The Matt Thomas Show with Ross - Rockets Take Down Pacers, Isaac Paredes Signs $9.35M Deal With Astros

Episode Date: February 3, 2026

Rockets Take Down Pacers, Isaac Paredes Signs $9.35M Deal With Astros

This is the Matt Thomas show with Ross. And welcome to a Tuesday edition of the Matt Thomas show with Ross. This is Sports Talk 790. Throw one. Second. 114. We keep it with a rocket three-point lead. Thompson, two dribble.

You just got to play some John Cougar Mellencamp. I am so excited. He is getting himself physically in, and I would think emotionally ready for his big tour which will be coming in Houston and August. Oh, I've been praying for the day. And I will be there? Yes, I've been lighting candles. Really?

Yeah, I'm praying four times a day. John Cougar's doing well. Thank goodness. Well, you know, he smokes and drinks quite a bit and probably hadn't taken care of himself the last 20 years. He smokes so good. Well, it hurts so good. By the way, Rocket fan, don't stick your legs out so Kevin Durant can step on them. That's what happened.

Yeah. It happened. That's why it hurts so good. That's what happened to Larry David, right? Exactly. You tripped Shaq. Yeah. Yeah, I'm telling you, we got some feisty people in this world of sports. We have people that want to blank talk.

Yes. Variety of NBA athletes. Or Kevin Durant will tell you a verb to his part of his anatomy. Okay. And then you've got people sticking their legs out and NBA athletes stepping on them and turning ankles. Yeah. And Texas coach Sean Miller was on the floor against Auburn and knocked the ball out of a player's hands on accident. They may we need some separation or something.

Yikes. All right. Good morning, everybody. I mean, coaches are always on the floor. I was into the game last night. Udoka was on the floor, like last rocket's facility, the last couple of rockets possessions. And then, I don't know if you know this one up, but Cleveland, you have to go up a couple of feet to get to. And they've said we're going to fix that.

Because they were talking about it because Luca Dantzic slipped and nearly blasted his ankle in half. Yeah, not good. Not good at all. Not good for anybody. All right, hi, gang. It is Madden Ross. It is 10.05. Traffic could have been a disaster today.

I left super, super late because I was super tired. Got back at about 2 o'clock in the morning after a nice win against a Pacer. Yeah, you look like hell. I mean, that's fair. Okay. Let's get you some coffee. Oh, you're wearing out. I got a little breakfast biscuit here.

I'll be eating during the break. Oh, yeah. You'll be hearing me chew during a very set. I know, it's fine. I'm trying to wait until noon. I got a sandwich, though. You do? I'm doing good.

Are you trying to eating in a certain time frame? Yeah, I'm trying to go 12 to 8. Was that just something you just manufactured on your own or somebody to tell you that? I mean, a client's been doing intermittent fasting. My brother's been doing it. I think my sister's doing it. So I was like, you know, they're losing weight. Why don't you be a trinseter?

Go 12 to 630. No, I could. Sometimes eight later and sometimes I stop earlier. I got you. It's just the window, Matt. Because I guess it goes back to the caveman days or something like that. You know, they used to only hunt a deer. You eat once a day.

I will be running to announce to you what my eating was yesterday. Okay. Okay. I don't know if you care about this. When does this Sabachi happening, by the way? It's hanging over my head. It's fine. Probably we get back from Florida.

Okay. So I got up yesterday morning and had fruit and toast at about 9 o'clock. Okay. All right. Hold on. I'm writing this down. Cachews and a turkey beef stick during the show yesterday. I had a beef stick.

A beef stick in your mouth. Yes. Okay. Little one, little one. And then ate at the arena at approximately 445. Okay. Which is everything at this point is really good. Then I had a grilled chicken sandwich and I'm playing at midnight.

You're hungry. You're off schedule. I always gain way on the road and then immediately come back to normalcy and I lose the weight. Well, you have to pick when you're not going to eat if you're going to do this. And I pick the mornings. That way, the caffeine is an appetite suppressant. So I hit the caffeine hard. I know these things.

I know these things. Yeah. All right. On the radio show today, we're going to get to the Rockets win last night, which it was a back-and-forth game. And I kept getting texts from all my buddies. Why are we back and forth in with the Indiana Pacers? Well, because Kevin Durant's not playing. He didn't have Kevin Durant.

Let Alper and Shingoon dominate. As I said he would. Yeah, he was amazing last night. Really awesome in the first half for a little bit of the second half. Yeah, what's that guy's name? Brennan Huff. He's terrible. Jay Huff.

Okay. Did you? Brennan Huff, that's from stepbrothers. Yeah. Did you see the Jabari Smith block on Jay Huff? Yes. I told Jabari on the post game show, I said, man, you've got to go get a poster of that. That was, because he's had nine blocks in the last three games. I know. And I said that's the best of the nine, by far.

People said I was a madman when I said he should get like, you know, at least a little consideration for like maybe second team all defense or something. So he has this amazing block. Rockets come back on a fast break. All men's got to do is get a little, little mid-reiber. range, five foot, lay up, some kind of thing, and he missed the shot. It would have been an epic 30 seconds. Oh, he's outside three feet? Yeah, he's in a struggle. Big fellas hitting free throws. That's true, and that gives me hope for his jump shot.

Maybe just too sad. Look, he's very peculiar about where he's shooting now. He knows the three-point shot is not a part of his arsenal. That is for sure. He meant the first game of the season he was making him. We were all like, oh! The new, yeah. It knew him in Tompson.

Yeah. And he's been shooting. like a 0.007% since. Yeah. It's worse than last year. 19%? Yeah. He hadn't taken it. He hasn't been stuck on 19% for a while. Yeah, he hasn't even

taken any last several games. Alpy made a bunch of shots much more effect efficient yesterday than he was. Free throws in the fourth quarter, not so much. Yeah, I mean, Jay Huff, you hit the weight room, bro. Dude, Jay Huff. You know, Indiana doesn't have a terrible team.

I know nobody knows everybody cares. They're not terrible. It's decent. Neesmith's decent. Seacquim's a good. Seacquim's an All-Star. Yeah. They're not that bad.

T.J. McConnell. That's what we talk about in the NBA. We just mentioned like four or five talented players. They're 13 and 37. I'm going to stick with it. Talent level of the NBA is better than it's ever been. I would take a T.J. McConnell in a heartbeat. The widespread talent level.

Yeah. Yeah, for sure. And again, they don't have Tyrese Halliburton. O'B. Topin has implied to play this year. Yeah. We didn't have mentioned T.J. McConnell. Oh, yeah. Reed's cousin Ben.

Probably there were a lot of Reed Shepherd fans in the crowd. I know. Oh, my God. It was as many Reed Shepard's. Yeah. Is that why he got the start? No, I'm just kidding. No, no.

Interesting that he did start. Yes. So you didn't get much bench scoring, but you had four or five starters and double figures last night. Is Clint Capella getting in? No, he missed some easy shots, but is Clint Capella getting in a better shape? You get the, it looks like he's got the straight backs. He looks lighter. Straight backs.

Explain. Jonathan will tell you. Jonathan, what's the straight back? You tell about hair? Yeah. His braids, the corn rolls, straightbacks? Yeah. Matt, you look so lost.

Don't throw things at me in 10. Jonathan knows you get the straight backs. That's when you're locking in. Capella's ready to lock in. What does it have to do with his weight? And he looks lighter. So you're saying hair formation can make you look lighter? He's looking good, feeling good?

You do it for lighter. See? How about Johnny Furfey's hair? What a mangled mess that is. It's like a bad rug. Have you seen his hair? No. Go do a Google search on Johnny Furfey's hair.

He's from Australia. It's a little weird to begin with. He's an old CMA. Yeah. Okay. Well, Clint Capella is looking, I think he's looking like he's ready that he knows he needs to play some more minutes. Well, I would think so because they don't have anybody else at this point.

This backup five. At this point. At this point. Will they come February 5th? Oh, the deadline's Thursday, isn't it? Yeah, when's coach? Thursday. Okay, he's not going to blow us off, is he?

I don't think so. No, no, no, no, no. He really, and I mean this in all honesty, he doesn't get overly involved in that kind of stuff. Yeah, he talks about it, but he's not making the decisions. He's not making the decision. Now, does he have input? Of course, he's a coach.

Of course. But I think at the end of the day, he does the heavy lifting. My feeling is a relationship between Rafael and him is, do you like this player? Yes, I do. No, I don't. and based off of that, then it becomes, okay, then we go kick the tires. Speaking of trades, a bombshell of sorts, I guess if it's a bombshell,

but it's becoming a habitual bombshell. Yeah. We got on the plane yesterday, and James Harden reportedly once out of Los Angeles again. Developing story. It's not really breaking news, I guess. News is when something happens. Right. News would be him being getting traded.

Yes. but it's almost like death taxes and the third thing is he's always unhappy somewhere. Is James Harden going to be the most traded superstar? Based off of accomplishment in history, he would be number one on that list. Because even though Kevin's been a few places, Kevin's also played 18 years and had tremendous success in Oklahoma City, going to the NBA finals and winning two titles in Golden State. James is still searching. Mm-hmm.

It ain't happening. Who else would be a guy? I mean, there have been lots of guys that have bounced around from team to team to just. I mean, Moses Malone. Dominique Wilkins a little bit at the end of his career, but I mean, he wasn't the level of... Like, Moses, let me think of my member, Moses. Houston, Philadelphia, Atlanta, San Antonio, Milwaukee. Am I forget anybody?

It was in Tel Aviv, I believe, for two seasons? Yeah. McAbib, Tel Aviv. So we got that to discuss today. We have no outrage for another member of the New England organization. organization not getting in the pro football hall of fame and there's no there's no craziness going on right now for the ownership it's we'll discuss oh because you have an organic thought on this yes i think dots are connecting oh i love when you connect the dots well you more connect the dots guy

or more a madlibs guy growing up both i loved madlibs using swear words was the only way i could draw using swear words in a fourth grade for verbs on madlebs of course all 11 year old matt tom Coopee. Laughing his ass off constantly on that. Crying laughing at MadLibs. Yes. Do the kids...

Jonathan, when we say MadLibs, do you have any idea what that is? Some way. I'm kind of know what you. I kind of get the gist, but I don't think we call it that. Can I just say we went to Jonathan twice this?

I love Jonathan on this show. We, we love his perspective. Oh, way, how'd you like the John Cougar Mellon song? Heard's so good. I was going to tell you, if there's a song you're going to put on from that type of white boy vibe? I love it. Oh, there we want.

That's what we want. Jonathan, let me take something. You're not and know each other about 18 months, so give her tank. I'm going to give you the white boy vibe. That's what I want. That's the king of the white boy vibe. I mean, they call me Lily White.

Lily White. What is that? We have whiteners that call him the lightest man in America. Yeah, that's what Bumby calls me. Liberty White Matt. Liberty White Matt. The Pro Bowl is tonight. Guess what?

I ain't watching it. And you're not either. Flight football. I'll say football. I'll flip it on. Just to make you mad. well if I remember but if not and we have

we mentioned Hardin we mentioned New England an owner getting disrespected I don't know we'll think about that okay and CJ Stroud making the bold announcement that he was not going to partake in the

Pro Bowl because he wanted to focus on next year already that's good that means I didn't want to go to San Francisco and be berated by media people let's have him doing like cognitive improvement drills I'm worried about his concussed I don't think you want to do that right now. I think you want to have that test like in, say, March or April.

All right. All right. 713212-579. We have gut feelings coming up today at 1130. That's where you get to call the show. We would, hopefully you would do so. And give us your sports predictions. We will actually put our names on the Super Bowl Sunday

can matchup coming up. We're doing squares around here? I hope so. I know. 713, 2,1, 2, 5. 790, 713, 212, 5790, Ross, Jonathan, me, Matt. It's the Matt Thomas Show Ross here on Sports Talk 790. On 790, we'll be going through later today.

Crappy radio row guests we will not have on the show. I have a list. And I mean crappy. Oh, I had a few emails that I got offered. Do I'm going to try to find those? Yeah. Would you please? Yeah. Yeah, I've got a nice list of Gordy helping us out with that,

because Gordy gets most of that stuff sent to him, so he sent it to me, so. we'll be going through crappy radio row guest at some point during the show. We're going to watch the game on Sunday because that's what we do. It's the most televised watched a sporting event and one of the most televised events in the history of the world. Man, I don't have a dog in this fight at all. I don't want to get into a deal. There's a very easy way to get a dog going to fight, Maddie. I know, but I know, but I'm trying to save money.

A little taste on that four and a half. Do you know what's crazy, at least for me? whether I have Now obviously it's going to be Well you get invested to it if you have like a hundred bucks on something Even when you just put like 20 bucks on it Yeah Like you know what this is fun

Yeah It's a little interest If we went to Las Vegas Problem is we can't go anywhere and really enjoy ourselves Because every table they want you to spend a thousand dollars an hour So that that ruins the fun of that Oh God What's matter?

Yeah no yeah you're just making me mad about Vegas again It's soulless hellhole. I think we're going to skip Vegas. Downtown, no, we like downtown. We like downtown. Downtown is three to two almost everywhere. We're going to downtown then. I like it. I like your thoughts. You know our friends at Merkhamortz? We love them. We do. They love us back though. That's figuring out. They don't love us back. We're going to work on that. You know what? We need, yeah, we need to actually get on that.

Okay, get it. You have the contact. Well, yeah. So, but if you don't gamble, look, most people that listen to our show do not gamble. That's just a reality of it. They just, so I think I don't know if they can do it by per 15 minutes, but I feel like this Super Bowl might be a little bit of an in and out. You could see some fluctuation based off of time. Like if 545 to 6 does well or 645 to 7 does well, and I don't know if people particularly care,

but I'll be curious about the ebs and volster because New England's got some cachet, but it had cashé when New England had Bill Belichick and Tom Brady. Yeah. Seattle has zero cachet. Isn't that funny, though, because I 100% agree with you. We talk about the brands. Lakers and, you know, cowboys or whatever.

Right. How come it doesn't matter who the quarterback and coach of the Cowboys are? But in my mind, it's Vrable and Drake May isn't anywhere close, obviously. Billiach and Brady made that brand. But still, you would think it would still be some under the umbrella of the Patriots. It would still feel big and it doesn't. I totally agree with you. That's weird. Why is that?

I don't have an answer. Yeah. Because if there's been any franchise in the last 20 years that should have gained a large national following, because you either hate them or you love them, is New England Patriots. Well, and they did. They did. I know people who are kids who are just Patriots fans just because of them. They became, I mean, America's team for a little while there. They were on all the Sunday night footballs and Monday night footballs and they had huge national followings.

Everywhere they went, they're Patriots fans everywhere. They did get a big pop. Yeah. Oh, they did for sure, especially when, because Tom Brady was the most recognizable, recognizable face in sports for that matter when you think about it. So, you know, I don't think the, I think when you listen to any sort of sports communication, radio, print, TV, I don't think people are all expecting this to be a nail biter, which is not fair because we've had some Burley-Coles competitive Super Bowls in the last year. Now, there was a stretch in the late 80s, early 90s where there were blowouts left and right,

and people are kind of giving that little vibe to that, but Vegas doesn't necessarily see it. That way, I don't know Vegas would ever say it's a seven point favorite. Maybe it's going to be around four or four and a half. So that if it's a four to four and a half point, that means we're going to have a close football game, which means we should have a good contest. But I ain't feeling it. I'm not either. Let's see.

I'm trying to check and see if it's holding it. And, you know, you got it. And a half holding it 45 and a half right now. Yeah. But there's really, who is the most recognizable of the two teams? The most recognizable. He walks in the room, doesn't have his jersey name on, or his number. Who is it?

Like going to be in a Target commercial or something? Nobody. Drake May. I literally say no. No, it would be one of those, you know those commercials they do, and then somebody else in the commercial has to say, oh, it's Drake May. Right. You can tell what they have to do it and point about. Right.

There's nobody that they wouldn't have to do that for if they're in like a state farm commercial. For instance, Jackson Smith and Jigba is as diet. dynamic of a wide receiver. We saw it first time when the Texans played him. But he, in the championship game, he was great against the Rams. I mean, I loved watching him. I was more invested in that game because he and Sam Darno were outstanding working together. But he ain't a household name.

I think Cooper Cup was in a commercial in the last five years. But I think they even like, hey, hey, it is Cooper Cup. I mean. So it's nobody. Mike Vrable, maybe. See, we're having to throw names up against the wall, see if it sticks. Yeah. I'm with you.

But remember, it's Super Bowl Sunday. It's the last game we're going to have for a while. We're going to get our buddies together. We're going to order some big city wings and we're going to just sit and watch the game. It's Sam Darnold, I think. And it's not all good press. It's not all because he's been great. I'm going to take that meme of him with the Jets.

If I brought in five white guys and put him against a wall and said, which one is Sam Darno? I could pick him out. Now, could have all of America pick him out? I don't know. 20% of America could. We have to remember 50% of the time. of America's not watching the game. We got to mention

on Friday we're going to talk about that. What are your wives? And here I'm presuming that wives are... Oh, of course. I would say it's probably, who knows? We can find the data. 70 to 75% of men. Right. And less of a percent of women are watching So what are the 25% of men? Now, I'm not saying that they could be doing something

else. They could be at the art museum. They could be at a show, but they're literally watching 25% of something else. 72 to 83% of then watch the Super Bowl. So what's that 17 watching? I don't know. Oh, you want to guess, though?

Go ahead, give it a guess. I'm good. Jonathan, we'll go to Jonathan do it right. Jonathan, what are the 17% of you? I'm trying not to get canceled this year. You know, I'm trying to get you canceled. What is the 17% of men that are not watching the Super Bowl? What are they watching?

And this Sunday, what are they watching? Yeah. Maybe Hallmark with their wives, man. I don't know. What else to turn on? What's going on on Sundays? There's no breaking better. like y'all used to watch.

I'm Googling what is second in the ratings during Super Bowl? It's got to be a Hallmark Channel or something like that. It's got to be. Just throwing it out there. Let's talk to Gary on 790 and 1028. Gary, what do you got this morning? Hey, good morning, guys. Great show as usual.

Sorry, I'm calling so early. I won't be listening. That's not nice. No, we like 10 o'clock callers. We love 10 o'clock callers. We give you extra clearance on 10 o'clock. Cool. As far as don't interview anybody, please don't interview Joe Namath because if he's drinking, he's going to want to kiss you. My prediction for the game, because I won't be able to predict it later, is Seattle by minimum of 10 points, double digits, somewhere and other.

But what I was calling about, C.J. Stroud, whatever the Texas do, I beg him, do not consider trading him. He has got to enter fortitude. He knows where he gets his strength. Has he played three seasons? Three seasons? Yeah, he's three in the books. Yeah, and if they get rid of him, I will say, I predict it would be the worst trade as far as talented players they've ever had, even worse than what, even worse than the two pro-bow receivers a few years back to let go up.

He's got the potential, and he's going to flourish for somebody. But my question is, I tried to get the earlier show to do this for me, and I don't know if y'all can or not. But three, one, two, or three Hall of Fame quarterbacks. Can you look them up and give them me a comparison of their touchdown versus interceptions for their first three years they played full seasons and give me those comparisons? Because he's got it in him and it's going to, he's going to. Straught and who? Straub against any three Hall of Fame quarterback.

Any three Hall of Fame quarterbacks? Let's go Patrick Mahomes You're not going to like this one First three seasons Yeah Patrick Mahomes first season He had 50 touchdowns Interceptions

12 Okay And what Shobbs I mean shop What Strouds I believe he had 23 and 5 I'll go look it up Is that his first three seasons

Oh you mean first three seasons total All right here You're not going to like this You're not going to like this Gary All right, 62 and 25 for Stroud. Okay. 114 and 23 for Mahomes. Okay.

And how about Manning? Manning threw a bunch of interceptions, yeah. But you said any Hall of Fame quarterback, so I mean. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, I know. Yeah. And that's just one. And then it was a Hall of Famer for.

for the Denver Broncos, Elway. John Elway? You want to go back to the 1980s? Yeah, that's not... That's 40 years ago. That's not a good comparison. Well, yeah, they're all Hall of Famers. They had to struggle before...

Okay. Yeah, you know, his interception touchdown ratios are better than Y.A. Tittle as well. Well, the reality is this, Gary, nobody had as... Well, I shouldn't say nobody. Very few had as good a start as C.J. And he's regressed, talking about, got off to maybe mid-starreds and got better as they progressed.

Yeah, 26 touchdowns, 28 picks for Peyton, then 26 and 15, then 33 and 15. And even 1998 was a different animal than 2025. Now things are easier. The passing games, they do the shorter passing games. You have higher completion percentages. And a big one is you have the offensive coordinators in your ear until 15 seconds. That's huge. I mean, it's completely, that's helping these guys call plays, diagnose defenses.

tell them what the things to check and look for. Like it's a completely different game. And by the way, when John Elway. CJ's not getting traded. No. That there's no thought of that. By the way, what would you get in return?

It's not happening. C.J. Stroud is not being traded. Now, is he going to get an extension that I don't know? Some people say yes. Some people say no. But ultimately, he's not getting traded. C.J. Stroud, barring some sort of, of epic collapse of can't compete, concussions, broken leg is a starting quarterback for 2026.

And as I've said for the five millionth time, you have to give him a clean slate. It's in his best interest. It's in your best interest as a fan to give him a clean slate. Yeah, I'm turning more of a corner. I'm feeling better about winning with CJ's truck. I don't think you should do that. But also, yeah, I mean, let's do contemporary. Josh Allen was bad his first year, 10 touchdowns, 12 interceptions.

His third year, he had 37 touchdowns, 10 interceptions. No, he's going, look, you guys know this. He's going the wrong way. He's going the wrong direction. All right. Why is Robert Kraft not getting in the Pro Football Hall of Fame? Ross has an idea. You'll hear it next here on Sports Talk 790.

1039 on 790. Coming up at 11 o'clock. Radio row guest you will not hear on the Matt Thomas show, Ross, because they suck. Okay, so a week ago or 10 days ago, there was so much outrage, including from the boys on first and 10 in the morning show here on 790. Cole Thompson, you know, you should have your credential revoked if you don't believe that. Bill Belichick's me a first ballot hall of fame. And you and I, frankly, on an island on this.

Yes. Which makes me question whether or not you and I should agree on things. No, it's fine. Whatever. We're right, Matt. Said, you know what? We would have done it, but we totally get it. got my vote, but it's not and I don't get it. Yeah, I get it. So, uh, Bill Belichick did not get in. Ward has it that Robert Kraft, the owner of the Patriots, who was eligible for entry into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, is not getting it either.

Mm-hmm. Before you give me your conspiracy theory. I didn't see. Now you put, all I did was making noise and all of a sudden I have multiple reasons and a conspiracy theory. Why he's not in? For the dramatics of the show. You had a massive conspiracy theory. Jeez. Should owners even be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame to begin with? I mean, you have money. I would say if it's like Lamar Hunt, Jerry Jones, George Hallis.

Well, Jerry Jones took a product and just made more money. Yeah, but I think he uplifted the entire league with marketing prowess and stuff like that. Right, right. I mean, I would say... You truly revolutionized the game. Al Davis is a coach. Coach, general manager. This is a great one.

Did Robert Kraft truly revolutionized football, or did he hire Bill Belichick and win a lot of football games? I don't know. Was he intimately involved in his sixth round draft selection of Tom Brady out of Michigan? Yeah. You know what? Maybe I don't want to plead. I'm pleading ignorance.

I'm not saying it's not possible. I'm saying he's a rich owner. I'm saying that he's a rich. I'm going to go ahead and say it without even looking. And if I'm wrong, I'm wrong. Oh, he spent big. Well, they have a salary cap. Everybody's spinning big.

So there's a theory that should we even be putting owners in to begin with. Okay, that's number one. So you have a theory, not a conspiracy theory, just regular theory as to why Robert Kraft's not getting in. I think it ties into why Bill Belichick's not in. The SpyGate, Robert Kraft backed his guys 100%, tried to plead innocent on the whole thing. I think maybe this is a little bit of payback from everyone else

in terms of the SpyGate. Maybe other owners aren't cool with perhaps. I bet you there's, and I don't know, were pulling the other 31 owners, but there might be some of them privately, if you give them some truth serum, would say, yeah, they cheated. Yeah, Robert Kraft got a leg up because

he had this cheating quarterback and this cheating, the cheating owner. Yeah. Coach, yeah, the cheating coach and cheating quarterback. And yeah, they were involved in a scandal. It was like every five years for a little bit there. Spygate and deflategate, Broncos accusing them. Bingle's accusing them. And, oh, by the way,

Ornick's an Asia Spa wants a word. It, that was a, that was, well, I'll say this. That was a black eye on the NFL. I will say this. If they're using orchid against him, they probably shouldn't because I guarantee. Well, that's true. We go find the skeletons of 31 of their owners. Yeah, I know.

Who's the, uh, who's the owner in the Epstein files? Tish, the corner of the Giants. Yeah. He's like, I got no problem with Robert Kraz. Hey, yeah, he's like, that's light work. Yeah. We call that Tuesday where I'm from. Yeah.

You didn't even fly to a private island? It's rookie stuff. Yeah. Right, you're correct. But it was a black guy. I mean, it was a major scandal too. So we're talking about Spygate, a major scandal.

The Orchids of Asia thing, a major scandal. I'll keep them out of the Whole Fame. To me, I'll go back to point A. I don't think owners should be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Yeah. I mean, frankly, if you really want to, if you really, really want to get to it, but Adams probably deserves to be in their Profile Hall of Fame more than Robert

crap does. That's not going to go over well in Houston. No, but I mean, he's a founding father of the AFL, founding member of the AFL. Yeah. Yeah, that's what I'm saying. Like, we're talking about those guys who literally paved the way. Right. But that's about it. Cal McNair is not

paving any new roads for the NFL. I get news to see. Hannah's got a better shot of the Proph of the Hall of Fame than Cal does. Cal McNair sat there, the bouncing baby boy of an NFL owner and then took over the team. Like, he's not at the hip and pops. for a 20 years.

He's not changing the game. George Hallis changed the game. Like, yeah, we could go back to those guys. But Adams, as you said, AFL and the merger and all that stuff, it grew the game. Yes. That's why if you're going to put an owner

and you better have this incredible, revolutionary, game-changing format. Like, if you introduced international football or you were helped to able to get, you know, Jerry Jones, the greatest business owner in the history of sports. That put you in that category. Honestly, I got one for you. This is going to be unpopular.

Go for it. Roger Goodell gets an argument for Hall of Fame. I'm not arguing with you on that. European expansion. Bringing in streaming services. Television contracts going up. I mean, Rio de Janeiro. Since Goodell took over for Paul Taglaboob, where have the profits of the national football league gone?

Skyrocket. Skyrocket. Yeah. Yeah. By the way, real quick. Not that Ripple Rees is in place I've not gone before. Do you see this commercial with the burgers dipped in cheese? It looks nasty.

You know what? Let's talk about it. When we come back. I'm sorry. I don't mind dipping cheese in my burger, but God, they're dunking the burger in the casso pan. 1045. I'm at Tom and Show at Raw.

713-212-5-790. 7-13-212-5-7. 9-0. All right. Rockets are going to be talked about in terms of trade possibilities. We'll get to more of that coming up at the top of the hour. We also have crappy guests not appearing on the Matt Thomas Show Ross from Radio Row. Excuse me, Meteoroe. Media Row. Come on now.

Yeah. The podcast world's taking over. Yes, it is. All right. So really quick, we've got a couple minutes here. And look, we'll say, I've gone to Applebee's many a time and think it's amazing. Yes. I'm Team Riblett. I know. I know. It's a minority on this? Riblet. Yeah, riblet. Your team, Macrib and riblet? Yeah, I'm all about processed. I'm more about Korean marinated short rib.

That's not bad either. Oh, so good. But really quick, as we were having this deep conversation about whether or not Robert Crave should be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the damn Applebee's commercial showed up with the cheeseburger dunked in the cheese. Now, in theory, I like queso. Yes. I don't mind dipping fries in a queso. I'll certainly put the chips in there for sure. but do I want my hamburger all mushy because it's jammed in

casso sauce? It's a travesty against the people of America. It looks disgusting. Even on the commercial, you're supposed to have stuff look appetizing and good on the commercial. It looks like trash. It looks like, I don't even know, whipped cheese leftovers. I don't even know what you would even call it. and then you're dipping in it.

You probably, as you're taking bite, you can feel it congealing in your arteries. It's nasty. It's nasty. Out of the casso pan. The cheese dripping all over the place. How do you eat that without completely messing up your entire face? You're going to get it all over your shirt.

Uh-huh. And what's not in your shirt is going to be in your arteries. It's disgusting. How many calories is this? We already have a massive obesity problem in America. And they're just pushing it closer and closing, pushing the envelope to help we can all have a massive coronary by the age of 38. Now, if you want to give me a little side of cheese so I can dip my burger in there,

I can live with that, but don't jam it in there for me. It looks disgusting. First of all, you know the queso at Applebee's isn't going to be any good. Yeah, but it's 2 o'clock in a morning. I mean, you've got to get something. I mean, it's nasty, cheap, probably knock off Velvita. They're putting government cheese in there and you dip your cheeseburger in. Come on, no, no, no.

They don't dip it. They do it for you. That's the gross part. That's nasty. Cheese dribble it all over the place. place. All right, that's enough. Applebee's just like you. It's supposed to be 2,000 recommended calories per day.

How many calories is this thing? Just to be safe, to be honest and true, Ross and I, the first time we ever went out, was it an Applebee's on 290 and 610. I forgot about that. Club Apple. Is that place still open? Applebee's still there, yeah. Okay.

And again, I'm not anti-appalbee's. I'm anti-jamming your burger with cheese in the middle and dunking in your queso. Yeah, that's what we're not. right. And there was that hefty woman with the bandana playing screw music. Yeah, the rule, here's what happened. We went to there and they turned half the restaurant into a nightclub after like 11 o'clock. It's called Club Apple. Why were we up so late? Was I doing the 10th inning or something? You did a 10th inning show and then you happened to get a hotel room. And at the time, I was living like way in spring. And as a courtesy, you're like, hey, I got a hotel room with an extra bed if you don't want to

have a long commute. That's because you're, you're very giving, Matt, or at least early in my career, you're more giving. I'm still going to give. Yeah, it's fine. And so you're like, yeah, you know what? We're literally five minutes from the station. You want to stay. That way you don't have to drive in for 45 minutes in traffic. Yeah. So I was like, okay, cool. And so you got off of post game show. We met up for dinner. It was like the only, we were looking for places that were open. Thus, Applebee was perfect. And it was Applebee's. It was perfect. And it was Applebee's. It was perfect. And it was Applebee's special. I think it was like picture special. I think it was like six bucks. I think it was like six bucks. I think it's a disco strobe light in the middle of the restaurant. It was like a disco strobeye. It called a club light. It was like a little bit. It was like a little bit of. It was a little bit of. It called a club. Apple. They called it Club Apple on when, it was a Wednesday, I think, because it was like, Mondays and Wednesdays, after 9 p.m. It's Club Apple. And then there was the, uh, heavyset white woman with the bandana was the DJ. And she was playing screw music. And there was nobody in there except the two of us. Like loud. Like I'm talking about swish a house after the

Kappa old school stuff, folks. Like, I was like, I haven't heard this since middle school. Drank up in my truck. So Matt and I are talking. We're trying to order like K-so, man, hold up. It was Paul Wall and the boys and screw music. And then our, you remember our waitress, I believe her name was Lucretia. And she said, we were talking about, you know, how nice she was or whatever. And she's like, ooh, I look young too. We're like, yeah, you look young. She's like, guess how old I am?

I have a 16-year-old. I think she said she was 28 or something like that. She was sub-30. Yeah. It was gross. And then we ate our meal and we had a picture of beer. We split a picture of beer. and went about our business.

Yeah. RIP Club Apple. It was nice. It was cheap too. I'll tell you this. We got out of there for like 30 bucks. We drove to the hotel in Indianapolis the other day and on the way in downtown Indianapolis,

there's a Rock O'Rell canteen. Those things are popping up everywhere. They want you to booze with your Chiloritos. Uh-huh. Isn't that crazy? Yes. You didn't hear what I said. No.

I'm sorry. I couldn't stop thinking about that night. Rock O'Rell. What? I don't eat there. But I mean, do you ever into a Rock O'Rale canteen? They're in Vegas, but now this one's in downtown Indianapolis. Oh, okay. I'll take two soft tacos, a cheeserito, and a margarita.

Yeah, downtown Indianapolis is really popping. Is it the OMC cheeseburger? Is that what it's called? I don't know what it's called. 1680 calories. Yeah, no, thank you. 109 grams of fat. Oh, that sounds like hardburn.

Hmm. Hardburn. It sounds like, it's like, it's like, Congestive heart failure. Okay, those percent daily value. It's 140% of your daily value of fat. It's 200% of your daily value of saturated fat. 40 grams of saturated fat.

300, 3,000, milligrams of sodium. 3,590. Oh, and heaven forbid, I go with the cheddar. Let me go with the cheddar. We're up to 117 grams of fat and 44%. Oh, let me get some blue cheese on that bad boy. Okay, this is enough. People are trying to go and have lunch right now.

If you're listening to this show right now, head into lunch, go get a salad. Immediately. Uh-oh, potato bread bumps it up to 2,000 calories. So you're dipping the potato bread in the congested cheese. That is literally your daily value of calories, folks. Now I understand. I can glutton with the best of them.

All right? I overeat. All right. I got problems. Hi, my name is Ross. I got overeating problems sometimes. But this is bad. Applebees?

We love you. No, no, I don't love it. But we're not going to eat your cheeseburger. I think that's the last time I set foot in an Applebee's was with you at Club Apple. That was over a decade ago. Oh, I've done Applebee's three or four times over the years. Again, you got to, if you want 1145 late munchies and you're on the road, like I'm in Memphis or something. I get it.

Yeah, I'm not preferred. I don't even know where one is near me. Down the street? I live in the city. I got late night options. All right. This is the Matt Thomas show with Ross. Rockets get a win last night in Indianapolis.

We've got Super Bowl coverage, the state of the NFL. You, by the way, were spot on with all the stuff you said about what Roger Goodell was going to say. Was that? Yep. So, needless to say, he answered all the questions. There was questions about the Tish guy in New York. There was questions about international play. there was, oh, by the way, there was a direct contest.

Everybody said the NFL players love going overseas to be ambassadors. And meanwhile, a bunch of NFL players are like, man, we don't, we hate it. We got to go all that way for one game, throws us off for a couple weeks. Uh-huh. Yeah, yeah. It's one of those things. And then obviously bringing up the lack of African-American coaches that were hired during the time, we got to do better. Just, I mean, he was well, well prepared for everything that was thrown at him because that's what you do.

when you're the NFL and you've got to, you're a $40 million guy, you've got to hire the best PR people to make sure you get every question thrown at you. And he himself was a lawyer. So he knows how to lawyer up. Yep. All right. So we are here in studio. Yes.

And we'll be all week long. Yes. And we're going to have some great fun this week. What? You're on tomorrow? No, I'm not tomorrow. Okay. Tomorrow's, I mean, I'll say this real quick.

And maybe I have one more to mention. Tomorrow's a big day for the Thomas family. My daughter, Carly. officially will sign her letter of intent to play Rhode Island volleyball. So tomorrow the ceremony is at 9 o'clock. Umbal ISD does all of theirs in one day. So I don't know if it could take 20 minutes, could take two hours. Who the hell knows?

It's going to be a while. It's going to be a while. Are you going to cry? Oh, absolutely. Oh, I love that. Yeah. Emotional MT tomorrow. Aw, it's so cute.

You're crying for all the money you spend a club volleyball, correct? This is accurate. She's like, she's getting a scholarship to play. volleyball, yes, but I've already paid it ahead of time. What is that like layaway, you know? Yeah, exactly. I pay, I was in front of it. Hey, well, you invested in something and the investment's paying off.

That it is. So that's great. Yeah. Yeah. So she tomorrow officially signs her letter of intent to play volleyball and the scholarship of the University of Rhode Island. Let's go Rams. I'm serious, we got to get you up there.

I want to go. When you get up there, you're going to be like, oh, my God, it's the most incredible place on her. I'm going to be hammered drunk at a Rams volleyball game. I can't wait. Screaming at the refs. They'll hear you. There's like 200 people that go to those things.

I don't need you tossed out of the game. You're going to have to give me some volleyball buzzwords because I don't really know them. What a kill! Get it! No, I need volleyball nomenclature. Oh, double! Okay, that's an infraction. Okay.

We'll get you. They'll call doubles in the L, by the way. What's a call that the refs could miss? Doubles. Well, they don't call doubles much anymore. In the net. In the net! Oh, yeah.

What happens when you go over the wrong sense? In the net. That's in the net? Yeah. In the net! Are you blind? That's in the end! Jonathan, I don't think I want him going now.

I don't need him toss him again. My daughter's... And Carly's crying going, Matt's... Oh, I thought this is America. I thought this is America. Wait, she's a setter, right? That's a good set. Why can you hit that?

Come on. Oh, dude. Crushing her teammates. That's what you really do. No, I don't want to do that. That was a great set. Why don't you finish it off? I hope you won't do that.

Were you born without fingers? Illegal background attack! Referees like, let's go. I hear that from somebody in the crowd? Yeah. I'll get you all up to verse. Review. I'll start spinning like Alpernish again.

They do. They do. Let's review that. All right, ladies and gentlemen, we are here in Houston. We did not make the trek to San Francisco for many reasons. One, the time zone sucks. Number two, radio row 10 years ago was awesome. Okay.

Last 10 years, it sucks. And there's a large segment of our population or sports radio listeners. that absolutely despise it because you may get a good guest here and there. We've had a lot of good guests over the years, but you've got a sponsor plug the hell out of them.

It's what kind of muddies up the water of talking to Damarino for 10 minutes. I've got to talk about his isotone or gloves. Well, we've had some good ones. Yeah. Gordy set us a list, remember? Yes. He's like, don't you shame me.

Yeah, I mean. But with that being said, ladies and gentlemen, we present to you, guest we will not be having on from Radio Row. Not what we chose this, but it still works. Yeah, why are you smirching the good name of Kenny G? Because he's going to put you to slate like these guests would be.

These are people that will not be on the Matt Thomas show at Ross. Actor and comedian influencer Dan Rue was available on the show. He's a Louisiana native. He's famously known as Dancing Dan. What? Yes, Dancing Dan. I don't know. He's not that famous.

He's captivated over 10 million fans across social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. He has comedic collaborations with celebrities like Odell Beckham, Tyreek Hill, Levyon Bell, Ed Reed, David Najuku, Daniel, Marshall, Drake, and Snoop Dog. He will not be appearing on the Matt Thomas Show at Ross. I'm trying to see. You know what? I think I've seen dancing, Dan. Oh, this is, he just dances.

Okay. He's got four million followers on. on Instagram. Not a great, not a great guess, though. Next. Does he know ball?

Is he going to break down like cover two? That's really up to him. But we won't know because he won't be on the show. NFL and Advanced Analytics Chief Product Officer

at PFSN. Ben Rolf was available for us. What? He's been with the company since 2019. He's data scientist background. Built our proprietary grading system and

analytic tools. He can break down any team's outlook during using their power rankings, online grades, and by the way, has not been laid since 2014. Matt, you made that last part up. You don't know that. Why are you saying, why are you obsessed with him and having sex? Next, betting NFL and fantasy, former researcher at ESPN, Kyle Soppy,

not available for the Matt Thomas show, Ross, because we don't want him. Kyle Soppy? Yeah, he can talk to you and your audience about betting the game on Sunday with props, sides, totals, and more. Which free agents are overvalued and which steals and where the market is for mispricing 2026 futures. Kyle is available all week long. Next, PFSN's NFL draft prospect king, Ian Cummings. Oh, I've heard of him, actually.

He has written over 1,800 articles. He has 200 prospect evaluations per cycle. In 2024, 82% of Ian's top 50 board went in the top 50. matching or beating ESPN, PFF, the athletic, and Lance Zirline. Hmm. Oh, are you serious? I just do that in there. That would be hilarious.

Next, college and draft expert James Fregosa is available all day long. He's covered college football for a whopping six years. Oh, wow. Next. Host of Sims Complete on Believe. What? complete. S-I-M-S. You're saying is it Phil Sims?

No. Are you saying his former Texas legend, Chris? No. Matt Sims. He is a former college football and NFL quarterback. I know Matt Sims. Who was he with? Didn't he play with, oh gosh.

If you give me a multiple choice, I could tell you he played for. That sounds familiar. Next. Was it Clemson or something? I don't know. I never heard of him. It's Sims with 1S, right? Right? Two M-S. S-I-M-M-S. Oh, never mind.

I don't think of somebody else. Next, available today, tomorrow, and early on Friday. Just early Friday. It's Chris Simms' brother. Is not? Yeah. Is it really him? He's a lot.

Louisville and then Tennessee. Tennessee, that's right. He's the son that Phil never talks about. That's not true. He looks just like Chris. All right. Next. Cam Rogers available.

Clemson, Tennessee. I was close. He's a betting analyst with Bleve. Okay. He's a chief vibes officer chief vibes officer he handles culture fan energy and lifestyle he's a channel 5

in dc on air host and he's a dating app expert hmm actually would have some fun with that but cam rogers will not be appearing on the matt thomas show with ross because it's a sucky radio row guest next brain performance expert

jim quick will not be on the show oh i like that brain expert named quick he recall reveals how to improve memory, focus, and learning in today's fast-changing world. I actually do want to talk to this guy. With over 2 million YouTube subscribers and 60-plus million downloads of his quick brain podcast, Jim reaches millions worldwide talking about speed learning, brain optimization,

why schools don't teach how to learn and tools anyone can use. He's available only on Thursday. I like that. Next, on a crappy radio guest we won't have on the show. No, we need to talk to Jim Quick. Jim Quick. Wow, his latest YouTube has 2,000 views. That's pretty good. Good for him.

Johnny Skywalker. Don't call him Johnny Walker. Don't call him John Walker. He's Skywalker. His topic is sleep apnea awareness. Oh, I like this, actually. As a person who suffers from sleep apnea. Former standout, Johnny Skywalker, discusses Whispersome, a breakthrough non-evasive device

improving breathing during sleep. You can talk to him about sleep apnea dangers. Yes. Health consequences. New FDA pathway device. Wonderful. And neural modulation technology. Damn, and he was only available.

He's only available today. Next. Former Yale football star, Khalid Cannon, is on the talk about youth access. He is the founder of something called Put Me In and increases sports access for children of incarcerated parents. What? Children of incarcerated parents? Yes. He can talk about his personal story, why sports changes life, and breaking cycles.

Available only today. And the last but not least, this one's always a real big ratings grabber. Concussion response from Dr. Robert Barrick. He's the founder of Concussion 9-1-1. Explains why immediate nutrition matters after head injury. He can talk to you about why rest and Wade is outdated. He can discuss with a critical first hour window

and he can also get to brain energy crisis. He's available today and tomorrow. That's good. I am in a brain energy crisis. And those are crappy radio guests. Nauphren. Did you receive a couple of emails as well, you said? Oh yeah, but you told me to look for my. I forgot. Okay. So we'll hold on and put

some more Kannie G on. Is it we wait? I don't even see what I... No, don't worry about it. All right. I think I deleted them. That's fine. Yeah, I mean, we'll go when we get good people, but now everybody and their mother has podcasts and all their bros hang out with other bros podcast. Do you have to have like a, what's the threshold number for downloads before somebody will come on your show? You should send an email and say, hey, I have this podcast.

You know what? Probably they look at your, they go and see how many followers and views you have and then go from there. I have six million followers, 40 million downloads. Nobody believes you. You should. Maybe someday you're I don't know Maybe my game show

It's a nice niche That's what I'm saying But I would just have my friends On talking about game shows It would be nothing relevant to it As long as it's good and entertaining You can get a following Matt So if I had you as a guess

Which I will? You will? Which game show we're talking about? See, but I'm not an expert or anything I'm asking you be an expert I'm just like I'm peeling the curtain back of Ross's life Oh no, is that what this is?

Is there a game show you have watched On a semi-regular basis? I would say number one all time For me is price is right It's not even close. See, that's the number one for most people, too. I used to watch that one when I was a youth. Oh, Jeopardy.

I loved Jeopardy. I used to know every answer on Teen Jeopardy, so I wanted to go. I looked into going, and I was like, Dad, can we fly to Philadelphia so I can try out for Teen Jeopardy? He said no. He flat out and tell you no? I mean, we didn't have the funds for that. Okay.

I barely had to wear shoes with holes with them from my cousin. So, I mean, it is what it is. I understand. Okay, well, that was a try. Thanks again to Gordy for sending us all those guests. I probably would have lost. We didn't cry about it. The one game show.

This podcast is getting deep. I can get it in the prices right and I can probably do well on Will of Fortune. 20 years ago I might have been good on Jeopardy, but not anymore. Yeah. All right. 713-212-5-7-90 coming up at the bottom of the hour, we will have gut feelings. We get to make predictions about variety of things in sports. If you get them right, you get to call and brag about them later.

If you get them wrong, we largely forget about them. 7-13-212-5-790. It is 1123 on 6-7-90. 790. Good morning, Houston, Texas. We are here to entertain you. We know it's not the most piping hot of sports weeks because the Super Bowl involves two teams that we give to... Well, we just don't have an affinity for one way to be on there. We're all hoping for a good game.

And if you partake in squares, if you so choose, which, you know, obviously for charitable purposes, you want to help your charities out. I'm hoping for 27 to 17. 7 and 7, huh? Why is that number coming into play? What's that? 44 points? Oh. And a four and a half?

I got to be honest. And you and I have done a lot of gambling together over the years. Yes. I don't get any sizzle from not doing it at a casino. What? Yeah, I just don't. No, it's better. It's better when you're in the book and you're high-fiving strangers when you have the same size.

Immediate impact for it. Yeah, it's fun. It's more fun there, but I don't mean it ain't fun on your couch. Yeah, but we can't even do it legally here in the state. That's true. Bet your friend. All right. Let's make some bets, you and me.

For charitable purposes. Okay, I'll take the under 45 and a half. I want that too. I'll take Seattle minus four and a half. I want that too. Oh, well. Are you going to be your bookmaker? I'm charged you, Vig.

Oh, no, no, no, no. You know what's changing this conversation right now. I don't give me any juice. Don't clip that. I'm staying away. It could have made that worse? Yeah, you could have. You open a can of worms and I shut it.

All right. No more cliches from you the rest of this hour. Why not? Once it knew, you can re-clitia back. Okay, so we are a couple days away from the trade deadline. The number one thing I get asked constantly is the Rock is another point guard.

Rock is another center. I think they know that the depth would be cool. I know there are some injury exemptions they can do and come into play. Again, I'm not really, really versed to the salary cap situation and aprons and thresholds and all that kind of stuff because it's largely confusing and largely boring for the average audience.

But it feels like to me there's just a wee little bit of wiggle room. So if you have a wee little bit of wriggle room, that means you're not going to go get, like if the Rockets really wanted James Hardin, you'd have to trade back millions and millions of dollars back to the LA Clippers. Point guard is available. You know who his salaries match up to perfectly? Go ahead. Fred Van Fleet and Stephen Adams.

But why would the Clippers do that? Do you see what Fred has said in the last week or so? I have not. He sees himself as a rocket for life. That's great. So did Jalen Green. Well, Fred's got more skins in the game of the NBA. I mean, he's accomplished more than Jalen Green.

Yes, he has. And I think Fred is a guy that could see himself maybe being a coach or a member of a front office down the road. and I think he kind of likes the way the organization is run on the Houston side of things. He and Ema Eudoka are bros for life. Oh, yeah, for sure. I did tell Fred at the hotel that I said, man, why are you trying to take my job? He's talking about his podcast.

He's doing his pocket. He says, man, he says, as soon as I'm starting to play again, I'm turning that all the thing off. I'm like, thank God. Yeah, he's got to fill his time somehow, Matt. That's true. The days are long. And the nights are cold? Okay.

What are you doing? Seals and Croft songs over there, or what's going on with you over there? I don't know. Okay. I don't think Fred's coming back at all this year. I know he'd like to, but the body needs healing time. He's talking to big game like he's going to come back, but we've heard that before from guys. And generally, the doctor's timelines aren't pulled out of the air.

Right. And I would say this, I like the fact that he's thinking about trying to come back, but I'd rather him do that than say, I'm going to, I'll see you all in October of 2026. He wants to come back, but the body may not let him do that. But yeah, I mean, how. much wiggle room can you do honestly to me the trade deadline is going to be whether or not yannis gets moved out of Milwaukee

whether James gets moved out of Los Angeles and whether there's anybody that wants to take a flyer on Anthony Davis when he comes back from his injury whether anybody wants to take a flyer on John Morant out of Memphis they all have varieties of warts on them

that makes them not guaranteed cinch you got to make this deal so as much as I said yesterday during the tell the truth. I still think Yonis will get moved. There's too many teams offering too many things. And Milwaukee can ultimately say, hey, everybody, it's Wednesday noon. By 5 o'clock, give me your best offer, and we're going to take the best offer.

It's not in their best interest to keep him. He doesn't want to be there. Because here's the thing, Ross, if you are Milwaukee and you are on the outside looking in from making the playoffs, and you don't think you're going to make it run because you're Milwaukee, right? Too many injuries. You had to move Lillard away. Janus has missed large chunks of time. Guess what Janice will want to do when he comes back? He wants to play well.

That's not in Milwaukee's best interest. So Milwaukee's trying to tank to get some draft picks and to get back and to rebuild, you don't need Yonis scoring 34 points a game. It would do them no good for Yannis to play hard. So we might as well trade, start the process going now, get maybe a real-life player and a bunch of draft picks and really start working towards 20, 26, 27.

Do they have their draft pick? I'm presuming to any team that... Yeah, I think they do. I think they do. It looks like they do. Because the Drew Holiday trade, I know they gave a bunch of first. I was just trying to figure it out. But yeah, looks like they have their...

Am I right, though, if you're Milwaukee? Yeah, if you just lose. Yeah, it does you no good for Yanos to help you win game. Just lose, baby. They've lost five in a row. All Janus can do is be more pissed off than anything else. So if you can control it right now, make the move, whether it's Minnesota, whether it's Miami, whether it's Toronto,

Sounds like the Warriors still are very much interested in that. Yeah, it's going to be a good market. He's a great player. He's a two-time MVP. He's been first time all-N-Ba, seven times in a row. And then James Harden wants to get moved again, 36 years old. James Hardin, I didn't realize scoring 25 a night. Still dishing the ball out a lot.

Eight and a half assists. Excuse me, 8.1 assists. Is this jump shot dropped a little bit? He's shooting 42% from the field. Not great. That's not great at all. But 90% from the free throw line. he's getting there eight and a half times a game.

But what is James Legacy? The legacy is I want what I want. I want extensions. I want players around me that I like. And as soon as I get the least bit unhappy, I ask for a trade. Like it or not, he was a revolutionary of the foul baiting game. Oh yeah. He was the king foulbator.

He was a revolutionary of the step back ISO3, ISO3, great passer, two-time assist champion, three-time scoring champion. He's an all-time great. But he's going to fall short of the inner circle all time great. And, of course, the defensive question marks throughout his entire career. And certainly, of course, now age 36. And clutch moment for James in his life. In his prime, he was never a great perimeter defender, but he was pretty good.

They would switch, and he was a good post defender. Good help defender, good steal numbers. He wasn't as bad as the low lights would show, but the effort wasn't always there. And the perimeter defense just wasn't good. He just wasn't as quick-footed as others. Yeah. All right, 1130 on Sports Talks, and time now for you to call in and give us some gut feeling.

713-212-5-790 if you want to join our show. 7-13-212-5-7-90. It's 1130 on Sports Talk, 790. If you want to jump in on the conversation and join us, 7-13-212-5-7-90. Listen up, girls and boys. This has been so appealing. You've got a gut feeling.

This is their gut feeling on the mat, Thomas Show. All right, 1135, sports talk, 790. Y'all out there, hello. Transmit around the day, Rossi? Yes, Matthew. All right, so I want to make sure. Show's going by quickly.

It is. We're almost two hours in. I can't believe it. And I'm doing okay working on about five and a half hours of sleep. I look great. Sprite, energetic. Yes. All right, here's what you do.

You call 713-21, 5, 790 within any of your sports predictions. 713-212-1-2-5-7-90. If you have any sports predictions. Okay, you want last week? Please do. Matt, you have the Seahawks minus four and a half. That's where it's holding. Okay.

I'm with you. You have rockets jumping the spurs in the west. Yes. Did I give you a time frame on that? You did not. I'm going to go ahead and say that by the end of the season. They're a game and a half behind. They'd be a half game ahead if they won that game.

Now, they had the 2-1 tire breaker. We have one more. game with San Antonio, by the way. In March, right? Yep. You have the 2027 Super Bowl we picked. I forgot about this.

Do you remember who you picked? I do not. B&B, Broncos and Bears. How are you feeling about that? As good as it felt last week. All right. I also have the Seahawks minus four and a half. I also have the under 45 and a half.

Astros rotation, my gut feeling, not as big of a question mark as we think. Now, this is a gut feeling, and you tried to bet me on it. I'm like, no, because I need long odds. I'm going to Esok Paredes opening day, first baseman. Okay. You're probably going to lose on that, but it wouldn't be the craziest thing if it happened. I'm probably going to lose.

Sometimes a gut feeling, you just got a gut feeling, Matt. It's not a terrible one. You've had worse. I've not put my name on it. Right, for sure. Went back to the Baltimore Ravens and Niners for Super Bowl. You and your Ravens love is just, I'm going to start calling you Ravens Ross. It's funny.

And then Jonathan Allen had. a six-game win streak for the Rockets. Nope. They won five out of six, though. Nope. They won the one, they lost the one game. They went four and two. Yeah, lost in Philadelphia. In overtime, right?

Oh, the Philadelphia game counted in there? Yeah. Okay. Well, they've won five of their last six, though. Yeah, they're probably well. I'll give you partial credit. I'll take it. I'll take it. I'll take it.

And of course, he has the Chargers go, charges go in the Super Bowl, taking on the 14-9ers. Now, I wrote a note last week. This week we're supposed to pick our Super Bowl MVP. Sam Darnel, why not? By the way, new gut feeling, by the way, is for me, double-digit win for the Seahawks.

Hey, you can get some good odds on that. Now, 34-24 would still be a good football game. I'm not saying it's a lot, but I'm saying double-digit wins. Yeah, I mean, double digits in football is two scores. Yes. I could see 34-24. I'm going to probably not go that high. I'm going to go and put it down.

Mark it down. 2818. 2818 Seahawks. Kenneth Walker. Super Bowl MVP. Really? Jonathan? You know, just because I have a gut feeling,

I just have a feeling this might actually happen. Stefan Diggs MVP. Oh. See, if I was going to go New England favorite, I would have to go. Drake May would be the only one I would think about for an MVP. Yeah. Or Christian Gonzalez, if you had a pickstakes or something like that.

Remandre Stevenson. I mean, yeah, it's all within a realm of possibilities. Kenneth Walker's a good pick, though. He lives amazing last game. I'm gonna say, you said Sam Darnold. Sam Darnold, 2818 Seahawks. 2818 Seahawks. I'm gonna just to do one tick down, 2717.

Okay. I'm just trying to be different. No, I literally said it earlier in the show. I know. I was trying to be different. Oh, yeah, you were trying to be different. Who's this Sheree Burris, by the way? Who?

This woman here on the NFL channel. She seems lovely. She seems lovely. Let's go back to the show, guys. Oh, sorry. What's her name? Both had just popped up. Excuse me, what?

What did you just say? He's not wrong. Pun intended. Back at it. Turn to station. I can't look at her. This is ridiculous. Jonathan, you got a final score in the game?

17 to 10. 1710. 1710. That sounds over boring. I like that, though. Because it's two really good defenses. He could be right. This thing could go way under.

That's true. That's right. All right. Any other good feelings? Okay, we got the Rockets. It's got Boston, Charlotte, and Oklahoma City. Rockets? Two and one.

Two and one in the three. All right. Are we going to be honest and true or we're going to be homers? I'm being honest and true. Two and one. Okay. That's me being a homer. Do you want me to be honest and true?

You want me to be a homer? Oh, I know. I want you to tell the truth because that's what gut feelings are about. Are the truth? Kevin Durant's ankles hurt as well? They're going one and two, the next three. Which one are they winning? I can't tell you that.

I can't tell you either, but I'm going two and one because I want to be optimistic Matt. Okay. I'm going to be realistic Ross. Okay. Yeah. I'm just saying. Hopefully I'm right. Usually when I'm pessimistic, I'm wrong.

That's what I like. So hopefully I'm wrong. And I hope to make fun of your picks the next Tuesday. Good. All right. I would love that. Oh, it's a 2.30 Saturday game as well? Mm-hmm.

I love that. Oh, people will be sleep. They won't be cheering in Oklahoma City that loud. That's all they have to do in that town. That is fair. They're playing their entire lives around their games. I don't have anything else pressing on the Rockets. You know what?

I will say, Both Harden and Yonis moved to the deadline. I mean, is that chalk? It's kind of chalky. It's still a gut feeling. You still go with it. By the way, the big rumors are hard and going to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Darius Garland, who has been often hurt for the Clippers.

I will do another one. No trades at all for the Houston Rockets. I will say no trades. They're going to try, but they're just not going to be able to. Correct. I mean, everybody's trying. I will say no trades. And I will say a veteran pickup after contracts are bought out.

Big man or point card or both? Big man. I'd say that on to tell the truth yesterday. Jonathan, what else you got? What else you got, Jonathan? Man, we beat OKC. That's all I'm going to say. Oh, I like that.

They say it's one day. They're hoping for one way. It's a little swelling. He's got that. Put some eyes on it. Wrap it up. I'm just a little word. I feel like we got this.

If we don't, then I'm going to have some serious talks about what's going on this team. Wait a minute. You're not going to have some serious talks. Yeah, because winning in Oklahoma City, they're not going to be the favorite in that game under, even if Kevin Durant's healthy and ready to go. Oklahoma City is really good for a reason.

The number one team in the West. And we're supposed to be really good with them. So where's the standard at? We got to hold me kind of way. I'm right there with you. I want to go. Hey, they went to double overtime and gained one of the season there. Exactly.

That's what I'm saying. I know. Okay. You know what? You got me fired up for it. We should win this. Okay. I like it.

By the way, the Hornets who will be here on Thursday, they've won six straight games. This is not as easy a week as it was. looked on paper because we thought Boston was going to suck with the Jason Taney was out for the entire season. Jalen Brown's been playing out of his mind. Of course, Peyton Pritchard is the Kate and Clark of the NBA. I've got another thing we could make a prediction on. Go.

Super Bowl commercial? What commercials? Oh, best category? The best category this year, when we say hands down number one Super Bowl commercial will be from a beer company. Okay. How about this? Is this too chalky maybe? We're going to see that that Michael Jackson trailer to just drop. We'll see it on Super Bowl Sunday. It'll play during the game. Well, we could probably figure that out. I mean, that's not a prediction.

I mean, it's prediction. You don't know what that's going to. You could be looking at the website last day. I didn't look at, yeah, I looked at the website. You know what? I want to win on a Tuesday gut feeling so bad. I went to the trailer website and it said, going to play during the Super Bowl. I'm like, you know what? I'll look smart if I predict the Michael Jackson trailer plays during the Super Bowl. Jonathan, he says it. He's saying it right now. You caught me.

That wasn't a lot of detail on that. It was. He's done his research. He was on Google last night. I'm going to write it down and I hope it doesn't play now. Michael Jackson trailer. Best commercial will come from a beer company. I'm going with that as a gut feeling.

Okay. A beer? Yeah. I'll go insurance. Oh, I was just going to say that. Fine. I'll go with cars. Food product, like lays or something.

Oh, like Doritos. Food's a good wine broad. category there. I'll go chips. All right, I got a prediction for you. 50% of America is going to think the bad bunny halftime was awesome and 50% of it's going to say it sucked. Yeah, some people are calling for a boycott of bad money.

I don't know why. I mean, he just makes music and he's Puerto Rican. Yeah, I probably will eat during halftime. Because if I don't like his music, why would I, I mean, I'll give it like two minutes. Well, because it'll be a spectacle. Who knows what's going to happen? You get some pirate techniques and some crazy stuff. My production, Matt,

you work immediately. You can value the Just how they're doing their set. Will Beyonce be up there? Maybe Tito Puente will come out there. Who's that? Puerto Rican... Puerto Rican jazz artists. Okay.

I don't know. I was trying to think of Puerto Ricans and music. Why would you see who is pining for doing a halftime performance? Who? They think that Nashville's going to get a Super Bowl soon. Okay. And Jelly Roll says, I want to be at halftime. Yeah, you predicted he would be the next one last year.

I would be so vocal about this. I don't want... Jellyroll sucks. You don't like jelly roll? He's everything. He's a plant. He's everywhere. I told you on this like a couple months ago. He's everywhere.

You did say that. I haven't listened to Jelly Rolls music. I couldn't name one song either. He's everywhere. Just give me classic rock and roll. Give me something we can all dance to and sing at halftime. Give me John Cougarmelanchamp at halftime. Wait a minute.

I'm allowed to say this. I'm allowed. They're banning septuagenarians, I believe, from the halftime show. We need all the people 70 plus because they're going to be dying soon. And when who got out there. out there and they're all in their back braces and nobody could tell what they were saying. They're like, we've got to stop. We've got to start bringing these. What would be great for Billy Joel

come back? After his illness, to come back and sing. They went to the old axe after Janet Jackson because they ripped her, you know what out. I mean, well, there was, nipple was exposed. And they're like, okay, we're going to go to these old fogies for a while. And then who came out? Everybody's like,

this is sad. This is bad. This is when you go to the pavilion and you see, I don't know, what's left of Leonard Skinner. The last two Super Bowl performances, I remember for different reasons. One is Prince. Oh, it's an all-time great. In the rain.

And Beyonce. Purple Rain. And Beyonce. Because I had a few beverages. Yeah, you put some lewd and lascivious tweets out. I think I scrub those things. Is it just Beyonce or was it co-played in Beyonce and Brunemar's? I think it was when it was just Beyonce.

And that was in New Orleans. The lights went out, right? The power grid Louisiana was failing. They didn't care. 1148. If you have any got feelings. And they don't care. They just signed a big edge rusher. That's right.

That's right. How about Lane Kevin me and the Rockets again this past week? I know. He knows it. He knows it come to Houston, get him some money. 713-212-5-7-90. If you have any gut feeling, 7-1-3-212-5-7-9. All right, 7-1-3-2-5-7-90.

7-1-3-2-1-7-9. Quickly, before we've got to go to the phones, we got Ryan and Montgomery get to him a second. Food that you can get at Minute-Made Park this season for you, the fans? Buffalo chicken pizza Ross, I say yes. Let's go. I love that. Other things on the list.

Brisket donuts, two fried brisket donuts, barbecue sauce, mac and cheese. That's going to be a pass for me. Applebee's called and say, get your calorie count down. Chicken. Sounds good though. Do you go and try that? No, it doesn't look good to me.

What? Chicken tinga loaded nachos. I forgot you hate brisket. Avocado, picaa, crema. That just looks like. Cremma? Biko de gall crema? It looks like heartburn to me.

That looks yummy. Where are you seeing this? I don't know. Our, oh, Julia's Twitter account. She only put four things in there. Okay. Brisket donuts, again. Two fried brisket donuts.

So you're taking brisket, shaping in a doughint, frying it, putting barbecue sauce on it. Oh, wait, their donut shipped. The brisket is donut shaped. I thought it was like a brisket sandwich with the donuts as the bun. No, look. What do you think?

Oh, yeah. Yeah. I give it a shot. Okay. I mean, this is, makes my heart hurt looking at it, but it looks good. Which of the three hosts that are over there, four host? Adam is over there, Clanton's over there right now. Gordy, Dan, and Cole. Which of the four will eat the most?

Cole. Cole. Cole feels like a dark horse. Yeah, but who's going to wear it the worst? Dan. Because Dan's been trying to lose weight. Eh. He said he's lost like 50 pounds. Why are you making?

What's wrong with you? I don't think it's 15. Why can't you support others? Dan, he's been looking good, by the way, man. Dan has been looking great. Has he lost 50 pounds, though? He's lost 50 pounds. He's been trying to improve his life.

And all you can do is tear the young man down. You know what? Shame on you. It's okay to support others, Matt. I think you said New Year, New Year, New Eve. Yeah. What's on, Wes? He's lost 15.

The man lost 50 pounds. Congratulations to him. So I'm going to say he's down the list. I don't know. Is Wexin eater? I don't know. I'm not Dark Horse Cole Thompson. I think you're right.

Because you're going to watch out for those little guys. They can eat. But he's been during that urine stuff in the morning to clean out his, cleanse his body. Excuse me? You know that you're like the lemonade bottles of water or whatever mixed with some supplement or something. That's true. He's been trying to cut weight too. It's not urine, Matt.

He's drinking some cortisol electrolyte water. Okay. So Gordy's the leader in the clubhouse, most food eating. Because Clanton won't even bother. I'm going coal and then wex. Okay. Let's go to Ryan and my. Montgomery. Ryan, what's in your gut this week?

Man, I feel, I've been in a bad mood the past few days because I quit smoking vapes and I know nicotine is really messing with it. I'm proud of you, Ryan. I'm proud of you, man. Keep it up. One day at a time, baby. I'm going to keep it up. But here my gut feelings. First, 17, 24 Seahawks win the Super Bowl. And then... 2417, yes, okay. Oh, yeah, you go to the other way.

Sabrina Carpenter. halftime show next year. Oh, that's a good one. Ryan, that may be maybe that one of the best got feelings I've ever heard in this segment is predicting next year's halftime act. That's excellent in your part.

Yeah, bookie guys, and I'll see you all out later. All right, very good. We're going out somewhere after? I'm good. Maybe he's just checking out the streets of Houston looking for Ross and Matt. Yeah, let's see.

Kendrick Lamar already did it. One of the great stars of our generation. Yeah, it was so memorable. 27 grand. Emmy Awards? Yeah, he won an Emmy for it. Yeah, I don't remember a single thing about it. I can't name one of his songs. And I work with someone who loves

anything after 1976. That's that's okay. That's actually fair. Hmm. Sabrina Carpenter, who else would be in the list for next year? Like, who's a star? Like, I know Jonathan's shaking his head, you don't like Sabrina Carpenter? No, she's like her music. I don't like it. But that was a good guest. That was a good guest. Has Ariana

ever done his halftime? I don't think so. Nah, but she just did the wicket saying all this stuff. Yeah, that's what she's popping right now. Like her, she might decline it. You get what I'm saying? Oh, okay. Why would she decline it? They don't pay.

No, no, they pay. They pay now? Yeah, they pay. They used to not. Are you sure? Not sure, but I'm fairly confident they pay. Okay. Who else would be on the short list?

It's got to be somebody that's going to, see, I think Subria, I think Ariana would be a safe pick because the kids love her, the adults think she's fine. If you just did impersonation of other singers, that'd be worth my halftime. Yeah, it says generally the halftime acts do not get paid. They cover production costs, but they don't pay them. Oh, when is Taylor Swift going to do it? Travis Kelsey said he might retire. She's kind of too big. She said she doesn't want to do it while he's still playing.

Oh, no, that's true. Okay, so Swift is on the list. Sabrina Carpenter, Ariana Grande. What a male performer? I don't know. Weekend's already done it. Bruno's already done it. Yeah.

Who are the other big male performers? Like probably won't do it. No, he can boot off the stage. Oh, I think Drake wants to do it. I think he's like he's mad that he doesn't get, he's all sad that he doesn't get invited and he's all sad. You know why he's, because he's team NBA.

He's a fan of every NBA team. That's why he probably doesn't get it. Really? Yeah. Okay. And he thinks he's on the Kentucky team. Yeah. All right.

Those are got feelings for this week. This is the Matt Thomas show with Ross. And eight seconds left. 117, 114. We keep it with a rocket three-point lead. Thompson, two dribbles. I would love to have John Cougar at halftime. Hopefully the concert tour works well for him this summer.

Maybe they'll bring him in. Yeah? Where's he playing at the docee dough? No, he's at Cynthia Woods this summer. Oh, that's nice. You're not going with Mary. When's the date? It's August 6th.

Ooh! August at the pavilion? We'll be in the covered seats. It's still hot, Matthew. I know, but there'll be the fan going. I like the lawn. You're a lawn hater. No, I just don't know what it's like.

it might be great out there. You have never sat in the upper deck of Minutemade. Correct. I'm sorry, Dikin. Right. And you have never sat in the lawn of Cynthia Woods. Yes, and I've never intentionally sat in the upper deck of Toyota Center. If you've never sat in the lawn of Cynthia Woods, you never lived.

There's no rules out the lawn, Matt. What's the most elatious thing you've ever seen out there? Not involving you, but just in general. I don't know what you're talking about. You trying to get me a snitch? You can snitch on general public. No, I'm not snitch. Okay.

Well, let's put in perspective. There's probably large amounts of marijuana smoking. Okay, so. Yeah, so what? There's probably a few people making out. Mm-hmm. I don't think there's actually any sort of activity beyond that, I would assume. Yeah, you're hanging out watching the concert.

I don't know what you're talking about. Yeah. I just like to be close. Laws not bad. But acoustics are good. Yeah, I'm sure it's great. Well, you know what? This summer, we'll go see a concert in a long.

I'm not going with it. No, first of all, you're lying. You don't know that. You always say that. that. You don't know that. Like, what did I invite you to? Oh, yeah. Oh, you're like, oh, I want to be invited? You guys are going to watch a soccer game?

Okay, Matt, why don't you come? Oh, no, I'm going. I'm going to stay home. I had a flight to Indianapolis. I couldn't go. What time was the flight? We'd be at the airport at 2 o'clock. The game was over at 1230. Cameron said it was a great time had by all. It was. Except when he was talking trash about Manchester City.

But you guys got a 2-2-0 tie, right? Or nil, whatever they call. 2-2? Nill is zero, Matthew. Okay, whatever. Let's get to the news at noon. Please at 1208. Hello, anybody listening at noon, good afternoon. You didn't mention the Crawford Dog Pizza, Matt. Explain.

Hot dogs. Okay. Sweet barbecue sauce. Crawford Bock bacon onion jam. Okay. Whole milk mozzarella. I could do that. And something mustard.

Dijon. I can't tell what it says because it's got a reflection on it. All right. So that's certainly on the list of things to eat. Barbecue boom and onion. Are they going to get sued from? from Outback Steakhouse for saying Boomin onion instead of Blooming onion? You know a hot take?

Maybe the worst appetizer in the business. Oh, hell no. Blumen onion with the sauce? Now, is that about? First of all, it's super, super heavy. Yes, it is. I will be it. I will be it.

Yes. If you want to be eating four or five slices of it, you're full and you skip your salad and you skip your main course. I'm not going to give up a main course for a few pieces of fried onionering. Well, don't eat the whole thing, Matt. I don't eat the whole thing. I have a couple of straws from it. You don't have to eat the whole course.

whole onion. I love me some blooming onion. Go ahead. I'm sorry. All right. Those a dude, Matt, as we had. Those highlights from your Houston Rockets winning at the Indiana Pacers 118 to 114 in a close one. I believe I predicted

great numbers for Alprinchengrun. He surpassed even my expectations. 39 points. 16 rebounds. five assists, five turnovers. That's okay.

He was dominant. He also made 13 of his 18 free throw attempts. Things got Harry and close there at the end. Alpern Shingoon was missing free throws. I mean, Thompson missed a free throw, but they were able to still get the victory over the Indiana Pacers, who we say are a bad team, but they got some talented players, Matthew. I do.

So Rockets able to get the victory, improved to 31 and 17. Now they are home, and they take on the Boston Celtics tomorrow. and then the day after the Charlotte Hornets in a back-to-back and that'll be three games in four nights. And then three games and four nights after that because I've got Oklahoma City on Saturday.

So four games in six nights against the Oklahoma City and that'll also be an afternoon. So Rockets could be you. I don't want to say shaky-legged. Shaky-legged, they're like seven and three in their last ten. Moving up the Western Conference liner. Let's go.

Let's go. Rockets. Yo-yo-o-y-wing. back and forth from the city, as is Matt Thomas. Yes. Also in the news at noon, there is some big news of a signing the University of Rhode Island going to sign Carly Thomas. Yes. That better be the news of noon tomorrow.

That's got to be the lead topic. Okay, I need more details on this then. What do you want? What do you need to know? She's going to be, do we have a declared major or not undeclared? I'm going to say probably education. Education. I'm writing this down for the news at noon tomorrow.

Okay. Okay. And she is the all-time assist leader in Kingwood High School. school history. Okay, all time. That's the Mustangs. Yes. Multiple all district player. All region player. All region, wow.

Oh, yeah. All region setter. And sassy like her mother. Sassy. Yes. How does she feel about her dad's music preferences? It's growing on her. She will always these kids, and Ross, I can say these kids because I have these kids. Okay.

They are much bigger into retro music than you would ever anticipate. She'll say... I love the retro music. She has run into songs like from Fleetwood Mac she loves. Oh, because it's TikTok. It's 90% of it's TikTok, but she'll say, Dad, do you know this song? And I'll

go, yes, and she'll go, I've been listening to that song now. Okay. So, there you go. And by the way, we already have our dad-daughter wedding dance song when she gets married down the road. Really? Yes. What's it going to be? Vienna.

by Billy Joel. Oh my God. That's great. He just smirked right in front of me. No, I didn't smirk. I had a, there was a tooth. I had, I was eating this etamame. What a sweet moment, Jonathan.

I just told him the song, my daughter and I will dance to when she gets married, probably in the next nine to ten years. Atamame, this got shaped. And he just smirked. No, no, it's got shell. It's like a peanut shell. His nose fluttered.

No, no, it was in my tooth. And I accidentally I had to, you know, clean it out. That's beautiful, man. That's wonderful. that you are going to dance to that song. You're going to be looking good in your tux. I imagine. Unless it's some kind of themed wedding.

No, we'll be in Texas. Okay. Well, you don't know that. That's true. We can be the JOP. You never know. Yeah. What if she wants to do like a Disney theme wedding

and you've got a dress like Jafar from Aladdin? Or Star Wars. Yeah. And I'm Obi-One Canovi. You'll be Han Solo. She's dressed like Princess Leia? Yeah. Her husband, a week, Chewy.

Chewy's got Big Brank. I don't care what he looks like. She's got to marry Rich. It's only I told her. Mary Rich. Oh, my God. Can we get back to the news at noon? Yes, I'll swear in the news at noon.

James Hardin, on the trading block, according to Shams Sharania. As it has been, I mean, is it news if he's not traded? It's news that he wants to be traded. The clippers are working through a trade to send the 11. Time All-Star Elsewhere. Now, this was a funny little rundown from Bobby Marks, the last five years for James Hardin. In January of 21, traded to the Brooklyn Nets. Yep.

February of 22, traded to the Sixers. November of 23, traded to the Clippers. February of 26, traded to question mark. That will be four trades since 2021 for James Harden. You know who doesn't care about it? James Harden. He cares a little bit. Do you think he cares a little bit

about his head? No, I do not. About this kind of hurting his legacy somewhat? No. He is one of the ten greatest scores in the NBA history. Right?

I think he's top ten points. Right? But when you think of scoring, free throws, volume shots, year and year out, James Hardin's on that list. He's 11th in the all-time scoring list.

Oh, no, no, he's, okay. When you combine ABA points, he's 11th. but when you do just NBA, he is ninth. He's coming for Will Chamberlain too. Yeah. Damn. He passed Shaq.

I didn't realize Mello was 11th. Akema Langeren getting bumped down the list, Matt. How are we feeling? I don't care. He's my favorite rocket of all time. He was? Second greatest of all time in my mind? Kevin Durant.

I can say favorite. He's my second favorite. He's retired top 10 scoring. Now he's 14th, and he's going to get passed by Russell Westbrook. Russell Westbrook's only two points behind. Steph Curry's about to pass him. DeMarda Rose is. is going to pass, Khakim?

Uh-uh, stop. Martin Rosen's only about 700 points away. Okay. We have some astro quasi-breaking news, and we'll have it for you next to 1215. It is the Matt Thomas show with Ross, 713-212-5-790. A bit of Astros breaking news,

and then we have the Astros announcing their theme for the 2020-season. It is the Matt Thomas show here on Sports Talk 790. Matt and Ross with you here. Rossi, we have a arbitration settlement between Isak Peretti's and the Houston Astros. Okay. That's good?

I would think it's very, very good. Chandler-Rom, our friend from the Athletic, says moments ago that the Astros filed at 8.75 million. Paredes filed at 9.95 million. They settled at the midpoint of $9.35 million. Oh, that's beautiful. So they're working it all out. So they're going to be paying $9 million plus for potentially a utility man.

Believe that or not. That's what we have to figure out. I mean, how much is he going to play? How much are you going to rotate? Now, the good thing in a way is that Jose Altuva is older. Carlos Correa is older. And Christian Walker is older. But all three of those guys that I just mentioned are going to want to play every day.

Isok Paredes is a top three stick in your lineup. You need him in there as much as possible. By the way, of the guys you just mentioned, Paredes is the cheapest the salary, but it's still a lot of money to pay for utility player. I don't know if, I mean, is it too late in the game to say there's going to be a trade? No. You can trade during spring training, of course.

I know, but I know, obviously, I'm saying it's possible. And Paredes dollar amount for an everyday starting player, Paredes could be for a different team. If in fact you want to do that, that's good money. He's attractive, but the problem is the more attractive the player is to other teams is the more attractive he is to you. Esoc parade, as you mentioned, cheap. I think one of their top three sticks.

They talked about last season how he lengthens the lineup because he takes pitches. He works counts and he just makes everything easier for everyone else. How do you keep him out of the lineup? Christian Walker had a better second half. There is no doubt in my mind. The Astros must be thinking if we keep Paredes, that means our leashes on some of our players is extraordinarily short, i.e. Christian Walker. Christian stumbles out of the gate.

The bad speed is slower and the strikeout count remains high like it was last year. Then you could see that. How well does he perform at spring training when he's back taking the second base glove? How many days off does Jose Al-Tube want? I love Jose Al-Tube. You know this. Jose Al-Tube has never said, Matt. I want 3,000 hits.

But you know in the back of his mind if he does. If he takes off more games than he has ever before in his career, that slows down his path towards 3,000 hits. Yeah, but taking off those games are going to lengthen your career. I guess would be maybe the counter argument to that, but I don't know. Because baseball also in itself is a game where you can get a hot hand for a couple of weeks or a month. You can get a cold hand.

You can have some of the greatest hitters in baseball. It used to happen to Kyle Tucker or Alex Bregman all the time. I mean, Aaron Judge, how many times he'll just go in this massive slump for like 40 games? You don't have time to figure that out if you're Joe Espada. I'm still convinced they're going to move this. A, because they've got a trade chip. Parades is a great trade chip at less than $10 million.

And secondly, how much does Joe Espato want this headache constantly being asked about it? Not only from us, goofy media, but from the players in his own clubhouse. I know he's a really good communicator. I know he wants to get in front of it. He's even said as much to us

during Astro Fan Fest. But just because you try to calm the waters down in a clubhouse, you've got competitive guys that want to play. Yeah, but what if you trade away Paratus and Christian Walker is a dud? Or, you know, you get injuries. As I said, all these guys are in their 30s. And Jose Al Tuve's OPS has gone down for three straight years.

But teams don't stash guys making $9.5 million. I know. It's an interesting, interesting problem for the Astros. I'm still not 100% convinced, but I'm more leaning yes than no, that something is going to be shaken that by the end of the season in 2026, we're not talking about this congested infield. Could be injuries. Could be guys moving.

And maybe even if you can't make the right move now. Could be futility too. But see, I mean, it feels like it has to happen now rather than at the deadline. Well, you're... I know. How's everybody playing at the deadline? I don't think so. I think you could still get great.

If Prentice is a good season and he's not been overworked, how's he having a good season if he's not playing much? Oh, the numbers are the numbers. Yeah, I know. It's interesting. I think there's more factors of the unknown as the season would go along.

Or maybe the known, as we said, somebody just tears a hamstring or something. And does somebody in that group whisper to a reporter or a friend of a friend or an agent and says, hey, I should be playing six days a week. I don't think so.

It's not going to be Al-Tuve. I don't think it would be no. But Jose, you know how much Jose Hay it's taking days off. He's gotten better in the last couple of years and actually accepting those days off, but it's still a grind from to do that. They didn't want to play him 155 games last year, but they did because everybody was hurt.

Let me tell you, in a perfect world, if Joe can manage this puzzle, their astronauts are going to have a really good, deep, and perhaps healthier lineup than they ever had in the last couple years. They couldn't have it any worse than a year ago. It's just the question of,

can guys check their egos, as Craig Bizio once said, the door and worry about the team game and worry about instead of playing six days a week, playing five or missing a couple of days, or if a particular hitter is hot, keeping that guy in the lineup. Well, if Yordon's out a lot, like you predict, I hope I'm wrong about that. I hope I'm wrong. I want Yorna to be back to an MVP consideration because do you know how awesome it was to

watch the Astros during their championship run when Yorna Alvarez was the most feared hitter in the sport. You could see relief pitchers from league to league division division team to team quake in their boots because they didn't know how to pitch to him because he had such a good eye. And he with one swing could hit these bombastic 430 foot home runs. Locked in Yordon is a sight to behold. Locked in Yordon puts him in the top five of all-time Astros. He's number one in OPS Plus Astros history, just saying.

Now, of course, he has to have his decline and he has to have a length that he has to keep it up and he has to have a decline. And got to stay on the field. That's a big part of the requirement. 713-212-5-790. 7-1-3-212-5-7-90. Believe it or not today is all things about the University of Rhode Island. Is it today or tomorrow or tomorrow? No, tomorrow I'm awesome.

University of Rhode Island, my daughter, will be committing there officially tomorrow. Looking forward to that. And so how well do you know your URI Rams? I will give you one of the questions. You will. The University of Rhode Island is in Providence, Rhode Island. Believe it or not.

And the answer is not. It's in Kingston, Rhode Island. Kingston. All right. So there's one of your questions right there. Thank you, Matt. 713-212-5-7-90. Speaking of the Astros, their theme for 2026 is out.

Braselike, can I try to guess it? you would never get into million years. Because it's one of these made-up terms. I mean, not back at it, or here we go again, or we owe you. Hashtag, an infield long jam. That's actually not part of it. No.

I got mustard on my shirt. In 2006, what do they call this? The hashtag, the catchphrase, if you will. Chase the fight. What fight? Who do they fight? The Mariners. Chase the fight?

Yeah. C plus. I don't get caught up in that kind of stuff. I like good ones. Root, root, root was a bad one. That was an all-timer. For the H is a good one. Let's see.

Take It Back was good when they lost and they tried to take it back. It was probably my favorite. Root, Root Root was my favorite for a reason because they're like, we really suck. We don't know what we possibly can say to get you guys fired up to come watch us play. root root root I'm trying to think of some other ones and never settle wasn't bad never settles good

yeah what is it chase chase the fight chase the fight chase the fight chase the fight and I imagine they did a hype video with this I'm sure in my yeah they did in my world I like to hashtag avoid the fight yeah

or just yeah put down your arms just say you're sorry first and move on my idea for 2026 was come together right now. That's a little wordy. A lot of characters. I tried. Didn't work. Okay. Yeah, mine was toe jam football. It was?

Yeah. That'd be a funny segment. Rejected Astros slogans. Hashtag sued by Chuck Barry. What other would be rejected in 2026? No name rotation. Is this your outfield? How about this one for Dana

Brown and for Joe Espada? Hashtag no guarantees. Hashtag hot seat. Well, you know, it's a warm seat. They're not in the hot seat, I would say, either of them. No, I think it's a warm. No, I, put it this way. I like them both

personally. I love, I think they both do, and I generally speaking, I mean, grading it out, I mean, has Dana bumbled anything? I mean, no general manager is perfect. No, no manager's perfect, but is there any been, is there anything that you went? He wasn't the Jose Abraeus sign. Well, so far right now, the Christian Walker signing's looking bungled.

that's not great for sure. But the Hater signing, and maybe that had been more Jim, anything else worked out well. Hey, when it's a good signing, it's Jim, but when it's a bad signing, it's Dana. That's not fair.

I'm not saying that, but I think that a hater was on Jim's radar. He even admitted as much, even before the deal was ever made. Yeah. Now, I think the Kyle Tucker trade is to be determined.

But if you're a Cub fan, Do you think you've won that? No chance. You guys petered out in the playoffs. Kyle Tucker did not have a great September, and he left you. Nobody's just traded away. He's doing much of anything, right? Drew Gilbert's not doing much of anything.

Nope. Ryan Clifford. Jake Bloss had Tommy John. Lo Perfita was a nothing. Cacucci, you could have resigned, and he was okay for the Angels. But again, that's a bad baseball team. So, I think the Angels were predicted to finish last again, the America League West.

what's Corey Lee up to? See, these are names that are not coming across as, wow, why did he let that one get away? Yeah. Now, the only thing I would question, and I don't have an answer to this, and I never would have an answer, unless somebody really wanted to tell me behind the scenes.

A part of the charm of bringing Dana in was his evaluation of the modeling system. And the system, again, the last time I saw something from ESPN might have been a week ago, Ross, was they were 29th out of 30th. Yeah, suck it, Padres. When is that going to ever get into, like,

you know, it's like, is the Astros Monterling system like the Texans' offensive line? If you get to 22, you're kind of feeling good about it? Yeah, I guess. How about that cross-comp? That's pretty good. Thank you. You're making me upset. Remember when the, I used to love looking at the farm system rankings. Oh, man, this Kyle Tucker guy is.

We have farm, we used to, we have farm dorks out there that insist on bringing at minor league players all the time. As I said though the other day, with the number of pitchers the Astros required in the last three years that have had major league experience, that Sugar Land Skeeters' Rortations Space Cowboys rotation is going to be awesome

in 2026. You may have 520 game winners on the Space Cowboys. Baseball prospectus hasn't put their new list out, but last year, February 13th, they had Asher was 21st. Okay, well, then that's a massive improvement then. Baseball America, I don't know where they have the

the org rankings, but I'll go look. But they didn't have the Astros with a single top 100 guy. Always a downer. I'm just, talk to baseball America about it. Don't talk to me. When is Walter Yonah going to be a guy that we can count on for a catching?

Because if we're trying to get Yonar Diaz off the dish, you're going to have somebody pressuring him, correct? Don't worry. Christian Walker's locking down first base. It's all good. All right. 713-212-5-7-9. if you want to chime chime in 713212-5-790 your thought what is the name again embrace the fight get after the fight chase the fight chase the fight I think Keith

Law Keith Law put out his lists I don't know if he did organizational rankings Keith Law perhaps a wee bit bitter because he was up for the was he up for a scouting job of the asteris or general manager's job at some point he definitely's got a vendetta but you know yeah I got to take his analysis with a grain of salt let's talk to Scott on 790 Scott good afternoon to you Matt Russell going on guys. Hi. All right. So I had a, look, if we reminisce a second, I have a throwback Astros question, not to, not to, you know, go back to the scandal, but I wanted to ask you a hypothetical because I was, I was listening to a podcast last night, and Chris Berman, the ESPN anchor was talking

of reminiscing about the Seahawks Patriot Super Bowl from, you know, 10 years ago. And he was talking about if that, if the Seahawks run the ball on that play and end up winning the game, you know, they've now won back-to-back Super Bowls or chasing, becoming. a dynasty. Then at that point, the Patriots have now lost three straight Super Bowls in a row. You know, it's that Ken Billichick and Brady end up winning the big game. Does that alter their competition? Just how it could change history and stuff like that. So I had, I've never heard anyone talk about this when it comes to the Astros. So a very random question, question, curious who else thought? In 2019, right before the scandal broke out, we lost to the

nationals. What happens if we had beaten the nationals? Do you think the scandal still breaks out at point and even if it does as the defending champs would we have fired uh luno and hinch at that point because we were the reigning champions i mean i know we were still you know i don't know i just thought about what if if we would end up winning that game without a check winning that series it would that would have changed anything with how the scandal broke out what did it even broke out at that point with the raining champs i don't know no i mean so you're asking would a reporter not bring up the juiciest story he's ever had in his entire life just because the Astros won the World Series? Well, would we have fired, would we have still fired Loonow and Hinch as the reigning champions,

do you think? Yes, because I think, I think Rob Manfred insisted that Jim Crane do it. Okay. So you don't think it would have changed much about how everything went down for that. Not much. It would have changed nothing. In fact, it may have been even more of an, there would have been even more of a, why are we, you should strip them of the 2017 title.

Yeah. Interesting. Okay. That's just my thoughts on this. Thank you for the phone call, Scott. The only way the story doesn't become a story is if the Astros re-sign Mike Fires. Keeps his mouth shut. That's how I see it. And maybe that's an overly simplistic view, but that's just how I see it. Mike Fires doesn't say a word if he's on a playoff roster and if he's become as a pitcher of the following season. Gets offered a contract. You'd have kept his mouth shut.

And doesn't get shelled by the Astros. Right. Pitches against them. Yeah. It was vendetta. I've got, look, we, this is not about Mike fires being a one-off. Everybody's got him vendettas. If you get fired by a company and you've kept a lot of their secrets because you thought you were being a good soldier and they drop you like a bad habit,

I, you would, you would unload if you could. Now, Mike also understood that it ended his any chances of him being a long-term major league or ever again. Now, granted, he probably thought he was done anyway. So that's what I'm saying. If Mike fires at 24 would have done this, the answer is he wouldn't have done the 24. He waited to the end of his career. The timing of it worked out well.

He was in the back end of his career. He wasn't very good. He knew he didn't have anything left. What bridges was he going to burn by doing what he did to go into the athletic and telling him? Everything was calculated against the Astros. If it was a 24-year-old who was good, and the aster's would have signed it, never would have been an issue. If Mike fires was 24, knowing that if he would have said what he said,

he would never be allowed another clubhouse again. And we all, I will also say, he just told the truth. Yeah, but there's a lot of truth. They cheated. No question. 100% cheated. 100% cheated. But there's a lot of cheating going on in business today that nobody says anything

because they've got to protect their own ass. He had nothing else to protect. His career was done. And thus, He was a little more forthcoming. Give me a 25-year-old finishing off a 319 season who was going to talk about how bad his teammates are and things they do,

and then I'd have probably more respect for the guy. He did it because he knew his career was over with. He was upset the Astros didn't bring him back. He was upset that he was on a playoff roster. He went to go play for another team, got beat up, right place, right time, and here is my last salvo before I leave and golf. Yeah, that's every whistleblower in history.

Yes. He's not a one-off. That's what a whistleblower is. He's a true definition of whistleblower. It's somebody who was upset and bitter and jilted and all that. Correct. So he fits the bill. Yeah.

So that's why I think the decision, if they would have won the World Series, would have made no difference. It just, the end result would not have impacted how major league baseball would assign things. I don't think it's 100% true. I mean, Hinch probably gone. I could see a world where Luna was kept. They won it again. We'll never know the true story. But I believe there were a variety of parameters put into place.

Yes. And the two parameters were you've got to fire your manager and you're going to fire a general manager. Yes. And Michael Jordan needs to retire. Yes. Yeah. And he can come back as long as we both say it's okay at the same time. I could buy that.

They said, we're going to come for your trophy if you don't fire these guys. But also, I think if they did that, there would have been a massive lawsuit with discovery, with other teams learning about other teams cheating and all that other stuff. The investigation could have gone a lot deeper with many more teams than just the Astros. I think the Astros players, for the most part, didn't talk. They said, yeah, we're accountable. They didn't talk about the Yankees much.

I mean, Josh Redick has a little bit since he's retired. But I think if you try to take their championship, Astros are spilling all the beans about all these other teams too. So I don't know that it would have. I don't know. It's interesting. No, I think there was a long conversation between Rob Manford and Jim Crane. Look, we're not perfect on this.

You certainly aren't perfect on it. You want to keep your trophy. You want to not have an asterisk. Now, look, in the public opinion, there's an asterisk next to it. But at the Major League Baseball level, there's not. You want to keep the trophy. you want to still keep the banners up. Here's what we're requiring you to do.

Now, Jim could have said, screw you, I'll take my side against your side. We'll see what happens. And probably at the end of the day, both sides would have really suffered because of it. 1245 on the Matt Tom, Michelle Ross, 713-212-5-790. 7-13-212-5-790.

The trade deadline is coming up in just two short days in the NBA. Would you like to see the rockets do anything? We'll get into that next here on 790. Look at a small bit of Branky news for you NBA geeks out there, which I am one. The Memphis Grizzlies and the Utah Jazz have made a trade.

Two teams that will not be considered. Well, one's definitely not going to the playoffs, one more than all these not. And the other one's definitely not now after this. Grizzlies in the jazz. Yeah. I mean, two of the non-sexiest teams in the NBA making a trade.

Okay. Memphis sends Jaron Jackson Jr. Oh! I know. John Conchar, former rocket great Jack Landell and Vince Williams to the Utah Jazz. Hmm. I might slap a second breaking new sound around that. Jared Jackson Jr. was a defensive player the year before, right?

Three-time all-MBA defensive team. All right. You asked for a second when you got one. Two. Okay. Utah will send to Memphis, Walter Clayton Jr., Kyle Anderson Taylor Hendricks

George Nying George Nying he's still in the league and three first round draft picks whoa oh what is okay maybe Yonis isn't going to get moved whoever moves

three first round draft picks for Jaron Jackson Jr. and company yeah that feels like salary filler right you did it for the draft picks no I mean Jaron Jackson Jr.'s

Oh you mean who did it? Oh, you're talking about Memphis. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Utah says, give me Jaron Jackson, Jr. And Memphis is like,

you give me whatever you want, but I want your three draft picks. Yeah. So what I'm seeing is, and I want to give it to you correctly here, with the amount of draft picks, they're getting, God, I saw it just a minute ago.

I hate when the four U tab shows up and then you go back to look at it, it's gone. Mm-hmm. can be frustrating. It is, I know. I want to give you, what young teams have to do that can't get free agents come? Like Utah, Memphis, Charlotte can't get free agents. You've got to get picks.

You got to get picks. You hope to keep them. More than you ship them off like Donovan Mitchell. Here it is. And Rudy Goebel. The Memphis Grizzlies have 13 first-round picks over the next seven years. Do they know you can only field a roster of 15 players? I guess.

Apparently Landel's got a nickname on the NBA streets. Kareem Abdul Landel. All right. Karim Abdul Landale? Yeah, I didn't necessarily believe that. Actually, Jack Landel from Memphis is having an excellent, excellent year. I know he was splashing through. I haven't checked up on his numbers.

He's splashing on a basis, though. Yeah. It's not bad. Not bad at all. Okay. I like Jack Landale. I think this has nothing to do with the Yonnas deal. I think this was just two teams, one in four.

full rebuild. One going Utah going, you know what, put me next to Walker Castler Jr. And Jaron Jackson Jr. Now they're going to foul the hell out of everybody, but they're going to score a bunch of points and block some shots. Laurie Markening and the boys, he's over there? Well, Lori maybe moved too.

He's an all-star. Although maybe does that change the tune of what Utah wants to do? Let me tell you about Utah for a second, because I have a minute here. So when I lived in Salt Lake City, I obviously covered the jazz and came have a tremendous respect for Jerry Sloan.

But there was always this notion of how do any free agents ever want to go there? And the only reason why you'd go there is because you want to be overpaid. When I first got to Salt Lake City back in the late, in the mid-2000s, they had signed Carlos Boozer away from Cleveland. Yeah. And

they were overpaid. Yeah. And they offered a lifetime supply of shoe polish. That may be fair as well. Let's go fast forward 20 years. They have to do the same thing. There is nobody in their right mind that says, I love what's going on in Salt Lake City.

Yeah, they better, go ahead and lock up Kianti, George. Just give them like all the maxes you can right now. You, how crippling would it be if you are a fan of a team, Ross? This happens in a lot of places. Yeah. That you cannot just organically go, we've got good money. We got comp money.

Yeah. And we just can't get you because your life will change. living in Miami, living in Detroit, for that matter, Cleveland, Sacramento, would all be a lot easier than frankly living in Salt Lake City, Utah. And I used to live in Salt Lake City. I like Salt Lake City. If you don't need the nightlife, you're in a good spot. But the reality is, 22-year-olds need a nightlife.

And they just ain't there. Yeah, I'd be like, imagine if you're like a fan of the Astros and you had this wonderful center fielder and you couldn't. keep them, and then a right fielder, and then a second baseman, and then an ace pitcher, and they all just, you couldn't keep them, they had to sign elsewhere. Because the jazz have money. The NBA Saturday Cap allows you to have the money. But you rooting for a team that doesn't ever want to become a destination, frankly, the rockets were not a destination until James Hardin got here.

Remember all that push when we first got together as a show when Chris Bosch was coming, here and you're like yeah shut your bum ass up when i'm not coming to Houston couldn't even get darrow more to talk to him Dwight Howard came Dwight Howard and it was the first big part of it Dwight Howard did take a discount to come here he did now the city of Houston is in a much better spot not because all of a sudden our light life is a grazier our ship clubs are great

well they're not bad but it's the Rockets do it good job yeah ume adoka is widely respected among NBA players circles So I don't know if Utah can ever shake that, well, you're going to be bored. And it shouldn't be a huge part of it. But the reality is it is. There is not another NBA town that players look less than going forward to going to visit than playing in Salt Lake City. Really? Yeah.

Who else is in there? Sacramento. Well, it's franchises that don't have great success. I mean, San Antonio is not a thrilling place for NBA players. but they win and they have one and they look how good they are now. And when you put Wemby around with the air and Fox, I mean, it kind of feels like a good place to go. It's the Matt Thomas show with Ross.

It is the time it is the Matt and Ross edition of the program here on 7-90. 18 coming up at 2 o'clock this afternoon. We have a few little nuggets coming out of the Astros media available. What they did today is they had like a media luncheon where they let you go try some of the new food at the state. and we'll run through the list a little bit. But ultimately, let's go through some of the, I'm getting the Tibbets off of our 790 account. But we follow our Sports Talk 790 Twitter account.

It's good stuff. Sure, why not? Let's go with it here. He says that Dana Brown believes that ESAC Pardis will play, doesn't believe that Pardis will play in the WBC. Yes, also saying that Zatzenzo will play for Italy. And Shea Whitcomb?

Shea Wickham? Is playing for Korea? What? Anonghaeo, Shea. Dana Brown says the team is still in the market for a left-handed bat. He's been saying that for like six months. Oh, is his mother's Korean right, or Shea Wickham, I think? I don't know.

Let me look. Dana Brown, our mission to solve season was to pound the pitching. We added... Pound the pitching. That would be the catchphrase for 2026. Pound the pitching. Yes, his mother, Uni Whitcomb is, I believe, Korean. They added six arms.

four starters, two do relievers. We have a good combination of youth and veterans. Hashtag Astros, hashtag chase the fight. You know what? That's cool for Shea. I'm happy for Shea. I don't care. Nobody cares about Shea Wickham. Move along from Shay.

I'm locked in on Shea Wickham. I don't know why. Are you the Shay Wickham fan club ever? That's the name of my new podcast. Locked on Shea. Locked on Shea. Is it S-H-A-E or S-H-A-Y? Or S-H-E-A.

Shea-W-Wickam. Shea-Wickam. All right. Go ahead. That's it. Okay. Yeah, Pradis shouldn't play because, I mean,

he's still coming off that hamstring injury. Yeah. All right. So the question I brought up to you a minute ago, and honestly, I don't have an answer,

which makes me bad. So I'm going to think of an answer while you give your answer. Okay. Of all the Astros that have said, Bon voyage, that's Tucker,

Springer, Korae, who's now back, Justin James Verlander. Yeah, is that kind of, though because he came back and then now he's like old and washed he's gone he could have they could have re-signed he

went up with the Giants so he technically left Korea is back Gary Cole Charlie Uncle Charlie Morton oh Unk Morton they should have kept him honestly They didn't realize he had like five years left in his arm washed and the Tampa Bay deal was too

much it was only like a two year 30 million dollar deal or something like that for Tampa but I'm thinking that you have a name in mind who do you miss the most out of the glory days of the Houston Astros that should be on this roster right now if you had your opportunity to keep him. Kyle Tucker, I'm going to go with him. Right field. 30 for 30 and 30 threat every single year. Gold Glove right field. Left handed bat. Most complete player for sure. There's really no

argument to it. Yeah. What a, Breggman? I don't want to say awful. I don't want to say an awful way in it ended. But it was certainly, if you're writing the Kyle Tucker. story, you're not ending it with a shin that cost him three months or whatever it was. Yeah, shin bruise, but it was a fracture. But it was really a bruise until they said it was a fracture. Then they were going to

report it was a fracture, or they did report that it was a fracture. They said, okay, fine, it was a fracture. Well, there was some muddied waters. What's the greater mystery? Kyle Tucker and his fracture, or Joe makes him allegedly shooting himself in the foot? I was going to go with Hakeem Elijah and his blood clots.

Those were real. Those were lingering all the time. Yeah. Did Joe Mixen shoot his foot off? It's still in the possibilities. Now, I need to pay off on the hot pastry and coffee. You've got until, I've got until Sunday at the end of the game to get that out. I'm thinking cheese Danish.

Or maybe just a lemon loaf is good. You know, the frosting on it's quite delicious. Yeah, the citrus and the sweetness cutting against the coffee. It's perfect. It's nice. It is nice. I like a lemon loaf. Almond croissant is good, but then I get.

powdered sugar all over myself. Okay. Who do I miss? We're going to say way back to sports. That's what we're hearing. I'm going to be paying for. I think I've hit a record for a amount of times getting you to roll your eyes at me today. I know. It's been quite a few. I'm also sleep deprived. So that's okay. Chalk some

of that up to that. Who are you got? I'm going with, yeah, Kyle Tucker. I mean, Springer had a great season last year. He did, but that was really his first wow season in Toronto. Had some good years, but last year was a wow season. They got to the game of the World Series. Good for them. Who do I miss? Wow, he finished seventh in the MVP.

You want to give me... Now, we cannot assume that Garrett Cole would have arm issues here. He was been great for the Yankees before the arm issues. Could you imagine Garrett Cole and a young, still young, Hunter Brown is your one-two punch? With Framber at three? No, Framber don't miss. I'm talking about before. I'm not talking about what you would have had the last few years.

Oh, wait, Framber still. out there for the taken if somebody wants him. Yeah. So in 2026, you locked up Garrett Cole four years ago at seven years, 225, whatever number it is. Garrett Cole, Hunter Brown,

whatever else, that's 36 wins right there. Be real nice. That would be as good, if not even better, than the Cole Verlander won two combo or vice versa. Well, it's also just credit to the Astros and the moves that they made,

that all these great players, many of whom we're talking about, came up through the farm system. Springer, Tucker, Bregman, who else? Frumber. Who's gone now? Garrett Cole is a trade, but honestly, we were... You got him with a lot of arbitration time left? You didn't know he was going to be that kind of a...

Right. We didn't know he was going to be that good, as dominant as he was. And the worst piece at cost you was, what, Colin Moran and Joe Musgrove? Yeah. Musgroves had some good years. Okay, yeah. So your biggest blemishes are the Abraeu signing the Montero extension.

Anything else of recently that you went, what the hell? I mean, Christian Walker, clearly. But you know what? I'm going to say this. I'm going to cross sports again, because that's what I do. I'm Mr. Crossport.

Okay. If you're going to give C.J. Strout a clean slate for 2026, I think it's only in your best interest to give Christian Walker a clean slate in 20206. He was better. OPS for out 800 in the second half. Because what are you going to do,

Bimonim, if he goes 0 for 4 in opening day? I mean, you need him to be good. If the Astros are going to win, the division again and maybe use an infield trade chip, i.e. Peratus, down the road for something really good. The easiest way to make it a trade chip is if, because Christian Walker owns his first base spot like he was supposed to when he signed here. Yeah. I'm going to do it. Christian Walker, clean slate 2026. I could give it to Abraeu because I thought the Abrae, the Abraeu season was so bad Rossi. There was nothing that I think could turn the corner for him.

We saw, and we had the call, I remember earlier this week, or I guess it was yesterday then, he was like, oh, he had 27 home runs. Oh, he had 88 runs bad in it. Like, you forget that the numbers he did compile. Like, he got to 27 home runs. He was much better in the second half of the season. Yeah. He had a 799 OPS second half of the season. If he had got that for the whole season, we wouldn't be super over the moon, but it's pretty good.

If you're telling me the average OPS now is 725, I would take 799 for a guy who's aged. Yeah. Good money. I mean, there's a lot of money. You did have to, you did overspend. But again, nobody cares about that how much you spend on a player if he produces for you in the clutch moments.

And first half of the season. Remember he came back from that oblique injury. How much of that hurt him? So maybe he's going to be back. But oblique was a part of his past, though. So it kind of revved up again. He's all right. He's going to be healthy and ready to go.

Clean slate. I want y'all to do it right now. With me at 112 on a glorious, well, not glorious, but the rain. I, insert your name, being an astro fan slash supporter slash observer, are willing to give Christian Walker a clean slate in 2026, signed, put your name on it. Okay. So the same thing.

How clean of a slate, though? 30 days. E-Soc at first. I, try this again. Okay. Go ahead and do it. Hi. I, Ross.

I, Ross, for the real. No, I don't have to do that. You can't. You're not bullying me. I'm going to do it like the C.J. Stroud. I. Okay. I. Ross Villarreal. I am willing to give. I'm willing to give a clean slate.

A clean slate. In 2020. To C.J. Strowd. Oh, I'm okay with that. Well, a cleaner slate. It's not going to be like a pristine, brand new, tabula rasa. But I'm asking for a spit shine. I'm just talking about a clean slate. A cleanish slate. You want to eat off of it? Because the memories of the playoff games are not going away

How long is his leash? His leash is a full year. Minimum. I bet you he gets his option to exercise before May 2nd. And people will flip out. Yes, they will. But it's really the easy decision to make. Giving him two years to figure it out before you have to ultimately decide

whether you've got to go get a different quarterback. You still can negotiate at any time, I believe. David Mulligeta might disagree. All right, I'm going to put a Twitter question out. Okay. can you give a clean slate to Christian Walker and C.J. Stroudon in 2026. Oh, do two. Do two. I want to see two different results.

Okay, we'll do that next. 114. The Matt Tom and Michelle with Ross, believe it or not, all things about the University of Rhode Island. It's next on 790. All right. Some of the votes are coming in on my Twitter poll question at SportsMT. Please follow me. I'd appreciate it. I promise you follow me on Twitter at SportsMT or on Instagram at SportsMT.

Your blood pressure will go down. your 401k will go up and more people like you. At SportsMT on Twitter, at SportsMT on Instagram. Are you willing to give Christian Walker a clean slated 2026? If you votes are in, 76% since sure why not? 24% said, nope, I'm done. Next tweet, are you willing to give CJ Strata clean slate in 20206? Oh, no.

79% sure why not? 21%. No, I'm done. I am actually shocked. Small sample size. Get those votes in at SportsMT on Twitter. I'm giving both of them a clean slate. I think it's in your best interest.

I was not willing to give Jose Arbery you a clean slate. I remember talking about this. That's a sunk cost, as a sports RV economics term. Yes. Montaro, same thing. Can we get out of this contract fast enough? Didn't he go to the minor leagues and he came back and he actually wasn't horrible? He wasn't horrible, but it was nothing.

close to the value. When you send a guy as much money the Astros spend on him to the minor leagues to get his game back, that's a sunk cost. You know, and I'm wishing him the best. I hope he saves and spends his money well. Was it he pitching in meaningful games? Was it for the Tigers? Was it for the Tigers?

Oh, was it? I can't remember. I thought it was a Tigers. Yeah, you might be right. Where is he now? Tigers. Oh, it was Atlanta who was where he was after him. Oh, my gosh. He got trading to Atlanta. Yeah. 20 games. 286 ERA. Tigers. Feeling good about him? And 450 field independent pitching, man.

So that's a better metric than the IRA, but that's a different conversation for a different time. Okay. So yeah, get those votes in on Twitter at SportsMT. 713-212-5-790. 7-1-3-212-5-790. Okay, so what do you think about the rockets? Do they pull a deal off? My gut tells me, not that Rafael and I are breaking bread, I said hello to the minute or day.

You didn't say, man, I can tell you this big deal I'm working on. I don't think they do either. I don't think, I think email likes the squad. I think he likes the squad a lot. There also could be a realization, Ross, and I don't want to get into this, that maybe they're thinking that Fred and or Stephen being gone really hurt their chances in this quote-unquote Kevin Durant two-year window. Yes.

Maybe the second year of the window will be much more open than their first year. All in for next year. Yeah. I mean, yeah. Just throwing it out. Without Fred and without Stephen, I mean, you certainly are, you're not at your best. I mean, there's two rotation players. Normally in the playoffs, you're playing seven, eight guys max.

Yeah. Two of those big pieces are gone. It's not nothing. Health matters. We don't talk about this about the history of the NBA, but health is huge. Well, the team we saw last night. We can go through a dozen examples. Tyrese Halliburton, half time of the NBA finals.

Was it a tie game with Oklahoma City, I think? Game seven? Yeah. Something like that. And he tears his ACR or whatever it was. Yeah. Gone for the year. They're 13 and 50-something.

13 and 37. Terrible. Rick Carlisle. Genius coach. Revolutionizing the game. Not a genius coach when it's Nimhard of the boys. Aubrey Topin. Gone long periods.

Nimhar missing. Halop. We're missing for the year. Who else am I forgetting about? Benedict Math and missing large chunks. You know what trying to be a pretty nice L.B.A. player is former Houston Coong-grade Jarris Walker. Yes?

Okay. It's fine. That'll conclude Pacer talk for the day. Jonathan, did you say something important to us? It was Achilles that he tore. Oh, Achilles, ACL-T, whatever. It's a big injury. Went and doubted something huge.

Well, he had the Pacers. He was the upset king had the Pacers winning at all. They almost was right. I lost $40 that night, too. Can I tell you, your predictions suck. I mean, not yours. Jonathan. No.

He had the pay. He was the only one that had Pacers in the finals, and he said they were going to win it, And they pushed the thunder. I'm on your side, Jonathan. He pushed the Thunder to seven games. Hold on, huh, Ross. It's okay.

Oh, get them. This was the dude that was saying the chiefs are going to run the AMC. Oh. When they were five and what? They were like five and four. But Jonathan, we as Americans miss the Chiefs in the playoffs. The Gen C. though, we knew that we knew.

Younger guys knew. Yeah. Time's over. They're fraud. We miss the Chiefs. Rich Eisen told us. Rich Eisen told us that. Now, the Sam Houston was a big mess, Jonathan.

But you still called a lot of upsets. Your SFA. What was it, 24 to 0? Look, did they even cross? You lost me that day. I kept giving you so many outs, and you wouldn't take them. I tried to talk them out of it, too. Y'all text me that night, and I'm looking at, I'm watching the game, and I'm like,

are we not going to get a first down? I was so surprised. I asked me it was so sure. That's all right. That good coach, you'll have another good year, and then he'll go somewhere else. He's staying. Oh, you know what?

SFA for life. Hey, we took one of your coaches, I think. Born of the position coach, I don't know who it was. I think it was, yeah, I know what you're talking about. He went to the L.O.H. I mean, at least we're helping out the local city. You know what I mean? Yeah, you're a feeder system.

That's fine. I can live with that. As long as we're a good feeder. I can take that until we get, you know, you know what I mean? Look at Sam Houston. They went to the FBS and, you know, uh, you know. That's not great. They're rebuilding.

Who is? Sam Houston. Sam Houston. Sam Houston. They didn't. The NFL was in the playoffs. Let me tell what Sam Houston did wrong. They wasted their money.

If I was an alum at U of H, I'd be, Sam Houston, I'd be pissed. They put their games at Shell Energy Stadium this past year. No one went. It was a national joke. You should have played the games in Tomball. I mean, seriously. Like a CJ Stroud-level national joke?

No, nothing's as big as that. By the way, what about CJ? I need to work on the off-season activity. No, you need to stay away from San Francisco. If he would have except of the Pro Bowl invite. That would have been... Now, honestly, he's more qualified than Joe Flacco

and Shador Sanders. I give him that. That's pretty funny, by the way. But you just can't go. You can't be seen any... Pro Bowl is a joke. We have to make this distinction. Pro Bowl selection versus Pro Bowl appearance. I want you all say a small prayer tonight. I want the Pro Bowl

whatever they're calling it. I think they're playing Potato Cack races. They're doing hopscotch. They're doing a three-legged race. They're playing dominoes. some point, you have to not watch it. Actually, I would watch Domino. I would watch NFL Dominoes. Probably good.

They used to put Dominoes on the TV on ESPN2. Please, ladies and gentlemen, please, please, please. Now, I'm not worried about my audience. Okay. Other audiences, maybe. Please do not watch the Pro Bowl. Tomorrow when you're doing the show, you should do a poll question. Did you watch the Pro Bowl?

I'm trying to remember who that Domino's, I'm sorry. I'm looking at the World Series of Dominoes right now. You know what? I've played Domino's, but it's been so long, Ross. I don't remember the rules. Oh, man. But it's a great game, correct? You used to play every day before school and at lunch. That's what we did at Aldine anyways.

Y'all was playing Domino's? Yeah. Well, that's what they call math. I mean, look, Alden. Alden has their own curriculum. There were their dice games in the bathroom? 1,000%. What do you mean?

Curious George was their senior reader. I mean, seriously. Oh, hold on, Maid Creek. Excuse me. Hold on. Made Creek, KDISD, let's go. Yeah, your diploma's in crayon. No, it's not.

No, it's not. No way. No. Get out of here. No, no, no, no. Curious George was your senior reader and you... Oh, okay. And your Madlibs was your senior... Uh-huh. The big piece of your thesis was on Charlotte's Web.

Hey, now. That's great. That's not true. It's like a Penae Brown was what you were reading in junior as a junior year. Yeah, sure our books were a little outdated. They're like, as soon as that Berlin Wall comes down, that's going to change everything. One of the classes you could take in Aldeen was how to get out of prison. Oh, man, that's hilarious.

By the way, so many people are, I put on my Twitter account today, my two favorite rockets of all time are Akeem and Kevin Durant. And people are like, wait, you forgot about this guy. You forget about this guy. Just mute it. I'm going to do you a favor. Go to the, there's three little dots on the tweet. No, because they don't know the context. I know.

Exactly. go to the three tweets. It's going to, you're going to feel a lot better the rest of the day. I swear to you, this is the best thing ever. All right. The three dots at the top of the tweet. Top right, got it.

You see the three dots? Yes. Mute this conversation. Mute this. I don't have that as an option. What? Yeah. That's it.

Twitter did get hacked. I mean, I don't know. When's the last time you updated your app? Those are the six. Oh, okay, click on the tweet now. Maybe you got to click on it. Let me find this for you. Okay, go ahead.

Now what am I doing? Now do it. All right. All right, guys, I do it. Mute this conversation. Boom. Done. You'll never see anything about it again.

You'll be so happy. Okay, very good. This is the best button on the planet. Thank you very much. We're going to get an update from what happened to the Astros' lunch. You know, our guys are so, is they're still eating. They're probably eating the buffalo chicken pizza right now. What's wrong with that?

We're supposed to have Connor or one of the guys on the show, Cole or the Wake-up Squad. Maybe they're bringing you a brisket donut. I don't want any part of that. You want a brisket nut? No. Brisket nuts? What is a brisket donut? It's like a crow croissant donut.

It is a crow nut. You said brisket nut. Brick nut. Making a barbecue dishes. 129. Believe it or not, all things University of Rhode Island. Coming up in 20 minutes on 790.

All right, we sent our intrepid reporter. Cole Thompson, one half of the wake-up call here on 790. That's what you call it. I called everything but your name of the show. Breakfast ball. We call it, Matt,

everything but team player. I got a bone pick with you, by the way. Oh, God. Let's go. Don't steal my bit. What bet are you talking about? I have been Team Christian Walker since last season about giving him a fair shake after the All-Star break.

Clean slight, different thing. It's clean slate. Clean break. Either way. I've been Team Christian Walker before. You've been Team Christian Walker. I'm not team. I'm just saying I'm being fair and balance.

He's going to be better this year and he's going to be an All-Star this year. That's how high I am. You had better one of the Big 12, too, so you don't count. Oh, God. Here we go again with that. Did you have BYU going to the final? Duh. Of course you did.

I know you had Texas Tech, though. I did a Texas Tech. You did have Texas Tech. Money can buy things. Okay. You are at the lunch. We're real quick. All the things you tried, by the way, are people can eat, correct?

Yes. There's a meaty-to-o-to-ty thing. No, any single thing, the Crawford dog, the Bauman dog, the donut that's made with brisket. Did you have bites or did you finish things completely? No, it just bites. And what did you love? Is there anything that you love? Bommin dog was really good.

The Buffalo chicken pizza was really good. If you want to pass out afterwards and can afford to take an app, means get the brisket donut. I mean, that's really good. It's just it's really fatting. Okay. Anything you didn't like? There are sponsors. I'm not going to go ahead and tell them. That's fine. I don't do it. Who's sponsor they? I'm not going to be the reason. I'm going to call from Gene saying, hey, we got to talk about somebody in human resources. No, no, that don't happen. Eventually. Don't worry. We'll get you in there. All right. So let's get to why we really sent you over there,

besides meeting and greeting with people. How many non-media were there that were pretending to pretend they were media? I counted four, maybe. Who you did? Four or five? Oh, I don't know. I lost count of five. Let's just go with that. Okay. Give me the most interesting thing that both the manager and the general manager had to say today. And if you can play some sound, we'll love that too. They're still looking for an outfield bat, which to me means that, hey, you sack Paredes, get ready to learn Boston, get ready to learn everything about Fenway because they need a third baseman. You got two outfielderers that the Astros covet, both that could be on the move. They want to add in somebody.

Jared Duran, I think, is going to be the better option because if he can at least play center. sorry Ross, the Jake Myers fan club is probably coming to an end. Wait a minute. The fan club moves forever. But the fan club with you and Houston may not be here that much longer. That's fine. We might have to move here.

It ends up happening with that. I thought that was interesting. But the reason why was I thought even more interesting. Canst Smith center fielder is going to be a potential option that they're trying out in spring training. That's very intriguing. You know what they want, Ross? They want more slog out of center field.

Clearly, by him just saying that. They are not happy with slap hitting Jake Myers. You can use, you can, that's fine in center field. You don't normally have center fielders who are gold glove finalists and hitting 30 bombs. I mean, if you're doing that, then I mean, you're Mike Trout.

Yeah, but could he at least be a 2020 guy? Jake Myers. I'm talking about 20 doubles, 20 backs. I was going to say. How much one? 20 doubles and 20 steals. Yeah, sure. He can do that. Because I don't want a singles merchant either out there. Hey,

look, the guy, look, if he's going to have 700 OPS, if he's going to be an OPS Plus of 100 and be a great center fielder. That's a positive plus player. I can live without slug in center field. I just, that's just me. Because what Jake Myers still can do to this point. You want in your corner spots.

I'm not a, look, Zach Cole hopefully I'm wrong about this, but man, we're talking about a guy. I tell you this every. You're talking about a Kirkland brand Jake Myers. I just don't trust March and September numbers. I don't. And March numbers bared it out with Cam Smith and September Zach Cole numbers. They may have been really, really good and encouraging. but he's got 50 plain appearances.

Both of them combined is one of them. It could happen. I don't think it's going to happen. I think one's going to be better than the other. So how much fluctuation are we going to see in this in the outfield for the Astros in 2026? You've got to get extra bodies. Is Desenzo a guy we're counting on here? He's playing for Team Italy, so I guess that's something that you can take away.

Shea Wickhuns playing for Team Korea. I guess that's something you can take away. So what else you got? Again, still looking for an outfield bat. So it does feel like, again, odd man out. They're going to try a rotation at designated hitter. Yordon is going to see some bit in the field, according to Joe Spada. Not a lot, but enough to where you're going to be able to see some rotation on days where,

hey, how's out of Tube's playing D.H. We got to give them an off period. Basically, like, those are the main highlights. I think the main thing that you got to take away more than anything else is that everything's kind of open for interpretation. Like, not everyone besides Altuvae and Correa, guaranteed to be every day in the lineup. A lot of moving pieces.

They're still not done. They like what they have in terms of the overall arms. I think that when you look at the six-man rotation, it's going to be really interesting to see who's the odd man out. Do you just kick them down to Sugar Land? Do you try to trade them for pieces? Because there are some players that you look at right now and say, I can't put you in Sugar Land.

Like you're too good to be there. Your value's too high after spring training. Do you maybe remove you to go get some prospects and fix this farm system that ranks 29th in Major League Baseball? Here's a sneaky gut feeling, which we should have done an hour ago. How about the Astros trade in one of their pitch? Which one? That I can't take.

Could you trade Lance's contract? Pick a name out of a hat. Mike Burroughs. Why would you trade those guys? No, no, no, no. I said pick a name out of a head. Relax. Chris Havier.

Lance McCullers has no trade value. Zero trade value. Sure he does. No, no. At $18 million, he's pitched 20 innings in the last five years. You don't want to pack a big leechew? I mean, that would be a really good package that comes to return. No, no.

No. How about a hot tub? No. Come on. That'd be fun. Could you move Javier? He's on a nice deal. I mean, not, I mean, a big deal.

But he's guaranteed. He bought his arbitration. Yeah, I mean, you're not your... No, you need Javier. No. Stop. You're not moving to mine. That's an automatic.

Burroughs is here, guaranteed. Like, it's the best contract on the team right now. Aregetti? What are you looking at me like? Aregetti? Ryan Weiss? I mean, what do you know? You need all these guys.

You need a six-man. They want to have a six-man rotation. I can name four right now. Now, you can already put them in with Hunter Brown, Christian Javier, Tussi, Mike Burroughs. You got two more. Yeah, then Lance McCuller Jr. and Spencer Argetty. I'm sorry, he's making $18 million. They're going to see what he's got.

He's going to get starts. Don't forget. You know, Jim's going to go ahead and bring back Justin Burlander at some point, too. No, don't even say that. Why? Because it would have been done by now. It's going to happen. I think it would have happened by now.

Why does he want, if he and, if he and Justin and Jim are so bros, what is Jim going to say? Well, if you have no else to go come home with us? I think that that's frankly a little disrespectful. If Justin wanted to come here, he knows what's available to him. Do you think that he's going to sign somewhere? Because it feels like it's two spots. Detroit, Houston.

And Detroit's got the Terrick Scoobel stuff to go deal with. Yeah, but the Giants were on the radar a year ago. They weren't. Yeah, but the Giants were at least trying to be aggressive. I don't think it's Houston. I can see Detroit. Do you think if he signs with the Detroit, that's the team he goes in within the Hall of Fame? I think it regardless, he goes in with the Hall of Fame as a Tiger.

So you're locked in all that. I have been forever since he's been here. Really? Yep. Because I think that the team that signs him is the one that gets him in the Hall of Fame with the Insignia. I don't think the baseball Hall of Fame is going well. What a 41-year-old Justin Verlinter, who does he go with? Okay, we got a tiebreaker, whatever he goes with Flats.

No, I don't believe they operate that. Doesn't he get to pick, though? He can tell them what he'd like, but Major League Baseball ultimately signs. Oh, I don't know that. I thought he got to pick. The reason why it gets started was because Wade Boggs was pissed off of the Red Sox years ago. He went in his array. And then the baseball Hall of Fame said,

we're going to take it out of your hands. How many years was even there? Three? It doesn't even matter. Wade Boggs is a devil ray was embarrassing. The uniform, the stadium, everything about it was embarrassing. He's a Red Soxie. He is the best legend story of all time.

Okay. It's anything else. You mentioned Joe. You mentioned Dana. So you don't think it's whack that they could maybe move a pitcher with so many different arms? I mean, I think you'd need arms. I think they're scared of what happened last year. I think they're scared of not having another left hand.

and back is every time Dana speaks, he talks about a left-handed bat. He wants it bad. He's been saying that for three years. He brought up again today. Left-handed bat. Of course he did. He wants one. And let's be fair.

You would love to have one at the middle of your lineup and somebody that can be coming off the bench. No, Ron, Alvarez, left-handed bat. I don't know. I mean, I guess anything's on the table. Who is the other left-handed bat in the lineup? Jacob Milton's not there. Exactly.

You got to add somebody. You need somebody in the outfield, or at least you got to figure out what you want to do the conundrum in the middle end field. It will not be a conundrum. It's not a conundrum. How is it not a conundrum? Because Peron isn't going to get traded.

It's your name's sake. Exact coal. $9 million for him? You get grid market value back? Absolutely. So you're just going to give him away because of you. Not giving away, no. Right.

Exactly. So there's got to be trade value there. There's trade value. Name the team besides Boston that has the trade value that's something you want. But you can play them at first or third base. Right. But name the team that is willing to give up something. I don't have a roster of 20-9 teams in front of me.

You can look at one team and say they have a hole at their base. You're telling me, only one team would take Eastside Pred is right now. It's the only team that right now I'm willing to trade with. Okay, if it's Boston, do it. Because I want Willier-A-Bray-you in the lineup. Now I'm also team Warrior-Bray-U over Charon Duran. I don't think of that's too crazy. Younger player, better with it as OPS, better slugging.

You can shove him out in left field. He can shut up. Former Masters legend. Oh, Hesu Sanchez. Is that power-hated left-handed bat? Yeah, no. He's here? I say he's still here.

I'm not counting on Hesu Sanchez, except for erratic outfield routes. What about slap singles? I'd get that from him. No, I'm going to tell you something right now. I left Astro Fan Fest going,

there is no way in the world Joe Espada wants to have this headache. And now it's a good headache to have, but it's a headache. You don't want to do it. And baseball is especially a sport where you don't want guys in and out of the lineup. You don't.

The problem is, in my humble opinion, you look at the roster. Everyone out there is deserved a spot on there for the everyday playing time. Christian Walker has, Paredes has. Well, the reality is, the two guys on your team that probably could use less time, you can't give those less time for different reasons. One, because Jose Al-Tuvius is your greatest of all. He's chasing 3,000 hits. Who do you have at second base?

He's been a good soldier. And Christian Walker, you've got two more years of $20 million attached to him. You think that Christian Walker needs more time off? No, I'm saying needs it. Does he deserve the playing time? There's a difference. No, no, no. Needs more time off.

So I'm asking. You're saying deserves playing time. I'm saying that Christian Walker, if you had all three, if Christian Walker and Hays and Easek Preders were making the same amount of money, Esoc Predys will be your first basement. Yeah, 100%.

If Christian Walker had a good season at the beginning of the year last year, he would have been a trade asset. Somebody would have bid on it Because they still would have seen the double power. They still would have seen the extra base hits. They would have seen the trajectory and the projectile of where the ball went. I'm still making defensively.

The Astros need significant outfield help. They need one more bat that comes from the left-handed side that likely requires you to move off of Isak Paredes. Yes. That's the way I would say. They're not going to do it. Gut feeling right now from Cole Thompson. I'm telling you, gut feeling.

Esec Predis is not ending the season of Houston Astro. Gut feeling. Yorda on Alvarez. will be your starting left fielder on opening day because of Hoseale-L-Tuve will be your starting second baseman. Isak Prares will be your starting designated hitter. And Christian Walker will be your starting first baseman while Jeremy Peng is at short and Carlos Cray is the third.

So you're telling me, Zach Cole's going to suck and left. I'm going to tell you that Hayesu Santis is going to second left. He's still on the team. They're all moving guys around. This team ain't done. Is he moving it in the next 13? We've seen monolith. We've seen trades during the sprint.

We're seeing free agent acquisitions coming as late as possible. I mean, Framber stole as a free agent. That's right. Do you want them back here? No. No. Okay, so I saw this one trade rumor and just I want to get sure of the ping on this. We gotta go to break.

One year $23 million. No, the Astros are done spending money on pitching. Hell, I'm trying to get rid of one of them. Ross. What? One year, $23 million. It's not happening. It'd be fun. For what?

You'd have a great rotation. Imagine Frommberg be your number three behind E-Mai and behind Hunter Brown. You'd be, you'd be, you'd be, you'd be. He won of the best in Major League Baseball. Well, of course, adding his talent, of course. They're not going to do it. He's not signing a one-year deal. Why are talking?

And number two, the Astros are done. There's a free agent. I can talk about whoever I wanted. You can't, but it's not going to. Okay. I can't speak it into existence. No, you can't. No, I can't.

You giving CJ Estrada's a clean slate in 2026? Yeah, of course. You giving Christopher Walker clean slate in 20206? I gave him a clean slate after the L-Star break. 100% giving him one. All right. Bye-bye. Goodbye.

Root, root, root. That's that it. Stop. Chase the fight? Chase the fight? Chase the fight. I thought that was Mark Sanchez's. I would like to avoid the fight.

Yeah. That's his phrase for the Matt Thomas Show of Ross. Avoid the fight. Okay. All things University of Rhode Island next here on the Matt Thomas show, Ross. 146 here on Sports Talk 790. Am I talking about somebody here very important here, Jonathan? Jonathan's yawning back there.

Are you that bored with the show today? It's freezing over here, man. I'm trying to say warm. get tired. Cole going there and warm him up. Oh, my God. What? You spend a lot of time in there anyway.

All right. What am I doing here? You got to focus on the show. Five minutes left to go on the show. What should we do? We should play America's fastest growing sports radio game show. We simply call it me leaving or not. And here's how it works.

You call 713212-5-790. 7-1-3-212-5-7-90. Today's edition of Believe or not, It's all things about the University of Rhode Island where they'll be signing a volleyball player tomorrow. I'll read your statement about URI. statement's completely not early accurate. You'll say this. Believe it.

If you're saying to your only as full of bunk and made up, you'll say this. To believe it or not to a row about the University of Rhode Island when you're a prize, even a 790 t-shirt or a pair of tickets to see the Black Crows and Whiskey Myers on their Southern hospitality tour August the 8th of the Woodlands Pavilion. Tickets go on sale this Friday at 10 o'clock

at Ticketmaster.com. Let's play. Believe it or not. We'll start with Jimmy and the Woodlands on 790. Jimmy, you ready to play, believe it or not? Believe it. The acceptance rate at the University of Rhode Island is 91%. Believe it or not.

Believe it. No, it's 72. It's got some cooth. It's not Texas State or Sam Houston. 713-212-5-790. Johnny on 790. Ready to play, believe it or not? Believe it.

The University of Rhode Island Athletics Department participates in the Northeast Conference. Believe it or not. Believe it. No, we're in the A-10, baby. Let's go. 8-10. Come on now.

Aaron on 790, Aaron, your favorite part of today's 10-2 radio show. Hi, baby. The University of Rhode Island student newspaper is called the Good 5-cent Cigar. Believe it or not. Believe it. That's correct. Statement number two for the win. In the 1930s, the Rhode Island Rams had a live mascot kept in a dairy barn across campus.

Believe it or not. Believe it. There you go. Congratulations. You're a winner. Go Ram. Junior on 790. Ready to play, believe it or not?

Believe it. Notable Rhode Island alumni include actor William H. Macy and former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. Believe it or not? Not. That's right. Statement number two for the win. The Rhode Island Ram mascot is known as Rody the Ram. Believe it or not.

Believe it. There you go. Congratulations. Thank you. Eric and Katie on 790. Ready to play, believe it or not? Believe it. In 1989, the Road of the Ram made national headlines after getting in a shoving and wrestling match with the UMass Minuteman mascot. Believe it or not? That's right. Statement number two for the win. The Rhode Island Rams' all-time leading basketball score is Catino Mobley. Believe it or not? Believe it. No, not even the top 10. Sorry about that. All right, before I get you out of here, Serta Pro Painter, C-E-R-P-R-O, that's Serta with a C-E-E-R-P-R-O, that's Serta with a C-E.

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They are the A-T. Listen to Ross tomorrow. 10-2 right here on 7-9-8.