The Matt Thomas Show with Ross - Jeremy Pena Hires Scott Boras For His New Agent, Does This Mean Anything? Astros Start Their Series Tonight vs Phillies

Episode Date: June 24, 2025

Jeremy Pena Hires Scott Boras For His New Agent, Does This Mean Anything? Astros Start Their Series Tonight vs Phillies

This is the Matt Thomas show with Ross. And welcome to a Tuesday edition of the Matt Thomas show and Ross. We are here today until 2 o'clock. We have some strange coworkers. I just can't say it any other way but that. I mean, really bizarreo. And when Ross and I do, our private podcast will take exactly what the stories are behind when the microphones get turned off. Off the record with M.T. and RV.

Oh, my God. I like it. The stories we could tell you. We have to make sure we retire. When I hit the lotto, we'll do off the record with M.T. and RV. Yeah. I'll give you 100,000 an episode. Yeah, either one of us hits a lottery. We've got to take care of each other.

Now, I've got family, a bigger family than you. Oh, I know, man. But come on, man. That's not really your fault. I know. It's more my fault. It's more my fault. It's more my fault.

For all these hamster offings. Man, it's ridiculous. That is true. All right. So when we retire, hopefully in about, I don't know, 15, 20 years. Yes. We will do an off-the-record podcast. We will expose all the weirdos we've worked with over the entire life here at Sports Talk 790.

All right. So yesterday was in the world of sports, especially for us that are Hughes-Centric radio host, I mean, not a damn thing. Astros are off. The Kevin Durant Mania obviously was at a. super high, but it's... The fire's still burning, though, Matt. Oh, yeah, for sure. We'll obviously get into that a little bit,

especially when we think about what the rockets could be doing. There's a little bit of news on the rockets we'll get to today. But it largely it was a night where you had to acquiesce to your family and just watch the female shows. Okay. That you were cleaning out the gutters

and you weren't knocking out the honey-do list? I did remove a chair from my bedroom and put it outside. I will give you that. It was broken. Okay. So the dump. You didn't repair it? Please.

I have no skills of that whatsoever. So I'm just minding my own business, just looking on Twitter, watching. I've been, I told the Sir Ross before the show today. I've been obsessed with watching people play blackjack on Facebook. Yeah, that's interesting. And I don't know if they're set up or they're really authentic. I feel like a lot of them got to be set up. Because you're really not supposed to be able to film these things.

They don't allow you know. Now, one time I did have a hand with involving four aces that they let me put out there. Remember that hand I had during the summer? It was like last year I put a picture of it. And I said, kind of take a picture. And I said, sure. But largely, you're not supposed to be able to show off what you're doing on the black check table. So that's just my own business.

And then damn Chandler Rome. What did he do? A little nugget. Not him. Yes. Just a little nugget. You're a little nugget, Chandlerone? Yeah.

That's adorable. He's not a little nugget. He's my little nugget. He's more of a pan of the ass. We love many away. Said that Jerry Pena has got new representation. And you're like, okay, that's fine. I mean, agents change all the time.

Why is this noteworthy, Matt? Well, I'm glad you asked, SportsRV. Because Scott Boris is now his agents. Oh, Scottie Mey. So let's put this in perspective. Okay. The two biggest free agents, not coming up now, but in theory two to three years from now,

Because we're the number one free agent at this point would be Fromber. Yes. And he gone. And he gone. The next two down the road will be the two most effective players on this year's baseball team, Jeremy Payne and Hunter Brown. Both are going to want to get paid. Both deserve to get paid.

They have crescendoed after. I mean, Hunter's been a steady uptick. Jeremy went from Coon in a home run for a calendar year to all of a sudden becoming a terrific leadoff hitter for this. baseball team. He hit the scene like gangbusters. 2022 World Series MVP. A little bit of a roller coaster ride, but he is definitely

assenting beautifully. His stock is as high as possible right now. It absolutely is. I really since the move to going to the lead off spot, yeah. So your two guys are now being represented by the guy that, again, the Astros have made moves with, have been able to get

guys in, and that of course would be Lance McCullors and the most important one of them all Jose Altuve. But Scott Boris has also had guys in Astros gear, namely the two most recent ones, Garrett Cole and Alex Spragman. And those guys went to Scott Boris because they wanted to go get as much money as possible

because he's the hired gun. Yes. So needless to say, we could save us for gut feelings in an hour and a half, but when as soon as I saw it, the first thing I thought, of us, well, who is the shortstop of the future for the asteros?

Is it Bryce Matthews? Because I ain't a way Jeremy Payne. I get it. I understand. That's very natural, but also he's under team control for a couple more years. Daddy is. And it's too simple to presume anything. But we

do have to go off of history. Yes. We do have to go off of as you would say a lot, the term you used a lot, recency bias. Yes. And the recency of the Astros is everybody that has been a free agent that is looking to cash in for the very first time, which Jeremy Payne and Hunter Brown would both be doing,

as free agents, have gone elsewhere. The Astros have had multiple opportunities, whether it's Springer, Correa, Cole, Bregman, Charlie Morton, a much smaller extent. Who else? Did you say Springer? Springer. Very, very first. have all decided to go elsewhere.

So it would be foolish for me not to think, and for Astro fans to think, that the Astros are going to have to replace. Replaced Jeremy Payne. And Hunter Brown, for that matter. First things first, Astros could have signed any of those guys. And so can.

But could have, yes, in yesteryear. Any one of those guys you mentioned, Astros could have had. If the price was right. it's the owner and that's okay, it's his philosophy. And it's also a player too. The player can also get a deal from the Astros

and say, that sounds good, I'll stay here. Then that's why Jose Altuve is here. Correct. But. And Yorna Al-Az was signed and Christian Javier got his deal. There are some deals that have been signed by Astro players

really early in the game. But yeah, the player, for the player say I am going to, I only have a finite number of years in my career as a viable major league asset. I'm going to get as much money as possible. That makes a lot of sense. And for

Jim Crane to say, hey, these long-term deals don't work out more often than not. And I don't want to sign them. I get that as well. So Scott Boris isn't a non-starter for any other top organizations in baseball. It's really just for the Houston Astros because of the stance that Jim Crane holds. Yeah.

And that's why I thought last year while it was cute Jose El Tuve going to bat for Bragman was fool's gold he really yeah but he believed it he did believe it

but they just don't when you go when you go to Scott Boris you are like I've got to you're going to get me

the most money now he hasn't had a terrific last couple of years but by and large Scott Boris is the most powerful baseball agent in the history of baseball. I mean, look at the number of amazing deals he's

been able to strike. And it wasn't like Alex Bregman's going to the powerhouse because he got $40 million each of the next three years if he so chooses. And now everybody doesn't love Scott Boris. That'd be teams and that'd also be players. Jordan Montgomery says hello. Oh, yeah. I mean, it doesn't always mean he's going to do it for you. Because again, when you take

that chance with Boris, he's going to want you to hold out to the very last second to get the best possible deal. Before Bregman got this deal that he got from the Red Sox at the 11th hour, his market was extremely underwhelming. Detroit and Houston, basically. Yes. And it wasn't going to be anywhere near the AAV. Red Sox got desperate, swooped in and gave him $40 million a year on a shorter term deal. Right.

So that was going to be an L for Scott Boris, building up his market and, you know, saying all these fancy phrases and talking about bees and winning C's or whatever he was talking about with Alex Breggman. But you hire Scott Boris. That means generally you want the most money possible and you're going to go and try to be in the market with the big dogs talking about the Dodgers Yankees. So to me, it's not so much about how dare Scott Boris. The player says, I kind of know what I'm getting when I sign with Scott Boris. He is going to tell me to hold out to the very last second. He's going to tell me to explore other places unless Scott feels like the Astros would go above and beyond what fair market value is. and the Astros have shown absolutely no history.

I'm doing that. I mean, they didn't overpay for Altuvi. Now, the second contract for Altuvi put him into obviously late 30s, but the deal that Lance McCuller signed many years ago wasn't overvalued. It was, hey, we think you're pretty good. We think you got a nice future, and we're going to try to catch you now before you start to make super cash? Yeah, I feel like at the time, it was a little dicey just because of the injuries.

Because of the injuries. That's right. But if you, but if he was able to go down a path where he wasn't, hurt all the time. It was going to be a steal for the Astros. It was unfortunately it was not. You rolled the dice and you cracked out on that one. Yeah. And there's still a chance

to come. Yeah, that's right. You can recover. To make some of this up. You know, you got a big losing session and you come back the next day and you win a little back. You still lost. They're trying to, they're on the rebound session. Oh my God. On a Thursday night, I've lost $500 playing blackjack. If I win two-fifty on Friday, I feel

like I'm a net win, which really is an net win. Exactly. That's what the Astros are trying to do the Lenswell-Colars contract. Get a little recoup at the end of the back end. You don't want it to sting as much as it did when you went to bed on Thursday night. Exactly. That's what they're doing. But Jeremy Payne is under control.

They have him this year, next year, and the year after. Yeah, so he's a phrase. He's a $27.28 is when his free agent. Yes. So, in theory, if you're going to make this big move, which I believe is a year too late, you're going to have to really put together a deal this offseason. Because if you're down to a year, Scott, Scott's Boris is like, oh, this is my wheelhouse, baby.

I'm not letting you go. I'm not letting you go to spring training and listen to the Astros for a year. We're going to play this last year out. Now, there is two sides to this. And I'll discuss the second side when we come back because it isn't completely against, it's not the Astros fault per se. And I'll explain more in a minute. 1012 is a time.

We've got gut feelings at 1130 today. We've got Joe Espada at 1230. We have NFL Rewin'Rewin'I. with Rossi coming up at 120, believe it or not at 150. We're with you until 2 o'clock. I also want to get into whether or not the rockets could be done when it comes to filling out the 2,025-26 roster. We'll get to that as well.

713-212-5-790. 7-1-3-212-5-790. 10-13. This is Matt Thomas Show with Ross, and this is Sports Talk 790. It is 1018 on Sports Talk 790. Matt Thomas Show with Ross. Ross, how are you today? No, no, I just, I just, he doesn't need to answer that because he just took a bite of a taco.

So we'll let him finish that. All right. So my point on this on the Jeremy Pena, and look, we're certainly getting the, we're putting this out there many years in advance. This could all be for nothing. I don't believe it to be accurate because I'm going off of history. But let's say the Astros would have tried to lock up Jeremy Pena before last season. Jeremy Pena in

2004 had an OPS of 701 that is below average. His OPS Plus, which is 100, it means you're the average. You are just a good old fashion average player, right, Rossi? He had a 99. The year before that, he had a 95.

Jeremy Pena was an underperforming offensive player frankly in the last two seasons. Now he had a really nice rookie campaign. Obviously when you win the MVP of the World Series, you had a spectacular postseason. Which he did. Okay.

But that had been super early in the game to buy it all all those years out. If the Astros would have signed Jeremy Payne to a long-term extension before the start of the 2020-season or any point during the 2012-4 season, you guys been flipping out. What are the Astros doing?

They wouldn't sign, they wouldn't get Bregman long-term, they wouldn't do Springer, they wouldn't do Correa, but you're giving Jeremy Payne all this money? Are you kidding? So that's why the Astros deserve a little bit of defense. of this because the numbers did not dictate that. His rise this year has been significant. His OPS Plus, and again, you can figure out with the parameters on it, 100 is considered

average. Last year he was 99, so it was just a tinge below average. This year his OPS Plus is 144, which puts him in All-Star Elite category. His OPS batting is, on baseball slugging is 874. His batting average is 326. He draws walks. He's still a very good defensive player. yada, yada, yada. I mean, all the things that you would make, you'd say, you know what?

Man, the ascension is spectacular. But it took a while. It took them three years after the 2022 season. So that's why the Astros, in some respects, were to damn if you do, damn, if you don't situation, because if you would have done it last year, you'd have been like, what are you doing? The guy's mid. You do it this year and maybe it's too late because then it's what he does. He says, I think I'm playing at my very best. I need to go get the very best for representation. and I think I'm going to be able to continue to do this for the next couple of years. So when I do, and I'm able to test for agency, I want to have Scott Boris on my side. And that's exactly what's happened.

Yeah, and it's also a situation where, yeah, this is a very unique situation to where you are at 27 years old in your fourth major league season, having this big of a breakout, it's pretty rare. It's not very common. And so where Jeremy Pena is, he's in a unique position. They put the Astros, unfortunately, in a unique position to where they didn't want to re-sign him, as you said, or maybe there were conversations, but they probably didn't progress too far. And now he's got Scars Scott Boris. He didn't even really have time to miss the boat. The boat just took off. And the reality is this, too, gang.

He wasn't as old as George Springer when he made his major league debut, but it wasn't significantly different. I think George was 25. Payne was 24. So he's going to be 30 when he gets to. cracked that first super big contract. And again, the puzzle pieces are kind of fitting into place. I'm having my best season. I'm a couple of years away from being a free agent.

And still, he's got this season and two more after this. So there is obviously time. And the Astros could ultimately say, you know what? We need to make this move because it's important for us to have a cornerstone shortstop lead off guy. I mean, he is the lead off guy and we'll never, unless he goes on some horrific slump, he'll be that guy. Also, don't get mad at me, Matt, but he's due for a little aggression.

If you look at things like XBA, you look at batted ball luck, he's been kind of lucky at the start of the season as well. Generally, those things tend to go down in the waterfronts level. I'm not going to dispute that. I'm not going to get into it, but I will dispute that. I'm going to tell you, I don't think he's a 326 hitter. He's got a lot of infield singles, but that's what he can do because of how speedy he is. So that will be there. But that was also the case last year and the year before.

He's still, his XBA is 286. He's hitting 326. and generally, I just think his average will come down eventually. So we've kind of presented the case on both sides of this. I don't blame Jeremy. As I told somebody this morning when I was headed to work, I was talking about this, I said, you know, if I'm playing at my very best, and I've got free and see, I want to go get the best representation possible,

and not one but two Astros have done that. Knowing, though, however, when you go get Scott, he's going to he's not going to lean into do you like it in houston well of course i do do do you like playing with hose altube of course you do do you like your home do you like doing the commercials for rock arenas ronnas of course you do but you've you've got me and i'm going to go out and try to get to the best deal possible now scott again has not batted a thousand the last couple of years but my guess is alex pregnant at the end of the day isn't overly upset that now he wanted a long-term deal and he still might get it. Now, this injury situation may hurt that. But even on a short-term

player control contract, Alex Regman is still getting $40 million this year to play for the Boston Red Sox and 40 more million dollars next year if he so chooses. And then if he so chooses that, it's another $40 million. Everybody's doing pretty good. He's not doing so bad. I don't think Alex is like, man, I screwed up by Scott Boris on my side. I can't feed my kid. whatever his kid's name is. Has he got two now? Yeah. Or she's pregnant.

No, no, she had the second child. The baby came out. Yes. Okay. Yeah, by the way, congratulations to Justin Verlander having their second child. Oh, really? Yes. Good for him.

And her. And her. One of the all-time win leaders, the most money, I think the all-time money leader are pitching-wise. Yeah. And two kids with Kate Upton. Two kids with Kate Upton or hundreds of millions of dollars you get one and one only hundreds of million dollars that's true yeah that's right

i mean not that it's not worth it's white and gold over there but yeah money money and really going back to this and we're going to steer it back in the right direction here that was my fault yeah this is this isn't about jeremy being comfortable this is about jr and hunter i wish i should also put hunter brown the same next too this is about those two gentlemen going and we're pitching, we're playing our best. We want the best. And Scott Boris is the best. He is the best agent

right now and probably has been for what the last 20 year. I mean, the Hendricks brothers were very popular 25, 30 years ago, but they're retired out of the business. So now it's you had to find the new number one guy. It's Drew Rosenhouse. And frankly, it's Scott Boris, right? I would say so.

Who's the best? You mix Lee Steinberg in there? Lee got you. Lees Lee's only guy right now, I think, of any consequence, is Pat Mahomes. I just mean for all time. Oh, yeah, all time, yeah. I'm sure. You're talking about right now. Rich Paul, I guess.

Rich Paul and clutch sports with the NBA. That's right. That's right. So what is, I have a stupid question. What does Scott moving, make this move now? Why? Does Scott Boris, he's helping with arbitration later down the road? I mean, and the Astros typically don't have arbitration issues.

They did with one player. And he gone? And he left. I don't forget these things. But that wasn't under Dana Brown's watch. So that's fair. Now, Jim Crane was the owner of the team at the time, obviously, still is. I don't know if there's an expiration and a contract, if an agreement, that I can't.

Yeah, I don't know. I don't. And that's maybe a question that maybe Chandler and or Brian McTagger could probably answer. You know what? That's where we can ask them. That's because we get the experts on this station. Yeah. Yeah.

So we'll have McTaggart with this on Thursday. And I think Chandler is with the boys on Friday during the A team. So that was how I spent my yesterday was thinking about how the Astros are going to have to, in theory, possibly, maybe even probably replace their future ace and their future and their current spectacular performing leadoff man. Are the Astros, yeah, I mean, do you just, even if they don't trade them? That's what I'm saying. In a couple of years, when Jeremy Payne is at the end of his rope as far as team control, where are the Astros? I mean, Jose Altuva is going to be like 38. It'll be the last year of Christian Walker's deal.

I guess I'll have some money to spend, but the pharmacist is not fully stocked with the much it's done. Well, what you said in your second and the last statement sentence should give you pause for optimism. The Astros do spend money. This is not a miserly baseball team. Because they're not miserly, they will replenish. The one thing that has been consistent, and so far it's worked out. I mean, not so far. It's flat out worked out.

Is team-friendly contracts. Good compensation, not long-term commitment. But they also do, rather than play, you don't want to sign guys long-term because you don't want to pay for the old years, but then they pay guys for the old years like Jose O'Brien and Christian Walker. And that hasn't been working out. Now, yeah, the free engine, that's what I'm saying.

There's a little bit more of a dicey situation when you go to the free-engine market and think, oh, we'll just go buy somebody else. Well, you bought Jose O'Brieu, and that didn't work out. You extended Raphael-Montra, and that didn't work out. and you bought Christian Walker. And so far, that has been a major disappointment. Turn it around, Christian. Come on. All right.

If you want to chat, man, anything we just talked about in the first half hour of the show, we'd love to have you. It's 713-212-5-790. 7-13-212-5-790. If you want to visit with us through Twitter, you may do that as well. At SportsMT and at SportsRV. Should the Rockets be done with this off-season? A couple of little things to bring up next. 1029 on Sports Talk 790.

1034 on Sports Talk 790. It is the Matt Thomas show at Ross. You 10 o'clockers are slow to wake up. We're here for you. Rise and shy with us. I mean, we got to do something. Most people are up. Yeah.

Not me. Yeah, I was going to say, you would not be viewed at a chance. Hey, what can I do? We got to do something for our 10 o'clockers. Okay. We've got to think of something, special incentive to hang out with us. Okay. Or reward those that have been with us at 10 o'clock or with us every day at 10 o'clock.

Hmm, like what? I don't know. We're going to get to think pad. Okay. Like two believe it or not questions every day? How about read all eight, believe it or not, and I'd have to write them early. If we did believe it or not at 1034,

I don't know if we didn't have anybody there. That's true. I mean, you've been doing your dreams recently. You could do that. That's time people, it has a tune-out. Yeah, I don't know. Nobody gave me a good answer to my dreams of yesterday.

Uh-huh. I was when you were driving the F-1 car? No, we landed in the middle of a bunch of rolling hills. We all got against the curb and to stand up. And then you won the Super Bowl with Joe Montana. I did not. That's not true. All right.

Daniel Lerner, Rockins beat reporter for The Chronicles, says the Rockets... Is that her job now? It has been, yeah. I know. I was deciding. Yeah. I know she took over for Jonathan Fagan. Yeah, I think she's going to do that until they say no more.

I think it's her job, yeah. Okay, great. She says that the Rockets may be trying to kick the tires and getting back in the draft this point. Wednesday's draft party, which I will be at. You will? At the Tota Center is... Those tickets going like hotcakes now?

Well, they're only a dollar to get in. You get to play on the basketball court and something. It's really fun. I mean, it's got to be an easy way to have a good time at the arena, a little basketball. But there are no draft picks to be acquired at this point. Maybe the rockets are trying to get back in the trip. Maybe they're run open tryouts at the draft. Yeah, you know, maybe he gained the 16 spot on the 15 men roster.

It's kind of capped out right now, I think. So, I mean, it would be a veteran minimum, right? That's not bad. I don't know. I don't know. I don't think they're going to swing for the fences for a super megastar or even megastar, but I there's a feeling my guess. is we'll have another recognizable NBA player

with the Rockets by the time they get to training camp in October. Just my, that's a little bit of an early gut feeling. A gut feeling. Is it Tuesday? Yeah, 1130. Okay. I was a gut feeling L for me. I didn't think the Rockets were going to make a major move.

Yeah, the Drant would be a major move. By the way, did you see the video? He's already out there making baskets. Oh, yeah, let's go. He can score until he's 50. He's 6 foot 11 with the wingspan of a pterodactyl. He can score. And doesn't it body fat?

No. Now, the Achilles and the knees and the elbows and the shoulders, they all get older, just like anybody else that's fighting that. So there's just a genuine higher risk for a 37-year-old to get hurt as compared to a 24-year-old. Yes. With all the wear and tear that Katie has gone through his body. But players are playing deeper into their careers. They just are.

last year he played 11 back-to-backs. How many does he play this year? Less. I think it's 0.5, right? Is the line? Either he plays him or he done for the most part. Honestly, I think part of next year's jigsaw puzzle fitting will be who sets out on what games and what. I mean, you're going to, in theory, I don't know if Tarisen's going to play a full 82. I can tell you guarantee that Stephen Adams's not going to play a full 82.

And if I'm the Rockets, I wouldn't play. I wouldn't be challenging Kevin Durant to play a full 82. Every now and then they were sitting Fred Van Vleet out, but he gets the stray ankle injury or whatever. Right. I mean, this is not a, this, when you added Kevin Durant, even when you still have the young guys like Jabari Smith and Tar recent and a men, Thompson, this is no longer a baby team.

This is a veteran-laden with guys growing up right before us team. This is not a young squad. Where Oklahoma City, fresh off their championship, is still one of the youngest teams in the NBA. I thought they were the youngest team. Maybe they are. Maybe they are. That's not good.

But, and, you know, I got caught. You remember I was trying to kill time yesterday? Yes. A lot of people on the 4U tab, Uh-oh. Take it with a grain of salt. I will. Aren't necessarily believing that Oklahoma City is a dynastic team.

I, okay. Okay, because when they have to pay everyone. They'll break up when they have, they won't be a, able to pay Chad Hongren, Jalen Williams, and Shay Gildes Alexander, all the huge contracts. That's basically what happened when it was Harden, Durant, and Westbrook.

Somebody's going to have to go. But for next year, all those guys are going to be rostered, correct? I'm really mixed about how I feel about a dynastic team. They are far in a way. The new CBA is to break up the dynasties.

You can't do what the warriors were doing with Durant and Curry. and Clay Thompson and Dremont all on the same team and just paying luxury tax out their ears, you can't do that anymore. You get hard-capped. So they aren't going to be able to have that type of super team.

Parody's going to be good for the long-term health of it. I'm not really, I mean, I guess when I'm thinking about dynasty as I'm thinking about the next two years. I think his dynasties are built on three or more. Again, I'd have to, I mean, Chad Holgren's still going to be on a rookie deal. I don't know what is Jalen Williams up soon. So let me give you the argument as to why

they're not a dynasty team. Chet Holmgren's going to miss more time. Probably. But as long as he's healthy for the play. This year he missed like however many games because he broke his hip. He broke his pelvis or whatever. And guess what? He was there in the playoffs.

I'm going to give you some more. Okay. Lou Dort's offensive skills continue to regress. His three point percentages went up this year. I watched him in that. He had one Hail Mary in Game 7 that was incredible. But there were some three pointers that were very painful. for him to shoot. Let's see. This year he shot

last two years from three. 39% and 41%. That's all he's there for. You don't need... Lou Dort's not going to be, you know... He's not be sticking step back jimmies. It just kind of hit the wide open shot. Is Alex Caruso going to continue to be a thorn on the side of the NBA? He's getting a little older, but he's a good role player.

I think you're just trying to convince yourself, Matt. You're coping right now. That's what I'm saying. You're hoping on the copium. I'm trying to talk. to you to convince me if I should be right about this or wrong about this. They're rightful, rightful, big time championship favorites next year. They are. But, and also I'll give you the one thing, this could be the same thing to be said for the rockets or any team.

They were, Holmgren's injuries, that was one. But generally speaking, they were a pretty healthy squad over the course of the year, right? I don't remember if SGA missing much time or Jalen Williams missing much time. time. I don't know. But they're also the youngest team in the NBA. So young players are going to be healthy, Matt. All right. I'm screwed. You are really just trying to convince yourself that the Rockets are making the finals. And I love it. I need them. I'm just, you know.

Well, because I mean, we talk about this. If indeed Kevin Durant signs a two-year extension after this year, you get a three-year window of NBA finals or it will be a bust of a trade, right? I mean, I don't think it's pretty easy for people to decide. You're not bringing Kevin Durant in here. And by the way, one more thing I thought of this. I don't want to hear about how the Rockets 20 years ago went for Charles and for Scotty

Pippin and who else older guys down in the years. Yeah. Is there somebody else that was in the mix that was an older guy? Barclay and Pippin. Well, you mean, Drexler was older, but... But that worked out.

Yes. They won a championship. This to me, hopefully, is more, obviously, more Drexler than it is Scotty and Charles. Mm-hmm. But even if all those deals worked, you can't You can't put the 1990s Rockets Carol Dawson-led general manager team and ownership with Les Alexander against what the Fortitas and Raphael Stone are doing in 2025.

I'll also say this. Sports science is a lot different than it was in 1996 when you made the Charles Barkley trade. Also, who's working out and taking more care of their body? Charles Barkley or Kevin Durant? We know the answer. But also, if you're Charles Barkley, you didn't take care of your body and you still were able to. be one of the best rebounders and power forwards in NBA history. I have more faith than Kevin Durant as, I mean,

just an all-time freak in nature, improved sports science, and he's taken care of his body. He lives and breathes basketball. This is what he's basically made his life mission as to just, he's just a hooper, man. Yeah. So I'm feeling good. I understand the age 37.

It's difficult to see and have a lot of faith in, but I'm feeling good about it. I'm not feeling good. I'm feeling great. I'm going to be You know when you have a calendar And you have to you count down the days To a big

Like a big trip or schools out for the summer I'm in October mode already Training camp I don't particularly care of You have a big calendar on your fridge And you're marking off the days of the marker Yes Yeah

That's me right now Okay Get that schedule look at it Figure out Not me but I told you Western Conference finals Four days a week And it'd be great

well you always I just want you here Matt that's all well I'll be with you next week I was going to take some time up but I'm going to decide to work with you anyway even though I'll be in Dallas bless you Matt

all right you're dedicated to your craft others not so much but you I appreciate you're welcome 713 212 5790 713 712 5790 I have received one tweet

from about 30 people yesterday would like to know what that tweet is I would like to know what that tweet is I would like like to know, Matt. I'll tell you after I tell you. I'm dying to know. You better. An umpiring audit Twitter account has some terrible numbers from last weekend and we'll have that for you coming up at the top of the hour.

But I want to defend the umpires a smidge and we'll do that. Oh, okay. And just a smidge. You're the one. Just in 10 minutes. So give me that. You're not talking about the CB Buckner one, are you? No, no, no, no. Did you see that one? I saw that one. C.B. Buckner is the new Angel Hernandez. 10 minutes. Give me that. So a lot of people send me, you know, like non-Florida stories, and my friend Joan sent us something. And it's about the 20th time someone sent it to it. It's been all of them.

So a guy at the Galleria yesterday, or when it was yesterday, what it was, was supposedly running from the police when he jumped from the second level of the Galleria onto the ice rink to further escape the people chasing after him. He thought he was Jason Bourne. the second when he landed on the ice and I don't even think it matters if it was ice or not

he landed and broke both his legs and there is video of this man laying on an ice rink with his legs broken there's a shoplifter yes running from Houston police in the gallery it's a tough watch

thank God we didn't get to see his legs actually snap in half but they're just lying their limp are into that oh yeah not me no me either I like how the person like skates up You okay dude

I don't know why You just do that little skating stop turn It just makes me laugh They do that right up to a guy with broken legs All right I'm going to give you a chance to win some serious MT bucks Okay I am 50 something years old Okay

You can say how old you are I'm 50 53 But I have 33 Okay How many times in my 53 year old life have I gone ice skating And I'll give you Jonathan, you got a guess. I'll say once. You say once.

What do you say, Jonathan? You can also say once if you'd like. I asked it three times. Oh, one time. Congratulations. What do I win? Nothing. I'll give you 10,000.

It's fun. I'll give you 10,000. I mean, I don't know what I'm doing and you hold onto the rail. What about roller skating? Oh, does it. You just roll the ring back in the day? Back in the day, of course. Mm-hmm.

But it's been, what, sixth grade was in the 80th? Yeah, it's been 40 years. Yeah. I'm good. Go listen to some disco? No, I could do that. A lot of the roller rinks around here do like adult Friday nights or whatever.

I told you about the da-na-na-na. The girl and I went to high school with wants to have a little reunion party with us of our class. And we had a call there. Really? Like he had a roller rink. Yeah, yeah. That must have been out.

Yeah. She sent you a wink and emoji or what? No. No, but she said on for Facebook, she said, hey, let's all get together with our class and kind of go back to, let's go back to the 80s night and we'll go to a roller rink. and we'll get on skates and we'll drink and we'll listen to music and, you know, and make out and stuff like that. We'll hand out knee braces and back braces.

Drink and roller skate. That's not a good combination. Well, you know what I mean, relatively speaking. So I put an emoji of a bunch of us and a, not an emoji. I found a guy, a picture on GIF of a guy laying on a stretcher. I was like, this is our selfie from it. People laughed at that. Let's go.

You got a lot of good reactions on Facebook. A lot of good reactions. That's great, which I live for. So what the hell was this? I mean, hmm. I just don't get it. You got to take the L on the shoplifting. How can you look, I mean, with the cameras everywhere, are you, I mean, how are you successfully shoplifting at the Galleria mall in the first place?

First of all, who's going to the gallery to begin with? A lot of people. I haven't been in the gallery at probably in the mall 15 years. Really? Yeah. I'd say I'd been there, I don't know, two or three times in the last two or three years. But I live close by it. Every time I hear about the Galleria, somebody's being shot in the garage.

Well, first time, man, I hadn't been shootings in a while. Okay, two weeks. You got to remember, Matt. I grew up on Green's Point. It's fine to me. Yeah, you're kind of accustomed to it. Yeah, exactly. They're shooting at a mall. You don't know what a real mall is then.

Yeah, exactly. You just sit there and you eat your Neifah's Express, and then you hear a couple of gunshots ring out, and you just keep about your business. You know, let me tell you, I don't mean to OG myself, but I'm an OG Houstonian. I went to Westwood Mall back in the day. I don't know what that is.

That was the mall on Bissonette in 59. That doesn't even sound good What about Sharps Town Mall? Oh, plenty of times. What about the Northwest Mall right there On the Northwest Loop? Plenty of times. Yeah.

The Foley's had the big giant arches on it. I used to think that was like the fanciest thing in the planet. The only mall I go to... Wow, look at these big arches on the Foley's. Yeah, I go to Woodlands very irregularly, but it usually is a shopping. It's like go eat one of their great restaurants around there and then hop in the mall for a little bit.

Or go to the Apple Store. Yeah, but I mean, they got a shake shack in there. This is what I go to the gallery. for Shake Shack or to pick up if something I get, it's faster to get in-store pickup for like a Macy's or Mortstrom's. Mm-hmm. Well, you know a lot of the professional sports

teams 15, 20 years ago would stay at the Galleria area hotels. You know the Reston Galleria. Yeah. And now they're going to somewhere. I used to go to the Cona Grill for Reverse Happy Hour, but it's gone now. What is Reverse Happy Hour? Yeah, I was going to... You don't know reverse Happy Hour is? Is it during an off-time?

Are they charge you more money for a drink? What is it? Instead of two or three? It's late. Yeah, exactly. Instead of three to six, it's like nine to 12. So you're at the gallery at between nine and 12? I mean, I had been before. Okay. Yeah, what do you mean? Then they had like $3 sushi rolls. It was like $2 sake bombs or something like that.

It was nice. Glad you're here. It was real nice. You pregame at the old Monum Mill? I don't think that. Conogreale, they don't exist anymore, do they? That one's gone. So yeah, the video is his limp legs are just lying there

and they're in probably three to four pieces. I'm sorry, but it's actually kind of funny. I'm like him just sitting there. I mean, it's hard for me. I'm not really going to show a whole lot of empathy for a shoplifter who is stupid. First of all, he's a criminal. Second of all, he's stupid. Usually that's one of the same, right?

Yeah, well. How many people can run into a mall? Now, I understand a grocery store. I could even buy a Walmart or a Target. But you're in a mall. where there's even what's the easiest way in out of a mall there's no easy way yeah trying to go through a department store to get out right if he was taking a loaf of bread to feed his family or something it's a different situation whatever you're taking in the gallery a mall

get out of here you can't go to a couture place and go i need this to feed my family exactly so unless he's at the great american cookie company in the in the food mart i got an unpopular take for you go ahead i don't like cookie cakes i don't like them either i hate them oh really all three of It's not that unpopular. I think we're all on the same board. I'll eat them. It's just not my preference. I'll put them third place behind.

I don't know. I just, you know why? I don't think it tastes very fresh. That's the reason why. I'm with you. Wow. This is probably,

we're all going to be on the same page. This is crazy. Now, if you want to get me a great, a bait American bookie rompity, get me a freshly baked cookie. I'll eat that with a glass of milk and be enjoyed. But I feel like the cookie cakes are, you know, they were made like at 745 in the morning.

Yeah, it tastes good. that your teacher buys a day old or something and brings it at school or something. Because I had one on Father's Day for my, they brought them for my father and it was pretty good. But it wasn't fresh and made. There was no hot heat to it. It's not

normally my favorite. No. But the all chocolate one was pretty good. Okay. But I'd rather have a cookie or cake. Yes. Give me a German chocolate cake for the win. See, I'm not a big coconut guy. Love coconut. All right. The umpire auditor is out and it's not pretty

from last week. We'll give you details on that momentarily. 713. Get the calls right. 713. 212-5-790. 7-1-3-2-7-90. We've got gut feelings

coming up at 1130. This. And we got Joe a spot at 1230. Don't go anywhere. We're here to 2 o'clock here on Sports Talk 7-9. 11.02 on Sports Talk 7-90. Matt Ross with you. We opened up with the news of Jeremy Pena and his new representation.

We'll get to more of that coming up. We've got to gut feelings in a half an hour. We have some new. news on us to why Kevin Durand did not want to go to the Golden State Warriors. We'll tell you about why that is. The news at noon. Joe Spada, NFL Rewind, and believe it or not. That's how we take care of the next three hours here on Sports Talk 790.

If you'd like to join us, 713-212-790, 7-1-3-2-790. There is a website or a Twitter account called Umpire Auditor. It's also got a TikTok. Got 103,000 followers. It doesn't follow anybody. but, you know, it feels like to me it's, uh, it's, it's, it's legit. I mean, I don't see why. I mean, they, they use video replay almost in every one of their arguments there.

So, Wex tweeted it out or retweeted. And, you know, Wex probably tweets, I don't know, 40 or 50 times an hour. So sometimes there are some interesting things and nuggets that he finds. Umpire auditor on Twitter says umpires missed 1,040 calls during the week of June 16th. Wow. Okay. What if we can get all the right? Sorry, go ahead.

1,040. Woo! And they found the 10 worst. And again, this is their own determination of the 10 worst. Which, man, if you're searching through 1,040 missed calls and those are the 10. That's some real intelligence right there. Well, they probably just have to go through like the pitch data. It probably doesn't take them that long, honestly.

Yeah. Point being is this. That still takes a lot of work. You and I don't have time for that. or don't want to. So these 10, I would say, I looked at the 10, probably eight of them are absolutely horrendous, shouldn't be there. Two were, I think, being a little nitpicky. But the point taken, the eight that I thought were atrociously missed were really, really bad misses.

And if we're to believe what umpire auditor says, I could see 1,040 calls being missed in a week. I mean, there's, what, there's 14 games a day, typically. Sometimes on a Thursday, a minute, or Monday they may as many. But Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, there's 15 games a day. That's 45. Yes. Yeah. I mean, 160 doesn't completely shock me.

Now, they're going exclusively off of the box that now every television camera has. Now, we've already discussed this multiple times. Yes. The box has certainly elevated everybody's, furor, right? Yes. And a lot of the TV, I don't know what Umpire auditor is doing, but I know UmpS scorecards. They go off the MLB data, which is more accurate

as far as a strike zone. A lot of these TV boxes can be off a little bit. That's what I'm saying. The calls that they said were the worst of the week, there were a couple that are like, I think you're just being a little nitpicky on this. But it doesn't dispute the point

that we are seeing more and more erroneous calls made we're seeing more umpires being held to a higher standard. And you know, we're also seeing Ross, and this is really interesting to me. We're seeing more television broadcasters really taking shot to these guys. I would agree with that. And I will say this, and I'm only speaking to my profession and my second job, I try Rossi.

And you know, you would tell me if I'd do it too much. I try not to crush referees when I'm calling games. games because I think it's first of all it's low-hanging fruit second of all it's it's the hardest sport to officiate and third the human element I mean it is what it is and I wish it was more instant replay or fix things I've fallen on that sort many many times and I continue to fall on it continue to give me more instant replay but I have heard and I'm you know you get on that MLB network or they sometimes they go from game to game to game and then if you watch the FS1 games or you watch the Astros. There are a lot of television

folks that are really roasting these umpires and i'm frankly surprised at this point that the umpires have not gone to the commissioner and said hey go put your local tv broadcast on we're getting hammered on this we ain't perfect the umpires never said they are but the numbers of mistakes and if this indeed is accurate of 1,060 calls missed that's an ugly ugly storyline for the umpires union saying this for years. So we're going to get it by next year, right? Challenge system? The challenge system.

It should be full a BS. You just said a thousand missed calls at a week. And let's say that number is high. Let's say that this umpiring auditor web's Twitter account is taking umbrage or going exclusively off the box where maybe the other umpire auditor is maybe it's 850, but that's still 850 calls. It's missed. That's, that's way too many.

Yep. it's way, way too many. And again, I don't know. I mean, I guess I'm a broken record or whatever. But I always bring this up to you. In 1994, were they missing a thousand calls a week? I think they were missing more. You think it was less?

I don't know. I'm throwing it out there. So by data that we have. When I was a kid watching my beloved Astros lose the Mets in the National League Championship series. It was worse. It was worse back in the day. The umpires are actually better than they ever been. Going by like the pitch FX,

I can't remember when that started, like in the early 2000s or something like that. Yeah, I think 2008 maybe it started. The umpires are getting more and more right. They're actually getting better, but they're still missing around 10% of the calls on average. So, I mean, it's just, it's too much. So let's put a perspective.

Compared to an NFL game, how many calls are made in an NFL game that are missed, compared to the NBA. We don't know. We don't know. It's more arbitrary. What is past interference? Right?

This is, one of the reasons the umpires are under the most fire is because it's very clear, black and white. It's either touches the strike zone or it doesn't. With an NBA, you know, we'll watch 10 slow motion replays and be like, oh, I don't know if that was an incidental contact or was that a, you know, there's a lot more gray area. There's no gray area with balls and strikes. That's a, that is unfortunate thing for the umpires, why they do come under so much scrutiny. and we have the technology to pinpoint the strike zone where we don't have that in other sports. Like what is a roughing the passer?

How much contact? You know, how many pounds per square inch of pressure was put on Pat Mahomes? We don't know. But let me ask you this. And if we could get 25 calls as compared to the worst, there's going to be some that are going to hit the edges. And in the heat of the moment, where they're positioned,

if the hit edges, I mean, is the strike zone too small? But that's not the question. The question is, can we get everyone right? And the answer is yes. Regardless of whether the strike zone is bigger or smaller. And the system is going to be put in place. I am hopeful that we'll go to the challenge for a couple of years. Everything will be installed.

It won't cost any extra money. And then you go to full ABS. That's what I want to happen. Well, the number one way you're going to get that done, and you know the answer to this, you don't want to hear it is the players have to buy into it and the players at this point are not buying it. I think an athletic poll, it was 60% of the players

don't want it. 40% do. So not that you'd ever expect 100% of anything, but they're going to have to get a higher percentage than that. I'd be curious the breakdown of pitchers and position players. I actually meant to delve into that, but I hadn't. But I think more

pitchers don't want it than batters. But see, like we even interviewed Alex Breggman. A couple years ago, we were talking about it. And he was stunned by that. He was like, no, I like the human element. You guys don't? And then I'm like, you sit there screaming at umpires on half your plate appearances about bad calls that are made. It doesn't seem like you like the, that's the thing too. It's crazy. These players all say like the human element and then they're chewing out umpires. Maybe they just like to do that. I don't know. And I don't know how much longer it would take because baseball is trying to shorten the games. Is it a millisecond? Can they just get a little, you know, I never made it to the, now they don't even do the, the, the full A, BS games anymore, right? They were doing it like Mondays and Wednesdays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, whatever. Yeah. Yeah, I don't know. I don't know. If we got rid of the box, would that create less resentment? Yeah, I don't think about it as much. It's so hard to judge

about that box. I was watching the Astros Angels. What don't I work on deck on Friday night and work the Astros game? And Todd Callis and Jeff were, I mean, we're roasting the guy. And I'm thinking, I wonder if it's just because they are only seeing it from the asteros perspective, or was it bad on both sides? And they didn't show a lot of replays of angel pitchers getting calls or not getting calls. So, you know, I don't know. It's just it's tiresome. And every time I put a game on, I'm hearing TV announcers, not just the Astros, but all the different announcers are going, God, this. And I don't think they're doing it because they're running out of material for their game broadcast.

They're doing it because they're legitimately pissed that their team in which they're called. calling their games for are getting calls wrong. But, I mean, go listen to anything that you would happen to see. And you are hearing exasperated, angry television broadcast crews. And it gets kind of, honestly, to me, it gets kind of tiresome. It's like the boy who cry wolf over and over and over again. I'm with you. I'm tired of playing with me too.

And I understand. We're complaining about it in Major League Baseball is, very slow on the uptick on this to make this happen. That's why I feel like there's part of me that thinks that maybe they're getting tired of it or we may get some directive from Major League Baseball telling the TV broadcasters enough's enough. They're doing

the best they can. If everybody remove, we wouldn't talk about it as much as everybody remove the box. But I'm even at the games. And you know, and people are asking and I'm looking it up on my MOB app. And even when we sit there in press areas, like when we do during playoff games, people will turn

around and look at us because they know we have laptops and we're looking it up. They're like, hey, was that a ball? Was that a strike? What was that? What was that? What was that? I was like, and then I'll give them a thumbs up if it was a like a correct call. So we're providing a service then. Yeah, exactly. I should start charging. But yeah, it's talked about in

the middle of games. And frankly, to me, it's ruining the enjoyment of just sitting back and watching a baseball game. I should just not care. Because here's a thing, and I don't want you not to care. When you're at the game trying to enjoy the game. But the bottom line is is that at some point you've said enough's enough.

Like it's about workmanlike conditions. If you don't like something at your office, you can complain about it, complain about it. And at some point, they're going to tell you enough. Either you don't like, if you don't like it, don't play it, don't be a part of it. If there was something that you could get in your life that was getting incorrect 10 to 11% of the time. I'm not arguing with you. And you could get it right.

It's basically the flip of a switch with Major League Baseball. They can install these, whatever they're going to need. to install. If they have it in minor league parks, they can install it in a major league parks. I loved watching spring turning this year when guys were challenging. And I loved it when that Tampa Bay hitter put his hat on his head and wanted to challenge it during a regular season game. He got his ass toss. That was pretty funny. Taylor Walls or whatever his nose. All right. 1114 on Sports Talk, 790. 7.13-212-790. If you want to jump in, we've got gut fillings coming up at the bottom of the hour. 7-1-3-212-5-790.

We have gut feelings coming up in the bottom of the hour. We'll make our predictions. I don't know I lost because I thought the Astros were going to finish with just two losses on the road trip. They lost three. That is what it is. Still have a four and a half game lead because the Mariners did win yesterday. And my God, I mean, how many more homeowners is Cal Rale going to hit here in the next couple weeks?

What is he up to? 32 or 31 or something? Deep yesterday. He's a beast. Yeah. MVP? Or Aaron Judge? That's the Twitter streets are fighting a lot.

about right now. By the way, real quick, and we're going to Empire Talks. What about Twitter streets? So, I went on Phoenix Radio yesterday. You did? And they were talking about the Kevin Durant trade. And they're like, be ready for the Kevin Durant

truthers. I'm like, what are you talking about? Because they are intense. What, the Kevin Durant fans? Yeah. Oh, okay. Which I thought to myself was kind of weird because he is one of the greatest players of all times. so you're going to probably, he's going to have a legion of fans. Yeah.

Oh, we've been in dealing with Alperin Shingunianx. I thought I said the Shingun Truthers are, they're out there too. That's an entire country. You know who the worst was of all time? Basketball or anything of sport. Houston Rocket. Oh, got to be Jeremy Lynn. Jeremy Lynn fans.

Oh, my God. Yeah. I was not expecting that. They thought he was prime Kobe and Michael Jordan and I don't even know. John Stockton and Steve Nash combined. All rolled into one. Holy smokes. I mean, if Kevin Durant Truthers want to come on and follow us on Twitter, I'm all for that.

I'm here for you. With like Gary Payton defense. That's what they thought Jeremy Lynn was. It was insane the Jeremy Lynn fans. Thankfully, Twitter wasn't as popular back then. But yeah, the Alperin Shunguniacs, they're pretty wild. They're the Jalen Green Truthers as well. Right. So we got rid of them.

I mean, what's wrong with being a Kevin Durant truther? Who is, who's fighting with Kevin Durant truthers? I mean, I guess there are people out there. Well, my guess is the anti-Cevant notion would be he's old and his injury prone. He's team-hopped and he's not very friendly and he likes to fight on Twitter. Ring chaser. Right. Okay.

Well, I'm not going to be fighting with any Kevin Durant fans. You know what? If he's ring-chasing in the latter third of his career, he ain't the last one. Well, he was ring tracing his prime, but he also was the best player in that team. That's why I have to put Kevin Durant ahead of Steph Curry all the time. What's up?

Yeah, but that's because you're a Texas honk. Oh, I'm sorry, who won the finals MVP of those two series. You know, that's the thing we've always argued about is that Steph Curry is the greatest shooter of all time. Yes. But does that being that, now again, basketball is shooting. So this is where he had that argument. If basketball is about shooting, how do you not put Steph Curry in your all-time top-10?

Because it's also about defense. All the players in my top-10 are two-way players. That's why I'm putting hockey. I don't think Curry is top-10. Yeah. He's French. We'd have to go through the list. Yeah, we've done that before.

We've got time this summer. Plenty of time, actually. Let's talk to Daniel on 790-11-22. Daniel, good morning. Hey, how's it going? Good. I just want to talk more about the umpire discussion. Yeah.

I have to say I disagree, you know. In football or basketball, you have, you know, people drawing fouls or drawing PI, and it's, you know, the players kind of tricking the umpires, or I guess the referees, right? Baseball, I think having the virtual umpire, whatever you want to call it, takes a lot away from the catcher, right? You had Maldi really good at framing pitches, you know, catchers did frame pitches that essentially trick the umpire. I feel like having the virtual umpire is going to change the game a lot more than just balls and strikes.

You know, how hitters set up to the pitch and how catchers, do I even care about framing pitches anymore? No, you don't. I don't want NBA players tricking up referees. I don't want Pat Mahomes flopping around in a football game and trying to get calls. So why do I want a catcher that's trying to trick everybody, too? Right. I mean, it's a skill. It's a skill. Yeah, it's a skill.

Shea Gilges-Alexander is what he does is a skill. What James Hardin has done for a skill, that doesn't mean it's good or it needs to be, it's a necessary part of the game. I don't, Daniel, I don't like framing. It pisses me off that a catcher can fool an umpire. I mean, I mean, when it goes the other way, sometimes a catcher, like it was happening this weekend. Victor Caratini, he was kind of coming up to the ball late or getting crossed up or whatever.

and the strike wasn't being called a strike. So it also, bad framing can cost you pitches. Right. I mean, I don't know the technology behind it and haven't watched it in minor leagues at all, but adjusting the strike zone for Altuiv versus Jordon and we're just trusting a technology. Well, that's, I did bring that up.

That absolutely, that could be a time issue. I don't know how much of an issue can be. My guess is the technology. And Daniel, thank you for the phone call and good counterpoints. That was the original point I brought up to you five years ago. We first talking about it, is that, you know, how much time will it be to adjust? My thought is, if they ever go to this on a full-time basis, what I don't believe they'll ever will,

they'll have to make sure it's a seamless transition. Yeah, they can do it in seconds. I'm not worried about that. They're not going to have the same strike zone for Aaron Judge and Jose Al-Douvet. Well, my point is, go back and look at the spring training of games if you have any extra time. Did anybody necessarily go, my God, this was a hot mess. That strike zone. I didn't hear it.

I didn't see a single complaint of, oh, the computer got it wrong. I think there is a margin for error, but whatever it is, it ain't 11% of the calls. But if you do something 90% right, anything in life, aren't you happy with that? I know you're going to say, but if you get 100 right. Ask your heart surgeon if he does it 90% right, if that's okay. Okay, I'm not going to put strike calls in heart surgeons. That was a crazy comparison. Why don't we go this? 90% of planes

land properly. Exactly. Yeah. How about that? Is that okay? You're getting way all the top on that. No, I'm sorry. You're wrong.

So 90% isn't okay. I think it in some things. You don't cheat on her 90% of the time you go out. If she's okay with that. My wife cooks well 90% of the time. 10% is a hot mess.

Well, you'd like it to be a little bit better. Yesterday was not. You'd like it to be closer to 100. Yesterday was not one of those days, but don't tell her that. I get home 90% of the time when I drive home from work. That's not good. So you're not going to accept 90% anything. Not when 100% is sitting there right in front of you.

All right. So the last time I'm going to bring this up before we get to gut feelings. If it's there, then why aren't we doing it? I don't know. The union. The umpires union. Pretend you're right manfred. Give me what you think he's thinking.

Well, first of all, he's going to give the little. stupid low hanging for it. We like the human element. This is baseball tradition. This is the way we've done it for years. But really, and the reality is you have to deal with the umpires union. You have to deal with the players. And a lot of the players are resistant to this. I think you

have to get the pitchers on board with this. You're going to have to widen the strike zone a little bit. I don't know if that's a quarter inch or I don't know how many centimeters or millimeters or whatever it's going to take, but you're going to need a slightly bigger strike zone. And you're going to have to get the umpires union on board

or you're just going to have to force them out because I understand you spent your whole life being one of the best in baseball at balls and strikes. That's one of the reasons you get up to the major leagues and then you become unionized and you're safe for life all part of it because of how great you are calling balls and strikes

and they're taking that skill away from you. So I understand where the umpires union is coming from but I have to understand the overall health of the game like you said Matt, it's taking over broadcasts. We're talking about, we're spending a lot of time on these talk shows talking about it. And to me, it's a black eye on the game. Yeah.

And that's, I'm confused why Major League Baseball is not told its local broadcasters. Enough's enough. Maybe the continued outcry of local TV broadcasters will, because I don't know if the national guys are doing. I don't watch the Sunday night game of the weeks. I don't know if they're doing a whole lot of that. Yeah. But the local guys certainly are. I'm not talking about just Houston.

I'm talking about every game that you watch. You watch Colorado broadcaster or a Yankees broadcast. It's the easy conversation piece, that's for sure. All right, we're looking for some gut feelings from you guys. Sports prediction time. 713-212-5-790. 7-1-3-212-5-7-90. Listen up, girls and boys.

They've been so appealing. You're Russ and Matt Thomas. Yo, they got a good feeling. This is their gut feeling on the Matt Thomas show. All right, this is where we make our sports predictions. You get a half hour every week to kind of claim what's going to happen in the world of If you win and you are right about it, you call us back and you brag. If you get it wrong, unless it's completely preposterous, we'll let you forget about it.

Now, we have one simple rule. You call 713-212-5-7-9. Give us as many sports predictions as you'd like. We'll give you ours. And I've already got word that Brad from Miami, Brad in Houston now, is on the line. And you know the rule, for those of you that are Tuesday, 1130 regulars. Please get in. Please, please call.

You get to call in and get on the show before Brad does. Okay. So the more of you that call in, the lesser chance you have a Brad getting his tank in before the top of the hour. Just last week, he said the rockets are not getting to rent. All right. So if you don't want to hear for Brad, we got to hear from you. Very simple. 713-212-5-790.

More of you means loss of Brad. 7-13-212-5-7-90. How did we do last week? Matt, you see. said the Astros would win five out of six left on their road trip. Not true, they went four and two. That's fine. I mean, it's close.

No, we're all proud of winning. Not a win. You gave it the old college trial. I did, I did. You also said Kevin Durant would be traded by Friday. And it was Sunday. So I was off by two days. That's another loss. It's the same weekend. It's the same weekend, Matt.

It's the same weekend, Matt. Okay, I should have said pre-draft. That's what I should have said. That was kind of obvious. That's what I said, though. What? Kevin Durant traded close to the draft is what I said.

Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. You also said the Rockets were going to make a significant trade. You're right. So you can't. You're out of both sides of your ass. No, I didn't. I said he would be traded. I didn't say where.

So that's right. But also previously weeks ago, I said he wouldn't be traded to the rocket. I said he wouldn't be the Rockets. I said that they were going to make a significant role player deal. Kind of like Drew Holiday going to the Trailblazer. I got you. He's like 35 now. But anyways.

Okay. I was thinking like Derek White or something like that. But anyways. Anywho. So I was wrong on that one. Also last week I said Southwest will go back to free check bags. That's, I wouldn't say in play right now, maybe in a couple of years. Yeah.

Unless the revenues show that they didn't have made the right decision, then you're going to be a loss on that. I could be. Could be. I get got feelings wrong every week, Matt. As do I. I already are giving you two wrong ones. I also said no chance, no way, no how Travis Hunter plays a full season of both sides of the football. Now, how do we declare that is at least playing both sides of 12 games?

Uh, yeah, 12 games, 75% of this now. both sides? That feels like you're going to win that one. Something like that. Yeah. I also said he won't even do it for more than a game as far as being a more of a two-way player. Playing most of the snaps. But anyways.

Okay. I said Durant trade will happen close to the draft. That was my last one. And then Jonathan Allen. Poor Pacers, you lose. So close. Yet so far away. You're one snapped Achilles away.

That's not fair guys. Y'all know. That was a really bad way to move out. I mean, if Halliburton was healthy, you'd have a shot. But you had Pacers and seven. that unfortunately is an L. I had Oklahoma City in five. Did I gut feeling that or just put that in general? I said, no, I said OKC in five.

No, originally I said OKC in five and then they got pushed to six and then got pushed to seven. Kudos Indiana for making it a series. I mean, it was great. The ratings were good. Apparently it was the highest rated basketball game since 2016, even with an Achilles snap in the first quarter. Yeah.

And I think game sevens are sexy. Yeah. So good for the NBA. They were able to use that. great for them all right the rockets will try

to get into the draft Wednesday but will not be successful okay they're going to try to buy a second rounder or what I think you can do that pretty easily right yes yeah now do I want to do this you know what I'm going to change that

they don't have any second rounds love because they give them all to Phoenix the rockets no the rockets no the rockets will not have a At the end of the day, we'll not have a pick in this Wednesday's draft. Okay. They may, they may acquire somebody for the future, like a future second round in something.

But I think at the end of the day, there'll be no introduction of any rocket player except Kevin Durant on July the 6th or give thereabouts. All right. Just a gut. I got a long-term gut for you. Please. Rockets are making the Western finals. Promise? It's my gut feeling.

I can't run. The Good feeling is not a promise. Oh, oh, I don't want to do. Last year I did it in late May. Yes. I'm doing it in late June. Putting my name on it. Let's eff and go.

Putting your name on it. The Astros are your American League West champions. I don't even want to write this down. I don't even want to write down. He put his name on it. Because if you're wrong, I don't even want to call you on it. Because I'm going to be so safe. sad.

All I'm going to keep it on the gut feeling. All right. I think you're right. Now, the only thing that hurts me about this is will this starting pitcher's group of no names, relatively speaking, continue to keep you in these games? How are they looking at the last run through the rotation? Well, hey, Ryan, Guster got the win yesterday.

Oh, six-hitting six-hitting five earned runs. Hey, a win's a win. I thought you weren't heading on Gusto. See, this is. Oh, my God. Yeah, what did I hate? Hold on, see. I'm trying to learn you a little something, Jonathan.

We've got to be honest in this business. Six innings of five-urn runs is not what they call a quality start. That's bad. I'm surprised you're able to watch the game drinking a large glass of hit a raid. Oh, see, here we go. Ryan Gusto, we appreciate you. Six-innings, five-urn runs is not a good start. I hope you're listening and he's not a fan, man.

Well, he knows, well, unless he's delusional, he knows six-inings five earn, he's not good. In Gusto, we trust. All right. For the foreseeable future. Yeah, you keep trusted. Strike thrower He does throw strikes It was efficient

He still was Somehow he gave up five runs And six innings He only threw like 79 pitches That's just he's throwing all the heart of the plate They're hitting them Exactly All right

I got the Astros They're your American League West champions All right All right All right And Joe Spada joins At 1230 by the way All right

What else? Anything else from you boys? I know Jonathan you caught over there I got one for the Astros I'm feeling kind of lucky Okay They win the series

versus Philadelphia. Okay. It's a tough week, by the way. Yeah. We should make predictions. They win it again with Cubs. Okay. We're just going to end up dropping a game for Colorado.

I don't know why we do it. Okay. What are you going that far in advance in the schedule for? Because I want to make this, I lost my patience. I got to go back to this long one. And then we take two to three out of Dodgers. That's all far on going on going on. That's all into next week, man.

I got one for this weekend. Okay. Tucker will have three or less hits in the three game series. Okay. Well, I made his reunion tour. Sure. Back in town. Three or less hits for Kyle Tucker in the three game series.

Okay. What else you got? I will say over three hits for Kyle Tucker. Oh, my God. You're fading MT. That's terrible. I'm just kidding. Wait on three.

Let's see. He's going to get like 15 A-Bs. Yeah, I'll go over three. Okay. I'll just say over Yeah, over three hits for Kyle Tucker. What a fade. All right, let's go to the phones.

In terms of longest wait, 713-212-5-7-90, 7-13-21-5-7-9. Once again, a reminder, the more people that call in, the less time that Brad has to get his gut feelings in. So far, there are three people in front. We could take three more in front of them.

Let's go to Brian on 7-90. Brian, what's in your gut this week? Well, hey, guys, anything to take Brad out the I'm going to say, guys, we're going to go ahead. Oh, my gosh, it's our phones. It's the line, too. For sure. But Kevin Durant, I'd say we do win the NBA finals last year.

Oh, right. That day. I like that. I like that a lot. Here's a big deal. Long summer. Tonight, and they're going to be salty, guaranteed. I love you, babe.

Portchop. That's definitely a good feeling up the name on as well. Okay, I'm sorry, Brian. Something, pork chops? I think he's eating shaking bake for pork chops. He's eating shaking bake with pork chops for real. I love shaking bake, by the way. When's the last time you ate shaking bag?

No, I think he was in the last year. Instead of his wife's pork chops, and he said, like, sorry to, I don't know. Oh, no. Yeah. That line has been sounding like the people taking a helium balloon and it's chopped before bad. I think it's been. He was just fine beforehand, too. Yeah, it's, it's, our phones are messed up.

I got a gut feeling. Our phone system suck. That's not a gut feeling. That's a guarantam tea. All right. 1143, Gary, Roger, and then maybe Brad? More. Come on. You guys come in. Be strong. 713-212-5-790. 7-1-3-212-5-7-90. Back on the phones we go.

Let's talk to Johnny on 7-90. Johnny, what's in your gut? Good. Thank you, July 4th next Friday. That's a good prediction. in all of baseball what the best record in all of baseball

I think we're thanks Johnny this first faced me more than anything because they sound so clear well yeah it's not your fault hi Gary hey can you hear me all right yes

good okay my gut feeling is so simple it's just it's really simple the Astros is the what is it a six game homestand Yes, three with Philadelphia and three with the Cubs. Okay, they're going to split it. It's going to be three and three. And if somewhere or another, they get that one extra win at four and two, it'll be a victorious home stand.

So that's my gut. That's what my gut tells me. All right, there you go. Thanks, Gary, for the phone call. Appreciate you. We're one for our last five on calls that don't have terrible. That's not accurate. 7.13.

How come Brad's line is going to work? I just know it's going to be fine. Brad's going to talk for six minutes with terrible, it's going to be crystal clear. Yeah. Maybe Brad's the one that's just doing all those stuff. Yeah, that could be it. Let's talk to Brian on 790. Brian, what's in your gut this week?

My gut this week. Last weekend. We're running in Atlanta this weekend. Try a call back. Roger, what's in your gut? Rockets. I don't think they're done. I'm dealing me at next

to involve Cam Woodbourne somehow some way of fashion it's going to be in Cam Whitfordmore. Tray, I thought Drew Holliday was giving away to the Blazers for almost and my last gullet with Ryan Gus, though,

and it's nothing. Four innings, three hit ball, and then he ended up giving two more runs away. But he went, I was calling five inings with no hit ball, but oh well, that was, all right, guys. Thank you very much.

much. Get all that, Ross? Last time the IT guys wanted all this information, so I'm trying to write this down. You want to just send them an air check of this? Yeah, I have to say, that's not even that. Yeah, it's not even air. You have to, it's a whole, it's all these hoops that we have to jump through because they don't want to work on it. Quite frankly, I'm just going to say it.

Yeah, they don't want to deal with it. They don't want to deal with it. I've made a bunch of trouble tickets, and it's not getting done. I'm going to snip this part out of the air check, though. Appreciate you guys. Thanks for all your hard work. You can include that part, aren't you? Yeah, I'll leave that part. Okay, I'm writing down the time. I'm writing down the studio H phones.

And I'm sending an air check. Oh, lines. That was line 2, 4, and 5. 2 4 and 5. I think 2, 4, 5, and 6. 6 as well. Yeah, they want the lines, they want the studio, they want the times, they want the air checks.

I'm giving it all to them today. So, yeah, let's try Brian, because Brian's back on two. Deep breaths. You know he's not heard from it a long time? Our buddy James and Garden Oaks. James, how the hell are you? I'm doing fine, fellas. I'm doing fine.

I'm glad I have an opportunity to chime in today, and I got some news for you. First of all, the Astros advanced scouting on other teams. It's just fabulous, and there's no way the Astros are not going to continue. They'll win two out of three against both teams because the Phillies are a bunch of frauds. And the Cubs, they're a nice little story, but they're still not equipped to win a championship. That other championship day one years ago, that was a fluke. Okay.

Now, I want to say something about the baseball, you know, this is the sum of, there's going to be a throwback. Because what went down back in the summer of 98, say baseball, but this is going to revive baseball to another level. That thing between Mr. Carl Rowling of the Mariners and Judge that everybody knows about, even if they hate them, it's going to be a renewal for home run, you know, Slugfest is going to go all the way to the last day. And both of them might get at least 65 homers close to 70 and threatened that other punk Barry Barnes,

the one that's got that fraud of a home run title. But anyway, that's just my take, fellas. And thank you for taking my call, Governor Thomas and Mr. Ross over there. Yes. Have a great day, fellas, and a great weekend. Thank you, James. Governor Thomas and Mr. Ross. The backup. It's fine.

You're at the backup. I didn't call you the backup. That was Friday that called you the backup. Who's Mr. Raw? Who's Mr. Rawlings? He called you Mr. Ross. No, he's talking about Cal Raleigh. Oh, Mr. Rolley.

He's not Rawlings. I mean, we got to know it's Cal Raleigh, right? As in Raleigh, Durham. Yes. Okay, we got down the two left. Before we get to our buddy, Brad. Let's talk to Brian on 790. good morning to you

is it going to work this time oh wow line 5 okay let's go all right chase briscoe had a hell of a show out there at the tricky triangle last weekend yes he did congratulations to speak um

yes this weekend's Atlanta I'm going with chase Elliot down there in Georgia okay and let's see I'd have preferred we got Janus instead of KD but it is what it is we can deal with it

we'll make it happen and other than that I wanted to enlighten y'all that if you do choose to go to a NASCAR race it is B-Y-O-B Every NASCAR race? Oh, or only a Texas Motor Speedway. That's the closest one other than CODA.

You can go to CODA and do it too. They are awesome races. It's a hell of a thing. And y'all need to watch American Thunder NASCAR to Lamans. I watch Days of Thunder That's a spoof All right

Yeah I'm a big fan of Talladega Nights Ooh, Talladega Nights Very funny Being first or last, right? That's right And Ricky's and Bobby's everywhere, right? Well, Ricky Bobby was his name, yeah

Yeah, but wasn't our Dale's a bunch of Dales? Yeah, Dale was I think his One of the kids' names, right? Walker and Texas Ranger? No, he was Walker in Texas Ranger. Okay, yeah, I got you. I'm coming to you like a spider monkey classic that was a good impersonation that wasn't bad of the child actor thank you it wasn't bad at all

all right last but certainly not least our buddy at least brad how the hell are you brad i'm good man i got an iphone 16 i think it's a c the best one out there so you won't have a problem with my phone um the rock uh the astros i think jeremy pinia when the time comes his his uh his uh his uh agent is going to look at Francisco Lindor and compare his stats and the age and everything and he might fall right underneath

that like maybe 300 million, maybe 280 million, maybe eight years, and I don't think the Astros are going to pay that and he's going to walk. I also think at the trade deadline that

the Astros are going to find a way to get rid of Brandon Rogers and Chris, I mean, Chas McCormick, and they're going to find a way to bring up Brendan. Bryce Matthews. And I think Kyle Tucker's going to hit at least one home run this weekend. Yeah, this weekend. And the last one, I know the wrong.

I know I messed up on Durant. Yeah, that's fine. I know. Hey, I didn't think, but the only, Matt, you said always trades hurt. It didn't really hurt. I think Brooks is the only one because he's a one of a kind. He's like Green of Golden State. You love to hate him, but you wish you had him on your team.

And I don't think there, I looked at the free agency. There's a bunch of garbage this year. But I think the Rockets are going to do something. They need something to kind of help out where Brooks left. So that's all I have. Well, thank you for all that. It's thrilling stuff. Yeah.

He just said it was one of the first. of a kind, but then he brought up Dremont Green. So that wouldn't be one of a kind, correct? No, that's fine. All right. Hey, that was great. Thank you very much. No, it wasn't. Oh, everybody else was great. Yeah.

When our phones were working. Am I just wasting my time? Are this just going to say, oh, the Wi-Fi was messed up for a couple of minutes, and there's nothing we can do? Can you please still send it? All right, fine. I'll do it right now. Thank you.

1159 on Sports Talk 790. We have the news at noon coming up next. And we have an astro that now has new representation. How will it affect the local nine's future with one, if not two, key positions? 12-4 at H-town. We start our number three of the Matt Thomas show with Ross, welcoming you to listen, to be a part of our show via Twitter at Sports. at SportsRV.

And if they work, the phone lines at 713-212-5-790. We cross our fingers. We want you to call. We believe interaction with our audience is very important because we're not monologing. We're having a dialogue. Right? Yes. But right now we're going to monologue because it's time for the news at noon.

A robust slate of games in sports, Houston-related yesterday, right? No, Matt. Oh, okay. Not a robust slate, but we will start with your Houston Astros. Welcoming the Phillies into town as they kick off this homestand should be a tough run of the schedule coming up. As they laid out yesterday, the Astros with the 30th most difficult schedule remaining in terms of opponent win percentage.

That number should improve after these next couple of series, taking on the Phillies and then the Cubs after that. Tonight, it is Framber Valdez versus Ranger Suarez. Did they ever throw in the same game in that 2022 World Series? They might have. I know Ranger Suarez did start some games in that series, but we'll call it a World Series rematch. Ranger Swarres having a

very good season. 6 and 1 with a 2.20 ERA. And I believe the Phillies are right about the top in terms of overall records, right? In baseball? They are 47 and 31. That is behind the Tigers and a half game behind the Dodgers.

But yes, Philly is one of the better teams in baseball. So two division leaders coming, the National League East and National League Central leaders coming in the next two series for the Astros, and you predicted? Nothing. Three and three? No, that was, uh, who

did three? Oh, was one of our listeners at three and three. Four and two, I believe Jonathan Allen had. All right. And by way, come on now. Make a prediction. You want me to? I'll put my name on something right now. I'll give you a four and two week for the local nine. Three and three. You don't have to pause. Three and three. Okay, that's fine. Joe Spott.

With a win with gusto on Saturday. There you go. Because you know what? You are team gusto, just as all of us are. That's what I am, Matt. And we'll have Joe Espada joining us in about 25 minutes right here on Sports Talk 790. That is correct, Matt. Let's see.

Some news in the NBA, the Boston Celtics are trading Drew Holiday away to the Portland Trailblazers? What are the Trailblazers doing for Anthony Simons and two second round picks? Anthony Simon's a good pickup for the Boston Celtics. Hadn't want anything up there in Portland. They weren't better to the second half the year. In Portland, unless it's like a red floppy-headed Bill Walton in the 1970s. Hmm, Jamie Little disagrees.

Oh, no, he wouldn't disagree. He got out of there. He begged out of there. He's like, trade to me am I. And they said, Milwaukee? Sure. Why not? All right.

Anyways, so a Drew Holiday Man is a Portland Trailblazer Anthony Simon's is a Boston South. I don't know why Portland did it. I don't get it. You just don't get it? No, I don't, yeah, I just don't get it. A holiday, good player, often hurt. Huge, huge contract.

How many more years is Drew Holiday under contract? Maybe it's an expiring deal and they're looking for some cap space? Maybe so. That's the only way that it would make any sense to me. But Drew Holliday, I'm trying to pull up his contract real quick to see if it is an expiring deal for Mr. Holiday. And no! He's owed $30 million the next two years. Then he's got a player option.

What the heck? That's an I just don't get it. I thought Chris Paul was going to go there. Chris Paul, by the still looking for a place to play next season. All right, Matthew, ESPN has ranked their top 50 trade deadline candidates. Now, this doesn't mean most likely to be traded. In baseball, by the way. But best players that could be traded.

Yeah, and number one on their list is Alex Bregman of the Boston Red Sox. This list put together by Kylie McDaniel and Jeff Passon, your favorite of ESPN. Yeah, he's a great friend of the show. Number two, Jaron Duran, the outfielder for the Boston Red Sox. Red Sox, by the way, are 40 and 40. They're six out of the American League East. But the Wild Card, they are a game and a half out. Why are you trying to trade Bregman when you're a game and a half out of the Wild Card?

Why are you making any trades if you're within four of the Wild Card? I don't know, Matt. They also put the odds of everyone to be traded on this list. They put it at 10% for Alex Breggman. Is Framber Valdez in this list? Fromber Valdez is not in the top 50 of tradable players. Okay. Luis Robert of the White Sox,

I'm talking about potential maybe Astros targets. Cedric Mullins, they probably can't afford, but are the Baltimore Orioles. He is on this list. And Ryan O'Hern of the Baltimore Orioles, trade percentage they have for him, 85%. Baltimore is going to be big-time settlers, aren't they?

Sounds like. There's basically the entire Baltimore roster is on here, Matt. Also, a lot of Texas Rangers on this list. Imagine again being Baltimore Oriole fan. Back-to-back playoffs. One of them was 100-win season, correct? Am I making that up? Yeah, they won 100 games plus games in 2023, I believe. And you blank the bed this year, you fire your manager, and you're now becoming rapid sellers at the trade deadline. Orioles baseball, catch the fever. Other potential Astros targets on this list, Ryan O'Hern I would put in that category. Perhaps I Johan O'Souarez.

Yeah. And Yohan Moncada with the Los Angeles Angels as well. All right. We need a left-handed bat. We, of course, because I'm the backup third basement. Okay. That's fine. Jonathan was dropping wheeze earlier too.

Will you drop on a wee guy? You a wee guy? You can't be a wee guy. What did I drop? Like the gut funds? Ross must have heard it. Yeah, it was in the gut feelings. Okay.

That's fine. I don't care. All right. Next up, Matt, on the news at noon. Comedian Shane Gillis tabbed to host the Espies on July 16th. Of course, he was canceled, I believe, when he was on SNL. But I think he's a really funny comedian.

I think it's a good choice. Free Espian. Yeah. I haven't watched the Espeas in 20 years, and it'll be probably another 20 years before I watch it. You know what I always ended up watching snippets of on YouTube? The Norm MacDonald monologue at the Espes. Oh, I could get into it.

I think you would love that. I can get into a Norm MacDonald Rabbit Hole. Yeah. And his O.J. jokes. Yes. His appearances on Conan O'Brien. His appearance is on Letterman when they would say he couldn't find him and he'd be behind the stage. And, of course, one of the greatest Celebrity Jeopardy impersonators as he impersonated Bert Reynolds.

May they both rest in peace? Yeah, they're both dead. Wow. That's kind of sad. Celebrity Jeopardy Jeopardy. Sean Connery is dead. Trebek is dead. Bert Reynolds is dead

Ann Hage is dead These are all people that have been S&L Perry I think French Stewart is alive That's true Fred Stewart is alive And it was a deep pull Just for me and you

That was a very deep pull Wait what 11 12 15 12 11 Jonathan's not paying attention No no he said very deep pool I got you mad that's okay Well your thoughts on Shane Gillis Gilles?

Indifferent I think he's hilarious I haven't really watch that show He does tires It's on NextFliq. Like they work at a tire shop. It's supposed to be fun. Is it funny?

I saw the clip of JJ Watt was pretty funny. By the way, JJ Watt, a huge rocket fan, putting out the rocket emoji after the Kevin Durant trade a couple of days ago. Yeah, he loves Houston. Houston is home for J.J. Watt. He'll be in cold-ass Wisconsin. Well, I'll tell you what, how many J.J. Watt games will be on the Texans broadcast calendar this year? He's the number two broadcast team now, but with I.

I.N. Eagle, front of the show. he's on the number two broadcast. Charles Davis is going off and he's going to go to college football starting next season this year. I thought he was okay in studio. He's a relaxed a little bit. He'd be fine. He's got a natural personality, but his problem to me is sometimes he tries a little too hard. Just like Ed told me when you're out, I try too hard.

I think he's got some mad in him. Boom, boom, boom, that kind of stuff. Gargarious. Got a little mix of Gruden and a little mix of Romo, a little mix of mad. That would be, those are three of the best. Yeah, I mean, I think it's going to be, he's going to be a star. Okay. You know where he got the love is he did that one game on Netflix,

and he's like, I want to be at the stadium. I don't want to be stuck in this studio. So yeah, J.J.1. Where is that studio? New York City. Okay. Fox is in L.A. We were there. Yeah, but, yeah, New York is where the NFL today is.

Okay. And that's your news and noon. All right. Thank you very much for all that. You're welcome. We have Joe Espada coming up at the bottom of the hour. NFL Rewind. Wait, the Astros Manage. Joe's spot is going to join. He's been with us every Tuesday at 1230 for the last two years,

and before that it was Dusty Baker. What a good. And before that it was A.J. Hinch. And I don't think we ever did it with... No, those afternoons. Oh, that's right. Brad Mills and Charlie. He was getting badgered by Charlie for 12 minutes.

Ah, you're now, I've lost 14 in our last 15, Brad. What are you going to do? What are you going to do? Special. Special. I like Brad, but he used to say special every day. Matt Doming is at 3rd. Oh, special player. What?

G. F. Fully Meyer called up. How's he doing? Special. Lucas, what was a pitcher's name? Lucas. Harold? Lucas Harold. Special player.

Justin Maxwell, special player. But Norris and the boys? There was some. You got this young up-and-coming prospect, John Singleton. Special that guy. You want to trade 100 pence? We can't. Special.

1214 on Sports Talk 790 7-1-3-2-1. I actually have probably I think I have a Brad Mills drops in here. Don't do. Don't put Brad Mills drops. Don't do that. What the man relax, enjoy his downtime. Well, you just kept on talking about how much you said special. He was special. 12-14.

We're going to have another special segment next on Sports Talk 7-90. So, Ross, if you call Scott Boris's office, Is this the music that you, when you're on hold, want to talk to Scott? That's the hold money? Yeah. Or money talks by ECDC. I think this could be when you put it on hold.

Yeah, that's pretty funny. I'm proud of you for that one. Thank you very much. That's a good line. We opened the show today this morning in tentacles. We've been on the air for two hours and 20 minutes already. By the time, it's just flying by. We got Joe Spotted coming up.

Real quick. So two hours and 20 minutes ago, we're like, nothing happened last night except when Channel Rome, drop the, Jeremy Payne is now a member of the Scott Boris clan. I already made a Frumber Valde. We're ready for whenever he goes. We have a goodbye Fromber. Hmm.

Do I need to go ahead and make a goodbye Jeremy Pena? All right. So we have Frombard on standby. Yeah, let me find it. Because I don't remember hearing Frombard. Did you do when I was gone? Oh, no. Connor McGovern had it.

Is it in his folder maybe? Well, I don't know. All right. Well, let's let's get on my computer's freezing. Okay, that's fine. Oh, actually I have it. It's like two minutes, though. I'll play it and you tell me when it's stop.

Okay, go ahead. Go ahead. Oh, proper. Yeah, I was definitely not working this guy. You sweet, sweet, left-handed pitcher. La Grasse, they called you. And we'll never forget you as a Houston Astro great. As you came up

and we called it Framber alerts because you would walk everyone and blow up when you came out on the mound. It's not a great tribute at all. But you're right at this ship. And the blow-up stopped to an extent. And we'll always remember how you finished top five in the Cy Young

a couple of times, how you would just randomly show up with hair extensions whenever you wanted. sometimes you'd give up three home runs in an inning and you would get this weird sinister smile on your face like your Heath Ledger playing the Joker. I definitely wasn't here. I've never heard this before.

Okay. Oh, whoops, I stopped it. All right, so that's a little sample. Yes. Now, we're not going to... Are we going to do another one? No, well, yeah. No, he's not a free agent for two more years.

We're not going to do it today. Okay. But it's certainly on the list of two things. At some point, so we just have it locked and loaded. You know, like sometimes you have things ready to go. Like when... What's his name? Jimmy Carter, you get the Jimmy Carter

news package ready to go. Right. Like when Dick Van Dyke dies soon, he's a huntsky. Yeah. We got the newsroom's got that locked and loaded with some sound bites and the Dick Van Dyke show and that kind of stuff with the theme music. Like the newsroom here had the Milo tribute ready for a bit.

God, that's true. I knew you were going to say that. I was waiting for you to say it. I wasn't going to say it. So we just got to have, you got to be prepared. Yeah. So we got the Framer one ready to go. Frommers locked and loaded.

Oh, that was kind of rude. Yeah, I was going to say that wasn't a great tribute. He's talking about his hair extensions. Well, you know the number one thing besides his great left-handed pitching and the fact that he was an effective, largely quality pitcher, is he likes to wear the blue uniforms. My favorite Astro uniform with the group. Yeah, he's kind of ditched that lately.

He's been an orange guy. Well, the blue, he had a few bad starts with the blue one, so I think we're on orange now. It's hard to keep track. A lot of oranges last few weeks. Okay. Do you want to do a hunter brown one, too? No.

I still believe. I hope we don't have to play them. We do one for the Hunter Brown extension and one for the Hunter Brown's gone? You know what? We say that for All-Star Week. Okay. We got some time to kill. Just same.

Okay. So Hunter Brown Extension. Hunter Brown Farewell. And then now we've got to add Jeremy Payne extension. Jeremy Payne farewell. Okay. And we'll do that during All-Star Week because that's the slowest week of the year. Besides, you're watching the Espies, giving us a complete.

breakdown on that. Very busy that week. All right. 713-212-5-7-9. If you want to chime in, we've got Joe Espada coming up at about five minutes here on Sports Talk 7-9. If you want to be a part of the program real quick before we get to Joe. Biscuit is with us. Biscuit, what do you got today? Hey, what's happening to my brother? I'm good well.

First of all, I didn't get a chance of time in with yesterday. For me, thumbs up on the trade, man. And especially for the fact that they were able to hold on to those first round picks, those future. the first round picks of Phoenix. I give a stone a lot of credit for the trade he pulled off. Didn't give up much,

in my opinion, and upgraded the team. But the reason I call it in, I want to ask Ross this too, man, these Achilles injuries. Now, Ross, when I came up playing basketball, majority

everybody wore high tops. And now, I guess maybe it was like midnight, 90s, whatever, with the three-quarters, and now they wear any low cuts. Do you think that plays any kind of factor because you don't have the support that you would have with the hired tennis shoe? Yeah, I don't know. Because I saw somebody say that, and my answer to your question, Biscuit, is I'm not a. Are you a Hooper?

Yes, but I'm not O'Orson. No, he ain't no Hooper. Hold up. You don't hoop. You don't hoop. You don't hoop. That's a lie. What?

I'm more of a Hooper than you are. Oh, let's go. Let's go play one-on-one today. I got plans. I will destroy you. No, let's go, Mr. Hooper. I can't do it today. I'll do it soon. Tomorrow.

I'm busy tomorrow. All the day after. I'll get out of here. Check my calendar. Yes, I wear always, I have ankles that twist very easily, so I have high top shoes. Right. I always wear high tops. It just seems like, you know, something is amiss here.

It seems like because it's a rash of them. And the other last thing I would say, and now throw this out. for you, Matt, do we need to start holding these team doctors or whatever? Because, you know, of course the players don't want to play. I mean, in an NFL game, we're not going to allow a guy to get out on the field. He has a high chance of having a severe injury. Well, I'll tell you what we're going to... Here's what we're learning right now, Biscott, and thanks for the phone call.

We are learning that calf injuries, if you get one, you're down for a while. Because the reality is this. and it was even that Shams Sharane reported this. Normally when you get a calf strain like the one that Tyrese Halliburton got earlier in the series, you missed three weeks. He decided he wanted to play anyway.

So when you hear calf strains with NBA players, you should now think about three to four weeks being out. He went against that because he was supposed to and he needed to and he doesn't regret it and good for him. but you did pay a price.

He said he would do it again, but yeah, he paid a big price, heavy price. All right, let's talk to Joe Espada. We'll do that next 1227 on Sports Talk 790. Time for us to spend 10 quality minutes with the manager of your beloved Houston Astros. And we do that with Joe Espotted. Tonight, the Astros start a series with the Philadelphia Phillies and a three games set with the Chicago Cubs this weekend. Skip, I hope you enjoyed the off day. I got to go back to Sacramento a little bit.

I didn't realize it was like home run derby in that ballpark. That ball travels fast out of that building, does it not? It looked like it did, yeah. It played small and, you know, but I thought

both teams kind of new going into the series and there was some long home runs for sure during that series. Would y'all fee Maricio Dubon on the road trip? Four home runs, my goodness. Yeah, So I'm really, from the bat really well.

Really love going to Sacramento in front of his home crowd, in front of family and friends. And he really had a really good series. Also carry that momentum into the, into Los Angeles. So on the bat really well, put some good swing quality of bats. Really saw him, you know, stepping up and getting some huge hits for us. Four and three road trip. Give me a higher low of both of the trips so far. When you saw, I mean, the numbers offensively were,

significantly better than maybe the previous couple of weeks, but you're starting pitching. You know, look, you wish you could go through the order every single time and get, you know, seven innings a two-run ball, but you were able to still get a winning road trip despite the fact that some of your starters got hit a little bit. You know what? I thought we had a really good, really good road trip. And you want to play, you know, if you want to play 500 on the road, and we did that, we did a lot of things well. We are getting good pitching from a lot of our, from a lot of the fellas. You know, it's not easy when you are going through moments like this where we have had some injuries

and we're asking guys to step up and pitch innings. But I'm really pleased with the way we are going about things. I couldn't be more proud of this group. You know, 13 games stretch of games, West Coast, you know, weather. And it was really warm in Sacramento. And we're really grinding through things. I'm just really, really happy, very pleased with the way we playing baseball. And Jeremy Payne continues to play well.

It feels like at some point, I mean, he's so far ahead of his career numbers, I'm kind of like, oh, is this going to keep going? And it just keeps going. How is he able to do this? Well, you know, there was no doubt that, you know, there's no doubt in my mind that he could keep this going for the rest of his career. He's a really talented young man. And he has made adjustment that I think he can prolong this for years.

years to come. You know, he's smart. He's really well prepared every time he steps on the baseball field. And his work ethic, he's impeccable, and I know he can create consistency throughout his career because just how, you know, discipline he is. But he is right now all-star worthy. He is playing the best baseball that I've seen out of Jeremy since he joined us. news coming yesterday that he changed representation to Scott Boris Is that ever anything you talked to players about Or in casual conversations Or you just keep it baseball

Matt, I stay away from all those conversations That was Ross, not me That's me You get mad at me, that's fine No, no, no, no, that's... I wouldn't do that, that's good Joe is spotted with us here on the Sports Talk 790 So Philadelphia and Chicago coming in

This is a nice little barometer test for you guys Back home is A good But B, to pair of first place teams You don't see these teams about once a year. Anything stand out with Philadelphia and besides the fact they're just crushing the ball these days? No, exciting. It's going to be exciting here, baseball for the whole week.

Two first place teams playing really good baseball, talented teams. You know, they not only the Phillies can hit, but they also have some really good starting pitching. So we are playing good baseball also. So it's going to be fun baseball for the next six days. And we need to continue the momentum moving. moving forward we play you know we're playing really good here at home so we are excited to be here at home playing these two good teams in front of our home crowd uh skip oh anything new on the injury

front on you got a few guys that we got some positive reports on uh where are we have you heard anything about lance i know spencer's getting a little bit closer and you got some other guys down the road and and obviously getting chas mccormick back giving you some outfield depth yeah yeah we are we're getting some guys uh uh that are moving in the right direction um i know lance threw off the mound yesterday and he went really well. Hopefully we get him to throw off the mound here in the next few days. One more again. You mentioned McCormick.

He's also moving in the right direction. He's hitting. He's doing a ton of baseball activity. Hopefully we could transition him down to Florida here to get some of bats pretty soon. Spencer also is doing well. Luis Garcia and J.P. France. All those guys are also doing well. Same as Jordana Alvarez.

So we are getting some guys healthy. Hopefully we could get these guys back. back here in Houston and help us win some games. You know, it's funny to me when there was a lot of question marks about the squad coming in, I think there was probably some uncertainty with your bullpen, even as you were about to leave West Palm Beach. To go from uncertainty to, man, you can rely on those guys and have done so all year long, that has to be one of the huge storylines of the baseball season as we hit the halfway point.

Yeah, and we have been, we have been very lucky with, you know, with this guys. they from day one they show us to spring training they competing for spots they knew the importance of having a you know a solid and healthy bullpen and these guys have done that um doing everything in my power to keep those guys healthy that's very important um you know our pitching coach is doing a tremendous job just keeping those guys um you know focused and prepared for every series um you know we've been very fortunate to have a group of relievers that have really helped us uh you know win some games, keep us closing games so we could come back and give in the

offense an opportunity to come back and win games. You know, very fortunate to have a group of relievers that has really up and we've got a lot of baseball and we're going to continue to realize and we can keep them going.

For a let your run, Skip, Ryan Gessel's been kind of your swing guy, part-time starter, part-time reliever and has been starting a lot because of obviously the ailments in the rotation. that is never an easy position for anybody. What is it like just getting with him and just saying, hey, enjoy the experience, you're a major leaguer,

you were a guy that we were going to give you a shot at the end of last year, couldn't do so, but now kind of taking the best opportunity he can to just trying to figure his way to stay on this 26-man roster. And he, in fact, and you said it, man, he's open to helping us either out of the bullpen or in the rotation. You know, when Lanz went down, we asked on short notice, hey, we need you to start tomorrow or, you know, because of, you know, the injury to Lans. And he's like, listen, I'm ready to go. And he goes out and he, you know, he posts and he throws the ball really well for us.

You know, we got a bunch of young kids who are eager to establish himself in the big leagues who are ready to contribute. And that has been something that we have done here really well in Astros for. for a long time, identifying good young pitchers and developing into major league pitchers. You know, it's crazy to me. And look, not that you spent a lot of time looking at the baseball America's and baseball perspectives. And now we say, well, you know, the Astros, minor league systems, bottom five. Skip, you've been able to go to those guys so much, whether there's position players or relievers to come in to help you. I find this to be largely overrated. Where would you have not have been if you haven't been able to go to Sugarland

and get some guys over the course of the year? Listen, I trust our people in our PD department. I try not to read any into what the news and the forecast and the, I just don't like doing that because a lot of times they don't really know what we know about our guys, right? I know the character and I personally know a lot of our players. I know the coaches. I know the people who invest hours trying to develop our players. And we have shown that throughout the years that we don't need to be ranked according to, you know, baseball America or whatever it is. But that's not what it's all about.

It's about developing these players, teaching them what it takes to be successful at the major league level. and we have had a really great history of doing just that. Last question. You know, you started Cam Smith bat eighth or ninth when he first got up here and he steadily moved up the lineup. Part of it is because guys are getting days off. Part of the fact that his offensive has been much better. Is that what you kind of thought when you first inserted him is like, hey, I understand there's a lot of pressure on this young man for being a first-time major leager, and I'm going to take some of that pressure out by putting him in the bottom third.

but he's got to grow with confidence when he walks, gets in the ballpark every day and sees him in the upper half of that lineup. Yeah, and you know what? I view him as someone who's going to be hitting in the middle of our lineup in the future. I think we need to slow the process down and do it in a way where we are doing it for at the right time against certain type of pitchers that matches up really well against them. And protecting him that way. But there's going to be a day, Matt, where you're going to walk in here, and this young man is going to be hitting in the middle of the lineup for years and years to come. But right now, we're in the process of developing for him to learn,

for him to adjust, not be overwhelmed by a lot of things that goes on in daily basis. But right now, he's swinging the back really well. He's starting to drive the ball out of the ballpark. He's a two-strike approach. He's really good. So I expect them just to be kind of moving and hitting somewhere in the middle of line up for the next couple of weeks. And if there's need to be changed to protect them, I'll do that. But I'll make sure that I communicate that with him to make sure that he'll understand what's the plan.

Skip, thanks for the visit, as always. We'll do it again next week. Good luck this week against the Phillies and the Cubs. We appreciate the visit as always. Bye, ma'am. Thank you. We'll see. That's Joe Spotted with us here on Sports Talk 790. is our time.

If you want to chime in anything that Joe had to say, you may do so at 7-13. 212-5-790. That's 7-1-3-21-5-7-90. This is the Matt Thomas Show of Ross. We take you to 2 o'clock today. The NFL Rewind at 120. What is today's edition of Believe We're not at 150?

We haven't mentioned it once. I don't know. What is the most pressing? Scott Boris? Could be. Oh, how about the comedian that's doing the... Oh, Shane Gillis? Can you think of eight things about Shane Gellis?

I can make some up. Is he related to Adobe Gilles? Hmm. He got booed off the stage at the Apollo theater. Like with the little cane that pulls him off the stage? Showtime at the Apollo. 1244, Sports Talk, 7.9. Time is 1249.

It is Sports Talk 790. It is a Matt Thomas show at Ross. We've got another hour plus coming up. And thanks again to Joe Espana for joining us. It's, you know, it's, when things are not going well, you have the easy low-hanging fruit questions. I'm sorry, I keep saying low-hanging fruit. It's such a, it's a cliche term. It's true, though.

Hit me every time I say it, because I say it too much. You want to punch right in the throat? I mean, I don't think it deserves that kind of penalty, but, you know. I'm going to get a bamboo reed. That doesn't feel nice. But when you win, it's, this person's great. This person's great. This person's great.

And that's what I kind of felt like with Joe is that there wasn't. Look, there wasn't a whole lot to, you know, look, a lot of managers and a lot of coaches for that matter would always say play 500 on the road, you're going to be a good team. And the Astros did go 500 on the road. They went four out of seven. Now, if you go to Colorado and split a series, you're going to feel pretty bad. Although the Rockies, I think, are five and five in their last 10 games. So, again, things are cyclical. But generally speaking, you do want to play 500 baseball in the road.

And if you get above 500, that's considered a bonus. And so there wasn't a whole lot for us to necessarily choose. on in terms of, you know, what are you worried about? Again, injuries to me, Joe's only going to know what he's only getting his recon from his general manager and his medical staff. But if there was big news when it came to injuries, they'd floated out there. Hey, McCullors are going to be back this week or Yordons going to be back this week.

And it feels like those things are not going to happen. I fully anticipate Yorda not being back until after the All-Star break, just because it feels like that would be the right time to give him a really long-extended run. get fully healed, maybe get some games in it there at the minor league double A, AAA, and then hopefully after the All-Serberg, you get them back. But I'm not putting any time parameters on it because when I do, I always feel like I'm a fool doing it. I did mess up not asking about the Torrid streak that continues for Jake Myers. I don't know if Torrid and Jake Myers are in the same sentence ever until maybe this year. It's almost July and he's hitting 310, Matt.

Slugging? that's not important nobody cares about that I mean they kind of do not the end all be all but getting on base is important now you're not if you're in the top five in the order

you want to slugging 407 it's not bad there's been a lot of worse 776 OPS for Jake Myers you take that all day especially when the average is about what you say 725

yeah somewhere I think it was like around 710 let me tell you something if the OPS is 710 an average. I told you, Evan Drellick. Drellich? Evan Drelich did the study.

I mean, he put out a big article about how the ball is traveling, I think, like four feet fewer than it was last year. It's a different ball. And for whatever reason, they keep changing off the balls. I don't know why. But that makes it even more remarkable

what guys like Cal Raleigh and Aaron Judge are doing. But you know, also part of it too, though, is that these ballparks are easy to hit a home run zone. We were talking about this with the skipper. That Sacramento, the ball flew out of the yard. Tampa, day games, flies out. Well, and still the average OPS is lower than it was.

And by the way, Jake Myers is also, we spoke about doing, due for some batted ball luck regression. Jake Myers is due to get hit pretty hard by regression. Well, if somebody tells me they're due to do something, I take it with a grain of salt. Okay. all right well i'll bet you jake meyers hasn't hit 310 the rest of the season you bet the over i didn't say that but i mean you could say well you could say that brennard rogers is due

when he comes off the disabled list injured list to well i don't have to look at his numbers you could say that christia walker is due to have a better second half of the year he is he is too but jake meyers and jeremy pain you do to come down a little bit especially in the in the case of jake meyers you know what i'm just you know what i'm sorry you know what, I think we deal in the here and the now with our sports teams. And so I'm going to respectfully not worry about the, it's duty. You can not worry about it, but I'm just going to tell you that that's what's happening. It doesn't necessarily have to happen, though.

He's not going to hit 372 with balls and play the rest of the year. I like him too. I would love him to. I'm president of the fan club. His career averages 308. He's at 372 this year. If you're the president of the fan club and you're always, he's not. and you're already doubting what his future is going to be like?

I'm not doubting. I'm talking about realities. See, just because I'm a Rockets fan, just because I'm Battle Red Ross, doesn't mean I think C. No, you're Battle Red Ross. It's right. You are.

It's right. It doesn't mean I'm going to say C.J. Stroud is the best quarterback in the league. That's stupid. There's a difference of supporting somebody and being a blind Homer. So yeah, I like Jake Myers,

but I'm also going to be realistic about it. I don't always have to read the numbers, though. If I'm going to deal in the hearing that out, because the numbers told me last year that normally after May 31st, he goes into this June. swoon and that hasn't happened. No, they didn't tell you that. Yeah, I did. I'm going up for recency. What was the one year?

Yes. I saw last year. Okay. What about the year before? And see, it's not happening now. I don't know. Do you think, did he have a robust June of 2024? I don't know. Yeah. Probably not. No. Hey, like I said, I'm dealing the here and the now. And the here and now is the a aster's of a four and a half game. Okay. Well, just remember this conversation when he goes into a slump. So cranky. I mean, did enjoy the

Enjoy the experience. I am enjoying your experience. The fan club welcomes all. I'm enjoying all these extra dues. You just said, I want to invite you the fan club. You're like, well, his batted ball numbers are going to be worse in the second half of the year. Those two things can be true. Sell them.

Sell them hard. You can be a fan of somebody and also be realistic about who they are. Kevin Durant, huge fan, not winning the scoring championship. Kevin Durant, 25 points a game. I'm fully anticipating it. Always should be over that, yeah. I hope so. if he continues to be 50-40 guy

but am I going to sit here and guarantee you he's going to be playing 82 games? No no no we don't need to do that Give me 60 great ones You can be a fan and also not be an idiot Homer Who's an idiot homer? I don't know people No name names are weird

We're just speaking gloss Just general terms Okay You'll tell me during the break I don't know what you're talking about 1256 on sports talk 790 We've got another hour left to go on the radio program. 713-212.

Can we get the Frisco Rough Riders off the TV? There's nothing else on? Man, we're in the dog days. That's because you're listening to radio. You don't have time to watch television. Oh, that's true. I haven't watched my stories yesterday. That's how bad it was when it comes to TV sports watching.

You got to call up on your... Well, there's Paul Patrol was on. We'll put that on for Jonathan. That's young to me. You know what? Oh, was it? That's before your time? I'm sorry.

You know what? That was rude. No, I'm old than Paul Patrol. That's like... Okay, Spongob then. There we go. I love SpongeBob, actually. Jimmy Newtown, that stuff, you know.

A SpongeBob, the goat. I can't remember the last cartoon that I regularly watched. I wasn't a Simpsons guy. It wasn't a SpongeBob. Not an adult cartoon or like a kid's cartoon. They brought back the X-Men cartoon. I used to watch that when I was a kid. I probably have to go with, I'm going to have to go back to my youth.

X-Men cartoon. One of the great all-time cartoons. You know when I was a youth? I love Super Friends because it gave me Batman Robin. Wonder Woman and Superman all on one show. In Aquaman? They had to keep on inventing reasons to be in the ocean. Aquaman was in that too.

I mean, seriously, you gave, it's like going to a buffet. You got every superhero on one show. There's only so many maritime crimes Aquaman can be involved in. You never know that. That's seasoned rough, Ross. Random diss on Aquaman. I feel like most crimes committed on land.

I don't know. There are a lot of pirates out there. Who are you going to trust? Batman or Sir Aquaman? I'm going to Aquaman for the win. Now, if he's going against the Ridler, I'm going to go ahead and take Batman. But Aquaman's going to do his job. He's going to patrol.

He's working for the Coast Guard when he's not busy. Well, he's choking on microplastics right now. How you shamed Aquaman is beyond me. Poor kid. Man. Was there never an Aquaman? Yeah, I'm laying Lock. He can't get me right now.

Was there an Aqua woman? Was there an Aqua? He didn't get an Aqual lady? Ooh, it's an aqua lady I thought the No, was there ever an aqua woman? They're having a little mermaid Because there was Batwoman

They were the Wonder Twins There was never a Wonder Man Although Superman would probably be the comp on that, right? I guess Her name was Mara M-E-R-A Hmm I don't remember Aquaman

You don't remember her in the in the seas? Nope Okay She said, I saw you looking at that mermaid Oh, she's getting in trouble. Most famous mermaid, of course, would be Daryl Hannon and Splash. Oh, I thought it would be The Little Mermaid with flounder and? Yeah, probably so, probably so.

All right, I don't know where this show has gone off the rails in the last second. I've got four hours to fill. Yeah, we're down an hour. We're down the home stretch. NFL Rewan coming up in 20 minutes. Do you know how confident Oklahoma City was in winning the NBA championship? They had their parade today. Usually it takes like four or five days to get that bad boy organized.

they won their championship on Sunday in today's Tuesday and the parade's already done. They were anticipating... They had the route, yeah, they were anticipating five game series. They've had the plans in place for a while. They had, they anticipated 500,000 people in downtown Oklahoma City. The metro population of Oklahoma City, that's the city itself and the suburbs are 1.4 million. So one out of every three people?

Does that sound about right now? No. How many people that, the numbers for what the Astros had. At the Astros? Mm-hmm. So that's only about 15, 16% of what we have. Could you imagine basically 40% of the city's metro population in one area in one short period of time like that?

No. Well, that's what they're saying. So 500,000 people in 2020. They says a crowd of nearly 2 million. That seems like a... That feels that feels really, really embellished. This is one million. No, this other estimate says one million.

Come on now. I would think in Oklahoma City with a smaller downtown, you could probably figure, you could add the number of bodies. You can only circle the chili so many times, Oklahoma City. Do you know what fast food chain is national headquarters in Oklahoma City? Sonic. That is correct.

Monick Myvin. and the rubs truck stop. Travel stop. That's who they have their jersey sponsor, right? Or used to you. I don't know if it still is. Yep. So, yeah, Oklahoma City already had their parade. The best thing was it, Jalen Williams doesn't drink,

but he had himself a shot in a couple of beers, and he's like, this is disgusting, I'll never do it again. Which one? Oh, I feel bad. They pressure him in drinking? Yeah. Wasn't a drinker and said, I'm done after that. Wow. And apparently, and I've seen a lot of photos of this,

Oklahoma City left about two-thirds of their champagne and their beer unopened in their locker room. Isaiah Hartnstein was asked why that was, because none of us know how to open up these cans of beer and these bottles of champagne. Yeah, well, it's the youngest team in the league. And, you know, kids these days don't drink as much. I'm happy about that. As a young man, or as a man raising three children, I'm more than okay with that. Well, I think THC is more in vogue.

Now, if it was a big party. That's a question for the young kids. I don't know. That's true. look at him's rolling his eyes. I don't want to out the young lads. All right, 107 on Sports Talk. 7.9. It's the final hour of the radio program.

If you want to chime in, you may do so at 713-21, 2-2-5-7-90. Getting a lot of Aquaman tweets coming in. Really? Which is weird, but it's fine. It's to each his own. Mera apparently is Aquaman's wife, but you don't call her Aquaman. You just call her Mira. What about Aqualady?

Nope, wasn't on there. Okay. No? Why are you booing that? That was lame. What if she was single? Yeah, then why she's Aqualady? She could use the name.

All are haters. What are you listening to back there? What do you get your own podcast going back there? What? What's going on? Guys, go to Sports Talk 790 on Instagram. I'm getting that spotlight on podcast up. Oh, okay.

There you go. All right, thank you very much for that. All right, headlines today. Astros Philly's coming up tonight. On Deck Show. I'll be hosting on deck show at 6 o'clock. You will? Yes.

Wow. Funny, those words never said by Adam Clinton and Adam Wexer at 6 o'clock. I will be doing tomorrow and the day after. Okay. And then I'll be hosting Friday. Look at us taking care of the next four days. Really? Yeah.

Hmm. Hmm. It's fine. That's all. Yeah, that's fine. I mean, I'm not doing it next week, so even time. We're all trying to chip in. Uh-huh.

Also on Thursday, I will be at the Keema Boardwalk for Rock the Doc on behalf of Sunday 99.1. Come out and see me. What will you be doing for Sunny 9.1? They got a 90s cover band out there. Do they really? Yeah. Spasmatics? Rock the duck.

No, that's 80s. Oh, sorry. They're called Joy Lux. Are you going to introduce them? I think so. You're going to dress up nicely? What does that mean? It's going to be hot.

I mean, I'm going to be shorts in a t-shirt or a pole, I guess. Go polo. Yeah. Shorts are fun. It's going to be like 9,000 degrees. What do you want me to wear tucks? I'm just saying, sunny, rock the boat? Sunny.

Yeah. Uh-huh. I'm angling for a weekend spot on Sunny. Are you really? Yeah. You know, Sky Mike's got one there. Oh, please. I can do it then.

Yeah. I've been asking to do a 70s Saturday night. And they won't. And they won't let me do it. No, they're not going to play 70s anymore. They don't play a single song from the 70s there anymore. That's not completely accurate. But I was like one.

There's like one or two. You're right. Like, you'll hear I will survive. You'll hear I will survive occasionally on there. I thought last time we talked to Mark Sherman. He said there was like, one song from the 70s. I'm going to go find out during the break. Okay. But yeah, I wanted to host 70s Saturday night.

The 70s were 46 years ago. But the point is, you can't give me four hours on a Saturday to do it? Yeah, I'll give you 3 a.m. to 7 a.m. I will take it at that point. I'm not going to complain. Just give me the spot. All right, Astros off tonight. Only the only news of the day really is... No, no, they're off tonight. I mean, they're playing the Phillies tonight, Cubs this weekend. The Astros did officially announce they're going to celebrate.

the Kyle Tucker Ryan Presley days in a ceremony on a Friday. Cubs fan does not like Ryan Presley right now. You know, it's so tough for me because Ryan, I liked Ryan. We used to have good conversation with Ryan. Yeah, I like Ryan. And then he just, when things didn't go well, he didn't want to do interviews and want to talk. And not that we would go, hey, remember that time in the seventh inning when you had a three-roundling gave it up? I mean, we wouldn't have done that.

We didn't have treated with kid gloves. Yeah, he's 36. He's just not as good as he used to be. It is what it is. Father time comes for us all. But if not for Ryan Presley in 2022, the Astros do not win the World Series. Correct.

He was fantastic in the postseason. So I just... Along with Abraeu and Raphael Montero. They were all good, yeah. Ryan Stannick didn't get a whole lot of usage. Remember everybody was upset that Ryan Stannick didn't get in the games? Oh, they were like, Dusty, what are you doing? What is Dusty doing?

Why does he hate Ryan Stenick? Shut your bum ass up. They won the World Series. Which bullpen was better? This one or the 22? 22. I think so. Because it was in much more high pressure situations.

Yeah, I mean, we can get there. I think last I checked, they're back to top five in... Yeah, Bray was bounced back after that one rough outing he had. Ada gave up the home run, but his ERA is still sub-2. Brian King's been ruffed up a little bit as of late, but nothing too too bad. I mean, they've had something. I mean, they've got... I mean, so many guys you've never heard of that just come through and just get you out.

Oh, they're back to second. Benet Seuss has been really good this year. Second and team ERA. And as far as relievers only. Well, I think, I think, again, the storyline for the 2020-5 season has been, in large part, three things. The move for Payne to go to leadoff, the bullpen, and the defense. And the fact that Jake Myers has been, again, he's not slugging a whole lot. Why are you trying to slide Jake?

776. You tell me he's going to regret. You tell me he's going to regress. Well, he might. But he hasn't. That's right. As I'm saying. Well, Jeremy Payne is going to regress too.

Oh, no, no, no. Don't speak those words into existence. I don't think he's going to hit 3.20 the whole season. I don't. It'd be great if he did. It'd be great if he did. And I'd love to be wrong on both of those accounts. His new boss or his new agent boss will really appreciate that.

I also think Yiner is going to be better and Christian Walker's going to be better. You know, we did bring up a lot today about Payne getting Scott Boris's representation. Wouldn't it be really. really interesting and fun and stunning that if we found out in the off season that they'd put together some sort of deal? That'd be great. I mean, can we lose both?

We've lost both in one year already. We saw that with Kyle Tucker and with Alex Bregman. But at least in the Tucker situation, you got something back in return. That's right. Impact players. And a guy with Tommy John. Who was an impact player? Yeah.

Yeah, man. I don't want to think about another. world of losing more players in three years, but it's, you have to do. He's under team control for this year and two more. We relax. Hunter Brown? I'm talking about Hunter Brown is, I think, the same

thing. Right? Okay, so we can relax until spring training 2028. Yes. Then we can start... But we're not. We're not. We're not. We're not. We're to talk about it. No. Non-stop. That's fine. Oh, I'm sorry. Even extra year for Hunter Brown.

He's not a free age until 2029. Oh, wait. We're putting Hunter in the background. We're going to laid off by then. I'll be graying up more by then. Yeah. Be the Matt Thomas show produced by Matt Thomas. Go host by Matt Thomas.

Internet only show. Catch me on YouTube. Just kidding. We'll be here. Hunter Brown, 2029 years. That's really good. That's really good news. Yeah.

See? Don't fret. Okay. So we're just got a semi-worry about Jeremy. No need to fret. Yeah. All right. 114.

on Sports Talk 790. We have the NFL rewind. What did we miss from the busy world of the offseason? I've got some stuff for you, Matt. We'll find out next. 114 on Sports Talk 790. Twitter, Aaron Rogers or Kurt Warner? Aaron Rogers, right?

I would agree. I mean, again, some of Kurt's prime years were as a member of the Iowa Barnstormers, so that's, you know. Well, then's the breaks. Yeah. You know, right? One guy had a movie made about him.

One didn't. I mean, he had a great, of course, seasons with the greatest show on turf. And then he had the comeback with the Cardinals. Yep. And then wrapped up with the Giants, correct? I think was that before or after? I can't remember. Well, he had a long NFL crew.

Is he the one that he was replaced by Eli Manning when he was with the Giants? Some veteran guy. I think it was. Yeah. And then he went to Cardinals and that was it. So he went Rams to John. Giants to Cardinals. Well, he was with the Packers, didn't make the team.

Then he was with the Barnstormers. Then the Amsterdam Admirals. Wow. Then the Rams. And then Giants Cardinals, yeah. They almost beat the Steelers in that 2009 Super Bowl. They almost... The James Heron picked six years.

Well, they also almost lost the Rams Titan Super Bowl. Oh, there was that crazy... Who made the crazy catch with the Rothesburg or who? Was it San Antonio Holmes or something about that? Okay. There was some crazy catches involved. I mean, the David Tyree catch, still to this day, is when he catches it on his helmet.

Yeah. I mean, if you tried to replicate that play a hundred times, you couldn't do it. Yeah, they got lucky. Yeah, by the way, when you talk about Super Bowls and a measuring stick, Eli Manning's got two. And nobody ever puts Eli Manning

in that top 10 or top 15 or top 20 or top 25. Team accomplishment. Yeah. Nobody's got Trent Dilfer is better than Dan Marino. Ooh. Brad Johnson. Brad Johnson, at least had like a couple decent years. Brad Johnson better than War Moon?

No? No. No Super Bowls there. No appearances. Yeah, but it's part of the conversation. But isn't it funny? Terry Bradshaw, I'm bringing my microphone there. Terry Bradshaw, four Super Bowls, never gets brought up in the top 20. No. I don't even know if Terry Bradshaw... Like an 11 Hall of Famers starting on defense.

Yeah. And he also had great offensive line and two great running backs and two amazing wide receivers. That's true. Well, that team was littered with... Hall of Famers. Pre-salary cap. Keep everybody. That's true. And oh, by the way, you don't work for us? Too bad. Yeah, pre-free. Pretty free agency. Right here. Oh, that's cool. All right. And enjoy chopping wood. Yeah, go to that lumberyard. Get that job. See how much you're going to get. Yeah, it's nine. I mean, guys in the 70s,

A, we weren't making great money, and B, didn't have much flexibility. And I don't even know what it was like in the 60s. Hmm. A lot of venture, plane. through injury. You know, a lot of playing through injury, a lot of smoking cigarettes on a Saturday and planned on a Sunday. A lot of free love. Let's go to Larry and Galveston on 7-90.

Hello, Larry. Hey, man, how are you doing? Good, Larry. What's going on? Well, I'll tell you what. I've got some ideas about negotiations

that hopefully are forthcoming for the Astros. And I hope that Jim Crane is able to turn back the hands of time and realize the time when he let Charlie Morton go. And Charlie has had four or five, six years of pretty dead gum good pitching years for the Braves and the Tampa Bay Rays and other teams. and I would hope that he would do the same thing. I would hope that he would learn from that and sign Framber Valdez to a five, six, seven-year deal because Framber has won.

He's gotten over, at least I believe he has, he's gotten over his mental issues where he'd get behind in the inning, and then all of a sudden he'd just blow up. And then the next thing is, is I hope that Jim Crane and Daniel Brown will offer Jake Myers an extended contract because Jake Myers,

is a good center fielder for the Astros. And, you know, folks were calling for Myers' head back when Dusty Baker was our manager. And Dusty said, hold on, this guy's young. He's got all the potential in the world. And he's going to do well. And guess what? He is doing well. And I want to see Jake in an Astros uniform for a good long time.

And as far as Scott Boris with Jeremy Pena, when I heard that this morning, I just fell over and I went, God Almighty. All right. Thanks, Larry. I don't know if I would God Almighty on Alan. Good gracious. To the point, I don't think Framber is getting an offer. I just don't. There has been no signs of it.

Again, people can change your minds. There could be a conversation to be had tomorrow. I mean, I'm, but I'm going off of history, and I'm going off of what teams do typically when you don't offer contracts in the final year. You let them walk. Jake, it's got some arbitration years left.

think not a tremendous amount of service time but i mean i look jakes is a elite center fielder but jake's a very replaceable offensive position i mean you could sign jake to a new to a contract at any point and be you're not breaking the bank with him you're not you're not you're not getting into a bidding war with anybody for jake me excuse me i know i knew you're The news will drop tomorrow. He's signed with Scott Boris. You're going to feel like a fool. Is he really?

Do you think Jake? I don't want everybody going to Jake Mike. Scott Boris. He's going to be his number one client, baby. R. 1A. Chairman Pena. I mean, damn. How much time does Scott Boris have?

Now, Gwen, remember, when you sign with Scott Boris, you do sign with Scott, but you're also signing with his lieutenants as well. Yeah, people who get the biggest contracts in baseball. But you know what I'm saying is that you got, got the second tier guys you're going to be dealing with more. I mean, you can, I don't know. I guess can Jeremy call Scott Boris at 3 o'clock in the morning?

I wonder who is the lowest profile. I'm sure there's a lot of Scott Boris clients that we just don't even know about. I guess Luis Guillorme with Scott Boris. I sign a lot of guys of minor league deals. Would Luis Guillaume like to be with Scott Morris? Yes. Just wondering. I don't know.

It all depends. Do you go for the call him? And he's like, now we're good. Does he get calls probably, right? But if you're already a new phone who it is? Yeah. Very busy right now. How does, how did this come about with Jeremy Payne?

Right? Does the Boris group reach out to him? Is that collusion? I mean, what, what? I'm curious the ins and out to this. My thought would be probably there was an expiration of a contract. That you can't, you can't go. I mean, there can be informal poaching.

Yeah. And trust me, I don't even know who the prior representation was of Jeremy Pena. But if it was somebody that was currently under contract and all of a sudden he breaks it, then maybe there could. go through the players like Scott Boris like hey Jose ask your boy Jeremy what's going on do you I would 100% believe that real quick before we get to believe it or not let's talk to Randy on 7 on a hello Randy oh yes sir Matt

yes sir real quick but uh but uh yeah I don't think the Astro's do business with Scott Boris you know I could be wrong me I'm not sure who Jose or 2V agent is but it's Scott Boris they do that they have they have two clients there's two Boris clients on their roster that under contract Lance McCullors and Jose Al Tuve. Okay. What's possible? It's very possible.

We shall see. Real quick, Matt, what do you think about the KD trade? You think there's more pluses than the negatives on that trade? The KD trade for the Rockets? What do you think about that? Significantly more positives. Thank you for the phone call, right? Thank you.

Yeah. Significantly more positives. There no deal is foolproof. If Kevin can't play, I mean, I don't think it's about scoring to me. I don't think you lose your shooting touch. Not at some point he might. To me, it's about health and being available, not in November, December, January. It's about being available in April, May, June, right?

Yes. And doing something, well, there's this guy. It needs to be an elite score and be an elite outside threat. The Rockets didn't have come playoff time. And the moment's never going to be never too big for Kevin Durant. Kevin Durant, all he does is provide big shots in a big moment. Yes. So that's what I would say.

But, yeah, the biggest negative would be, not that he wouldn't show up. Not that he wouldn't play hard, not that he wouldn't give it us all. But, you know, everybody's a pulled hammy, a pulled quad, ACL and Achilles. Probably a 37-year-old, higher risk. Higher risk than a 23-year-old. Exactly. All right, believe it or not, is up next. 7-1-3-21-2-5-7-9.

Do you ever come up with a category today? Yes. Is it highly Googlable? Not really. Scott Boris. Let's just say I might have a lot of knots coming in here. Scott Boris, believe it or not, is up next 146 on Sports Talk. 7.90. Five minutes left to go on the show. What should we do? We should play America's fastest growing sports radio game show. We simply call it B. Leave it or not. And here's how it works. You call 713-212-5-790.

7-13. Today's edition of Believe it or not is all things about Scott Boris. I read your statement about Scott's statement is completely utterly accurate. you'll say this. Believe it. If a statement as a ronious and made up, you'll say this. Not.

Two, believe it or not to row in all things about the super mega ancient Windjuie Prize. What are we playing for today,

Jonathan? We got three prizes. Of course, the Sports Talk 790 T-shirt, a pair tickets to see Alice Cooper and Judas

Priest live on October 26 and the Wizardsons Pavilion. Tickets are on sale now at Ticketmaster. com. And then we got a

four pack of tickets with pit passes to Monster Jam on October 18th at NRG Stadium. Tickets are as well on sale at

Ticketmaster.com. John on 790, ready to play, believe it or not? I'm ready. Scott Boris has a legal background and did not play baseball beyond the high school level. Believe it or not? Not. That is correct. You play college ball and in the minor leagues.

Statement number two for the win. In the minor league, Scott Boris hit 293 and four years of single and AA baseball. Believe it or not, 2.93. I believe that. You should. Congratulations. Nicely done. Chris on 790. Ready to play, believe it or not?

Believe it. According to the website, Celebrity Net Worth, Scott Boris is worth about $450 million. Believe it or not? Not. He is. I've said it one set of thousand times. You've got to know how much a certain age is worth. 713-212-790.

7-1-2-790. Brian on 790, what was your favorite part of today's 10-2 radio show? I loved Brad Belling again at gut billing. Scott Boris has two doctoral degrees, a doctor of pharmacy and a jurist doctor from the University of Pacific. Believe it or not? Not. That is accurate. He's a pharmacy.

Good to know. It's good to have good friends in the pharmacy business. Let's go to Jimmy in the Heights. Jimmy on 790. You ready to play, believe it or not? Believe it. Scott Boris appeared as himself in the 2010 sports betting film Two for the Money, starring Al Pacino and Matthew McConaughey.

Believe it or not? Believe it. No, he wasn't in the show, no. Very busy. Let's go to Roger on 790. Roger, you ready to play, believe it or not? Be-le-it. Scott Boris's first MLB client was his University Pacific teammate, Rob Sparing.

Believe it or not? Believe it. No, I don't even know Rod Sparing is. That's something made up dude? No, he did go to Pacific. Oh, believe it or not, Rob or Scott Boris's favorite superhero Aquabay. No, that wasn't a part of it.

Let's go to Josh on 790. Josh, you're ready to play, believe it or not? Josh. Josh is not ready. Let's go to Brian on 790. Brian, you're ready to play, believe it or not? I am. Got cut off her.

Good. Boris corp.com lists Scott Boris Hobbies. is fishing, playing golf and traveling. Believe it or not? I believe it. No, you shouldn't. Sorry. I think he just likes to count his money. Josh on 790, you ready to play, believe it or not? Let's go. Scott Boris met his wife, Michelle, Walt University of Pacific, where she was a cheerleader. Believe it or not? Believe it. No, we told you me a lot of knots today.

Ross is under pressure. He had to do a lot of knots. It's harder to make things up. It is. It's easier to do. tell the truth. We tell the truth on the show. Have a great rest of your day. I'll talk to you for Astros baseball at 6. Up next, Waxillian Clayton with the team on Sports Talk 790.