WEBVTT 1 00:00:07.559 --> 00:00:12.640 Welcome to the Space City. Oh the city Pacey, Gret, Gret great, 2 00:00:16.320 --> 00:00:21.679 Welcome to another Space City Saturday. On Sports Talk seven ninety Michael Cutters 3 00:00:21.760 --> 00:00:27.199 Live and local h Town breakdown up the world that matters to you, the 4 00:00:27.440 --> 00:00:31.600 Houstons world, all these great Houston fans here. We love you all, 5 00:00:33.320 --> 00:00:38.119 So finish up on that to do list, flute up the cooler, because 6 00:00:38.159 --> 00:00:41.960 you can't drink in talk sports all day if you don't start. Now. 7 00:00:43.679 --> 00:00:53.159 This is Space City Saturday. Here's seven nineties Astros insider Michael Cunner. Let's 8 00:00:53.159 --> 00:00:56.039 go. We got a busy Saturday for ourselves and we can get off here 9 00:00:56.039 --> 00:01:00.679 with Space City Saturday. Michael Connor here with you until twelve clock as we're 10 00:01:00.719 --> 00:01:03.520 talking. As you heard there all thanks Houston Sports. Of course you get 11 00:01:03.560 --> 00:01:06.879 a day with me on your radio because we're doing this show. Then at 12 00:01:06.920 --> 00:01:10.519 four o'clock I'll have you for the Astros on Deck show ahead of game two 13 00:01:10.560 --> 00:01:14.040 of three this weekend against the Cleveland Guardians. And then once again later this 14 00:01:14.079 --> 00:01:17.040 evening, hopefully a lot earlier than last night, you will have me for 15 00:01:17.200 --> 00:01:19.079 the tenth Inning show after the ball game tonight. Well, we will kick 16 00:01:19.159 --> 00:01:23.400 things off with the Astros. We're gonna get into some NBA finals as we 17 00:01:23.480 --> 00:01:27.359 move along the world of golf. This week was kind of busy. I 18 00:01:27.400 --> 00:01:30.879 know that there's not a lot of you that talk about golf all the time, 19 00:01:30.920 --> 00:01:34.120 but if there's one opportunity to talk about it when I can, this 20 00:01:34.200 --> 00:01:37.560 makes sense. It's a pretty big story this week in that world of golf 21 00:01:37.560 --> 00:01:40.920 that we will get to later on in the show. Texans and OTAs and 22 00:01:40.959 --> 00:01:42.840 everybody else getting ready for the season, what's been going on, the free 23 00:01:42.840 --> 00:01:47.280 agent that is out there that apparently still wants to have a reunion, and 24 00:01:47.359 --> 00:01:51.799 Houston will get too as well. Maybe a little bit of rockets because we're 25 00:01:51.840 --> 00:01:55.319 getting closer and closer to the day that maybe James Harden is back in the 26 00:01:55.319 --> 00:01:59.200 city of Houston. So much again to get through in this show today, 27 00:01:59.760 --> 00:02:02.599 but we will kick things off again with the Houston Astros. If you were 28 00:02:04.599 --> 00:02:07.319 he should have been up last night because the game starts earlier. I will 29 00:02:07.359 --> 00:02:13.360 say selfishly, I absolutely love these East Coast time starts because it's a six 30 00:02:13.439 --> 00:02:15.280 o'clock start and usually it's done by Like the other night, I was getting 31 00:02:15.360 --> 00:02:20.199 done at like nine thirty, and you know, I'd in bed by ten. 32 00:02:20.280 --> 00:02:22.240 And I sound like an old person when I say this, and I'm 33 00:02:22.240 --> 00:02:24.199 aging myself completely, but I'm not even that. I mean thirty two years 34 00:02:24.240 --> 00:02:27.919 old. I shouldn't feel like this, but that's just how I feel. 35 00:02:27.960 --> 00:02:30.039 I like to go to bed early and I like to get up early. 36 00:02:30.159 --> 00:02:32.439 I'm a weirdo. I've always been that way, so I love these early 37 00:02:32.479 --> 00:02:36.840 starts. But if you started off the ball game last night at six o'clock, 38 00:02:37.280 --> 00:02:39.319 you were able to hear us on the tenth Inning Show well after eleven 39 00:02:39.439 --> 00:02:44.759 last night. I think we didn't get off the air until eleven twenty ish 40 00:02:44.840 --> 00:02:46.319 because a lot of you were listening. A lot of you were calling in 41 00:02:46.400 --> 00:02:49.240 last night, which I appreciate you. Which, by the way, you 42 00:02:49.280 --> 00:02:53.759 can join us today at seven one three two one two five seven ninety seven 43 00:02:53.840 --> 00:02:58.159 one three two one two five seven ninety. Of course you can find me 44 00:02:58.199 --> 00:03:04.360 on Twitter at MC seven. The station is at Sports Talk seven ninety. 45 00:03:05.039 --> 00:03:08.080 Last night we had we got plenty of you in after a long, lengthy 46 00:03:08.240 --> 00:03:12.719 marathon where neither team wanted to win the baseball game. Now the Astros pitching 47 00:03:13.319 --> 00:03:16.319 lets them down. Last night, Christian Javier, I look these are, 48 00:03:16.520 --> 00:03:21.520 these are pitchers, these are human beings, and I go through it every 49 00:03:21.560 --> 00:03:23.520 single time. And look, last night, I'm not gonna lie to you. 50 00:03:23.520 --> 00:03:25.719 I was a little bit more on the spicy side on Twitter because I 51 00:03:25.800 --> 00:03:29.199 was I was ready to go with some of these people. I have found 52 00:03:29.240 --> 00:03:36.080 myself being less engaged with what I find to be overreaction and as I've moved 53 00:03:36.080 --> 00:03:38.800 along in life, and you know, last night, I'm not gonna lie 54 00:03:38.840 --> 00:03:40.960 to you. I had a couple of drinks as we were sitting around watching 55 00:03:40.960 --> 00:03:44.479 the game and everything. And when I say a couple of drinks, I 56 00:03:44.479 --> 00:03:46.520 had a couple of glasses of wine last night, because it's our usual Friday 57 00:03:46.520 --> 00:03:51.840 staple here in our home between the two of us, and I went back 58 00:03:51.879 --> 00:03:55.120 and forth with a few people. I want to get to a point where 59 00:03:55.159 --> 00:03:58.719 we can remember that this is a one hundred and sixty two game marathon. 60 00:03:58.759 --> 00:04:00.599 And now, look, I'm not coming on here this morning and making excuses 61 00:04:00.599 --> 00:04:04.240 for the Houston Astros. Right now. They're playing like absolute crap across the 62 00:04:04.280 --> 00:04:09.360 board. They're not playing good enough baseball. They were self inflicted a lot 63 00:04:09.439 --> 00:04:12.759 of those losses in Toronto in that four game series where they drop three of 64 00:04:12.759 --> 00:04:15.800 them. It's on them. They are professionals. They are not performing to 65 00:04:15.840 --> 00:04:19.079 their capabilities right now. And last night they squandered an opportunity to go and 66 00:04:19.560 --> 00:04:24.000 gain a game back in the American League West and get themselves back to four 67 00:04:24.040 --> 00:04:28.199 games, but instead they lose. Texas also loses, so they stay at 68 00:04:28.240 --> 00:04:30.800 five games back last night. Of course, Texas has lost two games in 69 00:04:30.839 --> 00:04:34.319 a row now, which makes it even more frustrating that you've had two consecutive 70 00:04:34.319 --> 00:04:39.680 losses that you should absolutely walked away with a victory in and they just did 71 00:04:39.680 --> 00:04:46.519 not get that in either one of them. But I will say I absolutely 72 00:04:46.720 --> 00:04:53.319 personally cannot stand the overreaction like it's a football game. In one hundred sixty 73 00:04:53.319 --> 00:04:58.519 two games season. There's one thing that drives me more mad than anything else. 74 00:04:58.639 --> 00:05:03.240 It is that in my life, losses are important. They will matter. 75 00:05:03.319 --> 00:05:05.680 They could come back and kick you in the ass later on in the 76 00:05:05.720 --> 00:05:10.480 season. I get it. But they play. They have not even played 77 00:05:10.959 --> 00:05:15.720 a hundred games in this season, yet they play one sixty two. The 78 00:05:15.800 --> 00:05:19.360 sky is not completely falling. Yes, things right now are not great, 79 00:05:20.560 --> 00:05:25.240 but this is the ebbs and flows of a baseball season. They go through 80 00:05:25.279 --> 00:05:28.279 it. Every single year. That's why you can't get too high when the 81 00:05:28.319 --> 00:05:30.839 things are great. You can't get too low when the things are bad. 82 00:05:30.319 --> 00:05:35.040 Right now, things are bad. On top of the bad play, the 83 00:05:35.120 --> 00:05:39.240 poor pitching last night, out of one of your aces, you've lost your 84 00:05:39.279 --> 00:05:41.639 Don Alvarez for a little bit, and who knows how long that's going to 85 00:05:41.680 --> 00:05:45.360 be. Hopefully it's not significant. I would assume we'll get a better update 86 00:05:46.319 --> 00:05:49.959 from Dana Brown tomorrow when he visits with Robert Ford on the pregame show ahead 87 00:05:49.959 --> 00:05:54.519 of Game three, in the final game of the road trip. You'll hear 88 00:05:54.519 --> 00:05:57.040 it here on Sports Talk seven ninety. But that, of course the Astros 89 00:05:57.079 --> 00:06:02.920 general manager. But things just don't feel great at the moment. But there's 90 00:06:03.000 --> 00:06:10.160 no reason to act like everything is coming to an end. There's no reason 91 00:06:10.199 --> 00:06:14.040 to overreact to You can Here's where I'm at. You can be mad about 92 00:06:14.079 --> 00:06:16.279 certain thing For me, you can be mad about certain things in a game 93 00:06:16.439 --> 00:06:21.639 like last night. Something I'm mad about there's no freaking reason in the world 94 00:06:21.959 --> 00:06:27.959 that Raphael Montero should be pitching in a one run game that matters in the 95 00:06:28.040 --> 00:06:31.040 seventh inning. Now, look, I get bullpen usage and Dusty brought it 96 00:06:31.120 --> 00:06:33.600 up in the postgame. They've been riding the hell out of Brian obre you 97 00:06:33.680 --> 00:06:36.800 lately and they could not use him last night. I get it. It 98 00:06:36.959 --> 00:06:40.439 is difficult, and you might think, oh my god, you know, 99 00:06:40.519 --> 00:06:45.079 like they're professional baseball players. They throw pitches like the body does get worn 100 00:06:45.160 --> 00:06:46.680 down when you're throwing that much, that hard all the time. And I'm 101 00:06:46.680 --> 00:06:49.360 telling you, guys, don't some of you don't understand how much they're throwing, 102 00:06:49.399 --> 00:06:54.040 even pregame and then warming up and doing all those things like it adds 103 00:06:54.120 --> 00:06:59.160 up. So I do get at times where workloads need to be dialed back, 104 00:06:59.560 --> 00:07:01.319 you can't. And we saw it last year. They won a World 105 00:07:01.360 --> 00:07:05.879 Series because of how little they were able to put in terms of workload overall 106 00:07:05.920 --> 00:07:10.399 and their bullpen throughout the regular season. I've brought this up a few times. 107 00:07:10.399 --> 00:07:14.399 The last seventy five games a last season, their starter went five innings 108 00:07:14.480 --> 00:07:18.680 or more and every single start. That's incredible. So they did not tax 109 00:07:18.759 --> 00:07:24.279 their bullpen. Now they haven't really had to tax their bullpen like significantly on 110 00:07:24.279 --> 00:07:29.319 this road trip until last night. That's the good news. Overall, they've 111 00:07:29.319 --> 00:07:31.600 been pretty good these guys that they've had been they've had filling in in this 112 00:07:31.720 --> 00:07:34.439 rotation. They've done a really good job of finding their way at least into 113 00:07:34.480 --> 00:07:39.560 the sixth inning and getting through the sixth inning sometimes that has been a massive 114 00:07:40.079 --> 00:07:45.160 point of saving some guys. The frustrating part about all that, though, 115 00:07:45.199 --> 00:07:47.199 is they've had these guys give you results that are good enough to go win, 116 00:07:47.560 --> 00:07:50.079 and you're not winning these baseball games. It gets back to the core 117 00:07:50.160 --> 00:07:55.079 issue of this baseball team, and that is what Dana Brown has acknowledged this 118 00:07:55.120 --> 00:08:01.079 week. It is they are a bad offensive team. Score nine runs last 119 00:08:01.160 --> 00:08:03.439 night. Of course, they get a three run home run in the first 120 00:08:03.439 --> 00:08:05.639 from Jose A. Bray You, they get another a few more runs there 121 00:08:05.680 --> 00:08:09.319 later, and then they go quiet for a good long while. You always 122 00:08:09.319 --> 00:08:11.279 have to tip your cap to pitching in certain spots and say, hey, 123 00:08:11.319 --> 00:08:13.759 you know what, you did your job there, You beat us. It 124 00:08:13.920 --> 00:08:16.920 is what it is. You move on to the next pitch, the next 125 00:08:16.959 --> 00:08:20.680 at bat, whatever it might be, the next day, and you fight 126 00:08:20.759 --> 00:08:28.839 on again. But they offensively this season have not been good enough. And 127 00:08:28.920 --> 00:08:33.279 they during this stretch after coming off of a stretch, by the way, 128 00:08:33.320 --> 00:08:39.200 and I think the exact record was I saw it from Evan Grant of the 129 00:08:39.279 --> 00:08:43.960 Dallas Morning News a few days ago. The day escapes me, escapes me. 130 00:08:43.000 --> 00:08:46.360 But it was earlier this week. I believe it was like Monday, 131 00:08:46.279 --> 00:08:50.759 he tweeted out. Over the last twenty six games, the Astros had a 132 00:08:50.879 --> 00:08:56.759 nineteen and seven record. It was tied for the best record in baseball in 133 00:08:56.799 --> 00:09:01.200 those twenty six games. Guess who it was tied with the Texas Rangers. 134 00:09:01.600 --> 00:09:03.720 The Astros made up no ground in the American League West, then like none. 135 00:09:05.080 --> 00:09:07.799 They had some brief moments where they did, but like it's just been 136 00:09:07.799 --> 00:09:11.519 one of those seasons. They've not been bad. That's the impressive thing. 137 00:09:11.559 --> 00:09:13.679 If you want to go, you know when you acknowledge the bad, and 138 00:09:13.759 --> 00:09:18.039 last night was bad again they lose another The baseball game Montera stinks. Ryan 139 00:09:18.120 --> 00:09:22.399 Pressley cannot go without mentioning that he has another bad outing. He's had some 140 00:09:22.600 --> 00:09:33.399 blips on the radar of late. But they absolutely have played great baseball up 141 00:09:33.519 --> 00:09:37.639 until this point. For a team that has been so dogged by injuries, 142 00:09:37.679 --> 00:09:41.720 that does not sound like it's going to get better anytime soon for some of 143 00:09:41.720 --> 00:09:45.399 them. And they've just lost their biggest thumper. This is their biggest test 144 00:09:45.480 --> 00:09:48.440 of everything that they've lost so far. Right now they are in their biggest 145 00:09:48.480 --> 00:09:52.840 period of time for being tested without your Don Alvarez. He matters more than 146 00:09:52.840 --> 00:09:56.639 anybody else in that line about two Bay matters a ton, Alex Bregman matters 147 00:09:56.679 --> 00:10:01.679 a ton, Kyle Tucker matters a ton. Nobody means more than you're Don 148 00:10:01.679 --> 00:10:05.320 Alvarez. He is one of the best run producers in the game. He 149 00:10:05.440 --> 00:10:09.600 comes through constantly in the clutch. He is your biggest power threat of everybody 150 00:10:09.600 --> 00:10:13.559 else. This is going to be a problem, hopefully for no more than 151 00:10:13.600 --> 00:10:18.679 the ten day period of this Injurlist stint. But if it's if it's past 152 00:10:18.759 --> 00:10:22.759 that, hold your breath, seriously, hold your breath. It's gonna be 153 00:10:22.799 --> 00:10:26.639 tough. It's gonna be on the guys like Kyle Tucker and Alex Bregman to 154 00:10:26.679 --> 00:10:31.399 go to another even to another level than where they're at. It's going to 155 00:10:31.480 --> 00:10:35.639 take jose A. Bray you not being a complete dumpster fire and hitting the 156 00:10:35.679 --> 00:10:39.799 ball over the fence a little bit more like he did last night. It's 157 00:10:39.799 --> 00:10:43.440 gonna take Jeremy Paenia becoming more consistent and stop having these two game spurts where 158 00:10:43.440 --> 00:10:48.039 he looks great and then five games where he looks terrible. It's gonna take 159 00:10:48.120 --> 00:10:52.000 Jose Altuve getting to be Jose Altuve as difficult as it is still for a 160 00:10:52.000 --> 00:10:56.120 guy to jump right into it and get his timing in the first few weeks 161 00:10:56.120 --> 00:11:01.639 back. They're gonna need more out of him. Fingers crossed that you're don 162 00:11:01.679 --> 00:11:07.000 Alvarez is coming back to this ball club quickly because they cannot sustain a lengthy 163 00:11:07.039 --> 00:11:11.279 period of time without him in the lineup. They've been able to sustain again 164 00:11:11.320 --> 00:11:16.519 all the pitching injuries, basically running out triple A pitchers left and right, 165 00:11:16.879 --> 00:11:22.799 and they have a record that's over a five hundred damn impressive. Still does 166 00:11:22.840 --> 00:11:28.480 not feel good enough at all. They have a lot of work to do 167 00:11:28.519 --> 00:11:31.519 to improve this roster. They have a lot of holes in this roster. 168 00:11:31.879 --> 00:11:35.200 They know it, but they have to do it. You can talk about 169 00:11:35.240 --> 00:11:37.639 it, talk about it, talk about it. If they don't have a 170 00:11:37.679 --> 00:11:41.600 deadline, that's busy. It is a failure. I don't want to sit 171 00:11:41.639 --> 00:11:45.799 here and come onto the radio and talk about the deadline being a failure. 172 00:11:45.799 --> 00:11:48.759 The miss here misqu's there. It's a tough market. You might not have 173 00:11:48.799 --> 00:11:52.759 the ammunition to go out and do certain things in the trade market. I 174 00:11:52.840 --> 00:11:58.440 get it, But the clock is ticking towards that trade deadline, and it's 175 00:11:58.440 --> 00:12:07.440 a while away still, But as each day progresses forward, there's more and 176 00:12:07.519 --> 00:12:11.759 more feeling that you absolutely need some big time upgrades to this baseball team. 177 00:12:11.799 --> 00:12:13.399 Because I said it last night in the Tenth Inning Show, and I'll say 178 00:12:13.440 --> 00:12:18.000 it again right here at this moment. If we were going to postseason baseball, 179 00:12:18.039 --> 00:12:20.399 this team is not good enough to win a World Series. It's not 180 00:12:22.360 --> 00:12:28.679 This team would probably have a difficult time unless there are two studs. They're 181 00:12:28.679 --> 00:12:31.960 there. Three studs at the top of this rotation went out and pitched their 182 00:12:31.000 --> 00:12:35.399 asses off. They could have a difficult time getting through a series right now 183 00:12:35.399 --> 00:12:37.600 in the best of five. I don't know that they hit enough consistently. 184 00:12:39.720 --> 00:12:41.159 I think I know that they can pitch well enough, even with the little 185 00:12:41.159 --> 00:12:46.960 blip slat like last night with Presley, with Montero, who's been terrible, 186 00:12:48.360 --> 00:12:52.000 they can get through a series pitching wise. They've kept their pitching numbers right 187 00:12:52.039 --> 00:12:56.679 at the top and basically every single category major League Baseball this year for a 188 00:12:56.720 --> 00:13:05.159 reason. They're that good they're that talented and it's a damn opressive but I 189 00:13:05.200 --> 00:13:09.120 will not lie to you. Coming to you here this morning after another tough 190 00:13:09.200 --> 00:13:13.200 light night last night, not being able to gain any sort of ground on 191 00:13:13.240 --> 00:13:20.600 the Texas Rangers. I'm frustrated the first time since the end of the twenty 192 00:13:20.639 --> 00:13:30.679 sixteen season that they have been five games back in the division race. It 193 00:13:30.720 --> 00:13:35.519 doesn't feel right. Long, long haul ago and for as mad as some 194 00:13:35.600 --> 00:13:39.000 of you can be, or as down in the dumps as some of you 195 00:13:39.039 --> 00:13:46.799 can be, just remember it is a one hundred sixty two game marathon and 196 00:13:46.919 --> 00:13:50.679 it's never going to be perfect. We'll get to a couple of those relievers 197 00:13:50.720 --> 00:13:54.480 from last night, the struggles that they had, and I do want to 198 00:13:54.480 --> 00:14:01.799 discuss the complete overreaction again that's some of them getting We'll do that next here 199 00:14:01.799 --> 00:14:03.559 on a Space City Saturday. You can join us at seven one three two 200 00:14:03.559 --> 00:14:07.559 one two five seven ninety. Come on in here as we're talking to your 201 00:14:07.559 --> 00:14:15.919 strows on Sports Talk seven ninety. Space City Saturday continues. Find Sports Talk 202 00:14:15.960 --> 00:14:20.799 seven ninety. Michael Connor back here with you for the show that we call 203 00:14:20.879 --> 00:14:22.919 Space City Saturday. I was about to call it the on Deck Show, 204 00:14:22.919 --> 00:14:26.039 it's not the on Deck Show. I'll do the on deck Show later this 205 00:14:26.080 --> 00:14:28.279 afternoon, four o'clock ahead of the five. I think it's five ten first 206 00:14:28.279 --> 00:14:31.919 pitch. I should probably know this because I have to do the show again. 207 00:14:33.000 --> 00:14:35.360 Yes, five to ten our first, five ten, Our first pitch 208 00:14:35.440 --> 00:14:41.080 this evening, it'd be JP France up against Tristan McKenzie. Tristan McKenzie is 209 00:14:41.120 --> 00:14:43.919 a tough nut to crack, one of the better young pitchers in baseball. 210 00:14:43.919 --> 00:14:48.960 It just came back from his injury. But man, I am I am 211 00:14:48.080 --> 00:14:52.200 not optimistic, to be perfectly honest with you about tonight's baseball game. Having 212 00:14:52.200 --> 00:14:56.519 a lot of offense and hopefully mackenzie is still kind of easing his way into 213 00:14:56.559 --> 00:14:58.360 the season. But so far as he are a zero and his brief amount 214 00:14:58.360 --> 00:15:03.519 of time pitching, he's pretty damn good. We'll see what happens in that 215 00:15:03.559 --> 00:15:05.639 one at night again, I'll have you for the on Deck Show starting at 216 00:15:05.679 --> 00:15:07.559 four, and then the tenth inning show after the ball game. By the 217 00:15:07.600 --> 00:15:11.120 way, you can join us this morning here at seven one three two one 218 00:15:11.200 --> 00:15:15.639 two five seven ninety seven one three two one two five seven ninety we're discussing 219 00:15:15.679 --> 00:15:18.440 the Astros. We will get into other things as we move along. It's 220 00:15:18.440 --> 00:15:20.679 not gonna be just Astrost this morning. I do some other stuff that I 221 00:15:20.720 --> 00:15:24.759 want to get to, whether it be something new coming to this country, 222 00:15:24.240 --> 00:15:28.039 something that's about to wrap up in one of those cities or part of one 223 00:15:28.080 --> 00:15:30.200 of those cities that I'm talking about being new in this country. A lot 224 00:15:30.200 --> 00:15:33.120 of cool thing, maybe not cool thing, but just things going on in 225 00:15:33.159 --> 00:15:37.039 the world sports that we'll get too as we move along here. But the 226 00:15:37.320 --> 00:15:41.960 Astros last night, tough fourteen inning loss you'd expect in this world, and 227 00:15:43.080 --> 00:15:45.919 I need to go. I gotta figure it out or go find where I 228 00:15:45.960 --> 00:15:48.399 can see where I can find it. But maybe somebody has it or you 229 00:15:48.440 --> 00:15:50.879 can tweet it to me. At MC seven ninety. That has to be 230 00:15:50.879 --> 00:15:54.840 the longest game in baseball last night. That was insane. Like we live 231 00:15:54.879 --> 00:16:00.000 in this world now where there are the ghost runners, the runners that start 232 00:16:00.039 --> 00:16:03.200 off the ending on second base, which you know, I know there's still 233 00:16:03.200 --> 00:16:07.039 a lot of people that don't love it. Personally, I think it's completely 234 00:16:07.080 --> 00:16:11.120 fine in the regular season. It keeps you from going through these games. 235 00:16:11.159 --> 00:16:14.480 Yet last night's game four hours, three minutes. I mean absolute and Sandy. 236 00:16:14.519 --> 00:16:15.879 We're averaging. By the way, no one's gonna tick it up a 237 00:16:15.879 --> 00:16:19.000 little bit across Major League baseball this season two hours, thirty six minutes. 238 00:16:19.039 --> 00:16:22.480 I think it was the exact number so far for games. I've loved the 239 00:16:22.480 --> 00:16:26.799 pace of games this year. I've been very, very pleased that, you 240 00:16:26.840 --> 00:16:30.039 know, the dumb early yelling and bickering about it has gone away because I 241 00:16:30.039 --> 00:16:33.679 think you're all seeing as it goes along. This is better. The runs 242 00:16:33.679 --> 00:16:37.720 and baseball are up, the batting averages are up, the stolen bases are 243 00:16:37.799 --> 00:16:41.120 up, like everything offensively is up. It's been a better product, and 244 00:16:41.159 --> 00:16:45.200 it's moving quicker. There's not so much dead time. Like it's awesome. 245 00:16:45.240 --> 00:16:49.559 I absolutely love it. But four hours, three minutes last night they lose 246 00:16:51.480 --> 00:16:56.480 two guys in the bullpen. Really just did not have it. And I 247 00:16:56.559 --> 00:16:59.080 went to Twitter last night during the game, like, you know, we'll 248 00:16:59.120 --> 00:17:02.559 do quite a bit because I mean, we're just talking Astro's baseball, and 249 00:17:02.879 --> 00:17:07.000 I took the bait of oh my god, the sky is falling, and 250 00:17:10.759 --> 00:17:15.880 you know I I got into it with a few people. One person and 251 00:17:17.440 --> 00:17:18.799 those of you on hold just wait a second. I'm gonna get to here. 252 00:17:18.799 --> 00:17:22.559 In just one second, I got into it about Ryan Pressley and one 253 00:17:22.599 --> 00:17:26.039 guys sitting here tweeting Ryan Presley's terrible, Like why do we have to do 254 00:17:26.079 --> 00:17:30.039 this every time a closer blows one save? Ryan Pressley is not terrible. 255 00:17:30.119 --> 00:17:34.759 Ryan Pressley, for three years now has been one of the most consistent and 256 00:17:36.079 --> 00:17:41.880 most successful and just overall best closers in baseball. The numbers are right there, 257 00:17:41.880 --> 00:17:45.079 like you can go use your eyeballs and look it up and look at 258 00:17:45.079 --> 00:17:48.640 his conversion rates and look at his whip and look at all the important things, 259 00:17:48.680 --> 00:17:49.599 and then go to the postseason. Then look at the run he just 260 00:17:49.640 --> 00:17:53.519 went on from last season through the postseason to the beginning of this year before 261 00:17:53.519 --> 00:17:56.680 he finally blew a save, Like he's great and I'm done with this. 262 00:17:56.799 --> 00:18:00.599 Oh my god, He's just not a shut down close. It's so stupid. 263 00:18:00.279 --> 00:18:03.960 It is so stupid. He blew a game last night. It is 264 00:18:04.000 --> 00:18:07.039 what it is. It happens. You're not going to go unless you are 265 00:18:07.680 --> 00:18:14.519 you know, Marianna Rivera, which nobody has been him other than him. 266 00:18:14.720 --> 00:18:17.839 You're not going to go through seasons or Brad Lidge in his perfect season with 267 00:18:17.880 --> 00:18:21.720 the Phillies that one year they're going to blow a game. Does that mean 268 00:18:21.759 --> 00:18:23.279 that you can see I'm I'm not sitting here making an excuse for him. 269 00:18:23.319 --> 00:18:27.039 Last night he hung a pitch over the middle of the plate, got crushed 270 00:18:27.039 --> 00:18:30.599 for a hit, gave up the winning run. He didn't have his best 271 00:18:30.599 --> 00:18:33.400 stuff last night. He is in a slump like everybody else can be. 272 00:18:33.559 --> 00:18:37.039 Right now. That's the thing I think we fall into is people like, 273 00:18:37.240 --> 00:18:40.519 oh, we worry about hitters and slumps, but like you know, pitchers 274 00:18:40.519 --> 00:18:44.640 go through slumps too. It happens. So that's where like, I just 275 00:18:44.680 --> 00:18:48.400 can't do the complete This guy is terrible. He's the worst. Now, 276 00:18:48.440 --> 00:18:52.680 I will give you on the Montero one. Raphael Montero stinks and every single 277 00:18:52.799 --> 00:18:56.599 day that they keep rolling him out there, it is another reminder of how 278 00:18:56.720 --> 00:19:02.160 god awful that contract was this past offseason. And we will get back into 279 00:19:02.200 --> 00:19:07.200 that just how bad their off season was, because it was atrocious what they 280 00:19:07.240 --> 00:19:11.000 did and it sucks, but it's the truth. They have been that bad 281 00:19:11.240 --> 00:19:15.319 in terms of results from it. It was an abysmal off season. Let's 282 00:19:15.319 --> 00:19:17.720 go to the phone lines though now seven one, three, two on two 283 00:19:17.720 --> 00:19:21.000 five seven, ninety. We'll talk to Eddie first this morning. Hello Eddie, 284 00:19:21.960 --> 00:19:22.720 Hey, Michael, let's up. Hey, let's not call him. 285 00:19:22.720 --> 00:19:29.640 And I've asked about the long seventeen game stretch. Is there any reason why 286 00:19:30.240 --> 00:19:33.599 the actress had to play Backminion games in a row. It's just kind of 287 00:19:33.640 --> 00:19:37.359 seems like almost unfair. I don't I don't recall or oh I've heard that 288 00:19:37.440 --> 00:19:44.079 any other teams had to play seventeen games in a row. And also one 289 00:19:44.119 --> 00:19:48.240 thing about the slumps. I think Brian Brady was going through a slump. 290 00:19:48.279 --> 00:19:51.359 He just had to look himself. I mean, he started out okay and 291 00:19:51.400 --> 00:19:55.480 then he's just the last several games. He might have a good any hearing 292 00:19:55.519 --> 00:19:59.000 there, but I seem like he's had more struggles or he hasn't had any 293 00:19:59.039 --> 00:20:03.640 clean, clean us for a while, thank you, Eddie. Um, 294 00:20:03.680 --> 00:20:07.160 yeah, look he's going through it a little bit right now. He You 295 00:20:07.200 --> 00:20:10.559 know, I know that everybody wants a clean inning all the time, and 296 00:20:11.440 --> 00:20:14.640 I would too. Excuse me, I just had a sneezing fit while you 297 00:20:14.680 --> 00:20:19.079 were calling. Um, I want to clean inning every single time as well. 298 00:20:19.680 --> 00:20:23.039 It's just it's not realistic to be consistent. That's just it's just not 299 00:20:23.079 --> 00:20:26.960 how it is. And I think we've watched this Astro's bullpen for the last 300 00:20:26.960 --> 00:20:30.799 couple of years. We all know that they have a few guys that unfortunate, 301 00:20:30.839 --> 00:20:33.720 as great as their results are, unfortunately they just kind of lived through 302 00:20:33.759 --> 00:20:36.839 traffic. You know, it's it's it is baseball. I will say that, 303 00:20:36.880 --> 00:20:40.799 you know, that's that's just I think that's just the reality of the 304 00:20:40.839 --> 00:20:44.039 situation that every single team is gonna be like that or have guys like that. 305 00:20:45.519 --> 00:20:49.680 And I don't think we've we're at a point now anymore where hitters are 306 00:20:49.720 --> 00:20:53.079 getting beat by ninety five plus anymore. Like it just they just don't. 307 00:20:53.119 --> 00:20:56.519 They are all so accustomed to it and used to it that you can have 308 00:20:56.519 --> 00:21:00.079 a million relievers come in and blow ninety nine and unless you got you know, 309 00:21:00.160 --> 00:21:06.240 Duran of Minnesota who's throwing one oh three plus, or joice of of 310 00:21:07.680 --> 00:21:10.759 the Angels the other day who's blowing one oh three plus, Like those are 311 00:21:10.799 --> 00:21:12.440 only kind of fastball as these guys are missing these days. So you gotta 312 00:21:12.440 --> 00:21:17.279 be elite at your secondary pitches. And I think at the moment for Brian 313 00:21:17.319 --> 00:21:19.799 to Brayu along with some of these other guys their their secondary stuff is not 314 00:21:19.880 --> 00:21:23.319 as crisp. Now here's my question, how much of these guys are hiting 315 00:21:23.319 --> 00:21:26.720 How many of these guys, whether it's Pressley, whether it's Brian A. 316 00:21:26.799 --> 00:21:30.640 Brayu, whether it's a Christian Javier last night, how many of these guys 317 00:21:30.680 --> 00:21:33.400 that pitch in the World Baseball Classic that had to ramp their springs up, 318 00:21:33.400 --> 00:21:34.960 how much of them are hitting a wall right now? They might be hitting 319 00:21:34.960 --> 00:21:37.799 their mid season wall to the beginning in June, because a mid season wall 320 00:21:38.160 --> 00:21:44.039 is a very real thing. Guys get not necessarily dead arm, but it 321 00:21:44.119 --> 00:21:48.359 happens every single year at some point, like Pitcher's arms just get tired. 322 00:21:49.720 --> 00:21:53.359 I wonder if some of these guys are hitting that stage that would be that 323 00:21:53.359 --> 00:21:56.160 would be an interesting thing to find out. I don't think that anybody's gonna 324 00:21:56.160 --> 00:22:00.319 really tell you. They're never gonna admit to that, but I think that 325 00:22:00.319 --> 00:22:03.759 that is something that is a possibility for this team. And then on the 326 00:22:03.839 --> 00:22:07.599 seventeen games in a row stretch. You know, I've tried to look it 327 00:22:07.680 --> 00:22:11.240 up, but I think a lot of teams have these kind of stretches during 328 00:22:11.279 --> 00:22:12.519 the year. It's just a scheduling quirk. I mean, look, they 329 00:22:12.559 --> 00:22:17.200 had every Thursday off for the first two months of the season, so like 330 00:22:17.400 --> 00:22:19.680 they had a very beneficial schedule early on. But like, I'll just go 331 00:22:19.720 --> 00:22:22.559 pull up a random team here in a minute, and I'll find a stretch 332 00:22:22.599 --> 00:22:26.200 of games and see what their longest period of time playing is, because I'm 333 00:22:26.240 --> 00:22:30.079 gonna go ahead and assume most of these teams at some point have a have 334 00:22:30.119 --> 00:22:33.880 a streak of at least fifteen straight games in fifteen days. I'd be shocked 335 00:22:33.880 --> 00:22:37.680 if they didn't. Let's go back to the phone lines and talk to James. 336 00:22:37.720 --> 00:22:41.759 What's up, James? I don't I love too much of Release Kitchen. 337 00:22:41.519 --> 00:22:45.440 I don't And maybe this is I'm just all observing it, but I 338 00:22:45.480 --> 00:22:48.240 don't see what it can rolled him freshly out that he gives them a lot 339 00:22:48.279 --> 00:22:49.960 of games. I mean, that game shouldn't win it Exchangeling, and he 340 00:22:51.039 --> 00:22:53.519 went out there, couldn't get one last out and that des put him in 341 00:22:53.559 --> 00:22:56.480 Exchang. Isn't it the first time he's done it. I remember a playoff 342 00:22:56.559 --> 00:22:59.960 lady he gave up, came into a game in the bottom of the Nathan 343 00:23:00.039 --> 00:23:02.960 name was six loans or something like that. I don't know. What he 344 00:23:03.240 --> 00:23:04.599 did not below. He did not blow any hold on. He did not 345 00:23:04.599 --> 00:23:08.839 blow any playoff game last year. That's interaccurate. Well, he blew one 346 00:23:08.880 --> 00:23:11.039 guy. I remember one game he came in and gave up six clowns. 347 00:23:11.440 --> 00:23:14.960 It was a boy was leading by three round the bottom of the ninth. 348 00:23:15.000 --> 00:23:17.440 He comes in there and they lost a game. He definitely last night. 349 00:23:17.920 --> 00:23:19.440 That shouldn't even win. That shouldn't even win if he isn'tland and he should 350 00:23:19.480 --> 00:23:22.480 have been to shipped that out. But if he thought him out there, 351 00:23:22.480 --> 00:23:22.839 I mean, how old is this guy? I mean, what does his 352 00:23:22.880 --> 00:23:26.440 contract status? I mean, is he a trade value of something? No? 353 00:23:26.480 --> 00:23:30.880 Why what trade? Here's a serious question. Okay, so why I 354 00:23:30.920 --> 00:23:33.920 don't understand that here we got thank you for the phone call. I don't 355 00:23:33.079 --> 00:23:37.839 understand. I don't understand necessarily that mindset. I'm gonna go ahead and run 356 00:23:37.839 --> 00:23:41.000 through Ryan Pressley's numbers. Since he has become the closer for the Houston Astros 357 00:23:41.000 --> 00:23:47.039 in twenty twenty and robertos Sooner got hurt early in the season, Ryan Pressley 358 00:23:47.039 --> 00:23:48.559 took over in the shortened COVID year. That year, he went twelve of 359 00:23:48.640 --> 00:23:53.279 sixteen converting saves in twenty twenty one, he went twenty six of twenty eight, 360 00:23:53.400 --> 00:23:56.680 so only two times did he come in and blow a safe. Last 361 00:23:56.720 --> 00:24:00.880 year he went thirty three or thirty seven, so four times throughout the year 362 00:24:00.920 --> 00:24:03.720 he blew a save opportunity. So far this year he's eleven of thirteen when 363 00:24:03.720 --> 00:24:08.279 we go to the postseason. For Ryan Pressley, over the last few years, 364 00:24:08.319 --> 00:24:11.559 let's go ahead and pull up those numbers real quick. In twenty twenty 365 00:24:11.920 --> 00:24:17.400 he went four of four in save opportunities in the postseason. In twenty twenty 366 00:24:17.400 --> 00:24:21.160 one he went one of one, and then in twenty twenty two he went 367 00:24:21.279 --> 00:24:25.079 six of six, So you're inaccurate. He is perfect in the postseason eleven 368 00:24:25.400 --> 00:24:30.519 of eleven in save opportunities in his career, and his postseason era over that 369 00:24:30.640 --> 00:24:33.279 period of time with the Houston Astros is two point five six and in the 370 00:24:33.359 --> 00:24:37.640 last two years, over a total of over twenty innings, he has given 371 00:24:37.720 --> 00:24:41.119 up two runs in the postseason. It's inaccurate. I think that this false 372 00:24:41.240 --> 00:24:48.079 narrative that continues to be built because we are too unfortunately too short sighted on 373 00:24:48.680 --> 00:24:51.640 how we view things are being going and just looking up the numbers, the 374 00:24:51.680 --> 00:24:55.880 numbers tell you that's not true. They run him out there because he is 375 00:24:55.920 --> 00:24:59.759 elite at finishing games. I just gave you all the numbers. He is 376 00:25:00.240 --> 00:25:03.160 one of the most consistent back end of the game pitchers in baseball. And 377 00:25:03.200 --> 00:25:07.640 it's not even close. And they're not going to stop running him out there. 378 00:25:07.640 --> 00:25:08.920 And they shouldn't stop running him out there because he had a couple of 379 00:25:08.960 --> 00:25:11.759 games recently where he sucked. Now, if this streak went on for a 380 00:25:11.799 --> 00:25:15.759 month, then you have to dial it back a little bit. It's not 381 00:25:15.799 --> 00:25:18.440 going to continue for a month. His stuff is too good. He will 382 00:25:18.480 --> 00:25:21.839 find his way back. Three of his last four outings, he's given up 383 00:25:21.920 --> 00:25:25.599 runs, He's blown two saves. It is what it is. You can 384 00:25:25.640 --> 00:25:30.200 find a stretch like that in every single season for a pitcher, every single 385 00:25:30.319 --> 00:25:33.720 year they have him locked up for a few more years. He's under contract 386 00:25:33.759 --> 00:25:37.440 this year, he's under contract next year, has a team option at through 387 00:25:37.480 --> 00:25:38.759 the twenty twenty four season if they want to pick it up, which they 388 00:25:38.960 --> 00:25:42.920 probably will, and he'll be thirty six that season. He's not falling off 389 00:25:42.920 --> 00:25:48.440 the cliff anytime soon. I promise you that. So it's something that unfortunately, 390 00:25:51.160 --> 00:25:53.599 I get the frustration of a pitcher like him going out and blowing it 391 00:25:53.720 --> 00:25:57.599 last night. But this is where I act asked that we stopped doing this 392 00:25:57.640 --> 00:26:06.079 football reaction to everything. That reaction is silly and it's inaccurate. You're gonna 393 00:26:06.119 --> 00:26:10.400 come to me with it. You gotta have something to prove that you're right. 394 00:26:11.319 --> 00:26:14.680 That's not right. Nothing you said there unfortunately. Seven one three two 395 00:26:14.680 --> 00:26:18.480 one two five seven ninety is our phone number here to join us on Sports 396 00:26:18.519 --> 00:26:22.200 Talk seven. I need a little Space City Saturday. All right, we'll 397 00:26:22.200 --> 00:26:25.960 continue some of the bitching X Well, let's look back on the things that 398 00:26:26.000 --> 00:26:29.160 have gone on. Let's look at the contracts that we're handed out. Let's 399 00:26:29.160 --> 00:26:32.519 talk about why the Astros are in some of this position that they're in. 400 00:26:32.640 --> 00:26:37.880 And we'll do that next here on Sports Talk seven ninety. Welcome back to 401 00:26:37.039 --> 00:26:45.079 Space City Saturday. Sports Talk seven ninety Welcome back to Space City Saturday. 402 00:26:45.440 --> 00:26:49.000 Here on Sports Talk seven. I need Michael Connor back here with you until 403 00:26:49.079 --> 00:26:53.000 twelve o'clock. You can join us at seven one three two one two five 404 00:26:53.400 --> 00:26:59.359 seven ninety. Seven one three two one two five seven ninety is the number 405 00:26:59.839 --> 00:27:00.720 or to get to those of you on hold here in just a minute, 406 00:27:00.720 --> 00:27:04.839 we're gonna get through some of the stuff. When in terms of the Astros 407 00:27:06.119 --> 00:27:08.559 offseason that continues to linger and what they didn't do, in my opinion, 408 00:27:08.599 --> 00:27:12.599 to solidify this baseball team in certain areas, and the frustration of it because 409 00:27:12.599 --> 00:27:15.599 of the results. Again last night popping back up, but I real quick 410 00:27:15.640 --> 00:27:21.160 wanted to give an update to a few minutes ago. And I'm sorry, 411 00:27:21.160 --> 00:27:22.359 I can't remember who called. May it was James or no, it was 412 00:27:23.240 --> 00:27:26.759 Eddie. Eddie you called last night about it. At night said I would 413 00:27:26.759 --> 00:27:29.599 go look at a couple of random teams in terms of the Astros playing this 414 00:27:29.680 --> 00:27:32.880 stretch of seventeen games in a row, And I just went and pulled up 415 00:27:32.880 --> 00:27:37.480 two of the top teams in the American League, and the Astros aren't the 416 00:27:37.480 --> 00:27:38.759 only team that's going through a stretch like this. Of course, I mentioned 417 00:27:38.759 --> 00:27:42.799 that the Astros had every Thursday off so far in the first two months of 418 00:27:42.839 --> 00:27:45.960 the regular season, which was awesome, like you love that for your team, 419 00:27:47.000 --> 00:27:48.319 you love that for your pitching and made things very easy. But they've 420 00:27:48.319 --> 00:27:51.559 been in this stretch of seventeen games in a run. I think without a 421 00:27:51.559 --> 00:27:55.200 doubt they're probably getting to the end of it where they see the light at 422 00:27:55.240 --> 00:27:57.079 the end of the tunnel for a day off on Monday. You know, 423 00:27:57.119 --> 00:28:00.240 the mental exhaustion from it is very real. They've been on the road. 424 00:28:02.079 --> 00:28:03.720 They probably want to get back home, getting their own beds and just enjoy 425 00:28:03.759 --> 00:28:07.680 a day off, get away from baseball for a day. You know how 426 00:28:07.720 --> 00:28:10.400 that is for your job, How peaceful and nice it is when you just 427 00:28:10.440 --> 00:28:14.160 get a break for a minute. It's the same thing for a professional baseball 428 00:28:14.200 --> 00:28:17.160 player, for any professional athlete, to get those kind of breaks. But 429 00:28:18.160 --> 00:28:19.279 I just pulled up, like I mentioned, a couple of the random a 430 00:28:19.279 --> 00:28:22.519 couple of the top teams in the American League, and I pulled up Tampa 431 00:28:22.519 --> 00:28:23.880 Bay, and I pulled up the New York Yankees. I'm just looking at 432 00:28:23.920 --> 00:28:27.160 Tampa schedule. Just last month, in the month of May, they had 433 00:28:27.240 --> 00:28:32.920 one day off. They played the first stretch of the month thirteen days, 434 00:28:33.160 --> 00:28:38.279 thirteen games, and then they played sixteen games in sixteen days. So it's 435 00:28:38.319 --> 00:28:41.119 not just the Astros they get it. I pulled up the New York Yankees 436 00:28:41.160 --> 00:28:45.400 as well. They in the month of May went through a stretch where they 437 00:28:45.440 --> 00:28:48.880 played seventeen consecutive days, just like the Astros are doing now from the fifth 438 00:28:49.039 --> 00:28:55.160 of May through the twenty first of May. So like it's not just the 439 00:28:55.200 --> 00:28:57.880 Strows or Fortunately that are doing it. They didn't just like single them out. 440 00:28:59.519 --> 00:29:03.160 Everybody he's got everybody's got months where they have a lot of days off. 441 00:29:03.200 --> 00:29:04.839 Like you look at the Yankees right now, they're benefiting in this month 442 00:29:04.880 --> 00:29:10.119 from going through that already in their schedule. They've got every Monday off in 443 00:29:10.160 --> 00:29:12.440 this month and they have a Thursday off, so they've got a total of 444 00:29:12.759 --> 00:29:17.839 five off days in the month of June. Where you go and look at 445 00:29:17.920 --> 00:29:21.519 again, like the Tampa Bay Rays just a month ago had one day off 446 00:29:21.559 --> 00:29:23.839 in the month. It's crazy, and they're going through a month right behind 447 00:29:23.880 --> 00:29:30.279 it. The Rays are where they are playing. They are playing every almost 448 00:29:30.319 --> 00:29:33.359 every single day in the month. Again, they're playing every day but two 449 00:29:33.400 --> 00:29:37.160 Mondays at the end of the month. So they're in another stretch right now 450 00:29:37.200 --> 00:29:41.640 where they have played a lot of baseball in a lot of days. They 451 00:29:41.640 --> 00:29:45.160 are on a current stretch at the moment where Tampa has played. They've been 452 00:29:45.200 --> 00:29:52.599 on the they've been going since the sixteenth of May, and they had an 453 00:29:52.599 --> 00:29:55.359 off day finally yesterday because of a rain out, but then they had to 454 00:29:55.359 --> 00:29:57.400 bounced back and play I shouldn't say that that was his past week, and 455 00:29:57.440 --> 00:30:00.640 they'd to bounced back and play a double head. And they're going again until 456 00:30:00.640 --> 00:30:04.920 the eighteenth of June. I mean just wild. So it's just quirks of 457 00:30:06.000 --> 00:30:08.400 the scheduling in Major League Baseball. Let's go back to the phone lines and 458 00:30:08.440 --> 00:30:11.880 seven one, three, two and two five is seven ninety. We will 459 00:30:11.920 --> 00:30:18.039 talk to Steve. Steve Hi, I just I'm getting over last night. 460 00:30:18.200 --> 00:30:22.200 No, I'm you know what everything you're talking about and saying you're right. 461 00:30:22.519 --> 00:30:26.000 I mean, my god, they're human beings. I mean, seventeen games, 462 00:30:26.039 --> 00:30:29.880 seventeen days, they're tired, and they're hurt. And the fact that 463 00:30:29.839 --> 00:30:33.039 that Seth mart game has bitched like he did last night, he deserves an 464 00:30:33.039 --> 00:30:37.440 Academy award, particularly with those two guys in that lineup over there that could 465 00:30:37.480 --> 00:30:42.359 close their eyes and beat you. It's amazing that we went as far as 466 00:30:42.359 --> 00:30:45.119 we did in that volume. Would have been great to win it. But 467 00:30:45.640 --> 00:30:49.799 having said all that, we're still only five games back. Only and I 468 00:30:49.880 --> 00:30:52.720 said, because of this, if the Rangers are really for real, it 469 00:30:52.880 --> 00:30:57.480 beat ten or twelve games ahead. Right now, I just don't believe them. 470 00:30:57.559 --> 00:31:03.839 They're great, They're enough great, no question, But I really think 471 00:31:03.880 --> 00:31:07.880 once the Astros get healthy, I think they're gonna be fine and make some 472 00:31:08.119 --> 00:31:12.720 changes in the lineup. I like Dusty Baker as a person, Okay, 473 00:31:14.079 --> 00:31:18.799 I liked him as a ball player, but I just think that he makes 474 00:31:18.920 --> 00:31:22.920 bonehead decisions with the lineup sometimes. I know guys need to rest, but 475 00:31:23.359 --> 00:31:29.039 flipping Alt two of it and Dubon or you know, Alt two of he's 476 00:31:29.039 --> 00:31:33.039 got to lead off, you know, and then Dubon second, or Dubon 477 00:31:33.119 --> 00:31:37.880 can lead off now. But with Papinia is not the leadoff guy. He 478 00:31:37.799 --> 00:31:42.680 struggles and it's proven more when he hits further down in the lineup. So 479 00:31:44.279 --> 00:31:48.119 two things have to happen. Number One, Maldonado's a double play waiting to 480 00:31:48.200 --> 00:31:52.160 happen. He can't be in there anymore. Diaz has got to be the 481 00:31:52.240 --> 00:31:56.720 catcher period. He hits for a higher average as a higher ops. He's 482 00:31:56.759 --> 00:32:00.400 the real deal. And Dubon got to play more, and I know he'll 483 00:32:00.440 --> 00:32:05.680 play more now with You're gone out, But we've got to put that guy 484 00:32:05.720 --> 00:32:08.680 in the lineup just to buy it as much as we can. He needs 485 00:32:08.720 --> 00:32:15.119 to be in there to help the offense. So I hope Dusty sees that. 486 00:32:15.480 --> 00:32:21.799 And I don't know what his thinking is, but sometimes he makes decisions. 487 00:32:21.839 --> 00:32:24.079 I'm just sitting there scratching my head, going, what da hell are 488 00:32:24.119 --> 00:32:30.880 you thinking? So That's where I'm at right now. Thank you, Steve. 489 00:32:30.039 --> 00:32:35.240 I appreciate the phone call, appreciate you listening here to Space City Saturday 490 00:32:35.400 --> 00:32:39.400 on Sports Talk seven ninety. I am going to kind of disagree on the 491 00:32:39.440 --> 00:32:44.559 overall view of Dusty Baker. I know that it is the lands of the 492 00:32:44.559 --> 00:32:47.720 manager's lap. Quite often. I think that we go too far and are 493 00:32:47.839 --> 00:32:54.240 unfair to Dusty Baker a lot, which is again and we shouldn't. Shouldn't 494 00:32:54.359 --> 00:32:59.359 we shouldn't be at this point at anymore because it's been so long since that 495 00:32:59.480 --> 00:33:01.720 era was. But you know, we came off the era of AJ Hinch, 496 00:33:01.759 --> 00:33:06.279 who was a younger manager who a lot of people liked him. Was 497 00:33:06.319 --> 00:33:08.000 here for the start of this one, the First World Series, and people 498 00:33:08.039 --> 00:33:12.839 loved him, and people, you know, went crazy for him. And 499 00:33:12.880 --> 00:33:15.440 I think you romanticize, you were like, oh, he just never made 500 00:33:15.480 --> 00:33:17.559 mistakes. He made plenty of mistakes. I can give you one big one 501 00:33:17.599 --> 00:33:21.920 like pulling Zack Grinky in Game seven of the World Series in twenty nineteen. 502 00:33:22.680 --> 00:33:24.720 That was a bad one. There's plenty of not going to Garrett Cole out 503 00:33:24.759 --> 00:33:28.079 of the bullpen that night. That was another big one in that game that 504 00:33:28.119 --> 00:33:30.039 probably costs the Astros a World Series. And I'm sure haunts Aj in the 505 00:33:30.039 --> 00:33:34.759 back of his mind to an extent to this day and the pitching decisions that 506 00:33:34.799 --> 00:33:38.440 he made. Dusty came in and took over for a guy that is always 507 00:33:38.440 --> 00:33:43.319 going to be viewed as a legend in this city. But he's done an 508 00:33:43.359 --> 00:33:46.559 incredible job here. The Astros have kept winning with Dusty Baker. Dusty's not 509 00:33:46.599 --> 00:33:49.920 costing the Astros every single night. I think if there's something that you want 510 00:33:49.920 --> 00:33:52.559 to be mad about last night, it's using Rafaelmontera in that spot. But 511 00:33:52.640 --> 00:33:55.119 then it gets back to you go look at it and this is the stuff 512 00:33:55.119 --> 00:33:59.759 that I know that it is difficult to grasp too. But there's a lot 513 00:33:59.759 --> 00:34:01.720 of stuff that these managers do that are out of their hands in today's baseball, 514 00:34:02.160 --> 00:34:07.759 And that sounds like like crazy, I know, But the training staff 515 00:34:07.799 --> 00:34:10.360 comes to the manager every day and has a sheet of guys that are need 516 00:34:10.440 --> 00:34:15.519 rest, don't need rest, have worked too much, haven't worked enough, 517 00:34:15.719 --> 00:34:19.079 And they make decisions off of that. They make decisions off of numbers and 518 00:34:19.119 --> 00:34:22.599 matchups and everything. And with the lineup the last few nights, what I 519 00:34:22.679 --> 00:34:25.239 prefer to see jose Al Twoba continue to be the leadoff hitter that he is. 520 00:34:25.280 --> 00:34:29.320 Of course, I don't understand why they keep putting Dubon there and putting 521 00:34:29.760 --> 00:34:31.519 jose Al two a number two. Maybe they're trying to get out two a 522 00:34:31.599 --> 00:34:36.480 little bit more protection get him, Maybe put him in a spot where there's 523 00:34:36.480 --> 00:34:38.079 a guy on base, because du Bon's been doing a nice job of getting 524 00:34:38.079 --> 00:34:40.639 on base quickly. You get Dubon on base, you get out two bit 525 00:34:40.719 --> 00:34:44.280 behind him, boom, instead of it being a solo home run for Roosel 526 00:34:44.320 --> 00:34:45.599 two bays to two run home running, you're leading the game, like I 527 00:34:45.679 --> 00:34:51.079 can get that kind of thinking. Jeremy paineon being a leadoff hitter, I'm 528 00:34:51.119 --> 00:34:52.920 past it too. That's fine. You don't have to do that one anymore. 529 00:34:53.039 --> 00:34:57.639 But Jeremy Paine in the two holes had success. They do need to 530 00:34:57.639 --> 00:35:00.320 find a way to get Dubon in the lineup. As much as you know 531 00:35:00.519 --> 00:35:02.760 he might not be a high on base guy in terms of walks and everything. 532 00:35:02.800 --> 00:35:06.559 He's getting hits. He's hit number three hundred his ops as well over 533 00:35:06.559 --> 00:35:08.960 seven thirty. He's an above average player based off this season, even if 534 00:35:08.960 --> 00:35:12.400 he doesn't thump the ball very much. They need that guy, and I 535 00:35:12.519 --> 00:35:14.880 understand when to get him the most at bats that you can get. So 536 00:35:14.920 --> 00:35:17.880 overall, if you're gonna keep this lineup going for a minute where it's dubon 537 00:35:19.039 --> 00:35:22.599 one and I'll twove a two, I'm okay with it, because again, 538 00:35:22.639 --> 00:35:27.800 a'l tuva behind him with some thump can easily make it a two nothing ball 539 00:35:27.840 --> 00:35:30.079 game like that, and think about what that does for your pitcher so quickly 540 00:35:30.079 --> 00:35:35.280 into the game, getting a two o lead matters. Let's guys settle in 541 00:35:35.440 --> 00:35:39.559 So that line of thinking is not a problem. It's the pitching usage at 542 00:35:39.639 --> 00:35:44.239 times. But again, you're so limited throughout this stretch where they're seventeen games 543 00:35:44.239 --> 00:35:45.840 and seventeen days and guys are worn out and they need rest, and it's 544 00:35:46.119 --> 00:35:50.360 it is difficult. I get it. He has to. Here's the unfortunate 545 00:35:50.400 --> 00:35:52.199 truth. He has to use Rafael want tear. You know why Rafael want 546 00:35:52.199 --> 00:35:54.760 tear is on the roster. You can't just have a guy on the roster 547 00:35:54.880 --> 00:36:00.880 not using now you could say, of course the head that was says our 548 00:36:00.920 --> 00:36:06.840 Salazar for so long, and that made no sense at all. They've brought 549 00:36:06.880 --> 00:36:08.960 him back up now, so you're gonna get yan Ardias. He's gonna consistently 550 00:36:09.000 --> 00:36:12.400 play now with your don Ben out, he's gonna be a lot of dh 551 00:36:12.480 --> 00:36:15.119 and I think and that's the spot to put him, I will agree. 552 00:36:15.159 --> 00:36:21.039 I think overall it's time to start the transition from Martin Maldonado two ya Inardias. 553 00:36:21.960 --> 00:36:24.800 But I get the manager's standpoint here, I truly do, and I 554 00:36:24.800 --> 00:36:29.440 think that that's you and I can't be in dusty shoes and he isn't in 555 00:36:29.519 --> 00:36:32.719 our shoes. As fans, we can hear each other and probably understand each 556 00:36:32.760 --> 00:36:37.559 other's point of view to an extent, But if you're a manager in dusty 557 00:36:37.639 --> 00:36:39.199 spot coming off of a World Series, you'd be one of the best teams 558 00:36:39.199 --> 00:36:42.599 in baseball since he's been here. Dusty, by the way, and this 559 00:36:42.679 --> 00:36:45.320 is where I think it's completely unfair to him. This guy has won almost 560 00:36:45.320 --> 00:36:49.559 sixty percent of his regular season games since he's been a Houston Astros manager. 561 00:36:49.719 --> 00:36:52.840 He's got a record of two sixty six and one eighty two, he's got 562 00:36:52.880 --> 00:36:55.119 two pennance in a world series title, and we still get calls and we 563 00:36:55.199 --> 00:36:58.639 get things on social media. This needs to be his last year. He 564 00:36:58.679 --> 00:37:01.079 needs to go. Just like, can you embrace the fact that this guy 565 00:37:01.159 --> 00:37:07.679 wins. There is no manager that's perfect, that makes perfect decisions every single 566 00:37:07.760 --> 00:37:13.079 night. It's just it's not happening. But they didn't come to bring Dusty 567 00:37:13.079 --> 00:37:16.440 and think about how many franchises would have crumbled after what happened here and then 568 00:37:16.519 --> 00:37:21.360 not one to the level of expectation. To keep this team together like he 569 00:37:21.440 --> 00:37:27.519 did matters. And I'm telling you the players absolutely love the man. They 570 00:37:27.599 --> 00:37:31.159 love the man, and there's a reason why they stayed together because he unifies 571 00:37:31.239 --> 00:37:37.639 them as a unit. We can't always be like, ah, the manager, 572 00:37:37.760 --> 00:37:40.000 the manager, the manager. It's just it's unfair. There's so many 573 00:37:40.000 --> 00:37:44.360 things they're out of his hand. When he's deserving of his criticism, you 574 00:37:44.400 --> 00:37:46.480 give it to him again, like last night, Raphael Montero. I'm not 575 00:37:46.559 --> 00:37:50.519 using him there. I'm asking somebody to buck up if it's me. But 576 00:37:50.599 --> 00:37:52.320 again, I'm not making the decision if it's me. I'm going hey, 577 00:37:52.320 --> 00:37:54.559 Brian and Brown, I know you're worn out a little bit right now. 578 00:37:54.559 --> 00:37:58.960 I need this ball game tonight. I need this ball game tonight. And 579 00:37:59.039 --> 00:38:02.559 we are teetering here and our starter didn't have his best night and we need 580 00:38:02.559 --> 00:38:07.079 to find a way to keep this thing locked down. Can you do it 581 00:38:07.079 --> 00:38:10.440 for me? Can you give me one inning? I'd roll the dice that 582 00:38:10.480 --> 00:38:14.800 way, because unfortunately he's gonna have to wear guys out this season compared to 583 00:38:14.880 --> 00:38:17.039 last year. He doesn't have the luxury of resting guys the same way he 584 00:38:17.079 --> 00:38:20.840 did a year ago where they had a huge division lead, where their starters 585 00:38:20.840 --> 00:38:25.199 were insanely healthy and they went deep into games consistently and getting guys days off 586 00:38:25.280 --> 00:38:30.000 left and right, and his lineup wasn't injured like He absolutely had the benefit 587 00:38:30.039 --> 00:38:32.440 of all that last year and doesn't have that this year, and it sucks. 588 00:38:34.360 --> 00:38:37.920 So he has a tougher job of managing this season than he did last 589 00:38:37.000 --> 00:38:40.480 year. But again, they have a record this thirty six and twenty eight 590 00:38:40.519 --> 00:38:43.880 with a team that's as banged up as they are. I'm fine with the 591 00:38:43.880 --> 00:38:46.760 manager. I don't think there's anything wrong with what Dusty Baker's doing this season 592 00:38:47.639 --> 00:38:52.679 at all in the big picture of course seven two on two five, seven 593 00:38:52.719 --> 00:38:55.599 nineties our phone Humber to join us here on the happen is going to call 594 00:38:55.599 --> 00:38:59.320 it the tenth Inning Show. Now I'm all over the place, the show 595 00:38:59.320 --> 00:39:01.840 that we call A City Saturday here on Sports Talk seven niney. You can 596 00:39:01.880 --> 00:39:07.199 come in here and join us this morning until twelve o'clock. We'll continue some 597 00:39:07.239 --> 00:39:10.679 of the astro's discussion, the latest on the injury injury front and are we 598 00:39:10.719 --> 00:39:15.519 awaiting the two words for one picture that we are unfortunately A two used to 599 00:39:15.679 --> 00:39:22.119 I guess we'll discuss that next. You're on Sports Talk seven ninety It's Space 600 00:39:22.159 --> 00:39:27.920 City Saturday. On Sports Talk seven ninety here they we're here with you until 601 00:39:27.960 --> 00:39:31.000 twelve o'clock today Space City Saturday. Michael Connor back here with you. We've 602 00:39:31.039 --> 00:39:36.519 been talking about your Houston astros here this morning we will get into some other 603 00:39:36.519 --> 00:39:38.840 things in the world of sports an hour two of the show. Nastro's topics 604 00:39:38.880 --> 00:39:42.840 not going away as well. You can get in here and discuss them throughout 605 00:39:42.840 --> 00:39:45.840 the entire show at seven one three two one two five seven ninety seven one 606 00:39:46.000 --> 00:39:51.760 three two one two five seven ninety. Of course on Twitter at MC seven 607 00:39:51.840 --> 00:39:54.239 ninety. The Astros with a tough loss last night. They will look to 608 00:39:54.239 --> 00:40:00.480 bounce back in game two of this three game series tonight this evening should say 609 00:40:00.519 --> 00:40:02.280 with a five ten first pitch, I'll be with you for the on deck 610 00:40:02.320 --> 00:40:07.280 show starting at four o'clock here on seven ninety. Then we'll do the tenth 611 00:40:07.280 --> 00:40:10.079 inning show afterwards, where they hopefully have some bodies to get through it. 612 00:40:10.239 --> 00:40:14.719 Nut And we did have a caller earlier that mentioned it had tips to us 613 00:40:14.760 --> 00:40:17.199 Seth Martinez. Last night, the Astros were down to their last guy basically 614 00:40:17.199 --> 00:40:21.960 available, and they had him unfortunately, had to go out there and wear 615 00:40:22.000 --> 00:40:22.559 it. And I know that you could be like, well, why are 616 00:40:22.559 --> 00:40:25.679 you praising Seth Martinez. He gave up the runs and he gave up winning 617 00:40:25.760 --> 00:40:29.159 run. Now, look, they're unearned runs for the most part, because 618 00:40:29.960 --> 00:40:32.159 of course the ghost runner on second base to start the innings. And I 619 00:40:32.159 --> 00:40:35.039 know that he did give up the game winning hit or whatever, but the 620 00:40:35.039 --> 00:40:37.119 guy's out of gas. I mean, you're asking a guy who's not stretched 621 00:40:37.119 --> 00:40:39.599 out to pitch three innings, to pitch three innings like he did. It's 622 00:40:39.719 --> 00:40:43.639 very difficult to go and do that, and unfortunately last night he just had 623 00:40:43.639 --> 00:40:45.760 to be that guy. Will be interested to see if they do any sort 624 00:40:45.800 --> 00:40:50.280 of roster move for today, maybe option him out for a couple of days 625 00:40:50.320 --> 00:40:52.880 if they can, or however many required days they're supposed to be. I 626 00:40:52.920 --> 00:40:54.559 don't know if they necessarily will do that. They might be able to get 627 00:40:54.599 --> 00:41:00.000 back to having Ronel Blanco in the bullpen here pretty soon, because they're gonna 628 00:41:00.079 --> 00:41:01.519 have some days off after this. They're gonna have a day off here on 629 00:41:01.599 --> 00:41:06.400 Monday in Houston, and they'll play this stretch of home games this week. 630 00:41:06.400 --> 00:41:10.639 It'll be a total of six nine games nine game homestand and then I'll have 631 00:41:10.639 --> 00:41:14.360 another day off after it, so it's just nine days in a row. 632 00:41:14.400 --> 00:41:16.760 They might not need to make a roster move. Seth Martinez, excuse me, 633 00:41:16.840 --> 00:41:21.400 might just be able to sit for a couple of days and you could 634 00:41:21.400 --> 00:41:23.360 go to Ronel Blanco on the bullpen if you need him for some sort of 635 00:41:23.440 --> 00:41:27.559 length at some point. He of course pitched the other day in the Toronto 636 00:41:27.639 --> 00:41:30.119 series, so we'll see exactly what they do with that. Again. The 637 00:41:30.199 --> 00:41:36.039 pitching matchup today JP France up against Tristan McKenzie is gonna be a difficult one. 638 00:41:36.159 --> 00:41:39.280 I'll tell you this, if if the Cleveland Guardians want to trade one 639 00:41:39.280 --> 00:41:42.800 of their guys, they want to offload some of these players that they're having 640 00:41:42.800 --> 00:41:46.079 a disappointing season so far overall, I don't think they're necessarily going to but 641 00:41:46.239 --> 00:41:50.000 man, i'd love to get my hands on Tristan McKenzie at some point, 642 00:41:50.079 --> 00:41:52.559 or Shane Bieber, whoever might be for that Cleveland team. The Asters will 643 00:41:52.599 --> 00:42:00.119 definitely be looking to some sort of starting pitching come the trade deadline here in 644 00:42:00.159 --> 00:42:02.079 the month. I think it's August. It's August first, now I believe 645 00:42:02.119 --> 00:42:06.599 the MLB trade deadline. I for some reason, I'm having a brain fart 646 00:42:06.639 --> 00:42:13.400 on this one and remembering the exact day and time because they didn't move it 647 00:42:13.440 --> 00:42:15.679 yet. It's August first, and I think it's like three o'clock in the 648 00:42:15.719 --> 00:42:19.760 afternoon in our time or two o'clock in the afternoon our time when it officially 649 00:42:19.960 --> 00:42:23.119 ticks off. So we'll see how much work they can get done. Unfortunately, 650 00:42:23.199 --> 00:42:27.480 with the news of the injuries for the week, and if you do 651 00:42:27.519 --> 00:42:30.079 want to get in here, I do want to do this. Seven one 652 00:42:30.079 --> 00:42:34.880 three two one two five, seven ninety. Excuse me, the Astros. 653 00:42:34.920 --> 00:42:37.880 You want to say a prayer for the astro's injury situation. Let's just you 654 00:42:37.920 --> 00:42:40.559 know, friends, let's just get in here and say some prayers on the 655 00:42:40.559 --> 00:42:44.559 air to the baseball gods. You know, you want to say whatever you 656 00:42:44.599 --> 00:42:46.480 want to say to get to get your guys right and get them back on 657 00:42:46.519 --> 00:42:51.199 the field. We're here for you here on Sports Talk seven ninety. Be 658 00:42:51.320 --> 00:42:53.880 with us on this fine, fine Saturday here in Houston, Texas. That 659 00:42:54.039 --> 00:42:58.880 might be you know, about one hundred degrees outside, because apparently we're in 660 00:42:58.920 --> 00:43:01.320 the middle of August and it's the early June now, But come on in, 661 00:43:01.639 --> 00:43:06.239 say hello and say a prayer for your Houston Astros. Like I'll kick 662 00:43:06.280 --> 00:43:08.199 things off, I'll say, I want to pray for your Don Alvarez and 663 00:43:08.280 --> 00:43:14.159 his oblique. I hope he's getting plenty of good sleep and very little movement 664 00:43:14.440 --> 00:43:17.039 and going to be back here in the short ten day period the Astros see 665 00:43:17.119 --> 00:43:21.199 him nation home runs with the rest of the season and the oblique does not 666 00:43:21.239 --> 00:43:23.960 become a problem all year. That would be, that'd be a good thing 667 00:43:23.960 --> 00:43:28.440 for the Astros. Do you want to say a prayer for lance for colors, 668 00:43:29.119 --> 00:43:31.400 that'd probably be an important one to say. Unfortunately, if you missed 669 00:43:31.400 --> 00:43:35.000 that news this week with the Astros' is really like, there's not a lot 670 00:43:35.039 --> 00:43:39.159 of updates on these injuries. As we go about, They've been as they 671 00:43:39.159 --> 00:43:44.679 always are, overly coy on them. I think Dana Brown, the new 672 00:43:44.719 --> 00:43:46.760 general manager, gives a lot more than we've heard from really anybody else. 673 00:43:47.800 --> 00:43:51.920 I know it's a sticking point for a man that covers the Astros channel rome 674 00:43:52.000 --> 00:43:54.320 of the athletic A lot of teams will make their and I say a lot 675 00:43:54.360 --> 00:43:59.639 of teams. I think most teams in baseball make their head athletic trainers available 676 00:43:59.639 --> 00:44:04.400 forment on injuries to reporters. And the Astros are one of the only teams 677 00:44:04.400 --> 00:44:06.960 in baseball that does not do that. And I think it's frustrating to him, 678 00:44:06.960 --> 00:44:07.800 and it's frustrating to a lot of people. I think that there's no 679 00:44:07.840 --> 00:44:10.719 reason to hide behind injuries. I just don't. I've never understood it, 680 00:44:10.719 --> 00:44:14.239 and I won't understand it like that. Dusty will go, well, it's 681 00:44:14.320 --> 00:44:16.039 Hippa or you know, it's um. You don't want to give the other 682 00:44:16.039 --> 00:44:20.440 team in advantage or something for Fanish, for one like, Okay, your 683 00:44:20.480 --> 00:44:22.800 guy's hurt. They know he's hurt, or they know he's got something banged 684 00:44:22.880 --> 00:44:27.360 up, Like you can comment on it and you keep reporters happy, and 685 00:44:27.480 --> 00:44:31.599 you build a little bit of trust with the with the fan base, and 686 00:44:31.760 --> 00:44:35.880 you don't have to worry about it, so you know, it's not I 687 00:44:35.880 --> 00:44:37.880 don't think it's that big of a deal to have to say something about an 688 00:44:37.880 --> 00:44:44.559 injury occasionally. But mccullors this week another setback. He's gonna have an MRI. 689 00:44:45.239 --> 00:44:51.280 And I just think that we're going down this road where we're going to 690 00:44:51.320 --> 00:44:54.559 hear the words Tommy John again. Like I just it just feels that way 691 00:44:54.960 --> 00:45:00.239 since the start of spring, the way this thing is played out house slow, 692 00:45:00.320 --> 00:45:02.599 it's been just to get him back onto a mound for what was supposed 693 00:45:02.639 --> 00:45:07.039 to be a small strain and he literally said it's small muscle strain, and 694 00:45:07.119 --> 00:45:09.519 like whatever, what I can't remember the exact terminology, but he's like, 695 00:45:09.559 --> 00:45:15.079 it's really really small. I'm sorry, but that's not that just I can't 696 00:45:15.079 --> 00:45:17.559 believe it. There's no way that a small strain keeps you out this log 697 00:45:17.639 --> 00:45:22.960 and keeps you from throwing, you know, until the month of almost June 698 00:45:22.960 --> 00:45:25.400 where he was getting to the point where he was throwing in the low nineties 699 00:45:25.440 --> 00:45:30.960 and hadn't even you know, thrown a damn curveball or a slider or anything 700 00:45:31.400 --> 00:45:36.760 of a breaking variety off of a mound, and then you have a setback 701 00:45:36.920 --> 00:45:39.519 like this is unfortunately, I think, going the way that we all expected 702 00:45:39.559 --> 00:45:42.360 to go at this point. And I don't think that we're going to see 703 00:45:42.400 --> 00:45:44.159 him this year. I don't think that we're going to see him for the 704 00:45:44.199 --> 00:45:46.280 most of for the most part next season as well. And it sucks. 705 00:45:47.239 --> 00:45:51.239 It absolutely sucks because the Astros need him to be good. And unfortunately, 706 00:45:52.159 --> 00:45:55.119 you go back and look this contract now that he's signed that went into effect 707 00:45:55.199 --> 00:46:00.599 last year. He is pitched, and he's making eighty five million dollars on 708 00:46:00.639 --> 00:46:04.280 this contract. It's all guaranteed. Of course, last year he pitched eight 709 00:46:04.320 --> 00:46:07.480 games in the regular season, he pitched in the postseason, was great in 710 00:46:07.519 --> 00:46:10.440 Seattle, but he made three more starts. He's made eleven starts so far, 711 00:46:12.119 --> 00:46:15.519 and he's gonna have made in those first two years over thirty million dollars, 712 00:46:15.519 --> 00:46:20.679 over thirty two million, almost thirty two million dollars, and he's got 713 00:46:20.719 --> 00:46:23.239 three more years at over seventeen point seven per year now for tax purposes, 714 00:46:23.280 --> 00:46:28.000 on the on the on their on their books, it's all averaged out. 715 00:46:28.400 --> 00:46:32.360 So it's the average of the eighty five million bad contracts, the only way 716 00:46:32.400 --> 00:46:36.039 to put it, and he don't feel good about its future at all. 717 00:46:36.079 --> 00:46:37.960 Real quick, before we need to grab the top of the hour break, 718 00:46:37.360 --> 00:46:43.000 let's get Sam in here on Sports Talk seven ninety. Hello Sam, He 719 00:46:43.239 --> 00:46:45.199 was going on MC listen. Man, I just had a question. I've 720 00:46:45.239 --> 00:46:50.239 been I always listening to you guys, A big fan. So yesterday and 721 00:46:50.239 --> 00:46:53.920 I was watching the game. You know, we went to top the top 722 00:46:54.119 --> 00:46:58.800 part of the tenth why don't we? And I understand sometimes the line up 723 00:46:58.920 --> 00:47:00.719 was summing up out two way bregually whatever it is you want if you want 724 00:47:00.719 --> 00:47:05.360 their back. Well, I was wondering, why don't most a lot of 725 00:47:05.400 --> 00:47:08.159 managers, or at least dust teams. Why didn't you give you the bunt 726 00:47:08.199 --> 00:47:10.800 into the mental third? Um? You know, I know he did it 727 00:47:10.800 --> 00:47:14.679 with Mount Nato. That's setting the tenth inning, I mean the eleventh inning, 728 00:47:14.679 --> 00:47:15.840 but not the tenth. So I was just wondering, you know, 729 00:47:15.880 --> 00:47:20.320 if there's some strategy there. I know you know, the line up matters 730 00:47:20.320 --> 00:47:23.000 who's coming up. But I think at the tenth inning there was a I 731 00:47:23.039 --> 00:47:25.320 think it was a McCormick who could or whoever it was, it could have 732 00:47:25.360 --> 00:47:28.920 bunted it, but he ended up striking out or or getting out. So 733 00:47:28.960 --> 00:47:30.840 I wasn't too sure about that. I'm just gonna remember, but I wanted 734 00:47:30.840 --> 00:47:34.679 to get your opinion on that, and would you do that more often than 735 00:47:34.760 --> 00:47:37.199 not? Yeah? Thank you, Sam, Thank you. I appreciate you 736 00:47:37.280 --> 00:47:39.960 listening. We appreciate you to listen to everything here on seven ninety if you 737 00:47:39.960 --> 00:47:43.239 want to join us like Sam did seven one three, two on two five, 738 00:47:43.320 --> 00:47:45.159 seven ninety four. Um, you know last night, I think that 739 00:47:45.079 --> 00:47:49.920 that was a situation where you know, you probably I've always felt that I 740 00:47:49.920 --> 00:47:53.480 don't mind taking a risk of bunting in those spots and you know, getting 741 00:47:53.519 --> 00:47:58.079 the runner over. But I will say I get why teams don't do it. 742 00:47:58.280 --> 00:48:00.360 Um. The analytics that all these teams have tell you that bunning is 743 00:48:00.360 --> 00:48:04.519 a waste of time. It's giving up and out to move ninety feet, 744 00:48:05.000 --> 00:48:07.840 and any big League or worth his weight and salt is in scoring position at 745 00:48:07.880 --> 00:48:12.000 second base, and all it takes is a hit there and you're taking the 746 00:48:12.079 --> 00:48:15.159 chance, so you're guaranteeing yourself and out with a bunt where you let the 747 00:48:15.159 --> 00:48:19.440 guys swing the bat. You would expect. Now, look, this is 748 00:48:19.480 --> 00:48:22.480 about expectation. It's not about what it's always gonna happen. But you would 749 00:48:22.519 --> 00:48:25.480 expect any big leaguer that can put the bat to ball, can advance the 750 00:48:25.559 --> 00:48:30.920 runner to third, and then you're taking the opportunity of it also becoming a 751 00:48:30.920 --> 00:48:32.199 base hit. The scores the run, then you have no outs, and 752 00:48:32.239 --> 00:48:36.320 so, like I get overall the big picture of it, it's about the 753 00:48:36.360 --> 00:48:38.760 analytics, and what the analytics tell you is that bunting is stupid. That's 754 00:48:38.800 --> 00:48:43.559 why we don't see it in baseball anymore. It's a given away out certain 755 00:48:43.599 --> 00:48:45.719 guys. I think it always makes sense Maldonado, if he's up, I'd 756 00:48:45.719 --> 00:48:51.719 always bunt him. I wouldn't even think about it twice. But that's just 757 00:48:51.840 --> 00:48:53.119 I just think that's where they're at. And I don't know that they're ever 758 00:48:53.159 --> 00:48:58.519 gonna get to a spot where they take more chances on bunting, because you 759 00:48:58.559 --> 00:49:00.920 know, you're almost I think most teams going to those extra innings now and 760 00:49:00.960 --> 00:49:04.880 they all they feel like they're going to always score that runner from second base 761 00:49:04.960 --> 00:49:07.719 didn't work out the first two innings last night of those extra innings for both 762 00:49:07.760 --> 00:49:14.079 teams, which is kind of crazy. But um yeah, I don't know. 763 00:49:14.199 --> 00:49:15.519 I don't know if you're gonna see a change in it with the way 764 00:49:15.519 --> 00:49:21.440 that they they take this thing on seven one three two one two five seven 765 00:49:21.519 --> 00:49:22.840 ninety again, that is our phone number to join us here this morning, 766 00:49:22.840 --> 00:49:29.199 one hour to go on Space City Saturday. Some big news in the world 767 00:49:29.280 --> 00:49:31.119 of sports, the golf world. I do want to discuss that. We'll 768 00:49:31.159 --> 00:49:36.039 do that to kick off our number two of the show right here on Sports 769 00:49:36.079 --> 00:49:54.320 Talk seven ninety City Creating, Degraded, Degraded. Welcome to another Space City 770 00:49:54.440 --> 00:50:00.519 Saturday. On Sports Talk seven ninety Michael Cutters Live and local e each town, 771 00:50:00.719 --> 00:50:06.119 breakdown up the world that matters to you, Houstons the world. All 772 00:50:06.199 --> 00:50:10.440 these great Houston fans here. We love him all. So finished up on 773 00:50:10.559 --> 00:50:15.320 that to do list. Loot up the cooler because you can't drink in talk 774 00:50:15.440 --> 00:50:22.920 sports all day if you don't start. Now. This is Face City Saturday. 775 00:50:23.119 --> 00:50:30.880 Here are seven nineties Astro's insider Michael cunner Hill. I see every time 776 00:50:30.880 --> 00:50:36.119 I hear that intro here the show's Face City Saturday on Sports Talk seven ninety. 777 00:50:36.159 --> 00:50:37.719 When I hear the we want Houston, it just gives me chills. 778 00:50:37.800 --> 00:50:40.519 Man. That was one of the best runs of anything, watching all those 779 00:50:40.599 --> 00:50:46.000 eightiots go out there and chant we want Houston, and then Martine Aldonado, 780 00:50:46.000 --> 00:50:50.400 I'll never forget the Astro's winning, of course, and he's on the field 781 00:50:50.480 --> 00:50:53.960 after they want Houston. They got Houston, Suck it. It felt awesome. 782 00:50:54.000 --> 00:50:58.280 That was one of the best nights of my life personally, and I 783 00:50:58.400 --> 00:51:00.519 get to do a lot of very cool things throughout the years, and traveling 784 00:51:00.559 --> 00:51:04.960 to watch the Astros when they've been in the postseason has been one of them. 785 00:51:04.960 --> 00:51:07.199 When you go into these other ballparks and they just crushed the souls of 786 00:51:08.000 --> 00:51:12.440 all these fan bases that night in New York, Chris Gordy and I were 787 00:51:12.440 --> 00:51:15.800 there. Of course, we've traveled together throughout this entire run. We've been 788 00:51:15.920 --> 00:51:20.199 very lucky to do that throughout these years. But being in New York that 789 00:51:20.400 --> 00:51:22.320 night after they of course we're dealing with the rain, and there was the 790 00:51:22.480 --> 00:51:25.440 delay that night and they'd been they were up three oz in the series and 791 00:51:25.519 --> 00:51:29.320 it was pretty convincing on that three zero and it felt like it was completely 792 00:51:29.360 --> 00:51:32.239 over and just how empty that ballpark was at the start, and how cheap 793 00:51:32.360 --> 00:51:37.800 tickets were at Yankee Stadium for a game that was an ALCS game, even 794 00:51:37.840 --> 00:51:40.599 if they weren't dead yet, and then to watch the Astros fall behind Jeremy 795 00:51:40.639 --> 00:51:44.320 Payne you hit that home run, and then that place just emptied more and 796 00:51:44.400 --> 00:51:45.760 more as the night went on, and then we get out there. They 797 00:51:45.840 --> 00:51:52.960 allow us as media out on the field after the game and to see all 798 00:51:52.000 --> 00:51:55.000 the Astros fans that were there, and it just it it was very It 799 00:51:55.119 --> 00:51:59.079 was one of the coolest, coolest nights of my life to go and experience. 800 00:51:59.559 --> 00:52:01.079 Again, very very lucky to get to do that kind of stuff. 801 00:52:01.920 --> 00:52:05.719 And then of course talk about it here on the radio, but again that's 802 00:52:05.760 --> 00:52:08.159 just because I hear that we want Houston. That brings me back to that 803 00:52:08.280 --> 00:52:12.519 memory every single time. A very very awesome year was twenty twenty two. 804 00:52:12.559 --> 00:52:15.320 We want twenty twenty three to be just as good, of course, and 805 00:52:15.400 --> 00:52:19.880 we'll get more into them as we move along. Said one three two on 806 00:52:20.000 --> 00:52:23.159 two five seven ninety is our phone number. They're back in action today. 807 00:52:23.239 --> 00:52:27.719 Again five ten, first pitch here on seven ninety. I've got you for 808 00:52:27.760 --> 00:52:30.679 the on Deck show starting at four o'clock, tenth inning show after so a 809 00:52:30.840 --> 00:52:36.360 day full of me once again on your radio today here on a Saturday. 810 00:52:36.400 --> 00:52:40.039 So strap in and let's do this thing all day long and hopefully talk about 811 00:52:40.079 --> 00:52:44.159 a win later, because I don't want to talk about another loss that I'm 812 00:52:44.199 --> 00:52:46.320 not gonna lie. Coming on super late last night and having to do that 813 00:52:47.079 --> 00:52:50.960 after a fourteen inning loss. It's never my favorite thing. And I am 814 00:52:51.039 --> 00:52:53.920 on a run for myself recently. I think they've lost the last three games 815 00:52:53.960 --> 00:52:58.840 I've done, so give me a win, please. I did the Monday 816 00:52:58.920 --> 00:53:04.159 game against Toronto and that one since then when I've been on the air, 817 00:53:04.280 --> 00:53:06.760 so and they've lost four in a row for the first time this season, 818 00:53:06.800 --> 00:53:10.119 which is just absolutely sucks. Before we get into that golf stuff that I 819 00:53:10.159 --> 00:53:13.400 did want to get to for a few minutes, let's talk to John. 820 00:53:13.440 --> 00:53:17.440 What's up John? Hey, Michael, I wanted to ask you, tell 821 00:53:17.480 --> 00:53:22.360 you why why are nobody's focused on the hitting. We're the number one pitching 822 00:53:22.400 --> 00:53:28.400 team in baseball, but we're like number twenty in hitting. Yeah, I 823 00:53:28.480 --> 00:53:31.039 mean we've been talking about it all year. They're terrible. But I'm saying 824 00:53:31.559 --> 00:53:35.559 I keep hearing people say they want to trade for another picture. They need 825 00:53:35.679 --> 00:53:37.599 more pitching. They need more pitching. We need we need our hitters that 826 00:53:37.719 --> 00:53:43.239 we have to hit. Oh yeah, they need. I think I think 827 00:53:43.280 --> 00:53:45.440 they need both. I think they need a bat and I think they need 828 00:53:45.480 --> 00:53:50.400 pitching. They're gonna need one of each at least. M But I will 829 00:53:50.440 --> 00:53:53.880 I will disagree with you on one one issue, this whole putting a fanom 830 00:53:53.960 --> 00:54:00.840 baseball person at sucking base. What's gonna happened if somebody rolls and they have 831 00:54:00.039 --> 00:54:05.599 like a Jack Morris game where they're pitching a perfect game or a one hit 832 00:54:05.719 --> 00:54:09.480 or and then they put somebody at sucker base and they sacrifice from fly over 833 00:54:09.679 --> 00:54:15.039 the third and then it sacrifice fly and then he loses. He loses the 834 00:54:15.119 --> 00:54:20.800 perfect game without adverd giving up a hit. I mean, what's gonna happen 835 00:54:20.920 --> 00:54:23.360 then, Mike. And that's the risk of doing this. But I'm gonna 836 00:54:23.360 --> 00:54:27.679 go ahead and say this there that's probably never gonna happen. Teams aren't gonna 837 00:54:27.719 --> 00:54:30.400 let their pitcher go that long. They mean, hell, letting guy go 838 00:54:30.440 --> 00:54:34.360 to the tenth inning anymore like that never even happens. I mean, they're 839 00:54:34.400 --> 00:54:37.840 not gonna change on that. Yeah, they're not gonna change the rules unfortunately 840 00:54:37.880 --> 00:54:43.519 for that one scenario. There is a case for somebody that with us magical 841 00:54:43.679 --> 00:54:46.000 nights and they you know, they throw ninety pitches and they're in the ninth 842 00:54:46.039 --> 00:54:51.760 then and that has happened, you know, Look, yeah, that could 843 00:54:51.800 --> 00:54:55.119 absolutely happen. I just think we don't see pitchers get to that number anymore, 844 00:54:55.559 --> 00:54:59.400 um through innings. I mean that, Yeah, they're so far up 845 00:54:59.440 --> 00:55:01.400 in pitchcount because they strike out so many guys these days that they run pitch 846 00:55:01.440 --> 00:55:05.719 counts up that I just think it's such a far out scenario, But I'd 847 00:55:05.760 --> 00:55:09.400 love to see the what a team would do in that spot. On a 848 00:55:09.480 --> 00:55:15.280 side note, were you were you want that shy Fair baseball team with Bank 849 00:55:15.400 --> 00:55:20.119 Brandon facing? No, I played you guys wanted a baseball I played baseball 850 00:55:20.119 --> 00:55:23.400 at Jersey Village. Okay, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I didn't. 851 00:55:23.400 --> 00:55:28.000 I didn't know. I thought you were a different person. So no hated 852 00:55:28.079 --> 00:55:31.159 we hated sci Fair. So there's my there's my contribution to sci Fair. 853 00:55:31.280 --> 00:55:36.119 They always there's another shy Wood. There's another SHI team in there right now, 854 00:55:36.199 --> 00:55:38.360 and my team's Magnolia West. So we have a chance here coming up 855 00:55:38.400 --> 00:55:43.000 at noon, Buddy, So I remeably doing your show, Michael Dick, 856 00:55:43.079 --> 00:55:45.039 thank you. I appreciate it. Hey, good luck to Magnolia West today. 857 00:55:45.079 --> 00:55:50.639 Back when I'm black, when I was at Jersey Village, Magnolia was 858 00:55:50.719 --> 00:55:53.400 in our division, or was in our district. Still we played Magnolia and 859 00:55:53.480 --> 00:55:57.599 tom Ball still back in those days. So and then we had straight Jesuit 860 00:55:57.800 --> 00:55:59.760 was also in it. It was I don't even know who the hell's in 861 00:55:59.800 --> 00:56:02.719 that of that district anymore. I really, I haven't even been back to 862 00:56:02.920 --> 00:56:06.599 watch Jersey Village baseball, and for years I don't. I don't know how 863 00:56:06.679 --> 00:56:07.920 they do these days. We were not very good when I was there. 864 00:56:07.920 --> 00:56:12.719 I'll tell you that we sucked. Said one three two, one two five 865 00:56:12.719 --> 00:56:14.880 seven. I need the number to join us. I appreciate all the phone 866 00:56:14.920 --> 00:56:16.280 calls here this morning, of course, all you contributing throughout the show. 867 00:56:16.320 --> 00:56:22.000 We're getting We're here until twelve today and getting in plenty of Astro's discussion because 868 00:56:22.000 --> 00:56:24.199 the fortunately things are just not great right now. We'll get back into them 869 00:56:24.280 --> 00:56:29.519 here in just a bit. I don't want to go completely off on them 870 00:56:29.519 --> 00:56:31.199 because I mean, look right now, it's the only thing going on. 871 00:56:31.760 --> 00:56:36.039 It is June. I get the Astros, you get the Rockets sitting idle 872 00:56:36.760 --> 00:56:38.159 off seasons getting ready to come up. The Texans are going through all their 873 00:56:38.199 --> 00:56:40.840 off season stuff. They've been having a few things here and there, but 874 00:56:40.920 --> 00:56:44.920 really overall talking points, it's just all made up stuff. There's not a 875 00:56:45.000 --> 00:56:51.079 lot. Oh and Justin just tweeted us said, Cifer hated y'all. I 876 00:56:51.199 --> 00:56:52.039 know, and look, but we were easy to hate. I guess we 877 00:56:52.119 --> 00:56:55.920 weren't very good at anything. Justin, I'm sorry. We sucked at everything 878 00:56:57.000 --> 00:57:00.679 we did. And literally I think my senior year and I play football. 879 00:57:00.679 --> 00:57:04.639 In my senior year, I was done at that point because I got hurt. 880 00:57:04.679 --> 00:57:07.119 I just didn't want to play football anymore. But we didn't win a 881 00:57:07.159 --> 00:57:09.000 single game in football that year, and then baseball wasn't very good. It 882 00:57:09.159 --> 00:57:15.000 just we sucked. Um. But the the Texans not doing much. A 883 00:57:15.079 --> 00:57:19.280 lot of that topic or those things that you know, people talk about is 884 00:57:19.280 --> 00:57:22.719 just made up to fill time, and it's it's just like going online. 885 00:57:22.719 --> 00:57:24.639 It's it's stupid reaction. I know, there's another station in town that does 886 00:57:24.679 --> 00:57:29.559 a lot of topics that honestly are a complete waste of time to me. 887 00:57:29.880 --> 00:57:31.119 I know that there's some people out there they don't feel that way, but 888 00:57:31.280 --> 00:57:34.599 there's a lot of crap that they're talking about that just does not matter, 889 00:57:34.719 --> 00:57:38.320 and it's just made up and it's just stupid. Um any of the Astros, 890 00:57:38.360 --> 00:57:40.599 of course, that are the only team that's going right now, and 891 00:57:40.639 --> 00:57:45.239 that's that's what is at the at the top of the of the mind every 892 00:57:45.239 --> 00:57:47.320 single day with what's going on. But the the world of sports in general, 893 00:57:47.360 --> 00:57:51.280 of course, the NBA Finals are going on right now. Nuggets take 894 00:57:51.320 --> 00:57:52.760 a three one lead in the series. That thing's over. They're going back 895 00:57:52.800 --> 00:57:58.400 to Denver. I'm gonna be shocked if Miami has any chance to even extend 896 00:57:58.480 --> 00:58:00.239 that series. I think they're gonna finish that thing off in Game five in 897 00:58:00.360 --> 00:58:05.679 my opinion, and we'll see exactly what happens. Though I've not watched a 898 00:58:05.760 --> 00:58:07.519 lot of the NBA Finals, to be perfectly honest with you, I watched. 899 00:58:07.559 --> 00:58:10.480 I did watch quite a bit of the Conference finals. Now again, 900 00:58:10.599 --> 00:58:14.079 i'd live in a home. We have our nephew that lives with us, 901 00:58:14.119 --> 00:58:19.000 he's fifteen and he's a freaking basketball halic. So I think I get a 902 00:58:19.039 --> 00:58:23.280 little bit more overall NBA than I would if he wasn't here. But we 903 00:58:23.440 --> 00:58:27.400 even he has not wanted to watch the NBA Finals that much. We've not 904 00:58:27.480 --> 00:58:30.840 watched a lot of it. We did watch some of Game three the other 905 00:58:30.960 --> 00:58:34.559 night, probably this most of the second half of that one. That was 906 00:58:34.599 --> 00:58:37.880 pretty entertaining game overall, I thought for the most part. But again, 907 00:58:37.920 --> 00:58:40.199 I think that series I'll probably in here pretty soon. But the world of 908 00:58:40.239 --> 00:58:44.519 golf this week had a nice shake up that nobody saw coming. And I 909 00:58:44.599 --> 00:58:45.800 know that a lot of you don't care about golf. I will say, 910 00:58:45.840 --> 00:58:50.079 if you don't like golf, and it's a lot like for me, and 911 00:58:50.800 --> 00:58:57.760 recently my wife and I have found ourselves getting into the Netflix series Drive to 912 00:58:57.840 --> 00:59:00.559 Survive the F one Show. And I've done this before. I've talked on 913 00:59:00.559 --> 00:59:01.960 the air because I know there's a lot of people out there that become fascinated 914 00:59:02.000 --> 00:59:07.159 with F one and I've asked and we've done plenty of discussion on the air, 915 00:59:07.199 --> 00:59:08.119 like should I get into it? And people are I don't know, 916 00:59:08.360 --> 00:59:10.360 and some people are all, yeah, absolutely, and I will tell you 917 00:59:10.480 --> 00:59:15.639 this. Watching that show, I've gotten into F one. I've watched like 918 00:59:15.760 --> 00:59:20.280 the last three races now, and this week we've discovered the F one video 919 00:59:20.360 --> 00:59:22.280 game. And let me just go ahead and tell you something. Right now, 920 00:59:22.360 --> 00:59:23.800 me and the nephews are playing the F one video game and that thing 921 00:59:24.039 --> 00:59:28.199 is freaking addicting. It is an absolute problem for me in this home. 922 00:59:28.280 --> 00:59:31.159 I've genuinely like and I always thought it was crazy. As you get older, 923 00:59:32.159 --> 00:59:36.360 like everybody always said, you'll stop playing video games as much. My 924 00:59:36.480 --> 00:59:38.280 cousin I had. You know, my cousin growing up, He's nine years 925 00:59:38.280 --> 00:59:40.719 older than me, but super close. We always grew up around each other 926 00:59:40.840 --> 00:59:45.199 and did everything. He's like my brother and everything, and he was kind 927 00:59:45.199 --> 00:59:46.360 of like that too, Like just one day he just kind of stopped playing 928 00:59:46.400 --> 00:59:49.760 video games. I think we just kind of phased it out, not necessarily 929 00:59:49.960 --> 00:59:52.039 stopped, but it just becomes a lot less important when you got other things 930 00:59:52.079 --> 00:59:54.280 going on in your life. And that's really happened for me. Over the 931 00:59:54.360 --> 00:59:58.239 last like three years. I've really slowed down on playing video games. Like 932 00:59:58.320 --> 01:00:01.480 it'll be three four months between playing something, or I'll play with the boys 933 01:00:01.559 --> 01:00:05.960 or whatever, and that'll be it. But we discovered this F one video 934 01:00:06.039 --> 01:00:08.480 game and I cannot stop doing the F one video game. It's gonna be 935 01:00:08.519 --> 01:00:12.440 an issue for me. But all that to say, the world of golf 936 01:00:12.559 --> 01:00:16.079 this week kind of rocked by the And I say I bring up the F 937 01:00:16.199 --> 01:00:22.000 one because if you've not watched the Netflix show Full Swing and you're curious about 938 01:00:22.199 --> 01:00:25.000 golf and the personalities and all that, and maybe you want to get into 939 01:00:25.039 --> 01:00:28.719 golf kind of like me with the F one thing, I think you should 940 01:00:28.719 --> 01:00:31.960 go watch the Full Swing show on Netflix. I thought it was phenomenal and 941 01:00:32.079 --> 01:00:35.480 get you some insight into some of these guys. You could see on the 942 01:00:35.519 --> 01:00:37.880 side of them. I can get a lot of these A lot of them 943 01:00:37.960 --> 01:00:42.679 come off very likable. I thought brooks Kepka I used to be a team 944 01:00:42.920 --> 01:00:45.559 brooks Kepca guy, but you know, I think he came off really douche 945 01:00:45.679 --> 01:00:52.039 in the show, and his wife came off as the worst. But overall, 946 01:00:52.159 --> 01:00:53.719 like it made me, and I'm a huge golf guy, it made 947 01:00:53.760 --> 01:00:58.000 me like even more gung ho to go watch golf. And I play golf 948 01:00:58.039 --> 01:01:01.360 all the time, so it just it just built my passion for it even 949 01:01:01.440 --> 01:01:07.760 more. But watch the show, maybe they'll get you into golf a little 950 01:01:07.800 --> 01:01:12.760 bit. But got spicy this week because the PGA Tour and Live or the 951 01:01:13.039 --> 01:01:19.159 private or the public investment Investment Fund, the Saudi backed fund of the Saudi 952 01:01:19.239 --> 01:01:22.400 government, who has more money than God because of the oil that they have 953 01:01:22.559 --> 01:01:28.039 over there. They've basically bought the PGA Tour for sure, everything that's being 954 01:01:28.119 --> 01:01:30.920 said or it's a partnership, or we still have control that you don't for 955 01:01:31.079 --> 01:01:35.639 now you might have control. But they put the guy who's running Live, 956 01:01:35.719 --> 01:01:42.039 who basically is the front for the prints whatever of Saudi Arabia, forget his 957 01:01:42.159 --> 01:01:47.679 name, weird week. Didn't expect this to happen. I think the PGA 958 01:01:47.760 --> 01:01:52.079 Tour ran out of money and saw the future was we don't have enough money 959 01:01:52.159 --> 01:01:55.880 to withstand paying our players the elevated sums of money that we're paying them because 960 01:01:55.880 --> 01:01:59.880 the Live came in and did what they did and forced our hand into doing 961 01:02:00.039 --> 01:02:01.559 it, which is great for the golfers and they should make more money. 962 01:02:04.320 --> 01:02:07.559 But I think I saw the rioting on the wall unfortunately, and they had 963 01:02:07.639 --> 01:02:10.840 to do this and give them power and put that guy on the board, 964 01:02:10.920 --> 01:02:15.719 and as the think he's the CEO or CFO of of the PGA too, 965 01:02:15.760 --> 01:02:21.760 whatever it might be. The PGA Tour Commissioner remains in a top position as 966 01:02:21.760 --> 01:02:23.599 well. It's just crazy, absolutely crazy, a lot of egg on a 967 01:02:23.679 --> 01:02:28.280 lot of face this week. I'm not one of these people that's gonna get 968 01:02:28.360 --> 01:02:31.159 into the political side of it necessarily. Look, the Saudi crap is the 969 01:02:31.199 --> 01:02:37.280 Saudi crap. I know their history of brutalness to people and human rights, 970 01:02:37.559 --> 01:02:40.760 and you know the way things go. But like, I'm not gonna sit 971 01:02:40.840 --> 01:02:44.280 here and make everything a political battle. When it comes to sports, their 972 01:02:44.360 --> 01:02:49.039 Saudi money is littered across it. There are sponsorships across all sports that have 973 01:02:49.360 --> 01:02:52.239 Saudi money involved in them, and I think if we peeled back the curtain 974 01:02:52.239 --> 01:02:53.480 on all of it, there'd be a lot of people online go alight, 975 01:02:55.079 --> 01:02:59.199 I go to sports for sports. At the end of the day, you're 976 01:02:59.239 --> 01:03:04.199 gonna get the best golfers in the world back together, and now they'll look 977 01:03:04.239 --> 01:03:06.599 overall, they didn't take a lot of great golfers. They took a lot 978 01:03:06.639 --> 01:03:07.880 of guys that are later in their careers and done. But they did take 979 01:03:07.920 --> 01:03:12.800 some younger talents and proven talent. Brooks Kepco of course, having just won 980 01:03:13.639 --> 01:03:16.320 another PGA championship, he's finally back into form of being one of the best 981 01:03:16.360 --> 01:03:20.559 players in the world. It's been a long time since he's been that because 982 01:03:20.559 --> 01:03:23.199 of his injuries that he's been going through. So I'm a proponent of getting 983 01:03:23.199 --> 01:03:27.960 those guys back now. A lot of pissed off PGA Tour players, which 984 01:03:28.000 --> 01:03:30.639 they should be, because some of these guys passed up on hundreds of millions 985 01:03:30.679 --> 01:03:34.000 of dollars to make the jump and they're just gonna be allowed to walk back 986 01:03:34.079 --> 01:03:37.519 in. There needs to be some sort of penalty for them absolutely to come 987 01:03:37.559 --> 01:03:39.199 back, like they should have to pay money or whatever it might be to 988 01:03:39.360 --> 01:03:44.800 get back their tour cards. But it sounds like the days of live or 989 01:03:44.880 --> 01:03:47.559 over after this year, which I'm fine with. I didn't. I watched 990 01:03:49.159 --> 01:03:52.320 probably half an hour of the first live Golf tournament when they started last year, 991 01:03:52.360 --> 01:03:55.119 when they played over in London, and when it was on YouTube, 992 01:03:55.159 --> 01:03:58.840 and that was it. I haven't watched a single second of it being on 993 01:03:59.039 --> 01:04:01.599 the CW. I don't think anybody's watching it. I don't watch like I'm 994 01:04:01.599 --> 01:04:04.760 not this golf person where I'm you know, crazy watching every second of these 995 01:04:04.840 --> 01:04:10.119 smaller tournaments like the Canadian Open this weekend, I'm not watching it. There's 996 01:04:10.159 --> 01:04:12.920 the certain tournaments, the more elevated tournaments where you get the fields to be 997 01:04:13.039 --> 01:04:16.239 great that I'm absolutely getting myself into, which, by the way, if 998 01:04:16.280 --> 01:04:20.280 you've missed that, they did announce recently the Houston Open dates for next year 999 01:04:20.360 --> 01:04:24.599 in the spring, right before the Master's gonna be a perfect time to finally 1000 01:04:24.719 --> 01:04:28.119 get back into the spring. Was awesome for that golf tournament. Going to 1001 01:04:28.159 --> 01:04:30.719 get a lot of huge names back here in the city of Houston, including 1002 01:04:30.719 --> 01:04:33.199 Brooks Kepka next year, who helped the redesign on that course. You know 1003 01:04:33.280 --> 01:04:38.960 he'll be back out there playing that because his buddy Jim Crane went to him 1004 01:04:39.000 --> 01:04:42.119 with that one. But overall, very weird week for the game of golf. 1005 01:04:42.159 --> 01:04:44.400 And know that we're not gonna get a lot of discussion on it overall, 1006 01:04:44.440 --> 01:04:45.360 but if you do want to give a comment or two, you can 1007 01:04:45.360 --> 01:04:48.280 always can set one, three, two on two five seven ninety. Just 1008 01:04:48.480 --> 01:04:54.679 wasn't expecting it and weird, and I get the online and a lot of 1009 01:04:54.760 --> 01:05:00.400 the egg on the face that the PGA Tour put itself through this past week. 1010 01:05:00.440 --> 01:05:02.360 They shouldn't have been kind of like with all the cheating stuff with other 1011 01:05:02.440 --> 01:05:05.840 teams throughout the years on the Astros side of it, where the Astros got 1012 01:05:05.920 --> 01:05:09.679 caught because they had a player talk and then all the stuff that came out 1013 01:05:09.719 --> 01:05:12.480 about it, and then he had all these people say all these things. 1014 01:05:12.519 --> 01:05:14.800 Then you get these little things here and there, and they come back they 1015 01:05:14.840 --> 01:05:16.360 got it like Aaron Judge got all this or the Dodgers they got all this 1016 01:05:16.440 --> 01:05:18.840 egg on their face because all these things have come out about them and what 1017 01:05:18.920 --> 01:05:23.480 they've done, and it's like, shouldn't have done it. This is where 1018 01:05:23.480 --> 01:05:27.360 you keep your mouth closed in certain situations, and some people just don't know 1019 01:05:27.519 --> 01:05:29.920 how to do that. Seven one three, two one two five, seven 1020 01:05:30.000 --> 01:05:33.400 ninety is our phone number. To join us here this morning on a Space 1021 01:05:33.599 --> 01:05:40.159 City Saturday, the free agency tour of a wide receiver continues. We'll discuss 1022 01:05:40.280 --> 01:05:43.480 him and his interest of returning to the city of Houston and what are the 1023 01:05:43.559 --> 01:05:47.800 realistic chances of it. Next here on Sports Talk seven ninety. This is 1024 01:05:47.880 --> 01:06:00.039 Space City Saturday on Sports Talk seven ninety. Any more Cowbell here on Space 1025 01:06:00.079 --> 01:06:04.719 City Saturday. Michael Connor back here with you. Seven one three two on 1026 01:06:04.880 --> 01:06:09.719 two five seven ninety is our number to join us here. We're here until 1027 01:06:09.840 --> 01:06:14.440 noon. I'll be back with you again after the show later this afternoon four 1028 01:06:14.519 --> 01:06:18.079 o'clock here on Sports Talk seven ninety for the Astros on deck show ahead of 1029 01:06:18.199 --> 01:06:24.559 game two of three this weekend in Cleveland against the Guardians. The Stros needing 1030 01:06:24.599 --> 01:06:30.280 a bounce back in the worst way possible after the unfortunate last night. The 1031 01:06:30.400 --> 01:06:31.840 unfortunate loss. They now lost four in a row, first time this season 1032 01:06:31.880 --> 01:06:39.239 they've lost that many. Tristan McKenzie versus JP France this evening, hopefully a 1033 01:06:39.679 --> 01:06:44.480 good pitching matchup. About that on the mound, The Guardians probably feel a 1034 01:06:44.519 --> 01:06:45.880 little bit better about their side of things, but the Astros feel good about 1035 01:06:45.880 --> 01:06:49.800 their JP Fran has been pretty good so far this season, so the Astros 1036 01:06:49.840 --> 01:06:53.199 will see if they can get back into it. Seven one three, two 1037 01:06:53.199 --> 01:06:55.639 on two five seven ninety is our number to join us. We'll get into 1038 01:06:55.639 --> 01:06:57.760 that free agency thing here in just a moment. We want to get to 1039 01:06:57.760 --> 01:07:01.119 you guys in the phone lines. Let's talk to Scott next here on Space 1040 01:07:01.159 --> 01:07:05.360 City Saturday. Hello Scott, Hey, how are you doing today? Good? 1041 01:07:06.320 --> 01:07:11.000 Hey? I was gonna ask your opinion about the World Baseball Classic and 1042 01:07:11.119 --> 01:07:15.880 how if it had any effect on spring training and now he talked earlier about 1043 01:07:16.079 --> 01:07:23.880 some injuries and players hitting the walls that was good or bad for the baseball. 1044 01:07:24.719 --> 01:07:27.840 And then I'll hang up. But one other question. What is a 1045 01:07:27.960 --> 01:07:32.599 bray you chewing on put he's up on that bad or playing Jose brew you? 1046 01:07:33.800 --> 01:07:39.159 Oh yeah? Um? Chewing tobaccos? Yes, man, if he 1047 01:07:39.280 --> 01:07:43.920 quit chewing so much to bacco, he may have energy to hit better maybe. 1048 01:07:44.400 --> 01:07:48.840 Um. Yeah, go hang up and get you in here. I'll 1049 01:07:48.920 --> 01:07:54.920 hang up and get your thoughts on the World Baseball Classic. Yeah, thank 1050 01:07:54.960 --> 01:07:58.920 you for the phone call. Um, yeah, bray you he likes himself. 1051 01:07:58.960 --> 01:08:00.000 And I don't know for sure what it is. I mean, there's 1052 01:08:00.000 --> 01:08:02.480 a lot of those guys that use that stuff. And look at somebody that 1053 01:08:02.559 --> 01:08:05.280 played a lot of baseball in my life. Unfortunately, it was a habit 1054 01:08:05.360 --> 01:08:09.480 for me for a long time as well. I understand the chewing tobacco thing. 1055 01:08:09.599 --> 01:08:12.559 I quit it, thank god. Um, and I've not done it 1056 01:08:12.679 --> 01:08:15.640 for it's been it's been a few years now. Um, but it's a 1057 01:08:15.680 --> 01:08:20.159 bad habit and um, I think he's probably it looks to me like he's 1058 01:08:20.159 --> 01:08:23.600 one of those guys. Now. I only know this because I again played 1059 01:08:23.640 --> 01:08:26.359 baseball and you can see guys do this, and we tried it at some 1060 01:08:26.439 --> 01:08:29.960 point where you do the I don't know if he's doing the actual chewing tobacco 1061 01:08:30.039 --> 01:08:32.439 where you wrap it and gum, which sounds disgusting, I know, but 1062 01:08:32.640 --> 01:08:35.199 some people like that, or if he's just doing the good old I think 1063 01:08:35.199 --> 01:08:38.680 it's what he does and he just kind of puts it into his front lip 1064 01:08:39.239 --> 01:08:43.279 and let's sit there. But you know, that's that's everybody. Um, 1065 01:08:43.720 --> 01:08:47.439 that's that's everybody's different thing. It's it's it's a baseball thing. Um. 1066 01:08:48.279 --> 01:08:50.920 Hell, Dusty Baker still does it to this day. It'll be the funniest 1067 01:08:50.960 --> 01:08:55.079 thing ever, which is a little inside of the baseball thing. Like you'll 1068 01:08:55.119 --> 01:08:57.520 be sitting there and Dusty you'll be talking to you. And if you've if 1069 01:08:57.560 --> 01:09:01.520 you ever use chewing tobacco before Copenhagen, fine cut is about as difficult as 1070 01:09:01.560 --> 01:09:04.439 it gets because it's like putting sand and near a lip, and Dusty he'll 1071 01:09:04.439 --> 01:09:08.960 just sit there and he'll grab that can and he'll put his tongue to it 1072 01:09:09.560 --> 01:09:13.239 and he'll just pop it into his mouth with his tongue, and it's like, 1073 01:09:13.319 --> 01:09:15.600 oh my god, this guy and you're gonna use chewing tobacco. At 1074 01:09:15.680 --> 01:09:18.880 least be a badass about it. Dusty Baker is a badass about it. 1075 01:09:19.560 --> 01:09:24.000 But Joseph bre he definitely does a lot of it. All the World Baseball 1076 01:09:24.039 --> 01:09:28.439 Classic thing. Look, you know, I've never been a big fan. 1077 01:09:28.520 --> 01:09:32.239 I understand that these players, it is a huge honor for them, especially 1078 01:09:32.319 --> 01:09:34.760 these Latin I mean really all of them. It's not just the Latin players, 1079 01:09:34.800 --> 01:09:36.880 but the Latin players. I think there's a little bit more to it 1080 01:09:38.640 --> 01:09:42.640 because these guys come from countries where you know, it's it's tough to get 1081 01:09:42.760 --> 01:09:45.319 here. Um, it's it's tough to be this player and to get these 1082 01:09:45.399 --> 01:09:49.079 opportunities and get out of a you know, for a lot of them, 1083 01:09:49.399 --> 01:09:54.199 a life of poverty in these places. They they hit the big time, 1084 01:09:55.039 --> 01:09:59.159 and to go back to those places and to give and to grow the game 1085 01:09:59.239 --> 01:10:01.960 and all those things matters to them, and to represent that country matters. 1086 01:10:03.560 --> 01:10:06.760 But I've never loved it from the standpoint of the timing of it, and 1087 01:10:06.880 --> 01:10:11.479 I don't think there's perfect time for it outside of shutting down your season. 1088 01:10:11.520 --> 01:10:14.319 I think it just kind of gets back to it makes no sense. It's 1089 01:10:15.279 --> 01:10:18.039 it just if I was a team and we saw the Astros do this from 1090 01:10:18.199 --> 01:10:21.239 er Valdez, I would ask my players are not playing it. You can't 1091 01:10:21.319 --> 01:10:24.520 force them to do it, but I would ask them to not playing it. 1092 01:10:24.640 --> 01:10:26.880 I never would I never would never want a guy to play in it. 1093 01:10:27.039 --> 01:10:30.760 Hitters, I'm not so worried about. It's more pitchers than anything else. 1094 01:10:30.520 --> 01:10:33.720 Hitters, you can go out there outlook. The Jose Altuvee thing happened. 1095 01:10:33.720 --> 01:10:38.680 That's a freak thing that could happen in a spring training game. That 1096 01:10:38.800 --> 01:10:43.119 could happen at any point. It's just baseball. But with pitchers. I 1097 01:10:43.319 --> 01:10:47.279 hate it because, especially for the Astros this past year, you know they 1098 01:10:48.640 --> 01:10:53.520 had to they had a short off season because they finished in November again last 1099 01:10:53.600 --> 01:10:57.920 year they got December off. But then you have to basically start your throwing 1100 01:10:58.039 --> 01:11:00.239 program again in January, and most of those guys would start. You know, 1101 01:11:00.279 --> 01:11:04.720 they're never completely shutting down. They probably shut down. Even the guys 1102 01:11:04.760 --> 01:11:10.600 that get done in October at the end of September or early October, they're 1103 01:11:10.680 --> 01:11:14.359 probably shutting down for a couple of weeks before they even you know that before 1104 01:11:14.359 --> 01:11:17.039 they're doing anything, or they're they're tossing lightly in doing stuff and just keeping 1105 01:11:17.560 --> 01:11:19.880 things as it is. I mean, I think the training is just so 1106 01:11:20.000 --> 01:11:23.840 completely different from where it's even been in the years past that and you're never 1107 01:11:24.199 --> 01:11:26.960 these guys are never stopping to the point most of them where they're out of 1108 01:11:27.039 --> 01:11:34.079 shape to playing games. But you have to ramp things up so quickly to 1109 01:11:34.279 --> 01:11:40.680 get yourself to a spot where you can pitch competitively in these games. To 1110 01:11:40.800 --> 01:11:45.279 where I do wonder now as we've hit the month of June or these guys 1111 01:11:45.399 --> 01:11:48.520 hitting and everybody goes through it. Are these guys hitting a midseason wall earlier 1112 01:11:48.600 --> 01:11:53.680 than most because they did ramp up so hard and then they went through the 1113 01:11:53.760 --> 01:11:57.359 rest of the spring once they got back into their spring camps, and then 1114 01:11:57.399 --> 01:12:00.560 they here they are and we all you know, that's how it's a better 1115 01:12:00.640 --> 01:12:02.359 question obviously for the players or whatever. And you know, I get out 1116 01:12:02.439 --> 01:12:05.159 there to the ballpark next week and I'll ask a couple of these guys because 1117 01:12:05.680 --> 01:12:09.520 it would be interesting to hear their perspective on it now a few months in 1118 01:12:10.640 --> 01:12:14.159 after having pitched in it. But maybe they don't feel like it's it's the 1119 01:12:14.199 --> 01:12:16.479 case, maybe they just pretty normal and they just had to start earlier. 1120 01:12:18.000 --> 01:12:24.840 But I do wonder on the level of exhaustion that they've hit overall, in 1121 01:12:25.000 --> 01:12:27.880 terms of their arms, how they're feeling their body in general, because they've 1122 01:12:27.920 --> 01:12:33.199 been going now. I mean, they've been going hard since probably the end 1123 01:12:33.239 --> 01:12:39.319 of January and it is June, and they still have all of these months 1124 01:12:39.399 --> 01:12:45.640 left of baseball and hopefully good baseball to be played and getting themselves back into 1125 01:12:45.720 --> 01:12:49.239 the postseason. And I mean, like I want to win another World Series. 1126 01:12:49.840 --> 01:12:54.119 I have a lot more fun doing radio when we're talking about winning a 1127 01:12:54.199 --> 01:12:56.680 title than when we're not talking about winning a title. And I'd like to 1128 01:12:56.720 --> 01:12:59.880 do that with them again. I'd like to do that with all three teams 1129 01:13:00.000 --> 01:13:01.800 in this city. Seven one, three, two on two five, seven 1130 01:13:02.119 --> 01:13:05.479 ninety again, that is our phone number to join us here this morning. 1131 01:13:05.520 --> 01:13:10.600 We've got thirty eight minutes to go here on Space City Saturday to the football 1132 01:13:10.680 --> 01:13:14.520 world and that free agent and what is going on with him and do we 1133 01:13:14.720 --> 01:13:19.239 consider we still consider ourselves a contender or do you consider this team a contender 1134 01:13:19.279 --> 01:13:23.680 to get his services here in the city of Houston. We'll discuss that next 1135 01:13:23.760 --> 01:13:30.800 here on Sports Talk seven ninety, Space City Saturday. Continues Sports Talk seven 1136 01:13:30.920 --> 01:13:36.800 nineties Space City Saturday, and you're on Sports Talk seven ninety. We're rolling 1137 01:13:36.840 --> 01:13:42.039 along with you here for about twenty eight more minutes. So on Sports Talk 1138 01:13:42.079 --> 01:13:45.560 seven ninety can join us at seven one three two one two five seven ninety 1139 01:13:45.600 --> 01:13:47.840 seven one three two on two five seven niney. Michael connerback here with you. 1140 01:13:48.039 --> 01:13:53.079 Will get back into the strows to wrap things up in the final segment 1141 01:13:53.239 --> 01:13:56.840 of the show as they look to bounce back and in there losing streak today 1142 01:13:56.920 --> 01:14:00.960 in game two of the three game weekend series in that Cleveland whence you'll hear 1143 01:14:00.039 --> 01:14:02.399 right here on Sports Talk seven ninety. Of course you can find me on 1144 01:14:02.439 --> 01:14:06.880 Twitter at MC seven ninety. Again the station at Sports Talk seven ninety always 1145 01:14:08.000 --> 01:14:12.760 typically available to you when we were doing things or watching games, whatever might 1146 01:14:12.840 --> 01:14:15.760 be, trying to make sure that we're always getting back to you and talking 1147 01:14:15.840 --> 01:14:20.439 sports because it's what our lifeblood is. And of course one of the lifebloods 1148 01:14:20.479 --> 01:14:24.159 has been kind of dull for the last few years, which has been the 1149 01:14:24.279 --> 01:14:28.520 Houston Texans because they've been very, very bad and it's been a you know, 1150 01:14:29.039 --> 01:14:33.399 just a revolving door of terrible coaches and bad decisions, and it feels 1151 01:14:33.439 --> 01:14:41.319 like finally we are all at a spot where we can gather together and rally 1152 01:14:41.399 --> 01:14:45.600 behind a head coach, rally behind his staff, rally behind a quarterback. 1153 01:14:45.680 --> 01:14:49.199 Of course, because they draft CJ. Stroud, Texans have gone through OTAs 1154 01:14:49.239 --> 01:14:53.359 and we're getting to the mini camp stages. Training camp will be here at 1155 01:14:53.399 --> 01:14:56.000 the end shoot. Now, we don't have an official date I think yet. 1156 01:14:56.039 --> 01:14:58.720 I need to needed a double check on that, but I don't think 1157 01:14:58.760 --> 01:15:00.600 that the dates have come out. Just if they have, I missed them. 1158 01:15:00.800 --> 01:15:03.840 But it's the end of July. Early August is when they always get 1159 01:15:03.880 --> 01:15:08.359 started. They'll be back out there on the field officially and then ramping things 1160 01:15:08.479 --> 01:15:12.560 up to play preseason football. Three preseason games, which, by the way, 1161 01:15:12.560 --> 01:15:15.880 I think it's the last game against the Dolphins. One of those games 1162 01:15:15.960 --> 01:15:18.680 got moved to a national TV on NFL network, Which does anybody have NFL 1163 01:15:18.760 --> 01:15:21.800 Network? I don't think. I mean, I'm I'm a cord cutter. 1164 01:15:23.000 --> 01:15:27.560 I'm a streamer of everything, so I don't have NFL network, but I'm 1165 01:15:27.600 --> 01:15:30.920 sure it'll be available on one of the broadcast TV station saw to plug my 1166 01:15:31.000 --> 01:15:34.159 old bunny ears into the TV in the living room and watch it, which 1167 01:15:34.199 --> 01:15:38.079 I will do even if I'm the baseball guy, and I love baseball. 1168 01:15:38.239 --> 01:15:40.960 I love all three sports, and I do love to be able to talk 1169 01:15:41.000 --> 01:15:45.239 about all three of them. I miss talking about all three of them consistently, 1170 01:15:45.279 --> 01:15:47.600 even if the Rockets stink and the Texans have stuck. But I'm very 1171 01:15:47.680 --> 01:15:53.159 excited as somebody that was around. Of course I've mentioned this before, but 1172 01:15:53.239 --> 01:15:56.600 I was twelve years old when the Texans started in two thousand and two. 1173 01:15:57.159 --> 01:15:59.399 So like, this is my football team, and you know, I know 1174 01:15:59.520 --> 01:16:02.920 that you're you're you're probably gonna you know, how how is this your football 1175 01:16:03.039 --> 01:16:05.880 whatever might be. You know, I'm supposed to be by partial or you're 1176 01:16:05.880 --> 01:16:09.119 supposed to be level headed on the radio. I want them to win, 1177 01:16:09.159 --> 01:16:12.399 and I know that they're not on our station and everything, and some people 1178 01:16:12.479 --> 01:16:15.640 think we thrive off them being terrible or we just want them to suck, 1179 01:16:15.800 --> 01:16:17.800 and everybody hits seven ninety hates the Texans and it's the dumbest thing. Ever, 1180 01:16:17.840 --> 01:16:19.560 Like I don't hate the Texans. I want them to win. I 1181 01:16:19.640 --> 01:16:23.640 want all three teams to win. I'm a Houston sports guy. That's all 1182 01:16:23.720 --> 01:16:27.000 I want in my life is to have the three teams that I've cared about 1183 01:16:27.000 --> 01:16:31.520 my entire life being great. And I feel like for all the bad stuff 1184 01:16:31.560 --> 01:16:34.119 that they've done and all the craft that they've put us through, and all 1185 01:16:34.159 --> 01:16:38.359 the banging our heads against the wall and yelling at each other and doing whatever 1186 01:16:38.399 --> 01:16:41.880 it is that we've done, this finally we're getting past that point. There's 1187 01:16:41.960 --> 01:16:45.640 finally time for optimism. And it's a good feeling. It's better than the 1188 01:16:45.800 --> 01:16:53.600 feeling of crap that we have all been through for the past few years of 1189 01:16:53.720 --> 01:16:57.359 that franchise. But there is still a guy that is out there that has 1190 01:16:57.520 --> 01:17:00.680 made it known, I guess through sources or whatever it might be, that 1191 01:17:00.800 --> 01:17:04.279 he would like to see himself or he was interested at least in being back 1192 01:17:04.600 --> 01:17:09.119 in Houston, and that of course, is DeAndre Hopkins. Now, the 1193 01:17:09.359 --> 01:17:13.720 Texans don't necessarily have the cap space available to do it, but the cap 1194 01:17:13.880 --> 01:17:18.000 is a The cap is a very I think, subjective thing, and it's 1195 01:17:18.000 --> 01:17:23.640 not subjective, it's real. But like every single team, if you want 1196 01:17:23.640 --> 01:17:27.359 a player or you want to do something, they will all figure out a 1197 01:17:27.399 --> 01:17:30.159 way to work the salary cap, so that's not going to be an issue 1198 01:17:30.279 --> 01:17:34.319 at all. I keep going through this and thinking about it and where the 1199 01:17:34.359 --> 01:17:38.760 football team is and where their death is at the position, and if you 1200 01:17:38.880 --> 01:17:42.880 can get the deal done, which is going to take money. It's not 1201 01:17:43.000 --> 01:17:46.960 going to take the money that he was making on the contract that the Cardinals 1202 01:17:47.039 --> 01:17:50.560 just released him from, but it's going to take at least ten million dollars 1203 01:17:51.079 --> 01:17:56.640 at minimum to get him and guaranteed money for this season and whatever it was 1204 01:17:56.720 --> 01:18:00.720 would be if it's a lengthy deal after that, I would I still would 1205 01:18:00.720 --> 01:18:02.279 like to see him back here in the city of Houston. And it's not 1206 01:18:02.439 --> 01:18:06.439 just because I'm selfishly wanting the player back in Houston, because he's a Texans 1207 01:18:06.600 --> 01:18:10.760 legend. He's the second best receiver in terms of all the numbers and the 1208 01:18:10.840 --> 01:18:15.720 history of the franchise. He would have eclipsed Andre Johnson in all those categories 1209 01:18:15.840 --> 01:18:19.239 in all likelihood if he had stayed in Houston. Now, he could have 1210 01:18:19.279 --> 01:18:21.399 had the suspension here and the injuries here, and it might have been a 1211 01:18:21.399 --> 01:18:26.600 little bit tough based off of that, but he probably would have eclipsed Andrew 1212 01:18:26.680 --> 01:18:30.239 Johnson in every major category in the history of the franchise, and you know, 1213 01:18:30.319 --> 01:18:34.800 I know that their history of Ring of Honor stuff is not very lengthy 1214 01:18:34.840 --> 01:18:39.119 because they've not had a lot of guys necessarily that are worthy of it. 1215 01:18:39.199 --> 01:18:42.720 The only people that are in it, of course, are cal McNair. 1216 01:18:42.880 --> 01:18:45.880 Are not calming? Yeah, why am I thinking cal McNair. What's his 1217 01:18:45.960 --> 01:18:50.439 dad's name, Bob McNair. Sorry to hope he's resting easily, Bob McNair. 1218 01:18:51.960 --> 01:18:55.359 He's in it. And then of course Andrew Johnson was put in it. 1219 01:18:55.880 --> 01:18:59.760 I do think that Aaron Foster belongs in it. That's just me personally. 1220 01:18:59.800 --> 01:19:01.600 I put him in there. When the day comes, I think there's 1221 01:19:01.640 --> 01:19:04.720 a conversation that has to be had about Dwayne Brown being in it as well, 1222 01:19:04.800 --> 01:19:08.840 Like those are the only guys that really pop off to me as the 1223 01:19:08.920 --> 01:19:11.600 other guys that belong in that kind of in that kind of spot. But 1224 01:19:11.680 --> 01:19:15.800 when in DeAndre Hopkins day comes and his career does end, he also believes 1225 01:19:15.800 --> 01:19:17.560 in there. I'm totally shorten jj Wat there. I forgot about j Watt 1226 01:19:17.560 --> 01:19:21.479 because he just retired. JJ Watt should be in there this year, Like 1227 01:19:21.640 --> 01:19:24.800 you don't even have to think about that when you put him into your Ring 1228 01:19:24.880 --> 01:19:29.479 of Honor immediately and have a whole big day and ceremony celebrating him because he's 1229 01:19:30.159 --> 01:19:32.000 either one or two in terms of the best players in the history of the 1230 01:19:32.079 --> 01:19:35.720 franchise and what they've had, probably number one just because of the awards that 1231 01:19:35.760 --> 01:19:40.119 he had, which is three Defensive Player of the Year awards. But the 1232 01:19:40.359 --> 01:19:47.840 team could absolutely, in my opinion, use them, could use the production 1233 01:19:47.920 --> 01:19:53.520 that DeAndre Hopkins could give you. And I think that, you know, 1234 01:19:54.680 --> 01:19:57.800 will they necessarily get involved in it. I doubt it. I think if 1235 01:19:57.840 --> 01:20:00.039 they were going to get involved in it at this point, we probably to 1236 01:20:00.119 --> 01:20:01.680 hurt a little bit more on them. I think he's pushing it because he 1237 01:20:01.720 --> 01:20:04.560 would like to get back here. You see the stuff about you know, 1238 01:20:04.640 --> 01:20:08.199 his family still here and all that, and he does spend a lot of 1239 01:20:08.279 --> 01:20:11.960 his offseason still back in the city of Houston. That's that's that's not crazy, 1240 01:20:12.039 --> 01:20:14.800 but that's just the I think. The thing is a Houstonian that I've 1241 01:20:14.800 --> 01:20:17.560 always loved is that guys come here in sports and then they don't leave. 1242 01:20:18.119 --> 01:20:20.600 You come to this city and you realize, goly, I mean, like 1243 01:20:20.680 --> 01:20:25.079 this is a great place to live. Quality of life is unbelievable. Of 1244 01:20:25.159 --> 01:20:28.239 course, there's a huge benefit of the tax purpose there all that stuff. 1245 01:20:28.479 --> 01:20:30.359 Cost of livings way cheap. Now, cost of living is going way up 1246 01:20:30.399 --> 01:20:32.840 for everybody, but it's cheaper than it is in a lot of places. 1247 01:20:32.920 --> 01:20:35.840 So I get why people fall in love and they don't want to leave this 1248 01:20:35.880 --> 01:20:43.199 city once they get here. But them the football team could use this player 1249 01:20:43.720 --> 01:20:46.880 this season, and I think for you know, for CJ. Stroud, 1250 01:20:48.199 --> 01:20:53.119 having him out there with some of those that the guys would be kind of 1251 01:20:53.159 --> 01:20:56.520 a big deal. Considering, you know, we don't know what John Metsch's 1252 01:20:56.560 --> 01:21:00.319 gonna be necessarily when he plays. I think that I'm pretty confident in him. 1253 01:21:00.319 --> 01:21:03.439 A lot of people talk very highly of Tank Dell. Nico Collins is 1254 01:21:03.479 --> 01:21:08.279 a guy that you know, has shown some flashes at times, but I 1255 01:21:08.319 --> 01:21:11.239 don't think that there's any reason to think he's gonna take some big leap at 1256 01:21:11.239 --> 01:21:14.960 any point and be a number one receiver for anybody. He's probably a two 1257 01:21:15.039 --> 01:21:17.720 or three at best on most teams. They have Robert Woods, who says 1258 01:21:17.800 --> 01:21:23.159 he's finally, you know, the healthiest healthiest he's been since the ACL tear. 1259 01:21:23.279 --> 01:21:25.520 And maybe you can get a little bit of something out of him, 1260 01:21:25.560 --> 01:21:27.680 But that's not a number one in your team, and he's later in his 1261 01:21:27.800 --> 01:21:30.159 career, so that's something that you know, I'm not going to get completely 1262 01:21:30.199 --> 01:21:35.319 behind. As well as being this true, amazing legit option for you, 1263 01:21:35.960 --> 01:21:40.960 it's not the most inspiring position. Again, the wide receiver spot for the 1264 01:21:41.000 --> 01:21:44.640 Houston Texans, their depth and it they do have Dalton Schultz that they've signed 1265 01:21:44.640 --> 01:21:47.000 for the Dallas Cowboys. The tight end spot, and I'm, for me, 1266 01:21:47.199 --> 01:21:53.039 hand up, I think that this offense is going to be more tight 1267 01:21:53.159 --> 01:21:56.000 end involved. And I think I was the most because we went through as 1268 01:21:56.279 --> 01:22:00.439 as fans, of course, the Gary Kubiak era where look for as much 1269 01:22:00.479 --> 01:22:04.079 as we dog Kubiak and certain things, and they never got over the time. 1270 01:22:04.119 --> 01:22:09.600 They're very average throughout a lot of those years. Then they finally broke 1271 01:22:09.720 --> 01:22:12.479 through and then they just fell off the face of the earth real quickly and 1272 01:22:12.560 --> 01:22:15.119 he was gone. Those offense, those days of that offense were a lot 1273 01:22:15.159 --> 01:22:17.840 of fun. They were They were always really great at running the football, 1274 01:22:18.159 --> 01:22:21.960 they were always great at getting guys wide, hoping like it just worked, 1275 01:22:23.039 --> 01:22:27.119 not included the tight end. So I'm excited about seeing the possibility of tight 1276 01:22:27.239 --> 01:22:29.720 end play being a thing again in Houston, Texas this year, and I 1277 01:22:29.760 --> 01:22:32.000 think it matters. I think in today's game, the mismatches that you create 1278 01:22:32.039 --> 01:22:34.560 with the tight end position matters. And I think Dalton Schultz is nothing like 1279 01:22:34.640 --> 01:22:38.000 He's not a best in the league type of guy, but he's got good 1280 01:22:38.039 --> 01:22:40.680 size, he's got good speed, he's a good physical guy. They gave 1281 01:22:40.760 --> 01:22:43.279 him good guaranteed money for this one year for a reason. I think he's 1282 01:22:43.319 --> 01:22:45.880 going to be a very effective player for them, better than they've had at 1283 01:22:45.880 --> 01:22:47.840 the tight end position for a very long time. And again, I think 1284 01:22:47.880 --> 01:22:51.680 more than anything, it's because the offense Bill O'Brien, for whatever freaking reason, 1285 01:22:51.720 --> 01:22:55.640 for years just ignored the tight end position and they just did not get 1286 01:22:55.720 --> 01:22:59.079 him involved any of them in the kind of way that they needed to the 1287 01:22:59.159 --> 01:23:01.439 last couple of years. Even care about that, because the Texans coaching staff 1288 01:23:01.560 --> 01:23:04.760 was just not good. The game plans are not good. Nothing about the 1289 01:23:04.880 --> 01:23:09.680 last couple of years or good. So I'm not going to even really criticize 1290 01:23:09.800 --> 01:23:13.640 or even evaluate what they did and say, well, that's whatever. I'm 1291 01:23:13.880 --> 01:23:16.479 optimistic about this season. But again, I think that based on the depth 1292 01:23:16.520 --> 01:23:19.319 that they have maybe the lack of overall like, oh my god, this 1293 01:23:19.439 --> 01:23:25.319 guy's great. I could see a scenario where yes, you go ahead and 1294 01:23:25.439 --> 01:23:29.359 you say, hey, we should probably get ourselves involved in the mix for 1295 01:23:29.439 --> 01:23:31.800 DeAndre Hopkins, especially if his market doesn't play out. He's already visited the 1296 01:23:31.880 --> 01:23:35.520 Titans, he's visited there. He's going to visit the New England Patriots this 1297 01:23:35.640 --> 01:23:42.199 week, which of course is funny because of the whole DeAndre Hopkins army, 1298 01:23:42.319 --> 01:23:45.520 the whole Bill O'Brien relationship with him, or whatever it might be, the 1299 01:23:46.119 --> 01:23:51.159 Bill trading him to the Cardinals like he did. But Bill's not making the 1300 01:23:51.239 --> 01:23:54.800 decisions there, and it would be hilarious at Bill Belichick says, Hey, 1301 01:23:54.880 --> 01:23:58.000 Bill O'Brien, buckup, Buttercup, you gotta deal with this even if you 1302 01:23:58.039 --> 01:24:00.039 don't like this whatever it might be. And just the awkwardness. I don't 1303 01:24:00.039 --> 01:24:02.880 know, maybe there's no awkwardness. Maybe maybe they're completely fine and they've taught 1304 01:24:02.920 --> 01:24:06.880 who knows, But I think that'd be a fun fly to beyond the wall 1305 01:24:06.960 --> 01:24:12.239 kind of conversation if DeAndre Hopkins walked into the room as a New England Patriot 1306 01:24:12.359 --> 01:24:15.479 for the first day, as Bill O'Brien's back at the offensive coordinator position. 1307 01:24:15.520 --> 01:24:19.119 That'd be pretty darn hilarious. Seven one three two on two five, seven 1308 01:24:19.159 --> 01:24:23.920 nineties the number to join us here on Space City Saturday. Will wrap things 1309 01:24:24.000 --> 01:24:27.079 up at the final segment of the show next here on Sports Talk seven ninety. 1310 01:24:28.840 --> 01:24:38.119 It's Space City Saturday on Sports Talk seven ninety. Here final few minutes 1311 01:24:38.199 --> 01:24:42.159 of Space City Saturday here on Sports Talk seven ninety and a note the show 1312 01:24:42.279 --> 01:24:45.800 is coming to an end here if you wanted me to peel back the curtain. 1313 01:24:45.840 --> 01:24:48.079 So I'm sitting in my office at my house and doing the show with 1314 01:24:48.199 --> 01:24:51.159 you this morning. I always have my when I'm on the air from the 1315 01:24:51.239 --> 01:24:55.760 house, I always have my trusty Psychekick. We have three dogs with us 1316 01:24:55.840 --> 01:24:59.520 here at the house. We've had for all three of them together for four 1317 01:24:59.640 --> 01:25:01.439 years. But one of them we've had four or six or says she's about 1318 01:25:01.439 --> 01:25:05.359 to be seven. And he is at the point where he is jumping up 1319 01:25:05.399 --> 01:25:09.000 on trying to jump up on one of my lap because he always sits with 1320 01:25:09.079 --> 01:25:11.359 me when we do the radio shows. This is crazy. So if you 1321 01:25:11.439 --> 01:25:15.920 hear me from home and you've never really heard barking because he is the world's 1322 01:25:16.000 --> 01:25:19.279 greatest sidekick. He sits right at my feet under my desk on a bed. 1323 01:25:20.039 --> 01:25:21.920 His name is Bear, and he's hanging out with me right now. 1324 01:25:21.960 --> 01:25:26.159 But he's ready to get his butt up and go outside. So the show 1325 01:25:26.199 --> 01:25:29.760 will be ending momentarily. And but we've been talking to the Astros this morning. 1326 01:25:29.800 --> 01:25:31.920 Of course, I'll be back with you again this afternoon four o'clock for 1327 01:25:32.000 --> 01:25:36.279 the Astros on Deck show again after the game for the tenth inning show as 1328 01:25:36.359 --> 01:25:43.279 well, and hopefully get a victory today. I did not mention this throughout 1329 01:25:43.319 --> 01:25:45.319 the show today. I know that again this is we did talk for a 1330 01:25:45.399 --> 01:25:50.720 minute golf, and I've talked about my appreciation that I've started to have for 1331 01:25:51.520 --> 01:25:54.720 I've always loved golf. Golf has always been one of my sports that I 1332 01:25:54.800 --> 01:25:58.159 watched. That's not something that we talk about. And I think that you 1333 01:25:58.239 --> 01:26:00.520 know, we have our three hard core sports of course that we care about 1334 01:26:00.520 --> 01:26:03.560 in the city with a three professional teams, and you know, I know 1335 01:26:03.680 --> 01:26:06.520 that some of you might listen to it at some points, like watching some 1336 01:26:06.640 --> 01:26:10.760 of them becomes a job to an extent, like watching the Rockets the last 1337 01:26:10.760 --> 01:26:13.680 couple of years, watching the Texans last couple of years, it's become a 1338 01:26:13.760 --> 01:26:15.960 job and it's tough, and I don't want to do it all the time. 1339 01:26:16.119 --> 01:26:18.680 And I think anybody that's in this position that when you're doing it, 1340 01:26:18.800 --> 01:26:21.960 like you don't want to sit there and you know, watch bad teams all 1341 01:26:21.960 --> 01:26:29.520 the time. So I'm happy that we're probably getting to a spot that you 1342 01:26:29.600 --> 01:26:38.119 know, we're going to have excitement and more reason to watch these teams and 1343 01:26:38.439 --> 01:26:42.680 optimism across the board every single year. But I will say as I've as 1344 01:26:42.800 --> 01:26:45.199 I've gone along as a sports fan, I mentioned the golf is one of 1345 01:26:45.199 --> 01:26:48.640 those things that like, I feel like there are sports that I can escape 1346 01:26:48.720 --> 01:26:51.800 too, to get away from those three teams and get a break that I 1347 01:26:51.800 --> 01:26:55.439 don't have to come on the air and talk about ever, because they're not 1348 01:26:55.520 --> 01:26:59.439 sports that we talk about. I do want to briefly mention one of the 1349 01:26:59.479 --> 01:27:02.880 sports quick because today if you're into the world of soccer, which I've become 1350 01:27:02.920 --> 01:27:08.960 a massive, massive soccer fan over the last few years, and Chelsea FCS 1351 01:27:09.000 --> 01:27:13.159 my squad very rough year for the team from West London. I was just 1352 01:27:13.439 --> 01:27:16.000 over there recently and we went to Stanford Bridge and went over to the game 1353 01:27:16.039 --> 01:27:19.720 against Brighton and everything, and it was it was. It's been a very 1354 01:27:19.800 --> 01:27:23.439 tough year to be a to be a fan of Chelsea. They've got a 1355 01:27:23.600 --> 01:27:28.479 very busy transfer window that's about to come for them, but Champions League Final 1356 01:27:28.720 --> 01:27:32.359 is later this afternoon. If you've never watched um much soccer, you think 1357 01:27:32.399 --> 01:27:35.119 it's this dumb, silly sport. I know there's some people that's never going 1358 01:27:35.199 --> 01:27:39.000 to come around to it because well, they only score like one or two 1359 01:27:39.079 --> 01:27:43.920 goals maybe per game. Like okay, I think you have to how We'll 1360 01:27:43.920 --> 01:27:46.520 say, you have to kind of learn the intricacies and the appreciation for just 1361 01:27:46.640 --> 01:27:51.359 how difficult it is and how fast these guys move and how quick like the 1362 01:27:51.479 --> 01:27:56.680 decision making and just the athletic ability to do what they do is is pretty 1363 01:27:56.720 --> 01:27:59.479 intense. So I've I've loved the escape of it. And part of the 1364 01:27:59.520 --> 01:28:00.520 reason why I love it because it happens during the middle of the day, 1365 01:28:00.600 --> 01:28:03.479 sometimes during the weekdays, and I have the ability to watch it on like 1366 01:28:03.560 --> 01:28:06.720 a Tuesday afternoon at two o'clock they'll be playing a game and it's great. 1367 01:28:06.880 --> 01:28:11.359 I know a lot of people don't have the ability to do that. But 1368 01:28:11.560 --> 01:28:15.560 the Champions League Final today. Manchester City is going for what they call the 1369 01:28:15.600 --> 01:28:19.159 treble. They've already won the Premier League, which they did very they did 1370 01:28:19.319 --> 01:28:25.640 very stylishly with Roling Holland leading them in there at charge. And if you 1371 01:28:25.760 --> 01:28:28.680 watch soccer all you weren't able to see all these guys. They played in 1372 01:28:28.840 --> 01:28:30.920 Houston in the preseason last year and they're gonna come back. All these teams 1373 01:28:30.960 --> 01:28:34.760 come back to the States. There's gonna be some games at Energy coming again 1374 01:28:35.159 --> 01:28:38.560 this summer. I think Manchester United is coming here. I had to go 1375 01:28:38.680 --> 01:28:42.920 look again, but they've won that. They've won the FA Cup, which 1376 01:28:43.039 --> 01:28:46.680 is the English Football Association Cup over there, which matters to them. And 1377 01:28:46.720 --> 01:28:49.560 then they have a chance today to win their first Champions League title. It's 1378 01:28:49.560 --> 01:28:51.640 the one thing that they have not been able to do. The last time 1379 01:28:51.680 --> 01:28:55.560 that they had a chance to do it, they lost in Chelsea. Sucks 1380 01:28:55.600 --> 01:28:59.119 for them, which was great for me. I've got I've got my picture 1381 01:28:59.159 --> 01:29:00.920 action. I'm sitting here at it right now from my recent trip to London. 1382 01:29:01.279 --> 01:29:05.800 We have I have my picture of me with the two Champions League trophies 1383 01:29:06.119 --> 01:29:09.680 at Stanford Bridge. It's a great day. I got to got to I 1384 01:29:09.720 --> 01:29:13.520 got to touch both of them, and I had the FIFA Club World Cup 1385 01:29:13.600 --> 01:29:15.760 Trophy in front of me, So that's that's something that is very cool to 1386 01:29:15.840 --> 01:29:18.399 me. But I love the game of soccer. I've grown to love it 1387 01:29:18.479 --> 01:29:21.079 quite a bit. I never played it, so there's certain things that I 1388 01:29:21.159 --> 01:29:24.000 don't even know about it, and I'm not gonna sit here and break down 1389 01:29:24.000 --> 01:29:27.119 a lot of the stuff, but I love the intensity and the passion of 1390 01:29:27.199 --> 01:29:31.159 it. I think that the intensity of European soccer is awesome and almost unmatched 1391 01:29:31.199 --> 01:29:33.920 in any kind of sport. For as great as we are with football and 1392 01:29:33.920 --> 01:29:39.239 everything, I think that they are just absolute dire love of that sport in 1393 01:29:39.279 --> 01:29:44.399 the atmosphere that it provides, and having been there recently for it in Europe 1394 01:29:45.079 --> 01:29:47.640 it is I think it's I think it's better than anything that's going in sports. 1395 01:29:47.840 --> 01:29:50.039 I really really do it. I think if you ever have the opportunity 1396 01:29:50.079 --> 01:29:54.600 to go and to watch a game, do it a go, if you're 1397 01:29:54.640 --> 01:29:57.520 overseas or whatever, go see a game wherever it might be, go see 1398 01:29:57.520 --> 01:30:00.479 a European soccer game, and I think it would give you a true appreciation 1399 01:30:00.600 --> 01:30:03.880 for just how big of a deal it is over there. And you know, 1400 01:30:04.039 --> 01:30:06.520 maybe be singing it in person. If you're not a fan of it, 1401 01:30:06.600 --> 01:30:11.159 we'll change your mind. But inter Milan Manchester City today, I think 1402 01:30:11.239 --> 01:30:15.760 Manchester City's gonna win. I know that Ross is gonna be geared up Ross 1403 01:30:15.840 --> 01:30:17.159 via reality. Yeah, I know that. You guys know who he is. 1404 01:30:17.199 --> 01:30:20.039 He's a big Manchester City fan, so he's had a very good year 1405 01:30:20.680 --> 01:30:24.640 with them. They're led by a Pep Guardiola. He's very good. Now, 1406 01:30:24.720 --> 01:30:28.079 my boy, I'm gonna be rooting for I'm gonna be rooting for inter 1407 01:30:28.199 --> 01:30:30.359 Milan or not inter Milan. Yes, inter Milan. I was about to 1408 01:30:30.359 --> 01:30:32.479 say ac Milan. Ac Milan is the other team. I was just in 1409 01:30:32.560 --> 01:30:36.439 Milan too, inter Milan because they've got one of my favorite players ever that 1410 01:30:36.520 --> 01:30:41.399 I've ever watched, and he's unfortunately a product of Chelsea or he's a player 1411 01:30:41.439 --> 01:30:43.920 for Chelsea now who's out on loan and I don't think he's coming back. 1412 01:30:44.560 --> 01:30:48.439 Ramolu Lukaku, who's one of the biggest brewers in the game and very very 1413 01:30:48.520 --> 01:30:50.800 physical out there. But man, when he can put the foot on the 1414 01:30:50.840 --> 01:30:54.199 ball and just crash in the back of the net, he hits it as 1415 01:30:54.279 --> 01:30:56.560 hard as anybody. So there we go. I got my soccer talk out 1416 01:30:56.600 --> 01:30:59.920 of the way this afternoon Champions League before we do the on deck show. 1417 01:31:00.479 --> 01:31:01.960 You know I will be watching that. Let's get one more phone call in 1418 01:31:02.000 --> 01:31:06.239 here real quick. Let's talk to Lewis. What's up Lewis? Hey? 1419 01:31:06.439 --> 01:31:12.000 Great show? Um, well that was some soccer soliloquy. You almost got 1420 01:31:12.079 --> 01:31:15.279 me interested in almost turning it on to watch. You know, hey, 1421 01:31:15.319 --> 01:31:19.520 I'm telling you watched it, seriously watched today. I think it's two o'clock, 1422 01:31:19.600 --> 01:31:25.159 the exact times on CBS the Champions Lock finally into the intensity of it 1423 01:31:25.279 --> 01:31:27.520 today. If you don't like it at all, it will catch you. 1424 01:31:27.560 --> 01:31:30.800 I'm telling you. I got you. Hey, So I got I need 1425 01:31:30.840 --> 01:31:34.640 a quick opinion. I know we're short on time, you know. Instead 1426 01:31:34.680 --> 01:31:40.680 of everybody pissing and moaning about oh, you know, we've got the number 1427 01:31:40.720 --> 01:31:46.239 four pick the rockets, I think people are really missing the fact that Udoka 1428 01:31:46.479 --> 01:31:54.720 is putting a really good coaching staff together, especially Royal Ivy. That guy's 1429 01:31:54.760 --> 01:31:59.399 got a lot of connections. But my question to you is this, with 1430 01:31:59.600 --> 01:32:06.720 the fourth in the twentieth pick, do you think taking number four and maybe 1431 01:32:06.880 --> 01:32:12.600 either including twenty or maybe putting now, I'm not a big Sangoon guy. 1432 01:32:12.720 --> 01:32:15.239 You think that would be enough to get us up to number two. I 1433 01:32:15.359 --> 01:32:18.800 just want to know what your thoughts are and have a great weekend. Thank 1434 01:32:18.880 --> 01:32:21.000 you. I think they could get in the mix. And that's funny you 1435 01:32:21.079 --> 01:32:27.800 mentioned I'm actually wearing my Alpern Shangoon at Rockets seven ninety social media night shirt 1436 01:32:27.880 --> 01:32:30.399 right now. I like Shangoon offensively but defensively. He's got a lot of 1437 01:32:30.439 --> 01:32:34.800 room to grow. I think that can probably get a conversation started. Excuse 1438 01:32:34.880 --> 01:32:36.600 me, you might have to throw in a future pick as well. I 1439 01:32:36.680 --> 01:32:41.039 don't know, you know, if Charlotte's gonna be willing to move off of 1440 01:32:41.119 --> 01:32:44.560 that. I don't know if the Rockets are looking to jump up that if. 1441 01:32:44.600 --> 01:32:45.880 I think the Rockets could jump up that far if they, if they 1442 01:32:45.880 --> 01:32:47.720 would, you know, if they have the opportunity to do it, they'll 1443 01:32:47.760 --> 01:32:50.560 probably they probably want to, just because I think they probably want to get 1444 01:32:50.640 --> 01:32:55.319 Scoot Henderson, who feels like a guaranteed lock to be a monster. I 1445 01:32:55.439 --> 01:32:59.119 just don't know that necessarily the Hornets are going to jump out of that spot. 1446 01:33:00.000 --> 01:33:00.800 If you're the Hornets, when you want to just go ahead and take 1447 01:33:00.800 --> 01:33:03.600 Brandon Miller. You got Lamela Ball there. You probably feel pretty good about 1448 01:33:03.600 --> 01:33:06.560 that. To me, getting the three is where you want to be. 1449 01:33:06.920 --> 01:33:12.159 And Portland is you know, I'm not sure I believe all the smoke screens 1450 01:33:12.159 --> 01:33:14.960 of well they're they're trading it, or they're not trading it, or the 1451 01:33:15.039 --> 01:33:16.880 closer we get they're not going to trade it. I don't know about all 1452 01:33:16.920 --> 01:33:20.199 that. I think that if you make the right offer for any team for 1453 01:33:20.279 --> 01:33:24.199 a draft pick at some point, and you know they'll give you, they'll 1454 01:33:24.239 --> 01:33:26.680 give you the pick if you if you make the offer that they're looking for. 1455 01:33:27.119 --> 01:33:30.199 Especially Portland, it's a weird, weird time for them. Are they 1456 01:33:30.279 --> 01:33:32.920 keeping Damion Lillard there? They not, But I'd prefer the Rockets to move 1457 01:33:33.039 --> 01:33:35.600 up and they're gonna get a good player at four. I'd be shocked if 1458 01:33:35.600 --> 01:33:39.239 they don't get a good player four. I'm so excited about the coaching staff 1459 01:33:39.279 --> 01:33:42.079 that they do have. The coaching staff that they put together, that Adocos 1460 01:33:42.119 --> 01:33:45.760 put together. I think it's gonna be a really, really different brand of 1461 01:33:45.840 --> 01:33:49.119 basketball. The biggest question is going to still be is is James Harden part 1462 01:33:49.159 --> 01:33:54.000 of it? I don't necessarily know that. I love that. I'm not 1463 01:33:54.039 --> 01:33:56.159 going to be completely behind it, but I think it's just inevitable, and 1464 01:33:56.199 --> 01:33:59.000 I think that we have to just embrace what it is. That he's probably 1465 01:33:59.039 --> 01:34:00.880 going to be back in the city of Houston, and you have to hope 1466 01:34:00.920 --> 01:34:03.079 that he fits into what they want to do and he takes the hard coaching 1467 01:34:03.079 --> 01:34:06.199 because the Dooka is going to coach them hard. So that's gonna be interesting. 1468 01:34:06.239 --> 01:34:09.159 But I winner in the middle of the week and you want to watch 1469 01:34:09.199 --> 01:34:11.640 the sports, It's like I want to turn the Rockets game. They're gonna 1470 01:34:11.640 --> 01:34:15.119 go get out there and get smoked by thirty because they play no deefend whatever 1471 01:34:15.119 --> 01:34:16.359 it might be. I think we're getting back to that point. But that's 1472 01:34:16.359 --> 01:34:19.039 gonna do it for us here today. Appreciate all you that listen to us 1473 01:34:19.159 --> 01:34:24.239 here on Space City Saturday. We'll do next Saturday ten to twelve. You 1474 01:34:24.279 --> 01:34:28.199 can join me again this afternoon. We'll have the Astros on Deck show starting 1475 01:34:28.720 --> 01:34:31.960 at four o'clock ahead of Astros and Guardians. I will talk to you all 1476 01:34:32.000 --> 01:34:34.960 then right here on Sports Talk seven ninety