WEBVTT 1 00:00:07.799 --> 00:00:13.800 Welcomeboard, Welcome to another Space City Saturday on Sports Talk seven ninety Dad Matthews 2 00:00:13.839 --> 00:00:19.519 Live and local h town breakdown of the world that matters to you, the 3 00:00:19.760 --> 00:00:23.960 Houston sports world. All these great Houston fans here. We love you all, 4 00:00:25.600 --> 00:00:29.440 So finish up on that to do list. S loute up the cooler 5 00:00:30.120 --> 00:00:34.759 because you can't drink in talk sports all day if you don't start now bear 6 00:00:34.920 --> 00:00:40.799 near the eight. This is Space City Saturday. It's insane. Here's seven 7 00:00:40.920 --> 00:00:48.000 nineties Dan Matthews. Get things fired up around here. Huh. But anyway, 8 00:00:48.039 --> 00:00:52.479 hopefully if you are that fired up about the fishing and wildlife out there, 9 00:00:52.479 --> 00:00:55.280 well then you are also fired up to talk some sports. Let's do 10 00:00:55.320 --> 00:00:59.799 it right here on Space City Saturday. What's going on everybody, Dan Matthews 11 00:01:00.079 --> 00:01:03.359 here on a Saturday morning. If you want to weigh in, you can 12 00:01:03.520 --> 00:01:08.159 someone three two, one, two five, seven ninety and of the many 13 00:01:08.200 --> 00:01:11.599 ways to go on this show today, let's go ahead and take us actually 14 00:01:11.640 --> 00:01:15.680 back to twenty four hours ago. Were ready. We've gotten into Dolorean. 15 00:01:15.959 --> 00:01:19.000 Doc Brown has said, Rhodes where we're going, we don't need roads, 16 00:01:19.079 --> 00:01:23.719 and we've taken off and we're thinking to ourselves this time yesterday. Man, 17 00:01:23.760 --> 00:01:26.239 this is awesome. I mean, you know, you've got the Koogs trying 18 00:01:26.239 --> 00:01:30.959 to make the Elite eight. You've got the Rockets trying to make it eleven 19 00:01:30.000 --> 00:01:34.680 in a row. And yes opening day didn't one hundred percent go the way 20 00:01:34.719 --> 00:01:38.519 you wanted it for the Astros, but you got Christian Hobby here going to 21 00:01:38.599 --> 00:01:42.640 night, you're feeling good and you feel like, Okay, hey, the 22 00:01:42.640 --> 00:01:46.959 first day wasn't great, but this team has shown you numerous times and time 23 00:01:47.000 --> 00:01:51.680 again they can bounce back. So they will do that end up be able 24 00:01:51.719 --> 00:01:56.040 to get this thing up back on track in terms of getting to even five 25 00:01:56.120 --> 00:02:00.760 hundred and one and one on this season. Well, to have those as 26 00:02:00.760 --> 00:02:04.000 we fast forward to now we're back in the present. If you didn't know, 27 00:02:05.040 --> 00:02:07.519 well, two out of those three did not go the way that we 28 00:02:07.599 --> 00:02:10.439 had hoped, and we'll talk about it here on the show. The Kogs, 29 00:02:10.520 --> 00:02:15.199 of course, losing Jamal shed there for the entire second half with what 30 00:02:15.319 --> 00:02:21.680 Kelvin Sampson said after the game was a Grade four ankle sprain, so unfortunate 31 00:02:21.960 --> 00:02:25.240 for him and the Kugs. But still, I mean you probably once he 32 00:02:25.280 --> 00:02:30.039 went down and at first you see him gingerly walking off the floor, you're 33 00:02:30.120 --> 00:02:32.159 kind of like, all right, maybe you know, just retape it, 34 00:02:32.199 --> 00:02:38.520 he'll be back out there. Then you saw them having to almost carry him 35 00:02:38.759 --> 00:02:40.840 towards the locker room and they did their X rays, and then of course 36 00:02:40.879 --> 00:02:47.439 CBS got the footage of him on the knee scooter as he was trying to 37 00:02:47.599 --> 00:02:51.159 get back to the locker room, and of course once you saw that, 38 00:02:51.240 --> 00:02:53.919 it was like, oops, yeah, that's not good. Came back out 39 00:02:53.960 --> 00:03:00.199 on the floor and unfortunate, but still Cougs fighting all the way to the 40 00:03:00.319 --> 00:03:02.919 end, just unable to pull it out. So that was unfortunate. And 41 00:03:04.000 --> 00:03:07.759 then the Astros game last night, and to paint the picture for you, 42 00:03:07.080 --> 00:03:13.439 I was running the Rockets Network with Adam Clanton Clanton of course here and Matt 43 00:03:13.479 --> 00:03:17.039 Thomas of course in Utah calling the game, and that one, I mean, 44 00:03:17.120 --> 00:03:21.919 that just would have been completely the Berries, right You ever heard that, 45 00:03:22.000 --> 00:03:24.199 Oh that's the Berries? Well, I'm sure probably your parents probably said 46 00:03:24.199 --> 00:03:28.199 it to you when you were younger. But anyway, if you don't know, 47 00:03:28.319 --> 00:03:31.000 go ask them. They can tell you about that. But the Rockets, 48 00:03:31.000 --> 00:03:32.960 I mean, the way that that game was looking, you're just kind 49 00:03:32.960 --> 00:03:37.439 of like, oh my gosh, like seriously, sports gods, you're gonna 50 00:03:37.479 --> 00:03:39.560 do this to us, Like all three of us are gonna get skunk today, 51 00:03:39.639 --> 00:03:43.800 Like this is gonna happen. The losing streak's gonna happen, and are 52 00:03:43.919 --> 00:03:46.599 the winning streaks gonna come to an end? And on top of all of 53 00:03:46.639 --> 00:03:51.599 that, the Warriors won last night. So had the Rockets lost that game 54 00:03:51.680 --> 00:03:55.639 last night, boy, we're talking about a really really bad scenario at that 55 00:03:55.759 --> 00:04:02.039 point, but not a great on the Astros end, because I mean again, 56 00:04:02.199 --> 00:04:09.240 you get six great innings and they're unable to push anything across really to 57 00:04:09.560 --> 00:04:14.360 help out a Christian Javier who was everything that we hoped for last night as 58 00:04:14.719 --> 00:04:17.279 coming out of spring training, you were hoping that he was able to put 59 00:04:17.319 --> 00:04:21.040 together a good outing out the gates, and he did that. It wasn't 60 00:04:21.199 --> 00:04:27.920 his problem, but middle relief and the bullpen, as Chandler Rome pointed out 61 00:04:27.959 --> 00:04:31.040 on Twitter, was probably always going to be a concern. And I don't 62 00:04:31.079 --> 00:04:34.759 know if necessarily I would say it was a concern. As I had said 63 00:04:35.000 --> 00:04:41.600 with Ross when we were talking about how the Astros view their pitching situation, 64 00:04:41.720 --> 00:04:45.800 I said, I think they feel good but they don't know. And now 65 00:04:45.879 --> 00:04:48.800 I think that it's probably a through two games. It's hard to say that 66 00:04:49.120 --> 00:04:54.600 you don't know, because you know you've been able to see these guys at 67 00:04:54.680 --> 00:04:57.480 least go through. I mean for Taylor Scott, for example, who made 68 00:04:57.480 --> 00:05:00.920 the club on opening Day, and he was able to come out there and 69 00:05:01.199 --> 00:05:04.360 have a good inning, striking out Aaron Judge, and you're thinking to yourself, 70 00:05:04.399 --> 00:05:08.800 Okay, hey, maybe we found something. And then last night unable 71 00:05:08.839 --> 00:05:12.879 to find the strike zone in that game. That was unfortunate. And then 72 00:05:12.920 --> 00:05:16.519 of course you get the Astros in the field booting it around a little bit, 73 00:05:17.040 --> 00:05:23.360 a bad toss from Jeremy Pania to Jose Altuve that allows to run the 74 00:05:23.360 --> 00:05:27.399 score, and then of course you know Parker Mashinski throwing one up the first 75 00:05:27.439 --> 00:05:30.800 base line. That wasn't fun either. But all in all, here's the 76 00:05:30.800 --> 00:05:34.600 thing, and we can start right here with the Astros because as we've been 77 00:05:34.600 --> 00:05:40.839 doing for the Lion's share of our last few Space City Saturdays, we will 78 00:05:40.959 --> 00:05:44.240 be heavy Astros in the first hour and then kind of jump around a little 79 00:05:44.279 --> 00:05:46.160 bit in the second hour, kind of like to get some continuity going out 80 00:05:46.199 --> 00:05:49.120 the gates. So if you want a way in, you can someone three 81 00:05:49.160 --> 00:05:53.120 two two five seven ninety. I thought about it last night on the ride 82 00:05:53.160 --> 00:05:58.480 home from the Rockets game, and I said, you know, December twenty 83 00:05:58.519 --> 00:06:02.000 third, that's Festivus, the airing of grievances. So I will go ahead 84 00:06:02.079 --> 00:06:05.480 and do it right now, March the thirtieth, twenty twenty four, I 85 00:06:05.519 --> 00:06:11.519 will go ahead and make this our Astros Festivus days, So the airing of 86 00:06:11.600 --> 00:06:15.160 grievances. I know a lot of you out there have grievances, so please 87 00:06:15.279 --> 00:06:18.120 air them right here. One three two one two five seven ninety. Once 88 00:06:18.120 --> 00:06:24.160 again, that's seven one three two one two five seven ninety, because I 89 00:06:24.279 --> 00:06:29.480 understand what is a foot and what's a foot right now for the Astros is, 90 00:06:30.399 --> 00:06:32.639 let's just say that they open the season against throw out a team, 91 00:06:32.639 --> 00:06:36.800 the Minnesota Twins, and they play the way that they have and they've lost 92 00:06:36.839 --> 00:06:42.839 the first two games. I don't think that people are doing this doom and 93 00:06:42.879 --> 00:06:46.240 gloom like I'm seeing some people do. Like I know, got a listener 94 00:06:46.959 --> 00:06:51.560 who is a good listener, good buddy, and a good man saying that 95 00:06:51.839 --> 00:06:57.079 feels like whistling past the graveyard. Steve t On on Twitter come on, 96 00:06:57.160 --> 00:07:00.319 Steve, it's two games, buddy. And it's also it's two games against 97 00:07:00.319 --> 00:07:03.040 a team that when they lose to them, you're like, damn it, 98 00:07:03.360 --> 00:07:09.000 I hate losing to those guys. The fact that it's the Yankees probably PEPs 99 00:07:09.079 --> 00:07:12.480 up the gumball a little bit. Probably it gets people feeling a certain way 100 00:07:12.519 --> 00:07:15.160 because, yes, if you've been at Minute May Park, there's tons of 101 00:07:15.160 --> 00:07:17.800 them there and they're trying to do there. Let's go Yankees, chance and 102 00:07:17.839 --> 00:07:20.639 all those different types of things. Although I would love to do a straw 103 00:07:20.680 --> 00:07:25.360 pole with these people of how many of you have actually either lived in the 104 00:07:25.360 --> 00:07:29.839 Bronx, step foot in the Bronx, are actually inside Yankee Stadium or are 105 00:07:29.879 --> 00:07:33.120 you just one of those remote Yankee fans that, oh I'm a huge Yankee 106 00:07:33.120 --> 00:07:36.160 fan. Why oh I just love them? Oh you just loved when they 107 00:07:36.199 --> 00:07:40.199 won all those world titles in the late nineties and early two thousands. Okay, 108 00:07:40.560 --> 00:07:43.319 I get it, now, you know, twenty seven world titles. 109 00:07:43.360 --> 00:07:46.800 That's awesome, that's fantastic. Great, But what is your connection to being 110 00:07:46.839 --> 00:07:49.920 a Yankee fan? I would seriously like to know. So, hey, 111 00:07:49.959 --> 00:07:54.319 look, if you're out there too way in the look we had a Yankee 112 00:07:54.319 --> 00:07:58.000 fan on yesterday on the A team, Nick Turo. He's a lifelong guy, 113 00:07:58.720 --> 00:08:01.439 grew up in Queen's and he even admits it. He goes, hey, 114 00:08:01.439 --> 00:08:03.279 look, God probably should have been a Mets fan, but growing up 115 00:08:03.279 --> 00:08:07.120 in the city of New York, I was a Yankee fan growing up. 116 00:08:07.199 --> 00:08:09.560 I'm die Hard and he is so good for him. And I know there's 117 00:08:09.560 --> 00:08:11.439 a lot of you out there, and I know that some of you walk 118 00:08:11.439 --> 00:08:16.560 among us like the body snatchers. But at the same time, though, 119 00:08:16.600 --> 00:08:20.319 too, that's what's making a lot of this and the angst grow even more. 120 00:08:20.680 --> 00:08:24.439 It's the Yankees. If this were the Dodgers, it would be the 121 00:08:24.519 --> 00:08:28.279 same thing because we'd be seeing them chirup on Twitter. They would be saying 122 00:08:28.319 --> 00:08:31.559 all these different types of things that would be getting under our skin. I 123 00:08:31.639 --> 00:08:37.120 get all of that, but it's also too. You divide two by one 124 00:08:37.240 --> 00:08:41.320 sixty two, it's barely over one percent. Like you think about it all 125 00:08:41.360 --> 00:08:45.799 the time. You know, we download things and you see the status bar 126 00:08:46.559 --> 00:08:50.039 of how much of your file on your computer has started to download. That's 127 00:08:50.039 --> 00:08:52.759 exactly what it is. We started downloading a large file. That's what the 128 00:08:52.759 --> 00:08:56.840 Major League Baseball season is and you see one percent right there, then you 129 00:08:56.879 --> 00:09:00.440 say to yourself, all right, hopefully it starts to speed up little bit 130 00:09:00.519 --> 00:09:03.919 and we can be able to you know, have what I'm trying to download 131 00:09:03.960 --> 00:09:07.679 now and be able to go from there. Maybe that was kind of the 132 00:09:07.159 --> 00:09:11.440 you know, you know, millennial problem here, because that was most of 133 00:09:11.519 --> 00:09:15.360 us who grew up on AOL and things like that, you know, you 134 00:09:15.399 --> 00:09:18.679 had to wait for those slow download times, all of those different types of 135 00:09:18.720 --> 00:09:20.759 things, kind of taking us back even further a little bit. But in 136 00:09:20.759 --> 00:09:26.879 this case right here, we're barely one percent into the season at this point. 137 00:09:26.480 --> 00:09:31.639 And while it doesn't look great right now, even if it gets better, 138 00:09:31.679 --> 00:09:33.399 which it will get better, because they're not going to go oh in 139 00:09:33.480 --> 00:09:37.559 one sixty two, that's not going to happen. And the other part of 140 00:09:37.600 --> 00:09:41.399 it as well is while it's doom and gloom on the surface, and Brian 141 00:09:41.480 --> 00:09:46.600 McTaggart pointing out last night on Twitter, this first time since twenty eleven that 142 00:09:46.840 --> 00:09:50.039 the Astros have gone oh and two to start the season, and I believe 143 00:09:50.039 --> 00:09:52.360 they won fifty six games that year. I could be wrong about the number, 144 00:09:52.679 --> 00:09:56.279 it doesn't matter, but the point is they're going to lose two in 145 00:09:56.279 --> 00:10:00.440 a row. Again, they'll lose three, four, five, six in 146 00:10:00.480 --> 00:10:03.840 a row. That's a Major League Baseball season. That's what happens. This 147 00:10:03.879 --> 00:10:07.919 isn't football, folks, This isn't seventeen games. This isn't a college football 148 00:10:07.960 --> 00:10:13.080 season of twelve regular season games. It's not that condensed the NBA. It's 149 00:10:13.159 --> 00:10:15.639 kind of the same deal too. We've seen him what the Rockets had done 150 00:10:15.679 --> 00:10:18.879 early on in the season. We talked about them and said how it was 151 00:10:18.919 --> 00:10:20.559 gonna be an up and down battle. I get all of that, and 152 00:10:20.600 --> 00:10:24.320 I understand what it looks like right now at the bullpen. I understand what 153 00:10:24.320 --> 00:10:28.840 it looks like with the starting rotation without JV. And some people out there 154 00:10:28.919 --> 00:10:31.440 might even be saying, well, when JV gets back, who's what's a 155 00:10:31.480 --> 00:10:35.279 guarantee that he's still the same guy. I would say the back of the 156 00:10:35.360 --> 00:10:39.360 baseball card and what he's been able to do the last few years would show 157 00:10:39.399 --> 00:10:43.559 you that he's still a very good front of the rotation guy. So not 158 00:10:43.679 --> 00:10:48.639 having him, yeah, that hurts. Not having jose Urkety to deepen the 159 00:10:48.679 --> 00:10:52.679 back end of your pitching staff where you can have some of those guys, 160 00:10:52.720 --> 00:10:56.320 maybe even stick around and go and get some of those middle relief innings. 161 00:10:56.519 --> 00:11:00.919 Yeah, that hurts too. Later on the season, getting Lance McCullers and 162 00:11:00.960 --> 00:11:05.240 being able to get Luis Garcia back, that'll help as well. And while 163 00:11:05.279 --> 00:11:07.320 it looks like it right now where you're saying, well, I'm not gonna 164 00:11:07.320 --> 00:11:09.960 worry about later on the season, it might not even matter. At that 165 00:11:09.039 --> 00:11:13.720 point, we're two games into this thing. We're not even a full series 166 00:11:13.759 --> 00:11:16.679 in. You know, this reminds me of remember the start of the twenty 167 00:11:16.919 --> 00:11:22.360 nineteen season, And I could be wrong about how it all went, but 168 00:11:22.440 --> 00:11:28.000 if I'm not mistaken, I think the Astros started off the twenty nineteen season 169 00:11:28.039 --> 00:11:31.399 one in five out the gate where they went on opening Day in Tampa, 170 00:11:31.600 --> 00:11:35.519 and then they lost either the next two or if it was a four game 171 00:11:35.600 --> 00:11:39.480 series, the next three, and then they went to Arlington and got swept 172 00:11:39.519 --> 00:11:45.120 in Arlington. And I remember Josh Reddick on Twitter, of course Astros Twitter 173 00:11:45.240 --> 00:11:48.720 was just on fire, and his response to people was, can we calm 174 00:11:48.720 --> 00:11:52.559 down. We're not even a week into the season. There's still a long 175 00:11:52.600 --> 00:11:58.200 way to go. And he was prophetic. He was not wrong because what 176 00:11:58.240 --> 00:12:01.720 it did turn into, it turned in to getting the American League championship game 177 00:12:01.960 --> 00:12:05.440 or a championship series. Excuse me, Like I said, it's not football. 178 00:12:05.840 --> 00:12:09.960 The championship series, beating the Yankees in six games and getting to the 179 00:12:09.960 --> 00:12:13.600 World Series. We understand what happened from there, but still it was an 180 00:12:13.600 --> 00:12:18.720 Astros team that said, hey on them, we got this because while all 181 00:12:18.799 --> 00:12:24.960 of us right now are freaking out and we're not feeling good about the first 182 00:12:24.000 --> 00:12:26.639 two games this season, and I get it. First game, the pitching 183 00:12:26.720 --> 00:12:31.120 let them down. Okay, that's fine, that happens. It's baseball. 184 00:12:31.519 --> 00:12:33.679 It's not always going to be pretty. It's not always going to be great. 185 00:12:35.000 --> 00:12:37.720 The next game, the defense wasn't great, and the hitting was not 186 00:12:37.799 --> 00:12:39.840 great either, especially from the guys that you really would like it to be 187 00:12:39.879 --> 00:12:43.159 good from. It was not great. And for the first couple of games 188 00:12:43.480 --> 00:12:48.360 it's been pedestrian at best from the guys that you're really expecting to be productive 189 00:12:48.399 --> 00:12:52.159 in this lineup. It's also to just two games. And you know what 190 00:12:52.159 --> 00:12:56.919 the other beauty is of baseball. You hear it all the time twofold. 191 00:12:58.080 --> 00:13:01.120 It's a game of failure. If you succeed three times out of ten, 192 00:13:01.159 --> 00:13:05.879 you're a Hall of Famer and the other part of it as well. Then 193 00:13:05.879 --> 00:13:07.960 that's of course at the plate. Of course, pitching, it's a little 194 00:13:09.000 --> 00:13:15.559 bit more of a success threshold that would lead to you being able to show 195 00:13:15.559 --> 00:13:18.840 that you had a successful career. But the other part of as well, 196 00:13:18.639 --> 00:13:22.279 the beauty of it is you get to come back today. For the most 197 00:13:22.320 --> 00:13:26.120 part, there's always a tomorrow in baseball, and in this case right here, 198 00:13:26.559 --> 00:13:30.399 the one group is not freaking out guys in that clubhouse. The amount 199 00:13:30.399 --> 00:13:33.200 of guys that have been able to go through major league seasons and been able 200 00:13:33.240 --> 00:13:37.480 to ride the highs and lows of it and know, hey, pull back 201 00:13:37.480 --> 00:13:41.600 here, press the gas here, do all those different types of things, 202 00:13:43.240 --> 00:13:46.360 and I can almost guarantee you jose L Tuvey parks his car over there at 203 00:13:46.399 --> 00:13:50.360 minute made Park, probably says hello to a couple of people on his way 204 00:13:50.399 --> 00:13:54.840 to the clubhouse, walks into the clubhouse. It's another day. Alex Bregman, 205 00:13:54.039 --> 00:13:58.879 same deal, Kyle Tucker. Likewise, all those different things, I 206 00:13:58.919 --> 00:14:01.960 guarantee you, when I'm inside the Astros clubhouse a little bit later on this 207 00:14:03.039 --> 00:14:05.159 afternoon, it's probably going to be the same tenor that it usually is. 208 00:14:05.320 --> 00:14:09.720 Just business, just guys relaxed, ready to go, ready to go out 209 00:14:09.720 --> 00:14:13.279 there and play and try to give it another go today and try to be 210 00:14:13.320 --> 00:14:18.559 able to win today. And that's all they can control is just being able 211 00:14:18.559 --> 00:14:22.320 to try to win today, because this isn't the postseason. This isn't a 212 00:14:22.879 --> 00:14:26.080 oh, you better win or else. No, it's a okay, come 213 00:14:26.080 --> 00:14:30.639 back today, try to put it together, try to be able to hit 214 00:14:30.679 --> 00:14:33.279 with runners in scoring position and make things happen. That's something they haven't really 215 00:14:33.320 --> 00:14:37.120 done in the first couple of games, first couple of innings. They did 216 00:14:37.200 --> 00:14:43.279 on Thursday, but last night it was frustrating. It was so many situations 217 00:14:43.320 --> 00:14:48.159 where you're like, somebody just come through, let's go, and it doesn't 218 00:14:48.159 --> 00:14:50.960 happen, and it's frustrating, it's annoying. Eight is all of those things. 219 00:14:50.960 --> 00:14:54.039 I get it, all of these emotions you're feeling one hundred percent feel 220 00:14:54.080 --> 00:14:58.360 them. It's fine, go for it. I'm not going to stop you 221 00:14:58.440 --> 00:15:01.039 for it. And you also too, if you want to air him out, 222 00:15:01.080 --> 00:15:05.759 get them off your chest again. Seven one three, two one two 223 00:15:05.799 --> 00:15:11.919 five seven ninety JP France tonight against Clark Schmidt for the Yankees. So it's 224 00:15:11.960 --> 00:15:16.440 a chance for them to try to get things back on the right track. 225 00:15:16.480 --> 00:15:20.480 It's going to be a six fifteen first pitch from over there at minute made, 226 00:15:20.519 --> 00:15:24.519 Park, I will be coming your way with Astros on deck at five 227 00:15:24.519 --> 00:15:28.200 o'clock right here on your home of the Astros Sports Talk seven to ninety, 228 00:15:28.480 --> 00:15:31.440 and then of course I'll have the tenth inning afterwards as well, So you've 229 00:15:31.440 --> 00:15:37.440 got all of that to look forward to today. So Astros trying to get 230 00:15:37.480 --> 00:15:41.080 things going and look, you know, with the bullpen. While on the 231 00:15:41.200 --> 00:15:46.960 surface, it's probably sounds like to some a harsh criticism from Joe Aspata and 232 00:15:46.360 --> 00:15:50.919 some people I think though, too, are going to really zero in on 233 00:15:52.120 --> 00:15:54.919 Espada's comments and say, oh, man, you know, is he feeling 234 00:15:54.919 --> 00:15:58.320 the pressure a little bit? But his line last night quote they all need 235 00:15:58.360 --> 00:16:00.879 to step up, and he's not wrong. Don't we all feel the same 236 00:16:00.879 --> 00:16:04.600 way, don't you think that? Probably Parker Maschinski walking into the clubhouse last 237 00:16:04.679 --> 00:16:08.720 night after that game, said not great, Taylor Scott, same deal. 238 00:16:08.960 --> 00:16:11.480 These guys are pros. They know what looks good and they know it looks 239 00:16:11.480 --> 00:16:15.039 bad. Man. Those guys had a rough outing last night. Rafael Montero 240 00:16:15.879 --> 00:16:18.919 walks in a run, but then is able to get the groundball double play, 241 00:16:18.960 --> 00:16:22.080 and you're still down two to one at that point, so you're still 242 00:16:22.120 --> 00:16:26.600 in it. You still got an opportunity, but still a long way to 243 00:16:26.759 --> 00:16:30.840 go. There is plenty to still feel good about with this team. Trust 244 00:16:30.919 --> 00:16:33.639 me, it doesn't feel great right now. And again I'm seeing all the 245 00:16:33.679 --> 00:16:37.120 doom and gloom out there, Like I saw one guy saying, this is 246 00:16:37.159 --> 00:16:44.879 exactly what I feared was coming time to start the rebuild. We're really doing 247 00:16:44.879 --> 00:16:48.559 this, like that's what we're gonna do right now, like seven straight times 248 00:16:48.600 --> 00:16:55.000 reaching the Alcs. We've seen bad stretches all throughout these years. I mean, 249 00:16:55.080 --> 00:16:57.919 to a certain point, don't you think through osmosis that some people would 250 00:16:57.960 --> 00:17:03.240 understand the rhythm of a baseball season. Don't you think you would hope at 251 00:17:03.320 --> 00:17:07.039 least. But we'll see if indeed that can happen down the line. A 252 00:17:07.039 --> 00:17:11.079 little bit later on the show too, you're gonna get into some Texans talk. 253 00:17:11.279 --> 00:17:17.200 As had an interesting thing said by a prominence NFL free agent this offseason, 254 00:17:17.200 --> 00:17:21.279 which I think leads some credence to what we believe is afoot over there 255 00:17:21.319 --> 00:17:22.960 off Kirby and the other part of it. As well, how about the 256 00:17:23.000 --> 00:17:29.039 improvements in an area that people thought could not improve for that organization. So 257 00:17:29.079 --> 00:17:33.319 we'll have some Texans talk. We'll get some Rockets react to what happened up 258 00:17:33.359 --> 00:17:37.519 in Dallas last night with the Koug's unfortunate end to the season for Kelvin Samson, 259 00:17:37.599 --> 00:17:41.599 Jamal Shed and the top seed Houston at Cougar's. So we'll talk about 260 00:17:41.599 --> 00:17:45.480 that as well as the show goes along. But of course your Astros calls 261 00:17:45.480 --> 00:17:48.200 are I see a couple of you wanting to weigh in. We'll do that 262 00:17:48.240 --> 00:17:52.279 when we come back, and also to allow for some of you to get 263 00:17:52.319 --> 00:17:56.119 in as well. It's some one three two one two five seven ninety eight 264 00:17:56.119 --> 00:18:00.720 and Tom get to you in just a second, because coming up next, 265 00:18:00.880 --> 00:18:03.079 well, the Astros are struggling right now. The best is yet to come, 266 00:18:03.400 --> 00:18:07.559 and I'll tell you exactly why we'll do that as we continue on here 267 00:18:07.599 --> 00:18:12.559 on Space City Saturday. Dan Matthews here with you until noon on your home 268 00:18:12.599 --> 00:18:18.680 of the Astros and the Rockets, Sports Talk seven ninety. It's Space City 269 00:18:18.799 --> 00:18:23.880 Saturday on Sports Talk seven ninety, your home of the Astros, Sports Talk 270 00:18:23.960 --> 00:18:27.839 seven ninety night. How we doing, Buddy Nohing good epy Saturday. The 271 00:18:29.359 --> 00:18:33.440 same to you, buddy. And I mean I've seen a lot of baseball 272 00:18:33.480 --> 00:18:36.079 on my day. You know, of course, there's nothing to worry. 273 00:18:36.119 --> 00:18:40.960 It's only game two. It's it's still you know, very very early in 274 00:18:41.000 --> 00:18:44.359 the season. Man, you know, until until like the top of the 275 00:18:44.359 --> 00:18:48.079 seventh. You know, Christian Javier was throwing you know, lights out yesterday. 276 00:18:48.680 --> 00:18:52.079 You know, the Christian Javier that we love to see. It was 277 00:18:52.119 --> 00:18:55.359 just just the you know, the bad mistakes that I saw. You know, 278 00:18:55.359 --> 00:18:59.119 I've never seen the Astros make, you know, and of course those 279 00:18:59.119 --> 00:19:00.559 are just similar mistake. You know, it's Wars. You know, what 280 00:19:00.640 --> 00:19:07.200 was it? The simple Mashinsky throwing it to to first get that simple out, 281 00:19:07.519 --> 00:19:11.039 and I was just wow. But you know, I think it's the 282 00:19:11.079 --> 00:19:15.160 one thing I would make is you know, moving Jose'll bring you from the 283 00:19:15.160 --> 00:19:18.759 fifth spot for sure, because our you know, I just haven't seen him 284 00:19:18.799 --> 00:19:22.359 do anything from then. And you know the Astros right now, you know, 285 00:19:22.359 --> 00:19:25.079 would spen since August since we won the home game. I kind of 286 00:19:25.400 --> 00:19:26.160 and I'm gonna be going to the game, so I kind of want to 287 00:19:26.160 --> 00:19:30.359 see some wins. Now, Well I'm going there. No, I feeling. 288 00:19:30.440 --> 00:19:33.960 Man. I appreciate the call, Nates. I mean, you know, 289 00:19:33.480 --> 00:19:37.119 here's the thing is, we've seen rough stretches for the Astros. Appreciated, 290 00:19:37.160 --> 00:19:41.960 buddy. We've seen rough stretches in the Astros. I mean we've seen 291 00:19:41.039 --> 00:19:45.920 them boot the ball around at times. I mean, remember I look back 292 00:19:45.000 --> 00:19:51.480 at the twenty twenty ALCS against the Rays, and remember it looked like man 293 00:19:51.599 --> 00:19:55.920 Is Altuvey starting to develop the chuck knoblock thing over there, and then he 294 00:19:55.960 --> 00:19:57.519 figured it out. He was fine, He was able to make the routine 295 00:19:57.519 --> 00:20:00.839 plays. It was all good baseball. It happens. Sometimes you go through 296 00:20:00.839 --> 00:20:06.039 slumps, even in the field, and I think that probably that's part of 297 00:20:06.039 --> 00:20:08.319 it what we're seeing right now, because we've seen rough play. We've seen 298 00:20:08.359 --> 00:20:12.480 bad play, but sometimes too, it's one of those it's all in perspective. 299 00:20:12.559 --> 00:20:15.880 If it's in you know, July and August, we're kind of like, 300 00:20:17.039 --> 00:20:19.720 yeah, it sucks, but you know still, I mean, it's 301 00:20:19.720 --> 00:20:22.319 the middle of the season. They're just playing some bad baseball right now. 302 00:20:22.400 --> 00:20:26.759 It happens. That's the other part of it as well. Do we honestly 303 00:20:26.799 --> 00:20:30.839 believe that this Astros team is going to be the team they are right now, 304 00:20:30.000 --> 00:20:34.039 a month from now, two weeks from now, later on in the 305 00:20:34.119 --> 00:20:37.319 season, any of those different types of not any of those different types of 306 00:20:37.359 --> 00:20:41.680 things. The answer is no, we don't because it's also too what we've 307 00:20:41.720 --> 00:20:45.559 seen from this team. You don't do what they've done for the last eight 308 00:20:45.640 --> 00:20:49.519 years and all of a sudden one day just wake up and say it's over. 309 00:20:49.640 --> 00:20:52.960 It sucks, we've been fooling people. It's it's not who we are 310 00:20:53.119 --> 00:20:56.599 where we're completely frauds and all of those different types of things. No, 311 00:20:56.720 --> 00:21:00.799 it's none of those things. They've proven time and time again, even when 312 00:21:00.839 --> 00:21:04.480 they've had rough stretches, they make it up to us and all of a 313 00:21:04.519 --> 00:21:07.759 sudden, you're like, Okay, maybe that's a little hard on you. 314 00:21:07.799 --> 00:21:11.000 Guys, didn't need to be that hard on you. And it's happened time 315 00:21:11.079 --> 00:21:12.960 and time again. As long as you got number twenty seven in that clubhouse, 316 00:21:14.079 --> 00:21:15.000 as long as you got number two, as long as you got number 317 00:21:15.000 --> 00:21:18.920 forty four, as long as you got number thirty and on down the list, 318 00:21:18.480 --> 00:21:22.480 you still have a chance, you still have a way to be able 319 00:21:22.519 --> 00:21:26.240 to play your way into successful baseball. And that's what they've proven time and 320 00:21:26.279 --> 00:21:30.000 time again, and look, they'll continue to prove it as things go along. 321 00:21:30.079 --> 00:21:33.519 Tyrone and clear Lake wants to weigh in, Tyrone, what's going on? 322 00:21:33.519 --> 00:21:37.160 Yeah, it has earned long. You know everybody. They're gonna win 323 00:21:37.200 --> 00:21:41.599 their seventy five games this year, there's no question about that. And I 324 00:21:41.640 --> 00:21:44.880 don't think there's gonna do a whole lot more. Neflis. Tell me, 325 00:21:45.000 --> 00:21:48.400 is you used to be back in the day when you hit, you juggle 326 00:21:48.440 --> 00:21:51.359 the lineup a little bit. You got a guy for two years now that's 327 00:21:51.400 --> 00:21:55.640 in struggling, the guy on first base. Bring he might get four hits 328 00:21:55.640 --> 00:21:59.640 today, he might hit four Grand Slams today, but in the next two 329 00:21:59.680 --> 00:22:03.079 months, he can't hit the ball in the ocean. He's very erratic. 330 00:22:03.160 --> 00:22:06.519 He's lost it. So get him out of the fifth spot. Put him 331 00:22:06.559 --> 00:22:08.599 in the leadoff spot, put him in the ninth spot. Jug On, 332 00:22:08.680 --> 00:22:11.279 Moron, see what he can do. Get him out of the fifth spot. 333 00:22:11.319 --> 00:22:15.720 He's been there for two years. He's done nothing. Oh, they 334 00:22:15.759 --> 00:22:18.839 he had a couple of good weeks last year. He had a month last 335 00:22:18.880 --> 00:22:22.799 year. He had to look, it's six months long. It's one hundred 336 00:22:22.839 --> 00:22:26.680 and sixty games. We don't care what games A few games he had last 337 00:22:26.720 --> 00:22:30.720 year that were any good. Get jug On Moron, see what he can 338 00:22:30.799 --> 00:22:33.319 do. The proof is in the pudding. And we got other guys. 339 00:22:33.599 --> 00:22:38.119 You know, I'm sick and tired of here. And the same thing goes 340 00:22:38.160 --> 00:22:42.359 with Montero. He's a erratic. He can strike you out and then he'll 341 00:22:42.400 --> 00:22:47.119 give up a home run the next pitch. He's very erratic. A break 342 00:22:47.319 --> 00:22:51.599 is very erratic. We got too many erratic. There's no consistency on this 343 00:22:51.720 --> 00:22:56.400 team. They start, They've always traditionally started slow. They're starting slow again, 344 00:22:56.839 --> 00:23:00.119 and they will kick it up. There's no question about it that they've 345 00:23:00.160 --> 00:23:03.440 proven it year and year and year. They will pick it up, but 346 00:23:03.480 --> 00:23:08.000 they will not. I've given them a lot of credit to get into the 347 00:23:08.359 --> 00:23:12.039 Oh maybe they'll get in the first round this year in October, but that's 348 00:23:12.039 --> 00:23:15.000 about it. They're gonna give us a good year, yes they are, 349 00:23:15.519 --> 00:23:21.279 but there's too many question marks that are not being dealt with, and for 350 00:23:21.359 --> 00:23:25.519 two years now they have not been dealt with. For Lander, for some 351 00:23:25.559 --> 00:23:27.880 odd reason, he didn't know how to keep his iron in shape during the 352 00:23:27.880 --> 00:23:33.680 off season after twenty years of professional pitching, which I don't understand. He 353 00:23:33.720 --> 00:23:37.119 goes to Florida this year, and the perch throws a couple of balls. 354 00:23:37.400 --> 00:23:40.799 All my arm hurts. Well, I'm sorry, you spent too much time 355 00:23:40.839 --> 00:23:44.720 doing whatever you did, but your professional of getting forty million a year. 356 00:23:45.039 --> 00:23:48.279 Your arms an, Okay, we can't give you two months. Okay, 357 00:23:48.319 --> 00:23:52.160 it just goes on and nine and nine and nine. Get I'll bring you 358 00:23:52.200 --> 00:23:57.079 out of the fifth spot. Put him a juggle things around. It's getting 359 00:23:57.119 --> 00:24:03.839 sick and tired of seeing this total inconsistency, total slow start. They get 360 00:24:03.880 --> 00:24:07.279 paid, they do their ATB commercials, they do everything they want to do. 361 00:24:07.759 --> 00:24:11.640 Get to play involved, We'll get the contract. Talks all the time. 362 00:24:11.720 --> 00:24:15.640 We get sick and contract comes empty. Playball. Then Boris can come 363 00:24:15.680 --> 00:24:18.440 in at the end of the year and say, look what my man did 364 00:24:18.519 --> 00:24:22.200 this year, and then Boris can get US forty billion dollars a year. 365 00:24:22.480 --> 00:24:27.599 Playball first, and then worry about the HTV commercials and all the rest next 366 00:24:27.720 --> 00:24:32.759 after that, and then your contracts come up. Let Boris wait until the 367 00:24:32.839 --> 00:24:36.839 end of the year to get his money. Boris ain't gonna hurt. I 368 00:24:36.920 --> 00:24:38.400 appreciate the call. At first, I thought you said they're gonna win seventy 369 00:24:38.400 --> 00:24:42.200 five games, and I was like, what what, What's what's leading to 370 00:24:42.279 --> 00:24:47.519 that? No, this is a much better team than that. I do 371 00:24:47.640 --> 00:24:52.240 want to address because you know, Nate and Tyrone just brought it up about 372 00:24:52.559 --> 00:24:55.440 Josea braw And as a matter of fact, I know that a lot of 373 00:24:55.480 --> 00:24:57.160 people have wanted to weigh in on that. So we'll do that as well 374 00:24:57.200 --> 00:25:00.480 as the best is yet to come. We'll do all of that coming up 375 00:25:00.559 --> 00:25:04.480 next, because I will start with the bray you and I'll tell you why 376 00:25:06.119 --> 00:25:11.400 the Astros would be foolish to move him out of that fit spot just yet. 377 00:25:11.599 --> 00:25:15.680 We'll talk about that as we continue on here on at Space City Saturday. 378 00:25:15.759 --> 00:25:18.839 Dan Matthews here with you until noon on your home of the Astros in 379 00:25:18.880 --> 00:25:29.359 the Rocket Sports Talk seven ninety, Space City Saturday on Sports Talk seven ninety. 380 00:25:29.440 --> 00:25:32.640 I'm telling you a buddy of mine looked at me weird once when I 381 00:25:32.640 --> 00:25:34.200 told him that, sometimes, like on my way into work, that I 382 00:25:34.200 --> 00:25:38.079 would listen to Rick Flair promos just to be able to fire me up, 383 00:25:38.240 --> 00:25:41.559 just to be able to you know, get me going for the day. 384 00:25:41.720 --> 00:25:44.400 And I don't know, maybe maybe it's one of those you know, Kyle 385 00:25:44.440 --> 00:25:48.640 Tucker is the clubhouse DJ. Maybe along with playing you know, twenty one 386 00:25:48.720 --> 00:25:53.640 Savage and everybody else that's played on the a huge Bluetooth speaker there in the 387 00:25:53.640 --> 00:25:57.680 Astros clubhouse, maybe some Rick Flair promos. So maybe I'll maybe I'll get 388 00:25:57.720 --> 00:26:00.160 with Tuck a little bit later on and say, hey, play some Rick 389 00:26:00.200 --> 00:26:03.279 Flair promos. It seems to work for me. I think it could work 390 00:26:03.319 --> 00:26:06.200 for you guys who knows. We'll see seven one, three, two and 391 00:26:06.279 --> 00:26:08.920 two five seven ninety is the way to get in, Uh, do one 392 00:26:08.960 --> 00:26:14.880 a weigh in on the things that Nate and Tyrone brought up about Joseah Bray 393 00:26:14.920 --> 00:26:21.559 you And let's actually start right there because this is actually a crucial point for 394 00:26:21.720 --> 00:26:26.480 any manager, either a first time or a longtime manager, that you absolutely 395 00:26:26.599 --> 00:26:34.680 cannot be known as and that is reactionary and emotional and to be motivated by 396 00:26:34.880 --> 00:26:40.000 those two things, which of course feed into the other. But if you 397 00:26:40.039 --> 00:26:44.640 are viewed as that, you have the risk of losing that clubhouse. Now, 398 00:26:45.319 --> 00:26:48.759 every single guy in that clubhouse knows if they're being honest. You put 399 00:26:48.799 --> 00:26:52.200 them in the room of honesty right there, the room of truth, and 400 00:26:52.559 --> 00:26:55.440 they can do nothing but tell the truth. Hey, is Joseah Bray you've 401 00:26:55.440 --> 00:26:57.880 been great at the plate? No, he hadn't been. Okay, move 402 00:26:57.920 --> 00:27:02.039 on to the next guy. So you've been great now. But is there 403 00:27:02.079 --> 00:27:06.160 anybody in that clubhouse that says we don't count on him? There's not a 404 00:27:06.160 --> 00:27:07.880 single one. They all do. We've seen it. He's been able to 405 00:27:07.880 --> 00:27:11.400 come through. He's been able to have meaningful hits for this team. And 406 00:27:11.559 --> 00:27:15.359 while last night it was frustrating a couple of chances for him, he's unable 407 00:27:15.359 --> 00:27:18.319 to come through. I get all of that. But at the same time, 408 00:27:18.319 --> 00:27:22.200 though, too, if the Astros get there today and the lineup goes 409 00:27:22.279 --> 00:27:25.559 up on the wall and jose A Bray you has moved and it's say, 410 00:27:25.640 --> 00:27:27.119 hey, you know, why is that the case? I think most of 411 00:27:27.160 --> 00:27:30.279 them would probably go all right, that's what you feel like, it's best 412 00:27:30.319 --> 00:27:33.039 for the team, then we'll ride with it. But I think that also 413 00:27:33.119 --> 00:27:34.880 too, there would be a large amount of the guys in that clubhouse. 414 00:27:34.920 --> 00:27:38.160 So it's say two games, dude, really we're doing this right now? 415 00:27:38.319 --> 00:27:42.160 Like, is that how you're going to manage this team? Because if it 416 00:27:42.240 --> 00:27:47.640 is, then that's going to affect me eventually, it's going to affect anybody 417 00:27:47.640 --> 00:27:52.240 else in this lineup eventually, and then they get to start thinking about what 418 00:27:52.440 --> 00:27:57.000 the level of expectations are on them, and they fully are under They fully 419 00:27:57.079 --> 00:28:02.880 understand what's expected of this team. Not a sing in that Astros clubhouse is 420 00:28:03.559 --> 00:28:07.480 blind to the fact of what you the fans expect of them. But also 421 00:28:07.599 --> 00:28:10.799 too Herd Kyle Tucker tell me and ross Ville Reale when we were in West 422 00:28:10.799 --> 00:28:12.400 Palm Beach, we're not here just to win games. We're here to win 423 00:28:12.440 --> 00:28:17.519 world titles, like that's what this organization's about. That's what this team is 424 00:28:17.559 --> 00:28:21.400 about. That's what we're here to do. And it's also too part of 425 00:28:21.440 --> 00:28:25.839 it as well, is why people believe in Joe Espada is that he seems 426 00:28:25.839 --> 00:28:27.839 like he's got a good grasp of that clubhouse in terms of, hey, 427 00:28:27.839 --> 00:28:32.960 the veterans lead. The veterans have this hurt it all the time, and 428 00:28:33.000 --> 00:28:34.759 I think most of us have heard it a lot, mostly in football, 429 00:28:36.319 --> 00:28:41.480 that player led teams are the best teams because those are the guys that are 430 00:28:41.519 --> 00:28:45.799 able to set the tone for you in terms of being able to police the 431 00:28:45.799 --> 00:28:49.119 clubhouse in the locker room and also two being able to hold each other accountable. 432 00:28:49.160 --> 00:28:52.400 Where the manager, for the most part, you make the decisions. 433 00:28:52.480 --> 00:28:56.880 You decide what moves are made. At a certain point, you decide who 434 00:28:56.960 --> 00:29:00.759 goes in as a pitcher, You decide all of those different types. But 435 00:29:00.799 --> 00:29:03.759 then you let your guys play, and you let them go out there and 436 00:29:03.799 --> 00:29:07.400 be able to try to help you win ballgames. And that's what Joe spot 437 00:29:07.440 --> 00:29:10.359 is going to continue to do. And I don't think that he's going to 438 00:29:10.400 --> 00:29:14.079 be reactionary at this point. Anything that I've known about him so far is 439 00:29:14.599 --> 00:29:18.279 only through spring training and through two games of the season. He does not 440 00:29:18.359 --> 00:29:19.519 seem that way. I mean, he even heard it the other night. 441 00:29:19.759 --> 00:29:25.400 I was very vocal on social media when they decided to go with John Singleton 442 00:29:25.559 --> 00:29:27.559 over Jake Myers in that situation. But what do you do In the postgame 443 00:29:27.599 --> 00:29:33.880 press conference, he was measured. He gave his reasons, and he laid 444 00:29:33.880 --> 00:29:37.400 out the evidence, kind of like what we do here on sports radio to 445 00:29:37.440 --> 00:29:40.359 try to back up our takes. And he backed up his take. He 446 00:29:40.400 --> 00:29:42.200 backed it up of saying, hey, this is why we wanted to do 447 00:29:42.240 --> 00:29:47.920 this. He is really tough on right handed hitters. And we also felt 448 00:29:47.920 --> 00:29:51.039 like it was a good matchup for Singletary to be able to come through in 449 00:29:51.079 --> 00:29:53.000 that situation. He didn't. We didn't like the result, much like we 450 00:29:53.000 --> 00:29:56.079 didn't like the result of Mauricio Dubond being thrown out at a home plate. 451 00:29:56.559 --> 00:30:00.680 But at the same time though too. On the way down to the clubhouse, 452 00:30:00.079 --> 00:30:03.480 I was riding on the elevator with Chandler Rome and just kind of just 453 00:30:03.480 --> 00:30:07.599 did the customary, was what was the send? You know, what'd you 454 00:30:07.599 --> 00:30:10.680 think of the send? And he said, well, look, for six 455 00:30:10.720 --> 00:30:12.319 weeks down in Florida, you were telling everybody you were going to be an 456 00:30:12.359 --> 00:30:15.519 aggressive baseball team. And if you weren't aggressive right there, then you kind 457 00:30:15.559 --> 00:30:18.759 of just went back on what you've been saying for the last six for the 458 00:30:18.839 --> 00:30:25.240 last six weeks, and the Astros are a team that at least has shown 459 00:30:25.920 --> 00:30:30.359 one good thing so far this first two games of the season. They're going 460 00:30:30.440 --> 00:30:33.839 to be aggressive on the base paths, stealing bases, trying to take the 461 00:30:33.920 --> 00:30:38.480 extra base, that hustle double that Jeremy Pania had the other night. As 462 00:30:38.480 --> 00:30:41.000 soon as I saw him rounding first base, I said, always going for 463 00:30:41.079 --> 00:30:45.400 it, And immediately I started to think back to Joe spot as words of 464 00:30:45.640 --> 00:30:48.640 we're going to be an aggressive team that'll pay off. I'm telling you right 465 00:30:48.680 --> 00:30:52.319 now, that'll pay off. And it is something that is going to eventually 466 00:30:52.359 --> 00:30:56.599 once they get this thing going, is going to be just another edge for 467 00:30:56.680 --> 00:31:00.160 this team of Hey, not only are we good hitters, we're all also 468 00:31:00.200 --> 00:31:02.839 a team that can field it pretty decently. Didn't show it last night, 469 00:31:03.359 --> 00:31:06.720 but we're also to a team that can be a terror for you. On 470 00:31:06.759 --> 00:31:08.839 the basis man, that's something that can lead to more runs, it can 471 00:31:08.920 --> 00:31:12.680 lead to more production. Eventually those things level out. Eventually they do come 472 00:31:12.720 --> 00:31:15.880 to form, and that's what the Astros are trying to do. But in 473 00:31:15.960 --> 00:31:18.960 terms of the Abrai thing, I get it. He had a slow start 474 00:31:19.039 --> 00:31:22.960 last year. It was not great. I understand what the contract is. 475 00:31:22.039 --> 00:31:26.319 I understand all of those different types of things, and that's fine. We 476 00:31:26.319 --> 00:31:30.759 can have that discussion. And at the same point, though, too, 477 00:31:30.000 --> 00:31:33.240 it doesn't really get us anywhere because he's here. He's not going anywhere, 478 00:31:33.319 --> 00:31:36.680 at least for the next couple of years. He's going to be your first 479 00:31:36.720 --> 00:31:41.720 basement for this baseball team. And if you are thinking that the Astros will 480 00:31:41.720 --> 00:31:45.480 move away from him just because of the way that the beginning of last year 481 00:31:45.519 --> 00:31:48.759 went and also to the first couple of games of the season. It's not 482 00:31:48.839 --> 00:31:52.799 going to happen. That's what reactionary, irrational teams do. That's not what 483 00:31:52.839 --> 00:31:56.480 this team has been. Rely on what you've been, because relying on what 484 00:31:56.480 --> 00:32:00.680 you've been and relying on the talent that you have in that clubhouse is what's 485 00:32:00.759 --> 00:32:05.200 allowed you to be the American League champion for the lion's share of the last 486 00:32:05.240 --> 00:32:09.240 seven years, and also too, a team that's even remotely in the opportunity 487 00:32:09.480 --> 00:32:13.960 to be able to win a World Series in those seven years. Teams go 488 00:32:14.039 --> 00:32:17.519 their entire lifetime as an organization and don't have that. The Astro has been 489 00:32:17.559 --> 00:32:21.279 able to experience that for the last seven years. I say it all the 490 00:32:21.279 --> 00:32:23.119 time. I was talking with somebuddies in Mind yesterday and I've said it before 491 00:32:23.119 --> 00:32:25.599 here on the show. I think most of must have forgotten what it's like 492 00:32:25.599 --> 00:32:30.960 to be a fan of this team, Like we very much have the same 493 00:32:31.000 --> 00:32:37.000 mindset that I noticed of Alabama fans when I was working in college football country 494 00:32:37.559 --> 00:32:43.240 and how they viewed their football team and if they didn't make the college football 495 00:32:43.240 --> 00:32:46.519 Playoff, it was a failed season, and I understand having expectations. Expectations 496 00:32:46.519 --> 00:32:50.559 are great, But at the same time, though, too, it's also 497 00:32:50.599 --> 00:32:54.359 being shortsighted of what you've done to that point. What they did under Nick 498 00:32:54.359 --> 00:32:59.880 Saban for those years is unheard of, It's unbelievable, it's never to be 499 00:33:00.599 --> 00:33:04.279 might never be seen in college football ever again. What the Astros have done 500 00:33:04.279 --> 00:33:07.759 these last few years unheard of, might never be seen ever again. But 501 00:33:07.759 --> 00:33:10.839 it's also too. I think there's credence to what Justin Burlanders said in the 502 00:33:10.839 --> 00:33:17.279 clubhouse last year after they reached their seventh straight ALCS. Don't forget about this, 503 00:33:17.839 --> 00:33:22.119 don't take this for granted, because this doesn't happen. This is not 504 00:33:22.839 --> 00:33:28.839 the expectation that is easily met. This is incredibly hard to do, and 505 00:33:28.880 --> 00:33:31.720 we've done it. And eventually, guess what, the Astros are not going 506 00:33:31.759 --> 00:33:36.240 to make the ALCS one year and we'll have the calls here on the show 507 00:33:36.279 --> 00:33:38.640 that it's over time to rebuild all those different types of things. We can 508 00:33:38.640 --> 00:33:43.279 worry about that then, but enjoy it for right now what it is. 509 00:33:43.599 --> 00:33:46.599 And I understand, because of the success they've had, they've built up an 510 00:33:46.640 --> 00:33:50.799 expectation. That's fine. There's not a single guy in that clubhouse that doesn't 511 00:33:50.880 --> 00:33:54.799 understand that, and they know that they've got to play better baseball and that 512 00:33:54.839 --> 00:33:58.960 they are a better baseball team than what they've shown these first couple of games. 513 00:33:59.400 --> 00:34:02.000 And the other part of it as well, is who necessarily in this 514 00:34:02.119 --> 00:34:08.400 lineup is giving you a ton of confidence in terms of what they've done so 515 00:34:08.559 --> 00:34:13.280 far that it's going to be who they are for the rest of the season. 516 00:34:14.000 --> 00:34:15.840 Jose L Twova couple of hits last night, batting three hundred on the 517 00:34:15.880 --> 00:34:20.960 season. That's nice, that's great. Jordan Alvarez is batting two twenty two 518 00:34:21.039 --> 00:34:23.679 through two games. Is Jordan Alvarez a two to twenty two hitter. No. 519 00:34:25.039 --> 00:34:28.880 Kyle Tucker a couple of hits last night, three thirty three on the 520 00:34:28.920 --> 00:34:31.199 season. Okay, that's nice, we like to see that. But he 521 00:34:31.320 --> 00:34:36.719 also, too, from what he's given us in terms of uh hit balls, 522 00:34:37.079 --> 00:34:42.480 has not necessarily gotten to the point that we believe we're seeing the Kyle 523 00:34:42.519 --> 00:34:45.800 Tucker that we're going to see this season because he will put baseballs over the 524 00:34:45.800 --> 00:34:49.719 wall, he will have more extra base hits, and he will be the 525 00:34:49.800 --> 00:34:52.639 hitter that we know that he is Alex Bregman two eighty six so far to 526 00:34:52.719 --> 00:34:55.159 this point, had a hit in an RBI last night. The one run 527 00:34:55.760 --> 00:35:00.559 was courtesy of Alex Bregman last night. But still if you you asked Alex 528 00:35:00.559 --> 00:35:02.119 Bregman, hey, are you hitting your stride as a hitter, his answer 529 00:35:02.119 --> 00:35:07.760 would be no, same deal you. We've talked about jose A Brayew frustrating, 530 00:35:07.800 --> 00:35:09.639 it's annoying. I get all of that. Still looking for that first 531 00:35:09.719 --> 00:35:13.719 hit of the season. Maybe today is the day. But the bottom of 532 00:35:13.719 --> 00:35:17.159 the orders I talked about the other nights on the tenth Inning Show with Ross 533 00:35:19.360 --> 00:35:22.960 is a bright spot for this team so far to this point, and that's 534 00:35:22.000 --> 00:35:25.280 been a part of this team that has been a little bit of a struggle 535 00:35:25.440 --> 00:35:30.119 at times over the last few years. But now it looks like it's going 536 00:35:30.159 --> 00:35:32.679 to be less of a struggle for this team because of what they've been able 537 00:35:32.719 --> 00:35:36.840 to do so far through these first couple of games. And I think we 538 00:35:36.880 --> 00:35:40.599 probably expected that would be an improved bunch this year. Jas McCormick a rough 539 00:35:40.679 --> 00:35:45.760 night last night, but YANR. Diaz three hits on opening Day, gets 540 00:35:45.760 --> 00:35:49.400 a hit, base hit last night and also working a walk as well. 541 00:35:49.519 --> 00:35:52.400 You like to see that out of him, Jeremy Pania, he's been able 542 00:35:52.440 --> 00:35:54.760 to swing the bats well so far to this point of the season. And 543 00:35:54.760 --> 00:35:58.760 then, of course Jake Myers the opening day home run, barreling one up, 544 00:35:58.920 --> 00:36:01.440 and you're saying, hey, hey, look, that's already an improvement 545 00:36:01.519 --> 00:36:06.039 right there of not having Martine Maldonado in the lineup. You're able to improve 546 00:36:06.400 --> 00:36:12.239 the lineup that much of not having an offensive liability there. So the moral 547 00:36:12.239 --> 00:36:16.760 of the story is that, yes, it's frustrating to not have the runners 548 00:36:16.760 --> 00:36:22.039 brought home in scoring position. The note that Chandler Rome had on Twitter that 549 00:36:22.079 --> 00:36:25.400 they're four for twenty one with runners in four for twenty two, excuse me, 550 00:36:25.679 --> 00:36:30.280 runners in scoring position, stranding twenty runners throughout the first couple of games. 551 00:36:30.920 --> 00:36:36.199 It all evens out. I'm telling you, it's just because it was 552 00:36:36.239 --> 00:36:37.559 that way today does not mean it's going to be that way tomorrow. Does 553 00:36:37.599 --> 00:36:40.559 not mean it's gonna be that way next week, or even a month from 554 00:36:40.599 --> 00:36:44.599 now, two months from now, whatever it might be. It's a long 555 00:36:44.679 --> 00:36:46.719 season, you know, actually what it is, I'll tell you what it 556 00:36:46.800 --> 00:36:52.960 is next in terms of what a Major League Baseball season is in terms of 557 00:36:52.159 --> 00:36:58.119 viewing it as the long stretch that it is and not just the short bursts 558 00:36:58.159 --> 00:37:00.960 of where you are at that moment. We'll do that as we close out 559 00:37:00.960 --> 00:37:04.559 our one here on Space City Saturday. If you want to weigh in, 560 00:37:04.599 --> 00:37:07.840 you can at Sebone three two on two five seven ninety once again at sub 561 00:37:07.840 --> 00:37:10.920 one three two on two five seven ninety. Will continue the conversation next right 562 00:37:10.960 --> 00:37:14.639 here on your home with the Astros and the Rocket Sports Talk seven ninety. 563 00:37:16.199 --> 00:37:22.800 We now return to Space City Saturday on Sports Talk seven ninety. How many 564 00:37:22.840 --> 00:37:24.880 of us have ever, as part of that fitness journey, done it because 565 00:37:25.000 --> 00:37:29.599 man, I need to lose a ton of weight? Does it happen overnight? 566 00:37:30.400 --> 00:37:36.320 No? Is it necessarily just a level, straight, flat line that 567 00:37:36.719 --> 00:37:39.000 eventually gets you to where you want to go. It's not that either, 568 00:37:39.760 --> 00:37:45.320 And that's what a Major League Baseball season is is this is us. Let's 569 00:37:45.360 --> 00:37:49.880 just say January one, you know, New Year's resolutions, I'm gonna lose 570 00:37:49.880 --> 00:37:52.960 weight this year. I'm gonna do it. And when the gym opens the 571 00:37:52.000 --> 00:37:57.239 next day, I'm in there and I am hot and heavy. I've gone 572 00:37:57.280 --> 00:38:01.000 to a carnivore. A Keto halio diet, all of those different types of 573 00:38:01.000 --> 00:38:05.559 things. I'm doing it, and you get to the scale and you see, 574 00:38:06.000 --> 00:38:08.159 man, I've barely lost any weight. This sucks. I'm eating food 575 00:38:08.159 --> 00:38:14.480 that I don't necessarily like and I'm not really getting anywhere. Gosh. Then 576 00:38:14.480 --> 00:38:16.599 it's finally too where it's one of those Ah, I see the cheeseburger and 577 00:38:16.639 --> 00:38:20.599 fries. I shouldn't eat it, but man, it'd be so good, 578 00:38:20.679 --> 00:38:23.480 and you do. And because if you've been eating so healthy, you feel 579 00:38:23.519 --> 00:38:27.719 like crap. You look at yourself in the mirror and you think to yourself, 580 00:38:27.719 --> 00:38:30.400 ah, there's a double chin. There's all those different types of things. 581 00:38:30.519 --> 00:38:34.519 I'm just never gonna get there. It's all of those different types of 582 00:38:34.559 --> 00:38:38.519 things. That's what it is. Because if say you want to lose I 583 00:38:38.559 --> 00:38:44.599 don't know the twenty pounds, and you have done all those things that I 584 00:38:44.679 --> 00:38:47.119 just mentioned right there, and you feel like, at least in the immediate 585 00:38:47.280 --> 00:38:52.840 that the results are not paying off, you could very easily just say it's 586 00:38:52.840 --> 00:38:57.119 not gonna happen and just walk off. And some people do, and that's 587 00:38:57.119 --> 00:39:00.480 fine. That happens. I understand it. Your priorities change all those different 588 00:39:00.519 --> 00:39:04.760 types of things. But it's also though, too, it's finally being able 589 00:39:04.800 --> 00:39:08.400 to get to a goal weight or being able to finally accomplish what you wanted 590 00:39:08.440 --> 00:39:12.920 to the fitness journey. Like I said, it's one of those if you're 591 00:39:12.960 --> 00:39:17.559 a weightlifter and that you're maxing out at a certain point on the bench and 592 00:39:17.960 --> 00:39:22.280 you try to go the next time and you try to hit a certain weight 593 00:39:22.679 --> 00:39:25.480 and you're unable to push up the weight the way that you want it to 594 00:39:25.480 --> 00:39:29.400 to be able to complete the rep, and you think to yourself, gosh, 595 00:39:29.400 --> 00:39:31.960 man, that's disappointing. It's frustrating, it's annoying, and it's all 596 00:39:32.039 --> 00:39:35.880 those different types of things. Yes, it is all of those different types 597 00:39:35.920 --> 00:39:38.719 of things, but it's also too. Do you completely just stop working out? 598 00:39:38.920 --> 00:39:43.480 Some people might, but no, what do you do? You try 599 00:39:43.519 --> 00:39:45.119 to rep it, You try to rep out as best you can, You 600 00:39:45.159 --> 00:39:47.639 try to get stronger, and you try to be able to pass the test 601 00:39:47.679 --> 00:39:52.519 the next time. That's what a major League baseball season is. It's not 602 00:39:52.639 --> 00:39:58.559 linear. It's not completely just a you know, a straight line of it's 603 00:39:58.599 --> 00:40:00.039 going to go the way that you want it to all the way through, 604 00:40:00.280 --> 00:40:04.039 and yeah, you're gonna lose some here and there, But for the most 605 00:40:04.039 --> 00:40:07.440 part, when you look back on it in October or once the season is 606 00:40:07.480 --> 00:40:10.599 over, where you say, man, everything went right. That was so 607 00:40:10.880 --> 00:40:15.840 awesome. There's not a single team that hoists the Commissioner's Trophy at the end 608 00:40:15.840 --> 00:40:20.079 of the season that said April, May, June, July, August, 609 00:40:20.079 --> 00:40:22.679 September, October, and even in the November, Man, it went one 610 00:40:22.760 --> 00:40:27.559 hundred percent the way that we wanted it to go. There were rough times, 611 00:40:27.840 --> 00:40:30.599 there were rough stretches. There was a week where probably you weren't winning 612 00:40:30.679 --> 00:40:35.000 very many ballgames, and maybe even a week and a half, whatever it 613 00:40:35.079 --> 00:40:37.800 might be. And it's frustrating, it's annoying. It's all those different types 614 00:40:37.800 --> 00:40:39.599 of things. But at the same time, though, too, you don't 615 00:40:39.639 --> 00:40:43.559 just give up and say, well, this is who we are. We're 616 00:40:43.599 --> 00:40:45.800 not going to be a good baseball team this year. Maybe we'll try again 617 00:40:45.840 --> 00:40:49.480 next year. That's not what the Astros are doing. That's not what any 618 00:40:49.480 --> 00:40:52.760 team who struggled so far to this point. I mean an example that I 619 00:40:52.800 --> 00:40:57.360 came up with too, and I try not to use singular examples because I 620 00:40:57.440 --> 00:41:01.920 know that sometimes it's one of those things that you know, I always say 621 00:41:02.280 --> 00:41:06.480 there's a reason why there's only one of them, because it's not the exception 622 00:41:06.880 --> 00:41:08.920 or the rule. It's actually it is the exception, not the rule. 623 00:41:09.519 --> 00:41:15.000 But remember the two thousand and four Boston Red Sox. They had a pretty 624 00:41:15.000 --> 00:41:21.440 pedestrian season until they got to that Yankee Series where a Rod fought Veritech and 625 00:41:21.800 --> 00:41:24.320 Bill Miller walked it off and finally you said, all right, you know, 626 00:41:24.320 --> 00:41:27.840 we got Kirk Shilling this offseason. We're supposed to be really good, 627 00:41:27.880 --> 00:41:30.199 right, And that's when they started to realize how good of a baseball team 628 00:41:30.199 --> 00:41:34.840 they could be. They went on a run, and they eventually ended the 629 00:41:35.000 --> 00:41:37.639 curse and won the World Series that year. Man went on a string of 630 00:41:37.679 --> 00:41:42.239 winning World Series from there. But if I'm not mistaken, they got swept 631 00:41:42.239 --> 00:41:45.480 in that opening series of the season against the Baltimore Orioles, and I think 632 00:41:45.519 --> 00:41:49.440 that probably at the end of the season, do you think that there's anybody 633 00:41:49.480 --> 00:41:52.880 when they hoisted up the trophy that said, man, you know, I 634 00:41:52.239 --> 00:41:55.360 would have never thought this could have happened. After we got swept, they 635 00:41:55.400 --> 00:42:00.159 probably did what most veteran ball clubs do after a rough first series of the 636 00:42:00.159 --> 00:42:02.719 season. They pack up their bags, They get on the bus, they 637 00:42:02.719 --> 00:42:06.920 go to the airport, and they fly to wherever they're going to next and 638 00:42:06.960 --> 00:42:08.440 they continue all with the season. And that's what the Astros will do. 639 00:42:08.719 --> 00:42:13.760 Maybe they do get swept against the Yankees. But does it necessarily mean they're 640 00:42:13.760 --> 00:42:15.760 not gonna win the AO West. No. Does it mean they're not gonna 641 00:42:15.760 --> 00:42:19.800 make the playoffs this year? No? Does it mean the dynasty is dead? 642 00:42:20.079 --> 00:42:22.199 None of those things. It's a rough series. It's a rough couple 643 00:42:22.239 --> 00:42:25.400 of games. I mean, that's really all we're talking about at this point. 644 00:42:25.559 --> 00:42:29.480 And I get it. It's the opening weekend. I get it that. 645 00:42:29.719 --> 00:42:35.639 It's also too it's the team on the other side, not even the 646 00:42:35.760 --> 00:42:37.599 fact that they're losing the games, because again, I'll still maintain it. 647 00:42:37.639 --> 00:42:40.719 I don't think that we're doing most of these things right now. If say 648 00:42:40.719 --> 00:42:46.079 the Astros had lost to the Twins or to the I don't know, throw 649 00:42:46.119 --> 00:42:50.920 out another team, the Tampa Bay Rays. I mean, you know, 650 00:42:51.199 --> 00:42:54.119 you're getting my point here. It's who they're losing to. That's the angst 651 00:42:54.119 --> 00:42:58.239 of the frustration. It's who's on the other side. Most of us don't 652 00:42:58.320 --> 00:43:01.920 like Juan Soto, you know, most of us don't like Aaron Judge and 653 00:43:02.000 --> 00:43:06.440 Giencarlos Stanton, and we don't like the Yankees, and we're annoyed by all 654 00:43:06.480 --> 00:43:08.719 the Yankee fans in Sibon at May Park, all those different things. I 655 00:43:08.800 --> 00:43:13.000 get all of that. That's what's adding to the angst right now. And 656 00:43:13.039 --> 00:43:16.719 that's the part of it as well. Of In baseball, it's not about 657 00:43:16.880 --> 00:43:20.559 just a singular game. You're going to lose games, that's going to happen. 658 00:43:20.760 --> 00:43:24.920 It's about being able to piece good baseball together and being able to be 659 00:43:25.000 --> 00:43:30.360 able to, you know, become the team that you want to over the 660 00:43:30.360 --> 00:43:34.000 long haul, not in the short term. Is Oosel Twove going to be 661 00:43:34.039 --> 00:43:37.039 a bad fielder at second base? No? Is Jeremy Pania going to have 662 00:43:37.320 --> 00:43:40.159 very many errors like the one we saw last night, No he's not. 663 00:43:40.920 --> 00:43:45.079 Are we going to see very many more times of pitchers fielding practice not paying 664 00:43:45.119 --> 00:43:50.760 off on the field more often than not, the throw that Parker Mashinski made 665 00:43:50.840 --> 00:43:52.239 last night, He'll make that in his sleep and be able to get the 666 00:43:52.320 --> 00:43:55.559 out. These guys are pros. They find a way to be able to 667 00:43:55.559 --> 00:43:59.199 figure it out. They will figure it out, and they'll find a way 668 00:43:59.239 --> 00:44:01.000 to be able to get things on the right track the way that we want 669 00:44:01.039 --> 00:44:04.639 them to be in the way that also two in the clubhouse they want it 670 00:44:04.679 --> 00:44:07.480 to be. Again, like I said, it's not a single guy it's 671 00:44:07.480 --> 00:44:09.320 going to show up to the ballpark today and say, man, is this 672 00:44:09.320 --> 00:44:12.760 who we're going to be this season. No, they're showing up to the 673 00:44:12.760 --> 00:44:15.960 ballpark today, going through their routine, pregame meal, all those different types 674 00:44:16.000 --> 00:44:20.320 of things, and then finally saying, you know, let's go out there, 675 00:44:20.400 --> 00:44:22.199 let's put together a good effort and if it's good enough, we'll be 676 00:44:22.239 --> 00:44:25.960 one and two and then we'll go from there. And that's how the Astros 677 00:44:27.119 --> 00:44:30.880 completely view the way that things are going right now. Trust me, I'm 678 00:44:30.880 --> 00:44:35.159 telling you there is not an ounce of panic inside that room. All right. 679 00:44:35.159 --> 00:44:38.239 Coming up next, let's get in some Texans conversation because a prominent NFL 680 00:44:38.320 --> 00:44:43.920 free agent this offseason told us something that we probably already knew. But it's 681 00:44:44.000 --> 00:44:47.039 not going to end with just him. We'll discuss why as we continue here 682 00:44:47.079 --> 00:44:52.039 on Space City Saturday. In the second hour of the show, Dan Matthews 683 00:44:52.039 --> 00:44:54.360 here on your home of the Astros and the Rockets Sports Talk seven ninety Dan 684 00:44:54.440 --> 00:44:59.840 Matthews here with you in tons of Astros conversation a little bit. Sexan's coming 685 00:44:59.880 --> 00:45:02.440 up before we do that, though, Brian in Paarland wants to weigh in 686 00:45:02.480 --> 00:45:07.079 here on Sports Talk seven ninety Brian, what's going on? Buddy? What's 687 00:45:07.119 --> 00:45:10.320 going on? Dan? Happy Saturday? To you. It's more so just 688 00:45:10.360 --> 00:45:15.039 a frustrating start. Like you said, it's it's the fact that last night 689 00:45:15.079 --> 00:45:19.239 you left what ten plus men on base and you got one run in the 690 00:45:19.280 --> 00:45:22.039 first stinning. It's the situational hitting. It's the stuff that we see every 691 00:45:22.159 --> 00:45:27.039 year. But I am overly concerned. I'm a long time Asters fan and 692 00:45:27.079 --> 00:45:30.599 I rarely ever hit the panic button. It's not panic, but it's just 693 00:45:30.239 --> 00:45:37.559 that you can see Brian and Brady's suspension rearing its ugly head the last two 694 00:45:37.639 --> 00:45:42.400 nights somewhere where you could have gone to him there in the seventh to hopefully 695 00:45:42.400 --> 00:45:45.639 get that lockdown. Granted, it's hard to hold a one run lead against 696 00:45:45.679 --> 00:45:50.719 the Yankees for an entire game, but I think, whether the night before 697 00:45:50.880 --> 00:45:54.679 or even last night, having somebody like that would have definitely giving me a 698 00:45:54.679 --> 00:46:00.239 lot better odds of holding on to that lead and getting it to haterse Thank 699 00:46:00.239 --> 00:46:04.760 goodness that's over. Has the corresponding move been made yet as the who's going 700 00:46:04.840 --> 00:46:07.280 down? Or does a move have to be made? Were they just playing 701 00:46:07.320 --> 00:46:13.800 shorthanded last night in terms of players? And then I am concerned though, 702 00:46:13.920 --> 00:46:17.119 is if you're going to continue to run out Taylor Scott and Brandon Black and 703 00:46:17.159 --> 00:46:24.480 those guys for the year. And I'm hoping that once mccullors and those guys 704 00:46:24.519 --> 00:46:28.599 get healthy and are keying, you can maybe shift to JP France to the 705 00:46:28.599 --> 00:46:34.159 bullpen or something like that later on to help give those guys some rest because 706 00:46:34.320 --> 00:46:37.480 the current bullpen, the way it's structured, if you don't have a league 707 00:46:37.480 --> 00:46:40.519 getting to the seventh, you're in trouble. And that's the big issue. 708 00:46:40.840 --> 00:46:45.559 One thing the corresponding are you talking about with the bread you being suspended a 709 00:46:45.639 --> 00:46:50.719 break, you're now being activated for the night's game? I'm assuming Oh no, 710 00:46:51.079 --> 00:46:54.480 so they've been playing with twenty five for the first couple of games, 711 00:46:54.599 --> 00:46:58.280 saying that's what I thought, right, Yeah, so they had to play 712 00:46:58.280 --> 00:47:00.320 short handed. I mean, he's just suspended, you know, you're just 713 00:47:00.679 --> 00:47:04.960 without that guy. That's that's the way it goes. So that's how it'd 714 00:47:04.960 --> 00:47:07.000 gone in terms of the middle relief. Brian, you know, I'll keep 715 00:47:07.039 --> 00:47:12.079 you on here for just a couple of seconds on this. This is what 716 00:47:12.119 --> 00:47:15.199 this time of the year is is to try to find those roles, to 717 00:47:15.239 --> 00:47:17.960 be able to find who fits in that certain point. I mean Seth Martinez 718 00:47:19.039 --> 00:47:21.840 was brought in where he was the other day, that was the film Aton 719 00:47:21.960 --> 00:47:24.239 role. Remember I'd said, there are going to have to be guys on 720 00:47:24.280 --> 00:47:29.360 this team that either you're up by a lot or you're down by a lot, 721 00:47:29.400 --> 00:47:30.599 and it's say, hey, it's you. You got to eat it 722 00:47:30.639 --> 00:47:35.119 if we're down. And that's what you're trying to find. And yes, 723 00:47:35.199 --> 00:47:37.320 I mean I talked about a little bit earlier on as you start to get 724 00:47:37.360 --> 00:47:40.960 guys back in this rotation, that frees up guys to be able to fit 725 00:47:42.039 --> 00:47:45.840 into other roles. That yes, maybe that is a JP France in the 726 00:47:45.880 --> 00:47:47.880 bullpen. If you're able to work him into that and he's able to find 727 00:47:47.920 --> 00:47:52.079 success that way, that's a plus or even too. Eventually we'll see how 728 00:47:52.079 --> 00:47:55.239 Renelle Blanco pitches. But if they feel like, hey, we can still 729 00:47:55.320 --> 00:47:59.159 keep him up here spots starts here and there, but kind of fit that 730 00:47:59.599 --> 00:48:02.159 role. That Brandon Beilack had been for the past couple of years. Then 731 00:48:02.159 --> 00:48:07.199 maybe that's the thing as well. But that's what's still a foot right now 732 00:48:07.280 --> 00:48:10.239 with this team is they're still trying to find who fits where, and especially 733 00:48:10.280 --> 00:48:14.239 too in the area that we believed it was going to be, which was 734 00:48:14.320 --> 00:48:16.199 middle relief. We knew about the back end of the bullpen. And you're 735 00:48:16.280 --> 00:48:20.440 right, yes, how nice it would have been on opening day to have 736 00:48:20.519 --> 00:48:22.440 Brian to bray you maybe things go a little bit different. I mean, 737 00:48:22.519 --> 00:48:25.800 even to one of the guys that you were counting on to be able to 738 00:48:25.840 --> 00:48:30.159 get some outs is the one who gave up the lead and Ryan Presley. 739 00:48:30.199 --> 00:48:32.760 Do I believe that it's going to be who Ryan Presley is now? No? 740 00:48:32.880 --> 00:48:37.280 I don't think Ryan Presley will figure it out. He'll be the effective 741 00:48:37.280 --> 00:48:39.320 reliever that he's been. Remember too, before the Astros made him into a 742 00:48:39.360 --> 00:48:44.519 closer, he had been a setup man, a middle relief guy in Minnesota 743 00:48:44.599 --> 00:48:46.599 before getting to this point, so he knows that role. He can get 744 00:48:46.599 --> 00:48:51.039 back to that role. And in terms of just the overall you know, 745 00:48:51.760 --> 00:48:54.159 you know, just I guess concern that people have, I think that it's 746 00:48:54.199 --> 00:48:58.400 more or less just you want yours. You want to be able to win 747 00:48:58.440 --> 00:49:00.280 on opening Day. You want to be able to win early on the season 748 00:49:00.320 --> 00:49:04.840 to feel good about the season, and if it doesn't go that way, 749 00:49:05.000 --> 00:49:07.119 then you start to kind of let the bad feelings start to come in. 750 00:49:07.280 --> 00:49:12.400 And I think that's a huge part of what's going on right now. Yeah, 751 00:49:12.519 --> 00:49:15.920 and I agree. I think, like you mentioned, if it were 752 00:49:15.000 --> 00:49:20.039 the Rays or the oriology'd be like, Okay, hey, these are good. 753 00:49:20.320 --> 00:49:23.840 But it's the team that you absolutely despise more than anything. The people 754 00:49:23.840 --> 00:49:30.159 who just talk more garbage than anything else. All the bandwagon Yankee fans there 755 00:49:30.280 --> 00:49:35.920 last night who probably couldn't have more than three players outside of Derek Jeter and 756 00:49:35.960 --> 00:49:39.880 Aaron Judge who have played for this team and yet are acting like, you 757 00:49:39.920 --> 00:49:44.280 know, they're going one sixty two and O, which just h it just 758 00:49:44.320 --> 00:49:47.880 made my blood boil nast night. But a good show, inn and have 759 00:49:47.920 --> 00:49:51.599 a good weekend any same to you, buddy, Appreciate it. Yeah, 760 00:49:51.679 --> 00:49:53.840 I mean, look, there's a reason why the jokes are made about you're 761 00:49:53.840 --> 00:49:59.480 a Yankee fan. Does that mean you're a cowboy and Lakers and Duke fan, 762 00:49:59.599 --> 00:50:01.800 maybe even a little bit of Alabama football as well. I mean the 763 00:50:01.920 --> 00:50:06.639 jokes right themselves. We've all heard them, and yes, are they annoying 764 00:50:06.760 --> 00:50:09.280 one hundred percent, But if they necessarily done anything since two thousand and nine, 765 00:50:09.559 --> 00:50:14.159 no they haven't, So let them have their fun. Hey, look, 766 00:50:14.280 --> 00:50:16.000 if Yankee fans want to make this their world series and they want to 767 00:50:16.079 --> 00:50:20.760 you know, glom on about you know, twenty seven world titles all of 768 00:50:20.760 --> 00:50:23.960 that, I would also say, act like you've won twenty seven world titles. 769 00:50:24.280 --> 00:50:28.519 I mean, that's a part of it. And there's a reason why, 770 00:50:28.599 --> 00:50:31.000 for the most part, why we hate certain teams is not because of 771 00:50:31.000 --> 00:50:34.559 the players on the field. Like I was actually thinking about today, I 772 00:50:34.559 --> 00:50:37.760 don't dislike Aaron Judge. I actually kind of like Aaron Judge. I'm not 773 00:50:37.800 --> 00:50:42.119 a huge Tancarlos Stanton fan, But that's besides the point. And there are 774 00:50:42.159 --> 00:50:45.079 other players that we don't like on the Yankees. Yeah, I get all 775 00:50:45.119 --> 00:50:49.360 of that. But same time, though, too, it's not necessarily disliking 776 00:50:49.440 --> 00:50:52.559 the teams themselves. It's more or less the people that are around them that 777 00:50:52.639 --> 00:50:54.480 have no bearing on it. I mean that's the thing that I always love 778 00:50:54.559 --> 00:50:58.639 too, is you know, whenever you know, Alabama fans when I was 779 00:50:58.679 --> 00:51:01.440 in the college football parlance. Oh we we, I'm like we you went 780 00:51:01.440 --> 00:51:05.800 through the fourth quarter program with Scott Cochrane. You you you're part of the 781 00:51:05.840 --> 00:51:08.880 team. You've got one of those cool gray shirts that they've got that you're 782 00:51:08.920 --> 00:51:13.280 part of the team. Okay, cool, I didn't know that great play 783 00:51:13.280 --> 00:51:15.559 there on that third Oh you didn't make that play on that third down? 784 00:51:15.159 --> 00:51:19.440 Good? Okay. Let the team be the team. You just be a 785 00:51:19.480 --> 00:51:22.960 fan. Keep your mouth shut to a certain point. Now, just one 786 00:51:22.960 --> 00:51:27.119 of the a little bit of PTSD kind of kind of coming out right there. 787 00:51:27.239 --> 00:51:29.960 You know. Look, it's a part of being a fan, right, 788 00:51:30.039 --> 00:51:35.639 That's that's what allows us to enjoy what this game is. But yes, 789 00:51:35.800 --> 00:51:38.639 hopefully the Astros will be able to figure it out and move things in 790 00:51:38.880 --> 00:51:44.039 the right direction. Let's get into some Texans conversation because we played this bit 791 00:51:44.079 --> 00:51:50.840 of audio yesterday on the A Team and it was from Saquon Barkley who was 792 00:51:50.880 --> 00:51:55.719 on the New Heights podcast. And there was before legal tampering and free agency. 793 00:51:57.239 --> 00:52:00.960 Believe that Saquon Barkley would eventually become a Houston Texas because there were the 794 00:52:00.039 --> 00:52:04.519 reports out there always talking with c J. Stroud. You know, he's 795 00:52:04.559 --> 00:52:07.960 he's lining it up. It's it's all coming together. We're we're gonna have 796 00:52:07.039 --> 00:52:12.639 number twenty six wearing Houston Texan Curesey and eventually that did not happen, but 797 00:52:13.280 --> 00:52:19.639 he led credence to those reports yesterday in the audio that surfaced of him with 798 00:52:20.360 --> 00:52:24.280 the New Heights podcast of Travis and Jason Kelsey, and he eventually, of 799 00:52:24.360 --> 00:52:30.159 course signed with the Eagles, and Travis Kelsey asked him about was that the 800 00:52:30.159 --> 00:52:34.679 team all along? And this was sa Quan's answer. There were rumors in 801 00:52:34.679 --> 00:52:37.079 the beginning that the Eagles were kind of in it. Were they always kind 802 00:52:37.079 --> 00:52:39.519 of like the top choice or were they the ones kind of trying to make 803 00:52:39.559 --> 00:52:43.679 that move happen or let's be i'ma be honest here, right, this is 804 00:52:43.679 --> 00:52:47.440 what this was the shows for really probably the first team that had like my 805 00:52:47.559 --> 00:52:54.599 first interest was Houston. Oh it was really I got to communicate with CJ 806 00:52:54.719 --> 00:53:00.320 and a couple of those boys. But this is before like all the you 807 00:53:00.360 --> 00:53:04.960 know, when you actually put offers on the table. So yeah, he 808 00:53:05.039 --> 00:53:08.119 wanted to play here for the Texans, and it also sounds like he was 809 00:53:08.159 --> 00:53:12.599 not the only one that wanted to be a part of this team. I 810 00:53:12.639 --> 00:53:15.800 mean, we had you know, reports of you know, other players who 811 00:53:16.079 --> 00:53:21.639 wanted to play here. Zavian Howard was a guy that supposedly had interest in 812 00:53:21.679 --> 00:53:24.280 playing here, and also to Christian Wilkins, another guy that, if I'm 813 00:53:24.280 --> 00:53:30.280 not mistaken, had interest in playing here. And I don't know if Howard 814 00:53:30.320 --> 00:53:34.599 has signed with somebody yet having it in front of me, I don't know 815 00:53:34.679 --> 00:53:38.360 if indeed he's made his free agent decision. But the point is this is 816 00:53:38.599 --> 00:53:45.119 leading into what most of us have heard from players, and also too that 817 00:53:45.679 --> 00:53:49.880 we've also seen from this team, and Savian Howard still out there, so 818 00:53:49.920 --> 00:53:54.440 maybe the Texans could get him in the later stages of the free agents signing 819 00:53:54.480 --> 00:54:00.639 period. But we'll continue more talking about this next because there is to what 820 00:54:00.679 --> 00:54:04.679 Saquon Barkley said, and I don't think he's going to be the last one 821 00:54:04.880 --> 00:54:08.840 saying things like this about this team. And there's one reason in particular first 822 00:54:09.079 --> 00:54:14.440 that leads into another with the Texans, So we'll talk about that as well 823 00:54:14.559 --> 00:54:19.800 as continuing on with the Texans conversation. Because who knew they would be among 824 00:54:19.880 --> 00:54:23.679 the best in areas that we thought was impossible for them? To improve upon. 825 00:54:24.199 --> 00:54:28.559 We'll do that and much more as we continue on here on Space City 826 00:54:28.599 --> 00:54:31.639 Saturday. Dan Matthews here with you until noon on your home with the Astros 827 00:54:31.639 --> 00:54:40.360 in the Rockets. Sports Talk seven ninety Space City Saturday continues find Sports Talk 828 00:54:40.440 --> 00:54:47.199 seven ninety Sports Talk seven ninety again five o'clock Astros on Deck. I will 829 00:54:47.239 --> 00:54:52.800 be with you for that as we lead you up to first pitch tonight. 830 00:54:53.079 --> 00:54:59.320 And I'd given you the wrong pitching matchup earlier because leaving their own team website 831 00:54:59.400 --> 00:55:02.599 had the one. But it's Hunter Brown against Marcus Stroman tonight. I believe 832 00:55:02.639 --> 00:55:07.480 it's Schmidt and JP France tomorrow night if I'm not mistaken. But anyway, 833 00:55:07.679 --> 00:55:12.079 we'll have all of that much more on Astros on Deck. A little bit 834 00:55:12.280 --> 00:55:15.840 later on, I played that piece of audio from Saquon Barkley to bring up 835 00:55:15.840 --> 00:55:20.840 the point about the way the Texans are viewed right now by players across the 836 00:55:20.920 --> 00:55:24.760 league. And we had heard even at the end of the season. Remember 837 00:55:24.760 --> 00:55:29.880 Will Anderson at the podium talking about players coming up to him on the field 838 00:55:29.880 --> 00:55:32.559 and saying, it looks like you have something special there, like Demiko playing 839 00:55:32.559 --> 00:55:36.199 for him. He looks like he's a lot of fun to play for. 840 00:55:36.559 --> 00:55:38.679 It really looks like a fun time and you guys are doing some great things 841 00:55:38.719 --> 00:55:44.800 there, and that is something that as you continue to have Demiko Ryans here. 842 00:55:44.920 --> 00:55:50.280 He's the chief reason because I knew when the Texans hired him that things 843 00:55:50.320 --> 00:55:52.719 had started to turn for the better, because I remembered him as a player. 844 00:55:52.840 --> 00:55:57.440 I remember the way that he was viewed inside that clubhouse, that he 845 00:55:58.119 --> 00:56:02.320 was thought of as being at dynam leader that was able to get people to 846 00:56:02.360 --> 00:56:06.840 see the way that the game is supposed to be played and be able to 847 00:56:06.880 --> 00:56:09.159 follow his lead on that and be able to have success on the field, 848 00:56:09.199 --> 00:56:15.079 which at the beginning where he was toward the end of his tenure here in 849 00:56:15.119 --> 00:56:17.559 the Texans, that was when they finally made the playoffs and you finally started 850 00:56:17.559 --> 00:56:22.159 the dream that, yeah, things can get better for this organization. And 851 00:56:22.320 --> 00:56:24.920 they did to a certain point. And when he left there were some good 852 00:56:24.960 --> 00:56:30.599 times, but also too there were some very low times for the organization. 853 00:56:30.320 --> 00:56:35.280 But when the Texans hired him, and you saw the reception that he got 854 00:56:35.760 --> 00:56:38.679 inside that building over on Kirby when he walked in with his family before his 855 00:56:38.719 --> 00:56:44.800 introductory press conference, it showed you, at least from the organization itself, 856 00:56:45.360 --> 00:56:47.920 a group of people who were just hungry to be able to get that good 857 00:56:47.920 --> 00:56:52.360 feeling back in the building. And they felt like when he showed up, 858 00:56:52.920 --> 00:56:55.599 it's here again, like the good times are back. We're we're going to 859 00:56:55.639 --> 00:57:00.360 get this thing back on the right track. And he stayed consistent all throughout 860 00:57:00.360 --> 00:57:01.960 the season. I mean, the injuries at the beginning of the year, 861 00:57:02.360 --> 00:57:08.960 Titus Howard being hurt, as well as other key members of this team being 862 00:57:09.039 --> 00:57:12.519 hurt, and he said, look, the guys that we have are the 863 00:57:12.519 --> 00:57:14.920 guys that have to go out there and make plays. And what did he 864 00:57:14.960 --> 00:57:17.239 continue to say all throughout the offseason, Hey, Demiko, you guys are 865 00:57:17.280 --> 00:57:20.960 gonna be without Nico Collins this week. Hey, the guys that are out 866 00:57:21.000 --> 00:57:23.199 there are gonna be kind of on to make plays. You're gonna be without 867 00:57:23.280 --> 00:57:27.119 Jonathan Grenard this week, Will Anderson Junior. Hey, the guys that are 868 00:57:27.119 --> 00:57:30.519 out there have got to make plays. That translated to the team. It 869 00:57:30.559 --> 00:57:31.880 was a team of guys that said, hey, he gets it, he 870 00:57:31.960 --> 00:57:36.400 understands, he knows what we're going through. And you've heard players say that 871 00:57:36.559 --> 00:57:38.159 all all along. I mean, I can't remember exactly who it was. 872 00:57:38.840 --> 00:57:44.320 I think it might have been Anderson during an interview, tell me at Dan 873 00:57:44.400 --> 00:57:49.320 Matthews Hou on Twitter at Dan Matthews Hou who it was that said. Honestly, 874 00:57:49.360 --> 00:57:52.760 I thought when I first got here he was a player, and then 875 00:57:52.800 --> 00:57:55.000 it was like, oh no, that's my head coach. And you have 876 00:57:55.079 --> 00:57:59.599 other guys that are seeing the way that he carries himself and the way that 877 00:57:59.599 --> 00:58:04.199 he's led team that they might not be free agents right now. But I 878 00:58:04.280 --> 00:58:08.079 don't I don't discount what Will Anderson said. I'm sure that probably has been 879 00:58:08.119 --> 00:58:12.000 said to him. Look who's working out with this offseason. I'm not saying 880 00:58:12.440 --> 00:58:15.199 Miles Garrett is eventually going to be a Houston Texan, but there's obviously enough 881 00:58:15.239 --> 00:58:20.760 interest in Will Anderson Jr. And also too enough respect for him in what 882 00:58:20.840 --> 00:58:22.480 he was able to do this season. And also too he was one of 883 00:58:22.519 --> 00:58:25.960 the guys that said to Anderson, it looks like you guys have something special 884 00:58:27.000 --> 00:58:31.119 there. So guys like him look at this organization and say, yeah, 885 00:58:31.199 --> 00:58:36.000 that's fun. I want to be a part of that. I absolutely believe 886 00:58:36.639 --> 00:58:39.679 that better days are ahead for that organization. Same deal with CJ. Stroud. 887 00:58:39.719 --> 00:58:43.960 I mean you just heard from Saquon Barkley had enough respect to pick up 888 00:58:43.960 --> 00:58:47.360 the phone and talk with the guy who's not even into his second season in 889 00:58:47.400 --> 00:58:52.760 the NFL and gauging his interest in terms of what do you guys have going 890 00:58:52.760 --> 00:58:57.400 on there? Because I've seen how you play. I would love to be 891 00:58:57.400 --> 00:59:00.840 paired up with you. I would love to be able to make plays along 892 00:59:00.880 --> 00:59:04.480 with you on the field and be able to, you know, make things 893 00:59:04.599 --> 00:59:07.639 special for that fan base and that organization down in Houston. He even said 894 00:59:07.679 --> 00:59:09.679 it, he said, Yeah, that was the first place I wanted to 895 00:59:09.679 --> 00:59:15.639 go, and the Texans didn't want to meet the financial demands that he wanted, 896 00:59:15.960 --> 00:59:17.960 and the Philadelphia Eagles were able to. Man, that's why he ended 897 00:59:19.039 --> 00:59:22.480 up playing in Philadelphia. Good for him to have a good season and have 898 00:59:22.719 --> 00:59:28.360 a great next step of your career there in Philadelphia. But having a team 899 00:59:28.679 --> 00:59:32.119 like this and having the leadership that the Texans have, it's contagious, and 900 00:59:32.159 --> 00:59:35.920 you saw it last year of the way that team played. They played above 901 00:59:36.039 --> 00:59:39.280 their ability at certain points. I mean I'd said it numerous times even before 902 00:59:39.320 --> 00:59:44.000 the season began. I said, this is a seven and ten football team. 903 00:59:44.360 --> 00:59:46.440 And you see that graphic up on Sunday Night Football that says in the 904 00:59:46.519 --> 00:59:51.559 hunt for a playoff, for a playoff push, that's the win right there. 905 00:59:51.880 --> 00:59:53.559 And we saw that, and then it finally got to the point of, 906 00:59:53.760 --> 00:59:57.000 oh, we actually have a chance to do this. And then they 907 00:59:57.000 --> 01:00:00.000 got into the playoffs, and then it was well, we've got number seven 908 01:00:00.159 --> 01:00:01.519 on the field. If we've got number seven on the field, we saw 909 01:00:01.559 --> 01:00:05.880 what happened a few years ago with the Cincinnati Bengals and they were able to 910 01:00:05.920 --> 01:00:08.000 go on that run and make the Super Bowl. Why not? Why can't 911 01:00:08.000 --> 01:00:12.960 we dream? And they realized when they went to Baltimore, Yeah, we're 912 01:00:13.000 --> 01:00:16.880 not there yet. And it was also to a belief that hey, this 913 01:00:17.039 --> 01:00:21.440 is built. This isn't just you know, given overnight, it's earned. 914 01:00:21.480 --> 01:00:22.880 You have to be able to put in the work and be able to get 915 01:00:22.880 --> 01:00:27.119 to that point. And that's what the Texans are trying to do this offseason. 916 01:00:27.199 --> 01:00:30.159 And by all accounts, they've had a hell of an offseason of adding 917 01:00:30.199 --> 01:00:36.280 to this team. And if this next season doesn't reach our expectations again kind 918 01:00:36.280 --> 01:00:37.840 of like what I was talking about with the Astros earlier, does it mean 919 01:00:37.880 --> 01:00:42.599 it's a massive failure. No, just means that you're continuing to build. 920 01:00:42.639 --> 01:00:45.360 You're trying to get to that point. Becoming the Kansas City Chiefs is not 921 01:00:45.480 --> 01:00:49.840 easy. Take a look at the Philadelphia Eagles. Two years ago, they're 922 01:00:49.880 --> 01:00:52.599 in the super Bowl. Last year they seemingly fell apart. People were wondering 923 01:00:52.599 --> 01:00:58.440 if Nick Sirianni was going to be gone, and now they're trying to build 924 01:00:58.480 --> 01:01:00.519 on what they did a couple of years ago and get back to that point. 925 01:01:00.920 --> 01:01:04.000 So that's not what you want to be. You don't want to be 926 01:01:04.199 --> 01:01:07.480 an organization that kind of grins and bears it and maybe one year it's going 927 01:01:07.519 --> 01:01:09.800 to be great, and then the next year it's going to completely fall off 928 01:01:09.800 --> 01:01:14.039 and then the thing unravels from there. It's not what the Texans look like 929 01:01:14.079 --> 01:01:15.559 they're tracking to be. They look like they're tracking to be a team that's 930 01:01:15.599 --> 01:01:20.079 going to be in this thing for the long haul. As long as c 931 01:01:20.199 --> 01:01:22.559 J. Stroud iss yere, you feel like you got a good chance of 932 01:01:22.639 --> 01:01:28.280 being able to reach the ultimate goal of winning the whole thing. And Demiko 933 01:01:28.400 --> 01:01:30.599 Ryans is one of those guys. I mean just with the pedigree he had 934 01:01:31.039 --> 01:01:35.199 of being a former player, but also to the respect that he got from 935 01:01:35.239 --> 01:01:38.039 being the DC in San Francisco and now getting to this point and the Texans 936 01:01:38.079 --> 01:01:42.480 were able to do what they did last year, and players and coaches everybody 937 01:01:42.559 --> 01:01:45.599 else. I mean, you even heard Kevin O'Connell, the coach of the 938 01:01:45.599 --> 01:01:49.199 Minnesota Vikings, talking about the Neil Hunter and saying, you know, he's 939 01:01:49.199 --> 01:01:51.880 got a chance to do some great things with Demiko there. I mean, 940 01:01:51.920 --> 01:01:54.400 coaches even see it. And there are certain guys around the league that have 941 01:01:54.480 --> 01:01:59.760 the respect of guys that don't even directly play for them. I mean, 942 01:02:00.079 --> 01:02:01.800 Mike Tomlin is one of those guys. In Pittsburgh. Guys want to play 943 01:02:01.800 --> 01:02:07.079 for Mike Tomlin because they've seen what he's been able to do with lesser talented 944 01:02:07.119 --> 01:02:15.320 teams and really uneven quarterback situations and still able to have them in the playoffs 945 01:02:15.440 --> 01:02:17.960 or at least in the picture to make the playoffs in some of those years. 946 01:02:19.159 --> 01:02:22.360 That's why it's so funny whenever I hear Steelers fans it's time to move 947 01:02:22.360 --> 01:02:27.679 on from Mike Tomlin and go get who because that guy's been the mark of 948 01:02:27.760 --> 01:02:31.079 consistency for the better part of his coaching career. You don't find very many 949 01:02:31.079 --> 01:02:34.639 guys like Mike Tomlin. There's a reason why he is stuck around. There's 950 01:02:34.639 --> 01:02:38.119 a reason why the Steelers have been the organization they've been for the life of 951 01:02:38.480 --> 01:02:43.880 their existence. And the same deal goes with a guy like John Harbaugh in 952 01:02:43.920 --> 01:02:45.639 Baltimore. Guys want to play for John Harbaugh. They see how he is 953 01:02:45.639 --> 01:02:49.440 on the sidelines, they see how he handles his teams, they see the 954 01:02:49.480 --> 01:02:52.960 respect the guys have frohim in that locker room, and the results have shown 955 01:02:53.079 --> 01:02:57.199 on the field. I mean, you know, trying to still get that 956 01:02:57.400 --> 01:03:02.000 second Super Bowl after winning it back in twenty thirteen, but they've still been 957 01:03:02.199 --> 01:03:06.920 a team that's been in that position year in and year out and been consistent. 958 01:03:07.039 --> 01:03:09.920 Kind of like the Steelers Sam deal with Sean McVay, young mind, 959 01:03:10.360 --> 01:03:15.119 exciting coach, somebody it looks like they'd be fun to play for. These 960 01:03:15.159 --> 01:03:19.480 are the types of people that Demiko is already after one year, in the 961 01:03:19.519 --> 01:03:23.400 same category of and it can only get better from here in terms of him 962 01:03:23.400 --> 01:03:27.760 as a head coach, how he is on game days, in terms of 963 01:03:27.920 --> 01:03:30.960 being able to manage the clock and being able to manage his timeouts, all 964 01:03:31.000 --> 01:03:35.800 of those different types of things, and being able to put together effective game 965 01:03:35.840 --> 01:03:37.840 plans that can put you in position to be able to win the entire thing. 966 01:03:38.480 --> 01:03:40.960 And the other part of it as well. Gets to a couple of 967 01:03:42.000 --> 01:03:47.880 stories that came out yesterday of ownership and how the teams are run. Because 968 01:03:49.360 --> 01:03:52.000 before I get to these two bits of news, actually, let me lay 969 01:03:52.039 --> 01:03:57.000 these out and then and then I'll get to the two bits of you know 970 01:03:57.079 --> 01:03:59.960 news, the headlines that came out around the NFL to day that kind of 971 01:04:00.039 --> 01:04:02.159 shows you if you're a Texans fan, it makes you feel even better about 972 01:04:02.159 --> 01:04:08.039 the way things are right now. So there was the news yesterday that the 973 01:04:08.039 --> 01:04:12.519 New Orleans Saints we're going to move their training camp this year to Irvine, 974 01:04:12.559 --> 01:04:15.760 California. They're going to practice at U see Irvine. On the surface, 975 01:04:15.159 --> 01:04:18.960 Okay, that's fine. The Cowboys go to California. Texans a couple of 976 01:04:19.000 --> 01:04:25.280 years ago went to the Greenbrier in West Virginia because well, you want to 977 01:04:25.320 --> 01:04:30.000 get out of the you know, just scalding, overwhelming heat and humidity that 978 01:04:30.039 --> 01:04:30.880 we have here in the area, and you want to be able to get 979 01:04:30.880 --> 01:04:33.440 some good work in. I get all of that. That's fine. The 980 01:04:33.519 --> 01:04:41.079 Saints are moving to Irvine for training camp because they're renovating their cafeteria. Because 981 01:04:41.400 --> 01:04:45.440 the past couple of years through the NFLPA report of it's a survey they give 982 01:04:45.480 --> 01:04:48.800 the players and they rate their facilities, their strength, coaches, coaches, 983 01:04:48.880 --> 01:04:53.960 ownership, all those different types of things, all the nuts and bolts of 984 01:04:54.000 --> 01:04:58.480 an organization. They give letter grades too, and then the PA releases the 985 01:04:58.559 --> 01:05:03.079 letter grades the text across the board. This most recent cycle of the NFLPA 986 01:05:04.000 --> 01:05:10.199 report card that came out got nothing worse than a B minus. They got 987 01:05:10.199 --> 01:05:13.800 to B minus for team travel, which had them twelfth in the league. 988 01:05:14.159 --> 01:05:17.039 They got to be for the weight room and strength coaches, which have them 989 01:05:17.440 --> 01:05:23.719 in the twentieth and twenty fourth of the league. But treatment of families they 990 01:05:23.760 --> 01:05:28.679 got fifth. Food in cafeteria, they got fourth, third for nutritionists and 991 01:05:28.719 --> 01:05:30.679 dietitian. We'll get to that in just a second. Because the Saints are 992 01:05:30.719 --> 01:05:35.920 trying to revitalize those parts of their organization because the players said, yeah, 993 01:05:36.000 --> 01:05:39.800 all of those things suck. So they said, all right, we'll renovate 994 01:05:39.840 --> 01:05:43.559 the cafeteria, we'll overhaul that part of our team, and we'll improve that. 995 01:05:44.079 --> 01:05:46.840 So they're having them go away for that, which that part of the 996 01:05:46.840 --> 01:05:49.280 story, You're kind of like, man, I mean, in a city 997 01:05:49.360 --> 01:05:53.679 like New Orleans, how can that even be the case? Like you trip 998 01:05:53.719 --> 01:05:59.239 and fall and you find an amazing meal in that city and nutrition and the 999 01:05:59.239 --> 01:06:02.320 food everything there at the Saints facility is garbage. How does that even happen? 1000 01:06:02.760 --> 01:06:05.079 I think that's probably what most of the players on the Saints are saying, 1001 01:06:05.119 --> 01:06:06.880 like, dude, We're in a great food city, Like, how 1002 01:06:06.960 --> 01:06:11.480 is this even the case? Then you get to the Kansas City Chiefs, 1003 01:06:11.599 --> 01:06:16.559 which Clark Hunt this last week at the owners meetings was asked about the ownership 1004 01:06:17.159 --> 01:06:21.599 of the team getting an f and it all stems back to what the players 1005 01:06:21.679 --> 01:06:28.480 believe was a promise made by him in twenty twenty two that their locker room 1006 01:06:28.719 --> 01:06:33.960 at Gaha, however you say it their field Arrowhead there, we'll still call 1007 01:06:34.000 --> 01:06:38.960 it Arrowhead they're in Kansas City, that they were going to get a renovated 1008 01:06:39.000 --> 01:06:43.239 locker room, and then it came that, well, we can't renovate the 1009 01:06:43.239 --> 01:06:45.400 locker room because we continued playing this year and we won the Super Bowl. 1010 01:06:45.440 --> 01:06:49.079 We don't have time to do it. He claims that a promise was never 1011 01:06:49.199 --> 01:06:54.159 made that they were going to renovate the locker room. It was a misunderstanding 1012 01:06:54.559 --> 01:06:58.159 all those different types of things. But you still at least have some distrust 1013 01:06:58.159 --> 01:07:00.000 from players of saying, hey, you said you were going to do this 1014 01:07:00.079 --> 01:07:02.559 and he didn't do it. So that gets it a part with the Texans 1015 01:07:02.599 --> 01:07:08.519 of who would have ever thought that the organization for the things that are really 1016 01:07:08.599 --> 01:07:13.840 important that fans don't necessarily think about, are among strengths in this league, 1017 01:07:14.280 --> 01:07:17.880 where just a few years ago we had significant concerns about the ownership of this 1018 01:07:18.000 --> 01:07:23.760 team and wondering if maybe the McNair's time is done, maybe they've lost not 1019 01:07:23.800 --> 01:07:27.320 only the team, but they've lost this city as well. But they've quickly 1020 01:07:27.320 --> 01:07:30.159 been able to turn that around of adding people like Tomiko Ryans, adding people 1021 01:07:30.159 --> 01:07:34.119 like Nick Cassario, and they're among the best in the NFL. And we 1022 01:07:34.199 --> 01:07:39.960 do want to lead credence to this of what makes the organization great because a 1023 01:07:39.960 --> 01:07:43.360 few weeks ago, if you'll remember, Dalton Schultz, when he had just 1024 01:07:43.440 --> 01:07:45.800 resigned with the Texans, was on the Pat McAfee show, and he talked 1025 01:07:45.800 --> 01:07:49.360 about coming over from playing for the Dallas Cowboys to go play for the Texans 1026 01:07:49.920 --> 01:07:55.760 and how he was just blown away by how the Texans run themselves as an 1027 01:07:55.840 --> 01:07:58.880 organization. I think that was one of the things that kind of scared me 1028 01:07:58.920 --> 01:08:03.199 about, like leaving the most is like I wasn't sure what another organization would 1029 01:08:03.280 --> 01:08:06.480 kind of feel like, and dude, I got here and it was like 1030 01:08:08.320 --> 01:08:12.239 this place is a well oiled machine. Like it's you know, coaching staff, 1031 01:08:12.280 --> 01:08:15.280 the coaching changes. I can't speak to the previous stuff, but like, 1032 01:08:15.920 --> 01:08:19.119 the strength staff is phenomenal. The training staff is unbelievable. This has 1033 01:08:19.119 --> 01:08:23.039 been the most like trainers that I've ever seen on a staff, and they 1034 01:08:23.039 --> 01:08:27.560 take really amazing care of the players. The nutrition staff is phenomenal. The 1035 01:08:28.000 --> 01:08:30.680 chefs they like they came in and they poached like five of the best chefs 1036 01:08:30.720 --> 01:08:33.800 in the Houston area and they paid them a bunch more and they're like come, 1037 01:08:33.880 --> 01:08:36.920 you know, come hang out and cook for us. And so it's 1038 01:08:36.960 --> 01:08:42.720 like everything that they kind of do is really top notch, and you know, 1039 01:08:43.560 --> 01:08:46.119 not being sure of like how another organization would kind of be run. 1040 01:08:46.279 --> 01:08:53.279 Leaving Dallas like I was so happy. So there you go. All the 1041 01:08:53.319 --> 01:08:55.960 things that people, you know, you think on the surface, oh that 1042 01:08:56.000 --> 01:09:00.520 doesn't matter, but to players absolutely it does, and things like that said 1043 01:09:00.960 --> 01:09:03.880 resonates with other players. Oh you've got that there. You've got a coach 1044 01:09:03.960 --> 01:09:08.399 that looks like he's a lot of fun to play for and has this thing 1045 01:09:08.640 --> 01:09:12.720 locked up in terms of what the expectations are and how this is supposed to 1046 01:09:12.920 --> 01:09:15.960 look and how you know we're supposed to play on game days like, you've 1047 01:09:15.960 --> 01:09:19.560 got that too. The ownership has your back, the GM has your back, 1048 01:09:19.640 --> 01:09:24.399 all those different types of things, all of those things absolutely do matter. 1049 01:09:24.439 --> 01:09:27.079 It's the Deon Sanders line. Look good, play good, play good, 1050 01:09:27.279 --> 01:09:30.000 they pay good, pay good, you live good, live good, 1051 01:09:30.039 --> 01:09:33.359 you die good. I think I got it all right. But those things 1052 01:09:34.079 --> 01:09:40.640 all add up. And that's what the Texans have in one year been able 1053 01:09:40.720 --> 01:09:45.239 to have going in their favor. That this was a team that we thought 1054 01:09:45.319 --> 01:09:47.920 probably was just really going by the seat of their pants probably for the longest 1055 01:09:47.920 --> 01:09:51.800 time. I mean, all of the connection to wanting to have the Patriots 1056 01:09:51.800 --> 01:09:56.600 way. We heard Wex say it numerous times. There is no Patriots way. 1057 01:09:56.640 --> 01:09:59.840 It was one guy, it was Tom Brady, and the Texans were 1058 01:10:00.000 --> 01:10:03.760 and to emulate something that really just didn't even exist. And finally it's the 1059 01:10:03.800 --> 01:10:09.119 Texans creating their own identity and saying we're gonna make it the Texans way, 1060 01:10:09.239 --> 01:10:12.960 this is how we're going to do things. And Tamiko Ryans helped build that 1061 01:10:13.520 --> 01:10:15.840 and a huge bit of credit needs to go to him. A huge bit 1062 01:10:15.880 --> 01:10:18.079 of credit needs to go to Nick Casario, guy that we had serious doubts 1063 01:10:18.079 --> 01:10:24.039 about. But the draft day gamble paid off and this team is now in 1064 01:10:24.079 --> 01:10:29.479 position to compete for the Lombardi Trophy and be able to do that for the 1065 01:10:29.520 --> 01:10:33.039 coming years as long as CJ. Shroud is here. So it's amazing how 1066 01:10:33.319 --> 01:10:38.319 all of the things that we don't necessarily think about mattering matter so much, 1067 01:10:38.720 --> 01:10:43.399 and the Texans have really, in the short amount of time, been able 1068 01:10:43.399 --> 01:10:46.520 to turn things around to change the perception league wide of who they are as 1069 01:10:46.560 --> 01:10:51.520 an organization. And it also shows you that, hey, other teams might 1070 01:10:51.600 --> 01:10:56.439 on the service look like they haven't figured out, but well they're showing you 1071 01:10:56.640 --> 01:10:59.960 they don't necessarily have things figured out as a way that you think they would. 1072 01:11:00.279 --> 01:11:03.159 So good ownership gets all these things. Good ownership understands, hey, 1073 01:11:03.479 --> 01:11:05.880 if we have good nutrition, if we have a good strength staff, we 1074 01:11:05.920 --> 01:11:10.199 have a great training staff, we have all of these different types of things 1075 01:11:10.279 --> 01:11:13.840 that matters to players. They want to feel supported, and if they feel 1076 01:11:13.880 --> 01:11:16.479 supported, then they feel like, all right, then I can go out 1077 01:11:16.520 --> 01:11:19.359 there and be my best on Sundays. And if I am my best on 1078 01:11:19.439 --> 01:11:24.680 Sundays, then that means good things happen for this organization. That's what the 1079 01:11:24.680 --> 01:11:28.880 Texans have been trying to do, and at least through one year they've passed 1080 01:11:28.920 --> 01:11:31.319 that test. With flying colors, We're hoping they can do it even more. 1081 01:11:32.199 --> 01:11:34.880 We don't do a lot of Rockets talk on here, but when you 1082 01:11:34.920 --> 01:11:39.239 win eleven games in a row, it deserves to be talked about. Because 1083 01:11:39.399 --> 01:11:43.880 coming out next we'll get into some Rockets conversation because something was said about the 1084 01:11:43.960 --> 01:11:47.960 Rockets that fans might like on the surface, but it would also potentially become 1085 01:11:48.079 --> 01:11:53.119 a bad situation for this team. We'll do that as we continue on here 1086 01:11:53.159 --> 01:11:57.199 on Space City Saturday. Dan Matthews here with you until noon on your home 1087 01:11:57.239 --> 01:12:01.439 with the Astros and the Rockets Sports Talk seven to ninety. Welcome back to 1088 01:12:01.560 --> 01:12:10.159 Space City Saturday on Sports Talk seven ninety as the Astros will try to get 1089 01:12:10.239 --> 01:12:15.399 that elusive first win of the season Tonight, six fifteen. First pitch here 1090 01:12:15.720 --> 01:12:20.720 as you know Blummer and TK and the crew Julia Morales as well, they 1091 01:12:21.199 --> 01:12:27.399 worked on Opening Day but got the next three days off as they've got the 1092 01:12:27.439 --> 01:12:30.720 Fox game tonight. Actually not true, they're going to play tomorrow. I 1093 01:12:30.720 --> 01:12:34.159 thought for whatever reason that it was Sunday Night Baseball tomorrow, but no it's 1094 01:12:34.199 --> 01:12:39.960 not. It'll be a one ten first pitch tomorrow. But for this one 1095 01:12:40.159 --> 01:12:44.359 tonight, five o'clock, Astros on deck coming your way, and then of 1096 01:12:44.399 --> 01:12:46.560 course tenth Inning Show afterwards as well, if you want to weigh in. 1097 01:12:46.720 --> 01:12:50.279 I know many of you out there, Tyrone, definitely Astros tenth inning. 1098 01:12:50.319 --> 01:12:54.720 You want to call in, come on brother, call on in and I 1099 01:12:54.760 --> 01:12:57.640 will take your call and talk to you on the tenth Inning Show. But 1100 01:12:57.720 --> 01:13:02.880 as right now, let's get in some Rockets conversation. As the Rockets winning 1101 01:13:03.039 --> 01:13:09.399 their eleventh straight last night wasn't pretty, wasn't great, and even at times 1102 01:13:09.399 --> 01:13:12.319 looked like, well, well this streak is over, and if we lose 1103 01:13:12.359 --> 01:13:16.279 this game, then well things are going to not be good in terms of 1104 01:13:16.319 --> 01:13:21.000 trying to make the play in round. But the Rockets are also a team 1105 01:13:21.119 --> 01:13:28.079 that feel probably incomplete right we watch them and as they are trying their best 1106 01:13:28.079 --> 01:13:30.279 to be able to make a play in round game. You look at this 1107 01:13:30.359 --> 01:13:34.359 team and say, are they among the best in the Western Conference? Well, 1108 01:13:34.399 --> 01:13:38.159 clearly they're not, because there's ten teams in front of them right now, 1109 01:13:38.279 --> 01:13:41.640 so there's still a chance to grow in that regard. But also two, 1110 01:13:42.319 --> 01:13:45.520 are they a team that's necessarily, you know, far away from being 1111 01:13:45.520 --> 01:13:48.359 able to be amongst the best in the Western Conference? Well, I think 1112 01:13:48.359 --> 01:13:53.479 this probably has shown with the play of Jalen Green and with the men Thompson 1113 01:13:53.520 --> 01:13:56.720 being in the starting lineup and what he's been able to do, you know, 1114 01:13:56.800 --> 01:13:59.279 from at times this year, Cam Whitmore, what he's been able to 1115 01:13:59.279 --> 01:14:01.760 add early on in the season, what Tarry Eason was able to give you 1116 01:14:01.800 --> 01:14:05.560 off the bench, as well as the veteran presence and the veteran contributions you've 1117 01:14:05.560 --> 01:14:11.720 gotten from Fred van Vlietz and from Dylan Brooks as well as you know Jeff 1118 01:14:11.760 --> 01:14:15.560 Green off the bench, Aaron Holiday too as well. You've been able to 1119 01:14:15.560 --> 01:14:18.920 see significant improvement from this team. As a matter of fact, I mean, 1120 01:14:18.960 --> 01:14:24.039 if they get six more wins, they double their win total from last 1121 01:14:24.119 --> 01:14:27.439 year. I mean you want to talk about significant improvements, Yeah, that's 1122 01:14:27.520 --> 01:14:30.760 amazing improvement from year one to year two. But got a lot of work 1123 01:14:30.760 --> 01:14:34.000 to be able to do between now and then. Got some tough games coming 1124 01:14:34.079 --> 01:14:39.640 up Mavericks tomorrow night. They're in the Western Conference playoff race, as they 1125 01:14:39.760 --> 01:14:44.199 are in a firm position to be able to make it into the playoffs as 1126 01:14:44.279 --> 01:14:47.520 well as you got the Heat on the other side, as they've been going 1127 01:14:47.560 --> 01:14:51.680 through some injury issues. I mean, you know, Jimmy Butler not playing 1128 01:14:51.720 --> 01:14:56.600 the other night. That was not great in terms of the Rockets needing a 1129 01:14:56.800 --> 01:15:00.119 huge win out of them over the Warriors to be able to at least put 1130 01:15:00.159 --> 01:15:04.720 them into a statistical tie, but the tiebreaker would give it to the Warriors. 1131 01:15:04.760 --> 01:15:09.000 If the Rockets and them were finishing with the same record at the end 1132 01:15:09.000 --> 01:15:11.760 of the season, the Warriors would get in the play and round over the 1133 01:15:11.880 --> 01:15:15.000 Rockets. But there was something that Tim McMahon, somebody that we know around 1134 01:15:15.000 --> 01:15:19.600 here from his coverage of the Rockets but also to covering the Mavericks as well, 1135 01:15:20.239 --> 01:15:26.479 said on an ESPN podcast that again, I think that some Rockets fans 1136 01:15:26.560 --> 01:15:29.800 might hear it and say, oh man, yeah, no, for sure, 1137 01:15:29.840 --> 01:15:31.359 that's what we need. That's what this team needs in order to be 1138 01:15:31.760 --> 01:15:34.760 a contender, not only in the Western Conference, but a chance to be 1139 01:15:34.800 --> 01:15:40.199 able to have a run at trying to play for and win an NBA title. 1140 01:15:40.479 --> 01:15:43.920 That would get them excited. But I would also say pump the brakes 1141 01:15:44.119 --> 01:15:47.199 just a little bit. He said this recently on an ESPN podcast with Brian 1142 01:15:47.239 --> 01:15:53.239 Windhorst and Crew. I'll just tell you this when we talk about vulture circling, 1143 01:15:54.319 --> 01:16:00.880 some of those vultures have rockets gear on because they absolutely want to take 1144 01:16:00.960 --> 01:16:08.840 a big, big swing in the trade market sooner than later. And there 1145 01:16:09.439 --> 01:16:13.720 they've got a ton of young talent on this roster. Obviously, you know, 1146 01:16:13.880 --> 01:16:16.119 I don't know if both Shagoon and Green are going to be here long 1147 01:16:16.239 --> 01:16:21.560 term. My guess, and I emphasized guests, is that one or the 1148 01:16:21.600 --> 01:16:27.640 other would end up getting moved at some point for them when they take their 1149 01:16:27.640 --> 01:16:31.680 big swing. But they have unprotected Brooklyn picks this year in twenty six and 1150 01:16:31.720 --> 01:16:38.680 an unprotected swap next year. They've got that as the draft capital AMMO, 1151 01:16:39.279 --> 01:16:44.279 and then a lot of you know, intriguing young talent on the roster. 1152 01:16:45.880 --> 01:16:50.079 If there are stars that emerge on the trade market, I believe the Rockets 1153 01:16:50.119 --> 01:16:54.720 are going to take swings, all right. So a couple of things there 1154 01:16:54.880 --> 01:17:00.199 that he said, and I'll start with the part about star hunting and the 1155 01:17:00.279 --> 01:17:03.720 first one, and my question would be, who necessarily is out there that 1156 01:17:03.920 --> 01:17:08.680 if you added to this organization, you would say, oh yeah, immediate 1157 01:17:08.720 --> 01:17:12.359 contenders to win the Larry O'Brien Trophy. I don't really think there are any 1158 01:17:12.399 --> 01:17:14.880 out there. I've said it numerous times. I think the NBA has a 1159 01:17:14.880 --> 01:17:19.399 star problem right now. I just don't think that there are really just transcending, 1160 01:17:19.840 --> 01:17:28.279 just absolutely unbelievably needle moving players out there that are going to get you 1161 01:17:28.319 --> 01:17:30.159 to that point. I think the Rockets are absolutely on the right track right 1162 01:17:30.159 --> 01:17:32.079 now. I just think, as a matter of fact, one of the 1163 01:17:32.159 --> 01:17:35.720 names you mentioned, Jalen Green, and what he's been able to do for 1164 01:17:35.920 --> 01:17:40.560 the last few games so far this season for the Rockets, I mean, 1165 01:17:41.000 --> 01:17:45.039 he has at least gotten close to reaching what last year was his career high 1166 01:17:45.079 --> 01:17:49.159 average in points twenty two point one per game twenty So far this season, 1167 01:17:49.199 --> 01:17:54.800 he's played less minutes than he had through seventy six games last year. He's 1168 01:17:54.800 --> 01:17:58.000 played seventy three so far to this point. But we see what he's been 1169 01:17:58.000 --> 01:18:00.520 able to do on the floor these last few games. Is this run that 1170 01:18:00.640 --> 01:18:04.159 Jalen Green has been on has been unbelievable in terms of what we thought. 1171 01:18:04.199 --> 01:18:06.960 He should have been Western Conference Player of the Week last week. Again, 1172 01:18:08.399 --> 01:18:11.800 well, the NBA decided, now Anthony Davis is that guy, and they 1173 01:18:11.800 --> 01:18:15.560 went with Anthony Davis. But player of the month. He'd be pretty hard 1174 01:18:15.560 --> 01:18:18.039 pressed to find anybody else in the Western Conference that's had the month that Jalen 1175 01:18:18.079 --> 01:18:21.000 Green has had. And you've seen what he's meant to this team. And 1176 01:18:21.039 --> 01:18:26.640 I also think as well with the Rockets and they're poor shooting last night against 1177 01:18:26.640 --> 01:18:30.279 the Jazz, wasn't that not growth out of him and what he was able 1178 01:18:30.319 --> 01:18:33.399 to show Because hadn't we seen numerous times this season that Green had a rough 1179 01:18:33.479 --> 01:18:38.119 night and it started to leak into the other parts of his game so much 1180 01:18:38.159 --> 01:18:41.439 that Ima Udoka in the early parts of the season when he was having a 1181 01:18:41.479 --> 01:18:44.600 rough shooting night, had to say, yeah, I gotta pull you because 1182 01:18:44.800 --> 01:18:49.000 it's starting to taint the rest of your game and I just can't have you 1183 01:18:49.079 --> 01:18:51.520 on the floor if this is how this is going to be. But I 1184 01:18:51.520 --> 01:18:55.680 think little by little he started to accept it's not always going to be pretty, 1185 01:18:55.680 --> 01:18:59.079 it's not always going to be great, and he's been able to piece 1186 01:18:59.119 --> 01:19:02.159 together games while shooting percentage wise might not be the best, He's able to 1187 01:19:03.199 --> 01:19:08.760 have a twenty seven point night, you know, even in the thirties, 1188 01:19:08.800 --> 01:19:13.000 whatever it might be, of being able to keep shooting and finally being able 1189 01:19:13.000 --> 01:19:15.840 to hit his mark and be able to put together a nice performance when it's 1190 01:19:15.840 --> 01:19:18.840 all said and done with the point total, but also too as well, 1191 01:19:19.000 --> 01:19:23.640 I think that a little short sighted part of all of this, of oh, 1192 01:19:23.640 --> 01:19:27.159 well, the Rockets don't need Alprin Shingun. Alprin Shingun is quickly becoming 1193 01:19:27.159 --> 01:19:30.000 one of the best fives in the league. I think there are improvements that 1194 01:19:30.039 --> 01:19:32.079 he needs to make to his game. I think that there actually needs to 1195 01:19:32.119 --> 01:19:35.880 be a decision made by Alprin Shingun this offseason. Are you going to put 1196 01:19:35.920 --> 01:19:39.800 on some weight, are you going to become more physical and are you going 1197 01:19:39.840 --> 01:19:42.600 to be that type of a five or are you going to be a stretch. 1198 01:19:42.920 --> 01:19:44.760 And if you're going to be a stretch, he's got to trust that 1199 01:19:44.840 --> 01:19:47.239 shot. I don't see a guy that really trusts his shot so far to 1200 01:19:47.279 --> 01:19:51.359 this point, and if he's able to add that to his game, then 1201 01:19:51.439 --> 01:19:55.319 he's able to take at least the offensive part of the game to the next 1202 01:19:55.399 --> 01:19:58.399 level. Defensively, you'd like to see improvements from that as well. And 1203 01:19:58.439 --> 01:20:01.119 I think that again what I said when they acquired Steven Adams, there's no 1204 01:20:01.159 --> 01:20:04.680 mistake why Steven Adams is here. Steven Adams is here to be able to 1205 01:20:05.159 --> 01:20:11.319 help try to shepherd along Alprin Shingoon and help him on the defensive side of 1206 01:20:11.319 --> 01:20:14.800 the game, especially also to rebounds, all those different types of things that 1207 01:20:14.880 --> 01:20:19.199 go into being a five and being an effective five to be able to take 1208 01:20:19.199 --> 01:20:23.520 his game to the next level. So it's still a growing progress with this 1209 01:20:23.600 --> 01:20:28.159 team the pieces that they have right now. Jalen Green, Alprin Shingoon, 1210 01:20:28.600 --> 01:20:31.920 I would think long and hard with anybody that could possibly be available for you 1211 01:20:32.079 --> 01:20:36.039 out there before moving on from them, because I don't necessarily think you get 1212 01:20:36.399 --> 01:20:41.000 a huge jump of being able to make a trade, because I feel like 1213 01:20:41.039 --> 01:20:45.520 at that point it'd be making a trade for a star player for the sake 1214 01:20:45.560 --> 01:20:47.960 of making a trade, not necessarily a player that makes you even better. 1215 01:20:48.279 --> 01:20:50.880 And I think to kind of wrap all of this up as well. We 1216 01:20:51.000 --> 01:20:55.079 know the type of basketball that emay Udoka wants to play. I think if 1217 01:20:55.119 --> 01:20:58.960 you're going to make any type of move, you're a felstone. Emay Udoka 1218 01:20:59.039 --> 01:21:02.079 needs to be full on board with you making that move because this is a 1219 01:21:02.119 --> 01:21:06.279 systematic team of what you want to be as a team. Now. You 1220 01:21:06.319 --> 01:21:10.840 want to be known for hard nosed defense, you want to be known for 1221 01:21:10.880 --> 01:21:14.039 physical play. You also want to be known as a team that doesn't take 1222 01:21:14.039 --> 01:21:15.479 any guff from any other teams. I mean, we've seen that out of 1223 01:21:15.520 --> 01:21:18.680 the Rockets. As a matter of fact, probably the turn that you saw 1224 01:21:18.760 --> 01:21:23.399 for the Rockets this year where when they got into that dust up out in 1225 01:21:23.439 --> 01:21:26.239 Phoenix, and I think even ime Udoka even said as much, saying, 1226 01:21:26.439 --> 01:21:29.039 hey, we showed some fight, we showed we're not going to back down. 1227 01:21:29.560 --> 01:21:33.199 And you've seen the Rockets play much improved basketball from that point, because 1228 01:21:33.239 --> 01:21:35.439 I think this is a team that said we're not going to be pushed around 1229 01:21:35.479 --> 01:21:39.600 anymore. We're not going to be a team that's, oh, hey they're 1230 01:21:39.640 --> 01:21:42.319 young, they just don't know any better. No, we know better and 1231 01:21:42.319 --> 01:21:45.960 we're going to beat you. And ima Udoka has been a huge part of 1232 01:21:45.039 --> 01:21:49.479 being able to create that identity with this team, and you hope that it 1233 01:21:49.479 --> 01:21:55.359 can only continue from here because if it does, then even better days are 1234 01:21:55.399 --> 01:21:59.000 coming over at Toyota Center, and that's something that we all would love to 1235 01:21:59.039 --> 01:22:03.119 see. We'll close out with a final thought on the Strows, but also 1236 01:22:03.319 --> 01:22:09.159 too, Houston Cougar's last night a rough one for them to end their season, 1237 01:22:09.199 --> 01:22:13.279 because Kelvin Sampson's Houston Cougar's just proved something that I think most of us 1238 01:22:13.399 --> 01:22:16.680 already know. We'll discuss that as we close out this edition of Space City 1239 01:22:16.720 --> 01:22:19.880 Saturday. I'm Dan Matthews here on your home of the Astros and the Rockets, 1240 01:22:20.039 --> 01:22:28.039 Sports Talk seven ninety. This is Space City Saturday on Sports Talk seven 1241 01:22:28.119 --> 01:22:34.560 night. Astros coming your way a little bit later tonight here on your home 1242 01:22:34.560 --> 01:22:40.239 of the Stros Sports Talk seven ninety as we will have Astros on deck coming 1243 01:22:40.239 --> 01:22:45.079 to your way at five o'clock yours truly hosting from there at minute made Park 1244 01:22:45.159 --> 01:22:48.119 going to have interviews that I was able to do the other day with both 1245 01:22:48.319 --> 01:22:54.760 Parker Mashinski and also with Jake Myers, trying to get one more might even 1246 01:22:55.039 --> 01:23:00.319 Duck in the Yankee Clubhouse too. To kind of get a pulse of one 1247 01:23:00.359 --> 01:23:03.319 of the guys in that group to have their on Astros on deck. But 1248 01:23:03.359 --> 01:23:09.399 we'll be having it coming at your way as it'll be a six fifteen first 1249 01:23:09.399 --> 01:23:14.479 pitch there with Robert Ford Steve Sparks coming your way on your Home of the 1250 01:23:14.479 --> 01:23:18.640 Stros. And also to the Rockets coming your way tomorrow night seven o'clock tip 1251 01:23:18.720 --> 01:23:27.680 over there at Toyota Center, as it'll be a little bit of a mixed 1252 01:23:27.720 --> 01:23:33.439 bag in terms of Rockets rap and Rockets launch Pad. Tomorrow Gordy is gonna 1253 01:23:33.479 --> 01:23:41.319 have launchpad and Sports RV gonna have Rockets wrap for you here on Sports Talk 1254 01:23:41.399 --> 01:23:45.560 seven ninety as we will have every single game of the opening home stand of 1255 01:23:45.600 --> 01:23:48.680 the season for the Astros right here on your Home of the Astros, Sports 1256 01:23:48.680 --> 01:23:54.920 Talk seven ninety. So just keep that in mind. The Houston Cougars last 1257 01:23:55.000 --> 01:24:00.560 night's unfortunate end to their season, Jamal Shed goes down with the ankle issue 1258 01:24:00.000 --> 01:24:05.840 and they fought hard in the second half, but just unable to get things 1259 01:24:05.960 --> 01:24:10.800 in the positive direction in terms of the scoreboard to be able to move on 1260 01:24:11.079 --> 01:24:15.640 to the Elite eight as they fall by three to Duke fifty four fifty one. 1261 01:24:16.399 --> 01:24:19.960 But I mean it's also to talking about it a little bit earlier with 1262 01:24:20.239 --> 01:24:25.600 some koog fans before coming on the air today. Of it seems like for 1263 01:24:25.640 --> 01:24:28.319 the most part, you of H fans have the right approach to this, 1264 01:24:28.439 --> 01:24:30.960 and that is be proud of what this team did this year. You lose 1265 01:24:31.079 --> 01:24:35.600 Terrence Arsono, you lose Jesse Tugler, you lose last night your best player, 1266 01:24:35.720 --> 01:24:42.159 the best player in college basketball this year in Jamal Shd and you still 1267 01:24:42.479 --> 01:24:46.159 had your chance at being able to move on to the next step of the 1268 01:24:46.199 --> 01:24:50.159 best in college basketball, the Elite Eights. And it was unfortunate and it's 1269 01:24:50.159 --> 01:24:54.920 going to be an off season of what could have been, and that's not 1270 01:24:55.000 --> 01:24:58.119 what you want to have happen at the end of the season. But they 1271 01:24:58.119 --> 01:25:01.359 fell just short, and I think that it really underscores what most of us 1272 01:25:01.520 --> 01:25:05.880 know about sports in general and winning titles. That's why. For example, 1273 01:25:06.520 --> 01:25:11.479 so it's no secret that I'm born and raised here first twenty seven years of 1274 01:25:11.479 --> 01:25:14.199 my life, but the last ten years I worked in Atlanta, and you 1275 01:25:14.199 --> 01:25:16.119 would have people all the time talk about that Braves run that they had in 1276 01:25:16.119 --> 01:25:19.319 the nineties and the early two thousands of oh, yeah, but only one 1277 01:25:19.359 --> 01:25:24.720 world title? Are you really that short sighted like that one world title was 1278 01:25:24.760 --> 01:25:28.119 hard enough to win? And yes, were they in position to win more? 1279 01:25:28.399 --> 01:25:30.039 Sure? Should they have won more? Absolutely, we can have that 1280 01:25:30.079 --> 01:25:36.239 discussion as well. But winning a national championship or a world title is not 1281 01:25:36.520 --> 01:25:42.199 an easy thing. That's why we take for granted the greatness that we see. 1282 01:25:42.399 --> 01:25:45.600 I mentioned Alabama earlier and what they have ahead of them without Nick Saban 1283 01:25:45.680 --> 01:25:49.920 leading that program now is going to be huh so this is what the rest 1284 01:25:49.960 --> 01:25:54.359 of college football looks like. Huh yeah, nine to three, ten and 1285 01:25:54.399 --> 01:25:58.560 two, if you're really good, is more of the reality than losing only 1286 01:25:58.600 --> 01:26:00.920 one game or even losing a game in a season and being able to do 1287 01:26:00.960 --> 01:26:04.319 that for the better part of fifteen years. That's unheard of. That's unreal. 1288 01:26:04.640 --> 01:26:08.880 What the Astros have done, that's unheard of. That's unreal, what 1289 01:26:08.920 --> 01:26:12.359 they've been able to do to this point as an organization, what they've done 1290 01:26:12.359 --> 01:26:15.319 the last few years. And you, of h of course it is going 1291 01:26:15.319 --> 01:26:19.880 to be with Kelvin Samson exactly what it is with all coaches of his ILK 1292 01:26:20.199 --> 01:26:24.720 of can he win a national title? Is he good enough to be able 1293 01:26:24.760 --> 01:26:28.239 to win a national title. All of those different types of things, and 1294 01:26:28.279 --> 01:26:32.000 that's why when we have the greats that are able to string together titles plural, 1295 01:26:32.640 --> 01:26:35.960 they should be cherished, they should be celebrated. They shouldn't be looked 1296 01:26:35.960 --> 01:26:39.760 at as, oh well, they're past their prime. Now, oh well 1297 01:26:39.760 --> 01:26:42.039 they don't have it anymore, all of these different types of things. I 1298 01:26:42.079 --> 01:26:45.600 get all of that. The results speak for themselves, that's fine. But 1299 01:26:45.680 --> 01:26:49.520 at the same time, too, the Kougs had almost everything going at their 1300 01:26:49.560 --> 01:26:53.640 direction. Where I thought when they won that game against A and M last 1301 01:26:53.640 --> 01:26:57.439 week, I thought that getting the Phoenix was a foregone conclusion. I said, 1302 01:26:57.479 --> 01:27:00.760 if you won that one and you were able to pull that game out 1303 01:27:00.840 --> 01:27:03.680 when you lost a twelve point lead, you give up that three pointer as 1304 01:27:03.720 --> 01:27:08.640 the buzzer sounds there and you're going to overtime, you're thinking yourself, man, 1305 01:27:08.680 --> 01:27:11.600 this isn't good. But that team found a way. They did that 1306 01:27:11.680 --> 01:27:15.760 all season long. The Texas game on the road, the Oklahoma game on 1307 01:27:15.800 --> 01:27:20.079 the road. You know, I mean numerous other games that we saw from 1308 01:27:20.119 --> 01:27:25.439 them this season where they had close games where it could have gone one way 1309 01:27:25.479 --> 01:27:28.840 or another, and they were able to find a way to win said game, 1310 01:27:29.439 --> 01:27:33.479 and it was something that I thought was going to be prophetic by Jim 1311 01:27:33.600 --> 01:27:38.760 Nantz after the A and M win where he talked with Joseph d'Arte and a 1312 01:27:38.760 --> 01:27:44.760 few other reporters outside the Cougars locker room. There this is, you know, 1313 01:27:44.880 --> 01:27:47.640 a situation we've been in before where it's gone the complete opposite direction most 1314 01:27:47.640 --> 01:27:51.119 of us. I wasn't even born yet. Remember nineteen eighty three losing to 1315 01:27:51.199 --> 01:27:56.680 Jim Valvano and to NC State, Which how funny would that have been if 1316 01:27:57.439 --> 01:28:00.800 they would have played NC State in the Elite A. I mean, can 1317 01:28:00.800 --> 01:28:02.920 you imagine all of these storylines and everything that would have gone into that which 1318 01:28:03.279 --> 01:28:06.520 none of these kids were born in hell, some of their parents were probably 1319 01:28:06.760 --> 01:28:13.800 you know, in their single years in terms of the number of their age 1320 01:28:14.039 --> 01:28:18.319 at that point that might not even remember that time. But the Koug's just, 1321 01:28:18.479 --> 01:28:24.000 you know, they ran into a situation that was really untenable. They 1322 01:28:24.079 --> 01:28:27.319 ran out of gas and that happens, and it's unfortunately you lose a player 1323 01:28:27.319 --> 01:28:30.840 like Jamal shed it's going to hurt your team exponentially, and it did last 1324 01:28:30.920 --> 01:28:34.319 night. And if you had had Terrence Arsenow then you're in a different position 1325 01:28:34.359 --> 01:28:38.840 if you had had Jesse Tugler, maybe even in a different position. But 1326 01:28:39.680 --> 01:28:43.680 you can be nothing but proud of what they accomplished this season because it was 1327 01:28:43.800 --> 01:28:47.119 nothing short of amazing what they were able to do this year, and you 1328 01:28:47.159 --> 01:28:49.600 were hoping it was going to pay off with the national title at the end 1329 01:28:49.600 --> 01:28:53.960 of the season. But as Kelvin Sampson said, last night just wasn't our 1330 01:28:54.000 --> 01:28:57.199 time, and hopefully their time is coming. As long as he is leading 1331 01:28:57.199 --> 01:28:59.760 that program, I believe that you're on the right track to being able to 1332 01:28:59.840 --> 01:29:03.239 accomplished that goal because he, in my mind, is a guy that hasn't 1333 01:29:03.359 --> 01:29:09.520 just done it yet, and the keyword of that phrase is yet, because 1334 01:29:09.640 --> 01:29:13.800 I think that eventually they can get to that point under his leadership of that 1335 01:29:13.880 --> 01:29:16.520 program, because in just a short time it's amazing what he's been able to 1336 01:29:16.520 --> 01:29:20.720 build there over on Culin Boulevard. One to thank Adam Snyder behind the glass 1337 01:29:20.720 --> 01:29:24.439 doing a great job. As always, want to think all of you out 1338 01:29:24.439 --> 01:29:29.239 there as well. Again, I'll be on Astros on Deck and the tenth 1339 01:29:29.279 --> 01:29:32.119 Inning show Astros and Yankees coming up a little bit later on. Everybody enjoy 1340 01:29:32.199 --> 01:29:36.079 a beautiful Saturday afternoon here in the Age. We'll talk to you a little 1341 01:29:36.119 --> 01:29:39.359 bit later on right here on your home of the Astros and the Rockets, 1342 01:29:39.399 --> 01:29:42.119 Sports Talk seven to ninety. I'm Dan Matthews. Talk to you then,