saying Benet Sousa is hurting and it's truth. It is the truth. But that did not ring up as a, wow, if the Astros bullpen goes south in September,

it's because of the loss of Benet Sousa. Well, Josh Hater, obviously, is number one. Yep. And yeah, leverage. Most teams don't have more than two or three good leverage guys. The Astros had three and two or three. and two of them are hurting one of them's underperforming, but at least he bounced back and got you saved last night.

So, yeah, I'm feeling shaky. And they got, look, last night leverage situations, you're going to Stephen Okert, who's, I mean, look, I mean, he's okay. And then Ennio Delos Santos, who was released by the Braves, or the Braves suck. And they're like, no, we don't need Enio Delos Santos. And then you're also going to Craig Kimbril, I believe also for the Braves. He got released earlier this year.

He actually pitched one time. He pitched one time for the Braves. was on ice for two and a half months. Literally, as we discussed during around the deadline, like 18 to 19 teams are in playoff races. And by the way, and they all said we're good. I know he's one of the all-time saves later.

He's not the second most important arm in the bullpen right now. It's Brian King. Okay. Because the limited I've seen at Kimbril hadn't been great. It hasn't given up an earn run yet. I know, but he hasn't been walking everybody. But the walk totals high. That's right.

ERA is unreliable. And inherited runners, to me, is a big one? Does that go against some of the runners at second base? Is that considered an inherited run? No, that's an un-earned run. I don't think it's an earned run. I don't think it's inheriting. Okay.

Point being is this. There are some guys you can put a runner at second base. Like, you put Josh a runner at second base. It's a magically appearing runner, I believe, what they're called. Like, who... Out of thin air. New runner who is out there at second base. That's exactly what the category I believe is.

Is it? New runner who is? Mm-hmm. Okay. N-R-W-D. Thank you. Yeah, I have very little faith in him. As did everybody else in baseball. You are, you are, you are, you are piecemeal in this. You are, you are using one band-aid after the other.

It's, I was saying, we have been saying they're holding it together with duct tape. Right now they're holding it together with bubble gum. Mm-hmm. Now, there have been, there have been some fresh pieces. But it's still bubble gum. A fresh piece of bubble gum. Yeah. Okay.

What were you thinking I was saying? Oh, okay. Who doesn't like fresh peace? Okay, so Brayu's unavailable tonight for sure. If he's out there, I'm going to have to probably fly to Atlanta and meet the training staff and say, what the hell are you doing? Do you want one more player on the injured list? I don't think he's going to get used. Okay, then that begs the question.

Who's your closure now if you need a closing situation? Kimbriller King, probably, right? Kimbril or King? Campbell's done it. King's been better. You didn't use King yesterday. Now again, King being a lefty, what if you're facing a bunch of right-handed hitters? No, King's reverse splits.

He's better at getting right-he's out than left-tis. Isn't that strange? The natural assumption, and I just did it here, was that you want your lefty to go against lefties because it's typically left-handed hitters have a hard time seeing lefties, but it's the reverse. Some guys are weird. I think, well, at least for a couple days, Yordon's career OPS is better against lefties. Yeah. It's just really high against, no matter who he goes against.

You know what I'm thinking it is? No, I'm not a professional hitter. But I wonder if it's because you just naturally, when you're a left-handed hitter, you have to be more patient against the lefties. That maybe you're not as free of a swinger if you're facing a right-handed bat. Generally, a lefty, their breaking stuff is going to go glove side as in to their right, and that's going to fall away from a lefty. Yeah.

So it's a little more predictable. Yeah. I get it. All right. 713-212-5-79. if you want to chime in on the conversation, 713212-1-2-5-7-9-0. If you want to follow us on Twitter,

you may do that as well. And Instagram, of course, at Sports RV is the better of the two accounts. Wow. But mine's worthy of a follow-to. What's gotten into you? At Sports RV on Instagram, I would appreciate your follow.

At SportsMT, if you have time. I'm going to record this. You don't need to record it. You get struck by lightning last night or something? I'm trying to be a newer better person. You know what? I embrace that, Matt. By the way, the latest odds are out for who is going to win the American League and the World Series.

Okay. Can I say tigers? The new favorite to win the American League, the New York Yankees. Oh, please. You know the reason why. They're just crushing the baseball. If you were to go bet the Yankees, if you were to go bet the Yankees to win the World Series, you'd get eight and a half one odds to

win the World Series or the Pant, A.L. Pennett, excuse me. I'll make sure clarify that. Well, actually, that's not true. Let me look at here. This is, no, because he's got every team listed here, both National America League. Blue Jays are three games ahead of the Yankees. Yeah, no, this is the win the world series.

Eight and a half to one. They're the favorites overall. No, no, no. The Yankees, the Dodgers are favorites overall at four to one. The brokers are six to one. The Phillies are six. and a half to one, then the Yankees are 8.5 to 1. The

Tigers are 9 to 1, the Blue Jays 9 to 1, the Padres 10 to 1. The Astros. I was going to say, you haven't said the Astros. You keep running teams down. How much longer do you think I was going to go? The Astros are 12 to 1, which would put them 1, 2, 3, the 4th highest

favored team to win the American League. Astros have better odds in the Mets. They have better odds in the Mariners. They've got better odds in the Red Sox, the Cubs. And then the biggest discrepancy, so the Cubs are 16 to 1 along with the Red Sox. The next favorite team after the Cubs are the Rangers at 40 to 1. That's a pretty steep drop off there.

I'd be feeling a little froggy on that 12 to 1 for the Astros if Hater and Sousa were healthy. But since they're not, it's a massive stay away to me. There's too many things. I have rotation questions, line-up questions, and bullpen questions. Other than that, great squad. And I brought this up with McTag and a little bit ago. you got not literally a dead arm, but figuratively a dead arm in Lance McHelders. He didn't throw.

He doesn't play. You get one extra pitcher in the month of September, and he doesn't play. I mean, that contract, unfortunately is a big out. There's going to be a very, very difficult offseason for the Astros organization. I feel like LMC is easy. We'll give you 15 million. Take them. Give us some A ball prospect.

It's going to be somebody. They're going to tell a guy that helped him win a World Series. Granted, it was also 2017. It's been a while. Yeah. You're washed. Well, they told Alex Breggman, he wasn't worth it. He walked.

George Springer, Carlos Corre, I mean, we can go down the list. Garry Cole. But there's a difference in those guys were leaving at least with a future ahead of them. Well, Lance can go and get like, I don't know if he's going to get like, probably trade. I'm going to imagine a trade with a lot of money being sent away. Yep. a la Rafael Montero and if you get anything back in return

doesn't really, now the Astros have done a nice job of getting guys back somehow some way, but if you're really going to pay for somebody decent, you've got to pay that contract. And I told you this before,

if I'm Lance, I embrace it. I know he's, he'll bury me in the age and all that. But there's just bad juju juju with him. He'll bury me in Sacramento. So, good luck.

Yeah. Let's go A's. He's like, what? All right. We need some extremely lighthearted. I just don't get it. Okay.

713-212-5-7-90. 7-13-212-5-7-90. If there's something in your life you just don't get, we're here to help you. I am the OG of the group. By only by a considerable amount, unfortunately. Ross is the single guy around town. Jonathan is just confused in general.

What does that mean? I don't know. well don't what do you imply no i was kidding well you were in three different generations i'm an elder millennial you're gen x i don't know what i am and this guy's a zoomer

yeah who uh we say gen zee by by jones zy you don't by by jrish zimmers i forgot to ask you i actually really liked it okay i want to call you boomer and zoomer whenever i'm out on the internet only show yeah boomer and zoomer i think that's gen x

i just need a boomer i need some gerrital 1129. 713, 212, 570. If there's something in life you just don't get, let us know. 713, 212 5790. All right, sometimes on things I just don't get, I actually get, but I just want to get verification on these things, Sports Harvey.

And by the way, if there's something in your life you just don't get, and it's extraordinarily lighthearted, we're here for you at 713-212-5-790. 7-1-3-2-1-2-5-70. So yesterday, my wife, we don't eat a lot of junk at the house. I actually eat most of my junk when I'm at restaurants. We don't keep a lot of junk in the house. But my wife was like, I want to go try this Rurals pecan pie ice cream. All right.

Okay. So she goes and gets it. And we each have a small scoop of it. It's absolutely delicious. I mean, it tastes like butter pecan, but it's got little pieces of the pie in it. So it just eat, it adds to it. So I go on Twitter and I put, hey, this Rurals become pie ice cream is good. Where I got some replies and a couple of DMs that said, that's not the best one.

You should try this. I wasn't looking for your comparisons. You did not solicit. I did not solicit. Is it as good as what you guys are eating? No, it was just like, it was a declarative, generic statement. And I was getting the, well, you know, cougas and creams the best or homemade vanilla is the best. I didn't ask a poll question.

I like a cookie two-step. You know what I mean? I was like, I just want to tell you all, if you like macawampi, which I do is one of my favorite pies. Yeah. The ice cream is excellent. You should go get some. It was just a blanket generic statement and it became a, no, no, no, this one's better. I was like, I just don't get it.

That is. What is that called in your psychology world sports RV? That is interesting. No, I don't know. but I know exactly what you're saying because you could if you say Matt or for example when you put

you put some brisket we put a video of you eating brisket and you're eating brisket at a certain place and you say hey this brisket is good you get 8,000 suggestions of where people say Oh this place is better That place sucks so you can go here

Why are you even eating Why are you even wasting your stomach space on that Let's go here It is very weird People like to, I don't even know if you want to call it a correct, to correct others. Now, if I said that Rue Rels Becom Pie ice cream is the best, and then I put period, then I said, fight me. Then, then it's their response. You're like, fight me on it or this is the best and whatever.

There's no argument to. Like, for instance, if I would, if I say the two funniest movies I've ever seen in my entire life are airplane and a hangover, then you start getting suggestions for funny or month. That's true. I don't know. I guess I don't get it either. I don't get it. Why we just can't hit either the like or just move on.

You're right. For example, Jonathan and I are going to a local burger joint. Yeah. After, and if I put it on Twitter that we're going there, we'd get a hundred suggestions of other burger joints we should go. Can you please, can we try this as an example? Do you want to tweet it out? Or when we go there, we'll take a picture? No, when you go there and say, hey.

Do you want to make a post? I'll post it on my Instagram story at SportsRV. Jonathan and I are going to this place. Okay. And the burger is amazing. And just leave it at that. Okay. You will get of your replies.

You should try this now. Okay. Because that, my burger place is better than yours. I won't say where we're going, but I'll post it on my Instagram at SportsRV when we go later today. You're going Dutch, or you buying? I'm buying. That's nice. Oh, I appreciate that.

Nice, Jonathan. Wow. No, actually, I'm sitting here thinking about this. No, I just don't get it. Go ahead. And I have never noticed that about people until today. Like, you're making me realize, like, everybody does that, and no matter where you're at. They're not trying to be rude.

They're just trying to say that it's almost like a dismissive. We don't believe what you're saying. People like to... Is it like discussion, I guess? I don't get it. I don't know. This is a good idea. I just don't get it.

Yeah, I don't know. People like to make things about themselves. Because I could say the Rue-RELs, Pacan pie ice cream is good. is there a better one out there? That would mean, hey, let me know. I just simply declared how good it was. And it was just like it was, no, you got to try this one. You got to try this.

Oh, my God. I should never should have said anything. It was rural and spending money with us. But I was just saying, you want a little treat. Compite was damn good. Yeah. So that's my, I just don't get it for this week. Thank you, Matt.

Thank you. If you have something in life, you don't get. 713-212-5-790. 7-13-212-5-7-9. What you got? I think you're going to say you get it. Okay. But I need, I guess, further explanation.

Why? Now, I know why recently Astros fans are very, like, pessimistic about every single thing. And one of the reasons that I post my How We Feeling tweets, I'm going to tell you the actual reason I started doing that. It's to demonstrate that the majority of the time, it turns out okay. when certain reliever comes in or this situation and everybody gets all worried. But everybody's always so defeatist and so angry. And like, for example,

Chandler Rome will put out the lineup of the day. And generally, 75 to 80% of the comments are about how horrible the lineup is and how the Astros aren't going to score any runs and how Joe Espada is an idiot. Why for a team that is vying for their ninth straight in a full season, not counting 2020, ninth straight division championship,

is everyone so negative and defeatist? I really don't get it. I actually get it. Okay, see, I thought you said what I said. Explain it to me. First of all, again, it's easier to complain about something going wrong as compared to hoping something goes right. Yeah, but to the point where it's 80 to 90%?

Yeah. And secondly, the Astros have played 420 baseball for two months. If the Astros are playing... No, but this is last year. this is not even just now. This is like when they're winning 100 games, people calling AJ Hinch an idiot. Oh, there are people bumping around town

that will not forgive AJ Hinch for using Will Harris and the World Series game. I think I'm sitting one next to person right next to me, right? Are you okay with it? What? You're okay? I've defended that. To this day, he was on two days rest, folks.

They said they were going to use him in a closer's role. Closer's situation did not come up. Maybe that was four producers ago. I'm sorry. People mixed up. Well, I was co-hosting at that time, 2019. Okay.

That's when I got it. That's when they broke me in his bad boy. All right. In studio. 2019. Yeah, six years I've made it in this business. That's a lifetime in other business. I know.

Doing well. All right. No, I think it's a byproduct of at least for 20, 25 of a team that has performed very poorly in the last three months. And the natural inclination of I am a better manager or a coach than the current manager or coach of said team. I've been doing that how you feel and tweet for a good six, seven, eight years, whatever it is. I know. I almost typed it myself. I'm like, wait a minute.

I'm about the Bitsdale Ross. I can't do that. And like I said, the reason I do is people are so, I just don't get the 80, 80%ish of people being so negative and defeat us. It's weird. But anyways. All right. Jonathan, what don't you get? You know, growing up watching NFL, it was actually, it was so much fun when you get, like, someone get a big pop or a big hit and it will be in their face, you know, talking mess.

And then I forgot what I think it was the bills game And someone got a 15-yard penalty for taunting or something like that after a big like second and I just I thought even like in a business standpoint wouldn't that bring more attention to your league? Especially because you already crack down the targeting rules and all that stuff and you're protecting the players Why can't the why can we celebrate? Why can we tie out of their first down or like a tackle? So you want more taunting and more shton. Let's go more passion more energy. Yes.

You know like these guys are getting paid millions of dollars to go. I want to go see them like, you know, celebrate, you know, like. Yeah, yeah, yeah. You're not, when you, when you have a hard tackle or a great past deflected, you're supposed to just go, okay, I'm going back to my huddle. You know what? I don't get it either. I think the NFL is way too quick to throw the flag.

I have, it's funny, Jonathan, you've stumbled against something. I've been on many soapboxes on this show for many years. Taunting has been one of them. These are grown adults making $50 million a year. And the counter argument generally is, well, you know, I don't know if you want to see them starting fights, and then they're going to get, well, let them fight in,

and then throw them out. If you can't control your emotions, like I think the famous example of, was it Antoine Winfield, throwing up the piece to Tyree Kill, who threw it up to him when he went and got a touchdown, that's fun.

That's hilarious. That's good stuff. And he got calling that, right? Yeah, if you're cracking somebody in half on an NFL football field, and you want to, you know, and it's legal, you want to flex up on them.

Yeah. That's fun. And you know, the dude getting hit is tuck mess back. So like why? I don't know. I just feel like. The answer is the NFL, especially the owners the last couple of years, you're like, oh, we need to crack on. They're not conducting themselves in a sportsman like men.

They don't want fights. They don't want fights. They get out of control and get people get hurt. That's exactly the reason why. Yeah. Okay. Well, I mean, how many taunting penalties have we seen and how many fights have we have we seen resulted from the taunting? Generally, it's from like the hard hits. It's like when Aziz Alshahir is like decapitating

Trevor Lawrence. That's one more guys, by the way. That's when the fight. start and then he starts throwing punches. Generally, for example, a wide receiver standing over the DB and going first down. That 99% of the, more than 99% of the time does not start a fight. Can I get some new material on that, by the way? Everybody.

Dalton Schultz did it like three times. Who's that white receiver for the Texans that did a couple of catches? The Texans have been doing it with the whirl. Yeah. Worlding on. Give me some new. I like that. Let me some new material.

What do you want? First down, that's how you signal first down. You know what? I want a bow. A bow? Yeah, okay. Oh, that's kind of cool. Or Aaron Foster did the Namaste bail.

How about a curtsy? A curtsy? Yeah. Explain. You know how you do the women do the curtsy of the dance? Before they go on the danceful, they do a go of a curtsy. Okay. This is a brainstorm.

No bad ideas in a brainstorm. How about the, what's, when you do this, what's this one called? Are you doing the mashed potato or the cabbage patch? The cabbage patch? Well, it's not 1992. Or the Elaine Benis? When you dance like that and you move your legs around like that? Okay, it's not 1997.

All right. How about the jig? Excuse me? Like this? Like this? I can invent a bunch of new things. No one's doing the jig after I get a first down. I'm just saying, I mean.

Can we change it up a little bit? Touchdown? I mean, well, because also that no fun league, people started to do all these these, these, these end zone celebrations and then they try to throw flags for that too. Oh, I got that one for you. When you intercept a ball, don't go around to the other end of the field. Enough of that. And go for the picture? Yeah, that's gotten. You're going in front of the cameras. I'll agree with that. It's kind of jumped the shark.

I liked it at first, but now it's kind of jumped the shark. I'm with you. All right. Love it 45. You got something you just don't get. Let us know. 713-212-5-7-90. 7-1-3-212-5-7-0. All right, last opportunity for you to come in and tell us what you do not get. help you at 713-212-5-7-hunting things you just don't get ross what are you running here for you got to go the bath and got to go the bathroom i ain't judging you i was getting some water mad it's important to hydrate yeah it's got me a 32 ounce it's that 32 or 44 on the old tc ice there that's 44 isn't it that's too much caffeine for me in that route 44 am i yeah that's too

much. I'll be peeing for days. All right. All right. Let's go. James on 7. Honey. James,

what do you not get? Yeah, Matt. I don't want to sound ungrateful or anything, but I won a contest on, believe it or not, yesterday. And I'm trying to get my tickets. And I had to call your business line,

and they said, well, they sent an email. I said, well, how do y'all know my email? All you know me is from change and time. And they go, well, then I have to get a little marries. with more. I just, we shall have an easier way for me to get my prize. I would agree.

Why don't you, Jonathan, can't we get him hooked up a little easier? That seems like a lot of a lot of people. If you win. If you want, if you won, then, uh, but we had to take those tickets from yesterday. It was two contestants. So we have to give him Fridays that there's there. If you want to give up Friday.

Give up Fridays. Yeah. Give a Friday. Yeah. This should have been on air, but that's fine. We will we will. Hug the brother up. He's got to go to the game. Okay. Yeah, we don't want to make it difficult for you to win spectacular Houston Cougar versus Colorado tickets. The game of, it's really going to be the game of the year in college football. I know A&M's playing Notre Dame, but really the buzz in America is on Colorado versus Houston.

I don't like, when is it played? Tomorrow night? On the Ocho? No, it's on the ESPN, the mother's ship. Oh, wow. Must be because of Coach Prime. No, it's the Houston Cougars and Willie Fritz. against the team from Boulder.

I believe it's probably because it's Colorado and Coach Prime. That's cool, though. I listened to his press conference yesterday. You can be the barnacle on the ride of the ship with the Colorado Buffaloes. What does Sponge have anything to do with this? Texas Longhorns with a huge game on SEC Network. By the, I'll hit another one. Here's one I don't get it, but I don't.

So, what? Nebraska's playing a game this week, and Nebraska will, fill up cupcakes here. Uh-huh. They're playing HBO HCU on Saturday. So what? HCU shouldn't even have a football team.

I didn't know that they had a football team. Well, they better get to praying. I mean, they're going to get to check, but they're going to get annihilated. Yeah. I mean, I'm not talking like 37 to nothing. Oh, by the way, Texas UTEP announces a sellout, Matt. So that'll be 100,000 plus.

A lot of, Must be a lot of minor fans in the Austin metropolitan area. I don't think so because they're 40-point dogs. I think it's 40 or 41. By the way, if you want to do bet the HCU Nebraska game, you may not be able to do that. It's not even on the board? Not even on the board. Generally closer to the end of the weekend, they slap something up there.

Look at... Okay, look at this. Indiana's playing Indiana State this week. They're a 48-and-a-half-point favorite. Well, it's an interstate rival. Oh, Northwestern is home. Ooh, Northwestern is home this week. Yeah.

For Oregon. Yeah. Northwestern, the game's in Chicago. Oregon is a 28.5 point favorite on the road. I mean, my God. No, the best part of that is the total is only 48.5. So they think it's going to be 38 to 10? If they're lucky.

USC is going to Purdue. And USC is a 20.5 point favorite at Purdue. Yeah, but see, at least scheduling Purdue is decent. It's not scheduling. They're big ten opponents now. Oh, that's right. God, I forgot about that. Yeah, there's nothing new about that.

That's crazy, Rossi. I forgot that's a conference game. That's ridiculous. USC Purdue should not be a conference game. And of course, Ohio State trying to play the equally difficult non-conference schedule, the Texas is home for Ohio. That's the Ohio border war. Ohio is a

Ohio says it's a 30 and a half point favorite. Yeah, you play one big one and three cupcakes. Iowa's playing UMass, 35 and a half. Oh, Jesus. You know what? I can't watch these games. There's some good games, though. What's the best top 25?

It's got to be A&M and Notre Dame, as you mentioned. What is Oklahoma doing going to play in Temple? Wisconsin, Alabama, in theory would be good, but Wisconsin's not very good this year. Three touchdown favorite. and then some. Georgia, Tennessee. Okay. South Florida, Miami. That is the biggest game ever on the CW, by the way.

They're claiming it. Florida, LSU is supposed to be good, but Florida got trounced last week. Ooh, this makes me happy. Texas Tech is playing Oregon State. The Cougars play Oregon State in two weeks. Texas Tech is a 23 and a half point favorite against the beavers. Oh, this is all good news. That's tech looking. Two and O. Two and O, baby. Wow. Two huge. wins for the Texas Tech. Do you want to know who they played?

Oh, there's somebody just off, God awful, right? Arkansas Pine Bluff. That's, yep. Who are the? Red Buffaloes? You're actually, that's not the craziest thing. Golden Lions. Golden Lions, Red Buffalo? Same difference. I get you. I get you. I'll give you like a quarter credit on that. Give me half credit. Quarter credit. Quarter credit. All right. And then they beat Kent State,

which of course are the. You know Kent State. The team had lost 22 in a row. mascot. The golden flashes? Yeah. I know that because of Antonio Gates. Nicely done. All right. The news at noon is next. People, including myself, Rossi, lost faith in the Astros two days ago. After blowing that three to one lead losing an extra innings. Brian O'Barre you struggled. Astros could not get runners in scoring position. Joseo Tube got thrown out on a play from first to third. I'm running from second to third. I lost faith. Was I going to get it back after last night? night. You'll find out next.

1158 on Sports Talk 790. And yes, Rossi, we have faith in the local nine. They won yesterday. Unfortunately, so do the Rangers and so to the Seattle Mariners, although the Cardinals hopefully test them a little bit. Astros find themselves one game in front of the Seattle Mariners. Houston at 79 and 67, the Seattle Mariners, who look, As long as they're home, they don't lose. It's just a reality of it.

On the road, they're something different. But right now, the Mariners find themselves at 78 and 68. The Rangers are two and a half out at 77 and 70. The Mariners are 17 games above 500 at home, and they are seven under on the road. They have won five in a row, and they're starting a four games set with the Los Angeles Angels. Well, you had a four-game Homeset against the Angels and you split it, so no sense of crying.

Astros should have got it done. It's like a terrible analogy before we go to the news at noon. Yeah, let's go. Ross, you said, hey, you go out, Matt, you go out with that girl. Uh-huh. How was your date? It was okay. Mm-hmm. Now it's my turn to go out with her.

Uh-huh. And she likes me a lot more than she likes you. That is a terrible analogy and quite a fantasy. So basically, I have a chance to date the girl. the angels and I didn't get very far and you're dating the angels and you're sleeping with her. This is getting weird. Time now for the dude. They haven't slept with them

yet. Well, you think they're going to? 12.6 on Sports Talk 7. Again, we need to donate your brain to science. It's time now for the news that dude. Well, that yes, as you'll betcha the Astros get the victory last night. Most importantly,

despite the Astros going one for eight with runners in scoring position and we do reach for comment the Jake Myers fan club did not have one on him going 0 for 4 with runners and scoring position. O for four in the game, all four opportunities with running a score position with three strikeouts and a ground out. But anyways, one for eight overall for the offense.

However, Jason Alexander was huge. Seven innings of shutout ball, just three hits, one walk, also had three strikeouts. It's a very potent Blue Jays lineup. He did very well. año delos Santos and Stephen Ocurt combining to give up a couple of runs there in the 8th but Brian Abraeu 30 pitches the day before we were all worried

there was another tick down with the We were petrified with the tick down with the velocity But he was able to get it done To notch his fifth save Of the season Joe Spada showed confidence in his guy And he rewarded him with a one two three outing in the night And threw what, only 11 pitches yesterday

Arriving pitches, eight of them for strikes. Now, also, some of them, man, 95 miles down. If McTagrin ain't worried about it, I ain't scared either. McTagrin said he's not worried. That's fine. We're not worried. If you miss the Brian McTaggart conversation,

part of the On Deck Show come up in an hour. Yes, it will. Astros back in action. 207 first pitch. 1 o'clock, we get the Astros on deck coming your way. Christian Javier versus Kevin Gousman. Astros at a plus 135. Blue Jays up to a minus 160.

So if you want the Blue Jays to win, you're going to bet them. You have to bet $160 to win $100. Since betting is illegal in the state of Texas, this won't not be an issue. Yeah. And then the Astros will head to Atlanta for a weekend three game set. How are we feeling? Mid. Mid sounds about right.

Mid sounds about fair as well. All right. Moving along of the news at noon, Matt. More keeps coming out about this whole course. Hawaii Leonard Steve Balmer Clippers situation. And I'm sticking to my gut feeling saying that something bad happened here, but also the clippers have enough paperwork to cover it up.

Let me ask you this. If this thing gets super bad, like they find out the juice on this is legit. Will the general sports population even particularly care? I don't know if the general population will care. But it's a huge deal, I think. But please give you a update if you have one. I think it'd be, we're talking multiple draft picks and a massive fine is what should happen.

anyways Pablo Tori of course came out with the story a couple of a week ago or so at this point whenever it was that Kauai Leonard was paid $28 million on a side endorsement deal then Steve Balmer came out and fired back

and said this was not true now Pablo Tori is reporting another story related to this that the Clippers sent $2 million to a bankrupt company that allegedly gave Kauai Leonard an endorsement deal for a no-show job

less than 10 days before the Star Forward was paid $1.75 million by the company. As in Clippers paid the company, the money that Kauai Leonard said he was short, then that money somehow found its way to Kauai Leonard. Okay, the phrase you use is, where there's smoke, there's fire. I feel like there's an inferno being blown up here. Right?

Yes. Yes. And Steve Bowman, by the way, went to ESPN. Los Angeles went to their studios. Ramona Shelburne. Now, she's, she carries the water for the LA sports team. There's no way of answer buts about that. Yes, she does.

Asked quote unquote probing questions. And my guess is the Clippers thought that after that conversation with ESPN that Steve Ballmer, the owner of the Clippers comes across as well. He, you know, he just told ESPN he didn't do it, so he must not have done it. This, there's, it's some, it's way too fishy, Ross. It just is. Yeah. So his payday was running.

was Kauai Leonard. Then it was not Steve Balmer directly, but a Klipper's co-owner sent $1.99 million to aspiration the company, and then all of a sudden Kauai Leonard's $1.75 million payment came through. So what are they saying

was that $1.99 million was for? If it wasn't to pay off Kauai. An investment in the company aspiration. Oh, okay. That makes perfect sense. This um this feels like

like the hammer could come down, the more that comes down on this. Let me ask you this. And this is, again, not trying to be pointed this way. Steve Ballmer is probably one of the three or foremost influential NBA owners. I think, did we look it up? Eighth most rich person in America? Something like that? Yeah. Is he going

to tell Adam Silver, look, I bailed you out of this darling, sterling mess. You'll leave me alone on this. And how do the other 20 owners in NBA feel about this? No, I think, well, there have been reports that, you know, from a non- Nobody said anything publicly. Right. Apparently there are teams who are, yeah, they're pissed about this.

They should be. You circumvented the system. There were guys that wanted Kauai Leonard. Now, granted, it's been a terrible contract for the Clippers, but when the Clippers signed him originally won a terrible contract. Adam Silver saying it would be up to the NBA to prove wrongdoing by the Clippers, quote, I think as with any process that requires a fundamental sense of fairness, the burden should be on the party that is, in essence, bringing those charges.

Saying the NBA is, I guess they're going to have to launch their own investigation about this. Yeah. Adam Silver is right on that. You can't wait to get this thing resolved. All right. Well, we also have the Adam Silver comments when asked about the league getting spread too thin with all of these streaming services

to where an NBA consumer has to spend a lot of money to consume NBA media. Adam Silver, not worried about it. There's a huge amount of our content that people can essentially consume for free. I mean, this is very much a highlights-based sport. You know, so, you know, Instagram, TikTok, you know, Twitter, you name it, any service, you know, the New York Times, for that matter, to the extent that your content is not behind a paid firewall.

There's an enormous amount of content out there, YouTube, by another example, that people, that is advertising-based that consumers can consume. So there, it's a highlight league. We're not worried about them watching the games. Is that what Peacock wants to hear? Prime Video want to hear Adam Silver say I can catch highlights. We don't want them to sign up for Prime Video to watch the games.

Again, inside voice would have been the perfect play here. And that, my friends, is the news, a dude. One more quick thing, back. Commanders and Packers, Packers Minus 3 and a half on Prime Video tonight. Your thoughts? I like Green Bay looked spectacular

against the Lions past Sunday. Jordan Love and Jane Daniels should be a crocker of a match tonight on Prime Video. And I will find. a way to watch the game. That's just in them home. Yeah, you don't you've got prime? I know you got 17 prime packages.

Let me tell you something. You could put games on the Hallmark channel. I'd figure out a way to watch the game. I just got charged for my prime. And that yearly charge hits, you're like, dang, I forgot. How much is it? I literally don't know. For the whole service?

For the year, yeah. For delivery and all that stuff? So it's really not free shipping. No, what they call it? They say, you saved $18 on shipping. No, I didn't. No, I paid it in advance. Exactly. Okay. All right, it makes sense.

1214. It is the Matt Thomas show with Ross. He's going up, too. I thought economics said they trickled down economics. These guys were going to get richer and it was going to trickle down all of us. But the price keeps going up. It makes sense of me. You know, why? Because there's Gibronis like myself that doesn't know how much it cost. Yeah, you are ruining our economy. It's my fault. And I apologize. I wasn't going to blame anyone else.

No, I was going to say, you can't blame Jonathan. All right. 713-212-5-7.9.7.7.7.1.3-2. to 5, 7.90. There's a lot of my life that I wish I wasn't Ross, but there's just small parts of it that I wish I was. And I just heard one of those things moments ago. And I can't repeat them on the year, and that's fine. We all want to be, we all jealous of each other in various different ways.

And Matt, what do you mean? You got a palatial estate. Yep. You are a Maid Creek Hall of Famer. I am. Not going to be in the Astros Wall of Fame just yet. A wonderful family with three beautiful children. They're doing great.

Yeah, you're doing great Matt. But would you just tell me, Trump's all that. Move on. All right. Look, I'll be honest, we haven't gotten a whole lot of Twitter interaction and our phones today because I think, frankly, people aren't a real big sports moon. I get it for obvious reasons. But if you are in a, you know what, I need a little...

Not what you call? Levity. Levity. Take away from this. distraction diversion we'd like to hear from you because i think we're trying our best i mean look this is a an awkward time in in life obviously very sad details of yesterday in 9-11 which is uh going to be with us for the rest of our lives i mean i remember everything about 9-11 everything from what i did that morning to how i covered the world of news because i was i was at kTRH

doing morning sports and at three o'clock in the afternoon i was downtown in the federal building To make sure everything was okay. It is weird. It's crazy. It was not what I mean, it's funny. I've been, I've had a great fortune of covering some of the biggest sporting events in Houston sports history. But I remember more vividly covering things that had nothing to do with sports. Like when I worked, you know, Hurricane Harvey at the station for seven days in a row.

Working tornadoes. Tropical Storm Allison. The ice storm. I mean, I just, these, you know, 9-11. It's just, it's weird that I'm built for sports. I'm not a newsy under any circumstance. I don't dabble into politics ever. But my most memorable experiences as a radio professional are not revolving around sports.

Now, there have been some great ones. I mean, I'll never forget all the great World Series and the run and how we were on the air 24 hours in a row. And they asked one of the World Series. How was a man on the street in Edo? Yeah. Rockets winning big games and calling these things. you know, Cougars, Chip, and then losing in the final second. I won't forget that.

I'll ever forget that. Sorry, Matt. But, man, the new stuff sometimes trumps the local sports scene stuff. So, again, if you're looking for a little diversion, we're here for you. And we hope we can do that. So if there's anything you would like to get off your mind when it's not involving the serious tone of the last 24 hours, 713-212-5-790. If you just want to sit back and listen to us, we're okay with that too. 713-212-5-790.

Just seeing this story, and we kind of mentioned it, I think, yesterday a little bit. 13 players from six schools involved in gambling schemes, according to the NCAA announcing today. So are these people admitting these things, or is the NCAA finally got a force that's checking out these different schools? Eastern Michigan, Temple, Arizona State, New Orleans, North Carolina, A&T, and Mississippi Valley State under investigation for gambling violations

according to the NCAA, they declined to name the athletes. Or the sports too, correct? Until the infractors, yeah. But I don't think people are betting on track. Well, I mean, could be tracked. Are you under investigation, Jonathan? I don't know.

Violations include athletes betting on and against their own teams, sharing information with third parties for purposes of betting and knowingly manipulating scoring or game outcomes and or refusing to participate in the enforcement staff's investigation. Do you know why, and you and I have not necessarily

disagree, but we've had a different viewpoint of this. Do you know why I think this is happening more than it should? It's because I think most young men and women, and it could be women in this mix too, thinking, well, you know, I play at some small-ass school. No one's going to catch me. Temple or Eastern

Michigan. Who's going to catch if Eastern Michigan loses a game by nine points to Western Michigan with one of the players? You know what I mean? You can not get away with it, but you feel like you you're not the ESPN Big Monday game put it that way you know what I mean yeah I mostly this I didn't think this would happen as much as it has been happening I was wrong um and I'm surprised it's not even happening more than what we're hearing about and as I advocated for

for sports betting to become legal I just meant you know go up to the betting window if I want to drop 50 bucks on a on a money line on the commanders tonight I should be able to do that mm-hmm And those kids will be able to do that in their lives. In theory. But I just, I think you have to, in college athletics, you've got to stay far away from it. But it's crazy because now we're blurring the lines between these guys being paid athletes. So why can't they live their lives like grown adults? Because they're being treated like adults.

So, yeah. Betting accounts associated with a gambling ring under federal investigation placed wages deemed suspicious by bookmakers against those schools that I named. Temple, etc. There's like seven schools. And what's the most high profile one? Arizona State, you said? Temple? Hmm.

Or Arizona State, yeah, yeah. Eastern Michigan, New Orleans, North Carolina, A&T, and Mississippi Valley State. So probably, yeah, Arizona State, then Temple the most. Yeah, to me, this is, these are athletes that are like, I play at a small school that no one cares about. If I miss a shot or I put a little, a couple bucks down, no one's going to catch me. think about it. Even at the most high profile schools, we're talking about hundreds and thousands of

student athletes at 350 or so institutions. Yeah. They can't catch me, right? They did. Yeah, but what they need to remember, they need to think critically for five seconds and say, if a sports book sees a flurry of activity on eastern Michigan,

then that's going to raise suspicion. That's why you've got to be sly, right? Yeah. Or keep your wages small. That's what I'm saying. That's the same thing. Keep your wage is small. So a Ball State Troy game does not all of a sudden have fire alarms going off at different sports books. But if you're keeping your wager small, then what's the point?

Why are you throwing a game so some guy can win a 50 bucks? Because honestly, at Mississippi Valley State, if a guy has a chance to make a couple hundred bucks real quick and he can influence the game, he's going to take it. It doesn't make any sense because, again, that's such little money to make a difference in life. But can we chalk that up to young people being stupid? I don't know. I don't know if I want to do that too much. They need to, I think, yeah, you've got to get some education programs out or so I don't know. I don't know.

I think it's more of a like, I'm not the one that's going to get caught, how you said. That's right. It's just, you know, I'm going to do, like I just got a college. Like you said, all these athletes talk about these games, no matter what you think, they're going to talk about it. And it's more like, oh, I'm not the, everybody else is doing it. I won't be the one to get caught with it. Is there, or to your knowledge, Jonathan, like some kind of education or some kind of, of like,

does there like a clad? Get everybody in the classroom and say, hey, guys, this betting stuff is problematic. Don't do this. Yeah, even Matt's daughter

will have to do it when she gets into the NCAA every semester. So every start of fall and so they do a course. Like a training? Yeah, like a team meeting. Get a sit through like for like two days.

And you got to do the training online as well. They talk about the gambling. They talk about the NIR rules and Title IX and all that stuff. But if you and I are athletes, Division I athletes, and Jonathan's our buddy. And we said, Jonathan,

And hey, we can lose a game by three points for $1,000. That's found money, right? I mean, now, B, found money, because it takes more than two people to adjust to a game, but we can get away with it, Ross. We really can. Yeah. You have to be really stupid to do it. I don't know.

I mean, obviously, I'm going to say, I don't think that everybody that is doing this is getting caught. But I don't know. There's just, like I said, more investigations than I thought there is. There is no way we could tell you how many kids. of doing it. But I think we're naive to think that the 16, you said 16 schools or how many did you say there were? 13 players at six

schools. The 13 players that got caught were not the only 13. There were probably kids bumping around this country right now going well they better stop. I'm glad I didn't catch me. 713-212-5-790 if you want to join our conversation. 7-13-212-5-7-90.

The Rotten 5-Rossi is in 20 minutes. I'm very excited. This is the first ever edition of the 2005 edition of the Rotten 5. How excited are you? Remember, it takes absolutely zero talent to give you who the five best teams are in professional football. It takes something special to give you the five worst. I got to do digging in a lot of dirt,

Maddie. You had 16 choices to go with this week. You just did. Will the Texans be on it? I'm going to go and say no, they're not going to be on it. Come on, man. It's called Radio Tees, brother. Will the Texans be one of the Rotten 5? We'll tell you, after we tell you about the Shell, Federal Credit Union.

1234, Sports Talk 7-90. It is the Matt Thomas show with Ross. We've got the Texans taking on the Rams on Monday. We have A&M versus Notre Dame on Saturday. NBC, primetime big game there. Notre Dame taking on the fighting Texas Aggies. It's the fighting Irish versus the fighting Aggies. Should be a great matchup in South Bend, Indiana.

What's the line on that? I think it's, what was it, Notre Dame six and a half, something like that? Yeah. Can Notre Dame lose twice in a row? Lose? They lost the first week of the year, did they not? To Miami. Oh, yeah, that's right. They're 0 and 1 and their number 18 in the country.

Didn't they move up week to week? Yeah, but that's different. Miami was a big, that was a big opponent. You can't lose to South Florida and move up two spots. Yeah, that was worse. You got to pull your credit. You can't have a vote if you're doing that. That's just dumb ass to read on the votes.

You cannot be. I don't care if you're. male, female, whatever you are, and you move Florida up two spots into AP poll and not give the reasons why? She said she had her reasons. They were dumbass reasons. According to you. All right, real fast. We go to the phones. Give me one viable reason why South Florida, heavy underdog goes to Florida and beats the Gators in Gainesville and Florida moves up two spots. Go ahead. Maybe she thinks South Florida is a top five team and they really battle with them. That's not viable. You lose.

Jason and Conroe on 7 out of your 1236. Hello, Jason. Good afternoon, fellas. Hi. I mean, one of my favorite movies is Blue Chips, and there's always a line in there. Well, just give them a basket weaving class. You know, basket weave in class. You know, it's like, if you know you want to place a bet and you're an athlete in college, man just get somebody else to place the bet man give them a common sense class 101 you shouldn't you should know better than that man yeah these people are part of a gamble it's like a gambling ring that's that's under investigation that these players are being investigated as part it's not

them necessarily placing bets that's i mean and and to have a big school i mean it's arizona state they're a big school you know but like the other schools i i can understand but like Arizona State, that's a bad, that's a bad look, fellas. Well, we don't know who it is, what sport it is. I mean, it could be anything, right? Thank you for the phone call. It doesn't necessarily detail, right? No, it does not, but I'm going to imagine.

I mean, how many, are there North Carolina A&T tennis matches we can bet on somewhere? No, no, no. I'm thinking maybe it's about North Carolina A&T tennis players that are bedding. on... Oh, that they're betting on football games. No, this is that they're involved with the gambling ring. Like, they're throwing games for this gambling ring. So we're narrowing it down to the athletes in those sports.

Okay, okay, I didn't understand that. Okay, that makes better. That's a little more sense. I mean, that's my understanding. I'll pull the article back up, but I closed it. I'm just saying if you're a broke student athlete and you see your homeboy cash in $500 because he told the girl at study hall, hey, like, you know, give me this. Okay, I'm sorry.

Yeah, I said it earlier. They are betting, but yeah. They include, violations include, athletes betting on and against their own team. So yes, they did place bets. Sorry, that's my bad. Sharing information with third parties for the purposes of betting

and the knowingly manipulating scoring or game outcomes and or refusing to participate in the enforcement staffs as investigation. So they're throwing games, giving information, and betting on their own games. And not talking to investigators.

Woo! That would be interesting. Very interesting. What's the worst you could do? Drop a pass? Not score basket, miss a free throw? Well, if you have a prop, they're talking about not participating games. Let's say you tell everybody to bet your under on receptions,

and then you twist your ankle in the beginning of the game. That's what Jonte Porter was doing, right? Right. He was telling everybody to bet his under, and then, oh, my ankle hurts, I'm out here. Malik Beasley of the NBA, same situation. Yeah. Yeah, I would say it'd be hard. to manipulate team bets.

Like I like a team plus 6 and a half over B team. But if you're going to the... First of all, if you're betting on individual props, wouldn't the alarms go off immediately? Hey, everybody's slamming this player from North Carolina A&T's props.

What's that about? Let me ask you this. Can you even get a prop on a North Carolina A&T player? Even FCS? Are you sure of this? You can definitely find it. I don't.

Guys, I don't mean to guarantee something in my life. But if you and I, Rossi, were to get in the car and drive to late Charles, I'm not finding prop beds. Have you seen that kiosk? I'm not seeing Houston Christian prop bets against Nebraska. I'm going to guarantee it. You're guaranteeing. If I'm wrong, I owe you a meal at the casino right when we go in a couple weeks.

Okay. do me a favor right now and this is not definitely find it on the offshore stuff but I'm not looking offshore I'm talking about a normal ass person going to a casino and a sportsboy

find me a prop bet on any Houston Christian player this week can you find it from me I guess I can look why can you do it I will do it because I'm right you're making me your research bitch

yeah you're the one to say it's not happening Jonathan hi Stunner you're on 7th I'm looking for I'm gonna be on my own bitch hi Stena hey what's up Matt and Ross Who were they playing in, Nebraska?

You can put Miles Sanders in there because, I think he kind of of throw the game for the Cowboys. Miles Sanders is point-shaven? Hey, point-shaven. He did more than that. I mean, you let the lineback of catch you and then you throw the ball on the next couple of snaps.

Hey, man, that ran across my mind as soon as I seen him get talented at the two I say, ah, it's got to be the eagle of. And then last night watching the game, Matt, I had to turn it, man. I couldn't watch it.

I watched it on my phone. The Astros? And I watched the volleyball game. Ah, yeah. Why did you turn it off? They won. I didn't turn it off. I just flipped it back and forth between ESPN because the volleyball game was more entertaining. Who was playing

volleyball. But the Longhorns and the Cardinals Louisville. Oh, very good. I was appreciative volleyball chatter on the show. Is that true? Yeah. They did play each other.

It was a great game, man. It was a great game. It was a great game. It was a brother. Hey, don't, don't, don't, don't you just spare volleyball. I'm not. All right. I'm looking for probably. I can't find one. Hey, man. It's an exciting game, man.

I'm sure it was I like what though yeah the volleyball is good but I wasn't going to turn the Astros off also I was working the post game show I don't know man I could Hey I watched him the other day And and they flew down

I just said man to me Look at it on my phone It's less Texas volleyball's on a run Matt You want to hear the schedule Go ahead They beat number 12 Creighton in three sets

Number eight Wisconsin in three sets Well they whipped up on rice Number six Stanford in five sets and number four Louisville in five sets. They'd be like five top ten teams already. Louisville, Stanford. Woo! And they're not egotomaniacs either, said no one.

Going for another championship, baby. Yeah, that's fine. Let's go. Congratulations. They have Marcus Spears' daughters real good, right? Yes. I think he even tweeted out something about their volleyball. Germaine O'Neill's daughter was on the team for a while.

It was ridiculously good. That's not fair. You get Jermaine O'Neill's daughter. And you know what, at Rhode Island, Matt Thomas' daughter is going to be really good next year. I'm sure she's going to be fantastic. I'm wishing the best for the Thomas family. You should come with me on a road trip. Yeah, you're paying for me?

You've got my ticket? I won't go. I don't buy you enough gifts. Yeah, I'll get some Rhode Island gear. I'm going to go get you a team. I'm definitely loading up with it. That's cool. They sell beer at the mattress?

No. But they sell beer at the bar down the street. They don't? No. You can't get a cold one at the Rhode Island. volleyball game? I don't think you can. I'll sneak it. I'll sneak it. I'll sneak it. Why are you always looking for alcohol at everyone

these sporting events? Jonathan, Jonathan, I told... Who's their big rival? Jonathan, I told... Providence? And anybody in the 8-10, like, Fordham, Duquesne's, a big... Rival? Yeah, rival. So, Jonathan, I was telling Ross, I said, all the divorcee moms go these volleyball tournaments.

Yeah. And he's like, oh, really? I said, yeah, he goes, can I bring a flask? I'm like, why do you want to bring alcohol? And, by the way, people do bring alcohol. Yeah, see, what are you talking about? A lot of moms. A lot of moms. A lot of moms do. But don't you want to get the sober moms or do you want the ones that are liquored up? I forget I even asked that. The Rotten Five is up next.

Thank you. They've gone bad. Hey, they draw flies. Ooh, it's Ross's Rotten Five. This don't smell quite right. God, I love this segment. Ross, does the due diligence. he puts the time in.

Believe it or not, yeah, sometimes. News and noon, rarely. Rotten five. This is prep. You gotta roll your sleeves up and get dirty, Maddie. All right. Ladies and gentlemen,

it takes absolutely no ability to give you the five best teams in the NFL. Who are the five suckiest? A man who sucks himself, Rossville, oriel. I don't do that. Wouldn't even try. All right.

Don't knock it to you, try it. Let's go ahead. get it going on the Rodin 5? Yeah, you can go ahead and write that down. We'll see you on Friday. All right, New York football giants. They have been a staple on this list for the last couple of years, and this week is no different. They say if you have two quarterbacks, you don't have any, but what if you have three? Coach Brian Dayball saying he's going to stick with Russell Wilson over Jackson Dart this week, and I guess James Winston just hanging out for the vibes. Giants offense putrid in week one of the season against the commanders. Russell Wilson was the worst

quarterback in the NFL by expected points added. They could only scrape together two field goals. Hoping to bounce back this week against the Cowboys. But as of right now, the fifth worst team in the NFL is the New York football giants. This is my fault. Hold on. Stall. This will be worth the way.

It will be. This is week one. This is like the preseason for you. I had the script open on this computer, but not the other computer. So, sorry, here we go. Ronco's country, let's rob. No, it's Giants country, Russell. Come on.

All right. It's no surprise that last year's worst team in the league appears on this list. The Tennessee Titans taking Cam Ward number one overall in the last NFL draft. Also, doesn't help, though, that Ward had to go against one of the best defenses in the NFL on the road talking about the Denver Broncos.

Bottom line, though, Titans' offense was awful. Never got within the 10-yard line in Denver. Their leading receiver was they're running back? Tony Pollard. Also doesn't help that Brian Callahan in a key situation did not know that a receiver getting his elbow down counts as a catch. He thought he needed a foot as well. Come on, man. That is football 101 stuff.

And that does not portend well for Brian Callahan going forward. As of right now, Titans, fourth worst team in the NFL. Guys, we've got to go get Vince John. Oh, I miss playing that. I miss the rotten five. All right. How about them Carolina? Panthers, my goodness, they are bad.

There was a lot of offseason hype for them. Second season under Dave Canales. Bryce Young played well at the end of the season last year. And well, Jaguar, excuse me, Panthers falling flat in week one as they lost to the Jaguars, 26 to 10. Bryce Young throwing for just 154 yards with one touchdown and two picks. Also with the second worst quarterback by expected points added this weekend, only better than Russell Wilson, who mentioned earlier in this list.

Travis Eton gashing the Panthers defense to the. the tune of 143 yards on just 16 carries. Panthers, bad, hoping to get better against the Cardinals. But right now, the third worst team in the NFL. You lose! Good day, sir! Down the list we go, everyone, this offseason talking about how the New Orleans Saints might have the worst quarterback situation in the NFL.

And, well, seems like head coach Kellan Moore disagrees. He decided to throw the ball 46 times against the air. Arizona Cardinals, and it's not like it was some shootout situation. They scored a whopping 13 points. You do have to credit them for keeping it within the score, but the team is not good on either side of the ball. Their best offensive player is a 30-year-old running back who hasn't had a good yards per carry season since 2020,

talking about Alvin Camara, of course. They do avoid Brock Purdy and the Niners this week, but as of right now, despite going against Mack Jones, we'll see how that turns out. They are the second worst team in the NFL. I fell. Believe it, yeah. God's like the head up the crawfish there. I love Miss Gordy. I know. I love putting the Saints on this list just so I can play that Gordy drop. All right. Good God. What a week one for the Miami Dolphins.

They got destroyed by the Indianapolis cults. I'm actually in the minority in that. I like Mike McDaniel. And like two is not that bad normally when he's not getting a concussion. But no excuse for what we saw in week one. The dolphins getting crushed by Daniel Jones. And everyone talking about. his career renaissance, you know you had a bad week if that's what's going on. Nothing going off on offensively for the team. Defense was supposed to be good. They were awful. So was Tua.

People are already predicting Mike McDaniel to be the first coach fired in this NFL season. Now Tyreek Hill is getting hit with allegations of eight different domestic violence incidents from his estranged wife. I mean, how could it get much worse for the Miami Dolvins? It is a disaster over there. They are the absolute worst team in the NFL. They are number one on this list. Where did you find that little soundbite? Miami Dolphins number one on this list, Maddie.

They're going to be there for a while. It might be. They are rotten. Man, the rotten five. Really rough start, but a great finish. Thank you. As long as you get that great finish, nothing else matters. I'm glad you were able to finish.

Sometimes you can't finish. This show can't finish. This show can't finish fast enough. That's not true at all. Hey, we're into full Astros mode in about four minutes from now. You have the Yon Deck show. Yes, I do. Would there be some highlights, some pleasant highlights?

Oh, okay. And some relevant stats. Sure what I'm. Preview. And this date in Astros history.