The Matt Thomas Show with Ross - More McCullers Trade Reaction, Argentina to the World Cup Final

Episode Date: July 18, 2026

More McCullers Trade Reaction, Argentina to the World Cup Final 

is the Matt Thomas show with Ross. Good morning and welcome to a Thursday edition of the Matt Thomas show with Ross here on Sports Talk 790. I'm Matt. To my right, it's Ross. We thank you very much for spending it hopefully the next four hours of your day with us. We've got, I think, a very interesting, I just don't get it today. I've got a couple actually. I need to get off my chest on this at 1130. We'll have that for you today. Before that, Brian McTagher will be with us at 11 o'clock. as his normal Thursday visit, and he was certainly busy yesterday with all the Lance McCullery stuff. And we have an old smoky giveaway today at 1250.

So we've got that plus, believe it or not, so we get a nice full show. And another one. I want to thank Old Smokey for dropping off some grills for us to be sending off to our listeners this week. Kind of a nice little way to continue the summer. And again, one word of advice from my oldest son to all of you. Just be careful how much light of fluid you put on the charcoal because you can cause a small fire if you don't. Oh, lighter fluid causes fire. Isn't it crazy?

Yeah. Yeah. I'm glad your son figured that one out. Well, I mean, because honestly, I've, since he's been alive, I've only had gas grills. Uh-huh. I'm not a big fan of flame, to be honest with you. So the gas grill was kind of better for me. I mean, it's more convenient and faster.

Yes. I like the charcoal. Now, the flavoring. Yeah, both are good, but the flavoring on a charcoal just, it hits, especially on burgers kind of hits a little bit different. Yeah. Your char-grilled burger, can't beat it. No, you cannot. So yesterday we did a little Facebook, not Facebook.

I actually did reach Facebook. We did an Instagram video of part of the show yesterday. And we try to do that once in a while. Just kind of give you a peek inside of what we first thought, how good we look in our little studio, but little clips of the show and got a lot of good responses. Nobody was particularly ugly, which was good. But it was definitely a, as I thought would be the case. I would say 60, 40, Lance, we remember the good times in terms of the curveballs and the helping us win and being a young guy and obviously pre-injury being a huge part of this team.

And there was the 40% of always hurt, bad contract, yada, yada, which is, you know, as I said when we talked about it yesterday, I did believe there's a balance. You're okay? Yep, I'm good. Oh, you're shaking your head. Go ahead. Okay. So to me, that's, and maybe down the road we'll forget about the injuries. I don't know.

But for right now, when it's fresh in people's minds, unfortunately a lot of the resume is of the time he's been gone. And that was certainly, if it was flipped, like if he was hurt for a lot of his early career and then came in and helped out down the stretch, I think people will more remember clearly what he did in 2026. Yeah, the injuries will always be part of it and a big part of it. And also he's just getting let go because he's been injured for five years. But overall, as time goes along, I think we still do remember the good times, but that's what I'll remember more.

And it's just more that his body failed him more than anything else. I mean, it just, it is what it is. But I want to thank everybody that did comment that even though there were mixed opinions on it, nobody was like, you're an a-hole. I hate you. You guys suck. That was kind of nice. It was because sometimes you go to comments on things you say or talk about and you're afraid that somebody's going to call you an a-hole.

You almost sound disappointed. You were scanning the comments for some negative feedback. I was so pleasantly surprised that it was an ugliness. Thus, the reason why IG greater than Twitter or X, as the kids call it. Yeah. Well, nobody said anything too negative on X either. Matt, we posted it everywhere on all platforms. Maybe we're growing up a little bit surely.

I don't know about that. Tar Easton clearly doesn't feel that way. What's going on with him? Is he still going after people? he was not particularly pleased with some people things that were being said and so he got he he said some things and then mom jumped in and so it was it's a thing okay well he should be happy he just got what a hundred million dollars or whatever 80 million dollars 80 million dollars pretty good really good finance are taking care of the rest of their life and then some so but that's that's

situation all right um so again i just don't get at 1130 uh rossi i apologize to you i apologize to Jonathan, I apologize to the audience. I did not watch the ESP's last night. The ESP's were on? That makes two of us then, okay? Okay, I'm at the only... Oh, so none of us watched the ESPES yesterday. Good for them. Uh, who was host? Actually, I don't know the guy's name, but he is a relatively new character, uh, actor on the, uh, Saturday Night Live. He's a new upcoming, upcoming comedian. He's pretty, he's pretty funny. He's actually pretty funny. He does, uh, he does, uh, a reality. Bad Bunny Impressionations, right? I think it's one of his characters that he does on SNL.

Okay. Marcelo Hernandez. Yeah. And I've seen this guy. And I've seen him in SNL. He's pretty funny. If I would have known he was hosting the show, maybe I would have checked in on it.

But you know what? I got to peel the curtain back, Ross. And I don't know if you mind, but I think you're in the same situation. Our life in this great career that we have is sports. And very, very rarely over the course of a 365 calendar day, year, are there days where sports isn't a huge part of our life? Yesterday was one of those days.

And so sometimes you have to, I don't know, talk to your kids, spend time with your wife, you know, watch shows you would not normally watch or just wash the car or work on the garage or just, I don't know, go watch a movie. I went to bed early. Yeah, I was asleep. I'll be brutally honest at 9.45 last night. That's great. So.

There was nothing going on. I figured, you know what, do I need to watch the ESPs? Is it a huge part of this radio show? And I failed like the answer to rest. I didn't even know they were on. So I figured there this week, I guess, now that you mention it. There's always a day after the All-Star game. It's the slow week.

The ESPN's got to fill time. Now, I did look at something yesterday. The one most gruesome injury. That's a category? Most disappointing team? No, I think you're looking at the RESPies, not the ESP's. Okay. I did look at a video clip from ESPN,

either it was this morning or yesterday. I don't remember where it was from. Bob Buster only was a guest on one of the ESPN shows, and he was talking about the All-Star game in baseball. And I don't know what the television numbers would dictate, but he was talking about the fact that a third of the stadium, shortly after the seventh inning stretch, had left the stadium in Philadelphia,

that there is concern among somebody he talked to in baseball that the All-Star game, not necessarily is in trouble, but there are alarms going off because a lot of the great players are not playing. Paul Skeen did not play. Shohay Otani did not play. And the fact is that you had crowd of whatever Citizens Bank, Paul Park, fits 45,000, that a third said, I'm good. I'm going to leave it when most of the major stars of the game. were checked out of the game.

And I'm just curious if that's something that something that's Major League Baseball should be keeping an eye on or is that just you know, it's Philadelphia, people want to get home, go to work the next day kind of thing. Oh, they sold the tickets, didn't they? They did sell the tickets. They always sell the tickets. I don't think they should care. Well, you know, the number one problem for me is, at the end of the game,

it's a bunch of everybody else checking in. Yeah, but I don't, you know, I went to the two, when the All-Star game was here in Houston, I say for all nine. And there were guys that I didn't. In 2004? Whatever that was, yeah. I went to the, I even went to the home run derby the day before. Oh, really? You know what's crazy about that?

You tried to enter, correct? I wanted to pitch still Birkman. Okay. And why would I want to pitch to Burtman? Because he needed me. She's on the right side. I'm a left-handed thrower, and he was hitting from the right-handed side. So I would have been a big asset to him.

Not an ass, but an asset to him. Oh, okay. I think the number one problem with people leaving, well, first of all, the stars, some of the superstars did not play. but you're also pushing these games back further and further and further because you've got to get more commercials in and more celebration. I don't know what first pitch was, but I'm going to assume within an hour being probably 8, 38, 35,

that's very, very late. I don't think it's a long, they should be happy anybody's here, these crappy All-Star games. Yeah, it was kind of fun to watch, like I said, when the players were getting interviewed and stuff like that, and they had Dylan Sees and Chey Langaleers were, like,

sequencing their pitches in the middle of the AB against Juan Soto. That was cool, It's just an All-Star game. It doesn't matter. It's an exhibition. And I always do this to me. I never ask you this. Were you, and we got a little bit of a difference in our age.

1985-86, I'm 13, 14 years old. I love the All-Star game. I loved it. Because, first of all, I love the different uniforms on the field at the same time. And to be able to see, you know, in the infield, Don Maddenly at first base and the end, Reggie Jackson for the Angels playing in Wrightville. I mean, it was always cool to me.

You didn't have interleague play. You didn't have interleague play. So it was a little more intriguing American League versus National League. And yeah, it was just different. It was better than for us, but everything was better when we were younger. I probably watched more, but I also had more free time. I mean, I don't know. It was something I got into when it was also the middle of summer.

Yeah, I mean, of Love Island finale is on. You can't miss that, right? We've got more things to watch now, exactly. But I was going to get my James' perspective. Growing up, the All-Star game was so much fun to go watch, even as a little kid growing up in the early... Yeah, I think things are fun, more fun. when we're kids and then yeah

it's not as big of a deal when we're older and now especially you got more things to watch so let's think about this what's more fun as an adult than it is as a kid there's one thing going to the bars bars because clearly you cannot be drinking

at 11 if you are gambling gambling okay um how do I put this romanticism yeah I'll say it what do you mean

um Okay, so to Lance McCuller's for a second. No, no. Let's be rudely honest. Romanticism at 17 a little different than it. Well, you said kids, so I was confused. I didn't know what age you meant. I wouldn't not say to that.

I wouldn't say tread very lightly. Yeah, so I'm saying, I'm trying to, I don't mean to pause. Maybe we should back out of this whole conversation. Yeah, it's probably a good idea. Well, just put it this way. Are you better at 34 than you were at 17? The answer, of course, is yes. At what?

713-212-5-7-9 driving for sure I'm a better driver today than I was at 17 for sure I handle my money much better Okay Trying to move out of the original comment Try to get out of that 713-212 You don't have a hole there, John

I'm trying to get out of it You're not helping Rossi not helping at all Go get a shovel and help me out here please We will spring I'll circle in some Dana Brown comments from his Zoom call with the media throughout the course of show today. 713-212-5-790. 7-1-3-212-5-790. If you want to still chime in and give your thoughts because we had quite a bit of interaction yesterday with those of you on the phones

and certainly through our Instagram post about Lance McCuller. He's now wearing Milwaukee Brewer gear. Dana said, first of all, the slug says here, this was a roster decision to trade Lance. Well, I would certainly hope so. Here's, here's, uh, there's a day on that. We had a situation where we had these guys coming off the IL. We're looking for some, you know, some roster flexibility. And, you know, we felt like these guys could come in and make a pretty good

contribution, West Nesky and Blanco. And we also has, have Sousa coming back. And so, you know, the thought process was to, you know, communicate with, with Lance and try to figure if, you know, we would, you know, accept the trade. and, you know, he graciously accepted. And, you know, I think he's got a chance to, you know, going to Milwaukee and Milwaukee was excited about getting him. May I have to do something just off of that one comment?

They're not going for any more pitching. Explain. He brought up three dudes. They were all injured. Mm-hmm. Saying we got to clear some space for these guys. Wisniewski, Sousa, Blanco. Dana probably in his mind, and again, this is not 100%, this is just me listening to it.

It's like, you know what, I have to clear some space. I've got enough pitchers here. I'm going to help catch one of these pitchers catch lightning in a bottle, and we're going to just go run with what we have. Well, most importantly, they don't have a whole lot of research and make a lot of trades. That's what we talked about. I mean, we mentioned it all the last couple of weeks, really, is that they, ideally, they'd like a starter, but how?

How do they get a starter? How do you get a front-line guy? You can maybe trade for a three, four, five, but you got a stock, you're chock full of three, four, fives. So if you want somebody who's going to be very reliable out there every fifth day, that's just going to probably cost you too much because you also need a left-handed outfield bat. You probably need a leverage reliever. That's what I'm saying. I'm deducing how many holes. That if they're going to give anything up within their system, it's for a left-handed bat.

Here is more on Dana talking about the roster and salary flexibility. We were able to create some, you know, more flexibility in terms of, you know, payroll by trading. Lance won't get into the specifics, but we were able to create some flexibility. And we also created some flexibility on the roster spot, you know, because we, you know, we were, you know, trying to navigate who's going to come up, who are we sending out. And so it created some flexibility by moving both him and Gordon. Also, so to go along with what I was talking about, and maybe Dana will give us a different answer than I'm anticipating. But again, to listen to that very first comment, it makes me think that if they're going to make any move at all, it's going to be for a batter that they're going to get people up to go get a bat. Here is Dana on evaluating pitching before the deadline.

We're going to get some runway with our starters here that are coming back. We're also going to potentially get some runway with Sousa. if we add Blanco and West Nesky to the rotation that could push some guys to the bullpen which subsequently would improve our pin

and so look we're having these conversations now we have another conversation and meeting tomorrow so we're working through these things but make no mistakes we are still trying to improve this team

we are still actively talking about acquiring a left-hand bat and we're hoping that the runway that these pitchers can show us what they're capable of doing and then we'll circle back and make some decisions before the deadline. Okay, he's going to circle back, but they're going for a bat and they're going to just live with what they have. You've got 64 games.

It's not an ideal situation. You got 64 games to figure out who of all these pitchers is good at all. It's true. You said it. I mean, pitchers can be bad for a month or two and still be really good. So it's, I mean,

it's just the nature of baseball. It's the nature of where they are. And what the lack of resources they have in the farm system. And the fact that they have, the salary, they're not up against the luxury tax threshold at all, especially now with this move. They're going to be taking on some salary.

They're getting an outfielder. I think a named outfielder. I'm starting to feel excited. that maybe a named outfielder is coming. First of all, I hope you're right. Number two, don't you feel like because of this move in the headlines that it did draw that they have now, not necessarily,

I don't think the word demand is in play, but you would be shocked if they just sat back and did nothing. There's no way. There's no way. This is the precursor, right? This is the move before a move. Yeah.

We appreciate you, Lance McCullors, Jr. Thank you for waving your no trade clause, which he didn't have to do. Yeah, apparently, $2.5 million in savings, but there's a little bit more of baseball lingo that would help them with more on that.

Remember in spring training guys and gals, the Astros went and loaded up on a bunch of pitchers. Hoping that something would stick. I didn't think Peter Lambert would be the one that's sticking. Peter Lambert's been the one that stuck, at least it's one.

And then, well, Hunter Brown's been hurt, and then not great. You want to keep going? No. Okay, sure. Ryan Wise is DFA, EMI's been a disaster, and Mike Burroughs has been a disaster, and Kai Wei Tong has both been optioned and then now hurt.

And Aragutti had one good month and two lousy ones. Remember when people were losing their mind when he didn't start the season with the team? Oh my God. This guy is a future ace. How could you have let him toil away in AAA? Fire Joe, Fire Dena. Fire Dena.

This is organizational malpractice. Shut your bum ass up. Not that everybody in baseball knows everything. No, but there's something. We get things wrong, Matt. But there's rarely any time I say that's a dumbest most crazy insane thing I've ever said. I heard you say. And that's what Twitter is every day.

People are wrong and people are right. But there's also a degree of being a dumbass. Yeah. And maybe, because I kept checking myself for a second. I'm like, am I wrong for not being? upset? And not that I predicted he was going to do this, but my philosophy was with Spencer

Arrogati starting the season with the team as they wanted to stretch him out to get him ready to be when he got up here to be with this team as a starter every fifth day. I wasn't thinking this is a guy that didn't do enough to earn his opportunity to be on the big league roster. It was not going to be a matter of being

gone a month or two months or having to prove himself a AAA, was just to get him ready to go for a full long ride. And that's exactly what they did. Yeah, there was no spots on the roster, if they were starting with a five-man rotation, which they did, and then he had to go get built up. He was a little bit behind because he had twins

in the off-season, and then he came back ready to go. We live in a society where things go right and we still complain. He was great the first month of the season. So instead of saying, hey, the asteros handled this perfectly, the Astros did the exact right thing. Look how great this is going.

We ask for more and how it could have been better and complain. Or, or we, we would have been better if this would have been done sooner. How you guys screwed up? This is going so perfectly, I have to complain. Yeah. Come on, people. Yeah, and

unfortunately, not that I mean, even if he started this season with the team of the big league level, this June slash July swoon could have certainly happened. It just these are human beings and baseball people have

to ultimately make the best decisions and they'll be judge for that. What Dana Brown will be judged for as a general manager of this team this year is the people that he brought in to fill the roster up. And so far, 90% of them have been failures. I will give tongue a little bit of grace because he stepped in when you needed starting pitching. Yeah. And then they tried to, yeah, they tried to make him a starter and he's just really not. He's just not. But apparently that was part of the plan was to use him as a reliever and then build him up. Yeah, so that's, and the number of innings he's thrown, he was wearing out. And that's hurt. And so if that is what he was always going to be, then that's malpracticed by the organization. Or was that tongue going, hey, I'm ready to take this next step and I just maybe can't do it.

So if tongue comes back, whenever that is from his injured list, st, and is a middle reliever for this team, then the Astros will be in a good spot. because Tong, when he was in that role as a middle-leveraged guy, did a pretty good job. We are 98 games into the season, and I feel like I have as many, if not more question marks about the pitching as we had start. When's Wes Neske coming back? How good is he going to be? Kai Wei Tong coming back. Is he going to be able to start? Ronell Blanco, what's going on with him? I mean, Mike Burroughs, who knows, is Tatsu Y and I going to be able to turn it around? I got like as many questions as I did at the start of the season.

is this when the only one that's panned out is Lambert, that's the reason why you're sitting here with one of the worst time rotations in baseball. Fair? 713-212-5-790. We'll talk to more about the Astros coming up at 11 o'clock with Brian McTaggart. We're with us every Thursday on this radio show. We have, I just don't get it, at 1130. We have an old smoky girl giveaway at 1250 this afternoon.

We believe it or not at 150. You guys want to join us, and ladies as well, you are always welcome at 713-212-5-790. 713-212-5-7-90. Ross, Matt, with you here on 790. 1035 on Sports Talk 790. 7-13-212-5-790. 7-13-212-5-7-90. My Twitter for-you tab, a lot of Chuck Schumer on there. I don't know if you saw what happened to him yesterday.

I don't know if that's AI or sound effects or embellishment. Oh, dear. Okay. I'm not joking. So he's a senator. Yes, he is. It's been around a long time, elderly. Okay.

Yeah. Which, I don't know what side of the aisle he's on. Okay. I do, but go ahead. It doesn't really matter. I mean, it doesn't matter what you are. What happened to him? How old?

I thought, so somebody died, right? Yeah, Lindsey Graham died. Okay, he was a senator. Yes, he was a senator, yes. Okay. So Chuck was on the Senate floor yesterday. Okay, what's Chuck was doing? He's passing gas at the microphone.

Okay. So the question. question is, did somebody put that up there to make him feel bad? Or, because I'm getting different levels of audio on that. Well, everybody on the Senate floor is just passing gas every time they get up there. For us to be fair and balanced, there is a report now out of the last 24 hours that, and this comes to zero surprise, that Ken Paxson, remember when Ken Paxson was going to. He's the one that got indicted, right? And he's running for Senate.

So he's running. I got to respect the guy. Oh. You're right? I accidentally said a little something. Yeah. Sorry. He's the one that said if the Big 12 goes after Texas Tech, we're coming after you. Remember that?

And then all of their states are like, no, we're coming after you. You're going to back off. The day before he did that, this is odd. Yeah, I think we're clear. Whatever you said. I don't know. I'm listening. Go ahead. The day before Paxton said that, he got a campaign donation for a Senate campaign of 274, thousand dollars.

Okay. You want to give one guess of what's Cody Campbell? Cody Campbell gave it away. Yeah. It's politics. Yeah. America, the system's broken.

It's fine. It's just funny that it doesn't usually get into our neck of the woods, so to speak. It doesn't get into sports. But yeah, that's what, that was the daily sports political mix today was that Cody Campbell cut Ken Paxon to check to help him

well, because he wanted to run for Senate and win, obviously. but, you know, ironically enough, the day after Ken Paxon came to Texas Tech, it's defense about the Brandon's Orison. That's crazy. Yeah. And that works. I'm wishing them all the best in their future endeavors.

I will not be voting. Yeah. I'm telling you, you're going to root for my Cougars. We've got to beat Texas Tech in a lot of it. I'll root from that day. And every day. I'll do you go through Cougars sometimes. Willie Fritz, great friend of the show.

Yes, you know what, Willie Fritz is a great friend of the show. He's even, yeah. He always asks about you every time. Oh, does he? Yeah, and it's good because Willie Fritz is one of the nicest people on the earth. Good. And a hell of a football coach. Uh-huh.

And we're going to, you know, beat that LSU ass last year in the Texas Bowl. We're going to go to the Big 12 championship game and then we'll see what happens for the college football tournament after that. Oh, wow. You don't win it all? Well, I don't know. I mean, that's kind of a, it's a mighty goal. I mean, at least get there. Yeah.

We had 12 or 16. I'm losing track on the CFP. I think it's 1212. Yeah. Yeah, you're in. Oh, easy. You should be able to get in. Easy, peasy. Yeah. Is it a must-win year for Steve Sarkesian in the Texas Longhorns?

You're going to say no, correct? Of course not. I mean, he's not in any trouble, do you think? No, I don't think so. I mean, if they lose like three games, he might be in trouble. It's all relative. You have the Heisman favorite as your quarterback, correct? Yeah, well, he was the Heisman favorite bedding's odd last year, too.

That didn't work out. Yeah, but this time you got Ohio State in your building. So, right? Yes, they do. And they could lose that. It's fine. I don't think so. Now, 100,000 people at Darrow K. Royale, all wearing the burnt orange.

It's all good. Yeah, there'll be, Ohio State travels. They do travel. But, you know, Texas likes to cipher off the tickets. So, you know, you're going to make sure the ban gets their seats. They'll be up in the top corner. Well, they should be. Yeah, what's the big deal?

I don't think other teams should have good seats. They get all upset about it. I would love to go, man, I'm going to save some money and go to that game in Baton Rouge. On the road at LSU, Texas Longhorns. Is that the place where the party may be better than the game? That's every week there. It is true. I did go there once, but that was Ed Ogeron's last game, and I think, I don't know, the tailgate was good.

Game wasn't so hot. I was like, this is the best atmosphere in college football history? I feel kind of sick. I've only been to Tiger Stadium one time, and I called the U of H. LSU game. That's when Kevin Falk had 17 touchdowns, correct? He didn't. He shouldn't have played in the game, but that's not in here or there. Oh, right.

He should have been ineligible. What was the issue? I don't remember, but I just know that he shouldn't have played. I forgot about that. Cougars were up 14 in the fourth quarter and LSU I think scored 21 in the 4th, something like that.

I'm sorry, Matt. It's fine. Painful memories. It is painful. That was Andre Ware's first game is doing a radio analyst for the Cougars and he's moved on a successful career with the Texans and the NESPN

and let's see. Saturday, November 14th. Longhorns at LSU. Buying ticket price right now? Oh, you're not? to look? Sure. Uh, 213.

That's not terrible this time of year. No. Now I'm used to World Cup prices. It's like $1,500 to get in. Yeah, that sounds low. Speaking of the World Cup, uh, but did England already start celebrating prematurity,

do you think in your mind? Okay, yeah. You want to break down the game? Well, I know, I can't break it down. I'm just asking you, because you'd watch every second of it. I did watch every second of it. So, yeah, it was, um,

not a whole lot of shot attempts in the first 30 minutes, but it was still pretty good action back and forth. Then England, scored their goal in the 55th minute very well scored goal by Anthony Gordon and then they basically went into prevent defense Matt

you're familiar with the term parking the bus because you watch Ted the lasso right? Yes that's when you just basically play 10 back. They checked in a bunch of defenders. Thomas Tuchel the manager for England was like we're parking this bad boy we're going to try to win we're going to hold on for dear life

and try to win one nothing and unfortunately that turned out be a strategy that did not work out. They scored in the 80, Argentina scored in the 85th minute on a, I mean, it was a, it was a brilliant strike by Inzo Fernandez. A lot of people are going to say they parked the bus and they screwed it up. Also, Argentina scored some crazy ass goals. The 85th minute, Inzo Fernandez shot had a, an XG mat of you, as you know, of 0.03. Yes. So it was a difficult shot for that to go in. Honestly, should have been saved by Jordan Pickford. then the

cross from Lionel Messi who by the way assisted both goals Messy's the second I didn't see the first assist I saw the second one and I wish I was on the field for it because it felt like he went

through a maze to kick that ball right to that dude's head perfectly exactly that was first of all okay you give Lionel Messi some room on the right wings that says he give him 10 chances he's going to land one of those but it was such a perfect cross

that's also I mean very difficult to have that happen against you. And sometimes we look at the result and then we get mad at the process. So it could have turned out a different way. It didn't. It took two special goals and two assists from Lino Messi. But they weren't covering the right wing at all. And they were just trying to pack the box. And so they were inviting those crosses. It's just like when a team goes into pre-fent defense and then they lose the game and you say, see, you can't go into prevent defense. Sometimes pre-event defense works, and sometimes it doesn't. It just didn't happen to work out.

Argentina got those two special goals. And so you can argue should have England tried to act like it was zero-zero, still press forward, still attack. Well, then if that had happened and then they got crushed on a counterattack, they would have been like, what are you doing? You need to play defense. You need to preserve this lead. The 2020 on anything is, it feels like especially in soccer because there's so little scoring that every mistake is really magnetized. Absolutely.

That's the, I mean, if the defense plays perfectly, no goals are scored generally. So it usually comes off from mistakes or extremely special play. And it was extremely special play. I still think in the moment I was saying they parked the bus a little bit too early. They did it around maybe like the 70th minute or maybe even 65th. I'd have to go back and check. They should have waited at least like a 10 more minutes or so. And then went into full defense turtle shell.

we're going to win this bad boy 1-0. But it didn't work out. Argentina's going on. England was the better. And let me ask you this. Because I don't want to strike up too big of a debate on this. Let's do it. But as I learn,

the prevent defense is in football for sure. Clearly it's in soccer. You really can't do much prevent defense in basketball because you have a shot clock. You have to put up shots. Yeah. Well, if you remember, people crush the spurs for trying to run the shot clock down, too early in that game where they had like the 20 was a 28 point lead or whatever it was but i would say play your offense play your offense can i say a criticism of soccer yes is that you go that teams

typically and again i'm not watching a lot yeah but the general thought is that park in the bus is a pretty often used term because it's done so much in soccer the teams settled back and don't aren't nearly as aggressive as they are in other sports yeah they aren't but then that's that that's There's still drama in that. I would say that that's, I don't know if, I don't know if you're trying to make the argument that is boring. But to me, it's like, oh, oh, these guys are going to wait, sit back, and then they are going to,

they're going to take a bunch of haymakers. And so that in itself has a lot of drama. And that's what was happening. A bunch of Argentina crosses, bunch of Argentina shots, it is a barrage of attempts to score. Can England brace themselves and hold on for this win? They weren't able to do it.

I think another analogy would be like a boxer or even go to like, if you remember a De La Hoya Trinidad back in the late 1990s. De La Hoya won like eight of the first nine rounds. And so he just danced around the last three rounds. Well, problem was Trenton on some scorecards, they didn't have De La Hoya winning all those later rounds. So you want to dance around for three rounds and think you won the fight and he lost. So it would be like a fighter thinking they have enough rounds on the scorecards and then just get knocked out.

See, that's what we do. We can give you analogies that work. Well, one of us can. Or if you're, yeah, sometimes like Bill O'Brien would, they would get up seven. D'Amico Rines does this. D'Amico's way too conservative, I think. They get up seven points, and they're like, we're going to run the damn ball three times in a row into the middle of a pile of the offensive line, and then we're going to hang on for dear life.

How many times at the end of Texans games are we holding on for dear life, hoping this defense, can hang on. See, I think of a much more bigger picture. I think the team settles for three way more than when they go for seven. DeMeco Ryan settles for three, and then when they get up a touchdown in the second half, they start running the ball. So it's basically, sometimes it works?

It's hard to nurse a 14-12 lead. Sometimes it works. Sometimes it doesn't, but a lot of times you're going to have a heart attack. It's going to be a one-score game. 7-13-212-7-90. We will visit with Brian McTaggart in 15 minutes. Now, I'm going to tell you, we've got an old-smoky giveaway today at 1250.

Something Brian says during his 11 o'clock visit will help you win that old smoking giveaway. There it is right there for you. Thank you, Matt. I think of you or Ramee say. It's going to be something Brian McTaggart says, and he'll join us in 15 here on 790. So I'm a subscriber to the athletic, and it's really great stuff. It's not about game recaps. I mean, anybody that knows it's not about box scores, not about AB.

18 B team by this number. It's about the behind the scenes stuff, which is way more fascinating to me. As part of my subscription, they send me breaking news alerts, and it's usually about an hour behind. Breaking news. So they're breaking news they just sent me,

which was sent to me 10 minutes ago. Dewey defeats Truman. No. No. It was that that Bam out of bio will not be punished by the NBA for punching Tyler Hero in Las Vegas.

Should he be? That's my question. First of all, what is... I know it was done at an NBA hotel. I know it was done at the Summer League. I know that you have a code of conduct when you're a NBA player because you are a public figure. But the NBA can't rule on everything. And if Bam wanted to throw hands with Tyler and he wanted to punch him and...

That's just boys being boys, I think. That's what I say. How about we get him in the practice ring? You make a... Get him in an octagon. let's go. That'd be actually very funny. I would love it.

We'd put it on pay-per-view. I would watch, why don't you get two consenting, why can't two consenting adults fight? They're worried about, they're worried about brawls. Yeah, I said, too. Yeah, get them in the octagon.

Change them up. Well, forgetting about the octagon. How about putting them in that, keeping them in that hotel ballroom, locking all the doors, so nobody else can get in there, nobody else can go in there and try to save them. Why can't we conduct ourselves like gentlemen?

It works in hockey. Let's go That'd be funny in basketball If you had to play a man down for a couple minutes Five on four You'd get a power play It'd be funny for about 30 seconds It'd be like Shingoon being out there on defense

Get your no pat out All right, that was rude That was a joke It was a joke Jonathan 1130 Please Turkish Twitter don't come after me It was a joke Ha ha ha ha ha

Jonathan you laughing He laughed He's gonna say he's not but he did I thought You know we can see you Jonathan We see your pearly whites I get it Now, don't.

Save that for tomorrow. That's fine. But no, I'm sorry. I mean, you don't want to have this to be a regular thing, but they're not. I think it'd be great. It's not a regular thing. I'd watch. But I'm just back to the central point.

You'd be a kid, no, if two men fight, it is what it is. If two broskeys want to get after it in a Vegas brawl, that's all good. Well, any of their brawl, it was one punch and then he left. Yeah, just don't hit Orlando Anderson. After the Mike Tyson-Bruselden fight. I forgot. That's how Tupac got shot. Ooh.

Was I supposed to know that? Clanton would have known. Oh, that makes me feel worse. He went to where he got shot. He went to the corner of where he got shot. It was like Flamingo and something. Really? Coval.

Coval? Coval? No. Never done that. Okay. You're not Adam Clinton. No, I don't seek murders. Yeah, he went to go where Nicole Brown Simpson got her head nearly cut off.

I did that, though. You did? Absolutely. What's wrong with you? That was also 1996. Can I tell you about that trip? I don't mean to go off on a tangent here. So you said this woman got her neck nearly cut off.

Let me go see where it happened. I was courting this girl who wanted to be my wife. And I said, hey, let's go to California. What for? For a vacation. Should we go see the sunny beaches? We did that. Should we go down Rodeo Drive?

We stayed in this complete dump in Santa Monica. Oh, should we go see where a woman nearly got her head cut off? Moving to an amusement park, went to a ballgame, we went to the beach. We did, look, I was making probably $1996, probably $30,000, maybe somewhere in that range. Yeah, adjusted for inflation, it's not bad. Not bad, but it wasn't great. Okay. We stayed at a run for REITs on Santa Monica Boulevard.

Oh, that's beautiful. I like Santa Monica. I like Santa Monica, too. There are nice hotels in Santa Monica. I did not stay in one. If you're in the area, it's all good. So what we did was we said, let's go to where the incident took place. And it was two years removed.

Maybe it was more than two years. No, it was about two years removed from it. Two and a half years removed. And so they had already adjusted the streets and closed off some areas. And they basically reconfigured the neighborhood. So you tainted the crime scene. No, the crime scene. That's why you, they couldn't, they couldn't submit DNA evidence because of you.

So meanwhile, we have this. There's no, there's no GPS. There's no, what was that thing you used to call the, on your, on your, the garment? Garmin, there was none of that. We got the quick, the quick trip map out at AAA, and we were like looking up the location, and we still couldn't find it. We did finally, we found her townhouse. OJ's house at the time had been completely covered up in, oh, shut up.

I didn't mean to touch that there. Bushes and trees had covered up the entire, Rockingham, I think is the name of this tree? that was. I think it's what it was. So we never saw his house, but we saw her condo. That's all I got to say. Okay. Then went to Carl's Jr. and I was like, can we please, can you please help me get to the regal beagle? And the guy at the behind the counter is like, what are you talking about? I said, it's one of the most famous bars in Santa Monica. I said, I've got friends there that go there all the time, Jack and Janet and Chrissy. Oh my God. And Mr. Furling and the Ropers. You were doing this in front of your wife, I assume, to try to get her giggle. We were doing. We were. dating. Yeah. I know you were trying to impress her. That's cute. It didn't work. It didn't work? No. She's like, Matt, stop.

You were embarrassing her. I was flat on embarrassing her. I said, well, you know what, honey, let's get a Carl's Jr. They said a burger with barbecue sauce and onion ring. Oh, yeah, I love it was Carl's Jr. Ooh, good. And on the $30,000 budget, we had a lot of Carl's Jr. And French toastings in the morning and burgers at night.

I've struggled mealed on vacation before. That's my Santa Monica Struggle Wheel story. You know what, Jonathan, you ever take your lady to Cancun? That's my tip, go to the gas station. You can get ham and cheese sandwiches for like 50 cents. I get a virus too, okay. No, that's fine. No, we're not asking you put lettuce on it. Brian McTaggart starts the second hour. On the Matt Toppers show with Ross

next on 790. This is the Matt Thomas show with Ross. 1102 on Sports Talk 790 where we are attempting to get a hold of Brian McTaggart. Maybe he's on the beach. Maybe he's on a boat and a pontoon. Man, he's on the

oftentimes he's on the water reflecting. Yeah, maybe he's working. I mean, it's a deadline time, baby. That's why we didn't bother him yesterday. I was like, man, guys getting his story about Lance McCullors, breaking it for us. Yeah, MLB.com, Brian McTaggart all over it. Lance McCullors. Covering it like a muddha. Apparently, he is going to, oh, in areas now, joining us right now.

We have you on the boat in League City. Is that accurate right now? I'm actually in Austin right now, but being in the league six out here visiting one of my daughters. Longhorn tags. Let's go, baby. Hook them. I've sent them a lot of money, so that's probably accurate. Can you stay at their apartment or do you have to go to a different hotel? No, I'm using Maryland.

So it's greasing the system here. Okay. Well, obviously, the cell service inside that Mariette's not spectacular, so we're going to fire through here. Give me your thoughts about when you started to hear, that the whispers became loud about Brian McTay, not Brian McTeague, about Lance McCuller becoming a Milwaukee Brewer.

Yeah, I heard about this on Monday that, you know, the astronauts have approached Lance and talked about to the bullpen just before the All-Star break. They said they have fermentation anymore if they have

all right, here's what I do. Do me a favor. Let's get Brian's hotel. This is going to be a strange one for you. Jonathan, get Brian's hotel number and room number. We're going to call him on a landline if he's in the room, yeah. Or get to the lobby or something, Brian. Yeah, or do something.

Maybe he's making one of those like waffles down in the lobby. I do want to ask him to it. So the breakdown of this is some cash. What's the question? See if he can call us from the hotel room. If he's in his room, we didn't call his landline in his room. The cell of reception

is terrible. You were saying, I'm sorry. Yeah, so Colton Gordon and McCullors and cash to the brewers for some cash. I don't know about the cash bar. We'll see if we can get the clarification. Jay and Fielder now? Some more stuff came out since we got off of the air. We didn't hear the name Jaden Fielder at all when we got off of air. And then dumbass Bob Nightingale says no players are going back as part of it.

He was wrong about that. Why do you get so frustrated with Bob? Because he's such a good dude. Yeah? Well, I'm sorry. He's unreliable. Like Jeff Passens and Ines. idiot and I'm happy when he makes a mistake

so he never really make any. He's just a douche. John Heyman's a douche and he used to not capitalizeing now he does but Bob's a good guy just makes I believe John Heyman I still have on the mute list. They call Bob Nightingale boob all of his tweets like boob

get this one wrong again. I mean there's a lot of things you don't want to be called one of his boob poor guy all right we are trying to reestablish We'll figure out. We'll talk some more World Cup. So what do you like?

I mean, Spain should be the rightful favor, but Argentina keeps pulling it out of their ass. So it's like, I don't know. They keep finding a way. Somebody had a good tweet. Argentina keeps winning in ways that would end friendships with your friends in college over in a game of FIFA.

Like if you were playing the video game and they won like that, you'd be like, this is impossible. How do they do this? And they keep doing it. It's insane. Who do you get a Friday preview from somebody tomorrow? And Little Messi is the greatest athlete I have ever seen my life. I'm that assisted. He uses right leg or his left foot. He's left footed.

And that's not even his primary one. That's right. He's got a golden foot. He's got the greatest left foot of all time. His right foot is underrated. And so Mbapé, I still have got a chance to win the golden boot. Yes, in the third place game. Okay, it's going to happen. All right. Are we good or here we go? Okay. Now we have to give. Okay. We'll figure something out. All right. Never mind. We can do a next segment. We're chilling, right? Yeah, matter of fact, let's redo this for the next segment.

We're going to be running short on this one. So we'll, I'm sure Brian's like, wait, man, I'm with my daughter. Can you guys leave me alone? No, you break a big story? We got to have you on. He knows. He knows the bit. It's deadline time, baby.

Yeah, this is big time. I just texted it to him. Okay. So we'll try that. Tell them, we'll call, we'll try this at 1120. We'll try this all over here. Yeah. Folks.

We'll text him. He was on hold. He could hear us. Okay, good. Well, you don't know. The reception's bad. All right, what else? Oh, let's do this.

So McCullors is gone. Okay. Reaction, again, I say 60% of it is 24 straight curveballs. Thank you very much. Yes. 40% of his one of the worst contracts in after his history. Hey, don't forget, he started that 18-inning game against Seattle in 2022. Six innings a shutout ball.

He was dueling with George Kirby. And then Luis Garcia had the five innings in relief, right? Yeah, shutout ball. And their mother was involved in that. Yeah. Good time. So, oh, back to what, so Dana did say the brewers are excited to have him.

Mm-hmm. I still have the over, we set the over-under on ten innings, is that we're going to go with? Yeah. I don't. That's a stay-away for me. That feels like Dana was just saying that

to kind of sell it as Milwaukee's like, yeah. You're telling me Lance McCullors has not pitched since early May. He's got to be our fresh arm. Doing good. Yeah, he's got to be fresh. Well, I would hope so.

You know what? I really would. If you can go in there and start a couple games and give them some good innings, that'd be great. That really would make me happy. I'm wishing the best for Lance McCuller's Jr. I just don't think it's going to happen. No. And the question's going to be, does he flat out retire?

Now, does the lockout impact his future? Oh, he's done. Right? I would say even if there was no lockout, which there's going to be one. Yeah. Man, I don't want that. if you think it's been lean this week with the non-sports, imagine what it's going to be like

during the... Well, at least we get labor updates. It's like when COVID happened. Our topic A every day was winter sports coming back. When's baseball coming back? Labor agreement here. The owners need to... We already said we're going to pre-record.

You know, Matt, they both need to meet in the middle on this. We need to do that. Both sides need to make concessions. We need to do that tomorrow, don't you think? At this point... Just pre-record everything? Yeah. Which means we can probably take some summertime

time off. Yeah, it's true. And just run it on an endless loop. Well, that plus, we're going to have to get our vernacular, our knowledge up of the Houston Comets for next year. That's true. We'll have some live basketball to get to. Okay. Comets talk 790. Comments Talk 790. I like that. And perhaps the most intense summer league coverage you'll find. Maybe next year you can go with me to Vegas. We'll go and call some games. That sounds great. We can do something. Will Clinton and We'll let you do that or will they get all upset about that. I don't know how to get all pissy about it. Yeah, it's fine much. They're very protective. of their rockets. That's fine. I'd love to do just one game.

You hear that? Clanton and the wax are listening to me very carefully. He wants me one, one game. That's it. Just one. I'll tell you what. You know, I'm going to poison both of their food. Wow. What, did I say that out of love?

What are you going to send them over to TB for some chalupas? Hey guys, I brought Taco Bell for everyone. Do you think they're getting unfairly ripped about this? I don't think so. I don't know. Because I'll be honest with you. I always think about diarrhea and TB before this lettuce outbreak. I mean, that's what would run for the bull.

order became a running joke. You know, I'm right. Here, I just put Taco Bell on Google. Authorities investigate Taco Bell. Taco Bell remove ingredients. Taco Bell voluntary removes items. Doctors answer if lettuce is safe to eat at Taco Bell. Poor Taco Bell.

Again, I wasn't going there anyways. I said a week ago on this show, no one should besmirch Taco Bell. Yes, you did. It's got its rightful place. Not in Houston, Texas. If you're in like in, I don't know, if you're in like Topeka, Kansas and you need a taco, I get you. I was in your neck of the woods yesterday.

Okay. Driving home. What's my neck of the woods? You mean like in the city? I was in, as the kids would say, South Aldi. Okay. I went off. Literally go to any truck in a gas station.

It's going to be better than Taco Bell. I got off to get some gas and there was a TB. I was like, man, I could go for a Mexican pizza right now. No lettuce on that. No, the Mexican pizza is terrible now. It tastes like cardboard. Really? That's very disappointing. I used to be team Mexican pizza.

Oh, I loved it too. A lot of the hot sauce, John. Sorry, John. The quality was bad and it went way down. All right. Sorry, Jonathan. Let's get Brian McTegger back and we're going to put up. We got a landline. I got a hotel for him. For real landline. We're going to be all locked and loaded here. This is not calling a long distance, is he?

We can pay for it. That's why can't we call him? No. I don't want to give him room charges. Can we have? No, no. We're calling him. Okay. He's platinum status, though. They give you long distance calls, right?

I don't know. I've never, I've not used a, landline in a hotel in 15 years. I used one to call for to call guest services. Yeah, but it doesn't cost you anything. Yeah. Like if, next time you go to a hotel matter of fact, I'll do it. Say, shut your

bum ass up, give me that late checkout. I will call you guys before the show and say, good morning, Ross, how are you next time I'm on a rocket's road trip and we'll see how much it costs. Okay. And then I'll send you the bill and you can get them and we'll be back. I'm good. Brian McTaggart as advertised next, 1112 on 790. All right, we're going to try this again. Brian McTaggart

has left his palatial in the woods hotel in Austin and joining us now, I believe, on the streets of maybe he's on Mopak as we speak. All right, Brian, let's get right back to it. When did you start to hear this was really becoming a story with Lance moving on to Milwaukee? You actually heard on Monday

and started poking around a bit and heard it, it was probably going to happen. There were a few tens to tie up. They had approached Lance at some point, said they didn't have room for him in the rotation anymore. He was open to a move to the bullpen, but, you know, they have Wisniewski coming back, Blanco's coming back probably sooner than later.

So they basically just didn't have a spot from the rotation. And then they started to poke around with trades a little bit. The Astros thought that they could trade him, get some money back, create a little bit of payroll flexibility they can use of the trade deadline. And then so a few teams had an interest, but Milwaukee seemed to be the best fit. Lance, of course, no trade clause. He signed off on going to Milwaukee. Some other teams were still in it at that point.

It became clear on late Tuesday, I think Tuesday night after the All-Star game, it was going to be the Brewers and it was finished on Wednesday. Any idea how many teams were legitimately interested? I mean, there are some payroll teams looking to cut and move around a little bit. I mean, was there a lot of interest or is that hard to tell at this point? I don't think there was a lot of me. I think the Yankees were interested at one point. I know the Rays were interested, but the Rays did not, of course, Lance is from Tatha, but the Rays did not want to send it. any money back. So it had to be a fit for the Astros financially, just to, because this was

basically going to be a little bit of a salary dump. And they also, by including Colton Gordon in there, they, you know, created a couple of spots on their 40-man roster because they're about to have some guys come off the 60-day aisle who are not on the 40-man roster. So it's, it was some payroll flexibility, some roster flexibility, and also, you know, given chance, given Lance chance to go somewhere and help a team this in first place. I know that you had a chance to speak to Lance. Where is he body-wise? Can he get to Milwaukee and pitch right away? Where is he in his process? Yeah, he said he was going today. I called him yesterday. I talked him for on and off for a few days since Monday. And then yesterday I called him for the last time and he was actually

at Dyken Park packing up his locker, which made me feel kind of sad. But he's going to Milwaukee today. I think, I think they're going to have been off the aisle. He says he's ready to go. He was hoping he could have pitched for the Astros on Sunday, the last game before the All-Star break that Javier started. So, you know, they're a dire need of pitching. They have a lot of injuries. You know, Mizorowski had arm fatigue, not sure, you know, if he's going to come back. Woodruff is injured. So he's going to get an opportunity there and to show what he can do. And, you know, Lance, you never know, he could go out there, pitch seven innings, strike out 12 guys or pitch two in a third and not, you know, not give you much. So it'll be interesting for sure.

Yeah, just your thoughts overall, then if you could, Brian, obviously you covered him his whole career, getting drafted, the come up, the 24 curb balls, and then unfortunately all the injuries, how you see through your eyes, the Lance McCullors Jr. as a Houston Astros story. Yeah, I mean, this was a guy taking 41st overall and what turned out to be a pretty landmark draft for the Astros because they took Correa. Remember they took Correa number one overall for less money, and then they turned around, were able to sign Lance out of a scholarship at the University of Florida. He was a pretty hard commit to Florida at that point. And next thing you know, that draft, the next one and the next one,

I mean, those sort of got the franchise turned around a little bit and ushered in like a decade of dominance. But Lance was right in the middle of that. I mean, especially the first part of his Astros career. I mean, he started some of the biggest games in Astros history, game seven of the World Series. I mean, he didn't last very long, but, you know, he drove in a run. He started the 18 inning game in Seattle where they shut out the Mariners won nothing and got the pain of home run. He started that game and went six innings.

And of course, you mentioned that the 24 straight curveballs, four scoreless innings to close out the 2017 ALCS. I mean, you know, this guy, his fingerprints are all over, this golden era. The second half, you know, was marred by injuries. And, you know, he tried to come back from a couple of major arm surgeries and really was never the same. But maybe you wish you would have got a little bit more from Lambs. where you drafted them, but if you would have said, hey, this guy's going to help you win a couple of World Series, pitching some really big games, and just poured it all out there for Houston. You know, I think he's done that.

And, you know, other than the injuries, I think he should have no regrets about the way things went in Houston because they, he was, he was part just like Altuvae of an incredible run of dominance for a decade. Brian McTaggart, Astros.com with us here on Sports Talk 790. So, of course, this is the move before the, move. How do you see this playing out now? We continue to ask you two and a half weeks away from the deadline. You still think outfield bat is the number one target. And now, of course, they can take on more salary in a trade. Well, yes and no. I mean, I think there are people in the

organization that want the outfield bat. I've talked to some people yesterday who say relief pitching is the number one needs. So, and I guess you can make a case for both of those things. I mean, they do have Benizuza coming back off the aisle soon. And when Blanco comes back, the West Neski comes back, that could push a couple of guys to the bullpen. So, you know, by and large, I think the bullpen is pitched not terribly for what it's been asked to do here over the last couple of months. I mean, I think they need to add that left-handed bat.

The lineup just feels like way too short. You could really use another guy. But maybe there's a chance to get both. You know, I'm not sure they have the prospect capital to do that. So we'll see. It's going to be really interesting. but I don't see starting pitching. I mean, like I said, they're just about to add a couple of guys off the aisle.

And starting pitching is so expensive. So either be a left-handed bat or a leaf pitcher, maybe both. If I'm in charge, I'm definitely trying to get that left-handed bat. Brian, the name on the active roster that we've heard about in trade conversations really wasn't about Lance. It was really a little bit about A.J. Blue Ball. Is there anybody else that you envision that may being thrown out there on the current active 26-man roster? because again, for an organization that has just a couple of top-end guys that they want to obviously keep and not much after that, nothing really at the AAA level, is there anybody else that you would see maybe being floated out there as a possibility for whatever they want to fix?

Yeah, I mean, you know, do they trade one of their relievers? Do they, you know, package a reliever in a deal? I mean, I think more likely than anything, I think if they're going to make a trade like this, they're going to have to trade somebody off. off their prospect list, off the minor league, minor league rosters. I mean, is it someone that's going to hit hard, like, you know, one of their top pitching prospects, Pecco or Meyer or guys like that. It might take somebody like that to get one of these deals done. Yeah, Blue Ball is going to have some interest for sure, but, you know, he's also a key part of your bullpen, although his last two outings have been very good,

just because he can pitch two, three innings every time out, and has been a closer in college and has started for the Astros as well. So he has some value, but he has some value to the Astros as well. I think if they're going to make a trade, they're going to have to give up, they're going to have to give up some prospects. And while they don't have the prospects that a lot of other teams do, to get a rental on a reliever is not terribly expensive. I think if you get a rental on an outfield left-handed bat,

you know, they definitely have the prospects to do that. So I don't anticipate anybody leaving off the Major League roster. Not to say it can't be done, but these teams are going to want to trade with you, or teams are probably rebuilding a little bit, retooling, and they're going to want some young talent. And BlueBaw is that as well. So we'll see.

It's going to be a very interesting couple of weeks. Let me also ask you, the three names have been brought up, and Dana brought them up yesterday, Bennett, Sousa, Hayden Wisnowski, and Rinell Blanco. And look, these are all three guys coming off of injury. These are all three guys that have served roles in the past. of the three, which one of the three in your mind, if you had the crystal ball out right now as you're driving around Austin,

could make an impact or could make the most impact between now and the end of the season, provided they get out that injured list and are healthy. I'll say it's Blanco just because of what he did in 24. That was two years ago, but he was their best starting pitcher in 2024. He had the no-hitter that year, but just from start to finish, I think he led the league and batting average against. He was really, really good.

he is past 30, I believe. So it's not like this is a young guy. And, you know, over the last couple of years, we've seen guys come back off Tommy John surgery for the Astros who just haven't got it done. Luis Garcia, Jose Arkiti, and even Lance wasn't the same since he came back. So I get while there's some trepidation there. But don't sleep on Hayden West Neskey.

I heard when he pitched AAA's last start, I think he went four and a third inning, struck out seven. I heard he was absolutely electric. So they traded for this guy for a reason, and we really haven't got to see a strong look at him so far. So if one of those guys could just step up and become a guy gives you six innings every time, that's going to be a huge boost. And if they both do it, all the better.

But Blanco just, his track record not too long ago was really, really good. So it looks like so far he's pitched pretty well in AAA. So I think he's going to be the first one back as far as him and Wisniew, the starting pitchers off the I.O. Maybe as soon as this weekend. I think Winske might make one more rehab start, but we're going to find out that both these guys are going to come back and join the rotation. And with the deadline coming up,

and the possibility of Dana Brown maybe knowing his job could be on the line, Brian, do you still expect Alvarez and Nions to be completely untouchable as far as the prospects? Oh, yeah. Yeah, they're not going to trade Nians. I mean, yeah, I think he's performing. so well since they drafted him. You know, he just got a promotion as well, the high A ball. So the second half of the season, he's going to be at Asheville.

No chance to trade him. They're not trading Pena. They're not trading Alvarez. Zero chance that happens. So they don't have to. I mean, they can get better trading off the bottom half of their major league roster and sending some other teams a prospect or two. You know, if you want to look in the offseason at trading Pena,

just because you're in the same boat you were with Tucker when he's entering the final the year of his contract, that's a different deal. But, you know, they're three games out on this thing. And as long as they don't slip, you know, past five, six games, I think they're going to try to make a run at this. The division is very winnable, very winnable. And also the Astros have the second easiest schedule in the major leagues over the rest of the season.

So it's right there in front of them. So if they can just make a tweak or two, get some help off some of these IEL guys, I think they have a chance to make a run at this. Tag, have a good time with your daughter. Safe Travel is my friend. And we'll talk with you at the ballpark this weekend. Appreciate the time, as always. All right. See you back in Houston.

All right, that's Brian McTaggart, MLB.com. Hopefully you listen very closely to that conversation because something that was asked of him and he answered. We'll be a part of our old smoky trivia question coming up today at 1250 where somebody's going to win an old smoky charcoal grill sports RV. Do you have something in your life that you just don't get?

No need to worry. No need to fret. We will discuss the topic to see if we comprehend the things that may confuse our friends. time to say I just don't get it. 1134 on Sports Talk 790. It's Matt and Ross, and this is where we ask you guys, ladies, to get together and say, hey, some confuse you, something is bewildering.

We can help you here on Sports Talk 790. And I have two this week. I'll start with the heavier of the two. You know, the Buffalo Bills are moving into a new stadium boys. Wow. Good for them. and it's seating 10,000 seats less, which Rod Ryan's like, man, that's what the bills are doing. They're charging more for people giving less seats and charging more for those tickets.

But Buffalo Bill, it's number one thing in town. So without looking, I will bet you it has more sweets than the other stadium. I bet you it does. But that's not the reason I was complaining. There is a Wall of Fame that the Buffalo Bills have. And a few weeks ago, the Buffalo Bills made the decision they were not going to transfer O.J. Simpson's name from that Wall of Fame at the old stadium to the new stadium. stadium. There is a petition that has started

Oh no. Through change.org. This is spearheaded by Adam Clinton, I imagine. I don't think so. The petition is to retain OJ's name on said Wall of Fame. 1,464

verified signature said forget the fact that he killed two people. forget the fact that he stole merchandise and was served a prison term he was getting his stuff back Matt just forget about all of the legal issues he had in his last third of his life

he still needs his name on the Wall of Fame at the new Buffalo Stadium so that I ask you boys I just don't get it are we that are we that stupid are we that dense about our football teams that it could not convicted

A, well, civil suit. Civil suit. Lost a civil suit. And he was convicted of the robbery charges. And convicted and served time for it. Yes. And he killed his ex-wife and the guy. He did it. He did it.

Nobody's possibly arguing this. Why would nearly 1,500 people say, you know, despite all that, he needs to have his name on the Wall of Fame. I just don't get it, boys. He was a great running back like 70 years ago. Okay, 60 years ago, this point. I don't, I don't, how many people have signed this, this, uh, 1464. Verified, I'm looking at the change dollar petition right now. Okay, so only like 1,500 people.

That's not that bad. But that's probably 1,500 too many. I got to be honest with you. I'm going to search for, I'm going to, can I, can I, uh, do an alphabetical search of this? The, the list of people who have signed up for this? You mean another name, Aston Simpson? Maybe a C as a Clanton? He doesn't think he's innocent, does he?

He's just obsessed with the whole thing. He's just obsessed with him. No, he was telling me he wanted O.J. Simpson to be honored in the new stadium. He told me, when I was co-hosting with him last week or two weeks ago, whatever it was. Oh, my God. He's like, why aren't they doing it? I'm like, relax. There is, on this website, there is a long one, two, three, four, five paragraph.

rundown of why this should be happening. Oh my God. Sign this petition to it. This is the last sentence. Sign this petition to ensure that the rich history of the bills has not overlooked one of its pivotal figures. Thank you. I think the bill, they didn't win anything with him.

He ran for 2,000 yards. First runner, I'm going to do that. Okay, good for him. Hall of Famer. I still think yards per carry, he's number one, right? in a full season. Simpson himself, I'm reading one more paragraph and I'm done with this after this. Simpson himself has expressed his unwavering loyalty to the team and its legacy.

Once stated that, when I played there, I tried to honor the team. Since I left, I always tried to honor the bills. This statement underscores the love and respect Simpson retained for the franchise in its history. What he didn't love was following the law and hurting people. He did not love that. Oh my God. That's pretty funny It is but it isn't

Jonathan do you get it or don't get it You know Oh no Barry Sanders had a 2,000 yards 6.1 yards in attempt I don't get it But it's like They're trying to erase A historical figure of their franchise

Which You kind of have to He's still They're not taking them out of the history books They're just not going to build a statue Of a double murderer I mean it's not a big deal I don't

I've never seen a wall of honor No it's a wall of honor Hall of Honor, whatever, okay? I mean, I'm sure Jim Kelly is there. Or is going to be, he's going to have some kind of bust or something, right? I mean, I never been to Buffalo, so I don't know. Yeah, well, what are they doing in the new Hall of Honor? Not putting him in there.

They'll probably have some kind of bronze bust or plaque or something. So whatever they want to build, they're just not going to build it. If I'm the bills and I'm running the bills in 2026, in my mind, O.J. Simpson never existed. I'm not going to say you never existed. We're just not going to go out of our way to honor him. You're going to spend money to honor him. whatever artist is making whatever plaque or whatever it's going to cost money

I mean is there a glove attached to it his hand no they're going to put his gloves on their mat they're going to put the kitchen knife out there either is Johnny Cochran in behind this photo I think of the head the gas pedal of the Bronco was it Al Collings that it was yeah okay that's my first one

all right you guys got some ears go ahead this is in the forefront of my mind because of the Lance McCullors Jr. thing like we follow sports players get hurt. They push their bodies to the limit, especially pitchers as well, and really in any sport.

Guys go down. With hamstring injuries, ankle injuries, any various injuries, we see injuries every single year on every single team in every single sport. Yet people still get mad at players for getting hurt. I don't get it. I don't understand why you have to sit there

behind your keyboard and get all upset because a player who is pushing his body to the limit injured themselves. I don't get it. Especially was like, oh, that was terrible money spent. Well, it wasn't your money. No, again, you are paying beer

ticket prices. I can't predict injury. No. Injuries, paying big contracts is not guaranteed a success or B health. Yeah. You're on Alvarez, a lot of injuries.

He's doing great this year. Can't predict it. Going to play 131 games at least. We'll see. Hopefully. John, then what don't you get? I don't get. grown people going out anywhere and getting to a point where they need to get babysat.

Oof. Oh. You've been to Vegas? Well, I've been to our nice friends over there, ice house over there, watching the game. Oh, down the street. Man, man. And it was so embarrassing. You had to get this dude, you're like, all right, come on.

It's time to go. And he, you know, saying F bombs to the Argentine and people. Oh, no. Oh, no. Oh, no. Polinizers. But like, I just, I don't understand what, why, does that fun? I don't know, like, to a point where you cave in.

Well, alcohol does it. Let me give you a case of point. Ray, Ross's brother and I were playing blackjack at a table. And the guy in between us was eating at the table. And the pit boss came over and said, sir, you cannot eat at the table. He goes, I've been here for eight hours. I'm diabetic. I have to eat.

And the pit boss says, that's totally understanding. But you just can't eat at the table. He goes, I've lost 15,000. And so he's just getting more, more belligerent. And eventually this gambler who had lost a lot of money, he was not trying to eat some chocolate, was like, F you, and he eventually got kicked out. I can't imagine being, here's the thing, Jonathan.

I totally get it because alcohol does it. Alcohol makes you a lot more, a lot more bravado, boisterous. You have no filters. Yeah, also when you're young, you learn your limits. I've been babysat before, but I mean, not since my early 20s. But the thing is like, I just, how do you get yourself to that limit? I just don't, I don't know if I've ever been to,

or been in a situation where I needed someone to dog walk me to my apartment or to safety. Not once? Not once. Good for you. It's only happened to me one time. I was at a Mexican restaurant on Montrose. Okay. And I had two large markets.

And my mother-in-law may she rest and my wife carried me out of said restaurant. You just had two margaritas? Oh, you're lightweight. You're a very much. Ross knows. I'm a lightweight when it comes to that. But I wasn't mean. I wasn't belligerent.

I just couldn't get up. See, that's never happened. I don't, I don't recommend it. It's not fun. I got tossed out of the dance club at the Luxorre once because I was throwing up at the bathroom. I was also like 23.

Didn't you get punched in Norn on the two or something like that? No. Oh, that was somebody else. No. was a that's somebody got a punch that was a story we got told oh okay okay

real fast by way if you have anything you don't get 713 2125 719 713 212 1 212 5790 you know I'll save my second one before we come back

it involves the SPs okay that didn't watch and I'm glad I didn't watch it okay I'll further explain a minute let's explain Kashi folks to the folks audience 790 listeners

thank you very much for being a part of the show Thank you for those of you that have decided that, yeah, checking out on what's happening on Cali is a very important thing because if you are going to make the trades and you're going to win some money, whether it be on sporting events like the World Cup, maybe it be on Houston baseball, whether it be on your favorite TV show. Texas Senate race. Texas Senate race. We're also just looking at that now. You can trade on Cali. It feels like just about anything you want to trade on.

In fact, I think Cali, I don't want to speak out of turn here, I think Cali is going to start talking about Air Base. airline delays. That seems like a bad idea. Well, a little like how should figure that out. Put a couple, yeah, okay. Yeah, we'll let them figure out. Let me tell you something. I probably would help you with that,

because I follow the airport like a motor. Okay. So if you're looking for a little airport delay expertise, you know where to come right here on this show. To trade on it, yes. All right, again, if you got something you don't get, we're here for you. The segment's called, I just don't get it.

Every Thursday at 1130 here on Sports Talk 790. 719.7.10-1-2-790. Ross, I mentioned the SPs yesterday, how I did not watch it, and I felt like was I doing myself a disservice, maybe something to our audience. Here's how the Emmys opened up last night. Don't try to fight when the gravity's pulling until dare you to say that you... I think it's enough, right? You kind of get the feel of what they were doing. So let me get this straight.

This supposed baseball team that goofs around and plays by strange rules, basically the Harlem Globetrotters of baseball, has a group of bananas, Rossi, that are singers as well? What? And went on stage on the SB's yesterday and open up the show with it. Okay? I just don't get it. I don't either.

Wait, so they are singing? That was them saying. Yeah, that was with a whole performance. Now, I want to explain what the audience, to the audience, what John, you had your hand on your forehead and you were shaking your hand left and right. You know, because usually when you give Savannah of Bananas some crap, I'm like, uh, it's for the kids. Yeah, I can see it.

But this, I didn't know they had a Savannah of Bananas boy band. They did. That's what it. Now, Americans got talent. I have never been to a Savannah Bananas game. I've seen them on TV. I can safely tell you, I will never be. going to a Savannah Bananas game. I

literally don't get anything they do. If you had young kids, you might. But it's adults, dude. Are there bananas adults? They're drawn, they're drawn 85,000 people at these stadiums. It's like Disney adults? Yes. There are people going without children? No way.

Yeah, absolutely there is. Who's going to Savannah Bananas game without children? You need to be on a watch list. You can go look at those games in this straight adults, like this everywhere. FBI watch list right now. They're taking these college stadiums of 100,000 seats and they're filling them up. So it's clearly

many, many, many adults. But then, for this goofy ass baseball team to then have a boy band off shoot, I just don't get it. What the hell is going on? I had no idea. I didn't either. I thought you were making

this up. No. I thought you were kidding. If Matt would have told me that before watching this video the same time, I wouldn't believe them. Wow. I don't get it either. Are they touring? No, they're just, they were on the ESP. They're going to do two days in NRG. So let's this.

I'm sorry, Houston Stadium. You're the executive producer of the ESPEs. This is your time. There's no other sporting event going on. This is your night to take over the sports world. And you're opening the SPEs with the offshoot of the boy band of the Savannah bananas. That's pretty wild. And look, there are people that are driving around that are probably mad at me.

oh man you don't even know what the savannah bananas on television because i wanted to see if there's something i'm missing like when i was a kid i went to see the harlem gold trotters when my boys were young i took him to the harland globe trotters i was a young adult i still enjoyed the harland i if the globetrotters are on i may watch a couple minutes see if they're getting anything new like if there's an extra layer of popcorn they're putting on the on the referee or the guy's belly or throwing some confetti i mean i get it but i watched two innings of the maybe it was two innings, maybe not even that much. I watch at least an inning of Savannah Banana's baseball and I'm like,

this hurts my head. I didn't know what was going on. There's a much rules I don't understand. Is it just the W.W.E. of baseball? No, I think Globe Trivers is a fair comparison. No, it's exactly, it's an exact cop. Yeah, they have strange scoring rules. Yeah. They always throw underhand. They throw between their legs.

I don't think the games are scripted. Are they? I see, that's what I was going to ask. Like, they don't have a predetermined outcome, I don't think. I don't think so, no. But they'd be doing, like, trick shots and stuff during the game. I don't know. Yes.

Like, when you go out and there's a pop fly to center field, they always put their glove behind their back. Yeah, if they catch you, you get points for catching it behind your back. Or it's like a back flip and catch it. I don't know what the hell's going on. Splits. I'm moving on. So I'm sorry, boy, I'm sorry to those of you that like the bananas because I, I don't come in the minority, but look, everywhere. I watch minorities.

I watch minorities. I see the videos of the bananas. They're playing in these halaciously large stadiums. Yeah, they're crushing. They're crushing. They have a TV contract. That's why I saw my band as on TV. I was like, what the hell?

Really? But then when they were opening for the SPs, it made me feel very solid and secure my decision not to watch the ESPs yesterday. I didn't know they were on. All right. Anything else are you, boys? I think I'm good.

Yeah. By the way, Tom and Downtown hit it round in the head. Instead of the bills putting O.J. Simpson in the Hall of Fame, can they just put Norm McDonald? That's pretty good. I don't get it. Norm MacDonald Just because he made all the jokes?

Yes. And they were, they always were, they always hit. What position did he play for the bills? He was, there was their, all-time comedian?

Oh. Is he from Buffalo or something? Nope. Oh. Just, just an O.J. Basher. Every week, Saturday Live, and it's funny, you can still look up on Twitter, or on YouTube,

you can find compilations of OJ, or of Norm McDonnell jokes on OJ. Okay. Just perfect. All right, there you go. One more. I got one more. I'm sorry.

Okay, go ahead. Savannah Guthrie is going to host the Wardle version of the game show on NBC next year. Okay, so that's Arlo's daughter. No. Savannah, no. Savannah is the one she hosted today's show. Unfortunately, her mother was kidnapped and has not been recovered, which is sad. We know the situation there, obviously.

All right. But I deserve the game show over Savannah. Oh, my God. Why? Why do you think that? Because I've been wanting to host a game show since I was seven years old. Savannah Guthrie at seven years old was probably playing with dolls and wanted to be a TV anchor. I wanted to be a game show host.

Maybe she wants to be a game show host, too. She's not going to maybe do it. She's got 900,000 followers on Twitter. Yes, and she makes $5, 6 million. Today co-anchor. Yes. Georgetown Law graduate. Oh, yeah.

Number one, New York Times bestsellers. I'm giving her the job. Sorry, Matt. So what I did is I direct, because Jimmy Fallon's producing the show. Okay. I sent Jimmy Fallon a tweet, said, next time you host a show, I need to be the host of it. Okay. And I would do a great job.

Would you not disagree? I mean, I'd have to see your demo tape. Okay. I'll show you to you during the news at noon. 1159 on Sports Talk 7. Savantic, I mean, literally everybody else but me is hosting a game show. I know. I'm sorry, Matt.

If Clinton or Wexer gets one before me, I will really be pissed. That's not going to happen. You'll be fine. If you get one before me. I'm not going to, I don't want to be hosting a show. You can do it. Put you in a suit and everything. Okay, go to break. Okay, go to break.

Thank you, Jonathan. News and news is next. This is the Matt Thomas show with Ross. 12-04 on Sports Talk 790. It is Matt. It is Ross. And we are with you till 2 o'clock today. Coming up at 1250, we have an old smoky barbecue giveaway.

the charcoal grill. And the only way you're going to be able to win it is if you listen to Brian McTagger, who joined us normally at 11 o'clock, we had a little bit of a phone technical issue. So he joined us at 1120. So hopefully you heard that. And some of that conversation will be involved with you winning a charcoal grill from Old Smokey. We'll do that coming up in about 45 minutes. Right now, as we do it each and every day around this time, Monday,

if you're Friday on the program, we present to you the news at noon. Oh, hi. Hey, everybody. Yes, we will start with yesterday's news, but we have more details, Matt. As the Astros will be trimming a payroll and offering roster flexibility. Lance McCuller Jr. is now a Milwaukee brewer alongside Colton Gordon. Brewers are sending cash considerations. And Jaden Fielder, who was the son of six-time All-Sar Slugger Prince Fielder.

He is 21 years old, signed with Milwaukee as an undrafted free agent in 2024. He's got an 813 OPS and 1067 plate appearances at Class A this season. Okay, the blowlines are good, obviously, but other than that, the numbers don't make me go while, right? Yeah, I mean, it's probably just a warm body. So cash being sent from the Astros, but also getting some cash back from the Milwaukee Brewers, which I find confusing. So basically, if I send you $100, you then Vimovie back $30. Sure, why not? And it's also we can get under some kind of salary cap threshold.

Yeah, that's in the weeds for us. That's very inside baseball. Yes, Dana Brown speaking to the media, here's what he had to say about this move, giving salary and roster flexibility. We were able to create some, you know, more flexibility in terms of, you know, payroll by trading glance. won't get into the specifics,

but we were able to create some flexibility. And we also created some flexibility on the roster spot, you know, because we, you know, we were, you know, trying to navigate who's going to come up, who are we sending out. And so it created some flexibility by moving both him and Gordon. So there you go. Both of those guys moved out.

Now you've got some roster availability. We had Brian McTaggart on earlier as well. won't name drop, but he, in terms of the guys he's expecting to have an impact, but also he says a reliever could be top priority for the Astros come deadline time. Yeah. To me, it feels like again, I'm with Brian on this. You need the bat. You, Ross, as you know, you've watched this left field be just a hot mess of 625 OPS.

You just have. It's all good dudes, but they're just no. Nobody's been able to offensively grab a hold of the position on a day-to-day basis. Yeah, outfield bat and relief starters, I think they're just going to have to roll with who they got. All right, the NBA announcing they will not

punish Bam, Atabio for striking former teammate Tyler Hero in a Las Vegas gym last Friday, a league spokesperson telling ESPN's Sham Shirani on Thursday. Quote, after discussing with the players involved and the NBPA,

everyone would prefer to move on from this unfortunate circumstance and no further action will be taken by the league. Rocket Summer League team playing today at 3.30. Okay. Just kind of segue into NBA. Oh, is Bruce Thornton going to play? I don't know. I mean, this is their fourth game. My guess would be yes, and then he probably will set up the last one, my guess.

Okay. By the way, Jonathan, how are your Phoenix Suns doing in these summer league? That threw us off so It was such a funny We did gut feelings on Tuesday for those of you to listen to show and for that. We thank you. And you just randomly said the Phoenix Suns are going to win the Summer League championship. They're number three and three-in-one. See, I got a gut feeling.

They're contentioned. I don't never normally root for the Phoenix Suns, but in this particular case, I am. I'm hoping that the Phoenix Suns, because if you get this right, this will be maybe a top three gut feeling in the history of gut feelings. It's a definition of gut feeling. I just saw it. You know, you know what? gut feeling. I like that.

You got it, Jonathan. They're hanging in there. Or maybe you don't. All right, Argentina yesterday sealing a dramatic semi-final comeback against England at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. They scored two goals in the closing minutes to clinch a two-to-one win Wednesday, and now they will face Spain in the World Cup final on Sunday. They are the reigning world champions, Argentina. They won their third title. Qatar four years ago. And now it looked like they were going to be eliminated

against England. But Inzo Fernandez with the stunning shot from 20 yards in the 85th minute made it 1-1. And Leonel Messi, who also assisted that goal, assisted a brilliant cross with his right foot to Laotaro Martinez, who headed

in the winning goal from close range in the second minute of stoppage time. Leonel Messi saying after the game that this win was for Diego Maradona, the legendary Argentinian player who of course has passed and won the World Cup with Argentina in 1986. Yeah, I watched the last few minutes of the game. I watched the post game as guys were hugging each other.

You had the startled England fans in the crowd. You had Argentinians going crazy. Guys were taking their shirts off. You had a little bit of not fracas, but some pushing around at the very end. Who you got, Matt, Spain and Argentina in the final. I'm going to RG for the win. I like it. Even though I faded them to win it all.

You know, I went for Argentina on a good old Cassia app yesterday. Oh, did you? Good for you. Yeah, paid for my meal, you know. There we go. Calsheet.com. Trade that bad boy. Use code.

790. Get that $20 to trade when you trade $20. I told you it's rig. Ardenstein's going to win it all. Well, see, it's very easy. If it's rigged, you just bet the rig side you never lose. What country will FIFA's referee be from? I don't know.

I'm probably not Argentina. Well, I would hope not. Or Spain. Who knows? United States, we got good officials here? I think they already kind of, there are people who get into this. You know how people do it in the NFL? Like, oh, Carl Sheffers hasn't been doing a game.

It's probably going to be him in the Super Bowl. They do, they're already breaking it down. They got it down to a couple of guys who I don't even know who they are. But there are the referee candidates. I think there's like two guys that it's probably going to be in terms of the head referee. Okay. But there you go. That's your news at noon.

Thank you very much. Good stuff there. By the way, the NHL released your schedule today. Oh, one quick thing. Thomas Tuchel, the English manager who's been come under a lot of fire

after the loss. England's sticking with them. They're going to have them for the euros in 2020. I was worried about that. Yeah. For a hot minute. Well, a lot of people want him out, especially after this last year.

Don't they change out coaches like they change out underwear there? Which country was it? They fired their men. Tunisia. Tunisia. I think it was Tunisia. They fired their manager after one game in the World Cup. But yes.

It's life or death of these other countries. Two years is like a lifetime in soccer managing. That's crazy. All right. NHL schedules out. The Houston whatever's, don't have their schedule yet because they don't have a team yet. The NHL's adding two games that are scheduled.

You know how people complain about regular season games? They're going to 84? They're going 84 games. Really? Adding two more indivision opponents. Interesting. Good for them. So, man, that's a lot.

Some teams, you know, those hockey players are so tough. You know, it's funny. They don't, I don't know this as an answer. Do NHL, do they do the resting of players and do they take games off and load management? Load management? They only skate for like five minutes at a time. Okay. You know what?

I'm going to let you die on that vine right there. Oh, they're so tough. Oh, they're the greatest athletes. Oh, they skated for a whole host. NHL to Houston go on and get him. Get him. Oh, they skated for a whole five minutes. Get him.

Oh, wow. Cool. Can I have, can I have a little LeBron fatigue? Okay. And I'll explain coming back in a break. All right. I just feel like that he should have done something by now. And I'll tell you what that is.

1219 on Sports Talk 790. We've got another 80 minutes left to go. Hope you all want to get in and say hello to us. We're here. We know, a bite. 713, 2,1, 2, 5, 790. So a lot of Lance McCuller's conversation, a lot about the trade deadline. line. And again, I think what basically

the Lance McCuller's deal had forced was the Astros to indeed say yes, we're going to make a move. So it won't be a matter of if they make a move, it'll be win and who for. So we'll get to more of that. But I do want to bring up a little bit about LeBron. There was a big conference. I believe it's in New York. Don't hold me to it.

But it's the fanatics, folks. Okay. And there's a lot of athletes in all sports that are tied to fanatics. And they're heavily compensated, and they have deals with them. marketing deals, sponsorship deals, shoes. It's the biggest event in sports that gets the most firepower. Case in point, LeBron James will be at Fanatics.

Oh, really? All the heavyweight of quarterbacks and receivers and running backs and golfers and basketball players and baseball players that can do it, they go to this Fanatics Conference. And some people will believe today or in the next 48 hours, LeBron is going to announce at Fanatics where he's going to play basketball next year. Okay. And so the last few weeks, people have been trying to figure out what's going on with LeBron. And really, the only person that knows what LeBron wants to do is LeBron. And that's his own personal decision. But it has kind of been, for us that are in sports fans, just kind of watching how the networks are treating and how social media is treating and how the print media is treating it as this big wait and see game.

Here's the question I have for you. Okay. If Michael Jordan was in this position in 2026, do you without any reservation believe that he would act the same way that LeBron does? Or do you think LeBron it just loves the constant attention of where is he going next? Because this feels like he should have made this decision several weeks ago. And even if he did make the decision several weeks ago to let this drag on and on and on and on feels a little excessive. That's the way I see it right now. Has he made any statements?

He's not said any word. Did he posted anything? Nothing. Has he said you posted like a bunch of attention-sinking commercials and stuff like that? No, but he's done that before. Obviously, the decision was the greatest example of that. But that's all, and that was also a long time ago. So this is media driven. More than LeBron driven.

This is, word on the street is this. Word got out that LeBron wanted audio. tapes sent to him from general managers and coaches and players saying why you should come play for us. Right. And he didn't say that though. No, but it got reported. It got reported that LeBron has asked players to do that. Okay.

So LeBron's trying to decide where to go. He's not making any announcements or I don't know. Has he been posting a bunch of like, hey guys, where do you think I should go? No. But most athletes don't do that. Right. But most athletes don't drag this out for a month, though. Now, of course, LeBron likes attention.

Yeah. Of course, LeBron likes being the center of attention. And you know what you're the first or second greatest player in the NBA? Maybe you should get that. And also, I mean, I'm just going to his Twitter. He last posted thank you to the Lakers. And then one post after that, he congratulated a follower in Ballagoon on a goal at the World Cup. So to me, this is.

is media driven because it is a slow time in sports. If we had football and basketball and hockey or whatever going on, then we wouldn't be hearing. We wouldn't be hearing as much about this as we have. So I don't think this is as much LeBron driven as it's being painted. But yeah, Michael, yeah, LeBron James is a different person than Michael Jordan. You know, Michael Jordan's, well, kind of an A-hole. And he would have carried himself differently, for sure.

So he may not be directly giving out the stuff, but he's passing it along to people that are putting it out there. He knows how to play the media. I think it's probably Rich Paul driven more than anything else. But Rich Paul does. Yeah, but Rich Paul and Clutch Sports are tied at the hip with LeBron. And LeBron told Rich Paul, shut up, don't say anything. He wouldn't say anything. So I don't know.

I just feel like the NBA season is starting up in a couple of months. Yeah, I haven't spent any time thinking about it. I don't care. So it's like, I guess maybe that's just me. Yeah, see, I like the NBA and I do like the offseason. I think it's a very intriguing time. I'm just, I guess the question I have is, is LeBron really still up in the air over this?

Or does he just want this thing to gain some more steam? Because it puts his name out there still. For a guy that's 40-some of years old, who will be the third best player on his team, probably wherever he goes, right? So do you think he's known his decision for weeks and he's just letting this play out? I can't give you a definitive answer on that because I'll never know.

I think he, if I was to bet on Kowski, I bet you he probably does know. I would say he probably knows by now, but I don't know that he's known this entire time because there are, I mean, he probably, part of him probably does want to go to Cleveland, probably part of him does want to go to Miami.

Philadelphia is the perfect fit. There's a story from Dave McMinneman that Tyrese, Maxie, Joel and Beat, and Jalen Brown have all been in communication with LeBron and are trying to try to get him on their team. That's a report from Tuesday. Dave McMinnon said this two days ago that Maxie and Bede and Jalen Brown

are all trying to court him. So he hasn't come out and said anything publicly. Apparently court ships are still happening. There was a video that went viral of Steve Kerr saying we got him. Now there's a story today from Marcus Spears saying the Warriors think they're out. Quote Marcus Spears. I'm hearing today that the Warriors internally feel like they're a dark horse at this point,

that LeBron James is probably going out east. And to be fair, that could also be from the Warriors' perspective, putting that out there a while. I don't want to say that everything that I'm seeing about LeBron is LeBron putting that out there for other people. But there is got to be some of it. I think they certainly, I think ESPN and just NBA media in general is pumping this story for every penny it's worth. They're squeezing every bit of juice out of this because it's a slow time. could be could be for sure

to me you know I'm more interested in when is a he's a role player when's Quine Leonardhammer going to go down yeah I want to see I want to know what exactly

he did I'm 10 times more interested in that to see what a real look at this point LeBron's a role player and that's what I guess is part of my situation is that why is LeBron getting

now I know why I know why LeBron's getting it but it ain't LeBron of 28 years old it's LeBron of 41 it's slow times they got to figure. They got to fill the NBA today with something. That's right. Let's do 15 minutes on where LeBron is going. Oh, I heard he's talking to Tyrese Maxie. Oh, I heard the Warriors say they're out.

Like this is all... And I want you to separate LeBron for a second. McMinneman, Winhorst, some spears now. It's shams. It's all coming from me. It's all the ESPN arm. And all fighting to figure who's going to get it first. How about this? Why does basketball, why do basketball players do it more than baseball and football players do it? I'm talking to LeBron out of the mix on this. When Dwight Howard was looking about a spot, when James Hardin was thinking about a spot when who else has been moving?

NBA free agency is just a bigger deal than the other sports for whatever reason. First of all, in the NFL, big names don't normally hit free agency. Pam Holmes will never in his life be a free agent. Usually, if you're an NFL free agent, as long as the team that you're currently on, has money for you and deems you the same value, you don't typically move. I mean, the Juan Soto thing drug on for a while. The Bryce Harper thing drug on for a long time. Kyle Tucker, we talked about for a long time where he's going.

The Kyle Tucker thing to me was more interesting because of the fact that I think Kyle Tucker was looking for the super mega. How did he do in Dodgerland? Did he use 60 million a year with opt-outs? I think it was like four years, 240. We kept thinking he was going to get seven, eight years and the mega deals are going on. Yeah, then. Yeah, the mega deals. I lost a bet.

Are we going to lose the mega deals forever, you think? I lost a bet because I didn't think about the work stop. Yeah, no, but I didn't read that up. Sorry. It's okay. You got how about you out of it? I bought you. It was lunch.

You still ate. What's the difference? of what time of day it is. Oh, price? Your belly doesn't know what time of day it is. But your wallet, your wallet did. So what? I just think you got a little bit of a break.

Quit your bitching. You got the happy hour prices. You were full and you took the leftovers home from us. I did. I should have ordered some, uh, and I'm on my head. I've been really good. Is that I'm an appetizer is spicy with little garlic sauce on it? You ate the extra fried rice and took the leftovers.

Mm-hmm. Yeah, you got lunch prices. You caught a break. Poor young starving, Jonathan. Jonathan, I got to feed you anyway, Jonathan. I was fool. I was good. I'm taking more lunches than you have.

No, I got to know. I got to, as I said, I got to start feeding him. Yeah. You always big time us. Oh, I got a meeting. Yeah, okay, with your pillow. I do like the three o'clock naps. I got to be honest with you.

Okay. So to wrap up this all-encompassing segment. Yes. I guess what I'm going to say is this. I guess I should stop bitching about free agency because I love it. So I love this time of year. At least as of two days ago, Philadelphia is still trying to court him. I wouldn't be shocked if he, now maybe by today,

but if he still has been making a decision the last few days. Maybe he's changing his mind on the day on a day basis. I think he should go to Philly. I do believe without a doubt, he's ring chasing right now. Yeah, of course. There's no, people are arguing about that. So he is going to take a discount. It sounds like it.

For the first time in his career, I mean, a real disdistance. Not the first time. He took a discount. A little $2 million discount. He took a discount of Miami. That's like going and saying, I use my Roga rewards card and got a whole 5 cents off a gallon of gas.

Hold on. First of all, that adds up. You take the 5 cents off, don't you? 14 gallons at 5 cents is 70 cents. What do you freaking do? That's nice. That adds up, Maddie? Yeah, but if I'm going to the grocery store

and spending more money at Roker. First of all, $2 million and $5 is two different things. In the NBA world, $2 million is about $15. bucks the rest of us. I don't know that he took the full max every time with the Lakers as well. I, again, you and I argue about this. I don't think that his legacy will be until he signs his deal now, the next one coming up, that he is a massive discount taker. No, nobody is really. Tom Brady. Okay, Tom, that's a different sport. That's one. Jalen Brunson took some of a discount. He did. And Wimbabon did it. And LeBondi did it. And LeBondon took a $50 million one. LeBron took a discount too. is he used a roger rewards card and got the discount 1230 on sports talk 790 713

212 5790 if you want to chime in 713 212 5790 can we get an update on Mike Burroughs would you like one Rossi I think Dana Brown can give us one next year on 790 Our friends in England Rossi are not happy with the loss yesterday and we'll give you an example of that England Sports Radio

Not particularly pleased. Okay. Have we ever been mad in the history of this show? It's something our national team has done in something? I don't think so. Have we ever been mad at the team USA basketball? Yeah, were we mad? Well, I wasn't on air in 2004 when they lost to Argentina.

Okay, I'm talking about it since 2010. Have we been mad? I don't think so. I don't think so. Have we been mad that USA hockey didn't do something? No. USA. USA hockey?

I'm trying to think what have we done nationally that's pissed off America. I don't know. If you all have any ideas, let us know. Is there something from an... And the reason why I'm saying this is we're going to play some audio from an English sports talk show that unhappy with the results of losing to Argentina yesterday. That's coming up at about 15 minutes from now. Plus, our old smoky trivia question is coming in a lot of suffering.

Is a country in general or just what? in sports. And football. Okay. They haven't won at all since 1966. So it's one of their core sports. It's the core sport.

It's their core sport, and they invented it. And they haven't won in 60 years? Yeah. What's the comp on that? Us losing in basketball over and over again? Yeah, it'd be like us not winning in basketball for 60 years. All right.

Back to baseball for this segment. So Lance McCullors is gone. That's basically opening up some, I guess, a little breathing room among pitchers in the Astros organization, right? Would you like to describe it? Well, let's go, I guess. Here is Dana Brown yesterday, meeting with the media, updating us on Mike Burroughs. He still hasn't started throwing, but he's going to begin a rehab here in the near future. You know, he's coming along nicely, no pain.

And we expect him to tow the rubber at some point. you know, in the next seven to ten days and get him going and build him back up. We are going to talk with him or we've had some conversations with him about some of the changes that we're expecting to make. I've said in the past that I think he needs to get more action in the zone as it relates to his stuff when he's in the strike zone. You know, sometimes his stuff would flatten out and that's why he got hit. But yeah, he's on pace, you know, to get back on the road.

rubber and start off a mound, you know, in the next seven to ten days. I'm going to assume that those of you driving around town right now, listen to the show. First of all, thank you for that. Secondly, you're probably going, yeah, take your time. Okay, let me ask you this. Are you ready for today's intriguing question? Yes. Are you more disappointed in Mike Burroughs or are you more disappointed in Tatsui Emai?

Or can you be saying? Yes. Well, you might as more money, which in theory they would carry a bigger disappointment. But also, this might sound stupid to say, but I felt like Mike Burroughs was more of a sure thing. Because we had a major league track record of Mike Burroughs. He had a 394 ERA last year with the Pirates. Been in around baseball. He's right.

He's been here in America. anytime somebody's coming over from overseas, there's an element of the unknown. This, of course, was in the range of outcomes for EMI, because you never knew how he was going to adjust. And, of course, we've heard a lot of him talking about the mound and the weather, the ball, and this, and then that, and everything. And somebody coming over from Japan, there's not a whole lot of guarantee.

Mike Burroughs had major league success, and the Astros traded for him, and you're coming here into Houston where, no matter what kind of pitcher you are, you come to Houston. Generally, you get better. There's been very few people that have come here and gotten worse. Right. The metrics, the research, the pitch mix. The pitching coaches have been good for this organization for a long time.

It's been great. So I thought Mike Burrough, and then you had the spring training. That's why, again, I don't think it's a ridiculous question. Now, again, EMI makes way more money. financially EMI is more of a disappointment. But just from as a storyline and what expectations I had, I would say Mike Burroughs has been more disappointing. So as Dana is giving us this update, and I'm listening to it,

and you guys just heard it a second ago, I'm thinking, you know, okay, six, seven to ten days, that puts him at the end of July. How much time does he need to ramp up? That's each individual arm. I don't know how bad he heard he was before. Does he need rehab appearances? I mean, are we talking 30 days from now? And what is a fresh off of injury Mike Burroughs going to look like as compared to healthy Mike Burroughs, who was terrible for this team?

He got the nerve neuritis. He got the elbow neuritis. He'll be fine. I hate what I have neuritis. Yeah. Got it all over? At my throat. 713-212-5-790.

7-1-3-212. 5-7-90. What? Nothing. I say nothing. There's a comment here. Dana says Blanco will be back soon. It's six and a half seconds.

Okay. You're telling me Ronell Blanco only got six and a half seconds of a sound bite? That's fine. Yeah, he's coming back. Looking forward to it. We're going to do, get ready for Dana. Don't play it yet, Jonathan.

We're going to do what you're talking about, Dana. Rossi, 6.7 seconds. Blanco will be back soon. Yeah, Blanco is looking good, and we're looking forward to get him back in the fold. Here it is. Here's Dana 5. Blanco is certainly within a week of potentially getting back here. So, yeah, that answer is yes.

There you go. Asked and answered. Blanco's on the way, baby. Man, if I'm Blanco, I'm like, man, I got six and a half seconds mentioned on a radio show. That's not fair. I have a freaking long injury. Blanco's not worried about his sound bite length. You don't know that.

He may be listening right now. He's not. Number of Astros Listen to the show right now Of the 26 17. You think 17 to the 26 You're the ones that don't

Huddled around a radio Well they're on the IHeart Radio Yeah, exactly Traveling back from their trip Yeah I like how you think Blasin in the speakers All right up next

English sports radio We've got two clips for you Okay When England loses A country melts down 713 212-5790 All right, it's time for our old smoky giveaway.

We're giving away old smoky charcoal grills all week long here on the show. It's been very nice. I want to thank the great folks over at Old Smoky for making that happen. In fact, they have Old Smoky Galveston Day coming up this weekend. And I want to give them a nice plug for that. A matter of fact, as soon as I can find it. Here it is. John Carter and the crew over there are going to have the old smoky throwdown.

It's the twilight. 12th annual edition of that. Barbecue competition and block party. 50 plus cook teams. You have to use an old smoky, and it's going to happen in 815, 21st Street in Galveston. It's free to attend. They're still accepting cook teams or just come on out and check it out.

More information can be found at old smoky.com on the events page. That's this Saturday right off the strain for the 12th annual old smoky throwdown. Here is the question. Rossi, we talked to Brian McTaggart earlier today, and I asked Brian, who are the players that are currently not on the Major League roster right now that Brian thinks could make a difference for the Astros the rest of the season? He brought up two players. You got to name both those players.

Both? Both of them. Let me think. You're not eligible. Okay. Well, it's good because I don't think I have the answer. All right. The two players that Brian brought up on the show today,

day when you join us at 1120 that he thinks could make a difference. If you know those two players, 713-212-5-790. And no, it is not Lance McCullors or Colton Gordon. I believe not. They could make a difference for the Milwaukee Brewers, but not for the Houston Astros. All right, Jonathan, before you get to screen the calls, let me get to this first piece of audio. This is, we're going to play two different bits of audio for you here. This first one is a show.

It's called The Sports Bar. Not a bad little name of it, right? It's okay. It's on Talk Sport. The two hosts are Jamie O'Hara and Jason Cundee. Talk Sport. Isn't that what Brian T. Smith? Yeah, yeah, yeah.

So I believe this is most of Jamie O'Hara speaking. This is Jamie O'Hara. Jamie O'Hara, an enterprising young fellow, not particularly pleased with his beloved England and Harry Kane as they lost yesterday. You could almost accept it. You're playing against Argentina. You can't sit off. for 25 minutes against Argentina.

He absolutely bottled it. Thomas Seucles cost us the World Cup. He cost us the World Cup. We're 1-0 up. Played well first off. All right, KG Affair. We go 1-0 up. Be brave.

Be brave, Thomas. This is what we brought you in for. We brought you in for this moment. We got rid of Southgate because he bottled it. Because he weren't brave. We brought you in for now. To make that decision, we're 1-0 up in a World Cup semi-final.

Bring on Rashford. Bring on Saka. And if they score, they score. But at least we're going to go down fighting. At least we're going to go down with some pride. We fell out of the World Cup in disgrace because of him. Because of him. And we brought him in for this job.

This is what we brought him in for to get us over this line. And it's the same old England. Same old crap. Same old guff. I have to watch every tournament that we're in. And it's the managers tucked us up again. Tucked us up. We're dead on our feet.

Got Morgan Rogers playing right wing. Jude Belling him on the left. Brings on Nico Riley. We can't get out. Harry Kane's done nothing. He's dead. Nothing. Got nothing left.

I don't. I can't believe it, Jace. I can't believe it. It's a disgrace. I... It should be sacked. Get him out. Gone.

I... He should be sacked, mate. Now, I can't decipher British voices. Okay. So the second clip I have... might be the same dudes. It's definitely a different scenario.

Maybe they were watching it live. But here is another video. This is from the Tartan Army, and it says 10 under 10, we'll watch again. So if we're going to watch, you might as listen to it. These could be the same dudes.

I think this is actually, as the game was happening. Here's the second clip of where to play. Sack him. Sack him. Sack him. Sack him now. Embarrassing.

Oh, here we go. I told you, mate. I've told you this coming. I told you, Jay. He's been coming for 15 minutes, mate. I told you it's been coming for 15 minutes. You can't play like this. You cannot play like this against Argentina.

They will not quit. They will not quit. It's a terrible, terrible decision for Thomas Tuchel. It's a terrible decision for Thomas Tuchel. We retreated way too early. Way too early. We could have had rationed. We could have had Saka.

We had so much more to give in this game. And we just retreated. It's a terrible decision. This is what he's brought in for to get this decision right. Oh my God. He drops his mic. We're out. We're out.

We're out. We're out. It's the worst decision ever. It's a sackable offense. Argentina won it in the 90s second minute. It's a shocking, shocking decision. Thomas Tugel, you should be embarrassed. Sack him.

Sack him. Sack him. Sack him now. Embarrassing. We're out. How can he make that decision? How can you make that decision? with 25 minutes to go.

He's all over the place. He's absolutely bottled it. And we're out at the World Cup because of Thomas Tuchel. He would hate Joe Espada. Man, you can hear the pain in that man's voice. It's the same guy. So the first of the second guy, you get to tell.

Same clip. He has been suffering. Since 1966, they've been waiting. But again, I want to bring up the question. Do we have a winner, by the way, Jonathan? He's going through, I think it, looking. Oh, go ahead. I wanted you to play the audio.

That's why I was wanting you to wait. But that's good. He'll get us a winner here. We don't have that. That just tells you that different parts of the world treat sports differently. We have never, I'm going to say this. I don't like I've ever come on a show and went, my God, we're embarrassing ourselves. Like, Ryder Cup teams lose.

Nothing will come close to the passion of the World Cup. But nothing will come close to that. The World Cup is just a different animal. It's the biggest sporting event in the entire world. Scott Jersey Village, by the way, is our winner. Especially in England. Especially where they've been long-suffering. Especially where they've been to semifinals and finals

and just haven't been able to get over the hump. Yeah. They've been waiting to win a World Cup since 1966. And they're close. You're up 1-0. For 25 minutes of play. And then, yeah, Tuchel puts in Esri Conza, defender in the 72nd minute

and then the 82nd minute Bernard O'Reilly come on. At that point, that was fine to me. But it was just the having to hold on for dear life and two special goals got scored as well. He doesn't want to hear that. I know he doesn't want to hear that. Sack him! Suck him now! As you noted, Matthew, Messi put that ball on a plate

for Latoro Martinez. He kicked it with his off foot. It went right to the run. That dude's Noggin, and he headed it in for a goal. He's being pressed by Nico O'Reilly, who is one of the young stars in England. He's placed for Manchester City. He's a 21-year-old, youthful, fast, smart, good defender with length. Messi just gets by him like he doesn't exist, puts the ball with his right foot on a platter for Martinez. I mean, it's a beautiful.

I was impressed. It's a beautiful game. It's beautiful. I look forward to singing again in four years. Well, Messi won't be there. Actually, I'll be singing in a year. And Messi, he conserves his energy because he's 39. So he walks a lot of the game.

He walks a lot of the game. And then when it's time to turn it on, he turns it on. He's done with the Miami team, right? He's like, you know what it was on? He's like Muhammad Ali, ropedoping George Foreman. He's taking the hits for like eight rounds, and then he knocks them out. That's what he is at this stage of his career. he's still

if not the greatest in the world top three at 39 it's insane because LeBron James is still playing at 40-41 he's not a top five player in the NBA and he can't slow down either he's not top 10 players he's got to rub it down the floor and any four feet

Tom Brady's going to go throw the passes yeah LeBron's been taking off defense for about five years that's true it's true you LeBron truthers I didn't say that Hi. Hi, my name is Ross. LeBron's been taking off defense for at least five years.

You know I'm right. You may be right. All right. Congratulations, Scott. The answer to the trivia question was, what two players did Brian McTagher believe would be potential helpers? When they got back on the active roster, he said Ronell Blanco and Hayden Wisniewski, two pitchers.

Do you believe him or not? Wesnowski apparently has been wowing people. I love when people wow. Renel Blanco, I mean, We'll see. Through a no hitter. Felt like it was moons ago, but, you know. We'll see.

Coming back from Tommy John can be shaky. We'll not be throwing Ephis pitches. I can't wait. They're both coming back from Tommy John. So, two arms combined to one, make one good arm? Yeah. Maybe they can piggyback. Three innings apiece.

Get you six strong. Let's get the final hour started of the program. What is, believe it or not today coming up at 150? Yeah, 50 minutes away. I thought we said you said we're skipping it. I don't think I said it even once. Brandon says, British radio guy sounds like Ross watching UT football

during Charlie Strong and Tom Hermanera. It's not far off. Yeah, the difference is that Ross hurts office furniture when they were losing. That's not true. It happened one time. I didn't break any... Jonathan, this is how the legend grows.

All I did was slam my hand. I did like this. In a Las Vegas hotel. And now the legend is grown that I got an axe out and I swung the act to the table and broke it in half. You're so ridiculous. When IKEA showed up at our hotel and said we're here for delivery. Nobody's delivering IKEA to where were you?

Well, we were at the Reston. Is that right? Yeah, oh, I know. I know where we were. I remember who Texas was playing. It was Oklahoma State. Okay. Sorry, go ahead, Jonathan.

No, I'm just saying. Go to break. Final hour, man. He's lying on me. I got to defend myself. No, you know. Just take the loss. You never slamming.

your hand on the table? You slam your hand on the table 10 times a day. During Rockets playoffs? Oh, hell yeah. Anytime I make a joke. One o'clock on 7.30. This is the Matt Thomas show with Ross. We failed to as a radio host.

We have not given you the British OpenUp date. And I believe we're going to continue to fail you. Because I don't even know who these people are. Super. And then M? Or is it I'm? I believe that's stretched super. That stretch

Suba If you're an OG astrophane You're actually laughing at that That's not terrible Now Jonathan has no idea what that meant And that's our British British Open update There you go Matt

Ney We're the Royal Burkdale Here we go The 154th annual Royal Burkdale event Well someone called Suba Smashing tournament mouth here There's a 5 under 65 with an M or an I.m and minus four.

And then some bloody American named Brown at minus four. And then P.I. Cootie. A brown is British. I'm sure he is too. M is Korean. And P.I. Cootie is minus four. IP freely? Bryson D. Shambru.

Minus three. I like that. D. Shambrough. I see what you did there. Morikawa minus three. No, I'm not accepting all cookies. Some American bloat named Young is minus three. Dietree in the bunker at minus three as well with McIntyre and Molinari from Italy at minus three. Sung J.M. Jackson Subur is American.

Oh, Pearson Cootty? Yes, I said. Oh, I thought you weren't making it up. No, it was P.I. Cudy. P.I. Cootie. Why does P. Is there another kudy? How many kudis are on the floor?

They're the kudy bros? Are they twins? I don't know. Colin Morikawa, tied for fifth. He's trading as one of the favorites alongside Scotty Schaeffler. Still trading as one of the favorites. If you're looking on couch, just saying. Yeah, you said promo code 7.90.

More on that in a moment. All right. And that was your British Open Update. I'm sure people are bouncing on. Thank God, guys. Thanks for that. There you go. It is the slowest week in sports.

It is what it is. Yeah, Schaeffler trading in it looks like 14%. Let's, we had to lock our phone lines. We got a bunch of people. Glad you all listened. That made me feel good that you'll listen to Brian McTaggart. That's good. It makes me very happy.

And if you missed Brian McTaggart, we'll let you hear some of the highlights of that because he really was all over this Lance McCuller's story. We'll hear from him coming up again at the bottom of the hour here on 790. We need baseball back. We need some ball. We need some ball to be played. Baltimore Orioles will be in town tomorrow,

all sort of weekend series against the beloved Astros. Yes. How's Baltimore doing these days? They're like everybody else. They're in the wallet card chase. They're mid. 46 and 51. Oof. 47 and 51. Terrible season.

Is this what I'm hearing of Standing 790, Jonathan? Are you hearing that what I'm hearing? Oh gosh. Here we go. We're trying to add production value of the show. Go ahead. No, it's too late. He's going to be going to be anticipating that kind of stuff. He's working on it. I'm scrolling.

His finger's about to fall off. He's scrolling so far. He's typing in the number now. Oh, yeah. We're working on it. Time. Yeah, here we go. Standings, 790.

Thank you very much. It's like when you're at the window at the ticket office or something. Or how about, you know what the worst set of scrolling can be? When you are at the ticket gate at the airport. You know, like, can I get a number? new seat and the woman spends like a half an hour looking at typing up four million things. I don't think that happens in 2026. I don't know. Every time I go on the, you just go on the app. I think I'm going to charge you. Well, how about this? What about it? What if you miss your connection?

And then she's like, you know, 75, 100 times she's hitting the button and nothing's coming out of it. But my absence, there's two, there's nine seats the next flight. Nothing. All right. So standing 790 because you heard the sound. Whenever the sound of place... Can I hear it again, by the way? You want to judge it? I just want to hear it again. Let's go and hear that sound on.

Oh, wait, hold on. More scrolling. Standings, 790. Thank you very much. Standing 790. Astros only a game and a half out of the wall card game. That's nothing. That ain't enough.

For a team playing 480 baseball? Nothing. Yeah, but there's 14, there's two teams tied. They're tied, but they're behind the Red Sox and the Twins and Mariners are tied. Are you scared in Minnesota? So only one of those teams. out of the four is getting a spot, right? I ain't scared about Seattle. I ain't scared of Minnesota.

I ain't scared about boss. I don't care of how good Boston's playing. I know. They're saying they ain't scared of the Astros. They're saying the Astros are going to get a left-handed bat. Okay, here we go. Dana Brown's going to get you a left-handed bat, and one of the nine pitchers he acquired in the off-season is going to come in here and be a steady force of the air rotation. Yeah, they're all quaking in their boots.

You don't know that? We can call Boston right now. How are y'all feel about the Astros? Mariners have prospects to trade. They don't do anything aggressive. They made a bunch of trades last year. They get Josh Niller. That was good for them.

Yeah. Are you honey a thwarteth? Mm-hmm. I think they got a pitcher two or something, right? I'll flat out. I'll flat out. I think the rest of the league is scared of the Astros right now. They're quaking in their boots.

I would say the exact same thing. 47-51. Yeah, the rays are scared. They should be. Astros only three out of first place in the American League West. That is your standing. seven 90. Standings,

790. Nobody else in the marketplace has standing 790. Thank God. Well, nor should they. We're 790. Well, I mean, other people could...

Apparently somebody is stealing, believe it or not, from us. What do you mean? I've not heard it myself, but a listener V Rock listens to the show all the time says, there's another show in the marketplace that's playing, believe it or not.

Oh, I thought we've talked about this. They're on the bowl or whatever, right? I don't know if it's the bowl or not. I don't know. I don't hate listen to Bull. Okay. So if anybody is out there stealing, believe it or not, I need to know. Okay.

And we will call them out for who they are. Again, bit stealing. Standing. Exactly. 790. I think that one's safe. I think it's very safe. You know what one you won't hear in other stations, Jonathan?

What's the one you're not going to hear on? Here we go. You know what it is, Jonathan, don't you? Let's go insider. Come on, Insider. You know what are we not going to hear on someone who's there. we go. We're not going to hear that. Yeah, where's my, where's my pistachio croissant? You know, that's, you're not winning that bed. I've already won. You have to prove beyond a

reasonable doubt. You are wrong. You are right. If you cannot do that, if you cannot do that, you are wrong. There has been zero proof evidence or reports. How does that make me wrong? Explain that to me. There's no, we don't know what's happening. So you can't, you know what we're going to do. We're going to call Joe Mixing to the break. Call him. From the foot clinic? Yeah. Joe Mixon and Unmobile joins us next.

He'll back us up on this. Plus, Vincent Midtown wants to talk about it to the World Cup. Don't shake your head. Embarrassing. You don't know. All right. If Joe Mixen and on mobile is out there, nothing irresponsible.

Nick Casario said nothing irresponsible. Did he not, Jonathan? Would be shooting yourself in the foot? Would that be irresponsible? Do general managers lie, Jonathan? Now, answer my question. he didn't have to say that. He didn't have to go out his way to say that.

He didn't have to say anything. He said nothing irresponsible. You guys are wrong. Give my coffee and my pistachio. And you owe me for a Joey Loprafito bet. And in about 34 games, you're going to owe me for this your honor's bet. Don't jinx it. You might be jinxing.

He's going to get hurt or not. It's not because I said anything on a radio. Well, but I mean, you're already tasting the appetizer. Are we playing for chips and salsa that we're playing for? I believe, I can look it up I believe it's a drive-thru lunch Oh really? I'm going to look it up

I don't know, I wrote it down You know what, I'm going to get you some Taco Bell Extra Lus Oh hell no Yeah, there it is Chalupa double lettuce for my buddy Ross I don't eat Taco Bell Even when there's not a nasty outbreak

Of that disgusting food It's gotten down It was bad in the 90s and it's gotten worse Nasty ass taco bell The Chalupa's weren't around in the 90s Chalupa is that's the goat food to get there No it's not It's the crusty's

Gordita Crunch is the goat. It's all the same thing. I think cheese of Giorita. Chalupas are nasty. No, which one has got the fluffy fried? Is that what the chalupa is? Are you talking about the gordita?

The gordita is the play. You see, you're the one defending this nasty restaurant and you even know what's on the menu. You know the menu better than I do. I don't know why. Because I... Never mind.

114 on Sports Talk 790. The World Cup final is this Saturday. You said never again, by the way we'll play. Even if I lose this year, I got next year in the next nine years for Yoron Alvarez. You said never in his career will he ever play 130 games ever. We're playing for a

drive-through lunch? Drive-through lunch. I thought it was a hot app. Okay, whatever. Okay, here we go. Coffee plus pastry of choice. Hi-in-the-jo mixing. Okay. And we have a bet on an AFC championship or bus for Nick Casario, nothing on the line

for that. And you owe me an appetizer for low perfeito getting A.B. in AAA. Can I just get you like one food certificate and just not got a lot? Just give me a gift card. Yeah. Call it a day. Get you a Rala Rard and get you a big old gift card.

Let's go, Yordon. Come on. 713-212-5-790. Brian McTagger joins us at the bottom of the hour. I just tried the text Joe Mixing. And he will not be available to the show today. He is on the gun range. Who's that?

Joe Mixing. Oh, how do you know this? He's getting back on his feet again. Or foot. I'm going to eat everybody that pistachio croissant in your face. I'm pretty proud of myself, actually. Now right, Jonathan. Putting his best foot forward on the gun range.

Bills and Vikings emerging as top landing spots for Joe Mixing. As of how long ago? I don't know. This is posted by The Times of India. Mahima Roy is all over this. Is that where John McLeans work on these days? No. No, he can't be working for the Times of India.

Let's do a Google real quick on Joe Mixon. Joe Mixon. No, I can't say Joe Mixon gunshots. Here, look, I'm putting it. Did Joe Mixon? You do this every time and it tells you no. I'm waiting for it to say yes for you guys. Because you're both claiming a win and nothing has been proven or revealed.

Yep, you're right. 713-212-5-7-90. Vince is with us on 7-90. Vince, thanks for holding good afternoon. Good afternoon, guys. Hey, I've got a soccer question. So, I've been watching the World Cup, and I don't really know. Ross is more of a soccer guy than Matt is, but just wondering as far as, yeah, I know. I mean, beach basket, just stay out of this now. Anyway, but the three games, the last three games Argentina played, I watched the whole games, and I'm like, I'm not, again, I'm not a big soccer fan, but I was just like blown away at how exciting the games were,

probably some of the most exciting sports I've ever seen. And so I'm just curious, as far as the pro leagues, I know there's a Premier League and there's one where, I don't know, Real Marigrids in, and, And what is, as far as pecking order, which is the best soccer leagues across the globe? Yeah, probably the English primary league is thought of as top to bottom as the best league, where like the 19th, 18th, 15th teams are still pretty competitive. The Spanish league, also known as La Liga, that's very top heavy.

It's basically Barcelona and Real Madrid fighting for the title every year with the occasional Athletico Madrid in there. although they play a boring style of ball under Diego Simeone, their coach. And then you'll have the occasional, I don't know, Villa Real, or Villarreal, my namesake, they'll get involved or whatever. But it's more Barcelona, Real Madrid, than everyone else. And then the bottom of those leagues aren't very good. And then probably the German and Italian leagues in whatever order you want to put them in. The Italian league used to be like top dog in like the 80s and maybe early 90s,

but the money is much bigger in the Premier League, which of course, means now the league is a lot better. So I would say probably Premier League, then next, either, well, La Liga, the top heaviness of La Liga, and then German Bundesliga and Italian League in whichever order you want to put them in. So let me follow up with, where do the, so I know that Messi's playing in MLS and you do that in LMS. And so what, what, where do the best players go? I mean, is it just like, you know,

The retirement league in the MLS. The best players in the league go to the Premier League, the top big six teams of the Premier League. So the Premier League has a half and a have-nots as well. There hasn't been, I think Leicester City is the only big six team, the non-big-six team to win the title since like the 1990s. I think it was Blackburn Rovers in like 94. So it's been all big six teams. And it's like the best of the best who you would compare to like the Yankees and the Red Sox and the Dodgers and whatever. And so the best players in the world play on basically.

those six teams and then add in Real Madrid and Barcelona, who probably themselves are arguably as good, if not better than the top of the, top of the Premier League. And by the way, I didn't mention the French League because that's basically been Paris Saint-German and then a bunch of nobodies the last several years. Well, let me ask this. So just last question, as far as salaries are concerned, how do they compare to like the top NFL players, top of NBA players, top MLB players. It's a little bit more complicated because they get sold for like $100 million

and then they make like, I don't remember, it's something like 800 to a million pounds or euros a week. I want to say they make around $40 to $50 million a year, the top players. Wow. Okay. Excellent. Well, I appreciate the info. Thank you.

I would have to really welcome. You are certainly welcome. I'd have to look that up. Yeah, I forgot about the French League, because they called it the Farmers League, because it's basically Paris-Sanger Man and a bunch of farmers at this point. To even up the level for this show, we got Brian Me Tiger coming up. Somebody asked about soccer. Okay.

I need a pro wrestling or a game show or a soap opera question. Because you carried that last segment. It's okay. Because I don't feel like I need to carry my weight. No, you're doing great. Are you sure? Are you sure? Nobody wants to talk about World Cup and soccer.

We don't need to talk about 80s wrestling. I'm going to say it's, if you want 80s wrestling question, or game show, or Young and the Wrestles or Bowling the Beautiful, 713-212-5-7-9. I want to know about Goodfellas. I wonder about the Avengers movies. More Ross. Hey, what was your favorite part of Jurassic Park?

More Ross. Keep going. Game of Thrones. Cipranos. Wire. More Ross. Why am I even here? Because we got to tell us about.

80s wrestling, you said. But if nobody calls, I can't give you my takes on 80s wrestling or game shows. 80s Astros. Give me your top three 80s Astros. Oh, Jose Cruz, top three, Mike Scott. You gotta go, Nolan Ryan.

And Mike Scott. And Nolan, Ryan, Mike Scott, and Jose Cruz. No love for Was Acehers of the Daniel. More 70s? More 70s. Okay. Jim DeShays, love you, but you were just 86. I thought that was your guy. Oh, no. Alan Aspie was my Astro buddy, yeah. Well, we're going to play a full McTagger

But the computer's not working That's okay No, it's not It's not okay But we have to go on The show must go on It's going to be okay It's going to have to be okay

Because Brian had a great insight And we can't play for the 130 on We'd love for you to have been there at 11 o'clock But we know some of you can't be Because you're making a million-dollar deals And I get that All right Okay

So we're We're going to see if we can play it off of Ross's computer maybe. I don't know. We'll see. 713-212-5-7-90. 7-13. Namaste. 7-13-212-5-79.

Keep breath, Matt. Let's try to have an abundance mindset. Let's be thankful for what we do have in this life of ours. We do have a lot. We have great audience. Yes. We have great coworkers. Great sponsors.

Great sponsors. Just equipment that never works. That's great. I wouldn't say never. It worked all day. It works for three and a half hours. That's true. Three and a half hours out of four ain't bad.

I mean, the show's four hours. We at least have got, believe it or not, coming up in 15 minutes. What's the category? I don't know. I was going to work on it, but also now I'm trying to work on getting this interview. Okay. Let's, oh, we're going to play, we've got the Fantasy Five tomorrow. You remember what the category was?

I'm going to send it to you and Jonathan just to let you know you're Barry Manilow songs right What if I beat you in that? Then I will resign You already lost the Beatles The Beatles which was ridiculous to Octopus's Garden Octopus's Garden

So tomorrow Jonathan you're judge number one On the fantasy five In the category I got to do this real quick. The category is going to be duets Now that can't be a group duet.

It's going to be two solo artists that are that sang songs together. For instance, I would say that Sunny and Cher would be a duet. I would say that Peaches and Herb would be a duet. I would not say that

Hall and Oates would be a duet because Darrell Hall singing 99% of the song. So tomorrow, we're going to do a fantasy five of duets of two famous solo artists that combine to sing one song. And the only rule you have is is that you can only pick one song per decade. So we're going to have to use five different decades on that.

And so that'll be tomorrow. We'll do that on the Fantasy 5 at 220. Have another giveaway for an old smoky grill tomorrow as well. Looking forward to that. Plus we'll have hell yeah or not. And we'll wake the strippers up and we'll also have a chance to apologize. Has Dan been screened, Jonathan, or on line too? I know we try to call in.

Oh, the computer is still down. So I guess I'm going to, oh, you know, well, we'll fly blind on this one. Let's, uh, let's try Dan on seven-hany. Dan, what the heck do you want on it at 139? Dan, thanks for calling. Yes, sir. I heard you earlier saying this is a flat week for you all, and I can see you at from time to time. I had this crazy idea about once or twice a week.

Y'all give a list of the bottom side of the Astros's pictures and batters. I like to play along at home. I'd like to see what they got on the bench and things. It's hard to tell these days. You mean of all time or on this year's roster? Oh, no, on the current roster right now today. I don't know the bottom of the line that. The bottom of the pitchers no more.

All right. So let's do this. Let's think about this for a second, Dan. Okay. Bottom five would be, are we counting Mike Burroughs on the injured list? So technically that would be a count, correct? No, sir. The current 26th on the roster, the bottom five.

the batters and the end pitchers. All right. Well, all right. Let's mull that over. Thanks for the phone call. Ross don't worry about it. We're too late. He's trying to edit it.

It's just not going to work out. Bottom five. Well, I mean, it would be what, Bryce Matthews would be on that bottom five. Nick Allen be on that bottom five. Taylor Tremel, probably bottom five. What's the question?

The worst five hitters on the current 26-man roster. I mean, unfortunately, it's taking some debate. Oh, Evay. We can go by our friend. Oh, Christian Vasquez is probably a bottom five hitter? Yeah. Not Jeremy Payne. Not, I mean, I don't, was Cam Smith in the bottom five?

I don't think Cam Smith's in the bottom five. Whoever's playing center field, is your probably in the bottom five, whatever that is? Zach Cole, Renel de Gatto. Well, those are both guys. Those are all AAAs. Oh, Jake Myers? He didn't want to count AAA guys. Oh, great.

Well, he's a major league guy in my heart. Oof, he's worn Astro gear. You can remember, folks, 25 different position players have taken a bat for the Astros this year. 25 pitchers have thrown for the Astros this year. We've got quite a selection to choose from. Yes, we do. All right, I got this. Well, hold on.

Never mind. Like 15 more seconds. I'll have this interview. We break in a minute. We have, believe it or not, next. We can't do this. Don't tell me anything. Yeah, you're right.

We should skip it and play a little Brian McTaggart. You want to skip, believe it or not? What's this category? I haven't written a question because I've been doing this. We're doing McTaggart then. Like I'm going to argue with you about this. Sorry. We do love working here, where you really do.

Oh, Aaron is asking if you're going to get Nicole Brown-Simpson's diary. I saw Nicole, I told you I saw Nicole Brown-Simpson before, in person, in Houston. Okay. You actually heard on Monday. Oh, whoops. Don't play that now. It started by itself. You saw me.

I wasn't touching it. You really are. What do you want me to say? What do you want me to say? We can't be silent. It's fine. Let's end this segment on a high note. Okay.

What's the best thing that's going to happen to you the rest of the day? I'm going to do some laundry. That's the best thing? Yeah. All right. I'm going to go pick up my oldest from his trip from Calgary. I'm going to hear about his trip. I'm going to go take them out for a nice steak dinner after the show.

We pick him up at the airport today. Oh, really? Nice steak dinner. Yeah. Okay. So you're doing laundry. I'm picking up my son from the airport. Jonathan, what's the best thing is going to happen for you the rest of the day? He's working on the computer.

He's like, there's nothing that could possible. That's fine. The drama's been building for this Brian McTagger interview. It is such a good interview. You'll hear it next. 142 on Sports Talk 790. It is Matt. Ross. It's the I Heart Radio Empire here on 790.

Since we're not doing believe it or not, because we were fighting through technical issues. Sorry. We got it fixed, I think. Yeah. And we're going to start doing, believe it or not earlier, get it ready. And I'll help you. Ooh, I like that. Tomorrow is going to be a very Googlerable one. Okay. I've already thought of the topic. Okay. And if I got working on it right now is you hear from Brian McTaggart, who was all over the Lance McCuller's trade. And he gave us an update of what he was hearing. And when he started to hear that Lance, maybe on the trading block. You actually heard on Monday and started poking around a bit and heard it it was probably going to happen. There were a few cents to tie up. They had approached Lance at some point, said they didn't have room for him in the rotation anymore. He was open to a move to

the bullpen, but, you know, they have Wisniewski coming back, Blanco's coming back probably sooner than later. So they basically just didn't have a spot from the rotation. And so, and then they started to poke around the trades a little bit. The Astros thought that they could trade him, get some money back, create a little bit of payroll flexibility they can use of the trade deadline. And then so a few teams had an interest, but Milwaukee seemed to be the best fit. Lance, of course, no trade clause. He signed off on going to Milwaukee. Some other teams were still in it at that point, but it became clear on late Tuesday, I think Tuesday night after the All-Star game, it was going to be the Brewers and then it was finished on Wednesday.

Any idea how many teams were legitimately interested? I mean, there are, payroll teams looking to cut and move around a little bit. I mean, was there a lot of interest or is that hard to tell at this point? I don't think there was a lot of me. I think the Yankees were interested at one point. I know the raise were interested, but the raise did not, of course, Lance is from Tampa, but the raise did not want to send any money back. So it has to be a fit for the Astros financially just to, because this was basically

going to be a little bit of a salary dump. And they also, by including Colton Gordon in there, they, you know, created a couple of spots on their 40-man roster because they're about to have some guys come off the 60-day aisle who are not on the 40-man roster. So it was some payroll flexibility, some roster flexibility, and also, you know, giving Lance a chance to go somewhere and help a team that's in first place. I know that you had a chance to speak to Lance.

Where is he body-wise? Can he get to Milwaukee and pitch right away? Where is he in his process? Yeah, he said he was going today. I called him yesterday. I talked to him for on and off for a few days since Monday. And then yesterday I called him for the last time, and he was actually at Dyken Park packing up his locker, which made me feel kind of sad. But he's going to Milwaukee today.

I think they're going to have been off the aisle. He says he's ready to go. He was hoping he could have pitched for the Astros on Sunday, the last game before the All-Star break that Javier started. So, you know, they're in dire need of pitching. They have a lot of injuries. You know, Mizorowski had arm fatigue. Not sure if he's going to come back. Woodruff is injured.

So he's going to get an opportunity there and to show what he can do. And, you know, Lance, you never know, he could go out there pitch seven innings, strike out 12 guys or pitch two and a third and not, you know, not give you much. So it'll be interesting for sure. Yeah, just your thoughts overall then if you could, Brian, obviously you covered him his whole career, getting drafted, the come up, the 24 curve balls. And then unfortunately all the injuries, how you see through your eyes, the Lance McCullors Jr. as a huge. and Astros story. Yeah, I mean, this was a guy taken 41st overall and what turned out to be a pretty landmark draft for the Astros because they took Correa. Remember, they took Correa number one overall for less money. And then they turned around, were able to sign Lance out of a scholarship at the

University of Florida. He was a pretty hard commit to Florida at that point. And next thing you know, that draft, the next one and the next one, I mean, those sort of got the franchise turned around a little bit and it ushered in like a you know a decade of dominance but lance was right in the middle of that i mean especially the first part of his astros career i mean he started some of the biggest games in astros history game seven of the world series i mean he didn't last very long but you know he drove in a run um he started uh the 18 inning game in seattle where they they shut out the the mariners won nothing and got the pain you home run he started that game and went six innings and of course you mentioned that the 24 straight curve balls four scoreless innings to close

out the 2017 ALCS. I mean, you know, this guy, his fingerprints are all over, this golden era. The second half, you know, was marred by injuries and, you know, he tried to come back from a couple of major arm surgeries and really was never the same. But maybe you wish you would have got a little bit more from Lance where you drafted him. But if you would have said, hey, this guy is going to help you win a couple of World Series pitching some really big games and just pour it all out there for Houston. You know, I think he's done that. And, you know, other than the injuries. I think he should have no regrets about about the way things went in Houston

because they, he was part just like Altuvae of an incredible run of dominance for a decade. Brian McTackert, Astros.com with us here on Sports Talk 790. So of course this is the move before the move. How do you see this playing out now? We continue

to ask you two and a half weeks away from the deadline. You still think outfield bat is the number one target and now of course they can take on more salary in a trade. Well, yes, No, I mean, I think there are people in the organization that want the outfield bat. I talked to some people yesterday who say relief pitching is the number one needs. So, and I guess you can make a case for both of those things.

I mean, they do have Benetsuza coming back off the aisle soon. And when Blanco comes back, the West Neski comes back, that could push a couple of guys to the bullpen. So, you know, by and large, I think the bullpen is pitched not terribly for what it's been asked to do here over the last couple of months. I mean, I think they need to add that left-handed bat. The lineup just feels like way too short. You could really use another guy. But maybe there's a chance to get both. I'm not sure they have the prospect capital to do that.

So we'll see. It's going to be really interesting. But I don't see starting pitching. I mean, like I said, they're just about to add a couple of guys off the aisle. And starting pitching is so expensive. So either be a left-handed bat or a leaf pitcher, maybe both. If I'm in charge, I'm definitely trying to get that left-handed bat. That again was our friend, Brian McTencher.

from MLB.com. Normally with us on Thursdays at 11 o'clock live, so we'll look forward to having him with us. As the Astros will resume the second half of their season tomorrow, with the three-game series against Baltimore team that is right around. They are in the same spot when it comes to the Wal-Card spot. So every game matters obviously the rest of the way, and so does the trade deadline coming up in about two and a half weeks. A lot of must-win games coming up, Maddie. It feels like it, right? Well, yeah. Down the stretch we come, 64 games remaining.

There's a must win for probably one person for sure and probably two more than likely. Hunter Brown? Dana Brown. Oh, Dana Brown. Dana Brown treating these games like must wins. Joe Spott are probably feeling pretty close to the exact same way. Let's see, we can muster up in the organization. I'm really curious who it's going to be.

Who they trade for? Who they trade for. Some moniac or who is the other guy from Colorado? Todd, whatever his face is. Jeffrey Jeffers I should know this They got to do something And I hope it's for somebody that's going to have some sort of an OPS

I don't know Rossi 750 or more is that asking for too much Jake McCarthy Yeah it could be Jake McCarthy Bryce Matthews just hadn't worked out Unfortunately cam Smith we thought we were hoping would make a leap He hasn't Cam's gotten a little bit better

Zach Cole we were hoping to catch lightning in a bottle we didn't. Jake Myers, can he keep his hot 25 going? He couldn't. Just whiffs everywhere. Trameldon is nothing more than a fourth outfielder. We knew that. Lamont Wade is the next man. I like Lamont Wade Jr. I just like saying his name.

Lamont Wade Jr. Yeah, Cruiserweight out of Memphis, Tennessee. Lamont Wade Jr. and his all-stars performing tonight at the prickly pear lounge in Conroe. All right, up next. Wexler. Clinton. It's the A-Team. Does anything goes Friday tomorrow, 10 a.m. Please join us here on Saturday.