The Matt Thomas Show with Ross - Rockets vs Raptors Tonight! USA is on Fire! Texans Off-season Talk

Episode Date: March 10, 2026

Rockets vs Raptors Tonight! USA is on Fire! Texans Off-season Talk 

This is the Matt Thomas show with Ross. You're such a fraud. You know what? No, you're not a fraud. People can change their minds. And that's okay. Can I tell you the scenario, man? Go ahead, Matt.

Turn up Neil a few more seconds here. Yes, thrilling stuff. This is a great song. Don't you besmirch Neil Diamond under any circumstance? I said it's a great song. I said it's a thriller. You said it as a one-off. I know who you are.

Yeah, this is amazing. You are anti-America. That's right. Ross Villarreal is anti-America. No, I mean, well, I love America to an extent. It's not perfect. No country is. You can love something and it's not perfect.

I know. I work with a daily four hours a day. That's all right. I do love you, sports RV. Oh, wow, thanks. I never had a younger brother. Didn't really want one, but I got one anyway. Oh, okay.

I'd think of you more as my uncle. No. Turn us up. There's not brothers that are 12 years apart? Sure there are. Well, accidents happen. All right. It's not common, I should say.

I wonder if it's more common to have a younger brother who's 12 years younger than you or to have an uncle who's 12 years older. I'm going to go with an uncle. I have uncles and all of them are significantly older than I am. Okay. Oh, Neil Diamond, the best. Just the best. I mean, the literal best.

but for the purpose of the show. But he's great. That's a great movie about his cover band. Which I will not go see. Why not? No, I'm not going to see cover band movies. If you want to give me a biopic about Neil Diamond, I'm all for it. Okay.

Well, it could be good. What if it's great? I'll trust other people. It's supposed to be one of the movies of the year. Hugh Jackman and whoever else. Yeah, whoever else. Okay, so here is the essence of what I was. Last night, now there was no local sports on the Rockets and not play.

The Astro Spring training game was during the day. Scored double digits. Yeah, that was good on your part. Yes. Blind squirrel finds a nut, would they say twice a day? At least. Or at least. Once a day.

The broken clock is twice a day. I think a blind squirrel can find a nut twice a day too. I guess. All right. Good sense of smell. So we all took late afternoon naps at the Thomas household. And we were going to go have dinner last night at about 7 o'clock. Okay.

So we went to a little watering hole down the street from our house and had dinner. And 80% of the televisions were on. on the World Baseball Classic. Yes. There was 10% on college basketball, and there was 10% of everything else. But there was no... The peacock was not on the channel.

It was like ESPN News is a sports center. Probably, yeah, because you're writing on the things. And the BBC was on. And so I told you, like we said yesterday on the show, I would give it a concerted effort to watch it. So it kind of worked out well. I had dinner, watched the game. And they won.

And there was drama, and there was home runs. and there was great defense. The Bobby Witt snag at shortstop last night was... It was nice. That wasn't spring training. That was Game 7 of the World Series kind of grab. Derek Scoobble's talking about how it's not spring training, and he's sad he's leaving.

He's like in tears. It's almost like he needs a therapist. But point being is this, I did watch it. And I enjoy the experience. Now, I'm not Aaron Judge hitting an oppo. Go USA? F the Yankees? Yeah, it's hard.

to root for Aaron Judge. It's hard. It's impossible to do it. I couldn't do it. I could not do it, Rossi. I was like, there's a drive. Deep, oh, it's Aaron Judge. Oh, congrats. Oh, Aaron Judge is happy. You don't want to ever see Aaron Judge happy. I don't want him hitting home runs in Dike and Park because he can be doing that

when the game's really mad. Yeah, I guess the wind didn't blow that one in. The Mexico crowd was crazy yesterday. They were getting in fights in the outfield. There's video of that available today for you. Yeah. I mean, that's not surprising. Yeah, I mean, it is what it is. I mean, how many different fight videos do we have?

I only saw one this morning. I'm sure there's others. I mean, a huge crowd yesterday. You know, it's funny. And I'm going to say this right now. We get attacked for being not the best sport city in America, and we're not. I mean, it's just a reality. But big time events, middle of the week and middle of meeting Monday, we can go.

We can fill up NRG for a soccer match at 65. We can fill up on baseball park yesterday. Well, this dude's getting ragdolled. Oh, yeah, it was the outfield. It wasn't one pretty. So I'm going to salute us being the entire Houston area. I'm going to presume that many of the people, I mean, I don't know how many people from outside of the Houston area came to this Monday game yesterday.

About $500,000? Okay, that's true. I forgot about that number. But we are a excellent international. sports destination. Yes. And so kudos to us. Now, can we get to a Rockets game on time? That's an issue. Are we spending the first

quarter in the club area at the NRG and our Gron Texans games? Yeah, we are. We're tailgating very well. They're passed out drunk at the tailgate, wake up in the second quarter and rush in. Leave early fourth when the team's down four touchdowns. That's not true. Hey, come on. I'm just teasing. They went 12 and 5 last year, Matt. They did after going 0 and 3.

Yes. But it made us look good. I was happy about that and I like to brag on our city when we can. So it was a good moment yesterday, despite the fact there were haymakers being thrown out in Roydefield last night. Yeah, that's the thing is there only one fight that I found. That's it. I think it's all there is. That's good for one for 40,000. That's great. Yeah, 40,000 and a Mexico-USA border war matchup. Yeah. Great job, everybody. Great job, the city, Houston. Yeah, we did okay. Surprise we're able to get around with all those

thousands, hundreds of thousands of people now in our town for spring break. The USA guy came back and got some licks in though. Oh yeah. It was a, it was a true international Pier 6 brawler. Oh, I was going to say the full on Donnybrook. Oh, I like Donnybrook. That's right. All right. Yesterday we said on the show our clocks were off by an hour. Yes. They're off by two hours today. What happened? How does this happen? We're in Pacific time right now. I mean, our company. I mean,

we love our company, but Stop the sentence there. Okay, so we love our company. Thank you. We love our company. I help you out. Yeah. 8.09. Pacific time. Yes.

10.09 in the Central. Hey, we're only here to 1150 today. So you better come get some of this goodness right now. That's all I'm saying. 713-212-5-7.9. It's how you reach the show if you want to get it today. 7-1-3-212-5-7-90. So USA wins.

They're one-one away from going to the... I don't even know the format. Is that made me a bad person? It's four games of group play and then knockout rounds. I believe it goes from an elite eight to then down to the championship. Okay. And basically single game knockout. But it is weird that Tarek Scouple has lost his mind over this.

He loves it. He loves the WBC and you should too. I watched it yesterday. I would say largely ambivalent about the WBC coming in this year. I like it. Maybe it's because it's in Houston. I'm embracing it more. I am 17 year olds getting Aaron Judge into double plays.

16-0-N-Mexico versus Brazil. It's been interesting. And the roof is open at Diken Park right now. And I watched maybe 6 to 7 innings of the game last night. Yeah, I will say I watched it at dinner and then came home and then turned it on. I was watching Oklahoma City and Denver on my phone while I was watching the baseball and TV. So it was an interesting sports site. It wasn't bad. Not bad for a Monday.

Not bad. Not bad. What? Go ahead. you're grading your teeth they're going to bring up the texans i'm not bringing up the texans i'm bringing up NFL free agency in general okay what's wrong it's just too much what do you mean i'm i'm just this is just me myself and i okay and i'm by myself on this island but remember i come to you because i think part of the charm of this show is that we are we don't try to bs you there were names flying left and right yesterday that i and there were

son that I cared about. I mean, Kenneth Walk going from Seattle to Kansas City was a huge deal. Yes. Mike Evans going from Tampa Bay to San Francisco. Because it'd be big, big time players. Uh-huh. But I don't know if the city of Houston is losing their mind over

Cade Blankenship or whatever the hell is named. Read, whatever. Read campaign. Nobody's losing their mind over Reed Blankenship, but it's... I mean, it's been more of a head scratcher than anything. Is that what you... Okay, yeah, we will talk about it. I just... We'll save this for Thursday. I don't get thousands of people going, oh my God, I can't believe that center is going to Detroit now.

Now, granted, it does make a little more sense because the Texans were looking for a center. But these mundane names I've never heard of because they're interior players. They're getting paid, good for them. They're ultimately helping their teams out. But it gets lost in the weeds to me. And I'm just being brutally honest with you. Okay. When I want my sports talk, I want it to be entertaining.

I want to be relevant to the city in which I live in. I'm not a national guy. I don't care how the Philadelphia Eagles do. I don't care that Carolina got a interior linebacker, inside linebacker. There was the steel of the free agent market. I just wake me up when the draft is done and then wait me up again when the preseason is done. We get ready for regular season games. That's just me in a nutshell.

And I'm just laying it out there. And I apologize if I don't satisfy your quench for how the Pittsburgh Steelers are going to be different now with the Michael Penhry. And Rico Dowdell. And Rico Dottle with a two-year deal. Yeah. That's your guy. That's my guy. Thank you, Rico Dattle.

Second place finish. Wish it was first, but that's nothing here. We'll get you that championship. I would say you're the Houston Cougars of the league. I knew you were going to say that. But they're far more successful, the Cougars. You know what? That was rude.

I'm sorry. That was uncalled for. I'm going to write this down right now. I don't even got my taser ready. What? I can be negative today. Yeah, it's true. You are so positive the last half hour of the show the other day.

it worked that well. The Astros scored 10 runs, right? Yes, they did. Time for you to turn a new leaf, my friend. You're right. You're right. No, I've been more positive. I would say in my life the last year, Matt. Okay. And I'm going to keep it going. Jonathan, I'm trying to be more positive. Rome wasn't built in the day. But that devil on the left side of my shoulder just comes out continually. You had to tell him to shut his bum ass up. I might have to.

713-212-5-7-0. Ross. We're only here today until 1150. Okay. We're going to bump gut feelings up to 1120. So we're going to have ourselves a full half hour. Oh, wonderful. We've got to have some guts in here. I finally, thank you. I finally hit on one.

It took me until yesterday. Yes. You've been holding out of that one for a while, have you not? No, it's just last week. I said they were going to score double digits. All right. So we're going to do a deep dive into the Texans. Would you say most significant free agent signing?

Yes. We'll come back. We'll do that. The Atlanta Hawks had to get rid of their theme night, which was the right decision to do. Oh. Yeah, I guess. I'm disappointed. Do I get my pre-ordered hoodie?

That's a great question. What if you ordered wings ahead of time? Wings are good. I'm just saying. And then we've got Rockets and Raptors tonight, and we have Astros baseball today at 1150. So I've got a lot to get to. Short period of time.

We want you in. We're only here until 1050. So come on in and join us at 713-212-5-790. 7-1-3-2-5-7-90. We'll get you today's Astros starting lineup A friend of the show will be in the lineup today. He doesn't even know he's a friend of the show. He just gets mentioned more than...

There's one player that has been talked about the Astro Spring Training on this show more than any other ship player on the show. Find out who that is in about 10 minutes. Can't wait. I hope not. All right, let's go. Read Blankenship.

Yes. Three-year deal worth $24.75 million. $16.5 is guaranteed. Okay, great. Great. For him. Undrafted out of middle. Tennessee State in 2022.

Started four games as a rookie, held down the spot at safety for the next three years after that. He is a guy that Vic Vanjillo, former Texans defense coordinator, described him as, quote, a stabilizing player in our defense. Well, not so stabilizing anymore. 56 games over four seasons in Philadelphia, 9 I&Ts, 23 passes defended, and 308 tackles. Reblankenship. That's not like a dealership. Blankenship dealership? I got a read Blankenship forward.

Give me a 2.9% APR. Okay. And then you get a bunch of TFLs and picks. Yeah. And customer service is second to none. And I'll tell you what, this feels Domingo-ish. D'Amico, you think D'Amico is like in the back as my like, you worry about the offense. I want as many offense, awesome defensive players as possible.

Yeah, I mean, it's a little bit off the radar that they would be in the market for a safety. I'm not exactly sure what this means, but I mean, it seems like he's a pretty good defensive player. I know you're a big PFF grades guy, Matt. Well, I will take it because they spend the time that I don't spend, so I will give them their flowers for sure. Go ahead. The grade wasn't good last year. Wait a minute. Wait, no, no, no, no, no, no.

You can't say that. Vic Fangio just loved the guy. Yeah, I know. How do you, wait a minute, how do I mean the grade's not good? He ranked 89 out of 91 safeties. Shut up. But the year before, 29th, 18th, and 9th. So he had a bad year last year. He was dealing with some injuries.

So maybe this is your finding a guy who dealt with some injury issues last year and getting him on a cheaper deal who can provide some help at safety. Of course, as we always say, pro football focus grades. Just one data point. But we like them. They're not the end of the obvi. I do. They're hounds.

We don't like them. We like them. They are the hounds, yes. it is interesting that the most significant free agent signing is him and there have been offensive linemen going left and right all around the NFL moving from spot to spot. I guess you don't count Ed Ingram as keeping your own guys as a, I would say the biggest signing regardless of how I was probably keeping Ed Ingram. Yeah. But in terms of going on and getting somebody else and taking them from another team to adding to your team, that's not happening.

I mean, I don't, you know. I'd like some offensive line. I don't mean, I don't mean to be to dumb it down. This is Tuesday. Nick Casario is not normally a guy who is a big Monday free agency guy. Yeah. So we're looking for the quote-unquote under the radar short-term contracts again. I think the Joe Mixing deal was like on a Thursday.

So the next couple days, hopefully something happens. Now he's in the bargain bin. So is he like, like, you know, on Black Friday you have the big specials, but you want to get out there and get out quick, but then you wait. You know, I don't want to go out in the traffic. I don't want to. No, no. I'll wait for day two.

No, because a lot of the best deals are right. I mean, I'll tell you what he is like. He's the guy in your auction league who doesn't take any of the top players, and then he fills up on a bunch of mid to above guys. Do you know what that is? So somebody's literally, that's not fantasy. That's how he operates to Texas. Somebody bids $75 in Jemir Gibbs and Nick Casario's out of there.

He's like, I'll take David Montgomery for $11. Yeah, I was like, Rashad White for nine, I'm in. that's who he is. So he's not normally going to be swinging for these big free agent fences, but he's going to find some good values. And then come week 11, you're going to be happy you have Rashad White. Come week 13, David Montgomery, then the starting lineup. I appreciate your enthusiasm for the bargain bin.

Now remember, you can bargain bin and have a great life. Oh, yeah. Who doesn't bargain bin and go, man, I got great value, having this great meal or I got this great pair of jeans that is 70% off when I could, you know, on dating deals. Can't get enough of it. Yeah, I don't disagree. Deals are fun.

Yes. But deals don't typically last long term. Well, it depends. If you find the right deal, yeah, does. If you get 70% off jeans and those jeans are down two sizes because you put in the wash one time, you don't feel great about. Yeah, but if you get the cheaper price, you get the cheaper price, Matt. All right.

It is interesting that grades are out. and the Raiders are getting a lot of... And it's a little hanging fruit. It's who made the big splashes. Yeah, exactly. Most of the time, the teams that win March don't win in September and October and December. In January. Yeah.

But do you feel like he's adding more work to it? I mean, wouldn't it be enjoyable once in a while? Again, I mentioned this yesterday. Siding a guy up for four or five years and going, boom, that's taken care of. It'd be cool. Do you really want the Texans offensive? line to be up in constant motion every single year? You don't.

But do you know a good way to do that? Hit on draft picks. You can get guys for four or five years and you're feeling stable. Yeah. So there you go. Read Blankenship. You said how many out of what, 91? I think it was 89. You don't put, the agent doesn't put that on his resume, does he?

I don't think so. Yeah, Adam Schaefter didn't put that out in his tweet. It's funny. And we're learning more agent names with all these tweets. Oh, every story, by the way, is being credited to the agency because the agency are spoon-in-feeding these guys. Yes. All right. Again, I don't want to repeat myself, but I'm going to anyway.

This is all interesting to me for about a couple of hours. Let's go. Kenneth Walker, to me, Blankenship for life. That's a game-changing type putting Kansas City back in relevancy mode. That is a pure 1-1, right, Ross? That is a guy that they don't have to worry about the running back's room. room at least. Kenneth Walker's going very high in your auction league. David Montgomery

going to be in the auction league. But he's going to be... Honestly, a good value. It's going to get all the goal line carries. He does. He does. He likes to run. You get a lot of touches. Domingo Rines is your head coach. You're going to be running the ball. Run the damn ball. Says Domingo Ryans.

In your defense, not going to allow any points. Exactly. So he's got to get field goals. Well, that's why you got to pick high in the county fairbairn. Fairbairns are worth $2. Most kickers are $1. I'll go two for a carry me fair. I don't think you're wrong. I don't go three. For the amount of big kicks in indoor facilities,

he plays hardly 90% of games indoor anyway. Yeah. All right, it is 1030 here on the Matt Thomas show with Ross. Yes. Astros starting lineup coming up next. All right. We've got some big boppers? Is Jack's Biggers out of there? You don't know.

Has Jack's Biggers been released from camp? You'll find out after these important words from you. Astro Spring Training today here on Sports Talk 7. We'll have it for you beginning at 1150. Taking on the hated Baltimore Orioles. I'm trying to build this up. We're going to keep our audience. Yeah, suck it, Orioles.

Astros, a juggernaut of offense. It's a blood. It's a blood feud. Astros and Orioles, 12.05 p.m. 11.50 in the start time, which means we're doing gut feelings at 1120. So, you're going to get ready. Let's go. Oh, I'm ready.

Joe Lopofito. We'll lead things off and play left field. Oh, wonderful. Jose Altubei at second bat second. Your on Albrezal D.H. Bet third. Christian Walker at first will bat clean up. Batting fifth will be the right filter.

Cam Smith. Yanir Diaz will be the catcher batting six. Bryce Matthews and center batting seventh. Rale Anro. Raleigh Ann Row. I know. I know. I know. You're a job now where you're sleeping on Riley onro. That's your own mistake. Batting eighth and playing second base.

Oh, shortstop. Excuse me. and Jack's Biggers is at shortstop. All right. Let's go Jacks? So Riley's at third, Jacks at short. Riley and Jacks. If Riley...

That sounds like a children's cartoon. Do you think Riley Unro deserves like his own number retired in spring training? Riley and Jacks. So much playing time he's wearing 82. Nobody else wants 82. Hmm.

It's a cartoon foxes solving mysteries in the forest. Riley and Jacks. Yes. And they're on the KPRC all two. 2.5 Teen Tunes channel. That's good lineup. That's inside baseball, but that's fine.

I like the start of the lineup. It's gonna be good. How's Yordon doing in spring? Give me those Yordon spring numbers. Okay, we can do it. I'll look it up. You don't promote your Instagram. You know what?

Yeah, why don't you guys follow me? I appreciate it. Look, I haven't posted a lot of stuff there recently, but I'm trying. I'm trying. No, you're not. No, I am doing it. Either you do it or you don't. All right, Yoda.

I'm trying, okay? I'm going to try to post something more on my Instagram at Sports RV. I've been doing it, but also I've been sick. I had the flu last week, and then I've been having like this fluid buildup. I've been feeling dizzy for like a week straight. It's been miserable. So I haven't posted a whole lot lately. I'm trying to be better.

And I might be going to the doctor today if my, if my dizziness doesn't subside. All right. That killed the time. Thank you. You're welcome. Leading the OPS is Walter Yannick, who got set down a modeling camp yesterday. 1481 is his OPS. He's out. He's not going back to A-Ball, is he?

God, don't even bring that out. I'm just asking. Don't do that. I'm asking for a friend. All right. D.H. Hold on. It's going to take me a minute. Oh, my God. Why am I going this far down?

I'm asking how Yordon's doing. I know. Oh, I found it. OPS. Go ahead. He's one for 11. It's okay. It's just a preseason. It's just a spring training.

It's just a spring training. It's just spring training. One for 11? Really? I'm sorry. He's due. He's due. Guaranteed hit day for Yordon Alvarez.

You heard it here first. Let me tell you something. I would normally dismiss that, but you said 10 runs yesterday. And it happened. Yeah. It only took you three weeks to get there, but... At one week. Now, it took the seventh day, and on the seventh day, I hit my prediction.

But we got there, baby. That's what's important. I'm trying to look at the number of at bats. See, I'm on the ESPN site, and it's not the greatest thing of the world. ESPN sucks. Yeah, it says, Rada Unro. Riley Unro, town it up now, man. You know, Ronnie Unro has drawn eight walks?

By the way, we're all worried about the Astros when they were like one and six and three. Now they're five and eight and three. Okay. They're turning it around. We're striving for 500. The strive for five. 100. 713, 21, two, two, five.

Zachary Daldet is second. an OPS on the team. You got all right. Oh, Roy is Zach Redo today. It's time for Louisiana Cajun Gator Baseball. They all on the Gia on Radio Network. My name is Harold Tippadoe to my right. Hold on, they got Nick Montestierre.

They got a lot of French players on this team. No, it's Cajun. Not necessarily French Cajun. Look, they got Nick Montester. Are you stereotyping? You hear that, Jonathan? He's stereotyping on this show. Nicholas non-Montester.

Oh, he's from Sugarland. Yeah, exactly. I apologize to this Monaster family. From Sugarland in Bordeaux, France. Sugarland, not as high school, you say. No, it's in Baudel, France. Sugar Lounds. I'm sorry.

I like to apologize. You're growing your list by Friday. You're right. It's only Tuesday. Yeah, work to do. By the way, tomorrow we make our season debut with our good friend, Brian Bologosevic. Oh, yeah. I said I'm sorry.

All right. I'm going to turn my mic off. Thank you. Let's talk to our buddy, Roger, who is a huge WBC connoisseur. Roger, good morning to you. Good morning, gentlemen. Was that a audition for Jaronz yesterday? Oh, he did.

He was pretty damn good yesterday. He looked pretty good at Dike and Park. I'll tell you that. that missile to a home plate was something that we don't have and something we just really need. What would

be the asking price? Would it be ESOP and like a Braille type player? I mean, it looks like we're going to have a nice little arsenal of a pitching that might be able to swing that kind of move because, man,

it looks like he would be a perfect fit. And we, you know, you know something that we can trade for you know there's something that he can move to another you know go to Boston and play third and then and direct and come over here and you know something like that well okay I want you to answer your own question so why if it's such an easy fit why hasn't it happened then I don't know maybe they were looking for that WBC edition I don't know I'm hoping

wishing Frank everybody else that's a good fit and the age difference is that much either so all right that's all I had thank you I gotta be honest with you ross and thank you for the phone call Raj um this should have been done before the seat before training camp started yeah I think are they sitting there going okay now we've got the insurance policy because it sounds like pain is not going to be ready for the start of the season you can move Correa to short you can put rid of third and you know what crisis temporarily averted then that feel right. But this Durin's conversation

to me is moot because Durin's been available for, I don't know, five months. Yeah, and the Red Sox traded for Caleb Durbin. Yeah, from the Brewers. I think it's a situation where Dana Brown, other teams maybe had some

leverage because they feel like they needed to move something around and he's trying to take some of that leverage out and say, hey, we're willing to go in it. the team. They've already gone to camp. We're willing to go into the season with this log jam and figure it out and now that they have the injury. Maybe he should have struck while the iron was hot with the

Red Sox. I don't know if he felt like something was going to come to pass there and then it didn't. We're not sure. We're not privy to these negotiations and all these talks. But the bottom line is the Astros probably still want to figure something out with this log jam. And it's not only just because of the position

and filling out the lineup card, it's because of the players. It's because of the human beings. It's the human beings. it's the human beings it's the I don't want to walk into the clubhouse and you're saying well tough that's not how life works being a majorly baseball player is not like being a 9 to 5 shift employee it's just not

doesn't mean it's right doesn't mean it's better doesn't mean it's worse I mean obviously financially it's better but they're not this is not going to be sustainable if everybody's healthy now if guys are out then it's a nice fix temporarily yes

but I do believe this Ross and I don't want to be wrong, but I feel like I'm not going to be wrong. Other teams know that the Astros are not dealing from a position of string theory. It's not like Parades. Look, Parades does have a hamstring injury from last year. Parades

is a guy that is limited in the amount of infield positions he couldn't play. And also, your options are what you want back. You want immediate impact major league level. And you absolutely should. And that's what you're asking for. This late, you can't.

easier, right. You're looking for someone in your situation where they have too much outfield. And so rather than a normal trade, you just take some prospects and move on with your life. Ashtros aren't looking for prospects. They're looking for Major League outfield help. No, because Isak Pradesh starts

for every major league team in this association. He just does. He's maybe not a top four hitter, but he's 7, 8,9. Issaq Pradesh can D.H for every single team in baseball. And not and not about an eye on that.

All right, it is 1044 on the Tomahs show with Ross. If you'd like to be with us, we'd love to have you at 713-212-5-790. 7-1-3-2-1-2-5-7-90. Gut feelings coming up at 1120. We have Astros, Spring Training Baseball at 1150. We have rockets and raptors tonight inside TOTA Center. By the way, rumor has it. A lot of rockets and a lot of Raptors were at the BBC yesterday.

Kevin Durant was there. Grady Dick was there. excuse me, Grady Dick, the backup guard for the traptors. Was he wearing his sequined jacket? I don't know. That's interesting, though. I mean, he wore it on draft night, right? Yes. And then anything else? It's like a Kansas. There's no place like home type of thing, I guess.

You know how I feel about the Wizard of Oz movie? No, I don't. scares me to death. Really? Even to this day. Matt. What? When the witch... I think you should watch it. When the witch...

Have your wife hold your hand. That's fine. When the witch, when I was a kid, would go in, and would get on her bike and she became the witch. I would run in my bathroom and shut the door. You know what? We'll have a childhood like a moviethon

of movies we're scared. I'm scared of it. Really? Yeah. So we'll watch it and then Wizard of Oz. That's fair. Together. 713-212-5-790. All right, it is 853. No, it's not. It's 10.53. That's my first mistake. Sorry. You are on Burgundying it. One hour I could give

you, but you know it's not 8.53. That's why I was 8. I took the loss anyway. That's fine. 713-212-5-790. 7-1-3-21-5-79. Let's talk to Butch. Butch, what's going on, friend? I got nothing. There you go. I got the perfect answer.

All their overloaded infill, and it benefits the Astros. Okay. Okay. But out too late, not out too, they. Alvarez and left field and let him play left field, because the man's going to get hurt. So get what you can out of him while he can, the most. And then you got all the infielers that you can, he's not playing on in the field, can VH, and then they can just rotate. Who are you rotating again?

The whole infield. Well, what do you mean? I mean, why? Why? The one that's not playing can D.H. And Alvarez is going to be in the outfield because he's going to get hurt somewhere so you don't need him for a D.H.

Yeah, I don't. Thanks, Butch. You got a terrible static on the phone line there. What? No, that's, it's not, this is not a team of utility. They are probably I mean, it makes sense. Just put Yordon and left every day

and you've got no log jam. You do it, that's correct. But the Astros, whether it's Joe or people above them, are scared to death that's going to be a problem. And Yoron has said this multiple years. You keep telling me I'm going to get hurt in left field. I don't get hurt in left field.

Yeah, he sends him highlights. Yeah, I get hurt in running the basis. Yes. They are preventative maintenance. Is that right? Is that a term? Yeah, preventative, yeah. Sure.

Because they know that he's IP. Prophylaxis. Yeah, I said it. You run his IP. Okay. He just is. Well, we'll see. If he ever plays 130 games ever again in his career.

You know, you keep pushing it like I'm an idiot. You kept pushing the Kyle Tucker contract and sizzling. That's true. That was different. There's no CBA. We're talking about a human being's body who, two, years ago played 140 games. It says two years ago. And even if you're right, it's

ridiculous statement. How about that? I would accept that. Because I do make ridiculous statements. Yes. But you know what? It wasn't ridiculous. Let me tell you. Let me tell you ridiculous. It at least gets people talking. Yeah. It wasn't ridiculous to say Kyle Tucker is going to go under seven and a half. That wasn't ridiculous. I have. I don't call that ridiculous. You can call it ridiculous, but when I'm right, I'm going to shove it down your throat.

And it's going to be. You're not. shoving anything down. That's actually true. That's not happening. Number one. You know what? Let's make a bet. You want to make a bet on this?

We did. For the 1.30? Yes. What is the bet? I believe it's drive-through. You want to up it? I'm ready. He's never in his life.

He's 28 years old and he's never in his life going to play 130 games, ever. I don't want to up it because it'll make me sad if I'm uping because I'm winning a bet. I'm losing a big war here. Yeah. I'll call you from when I'm driving Uber in 10 years and I don't want my dentist. Can I get free Ubers from you if you decided to make that transition? Why would I give you free? I'll tip you good.

Give you the money. Yeah, give me the money. That happened to me actually. Really? The driver, I don't know if he did this on purpose or not. He accidentally ended the ride or canceled the ride and then I just gave him Zell. And it was mutually beneficial. He got more money and it saved me money.

Yeah. By the way, I hear Waymo's in town now. Is that correct? Is that true? Is that true? Yeah. Waymo's been in town. And how we feel about it?

I mean, they drive, I see them all the time. They drive. I'm not doing it. Move, always in the right lane, slow. Do you see the video of the two Waymo's approaching each other? And they both just kept backing up and going forward and backing up and going forward. It was like an endless loop, yeah. The cities I go to that have Waymo, San Francisco's got a huge Waymo.

Phoenix has a huge Waymo. Apparently, Austin's a huge Waymo town too. We're cutting enough jobs in this country. I'm going to allow my Uber drivers to make their cash. Okay. All right. Oh, let's go to our friend on line three. Jonathan, what we're going to do right now?

I'm sorry, James, it did not root for Aaron Boone when he went, Aaron Boone, Aaron Judge, when he went along last night in the WBC. I'm sorry to say that, James. Thank you for taking my call, Governor Thomas. Thank you. It's been a while since I've chatted. Okay, I'm going to get straight to the point. Look, this message that I got is directly for those two mad pies that are on the air and everything,

and they're so popular. Look, stop ragging on my boy, Judge. He is who the star that he is and he's producing. Okay, he's going to try to get gold for the USA, which is supposedly, you know, top in everything and sports and no matter what in the world. Okay. Also, stop hating on Victor, you know, because Victor is who he is, and I appreciate the fact that you give him knowledge.

It don't matter that I'm a Knick fan. I appreciate greatness. And we're looking at greatness, that guy, Victor and everything. And he's Victor number two. I anoint him as victim number two because everybody knows Victor from the young and the rest ofness that character that they hate but they shouldn't hate on this victor.

And thank you for taking my call, Governor Thomas. I'm out. 26. Sports Radio WFAN. What is that guy talking about? First of all, the first victory is Victor Newman. That is that goes out. That's true?

That is true. Okay. Greatest victors of all time. number one Newman RCA Victor number two French

number three Wimbaniama Victor Martinez I'm tapped out on Victor's oh Kiriakis from Days of Our Lives I don't watch that show

anymore Kiriakis Is there's a problem with Wimbun Yama No problems Why is he calling us Because he's mad at Adam Clayton Yeah call him

Is Clinton talk about Victor Wimonyama on the air lot? He hates him Does he talk about I don't listen Yeah he thinks Which is ridiculous I just try to decompress

from our long four-hour show, you know, and I don't listen to sports radio. So it's like, you know, I try to relax. How's that going for you? So I don't normally listen to Adam and Adam. So, I mean, I love the guys. I listen. Yeah, catch the show.

Yeah, I listen. Make sure you listen. Yeah, I listen. I just don't normally. All right. Gut feeling is coming up in 20 minutes. We need you right now at 713, 2.1. I'm sorry. That's my, I'm sorry, three. You're like three deep.

We've been on the air for an hour. 713, 23, 212, 5, 7906. This is to Matt Thomas. show with Ross. 11.04 in H-Town. This is hour number two of the Matt Thomas show with Ross. Nice to have all of you with us on this Tuesday. We are here until 1150, so come on in, say hi. We don't bark.

We don't bite. We bark. We bark. We bark. We bark. We bark. Four hours a day sometimes. That's right. Tomorrow I'll be in Denver. Rockets will take on the Denver Nuggets. We'll have another short show tomorrow before Astro Spring Training. Then Thursday and Friday, you and I will be full live. Actually, I'm all Thursday, be with you for a full four. Wow. Looking forward to that.

Okay. Tomorrow Brian Bogosevic starts his weekly bit, appearance with us, and then Brian McTager with us on Thursday, so you'll have Brian's great for a little bit. Wow. Best Astro coverage, period. Oh, not even close.

Yep. Not even close. And we care about all the teams in town, unlike other people. We frankly like to talk about all the teams. That's true. That's what our mainstay is here. 713-212-790.

7-1-3-2-790. I will open up this hour like I opened up last hour. Watched quite a bit, not all of, but quite a bit of the WBC. And enjoy the experience. Good. Me too. I'm not going to miss it when it's gone. It's good game.

I'm going to be happy when it's regular normalcy in spring training baseball, but players are embracing it. Yes. A huge crowd yesterday. They were throwing hands in right field during the game last night. Yes, they were. I was going to ask for a Monday in downtown. That was a nice slob knocker.

Yeah, that's one dude got sent down three rows. That's saying something. You know what I like, too, is that it didn't get busted up that fast. and then everybody was kind of like you didn't get 50 people involved. They just let them fight. And most importantly, when in doubt, turn your phone on to choose video. Oh, of course. Don't go in there and try to stop it.

Just make sure you get video it. It's like when your kids and two of your cousins, you just let them fight. We'll break it up once somebody wins. Yep. 713-212-5-790. If you join us, and I've got gut feelings coming up in about 15 minutes here on Sports Talk 790. Jim is with us on 790.

Jim, thank you for holding in good morning to you. Hey, hey, good morning to you guys. I love your show. Absolutely love the friendly banter that I don't get on other shows where it feels like they genuinely dislike each other. But I love y'all's friendly banter. Thank you very much. Hey, there was a ridiculous call a couple of calls ago about Yordaum playing in the outfield. So I've had time to think that over and I thought, has Yordaunt ever got injured while playing in the outfield?

Not once. I don't think so. No. I think he's only ever got hurt slipping on home played and hitting the baseball. And it's kind of like, you know, when you're a kid and you try to go in the football game as a high school kid, you're like, okay, I'm not going to get hurt. You're getting hurt. You're definitely getting hurt if your goal is to not get hurt. And so, how dang, let's let him play some outfield.

The guy changed my mind. What was the outfielder the Astros had way back when when it made? was called Enron, and he was a big, big guy. I cannot remember his name. He ran out there to left field every single game. I don't remember him ever getting hurt filled in the ball. Do you all right? Adago?

Adago was more right-fielded. Big guy. Real big guy. Carlos Lee? Carlos Lee. Yes, Carlos Lee. No, it wasn't Enron then. I don't remember him.

Yeah, I don't remember him getting hurt playing the outfield, that little tiny stuff. par three green that we call it left field outfield. It isn't about, but Jim, it's not about the dimensions. It's about the athlete. And if Yorna's had a history of injuries, they want him upright and playing as much as possible because he missed

so much of the last season. And they're saying that reduce the risk of him getting hurt. Now, whether you agree or not, it's a different issue. But they're saying the chances of him getting hurt are half as much because you can get hit at the plate, you can get hit running the bases. You can also get a hit defending your position. You can slide, you can hit a wall, you can pull a hammy, you can do a variety of things when you're chasing after ball. I mean, it is what it is.

You cut the opportunities down to risk injury. You're going to have a smaller chance of getting injured. Now, do I agree with it? It's up in the air at this point because, again, the Astros have a crowded infield and you need some additional bad in there. So I have a feeling, and I brought this up in a couple weeks ago, Jim. I do believe they're going to give him more of a look at left field than they originally thought they were going to because they're going to have to do it because of a number. necessity. That's all I'm looking for.

Once Pena comes back. Yeah. Yep. Thank you for the phone call. I appreciate it. And here's the thing. Thank you again for the nice words. He doesn't, he's not a butcher

and left, he's not elite. And frankly, if I'm going to put him out in the outfield and play him quite a bit, I can put him at Dyken as it's compared to putting him in some of the more spacious left field ballparks. But reality, Ross, there are only probably a four or five spacious left fields in baseball these days. I'm trying to think off the top.

Kansas City is spacious. Detroit is spacious The rest of them are bandboxes, honestly. San Diego maybe. Seattle? But I mean, you go on, well, Seattle may be one, but San Diego you go every other year. Dodger Stadium's got a big left field,

but you go there every other year. I mean, this may not be an issue for a little bit, especially if Pena does not start the season on time. But if everybody's healthy, it will become an issue. He will play left field. Joe Spottis has said that. He said he's going to do everything in his power to limit how much he's in left field, but some things

are out of his power. That is correct. And roster construction being one of them. So we'll see how much he's out there. And while it is true, just because he has never been hurt in left field doesn't mean he can never get hurt in left field. That's what they're just trying to worry about. Because as we've seen, the guy has

gotten hurt, just run into second base. And can we wipe down home plate? Was that a hand that got him one time, too? Uh, maybe. You mean, he did have hand issues before. He's had oblique issues, knee issues, hand issues, don't forget the crickie issues.

The creaky knees were surgically repaired. He's been okay since then. I mean, here's the reality of it. If the Astros are not the favorites to win the American League West this year, they need Yordaun to play 130 games in order to be a team that's going to contend for the America League West. That's a big reason why I did a today of the Tadale's the truth yesterday, and I said they're going to be bottom half, but I think they can be top half. But that's going to be with Yordon being healthy.

Two years ago, he played 147 games. That's what you need. You need something like that from Yordon Alvarez. You need that type because he's your best hitter, and it's not even close. Can you believe he's never hit 40 home runs? A lot of that's because he misses so many games. And a lot of it draws a lot of walks too. You need a 40 run, home run.

You need him to be the centerpiece of your offense. Yeah. If you're going to get anywhere close to making the playoffs this year. Because the drop down, as much as we like an ESOC, there's no fear in the astro lineup like there's the fear of yordon operas used to be oh yordons down well you know what altuvies in his prime we got bregman we got Tucker we got Michael Brantley we got whoever uh George Springer yeah they're all gone yeah it's got to be you yoron let's go heavy lifting time yes put the team on his back though and that's why not that you and if then statement they're saying he's so valuable if we can cut down our chance of him potentially getting hurt that's why we don't want to put him in left field. They know exactly what we're saying.

What we just said, how important he is to being out there for this offense, they know that too. And so they're trying to limit his exposure. And I don't blame him. But the thing of it is, you know, again, the athletes are going to have a directive about who he is as compared to the general manager and the manager. You know, Jose Al-Tubei said, I can try left field.

He didn't like it. It wasn't. He was also bad. You don't have done this again. And I understand. He didn't butcher it in left field, did he? The weakest part of his game, in my opinion, was the arm of strength. I believe he had the weakest outfield arm in baseball.

I know, and I said that. Okay. But he doesn't, he, I've never been embarrassed to watch Jose Al-Tuvae play. There was some adventures. There's some adventures out there. Well, you know, sneaky snake Jake covers up a lot of territory, though. Don't forget that. Thankfully.

While he's here. Can Bryce Matthews cover that same sort of territory? Yes. Can Smith, can. Zach Cole can. Zach Cole's fast. He was very humble when you asked him about running. He's like, I can run a little bit.

Maybe they... He runs like the wind. So is him, Jake Myers, and the Freeze in Atlanta who wins? Well, he still wins? The freeze is older now, right? He's got 10 plus pounds. The freeze is wheeling out there now. Maybe there's a backup freeze.

Well, do they get the lead that the freeze normally gets? If not, the freeze is winning. But that was like five. years ago when the freeze became a big. Are you as fast as you were? When Carl Lewis was 25 and Carlos was 30, was Carl Lewis fast? I mean, it was a tick. It was a tick off. But enough to beat some random Joe Schmo's coming out of the stands, coming down to the stand after three chili dogs and a couple of pints. Jonathan Allen versus the freeze who wins? Oh, I don't know. The free. That's disrespectful. Oh, you got the freeze? What? Guys, yes, that is so disrespectful.

I didn't know. I thought the freeze was a collegiate runner. Yeah. What's so disrespectful about it? I'm just telling you, I'm not cocky, but I'm just telling you, don't do them like that. You know what? I just knew the freeze was like a really good college runner, so I didn't know. No, I'm just, I'm playing the game. Let's make you a superhero. If he's the freeze, what are you?

Oh, Hog nuts. Right. Imagine, yeah, Hog nuts beats Freeze, and his whole reputation would be down to the grain just because of it. I can imagine the headlines of the Houston Chronicle. Go, like, Dewey defeats Truman. Hog nuts defeats Freeze. What? Could have had it better myself.

No, he was actually a good runner, though. Oh, so now you're giving him his props after you're in shame for a little bit. I'm going to be. Oh, apparently they've been accepting applications for a new freeze. Because, again, I think 25-year-old 30-0 freeze is too old. Yeah. He's got hamstring issues. The freeze is like the Harlem Globetters.

The freeze can't lose. Yeah. Maybe Torres-Petler tended. Yeah, and that lead he gives those people? Yeah, you're right, Matt. It's out of there. Okay, so yeah, apparently they're looking for a new freeze. They probably have one by now.

Qualifications. Run really fast. This is a funny comment. To beat the new freeze, you have to beat the old freeze. That feels fair. All right, time now for some gut feelings. This is our favorite, one of our favorite parts of the week. This is my favorite.

I love Shut You Bum and ass out. That's my personal favorite. That's probably, and I like I'm sorry, too. I like them all. That's great. All right. Gut feelings. Make some sports predictions.

713-212-5-790s Listen up girls and boys That's been so appealing This is their gut feeling On the Matt Thomas show All right here we go 7-13-212-5-7-90 We are with you for another half an hour

So please get in your Gut feelings right now 7-13-212-5-790 7-1-3-212-2-5-7-90 All right. Before we get to this week's gut feelings, how did we do one week ago? Was I off last Tuesday? Yes, you were.

Oh, because I had the Shalcas. What? I had the Shalcus. I don't speak Yiddish. 10 noon, Gordy came in and filled in because I had this fighting the sore throat. Yes. You were not full throat, Thomas, like we normally know you to be. Thank you very much.

All right. Last week, you did have a gut feeling. I think I wrote this down, I guess, later in the week. Yeah, yeah, yeah. David Montgomery will not David Montgomery as a Houston Texan will not end well, you said. You also said he will not reach 800 yards rushing.

Well, the first part is scratch it. That's a subjective statement. That's nothing to it. That's what you said, though. Scratch that. I'll stay with the second part. I'm not scratching it. You said it. Okay.

You don't just scratch gut feelings. It's your gut feeling at the time. You can change your gut feelings. Your gut can change. You feeling different in your gut? No, still on Ray Hendon. Okay. That's what I wrote down for you.

I wrote down in all caps. Reed Shepherd will never win an NBA MVP. That's because there was a certain host to my left at the time. It was comparing Reed Shepherd's career trajectory to that of James Hardin. Who was that? Chris Gordy. He also had, and I love Gordy. We love Gordy.

Oh, we love him. We love him. But he also had... I need to Thursday, Gordy. Love you. You're the best. He had Jason Alexander in a starting rotation, and he's already at Minor League. can.

I'm telling you, Space Cowboys are going to be good. Let me tell you something. If there was a bet for Space Cowboys, I'm taking the over. I don't care what it is. 103 wins, over. The only 550 games, over. They're going to be a juggernaut in the PCL.

All right. I said Astros Bats will explode sometime in the next week, 10 plus runs. Now it took them all the week. They got there yesterday, though. 10 runs to win. and I said Astro is over 86 and a half wins. That's the Vegas total.

I'll go over on that. That's my first gut feeling this week. Okay, good. I'll take over 86 and a half. Over eight. I like that. And is that Homer and me? Yes.

Of course. Well, a little bit. But last year, they won 87. And this year, they're going to be healthier. I am ready for a gut feeling for you. And I don't mean to interrupt because I know Jonathan's going to get his in. Yes. Mike Burroughs, right?

Mike Burroughs, right? Mike Burroughs. Burroughs. So young winner? I'm liking Mike Burroughs too. Go ahead. Second best starter for the Astros stat-wise at the end of the season. Ooh, okay.

After, of course, Christian Javier. No. Oh. Okay, maybe after Hunter Brown. Yep. I will say, and I'm not anti-Emi. I'm just saying that I think Burroughs is set to have a filthy season. What's your anti-em-em-bi bias is getting in your head?

I'm pro-E-mi. Okay, good. Let me tell you that. I like this start. rotation. I do. Is there enough bats? I don't know. Who told you that in spring? When we were in West Palm, rotation can be fine.

I believe it was Astros PR that told us. It was me. Well, they always think it's going to be fine. Okay. Dana Brown's their job. Dana Brown always thinks it's going to be fine, too. That's also his job. All right. How did Jonathan do last week? Well, Jonathan had the rockets going two and one in their next three games. Mm-mm.

I say they're going to win three. They went two. I said they're going to win two. They win one. They lost to the Warriors. No, wait, was the wizard game on Tuesday? No, that was Monday. Oh, never mind. Yeah, you're right. They lost the Warriors and the Spurs.

They've lost three of the last five. So Jonathan was wrong on that. Chris Cordy said the Astros will not win the American League West. And he also made his World Series pick. Oh, let me guess. It rhymes with the Ross Randarus Rogers. That is correct. Thanks, Cordy. For all that sunshine and rainbows.

There you go. and those are our ones from last week. Okay. All right. So I have Burrell's second best starter. Rockets have Toronto tonight at Denver tomorrow. Then New Orleans. Then we have an off week.

We have a Saturday, Sunday off. Do you know how good that is for me? That's great. I don't remember last time I had a free weekend. Wait, next week? This weekend. Oh, this weekend? Okay.

Three games coming up. Jonathan? Rockets go two and one. That's a chalk pick. That seems like chalk. You're not going on a leap. Let's pray that. Let's pray that. Let's pray. Yes. Toronto, Denver, New Orleans. Let me tell you about NBA.

This is an early shut you bum ass. Why are we flying to Denver right after the game tonight? Denver ain't around the corner, right? Denver not next to the Lovick, right? No, for a one-game roadie, too. Now, we are playing an hour later tomorrow. But even so, it's still a long hour. By way, if you've ever flown to Denver, by the way, great place.

the airport is like Intercontinental Farm from downtown. It's not around the corner. Oh, really? Yeah. You've been to Denver airport before. I have, but I don't. Yeah, that's not good. I was drunk.

Okay. Just kidding. Yeah, that game will be on ESPN, by the way. And then two games against the Lakers. Maybe I want to make a prediction about the upcoming homestown. Please do. We got five home games. Rockets go four and one on the five game homestand.

That five game homestand starts Friday. against New Orleans, correct? Okay. All right, Jonathan, what do you got? Nuggets game, I'm not going to predict. You know what? You know what? Above all this, we're going to be positive.

Yeah. Rockings are going to come back. Yes. A little drought. Keep going. Keep going. We're going to win the next four. Yes.

Wow. Let's go. Come on. We got this. By the way, thank you, Oklahoma City for beating Denver last night. Rockets. Yeah, we appreciate it. We need it.

We need all these teams around us to be losing. I'm not catching San Antonio either. I kind of believe. They're not. They're not going to catch them. But I still want the three seat. Can I have the three seed? Can a man have a three seed?

That would be nice. Spurs rockets. Round two. Close to home. I'm all about close to home. I'm not going to make a prediction. Don't do that. I don't want you to.

All right, easy money. You're up next. If you want to get in behind, easy money. 713, 21, 2, 2, 5, 7. 713-212-5-7-9-0. All right, on the phones we go, 7-1-3-21-2-5-790. 7-1-2-5-790. If you have any gut feelings, let us know.

I'm going to have a clumped over here. 7-1-3-21-2. Is it all right? Yeah, fine. Okay, that's good. 7-1-3-2-5-70. By the way, any of you all take a daily allergy medicine? Let me know how that works for you.

I'm a Zyrtec guy. Do you get that over the counter? may have to get that prescribed. Yeah, sir, it's over the counter. Because I... You get stuffiness? I look to the calendar. I get sick about the same time every year.

I mean, as the hourly season starts to kick in. Just want to... Flonase is good. Yeah? And it's not addictive forming or anything like that? I have it forming? No, I don't think you... Maybe you can get addicted to Flonase.

I don't think so. It's steroid, though. You don't want to pop positive. I don't think so. Easy. Good morning to you. Good morning, Matt. Good feeling number one.

Gas is going to be over 375 by the end of the month. Gas? 375? Gas. Oh, man. Shut your bum ass up. Hey, I'm not the one making the prices. Number two, Jonathan would beat the freeze.

And I'm ready to bet habacchi on it as long as you don't take the rice. Yeah, man, as long as you don't take all the rice. I like easy. I like him. I like him. Easy. Easy. It was supposed to be a habachi dinner. He got lucky with an abachi lunch. Let me have the G.D. rice.

I got off easy. Matt earned that rice. Well, Kyle Tucker and the Dodgers earned that rice. You know Channel Rome should be paying you part of that bill. No, I should have backed out when I should have thought about the CBA. That's on me. What else you got easy? Number three, Astros under 86. Hey, come on, man. Shut your mom ass up again. man i've been in a natural census 1988 sir and they don't have the offense right now

what else you want to tell us is nico collins tearing his ACL come on man mark it down fellas it's going to be under 86 EC wrote it right down if you get hey if you get it right you better call him braggy if you're wrong you better come and apologize does I will I will I saw you all the last time at Edo and I'll bring you some halls with like that just I don't have I only write down the big braggers like Yankees Keith and Brad. Yeah. And by the way, WBC,

Puerto Rico's winning that. The United States is stacked, but can't beat the Dominicans and the Puerto Ricans. Sorry, United States is going to be third in that. Wow. And I'll hang up. Thank you, easy.

I don't think we've ever had a WBC prediction. I couldn't even name the roster. USA's winning at all. Is that what you're climbing? Sure, why not? Is that because you're two. Team USA? USA! I'm team everyone, Matt. I want everyone to have fun and a good time.

You want less disharmony in the world. I have more gut feelings. Please. Brian Abraeu, this is a random one, but I just get popped up in my head. Brian Abraeu does not blow a save while Josh Hader is out. That's kind of a rando. I mean, I like it. Remember, his September was not spectacular last year.

It was good. It was more high. leverage and it should have been. His high leverage was great. You're misremembering. I think. Go look. Hold on. Let me write down my gut feeling. Brian DeBravee does not believe a slave while Hayter is out. And I can appreciate that one. I'll give you that one.

And also the Texans will sign an interior alignment. I'm not saying how impact. I'm not saying it's going to be a splash. No, no, no, I need a ruling on that. Why? No, no, no. Because some scrub, who's a third teamer for the Cincinnati Bengals does not count as an insigning of interior alignment. An interior lineman. Hmm. Top 75 PFF. Yeah. Well, Blankenship was $89. I'm asking you to put a top 75 tag on it.

I'm saying not just a guy like on a one-year $2 million deal. A non-minimum deal. Can I say that? No. Double minimum deal. You're saying double minimum. Somebody that signs here signs for two years. That's a gut feeling. I'm not saying that.

Well, then don't. Double minimum. Triple minimum? Ooh, that's getting a little nice. A triple the minimum. Oh, man, are you, are you, are you ballsy enough to, uh, but your gutthling on the chief since you, you're so highly about him? Oh, he's calling you.

He's still on your ass about the chiefs? Damn! He liked the kid of walking trail. Why are you doing this to me? I just want to see what you get said. You are chief's lover number one. I'm just kidding. Well, I'm going to hold off to the summertime.

We have to, we have to space ourselves out of this. Okay. Go look up Brian. Okay, hold on. I'm bringing up Brian of Brayu's game. You're making me bring up Brian Abraeus September game logs. Yes.

Okay, September. Yeah, he had the three, he gave up three earned runs in one outing and two in another, and then he didn't give up a run the whole rest of the month. ERA of September was five. But two outings he gave up runs,

and then the other seven outings he was scoreless. How many batters did he face? He went, he went, He went at least an inning every single time except for the last time he got two outs in the last game of the season it looks like. Okay. So you know what?

I will bury that narrative. So two out, he gave up three and runs in one, and then he gave up two run runs in another, and then literally every other, all his other seven outings were scoreless. I like your positivity towards a perfect April. You said perfect April, right? Or perfect until a hitter comes back.

He started September with a 2.29 ERA, and he ended it with a 2.28. Okay, let's go. James is with us. James Wilson, your gut at 1140. My gut feelings are that the Cougars are to make it to the elite eight and the Rockets will make it to the second round of the fell

So that's going to be as much to guess I hate to say that. He said something that I thought that I didn't want to say out loud for a gun. All right. So the two got feelings he has is Cougars Elite Eight, Rocket's second round. I think he's right about the Rockets. It feels like a second round tap out.

Well, of course you would say that. I'm not blaming you for saying it. I'm writing it down I'm not happy about it I'm sorry I want them to make the West finals I just why did the Spurs have to be so good

why did Fred have to get hurt why did Stephen ankle crash into 14 different pieces Oh my gosh Grade 3 Can we not have a grade 3 ankle spray? Of anything I don't want grade 3 of anything

If you look at the rockets There is a direct correlation between their offense and the numbers going down with Stephen Adams going out. Extra possessions. I know. Extra field goal attempts. Yep. Extra open threes after tap out rebounds.

Great screens. Underrated passer. And once in a while, get you a rare double double. Second round tap out. I'll be wrong. I want to be wrong, too. Do you understand how much I enjoy calling these games? I love doing the games, too.

I have a lot of things in my life that I don't enjoy. I enjoy being the voice of the Houston. My favorite thing. The most satisfying evenings I have in this job Where my head hits the pillow And I'm like, man, I love this job Yeah Are nights after big playoff games

And I do the post game In the arena too In the arena In the building In minute made And I do the post game I love it It's electric

Mm-hmm At playoff atmosphere I just got goosebumps talking about it How about Rockets Lakers first round And the Rockets are headed To the Western semis That's what I want to say Let's go

playoffs. I live for Astros playoffs. I live for it. It's why I'm in this job. Keep doing this job. Despite having to work with you for 16 years. You know what? That's, I'm sorry. Number four. That's number four. That's four digs in an hour and 42 minutes. It's the shortest show too.

No. Way too many. It's a joke. All right. That's it for gut feelings this week. Okay. I do want to tell you about it really quickly about our good friends over at Uptown Appliance Repair. Please do. If you're going to watch the Rockets tonight. You're going to watch WBC. You're going to watch Rockets tomorrow. You need to make sure you have friends over that are going to have everything ready for your house. That includes a cold refrigerator. That includes cold ice cubes. That includes a wine

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so you don't have to buy something new. You're going to call them. 281-758-9978, 288, 281-758-9-7978. You can also check out that website at Uptownappliancesrepair.com. Now, tomorrow, Rossi, we have another short show because we've got the Astros of Spring Training.

We've got the Rockets and the Nuggets. I'll be joining you from Denver tomorrow. Okay. We have Brian Bogusevics. going to join us for the first time. And we're going to fly out of asking. It's kind of funny, the great first visit for him is all about the offseason.

And he'll be able to take us into the mind of a, now, he wasn't fighting for playing time. He was happy to get playing time on his major league career. Yes. But he knows the culture of a clubhouse when guys walked to that lineup card and they don't see their name and what's that going to create. Now, that may not be an issue at least early on, especially

if Jeremy Payne's not ready to start the season. But ultimately, I don't even think Jeremy if he's hurt, like he is now, It's one of the situations we're waiting here for six or eight weeks. I don't feel like that at all. I think we've had McTaggart for years. It's musseless and we've had the manager for years. It's musseless.

And now we've added bogey and he's musseless. Yeah, he's good stuff. And it gives us a little bit of a different perspective. We look forward to having him on the show. We have shut your bum ass up tomorrow as well. Mm-hmm. And hopefully a celebratory rocket raptor win. What's song we're going to play tomorrow?

We don't play old Canada, do we? Over a rocket. I'll switch to song myself. We play some Drake. We have Jonathan pick a Drake song. Find us a Drake song that doesn't have 9,000 foul words in it. It's fine. We have the beat library.

Okay, that's if we win, though. What if we lose? Then it's a sad Drake song. What's the saddest Canadian song? Marbles ruined by a Drake. Tomorrow, let me tell you, Jonathan, I'm not picking the song tomorrow. It's a Drake song no matter what. And make sure it's...

What about Alanis Morset? Oh, Alanis Morset's a good poll. Chenaya Twain. And Chenya Twain Canadian, too? I think so. Slane Dionne. We got some options. Up next, Astros baseball.

Talk to y'all tonight at 7 for Rockets and Raptors here on 7-9.