The Matt Thomas Show with Ross - Astros Up 2-0 & Matt Was Right About O'Brien

Episode Date: October 7, 2020

Astros Up 2-0 & Matt Was Right About O'Brien

So much larger than life. Yeah. Lunch timers is the Matt Thomas show. 1201 in H-Town. What's happening in lunchtomers? Good afternoon to you. And welcome to a Wednesday edition of the Matt Thomas show on Sports Talk 790.

The Naya delivers, and it's a breaking ball. That one's punished to left field. Far and deep, it's gone. George Springer makes it two to one on a shot to left center field. And Maldonado lifts this one, left center deep. It sends back cana still going back, looking up. See you later. Martine Maldonado goes yard, and the Astros' lead is 4 to 2.

George Bringer stands in, one out no one on top of. of the fifth, four to two Astros. First pitch, and Springer drills this one deep to left, and you can kiss it goodbye. George Springer's second home run of the game. And the Astros lead it five to two. Breaking ball, grounded left side, right at Correa. He picks it up, scoops to Altuve, throws to first,

in time, double play, game over. Two games to none lead for the Astros in the ALDS as they defeat the Oakland A's five to two. The Astros one went away. from another trip to the ALCS. Top of show Wednesday, sports RV. The local 9 are one victory away from going to their four straight American League championship series. Feels good, Maddie.

It feels real good. For a number of reasons, the number of fronts, first and foremost, I am an Astros fan. And I will tell you the last couple of days, they are now in the entire playoffs. Now they have not lost a game in the playoffs. They are 4 and 0. and it felt like even when the Astros got down early, even Chris Davis just continues to hit home run after home run against Astros pitching in this series.

Earlier in the season, in the regular season, you would say, oh, well, this game's over. Let's go do something else. What are we going to do? I am starting to get back that creeping feeling of irrational confidence in this team where no matter what happens when there's multiple guys on base and one out.

You feel like they're going to get out of the jam. You feel like they're going to make that clutch hit. You feel like they're coming up in these big moments. And you feel like if they get in a hole, they're going to be able to come back and climb out of it. And they're playing with the confidence and swagger. And you can just see it and you can feel it that it feels like the Astros of old right now. And we just haven't had that feeling basically for the entirety of 2020.

You know, it's funny, Ross, as I've watched this team, I got to tell you, the Astros. are focus, Ross. Yes. They're mad. Are they? And they're very into the idea of avenging themselves against what they consider haters. Like, say, the A's, the Yankees, the Rays, and the Dodgers. When did Andy Martino start co-hosting this show? And you know what I think about it, Ross?

I think it's going to be good theater. Yeah. Because people who know those guys think they can run the table. Oh, really? Yeah. All right. Look, obviously, well, Lance, that's a. For those of not picking up what Matt is doing there. Andy Martino, who writes for some New York rag, right?

I don't know. I don't think it's a rag. I think it's a TV network. Okay. What would you call? It's the SNY network, which is owned by the Mets. So if I say newspaper is to rag as TV station is to what? A lot of hot noise.

Okay. Well, Andy Martino covers the Yankees and Mets for Hot Noise Network, S&Y. And look, actually, Matt, if you look at just the substance of what he said. If I told you, so what you just said, what Matt ran through, this is what basically what Andy Martino said is their focus, man, and Bob, I want to avenge themselves, et cetera, et cetera. That's really not that far off from what Carlos Correa has said publicly, focused, mad, into the idea of avenging themselves against haters. That's not the craziest thing, right? It's not the, but here's the problem. Andy Martino.

Andy Martino. Andy Martino. Martino Martino works for the Mets and Yankees and MLB for the SNY network. He is how far from

Houston, Texas would you say Houston, New York is? 14, 50,000 miles? Well, how about even we go New York to L.A.? That's where they are right now. He would have to get from there. 3,000. Yeah. How many times is Andy Martino? Andy and a maternity.

Who is the player who behind, who is he, quote, behind the scenes player that's like, you know what, man? That was a good game today. I'm going to sit back in the hotel room and you know how I'm going to text Andy Martino of S&Y. And by the way, did you go look at his byline? He is working on a book about the Astros and MLB sign stealing scandal for Doubleday book. Oh, he is.

Guess who's not going to be on the Matt Thomas show? Andy de Marlittino. I do want to read the Elvindrellic book though because they were on the front lines of this. Yeah, I'm okay with Evan because that was journalism. Andy Martino. You know what Andy Matino's something to do? What is he trying it to do, Matt? He's a trying to jump on a bandwagon.

And this bandwagon and this, you know, I'll write a book. And you write a book. And like Hope O'Infrey says, and you can have a book. Andy Martino. You broke my heart. I know it was you, Andy. Andy Matino, you want a horse in your bed? Andy Martino

I wouldn't suggest you go to the Tobe Booth Andy Martino don't go have a dinner with the cops Andy Martino don't get your massage with your glasses on I just love that we live in a world where Matt Thomas make Godfather references now

It's a mistake of my part I should have watched a show a decade ago And when the That's my accent It's going up and down The accent's faltering but that's okay Matt That's great entertainment Oh, my gosh.

Anyways. You know what I have, by the way, my buddy Kevin Cooper. You know who's got... What? Remember what I'm sorry. I don't mean even interrupt this Astros conversation. Do you see what Bill O'Brien just tweeted? No.

It's going to go to what you were talking about. What? Should we just breaking news this report? Hit it! Hit it! Bill O'Brien got. into an argument with defensive and the J.J. Watt and defensive coordinator Anthony

Weaver on the practice field along with verbal altercations with other staff members during his final weeks as coach, general manager, but before being fired, according to league sources. Did I not tell you this? Ross, did you hear him say that yesterday? I don't remember that. Oh my God, it's on my Twitter.

No, I don't think so. No, it's there. I swear to God, it's there. I don't follow SportsMT. I muted that guy ages ago. God, I hate to do this, Ross, because you're just the worst about giving me any credit. But I'm on fire. On fire. On fire.

Now, my predictions suck. But what I'm kind of, I told you about the, that Mike Fires is scared of playing the Astros. On fire. It's going to happen again. Fire. Well, hold on. He's scared? Absolutely.

He's scared. Or is it just, I mean, who's even starting today? Did they name it? I'm sure they have. Is it Luzardo or Manta? Yeah, Lazzardo is going to start. Or Lazzardo is just a better pitcher than Mike Fires. That's true, but it's again, this would be now 13 games.

Well, we'll see. On fire. I told you about, let's see, what up there's, I got to start writing stuff down because I just don't give myself enough credit sometimes. On fire. Thank you. You said they would never win a Super Bowl with Bill O'Brien. That hit. I'm right on that one.

Oh, oh, oh. I told you that Jack Easterby was going to outlast Bill O'Brien. and I'm right on that. No, if they name a general manager, we're not right on that yet. You said he would last him into the next season. Okay. Do you think he-Ha's going to make that call? I think he-ha is going to hire a general manager, yes.

He's going to hire a smart football guy. There's no way general. I, Okay, are you sure you want to say that? Are you absolutely sure that he-ha is not going to make that call? I will make this statement, Matt. All right. If Cal McNair is worth anything as,

as an NFL owner, he will hire a smart football credentialed football guy to be the general manager. Yep. If not, he is, I mean, you just have to be completely out and done with the Texans

as having any sort of success going forward, right? If he lets Jack Easterby run the ship, no way. No way. Okay. That's when I know, remember, I put on the tweet, I'm retweeting myself.

On fire. I don't mean to do this. You're retweeting yourself, guy? Wow. I got to do it. We've sunk to new lows. It's just the truth. On fire.

So here's the reality of it. J.J. Watt got Bill O'Brien fired. Okay? Cal didn't do it. So if Cal doesn't remove Jack Easterby, who is just as big of a problem, maybe even more Ross because he's sneaky. I don't think he knows what the hell he's doing. That's right.

He's completely underqualified. for the job. He's sneaky. He's clearly trying to separate himself from B-O-B when the two guys were like Wonder Twins for a year and a half. Rossi, I'm telling you, if He-Haw does not do this and he does not cleanse himself of everybody that was involved with this, then the organization just isn't what we think it is. And we just clearly believe that Cal McNair is nothing more than, well, my superstar, Rossi, I told you, he went in the office and said it's me or him. How do I know these things. How do I know these things? I want credit, Ross. Damn it, I want credit and I want it right now. On fire. Right now. Right now. Tell me. What do you want credit for? What I just said about

Bill O'Brien and that Cal didn't fire him. Okay, no. How does this prove that JJ did? The Jay, you think, no, this does not prove that Jay J.J. Watt went into Cal's office and said it's never. Absolutely it is. No, J.J. Watt walked into Cal McNair's office and said, uh, it's either him or me as in what? He's going to hold out? If Bill O'Broner remains the coach? He's going to say that if you don't fire him, you've lost us. Hmm. Okay. I'm not saying that literally said trade.

I'm saying that this is, I'm not going to play for the Houston Texans. We're not going to play with this A-hole running our football team. I'm absolutely sure that Cal McNear got the pulse of the team. I've never disputed that. I said that yesterday. But I'm just telling you this is not, Rossi, this is not Whitney merciless walking in there and telling Cal. this is this is jj freaking what what did eric murray have to say about all this eric murray's like bra i love bill o'brien i got me a big fat contract i don't play well

um i i'm just blessed no there's dear let me tell you who doesn't have a problem randall cobb is sad that bill o'brien's not here randall cobb wants jack easterby to be long term Brandon Cooks can't get enough of this current regime. No, Brandon Cooks might not be here next year. He keeps getting zero catches for zero yards. Let's get talking about these things. We've got the Astros to get to. We've got to play some go-go Astros right.

At some point, yes. We had to honor Eddie Van Halen who passed away at 65. This year sucks for so many reasons. I mean, people die, right? That's inevitable. But we're losing some really awesome people in sports. We're losing people in music. And we're losing just good old-fashioned American.

This year sucks. But at least Bill O'Brien is out, and he-ha-s got a chance to really fix this by getting rid of Jack Easterby. Or will he? 713-212-5-790. 7-1-3-2-1-2-5-7-90. Joe Clat for some college football talk at 1 o'clock. Right now, a word for Oob, steam cleaning. At 281-8-2-2-0-561.

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Cal McNair did not fire Bill O'Brien yesterday. In fact, here's how I think it played out. And I have no inside information. J.J. Watt stormed into Cal's office yesterday. He's like, I'm tired of this. Bleep, bleep, bleep, bleep, bleep, bleep, ble. It's me or him. Out.

Yep. That's how it was yesterday. The Matt Thomas Show Sports Service are in full uniform, shoulder pads, eye black. Eye black for sure. With a subway in his hand, too. Yes. You know what it is on all honesty, Ross? it's kind of, it's predictable what the Texans are doing.

Nobody can put up with crap for that much. I mean, it's surprising that Bill O'Brien was able to last as long as he did, to be brutally honest. The only thing, the reason why is because he's hanging a bunch of AFC South Banners in the building. I mean, this team is 8, 8, 7, and 9 for like three or four years in a row. He'd have been long-ass gone. His boorish ways and how, oh, a little sneaky old Jack used to be trying to separate himself. Hey guys, I'm here. Let's bow our heads and pray for a great future with this organization.

You know what? You need to leave two. I'm telling you, Ross, he-ha's got to cleanse his place. That's the only way he's going to get people to treat him seriously. I would think so, too. I would, like I said, you have to be, if Jack Easterby, if we're talking one year from now on the Matt Thomas show, and the general man, I don't care who the head coach is,

and the general manager is Jack Easterby, it's going to look like a Mickey Mouse operation over there. Because here's what I'm definitely afraid of, and hopefully this isn't the case. You know, Jack's title is Executive Vice President of Football Operations, right? You can still hire a general manager and just not call them what you just said right there. Jack can't be with the organization, period. That's what I'm saying. There can be no Jack used to be sightings in that building anymore.

The culture has to change. completely and if it does it will take non-fans like me to buy into the future of the Texans is bright short of that Ross it's gonna be the same old Texans which is a new handpick guy an Easterby pick coach and they'll bring in some other football executive Ross they don't have anybody in that building that probably could properly consummate a trade I mean say what you about Bill O'Brien he'd been the least It's been a coach for a long time.

Easterby had been in the chaplain's room. Right? At the chapel, yeah. Planning out sermons? Yeah. I mean, maybe organizing lunch? Maybe the, maybe the, maybe team building activities. But he doesn't know where to send scouts.

Yeah, I mean, well, he probably does. He probably said, yeah, I wonder what is going to happen with this, when they need a move, when they need to sign somebody, when they need, I mean, because people are going to get injured. You're going to need to activate somebody off the practice squad. You're going to need to work out for street free agents and all those types of things. Who's doing all that? Well, Romeo's going to help. Romeo's been in the NFL forever. He'll know.

But nothing significant. I mean, this season's lost. It's how long does it take for the bleeding to stop? Because I'm telling you, Rossi, JJ went in there and said, we can't keep doing this this way. I'm losing what is the remainder of the private. of my career to this jabroney and this circus act. Meanwhile, one of my favorite

teammates is now wearing Arizona gear. Another one of my favorite defensive teammates, maybe not favorite, but certainly an ex-teammate has been moving around from team to team when you shouldn't have stayed here. We have no more draft picks. We've spent crazy amounts of money on, now JJ would never say this, but he's not

stupid. The the players that have been re-signed, for the most part, have all been overcompensated, right? I love Whitney Merseals like a brother. If he walked in right now, we'd hug it out, and I'm like, I'd be proud of what he did last week.

But Whitney has to understand, and it's not Whitney's fault, you take what you get. Zach cutting him, you take what you get. Zach Fulton, you take what you get. Brandon Cooks, still getting paid. Randall Cobb, very ordinary receiver. Swall guy, very ordinary. Who else did you talk about?

The cornerback. You just mentioned... Or the safety, Eric Murray. Eric Murray. Eric Murray, the safety. I mean, Hargraves resigned. I mean, this is Easterbee slash O'Brien. This is not O'Brien by himself.

And I hope that Cal's figured that out. Because if he hasn't, Ross, this organization is doomed for a lot longer than I think we think they're going to be. If I'm reading this right, it's $15 million cap hit. they want to cut Whitney Marshalls after the season. That's insane. I'm not suggesting that. No, I'm saying, I'm not suggesting it either. But if he's not up to snuff and you need to move on from him and he's 31 years old at that point,

it's $15 million? Oh, my gosh. I mean, having a, and I don't know who Chris, I mean, I know who Chris Olson is, okay? We've heard the name. But anybody that's ever spoken about Chris Olson around league circles if you get really in the minutia of the NFL. he was their cap guy and he's highly respected highly your and it's thing you can't say chris olson without highly respected right after that and he's gone because borish bill got you know got sideways with him borish bill had to hear from chris olson chris says this is

probably not money well spent and bill o'brien said screw you f you two and you're out i'll let jack Eastbury who's never negotiated a contract, never managed a salary cap. He'll say yes to what I want until he didn't. Until he wanted to spend time separating himself from the Bill O'Brien reputation. I'm telling you, Rossi, they better get rid of everybody. They better hire a capologist. They better hire scouts. They better hire a personnel man.

And Ross, I'm going to tell you this right now before we go back to phones. They better hire the general manager first. That dude, whoever that is, if Easton, is gone, needs to hire the head football coach. Charles, northeast Houston on 790. Hello, Charles. Hello, how you doing this morning? Wonderful.

Well, afternoon now. I've been holding since morning. But anyway, I want to throw out a name for a general manager consideration that I believe also is as much concerned about team building and addressing weaknesses. as he is, you know, the prestige and glamour of it all. And he stays right here in Houston, former Houston all of Sean Jones. Okay, that's fine.

I don't know if he's interested. I mean, he's been busy with it. Well, I mean, I've been trying to reach out to him to find out, but I do know that he has front office experience. I believe it was with the Raiders for a brief time. That's right. We know he's a defensive-minded guy, and right now our Achilles heel for this team is the defense. In the NFL, let's just face it, in the NFL, 20, 25 points should be enough for any offense to win a game if you have a credible defense.

If you don't, then, of course, you're going to have to put up 30, 40 points a game trying to outscore the other offense. Well, I'll say this, Charles, I got a roll. Thank you for the call. I don't care if my general manager is offensive or defensive-minded. Now, it makes a difference, obviously, as a head coach, but I need my head coach, I need my general manager, excuse me, to have a terrific depth chart of people behind him, capologist, evaluators, people in metrics, analytical minds, people that have done a trade, been a part of trades.

Eastbury doesn't bring that. If Easterby was to put together a table of people, he'd bring him, he'd only have fellow chaplains with him. Right, Ross? I mean, there's nobody. I mean, he's worked with people, but he doesn't, he's not been to the war room. He doesn't. The only war room experience that my guess is that Jack Easterby has is with the Texans

because Cal didn't care who was in the war room. I just can't, yeah, I can't. He's been around the team a couple of years now. I just can't speak to his experience and it just doesn't seem like there's a whole lot on the resume. There just isn't. And you know what? Learning on the fly is one thing, but not. Not when you're the executive vice president of football operations?

How did Cal allow this to happen to begin with? 1229 on the Matt Thomas show. 713, 212, 5.790. Astros baseball. We're going to get going with them too because George Springer and company deserve some run. There are one win away from going to the American League Championship series. 713-212-5-790. 7-1-3-212-2-2-5-7-7-2-1-2-7-2-7.

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We would like for Deshaun to be who we know he can be. And so we're going to work to try to make that happen. And I think that you're correct that if we can provide him with some tools and the running game being part of it, that that will just help make him better. And so we're going to put an emphasis on our technique and fundamentals and try to get our running game going. Well, then he would need new running backs, right, Ross? Because I don't think David Johnson, or maybe more Duke Johnson could be the fix for that, right? Hashtag free Duke Johnson, Matt. Free him up.

But isn't Duke Jackson known as more of a receiving running back than a running back running back? I'd say so, yeah. He's a versatile guy. think he can run just fine. I think maybe a pass protection is where they really don't like him, so that's why it's a little bit difficult to get him in there, because it's obvious what's going down when he's in there is he's probably going to go out on a route.

But I don't know. David Johnson is not the answer. He just looks like a replacement level running back right now. Who makes $12 million? Well, 10. But yeah, who is one of the highest paid running backs in the NFL? Yeah, by the way, if I ever miscalculated guy's salary, I'm glad you called me out on it.

I mean, $2 million is a significant chunk of It's not a big deal. I just like correcting you. The highest paid running backs in the NFL. Christian McCaffrey, hurt. Alvin Camara, doing great. Ezekiel Elliott, doing great. Levion Bell, not so much, but he is hurt.

And David Johnson. Wait, this is 13 million. What is going on here? Oh, really? Really? Huh. I thought he was making 10 million this year. Well, 13 million is the average annual value on his contract.

Okay, so we both kind of win. No, I win. No. I was closest without going over. On the average annual value, yeah. That's the number I guess I was going on. He's making $10.2 million this year. It doesn't matter.

It's $10 million too much. So I was right. Anyways, yeah, you look. And then the next two are Dalvin Cook and Derek Henry and Joe Mixon. Who are all well outperforming that. So amongst that group, people who aren't hurt, David Johnson is playing the worst. So there you go. And he's the oldest also amongst all the ones.

He's slow. He's exactly what the Cardinals thought he was when they dropped him from first to third string, correct? Yeah. He doesn't look great. He just doesn't. He tries hard. He had that nice 20-yard run in week one, and then we said, okay, well, I think it was at the point, because expectations were so low. He didn't look like a complete corpse.

And we were just happy that he didn't look like a complete corpse. Now four weeks into the season, he just looks like just a guy. No, you know what he is? He is an NFL running back. He's just not a starting running back. And certainly not starting running back for a good football team that frankly could have used Carlos High. Now, Carlos thing has been bruised up a little bit here and there too,

but Carlos Hyde at $6 million would have been the much better play. Yes? Another snafu by the front office of the Houston Texans. East to be O'Brien. I'm not letting Bill O'Brien, now granted, he is a lot of this. But he ain't out there by himself anymore. responsible Texans fans have to know it's not exclusively to Bill O'Brien. His lieutenants were just as much a part of this.

Now, you would have liked to have seen his lieutenant say, this is not a good idea trying to trade D'Andre Hopkins. Or if you do, at the very worst, you get a first round pick. You go get what Stefan Diggs got Minnesota in the trade with Buffalo. At the very least. But you know what? You surround yourself with people that are yes, man, or people that are afraid to step up and say something.

and that's what's going to happen. 713-212-5-790. Bill is in the medical center on the Matt Thomas show. Hi, Bill. Hey, how's it going? Amazing. My question is, if I'm the Texans and I'm trying to land someone like Eric B. enemy

or Josh McDaniels, what type of GM am I looking for? And is Jack, he should be the guy that can get the job done? Well, I would hope that you've been listening to the last half hour the show. Rossi, you tell me, I need Cal to cleanse this team. So,

can I just say, I don't have an answer to Bill's question until I know where Jack Easterby is? Yeah, it's indeterminate. I would think that the logical, to me, as I said, I'm making a statement, a smart, well-run franchise, it would seem to me, would first hire a general

manager, hire a general manager and then let that guy hire as of course he would be a football guy hire a coach. But I'm not convinced this as a smart well-run franchise. So yeah, it took a player revolt led by JJ. No surprise. Now it's up to Cal to the next move. Cal was handed this one, Ross. Remember when I told you yesterday when JJ went in to see Cal at his office and he and Hannah

were having lunch and he was eating Triscuits and, chicken salad and the grapes are all over the place and everything. He had a bib on, so you just think, oh yeah. You think Cal McNair is six. He's eating chicken salad on crackers with grapes and has a bib on. Don't forget the sliced cheddar cheese. No, he's not sick. He's just trying to eat better.

Six. Oh, six. Okay. Now, if Hannah wasn't there, his wife, then he's out having steak somewhere with a loaded baked potato. And maybe one or two beverages take the edge off an 0-14 start. But since Hannah popped up with a picnic basket in lunch, it was triscuits and chicken salad

and grapes and cheddar cheese. So when Hannah leaves and takes the picnic basket with her, it's time for, you know, son of McNair to grow up and figure out that he still got toxic in his organization. 713-212-5-790. Garrett's in Cyprus at 1241. Hi, Garrett. Hey guys, you're getting ready for the game? Astros, of course.

Yeah, yeah. Well, you know, I've been doing some, I guess, pregame warm up and getting ready for the game myself. And so, you know, Haphas, Lazzardo, he's a really interesting pitcher to, you know, he's a left-hander, obviously. And his hottest zone is for a right-eating. If you're a right-handed batter, he's going to try to pitch you down and in. And so, you know, the caller that always calls your show, and he always wants the Astros hitters to go the other way, this is the guy to go it against because the only way you're really going to damage this guy is have him make a mistake in the center of the plate or you're going to have to, you know, catch a ball on the outside. And so that's where that guy is dead on for the Astros today to really be patient. and if he throws a mistake, they can maybe unload.

But other than that, it's to try to do some contact hitting. And so Diaz, you know, I want to see if he steps up. And, you know, because that guy can really go off someday, you know, him and Yulton. And I don't know if they're paired right next to each other, but they do quite well paired right next to each other. I have to check on that. We should, yeah, good stuff. Thank you, Gary, for the phone. We should mention Ross that Josh Redick is not playing.

today, at least starting. And Les Diaz is in the lineup. He's going to get a spot at it, which is good. Rightfully so. Yeah, and look, we like Josh, super guy, but he just looks overmatch right now at the plane. I got to shake things up a little bit. All right.

By the way, speaking of the Astros, we'll let you hear what Dusty Baker had to say about Zach Granky, because this was supposed to be, I guess game three was supposed to be his. It's not happening, obviously, as Jose Orquit is going. We'll hear from Dusty next. Joe Clatt from Fox Sports to join us on college football for the Ross, the Red River Shootout. Really?

It goes showdown, but it's really the shootout, Matt. Which is both are superior to the Red River rivalry, which was the worst name they could have come up with. I thought you were going to stay with the Red River letdown. Oh, well, it is that, too. Well, won't let you down as the folks at Berkeley Ice Center when it comes to correcting your vision. Get with the folks at Berkeley by Texan Award LASIC, LASI-K, to 48-48-48-48. They want to set up a consultation for you, and when you go and see the great doctors in any one of the many locations all around Houston, they'll explain to you that LASIC, if you're a candidate, will work.

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LASIC LASIC to 484848 from Berkeley Eye Center. This is defense of tackle. DJ Reader. The Matt Thomas show continues on Sports Talk 790. Real Texans talk here. All right, so it'll be Jose Arkady starting game number three. We'll have the On Deck show coming up in 45 minutes just in case you want to hear it now. There's a little teaser to the on deck show. Here's Dusty Baker meeting with the media just about an hour and a half ago about an update on Zach Granky who did not get the assignment today because of quote-unquote arm-sornness.

Dusty, do you have any further update or clarity on Zach Grinkie's status? No, not yet. He threw yesterday after you guys left. How did that go? Do you have any idea how that went for him? Well, yeah, Stormy said it went, you know, went pretty good, you know, especially after I think he had, went to see the doctor or something. They said there was nothing structural in there, so he felt better, you know, about that.

I'm hoping that we win today's game, and then we'll have a few days off, you know, to rehab and try to feel better before next, but we've got to win this game first. Would he be available if you guys don't win today? Would he be available to pitch in this series? I will let you know after the game. I'll let you know tomorrow. So I want to double check. So if there is a game four and if there is a game five, do you know who you're planning on starting or is that up in the air given the grinky situation? Yeah, exactly.

You answered your own question. Yeah, it is up in the air given the grinky situation. And depending on how today's game goes, you know what I mean? Do you know what he means, Ross? If he has to use somebody else in the bullpen? I mean, who would it even be at this point? I don't know. But it certainly sounds like to me that Zach Granky's not ready to throw in this series.

Doesn't sound good, no. And I got a bigger issue for you. When did this pop up? Well, he made the roster. I think it was, I mean, one of the Astros B guys made the point, and it's a good one, that this had to have happened just a couple of, within the last couple of days. Otherwise, if he was hurt, they wouldn't even have put him on the ALD roster, correct? That is correct.

roster. Now the question is, did they put him on the active roster hoping that whatever it was ailing him was going to be fixed or feel better? Or did Zach hide something? Or it just popped up. We don't know. I don't know. Doesn't smell right. Oh. And here's the worst problem of it all is that because not that not that if him being hurt would have changed a lot of things

but who is starting tomorrow if they lose. Yeah, Matt, there's not going to be any starter tomorrow. They're going to win. I hope you're right. I'm just saying that this is a, do you go a bullpen game to try to win the series tomorrow and Friday?

Hmm. Is Christian Javier in the mix somewhere on this? That's what I was thinking. Probably. But how do you pitch in a game? We put you one inning in 25 pitches in game one. Okay, well, then give him three days rest, and then he would be able to pitch Friday.

I can live with that. I can live with Javier starting game five, but that doesn't solve tomorrow. Well, maybe he's starting game four. If you treat it like, I don't know, it's kind of a workout day for him getting that one inning on Monday. And then do you go Lance on short rest, just knowing that he's got a very short leash?

Well, he only threw 75 pitches. and its first start. That doesn't necessarily mean short rest, especially for a guy that's coming off at Tommy John surgery. This is what we call in the business a pickle. That's why Ross. That's why I picked them in fours

because if it goes to five, I have there's too many issues to work out. Well, the reality is this. Oh, boy, this is tough. Oh, are you going to say must-win game? You want to say it, don't you? This is what I was afraid of. whether Zach was inconsistent or unavailable.

I mean, it really doesn't matter because, well, I guess inconsistent, Zach would at least get you some outs. You know what I'm saying? At this point, I don't, I mean, how do you win the American League Championship? You're going to seven-game series. Now, here we are, assuming that Zach's arm's soreness is going to last for a long period of time. So that's not fair to do that. But is it all of a sudden going to be better? in four days?

What are you going to do? You got four starters, but you need five, especially there's no days off. And forgetting about the next series, you've got to finish this off. Who starts tomorrow if they lose today? Bullpen games? Ooh, Lordy.

That means, Rossi. Steady diet of Josh James, a little bit of Brooks Rayleigh, A little bit of Andre Scrabb. Anybody else I'm missing? Blake Taylor. Oh, Blake Taylor maybe for two. But I feel like Blake Taylor today might be in the closer spot because, you know,

Press has gone the last handful of days. That's true. But sometimes, you know, look, the adrenaline of being in a postseason is good, but don't ask that to, don't tell that to, uh, not, uh, Will Harris, because he was in the adrenaline of Game 7 of the World Series, and that didn't turn out well. Well, this show got negative all of a sudden in a real quick notion. Thanks, Matt.

You know, no, it's a Texan's fault. It's JJ going in there while Cal was having the trisketes and cheese and chicken, chicken salad, and demanded a firing. By the way, JJ will speak to the media at 2 o'clock today. Rossi, how forthcoming will JJ Wap be about the alleged reports of JJ causing the player revolt against their head coach? Not vary to zero. I will put it at zero. could you imagine you're on the Zoom call JJ Matt Thomas

Sports Talk 790 there are multiple reports out there that you let a player revolt to getting Bill O'Brien fired Is that true? Here's what he would like to say You know I've done a lot of good for this team I've been good for this organization I've been good for this city

City's been really good to me McNair's have treated me very well Pay me a lot of money Yes I'm fully responsible Yes I've been tired of Bill O'Brien's antics for a long period of time. I'm 30-something years old.

I have no thoughts or aspirations of going to the Super Bowl because we're not good enough. We haven't won a game yet. And this jerk ran around screaming and yelling at us for the last five years. And I've sat there and taken it because we were AFC South champions. And we're not going to be the AFC South champions this year.

And we haven't won a game and the chances of an 0 and 14 going to the playoffs are like 0.1%. So I'm going to unleash my beast right now. And yeah, I got him five. Anybody else got anything for me? Wouldn't that be good, Ross, if he just came out and said, yeah, I caused it. What are you going to do about it?

That would be pretty awesome, actually. That would be amazing. Would you go to? Yeah, you want to take umbrage with me? In fact, what we would do would be just the opposite. Like, man, bravo, JJ. I'm glad you said something. Yeah, I second way between Astro starting pitching woes and JJ Watt getting Bill O'Brien fired.

Name another radio show in the marketplace. I can do that, Ross. There's nobody. Zero. Zero, man. It would never happen. Zero. All right.

Joel Klatt's going to join us in a matter of moments. I got a minute here for Bill in the Med Center. Bill, you're on 790. Good afternoon. Hey, just a quick question. If we were to put Zach Granky on the IR since it's the postseason we could replace them for another pitcher, who would you think that they would bring in if it goes down to that?

That's a great question. By the way, if you put them on the injured list, you lose them for the entire series. Oh, hell, I don't know. Javier, your Kiti, Valdez, McCullors, there's your four. Do you bullpen game a game? Yeah, you can bullpen a game. The race have done it for years in the playoffs.

Now, granted, they're not going deep in divisional playoff series and whatnot, but yeah. Yeah, I would have to think at that point you'd have to go with a bullpen game. Hell, the Astros won a playoff game last year against the Yankees with a bullpen game. I was at the Ray of the Yankees he did. in the bullpen whatever it was they've done it before it's not easy but you can but it can be done there isn't a starting pitcher that's sitting back going you know maybe this louise valdez kid i don't know anything about him i don't know but the point being is it's not going to be anybody that you go oh i know what this guy can do he can throw eight innings of no hit hell josh james's experience

the starter too there's a reality if you could go with him and see how long he would last I think it's a very, very interesting and difficult decision for the Astros to make, but one they may be forced to if Granky can't go. Joel Clatt joins us to start the next hour of the Matt Thomas show. 713212-579. 713-212-579 with a message here for bronze roofing. If your roof is showing any signs of leakage, I want you to call 281-480-9900, yourself a free estimate and to find out if there's anything the folks in bronze roofing can do for you

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is the Matt Thomas Show. 103 on Sports Talk 790. We will get to Joel Clatt from Fox Sports in a manner of moment. Right now, a couple of Astro calls to get in. We've got Astro Zontec coming up at the bottom of the hour. Lorenzo. And pass a get-down Dina on the Matt Thomas show. Hello, sir.

What's going on? Nothing. I was thinking if the Astro can figure out a pull another starter, and if they don't want to play a bullpen game, I believe they pitched Louise Garcia against the athletics in the middle of the season this year. So I was thinking, would he be a good option? to prevent the bullpen for going, you know, with more innings and more pitches and all that. Yeah, it would be a guy that has had a starting experience, obviously.

I mean, very limited obviously to the major league level, but in my mind, you tell me if I'm wrong, it would be like a bullpen game. I mean, his guy has not seen the mound in a real game in quite some time. And for him to go out there, all of a sudden it could be expected to throw six innings and go 100 pitches would seem kind of strange. But, yeah, no matter who it is, if it's not Granky and keeping other four starters on normal rest, it would have to be some kind of hybrid baseball game, right? But, yeah, I think Garcia is definitely an end that would be considered. Yep, I think so, too.

Maybe he'll get four innings or three, at least something. Yeah, you know, because here's the thing, and thank you for the phone call. This further proves Ross that Lance McCullors has to give you more than four and a third if the Astros are going to win the next series if they get there. Yeah, this is known. If he's going to be your guy and he's going to be, if you're going to make it, Pat, look, I think obviously they're going to beat the A's.

Outside of that, I mean, the Tampa Bay Rays are scary, the Yankees are scary, and even if you somehow get past one of them, and by the way, Matt, the ALCS is not going to have a day off. They're going to play, I believe I looked it up, and they're going to play seven days in a row. So the pitching staff, if that's going to happen, and somehow you get past them and you going up against the Dodgers,

where there are days off, it's two days on, three days, and then a day off, and then three days, and then a day off, and then two days, I believe. So if you're going to make it to where you want to be, Lance McCullors has to step up. Yeah, this four and a third, and I love Lance, he's got to go deeper and be effective, more importantly. Ray and Montana, before we say how to Joe Clyde. Hello, Ray. Hey, how are you?

What's going on? I just want to know why Mike fires refuses to pitch against us. Um, he's scaredy cat. I think he's gutless. Well, first of all, he sucks right now. Uh, that's the most important thing. There were, there are two starters. Montez and Lazzardo were better, are better than, uh, than Mike fires is.

But I'm telling you, they're, because he got blasted in game three out of their, their wild card series against the white sucks. Didn't last in the second inning. He's not very good. But there is a, there is a part of me. And Ross and I kind of Josh and argue about it. there's a large part of me that Mike Fires does not want to go against him because he knows that it's going to be the most awkward situation in the world

he's going to have a lineup that's going to be pissed off of what happened and what they said and they're going to take it out on him and it's going to be an awful storyline for him and his future is a major league pitcher so it's just very very convenient that the Astros and A's have played what will be 13 consecutive times and that Mike Fires is not pitching a single one of them of course he's guttless i mean he ran his mouth and he wouldn't even turn over his ring and now we're playing against him and he's stuck it again yeah again i mean i'll want to do this he's gutless well we'll never see him and that's fine again i look i'm not trying to justify what the asteros

dick because he cheated and there's an asterisk next to it we can't hide that but he sure is very uh boisterous when his old teammates are eighteen hundred miles away not in the other dugout. All right, let's say how to our buddy. Let's go to Joe Clatt, Fox Sports, that will call the Red River Shootout, Showdown, not Joel Clat, as my buddy Ross just said. It is not the Red River Letdown, or is it? Well, this year it will certainly be different. I guess in a year in which you're not going to have the fair, and it's only going to be 25% capacity. It's probably about par that both teams are coming in, stubbing their toe.

Obviously, OU, back-to-back conference losses for the first time since the John Blake era, which is just wild to think about. And Texas really should have won that game last week. Their defense played well enough, in particular in the red zone, forcing field goals to get the job done.

And I was shocked that, I mean, shocked that they didn't run quarterback power, run Sam Ellinger down on the one-yard line. Not that Keontte-Ingram's not a good player, But, I mean, that's a quarterback power all day long, and it should be noted he was struggling with his health a little bit. He got his knee banged up, his leg banged up against Texas Tech. And I didn't feel like he was ever 100% during the course of that game against TCU.

But, you know, here we are. And I got to tell you, Matt, Texas is desperate to win this game. There is so much more pressure on Texas. I don't get it. I watched, obviously, the Texas Tech game because my son goes in Lubbock, so I had an interest in that. watched it because you had the great game last week. What is going on? I mean, first of all, your game last Saturday, and it's not like Fox broadcasts only have

penalties galore, but you couldn't get in a rhythm of watching this football game because there were flags every five seconds. Is that because officials are flag-happy? Are we seeing a lack of discipline all throughout college football? Well, yeah. See, everyone's going to point to lack of discipline. I actually look at the officiating. Let me, and I know that this is a little bit more nuanced, but let me give you some context about how difficult this, you know, this is what COVID has done to officiating, is that normally you have an officiating crew and then those guys travel around as a crew all year and do games together.

That crew also has a preseason camp. They will go around multiple times during fall camp in August and get not only time together, but time. officiating teams practices and scrimages. And so not only do the teams become, you know, more familiar with calls being called against them, but officials get in a rhythm of actually officiating a game. What you have now is because they don't want to force these guys to travel quite as much, you're having local officials officiate the game. So you'll have different crews working with each other all the time every single week.

So it's very tough to get in a rhythm. from that standpoint. They had no preseason where they were out at these college campuses, officiating practices and scrimmages. So one, the players and coaches didn't get a feel for, you know, whether they were holding a lot, let's say, during the course of camp. And the officials didn't get time to acclimate to the game. So I think that's a big reason why you're seeing so many flags, to be honest with you, across college football. And I thought, but in this game, you know, everyone's like, whoa, you know, Texas is undisciplined. And this coach has never been a yes and no, think this year is just a weird year in that regard, in particular with the way that the officials

have had to prepare for the year and have gone about calling the games. So I think it might continue. I don't know if it's going to be something that wanes or slows down, but it might continue and be a storyline in every one of these games. But that being said, you certainly have to adjust if you're a player. You know, if they're going to call every little holding, then you've got to stop grabbing the jersey. And I think that's incumbent on them. All right, without making a prediction, going to call the game. Just give us a thought or two on each side what both teams have to do in order to win this because somebody's fan base, I would have presumed Texas's fan base is going to be a lot grumpier. Because Oklahoma goes to a national championship every other year.

It feels like release is in the final four. Texas is tired of losing to non-top 25 opponents. So give me a scenario where each team wins on Saturday. Well, I think that for Texas, what they have got to do, got to do is get out of their own way on offense. I feel like every time I watch them, if they have an offensive penalty, then the drive stalls out. If not, they go down and score. So it goes back to the previous answer and finding a way to be clean. I think that they also need to establish some sort of number one wide receiver or threat in particular on third down. You know, Devin Duvernay last year had 28 catches on third downs out of the most in the country. They're getting Jordan Whittingham back, one of the most highly rated

wide receiver recruits and a guy that they're really hoping can be a great player. They're getting him back this week. We'll see how effective he is. Josh Moore needs to be on the field. He wasn't really on the field. He was banged up. Didn't have a catch last week. So I think it's that playing clean and then finding that number one threat on the offensive side.

If they're able to do that, I think that they've got a great shot. For the Oklahoma side, it's really about their run game. Matt, they are a run-oriented team under Lincoln Riley. Did you know since he's been the head coach, no one else has led the Big 12 in rushing? other than Oklahoma. They run at 55% of the time. And right now, when you're looking at their run versus past disparity, it's quite stark. And part of that is that Spencer Rattler doesn't run well. And the other part of that is that they graduated or lost their top four rushers from a year ago. And that shouldn't be overlooked. Ramadre Stevenson is suspended. Kennedy Brooks opted out. Trace Serman

transferred to Ohio State and Jalen Hertz graduated and was drafted by the Eagles. It's really tough to just all of a sudden plug and play and be that dominant. But I'm looking at the run game. If they can get it going, then they'll have a shot. Disappointed how A&M wasn't overly competitive with Alabama last week. I'm assuming the answer to that is yes. Absolutely. Absolutely. They've recruited at a high level. Think about Texas and A&M. The money that they've invested in the programs, the recruits that they have, the composite rankings that they have as far as the talent on their rosters. And some of these performances are just downright frustrating for these fan bases, and I'm sure they're frustrated.

So, to be honest with you, I saw some of these people on Twitter, you know, these Aggie fans, they were like, oh, man, who was tied in the second quarter? I'm like, I'm sorry, tied in the set, like, who cares? You know, they need to be better. They've got a veteran quarterback. They've had the coach now for multiple years, and Jimbo has got to put out a better product against Alabama because that's the measuring stick. said before the year on this show, I thought that they were going to be the second best team in that division, that they had their best shot, maybe not quite to the class of Alabama. But that wasn't even in the same hemisphere as Alabama. Alabama really kind of beat them up, in particular in the

second half. I think that was very frustrating for A&M. All right, give me a thought about this Miami-Clemson game coming up. Trevor Lawrence, and not that I spent a lot of time looking at Clemson, look, Derek King's been fantastic for Miami, good for him as a former Cougar. I'm happy that he's having success. Do they got a shot to beating Clemson? Because Lawrence has been good, but not like, you know, remember when Oliver, when Andrew Luck came out of college, it was the suck for luck, and now there's all this narrative about it.

He's been okay, but hadn't been like mind-blowing. You tell me what you think about this game coming up. I don't, I disagree with you. I think he has been incredible. Do you know in his last 11 games, he's got 36 total touchdowns and only one turnover? Yeah, but he's playing the ACC. I mean, you can only play the teams that are in front of you. So, I mean, I guess you've got a point, but what's he supposed to do, go change the schedule?

I do think Miami has a shot, right? I don't know. I get nervous for the fact that it's so new for them. And Clemson is such a veteran and experienced team in big games, right? Like, this is the first moment for Miami with Manny Diaz, with Ret Lashley, with the Eric King. And Clemson, it's like, listen, we've been there and done that. They're so experienced. They were just in the national championship game there in playoff.

They just know how to play in this environment. So from that standpoint, I'm a bit nervous for Miami. But I do expect Miami to put up a quality fight. And I do think that this will be our best chance to really gauge what Lawrence is this year. because I think Miami is one of the better defenses he's going to face this year until he gets to the playoffs. And hopefully that playoff happens. Joel, great stuff is always really enjoying your Fox coverage and enjoy the Dallas. Are you a fair goer when you've gone to the pass or is that just kind of something you hide away from?

Yeah, there's a lot of people out there. Yeah, I know you don't like people. I try to go get something. I try to go get some pride, but that's, you know, that's, I don't know, man. Maybe someday. I'd love to do it later in life when my kids can travel down with me and then we can go enjoy the fair. Maybe on Friday, I think that would be a fun deal. And by the way, congrats. You're going to be doing more games than I think everybody else at Fox with this Pack 12 schedule kicking in pretty soon, too. So good for you on that.

I know, man. We're going to be, trust me. We're going to be, we'll be out there every Saturday. And it's fun deal. It's always good to be working. All right, friend. Thanks for the time, as always we'll talk again next Wednesday. You got it, bud. See you. All right, that's Joe Clyde. Fox Sports on the OU Texas game. 11 o'clock, and the game will be right here on Sports Talk 790. Craig Wayne Company will have it with a pregame show beginning at 10 o'clock. Rossi, we need some go-go Astros.

We didn't get people fired up for this game. We got on deck coming up in less than 15 minutes here on Sports Talk 790. Right now, a word for Balcones distilling. Balcones said to me, look, I know that you're a man of fancy ways. And I said, yes, Belconez, I am. I want you to tell your audience about the experiences you've had drinking bourbon and whiskin. I said, well, largely, it's been painful because I haven't found just the right blend

and the stuff that that tastes good. Well, thankfully, Belcones came through for me, and they had this Texas Potsdale bourbon, which I have become a huge fan of. We enjoy it old-fashioned here at the house every once in a while. Some of you like it neat. Some of you like it on the rocks. But whatever the case may be, if you're a fine connoisseur of bourbon, It's got to be Texas pot still bourbon from Balcones.

It is made from Texas blue corn and Texas wheat and Texas rice. How is this happening? Because Belcones is actually a Texas brand. They go from grain to glass, and it's distilled in Waco. And I cannot wait to get there in a few weeks because I want to see the process for myself. You don't have to see that. You just have to taste it for yourself. And once you do, you'll enjoy the experience of a great whiskey and a great bourbon

from our friends at Belcones. Stop by your favorite store, say, how I heard Matt Thomas talking about it, and I promise you, if they don't have it on hand, they will. Once you try it, you'll be satisfied. That's Belcone's distilling with great bourbons and whiskey, distilled to appreciate. Hey, it's Jeff Blum.

Blum fact number 14. I was on the White Sox in 2005. Yeah, sorry about that sweep, H-Town. But we're all good right now, right? Back to your lunchtime champion, Matt Thomas. Houston is All Systems Go! Uh-uh. Uh-uh.

No. No. We wanted to play your favorite Astros. No. No. No. No. This show, this song sucks.

This show sucks when the song is on. So I was actually right the first time. Do you remember when we used to sometimes play this backwards in order to get the Astros to win? Like when they were in a deep rub. they are not in a rut right now. No, they're in the anti-rut. All right, fine. I guess we can go.

He hit the regular song. Much better. Much, much better. This song has been a part of my life for 40 years. Listen to Houston, Texas. It is time for Astros baseball. All right, Rosset, you know how I have been 0 for two of my predictions. Yes.

Well, let's see. What was your original prediction in the series? A's and four? Yeah, that's mathematically out. And I snuck in Astros in five yesterday. Oh, no, you're changing again. Go ahead. Here's a problem.

Go ahead, flip-flopper. You know what? You can call me that. Go ahead. Here's the problem is I don't. Rossi, I cannot endorse this series going to five games. Yeah. Because of the potential pitch.

Exactly. Pull another one out of your. I will go predictionless. You submit you might say ass. I know how you say. spoke or how you speak. They're going to finish it off today, right? What are the odds? I say yes.

Why don't know what the odds are? I'm just thinking, I mean, Oakland minus 106. Very, very slight favorites. I mean, here's the thing, Rossi. The Astros and particular, George Springer, loves Dodger Stadium. And I would say, Matt, they are breathing orange fire. They're bringing, they're breathing orange fire into the smog of Los Angeles. That's how hot they are. You know what?

Instead of me predicting, why don't we let the audience predict it? We have about three minutes left on the show. Oh, like an insta poll? I don't know. Should we? Should we ask the question? Will the Astros finish off the series today? Do, do, do, do, do, do.

I'm going to do. Oh, there it is. It's never a bad thing, sports RV to end the show with an insta. The poll. The question, my friends, is very simple. Do the Astros finish it off today? 713-212-5-790. 7-13-212-5-7-90.

Do the Astros win the American League Division series today against their hated rivals, the Oakland days, in about four and a half hours? Line one of the Instapole. Do the Astros win it today? Yes or no? Yes. Prime numbers before the fall. The A's are gone.

A's are gone, he says. All right. It's a 1-0 vote. Let's go to line two. Line two, the Astros finish off the A's today. Yes or no? Hell yeah. Hell yeah.

That's right. Ross, what does the Insipoll do? Well, it lies sometimes. We'll see if the Astros lose. It lies that it has lied before. Line three, to the Astros finish it off. today, yes or no? Absolutely.

Absolutely. I'll take that as a yes. Line four, to the Astros finish off the A's today. Yes or no? All right, I think he was speechless, Ross. Line five, yes or no? Do the Astros finish off the series? Yes or no?

Molly, sweeping boys. Sweeped them boys, Rossi. Close the poll off. Now I feel better. Rossi, I end the show by saying this. Astros and three. You're such a fraud. I am such a fraud.

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