WEBVTT 1 00:00:07.799 --> 00:00:11.919 Welcome aboard, Welcome to another Space City Saturday on Sports 2 00:00:11.919 --> 00:00:15.800 Talk seven ninety Dan Matthews Live and local h Town 3 00:00:15.960 --> 00:00:20.239 breakdown of the world that matters to you, the Houston 4 00:00:20.440 --> 00:00:21.559 sports world. 5 00:00:21.280 --> 00:00:23.960 All these great Houston fans here. We love you all. 6 00:00:25.600 --> 00:00:28.839 So finish up on that to do list. Slute up 7 00:00:28.920 --> 00:00:32.280 the cooler, because you can't drink in talk sports all 8 00:00:32.399 --> 00:00:35.439 day if you don't start. Now bear me the eight. 9 00:00:36.000 --> 00:00:38.159 This is Space City Saturday. 10 00:00:38.280 --> 00:00:38.960 It's insane. 11 00:00:40.119 --> 00:00:42.399 Here's seven nineties Dan Matthews. 12 00:00:43.799 --> 00:00:46.320 Oh, welcome inn, Welcome all, and the way we go 13 00:00:46.399 --> 00:00:50.960 here on Space City Saturday. Dan Matthews here with you 14 00:00:51.119 --> 00:00:54.079 on your home of the Astros and the Rockets Sports 15 00:00:54.079 --> 00:00:58.119 Talk seven ninety and obviously with the former team that 16 00:00:58.200 --> 00:01:00.679 I just talked about right there. I mean, what's happened 17 00:01:00.719 --> 00:01:02.679 in the last less than twenty four hours. 18 00:01:02.880 --> 00:01:03.159 Hmm. 19 00:01:03.679 --> 00:01:07.599 Yeah, it's kind of escaping my memory right now. But anyway, 20 00:01:07.799 --> 00:01:10.599 there is ton to get into on those guys. There's 21 00:01:10.640 --> 00:01:13.200 also a little bit to get into on the ladder 22 00:01:13.239 --> 00:01:15.719 team that I mentioned too, as well as we're gonna 23 00:01:15.719 --> 00:01:18.560 have Rockets basketball coming your way a little bit later 24 00:01:18.599 --> 00:01:22.840 on tonight. The play in round is in the past. 25 00:01:22.879 --> 00:01:23.120 Now. 26 00:01:23.239 --> 00:01:26.640 So now it's the play in tournament semifinals out there 27 00:01:26.680 --> 00:01:31.719 in Vegas, and know that we've got the obligatory Matt 28 00:01:31.760 --> 00:01:34.840 Thomas photo from the blackjack table, which I didn't want 29 00:01:34.879 --> 00:01:35.879 to out him at the. 30 00:01:35.879 --> 00:01:40.000 Time, but you're not supposed to do that. 31 00:01:41.040 --> 00:01:43.760 Usually if the casinos catch you doing that, then they 32 00:01:43.879 --> 00:01:46.280 either tell you don't do it again, or they just 33 00:01:46.319 --> 00:01:48.519 tell you, Sarah, pick up your checks, you're done for 34 00:01:48.560 --> 00:01:50.439 the night, and they throw you out. 35 00:01:50.560 --> 00:01:52.680 So Matt, you know, just fair warning there. 36 00:01:53.000 --> 00:01:56.519 Yeah, casinos get a little leery whenever the phones come out, 37 00:01:56.799 --> 00:01:59.159 especially if you're around the sports book or anywhere, although 38 00:02:00.560 --> 00:02:04.120 now they don't necessarily, you know, do that as much 39 00:02:04.200 --> 00:02:06.719 because you can get lines anywhere. I mean, it was 40 00:02:06.760 --> 00:02:10.319 pretty much in the days where you know, the gambling 41 00:02:10.360 --> 00:02:13.400 lines were not readily available to everyone out there. But 42 00:02:13.560 --> 00:02:16.280 I mean even in states that don't have legalized gambling, 43 00:02:16.680 --> 00:02:19.000 you can just google in you know, hey, what's the 44 00:02:19.039 --> 00:02:22.319 spread for Army Navy today, and you'll get about, you know, 45 00:02:22.479 --> 00:02:27.120 at least ninety different search results search results for you there. 46 00:02:27.199 --> 00:02:31.680 So anyway, I kid because I care for Matt, So anyway, 47 00:02:31.759 --> 00:02:35.560 Matt Thomas on the call tonight, yours truly bringing you 48 00:02:35.919 --> 00:02:39.199 Rockets launch pad a little bit later on, So we'll 49 00:02:39.199 --> 00:02:42.159 be having some fun talking some Rockets a little bit 50 00:02:42.439 --> 00:02:45.919 later on as they go for a chance to face 51 00:02:45.960 --> 00:02:50.479 whoever comes out of the Eastern Conference for the NBA 52 00:02:50.639 --> 00:02:54.000 playing tournaments. So last of the Lakers won, and that'd 53 00:02:54.000 --> 00:02:56.080 be interesting too, I think. I mean, I know it's 54 00:02:56.120 --> 00:02:58.280 kind of kart ahead of the horse here, but what 55 00:02:58.360 --> 00:03:01.479 if the Rockets win this thing, and what does the 56 00:03:01.599 --> 00:03:04.960 banner look like up there at you know, Toyota Center. 57 00:03:05.159 --> 00:03:07.120 I think if you're the Rockets and you win it, 58 00:03:07.599 --> 00:03:10.240 I think that maybe you just say, hey, we want it, 59 00:03:10.520 --> 00:03:14.159 and then I don't know, maybe put like something on 60 00:03:14.240 --> 00:03:16.759 the side of a girder or something like that to 61 00:03:16.840 --> 00:03:21.719 be like, hey, NBA playing tournament champions, yay. But that's 62 00:03:21.759 --> 00:03:24.439 about all that it really matters for So anyway, I 63 00:03:24.479 --> 00:03:26.680 don't think we need to have like a whole banner 64 00:03:26.719 --> 00:03:28.319 hoisting or anything like that. 65 00:03:28.800 --> 00:03:30.400 I think you could just probably. 66 00:03:30.000 --> 00:03:31.680 Do like the curtain in front of it and just 67 00:03:31.719 --> 00:03:34.879 be like, hey, Rockets won the NBA play and tournament, 68 00:03:34.960 --> 00:03:37.360 and we go about our business and hope this team 69 00:03:37.360 --> 00:03:40.280 makes the Western Conference playoffs this year. So I think 70 00:03:40.319 --> 00:03:43.400 that probably would be about all that's needed for that. 71 00:03:43.560 --> 00:03:46.080 So anyway, if the Rockets take care of business tonight 72 00:03:46.159 --> 00:03:50.280 against OKAC, they await the winner of the Hawks and 73 00:03:50.479 --> 00:03:52.840 the Bucks in that one. But we're not going to 74 00:03:52.879 --> 00:03:58.080 be talking too much Rockets for today's show because obviously, 75 00:03:58.120 --> 00:03:59.960 like I said at the beginning of the show, I mean, 76 00:04:00.159 --> 00:04:02.560 we're less than twenty four hours removed from. 77 00:04:02.719 --> 00:04:06.080 A move that did jar a few of you out there. 78 00:04:06.159 --> 00:04:09.159 But also too, I gotta say, I mean, I know 79 00:04:09.199 --> 00:04:12.960 that a lot of times in sports media, the immediate 80 00:04:13.000 --> 00:04:16.199 response from the media is to start doing the moral 81 00:04:16.240 --> 00:04:19.199 high ground, moral high horse kind of thing, and you know, 82 00:04:19.319 --> 00:04:22.360 chiding you the fans. But no, I'm actually gonna take 83 00:04:22.399 --> 00:04:24.560 a different tact. I think most of you out there 84 00:04:24.639 --> 00:04:26.879 got what Dana Brown was doing yesterday, and I think 85 00:04:27.000 --> 00:04:29.839 that most of you got what the Astros are trying 86 00:04:29.879 --> 00:04:32.560 to do. So for that, I applaud you. I'm proud 87 00:04:32.600 --> 00:04:36.319 of you for understanding that. Look, I mean, this kind 88 00:04:36.399 --> 00:04:38.120 this thing has kind of met a little bit of 89 00:04:38.160 --> 00:04:41.439 an impasse for this team at this moment. And with 90 00:04:41.560 --> 00:04:46.600 Kyle Tucker here, is this a ALS champion. Probably with 91 00:04:46.680 --> 00:04:48.639 Kyle Tucker here, do you have a chance to be 92 00:04:48.680 --> 00:04:52.959 able to reach the Alcs. Sure, probably, but it's also 93 00:04:53.040 --> 00:04:55.279 too I mean, and we'll hear from Dana Brown as 94 00:04:55.279 --> 00:04:58.720 the show goes along here today that there's many more 95 00:04:58.759 --> 00:05:01.959 moves to be made as well. I mean, they've already 96 00:05:02.040 --> 00:05:05.600 been pretty vocal about adding yet another bat to lineup. 97 00:05:06.120 --> 00:05:09.839 There are loose reports out there that the Astros are 98 00:05:09.839 --> 00:05:12.759 interested in Anthony Santander, and another report that I saw 99 00:05:12.800 --> 00:05:15.560 I believe it was John Hayman who had this that 100 00:05:15.680 --> 00:05:18.959 Santander would be looking for a five year deal. Oh boy, 101 00:05:19.079 --> 00:05:21.759 who is in the market of giving out five six 102 00:05:21.839 --> 00:05:22.399 year deals. 103 00:05:22.680 --> 00:05:24.639 I think it's a team that plays right here in Houston. 104 00:05:24.839 --> 00:05:27.920 So as of right now, I mean, Dana had a 105 00:05:27.959 --> 00:05:31.480 comment yesterday about the way the outfield would look right now. 106 00:05:32.759 --> 00:05:34.759 I'll just go ahead and just say it. 107 00:05:35.000 --> 00:05:37.639 In my opinion, and I think that my opinion is 108 00:05:37.639 --> 00:05:42.199 probably pretty oak solid in this regard. You won't have 109 00:05:42.319 --> 00:05:46.879 an outfield that has Chas McCormick, Jake Myers, McCormick and right, 110 00:05:46.959 --> 00:05:50.839 Myers and center and then a fill in kind of 111 00:05:50.920 --> 00:05:54.240 platoon situation out in left field. That's not going to happen. 112 00:05:54.319 --> 00:05:57.199 Somebody will be added. You will have a starting either 113 00:05:57.279 --> 00:05:59.639 right fielder or left fielder. I mean, I don't doubt 114 00:05:59.639 --> 00:06:02.519 that you probably will have an outfield that has at 115 00:06:02.560 --> 00:06:05.319 any given time both Myers and McCormick out there, because 116 00:06:05.399 --> 00:06:06.279 I mean the club. 117 00:06:06.040 --> 00:06:07.519 Is still very high on McCormick. 118 00:06:07.639 --> 00:06:11.399 And also too, I think that probably you know, last 119 00:06:11.480 --> 00:06:14.879 year was an audition for Myers, and even though the 120 00:06:14.920 --> 00:06:17.360 bat tailed off late in the season, I mean, he 121 00:06:17.480 --> 00:06:20.480 was still an elite outfield defender for you. I mean, 122 00:06:20.480 --> 00:06:23.120 the arm's not great, but in terms of him being 123 00:06:23.160 --> 00:06:24.720 able to go gap to gap and be able to 124 00:06:24.759 --> 00:06:27.360 run down baseballs, he's probably one of the best in 125 00:06:27.399 --> 00:06:30.120 baseball in that regard. So you hope that the bat 126 00:06:30.199 --> 00:06:32.879 does take a step forward this season. I think Myers 127 00:06:32.959 --> 00:06:35.720 is kind of in that same mold as Jeremy Pania, 128 00:06:35.839 --> 00:06:39.040 where you're just kind of like with both of those guys, like, hey, guys, 129 00:06:39.079 --> 00:06:41.160 give us just a little bit more with the bat, 130 00:06:41.240 --> 00:06:43.720 Like we know what the other parts of your game have, 131 00:06:44.279 --> 00:06:47.199 but a little bit more consistency with that part, and 132 00:06:47.399 --> 00:06:50.800 we're cope, asthetic, we're great, Like that would be outstanding 133 00:06:50.879 --> 00:06:53.839 if you were able to do that. So that's the 134 00:06:53.879 --> 00:06:55.480 part that I think a lot of people listened to 135 00:06:55.600 --> 00:06:58.360 yesterday and then also too, Dana, you know when we 136 00:06:58.439 --> 00:07:01.199 do get some of the audio here in the next segment, 137 00:07:01.759 --> 00:07:04.240 I mean, I think that he did a good job 138 00:07:04.279 --> 00:07:07.800 of kind of calming some fears yesterday of you know, 139 00:07:08.079 --> 00:07:11.680 there was the full on hysteria from some out there that's, 140 00:07:11.759 --> 00:07:15.040 oh my god, we're going towards twenty ten, eleven, twelve, 141 00:07:15.040 --> 00:07:17.639 and thirteen, and maybe even a little bit of fourteen 142 00:07:17.720 --> 00:07:20.720 all over again, although fourteen, I think for probably a 143 00:07:20.759 --> 00:07:22.680 lot of us was kind of like last year's Rocket 144 00:07:22.759 --> 00:07:26.480 season where we watched that team and you saw Springer 145 00:07:26.519 --> 00:07:29.519 come up and you knew that Korea wasn't too far 146 00:07:29.560 --> 00:07:30.319 around the corner. 147 00:07:30.759 --> 00:07:33.360 I think, if I'm not mistaken, was it that year 148 00:07:33.439 --> 00:07:34.759 or was it the year later. 149 00:07:34.560 --> 00:07:38.160 That Alex Bregman got drafted, and then, of course, oddly enough, 150 00:07:38.160 --> 00:07:40.720 in that same draft Kyle Tucker. So you continue to 151 00:07:40.720 --> 00:07:42.560 add on to that thing. But if nothing else, you 152 00:07:42.600 --> 00:07:45.240 at least saw, Okay, we're starting to get to that 153 00:07:45.319 --> 00:07:49.079 point where you will get these guys back, and you 154 00:07:49.160 --> 00:07:51.879 will start to get these guys into the fold, and 155 00:07:51.959 --> 00:07:54.439 we'll see if the scouting and development of this team 156 00:07:54.480 --> 00:07:57.360 really started to pay off and so a we'll have 157 00:07:57.360 --> 00:08:00.360 to see if that all comes to fruition. But anyway, though, 158 00:08:01.079 --> 00:08:04.399 I mean a interesting move made yesterday by the Astros 159 00:08:04.439 --> 00:08:07.000 that I think for the most part from people that 160 00:08:07.040 --> 00:08:10.000 I've talked with around baseball that you know, it's either 161 00:08:10.160 --> 00:08:14.639 prospect rankings or just those who you know, just look 162 00:08:14.680 --> 00:08:18.160 at overall, just values of trades that people believe. 163 00:08:18.199 --> 00:08:19.800 The Astros got a pretty good haul. 164 00:08:19.839 --> 00:08:22.759 Back for Kyle Tucker in this trade, and I think 165 00:08:22.800 --> 00:08:25.480 for the Cubs too, if nothing else from their perspective, 166 00:08:25.639 --> 00:08:28.160 it's number one. I mean, you just saw the Milwaukee 167 00:08:28.240 --> 00:08:31.399 Brewers trade away Devin Williams, and the other part as well, 168 00:08:31.560 --> 00:08:33.879 you know, all throughout baseball with some of these teams 169 00:08:34.200 --> 00:08:36.919 is I mean, while I understand that you want to 170 00:08:36.960 --> 00:08:40.600 be adding more than you're subtracting, especially to the front 171 00:08:40.639 --> 00:08:42.679 end guys on your team, but let's just go ahead 172 00:08:42.679 --> 00:08:44.360 and take a little bit of inventory right now of 173 00:08:44.360 --> 00:08:47.320 what's going on around baseball. The San Diego Padres a 174 00:08:47.320 --> 00:08:49.000 team that a lot of people thought was going to 175 00:08:49.039 --> 00:08:50.840 have a really good chance at making it to the 176 00:08:50.879 --> 00:08:54.919 World Series last year. Obviously, unfortunately for them, they ran 177 00:08:54.960 --> 00:08:57.559 into the eventual World champions last year and got alisted 178 00:08:57.600 --> 00:09:01.120 in the first round. But there's reports again with their 179 00:09:01.159 --> 00:09:04.480 TV deal issues that they're having out there. Of course, 180 00:09:04.519 --> 00:09:06.080 you know, with a lot of teams that have the 181 00:09:06.440 --> 00:09:11.200 Diamond Sports Group, the former Ballet Sports Entertainment or whatever 182 00:09:11.240 --> 00:09:13.960 you want to call them, and you know they've been. 183 00:09:13.879 --> 00:09:16.360 Having to dump their TV deals left and right. 184 00:09:16.639 --> 00:09:20.559 And the TV revenue is so massive in terms of 185 00:09:21.000 --> 00:09:24.080 what you're able to do in terms of your spending 186 00:09:24.159 --> 00:09:27.600 power and just the overall revenue structure for your team, 187 00:09:28.279 --> 00:09:32.759 and the Padres are reportedly dangling some key players out 188 00:09:32.799 --> 00:09:33.759 there on the trade market. 189 00:09:33.919 --> 00:09:35.320 I mean even the team too. 190 00:09:35.279 --> 00:09:38.799 As well, that you think is your biggest competitor in 191 00:09:38.840 --> 00:09:41.399 the American League West right now because of their pitching staff, 192 00:09:41.919 --> 00:09:44.000 the Seattle Mariners. I mean, for the life of me, 193 00:09:44.159 --> 00:09:46.639 what the hell is Jerry to Poto and the Mariners doing, 194 00:09:46.919 --> 00:09:50.519 Like you seriously are in position with that pitching staff 195 00:09:50.559 --> 00:09:53.799 to go get a couple of good bats in that lineup, 196 00:09:53.879 --> 00:09:57.120 and probably you do close that gap with the Astros. 197 00:09:57.440 --> 00:10:00.200 But then I'm seeing reports that Luis Castillo is being 198 00:10:00.279 --> 00:10:02.519 dangled out on the trade market, that the Red Sox 199 00:10:02.840 --> 00:10:04.720 want to try to get one of the front end 200 00:10:04.720 --> 00:10:08.519 starters for the Mariners, and the Mariners maybe might be 201 00:10:08.639 --> 00:10:11.559 interested in doing that deal. Like look, I just I 202 00:10:11.600 --> 00:10:13.960 bring up those examples to say to Astros fans that 203 00:10:14.039 --> 00:10:17.039 are freaking out right now, if you think it's bad, 204 00:10:17.279 --> 00:10:20.720 look around baseball, because I mean again too, you know 205 00:10:20.759 --> 00:10:23.759 I talked about the Milwaukee Brewers with the Cubs. I mean, 206 00:10:23.799 --> 00:10:26.759 the Brewers just trade away their closer, Devin Williams, and 207 00:10:27.240 --> 00:10:30.960 they lost Willia Damas as well, So I mean it 208 00:10:31.000 --> 00:10:32.080 could always be worse. 209 00:10:32.519 --> 00:10:33.600 And that's I. 210 00:10:33.559 --> 00:10:35.440 Think a little bit of the perspective that some of 211 00:10:35.480 --> 00:10:38.879 the Astros fans out there that you know, I saw 212 00:10:38.879 --> 00:10:40.840 it yesterday. I mean I even saw one too that 213 00:10:40.960 --> 00:10:45.360 somebody said that Jordan Jose Altuve and Yinar Diaz should 214 00:10:45.360 --> 00:10:48.120 request a trade, Like, come on, guys, what are we doing? 215 00:10:48.559 --> 00:10:50.759 Like you just added a front of the order, a 216 00:10:50.840 --> 00:10:54.320 middle of the order bat and eatzac peretis who has 217 00:10:54.360 --> 00:10:57.360 superior pull power? And what do you have at Minute 218 00:10:57.360 --> 00:10:59.600 Made Park? Oh yeah, that's right, the Crawford boxes out 219 00:10:59.600 --> 00:11:02.360 there and field. And I know that people were staring 220 00:11:02.399 --> 00:11:05.840 the spray charts yesterday of what you know he can 221 00:11:05.879 --> 00:11:08.919 do in terms of his power numbers. And I mean 222 00:11:09.000 --> 00:11:11.399 you saw the amount of home runs that would have 223 00:11:11.480 --> 00:11:13.799 been out at Minute Made Park had he played at 224 00:11:13.840 --> 00:11:17.840 Minute May Park. So that's a really good addition, was Nesky. 225 00:11:18.200 --> 00:11:20.440 I mean again, I think that Dana Brown kind of 226 00:11:20.440 --> 00:11:22.879 looks at that as a high upside pickup for the 227 00:11:22.919 --> 00:11:26.639 Astros that probably at the beginning will be slotted to 228 00:11:26.720 --> 00:11:31.000 be a fourth or fifth starter in this in this rotation. 229 00:11:31.200 --> 00:11:34.120 But look at the Astros track record too with bringing 230 00:11:34.120 --> 00:11:37.279 in pitchers and in cases like back in the day 231 00:11:37.320 --> 00:11:41.159 with Charlie Morton, I mean, they rejuvenated his career. Charlie 232 00:11:41.159 --> 00:11:44.159 Morton's career would not be continuing right now if he 233 00:11:44.200 --> 00:11:48.120 did not, you know, go through the Astros pitching system 234 00:11:48.159 --> 00:11:50.759 here with at the time Brent Strom, but a guy 235 00:11:50.759 --> 00:11:52.320 that was also part of it as well as your 236 00:11:52.320 --> 00:11:56.320 current pitching coach Josh Miller, and his career was I 237 00:11:56.360 --> 00:11:59.320 mean again put back on track, justin Berlander, the same 238 00:11:59.360 --> 00:12:02.720 deal you say, Kuci last year. So I mean trust 239 00:12:02.720 --> 00:12:05.639 the Astro system in what they have and they have 240 00:12:05.840 --> 00:12:10.559 an incredibly good scouting, research development, all of those parts 241 00:12:10.600 --> 00:12:13.600 of this organization that you know on top of it 242 00:12:13.639 --> 00:12:18.440 all too. I mean, is Dana Brown perfect as a GM, no, 243 00:12:18.759 --> 00:12:20.919 and if you're ever looking for a perfect GM, and 244 00:12:20.960 --> 00:12:23.399 I understand that a lot of you believe that Jeff 245 00:12:23.480 --> 00:12:25.440 Luna was that guy, and he was, but. 246 00:12:25.559 --> 00:12:28.159 Jeff Luna also had his missteps as well. 247 00:12:29.000 --> 00:12:31.960 The Carlos Gomez trade, I mean, you know, that's one 248 00:12:31.960 --> 00:12:34.519 that kind of comes to mind. So mistakes will be 249 00:12:34.519 --> 00:12:37.159 made along the way. Nobody bats a thousand in this game. 250 00:12:37.320 --> 00:12:40.519 But in terms of what the Astros did yesterday, I'm 251 00:12:40.559 --> 00:12:43.159 on full board with it. I mean, I am absolutely 252 00:12:43.240 --> 00:12:46.320 on board with this decision because I mean you also 253 00:12:46.320 --> 00:12:48.600 have to look at it from the perspective too as well, 254 00:12:49.159 --> 00:12:51.960 is you can continue doing the things that you're doing 255 00:12:52.080 --> 00:12:55.240 and get nothing in return. I mean, what you give 256 00:12:55.279 --> 00:12:57.960 him a qualifying offer, which he no doubt would decline, 257 00:12:58.000 --> 00:12:59.600 Probably the minute that it got in front of him, 258 00:12:59.600 --> 00:13:02.039 he'd declined, all right, fine, you get a draft pick 259 00:13:02.080 --> 00:13:04.120 if he leaves, Like, how does that help you? It 260 00:13:04.159 --> 00:13:04.879 doesn't help you. 261 00:13:05.399 --> 00:13:08.799 So I'm on. I'm absolutely in line with what the 262 00:13:08.840 --> 00:13:09.600 Astros did. 263 00:13:09.919 --> 00:13:12.639 I think that it was an incredibly right move for 264 00:13:12.679 --> 00:13:15.639 them to make, and it was an incredibly baseball savvy move, 265 00:13:15.759 --> 00:13:18.440 and I don't necessarily believe that it does signal to 266 00:13:18.480 --> 00:13:21.440 anybody that this is going to suck for a while, 267 00:13:21.639 --> 00:13:23.639 That's not the case. You know this is going to 268 00:13:23.759 --> 00:13:26.919 suck for a while is when you have a roster 269 00:13:27.279 --> 00:13:30.799 that has Carlo's Corporan and guys like that starting for you. 270 00:13:30.919 --> 00:13:34.720 I mean, no disrespect to Carlo's Corporon, but you don't. 271 00:13:34.440 --> 00:13:37.320 Have that issue right now as the Astros. 272 00:13:37.399 --> 00:13:39.879 So a little bit of patience, all right, and just 273 00:13:40.120 --> 00:13:42.519 a little bit of trust. This is an organization that 274 00:13:42.559 --> 00:13:44.399 has done things the right way for the better part 275 00:13:44.399 --> 00:13:46.000 of the last ten years, and. 276 00:13:45.919 --> 00:13:47.159 I think they'll continue to do that. 277 00:13:47.360 --> 00:13:50.759 So, you know, I get that yesterday kind of hurt. 278 00:13:51.200 --> 00:13:54.840 Kyle Tucker was a very beloved and a very popular 279 00:13:54.879 --> 00:13:58.279 player here in Houston, but also too at the same time, 280 00:13:58.519 --> 00:14:01.879 him moving on, I mean, it sucks you wish that 281 00:14:01.919 --> 00:14:03.879 he could have been here for the long haul. But 282 00:14:03.960 --> 00:14:06.600 I think also too, I mean, you know, again, this 283 00:14:06.679 --> 00:14:09.559 gets back to trusting Dana Brown. That move yesterday was 284 00:14:09.600 --> 00:14:13.519 being made with the express knowledge that they knew he's 285 00:14:13.519 --> 00:14:16.240 not going to sign long term here. And there's some 286 00:14:16.279 --> 00:14:18.200 other cuts that we need to get to as well 287 00:14:18.240 --> 00:14:18.960 from Dana Brown. 288 00:14:19.000 --> 00:14:21.399 So we'll do that coming up here. Also, to do. 289 00:14:21.399 --> 00:14:22.960 You want to get into a little bit of Texans 290 00:14:23.039 --> 00:14:25.120 conversation today on the show. 291 00:14:25.440 --> 00:14:27.840 But you know, in terms of guest. 292 00:14:27.519 --> 00:14:31.120 Wise, we will have a couple of recorded interviews that 293 00:14:31.559 --> 00:14:33.759 we have. One of them that I am going to 294 00:14:33.799 --> 00:14:36.519 have for you here in the bottom of this hour 295 00:14:37.120 --> 00:14:39.519 is a guest that joined me and Chris Gordy last 296 00:14:39.600 --> 00:14:43.639 night on the Nightcap, Bruce Levine from six seventy the 297 00:14:43.679 --> 00:14:47.399 Score in Chicago as well as he does some work 298 00:14:47.440 --> 00:14:50.919 on the TV side with Marquee Sports Network, so he 299 00:14:51.240 --> 00:14:54.240 is very in tune with what the Cubs are doing 300 00:14:54.279 --> 00:14:58.759 and just the overall day to day operations of the Cubs. 301 00:14:58.799 --> 00:15:01.000 So we're going to talk with Bruce. We're actually I 302 00:15:01.039 --> 00:15:02.960 gonna let you hear from Bruce again. He joined me 303 00:15:03.000 --> 00:15:05.519 and Gordy last night. So for some of you that 304 00:15:05.639 --> 00:15:08.840 might be feeling the Kyle Tucker Kyle Tucker blues in 305 00:15:08.919 --> 00:15:11.519 terms of him being traded away, I think that Bruce 306 00:15:11.600 --> 00:15:12.799 is going to make you feel a little bit more 307 00:15:12.799 --> 00:15:15.639 optimistic after you hear him talk about what is coming 308 00:15:15.639 --> 00:15:16.720 back to the Astros. 309 00:15:16.960 --> 00:15:18.639 As well as a little. 310 00:15:18.399 --> 00:15:21.559 Bit later on the show, Chandler Rome from the Athletic 311 00:15:21.679 --> 00:15:24.480 joined the A team yesterday, so definitely want to get 312 00:15:24.480 --> 00:15:27.840 that into the fold. We'll get into some Texans Dolphins 313 00:15:27.919 --> 00:15:30.519 as well. I mean, a huge game tomorrow for the Texans, 314 00:15:30.559 --> 00:15:33.720 and this next three three game stretch for the Texans 315 00:15:33.799 --> 00:15:36.360 is a massive one up for them as well, and 316 00:15:36.360 --> 00:15:39.399 it starts tomorrow against Miami over at NRG Stadium. So 317 00:15:39.440 --> 00:15:42.000 we'll cut into that just a little bit as well. 318 00:15:42.360 --> 00:15:44.159 And I also want to get you involved on the 319 00:15:44.159 --> 00:15:46.919 phone lines. If you want to jump aboard, please do so. 320 00:15:47.039 --> 00:15:49.200 Semon one three two one two five seven ninety. Once 321 00:15:49.240 --> 00:15:52.039 again that se one three two one two five seven 322 00:15:52.360 --> 00:15:55.519 nine zero. But coming up next. I think that yesterday 323 00:15:55.600 --> 00:15:58.720 signaled to some of you and it is learned behavior 324 00:15:59.559 --> 00:16:03.320 that are going to only get worse. But actually I 325 00:16:03.320 --> 00:16:06.279 think that it's about lessons being learned, and I'll explain 326 00:16:06.320 --> 00:16:08.399 that on the other side when we come back here 327 00:16:08.440 --> 00:16:11.200 on Space City Saturday. It's Dan Matthews here with you 328 00:16:11.320 --> 00:16:13.759 until noon on your home of the Astros in the Rockets. 329 00:16:13.799 --> 00:16:14.720 Sports Talk seven. 330 00:16:14.639 --> 00:16:30.519 Ninety Space City Saturday continues Sports Talk seven ninety. 331 00:16:26.519 --> 00:16:29.440 Sports Talk seven ninety Space City Saturday. You know, I 332 00:16:29.480 --> 00:16:31.840 have a buddy of mine in the business who is 333 00:16:32.200 --> 00:16:34.679 a massive Elvis fan As a matter of fact, he's 334 00:16:34.679 --> 00:16:38.480 written three books about the King, and he has a saying, well, 335 00:16:38.480 --> 00:16:41.960 now there's forty seven presidents at least after January twentieth, 336 00:16:42.240 --> 00:16:46.960 but his line was forty seven presidents, one king, and yeah, 337 00:16:47.200 --> 00:16:49.399 I understand that some of you probably are feeling a 338 00:16:49.440 --> 00:16:53.039 little bit down right now, but you know, I think 339 00:16:53.039 --> 00:16:55.879 that there's reasons still to stay optimistic, and we'll get 340 00:16:55.879 --> 00:16:58.559 into that here in just a second before I get 341 00:16:58.559 --> 00:17:02.559 into more of the Astro conversation here. I guess this 342 00:17:02.679 --> 00:17:05.599 kind of goes in line with the concern that maybe 343 00:17:05.640 --> 00:17:09.039 the Astros will not bring back Alex Bregman. But Chandler 344 00:17:09.079 --> 00:17:13.160 Rome of the Athletic throwing out a report just actually 345 00:17:13.200 --> 00:17:17.279 about thirty minutes ago that the Astros have emerged as 346 00:17:17.640 --> 00:17:22.319 serious suitors to add Nolan Aernato through the trade markets. 347 00:17:22.400 --> 00:17:26.400 So we'll see what that entails. I mean, Aeronato a 348 00:17:26.440 --> 00:17:29.720 guy that is as his career has gone along the 349 00:17:29.799 --> 00:17:32.079 bat and the power has kind of dipped a little bit, 350 00:17:32.279 --> 00:17:37.079 but the fielding is still incredibly strong for him, So 351 00:17:37.559 --> 00:17:40.759 we'll see if indeed that does materialize over the weekend 352 00:17:40.839 --> 00:17:42.960 or maybe even early next week. I mean, he heard 353 00:17:43.359 --> 00:17:47.599 Dana Brown yesterday when we played his press availability talking 354 00:17:47.599 --> 00:17:51.519 about that within the next week the Astros would solidify 355 00:17:51.559 --> 00:17:54.240 going out to get another middle of the order bat 356 00:17:54.519 --> 00:17:56.480 and it'll be interesting to see if there would be 357 00:17:56.480 --> 00:17:59.640 anybody else after that, because, like I've said, I really 358 00:17:59.640 --> 00:18:03.440 strong only do not believe that your starting outfield is 359 00:18:03.480 --> 00:18:08.000 going to be Chas McCormick out and right and Jake 360 00:18:08.079 --> 00:18:11.440 Myer's out in center. I think that, And then the 361 00:18:11.480 --> 00:18:13.480 part that really I don't think we're going to be 362 00:18:13.519 --> 00:18:16.359 seeing is deep platoon out there and left field. 363 00:18:16.400 --> 00:18:17.599 That's not a competitive team. 364 00:18:17.720 --> 00:18:19.480 I mean, I think that you do need to go 365 00:18:19.480 --> 00:18:22.839 get somebody that can be an every day starting outfielder 366 00:18:22.880 --> 00:18:25.599 for you and also to be able to kind of 367 00:18:26.039 --> 00:18:29.599 mix and match and rotate, and sometimes Jordan Alvarez is 368 00:18:29.599 --> 00:18:32.880 out and left. I think that probably that is what 369 00:18:33.160 --> 00:18:36.119 eventually you're going to see, but we shall see. So 370 00:18:36.480 --> 00:18:38.599 I gonna let you hear from Dana Brown here in 371 00:18:38.680 --> 00:18:41.039 just a second, But I do want to talk to 372 00:18:41.279 --> 00:18:43.960 the fans. Like I said that yesterday, we're pretty upset 373 00:18:44.039 --> 00:18:47.079 with both Dana Brown even saw Jim Crane starting to 374 00:18:47.079 --> 00:18:50.200 get some strays out there, and you know, the thought 375 00:18:50.319 --> 00:18:54.119 that this is signaling kind of the offloading that the 376 00:18:54.160 --> 00:18:59.119 Astros did starting in about twenty ten. It kind of 377 00:18:59.160 --> 00:19:02.160 ramped up a little bit in twenty eleven, and in 378 00:19:02.400 --> 00:19:05.160 twenty twelve was when you started to see Hunter Pence 379 00:19:05.200 --> 00:19:08.279 traded away. I think that was twelve Pence traded away, 380 00:19:08.839 --> 00:19:12.680 roy Oswalt traded away, and just kind of the beginning 381 00:19:12.680 --> 00:19:16.799 of the end for this Astros organization in terms of 382 00:19:16.920 --> 00:19:19.799 that competitive window they had after they made the World. 383 00:19:19.519 --> 00:19:21.000 Series in two thousand and five. 384 00:19:21.200 --> 00:19:25.000 But I actually think that yesterday's trade was trying to 385 00:19:25.079 --> 00:19:28.000 avoid that because let me take you back to those times. 386 00:19:28.519 --> 00:19:30.799 Can we be honest with ourselves that the two thousand 387 00:19:30.839 --> 00:19:33.759 and five team, I mean, did have an outstanding pitching 388 00:19:33.799 --> 00:19:37.680 staff with Clemens Pettit Oswalt and what they were able 389 00:19:37.720 --> 00:19:40.640 to do in that postseason run, and also to the 390 00:19:40.680 --> 00:19:43.599 back end of the bullpen with lydge Qualls, Dan Wheeler 391 00:19:44.119 --> 00:19:47.400 and that group that it was a huge part of 392 00:19:47.440 --> 00:19:50.119 what propelled that team to go from being fifteen and 393 00:19:50.279 --> 00:19:53.480 thirty to all the way to winning a wild card spot, 394 00:19:53.599 --> 00:19:56.160 getting in beating the Braves in that opening round of 395 00:19:56.200 --> 00:19:59.240 the Division Series, and then going to the LCS and 396 00:19:59.279 --> 00:20:02.440 getting revenge against the Cardinals team that the year before 397 00:20:02.720 --> 00:20:05.440 had broken your hearts with Carlos Beltron and crew, and 398 00:20:05.480 --> 00:20:08.240 you kind of thought to yourself, Man, that two thousand 399 00:20:08.279 --> 00:20:10.880 and four team, I mean, I look, I mean it's 400 00:20:10.880 --> 00:20:12.640 one of those that if you want to hop back 401 00:20:12.680 --> 00:20:15.359 into the time machine and a team that could have 402 00:20:15.440 --> 00:20:18.200 put together a hell of a world series. That Astros 403 00:20:18.279 --> 00:20:20.200 Red Sox World Series would have been awesome. 404 00:20:20.640 --> 00:20:22.240 That would have been amazing to have watched. But we 405 00:20:22.240 --> 00:20:22.799 didn't get that. 406 00:20:23.000 --> 00:20:25.920 So the following year it was a little bit of 407 00:20:25.960 --> 00:20:28.880 a mix and match a little bit for the Astros. 408 00:20:28.920 --> 00:20:31.720 I mean, you had Morgan Ensburg having a career year, 409 00:20:31.759 --> 00:20:33.680 you had Jason Lane having a hell of a year 410 00:20:34.119 --> 00:20:34.799 Mike Lamb. 411 00:20:35.200 --> 00:20:36.480 But I say all of that. 412 00:20:36.440 --> 00:20:41.200 To say that that was not a long term sustainable 413 00:20:41.279 --> 00:20:45.319 competitive model. So the Astros I think kind of kitted 414 00:20:45.319 --> 00:20:49.559 themselves into believing that, hey, we can continue to stay competitive. 415 00:20:49.599 --> 00:20:51.920 Here is Carlos Lee, that was a bad trade, that 416 00:20:51.960 --> 00:20:55.839 was a bad signing, Here's Miguel ta Hatta did some 417 00:20:55.880 --> 00:20:58.640 good things, but for the most part, it was a 418 00:20:58.680 --> 00:21:01.359 shell of what mcguilta hat was doing his heyday with 419 00:21:01.920 --> 00:21:05.759 the Oakland a's and I mean, you know here and there, 420 00:21:05.960 --> 00:21:09.680 you know Yvonne Rodriguez, pud Rodriguez is here, and just 421 00:21:10.119 --> 00:21:13.319 all these other players that at a time had really. 422 00:21:13.039 --> 00:21:16.400 Good, productive years, but that was not the case at 423 00:21:16.440 --> 00:21:16.920 the end. 424 00:21:17.319 --> 00:21:19.359 And I think that they just kind of were trying 425 00:21:19.359 --> 00:21:21.640 to build this thing on the fly without any real 426 00:21:21.720 --> 00:21:25.880 foundation underneath them. The difference this time is there is 427 00:21:25.920 --> 00:21:28.920 a foundation underneath you. And if you look back to 428 00:21:28.960 --> 00:21:31.559 that time, there's no way that Kyle Tucker would have 429 00:21:31.559 --> 00:21:34.359 been traded yesterday, and you would have seen Kyle Tucker 430 00:21:34.480 --> 00:21:38.160 leave after next season, and this team probably would have 431 00:21:38.279 --> 00:21:40.640 been even further behind the eight ball than they are 432 00:21:40.759 --> 00:21:43.799 right now. But with the move made yesterday, I believe 433 00:21:43.799 --> 00:21:46.480 that it's signals that not only are you going to 434 00:21:46.519 --> 00:21:50.200 remain competitive, you're also too going to put yourself in 435 00:21:50.240 --> 00:21:53.000 position to keep this thing going for the next few 436 00:21:53.079 --> 00:21:55.160 years and be able to get the best out of 437 00:21:55.200 --> 00:21:58.000 the final years of Jose L TV in the best 438 00:21:58.119 --> 00:22:00.880 out of the years that you've got your Alvarez here, 439 00:22:00.920 --> 00:22:04.119 which he's still here for a remarkable amount of time. 440 00:22:04.160 --> 00:22:05.920 I think at least three more years are still left 441 00:22:05.920 --> 00:22:08.519 on his deals, so you still get really good years 442 00:22:08.519 --> 00:22:10.880 out of your non Alvarez. So this is a good 443 00:22:11.039 --> 00:22:15.519 competitive organization at this point. In Dana Brown talking yesterday 444 00:22:15.640 --> 00:22:18.759 with the media, as Melvin had told you, it's cut 445 00:22:18.839 --> 00:22:22.480 number nine, we'll start with as he talked about. 446 00:22:22.240 --> 00:22:22.920 That very thing. 447 00:22:23.000 --> 00:22:24.759 I mean, we've heard him Crane say it in the 448 00:22:24.759 --> 00:22:27.160 past that as long as he's here, the window will 449 00:22:27.200 --> 00:22:30.799 never close. Well, Dana Brown going along that same talking 450 00:22:30.839 --> 00:22:33.559 point and saying, yeah, we're going to remain competitive. 451 00:22:34.240 --> 00:22:35.319 Yeah, make my mistake. 452 00:22:35.440 --> 00:22:39.200 You know, sometimes in all sports this is just not 453 00:22:39.240 --> 00:22:43.839 only in baseball. Sometimes there's an opportunity where you trade 454 00:22:43.839 --> 00:22:46.880 a really good player to get back multiple pieces and 455 00:22:46.960 --> 00:22:50.640 it doesn't affect that current calendar year, and then you 456 00:22:50.720 --> 00:22:53.119 have a chance to be even better in the future. 457 00:22:53.559 --> 00:22:55.759 And so you know, I feel like this is one 458 00:22:55.839 --> 00:22:59.400 of those moves. The windows definitely still open. I mean, 459 00:22:59.440 --> 00:23:02.079 we have a room, really good rotation. Our infield is 460 00:23:02.119 --> 00:23:05.160 going to be good. Our you know, we got to 461 00:23:05.319 --> 00:23:07.680 we have a good catcher, Our bullpen is still going 462 00:23:07.759 --> 00:23:08.160 to be good. 463 00:23:08.240 --> 00:23:10.640 Look, they make no mistake, We're still going to compete. 464 00:23:11.000 --> 00:23:13.720 And this is probably one of those moves that I 465 00:23:13.759 --> 00:23:18.480 think in the future people will people will see and understand, like, yeah, wow, 466 00:23:18.519 --> 00:23:19.240 I understand it. 467 00:23:19.319 --> 00:23:19.519 Now. 468 00:23:19.559 --> 00:23:20.039 I get it. 469 00:23:20.440 --> 00:23:23.000 And even though it's tough, it's tough in that first 470 00:23:23.079 --> 00:23:26.119 year to stomach because Kyle Tucker has had such a 471 00:23:26.119 --> 00:23:27.160 great career here. 472 00:23:27.519 --> 00:23:29.079 He's such an outstanding player. 473 00:23:29.160 --> 00:23:32.480 He's played on some really good teams, he won a championship, 474 00:23:32.759 --> 00:23:35.480 and so all that can be true at one time, 475 00:23:35.640 --> 00:23:38.640 and so I would say that, you know, this is 476 00:23:38.759 --> 00:23:44.799 more to strengthen our opportunities down the road without losing 477 00:23:44.880 --> 00:23:46.680 any footage in the current year. 478 00:23:49.039 --> 00:23:49.680 And there you go. 479 00:23:49.839 --> 00:23:52.920 I mean, Dana Brown talking about exactly what I think 480 00:23:52.960 --> 00:23:55.039 he's been saying ever since. I mean, you know, he 481 00:23:55.200 --> 00:23:57.480 was asked that at the winter meetings, I think it 482 00:23:57.599 --> 00:24:00.480 was either Kyle Tucker or Alex Braig not part of 483 00:24:00.519 --> 00:24:03.680 this organization, can you still win the American League West? 484 00:24:03.720 --> 00:24:06.480 And his answer was yes, I truly believe we can. 485 00:24:06.759 --> 00:24:09.039 And right now, I mean, we'll see what happens with 486 00:24:09.920 --> 00:24:13.200 the Nolan Aernado situation. I mean, you have seen some 487 00:24:13.279 --> 00:24:15.359 of you reacting to the report out there. Well, wait 488 00:24:15.359 --> 00:24:18.319 a minute, the Astros were not on his list. I 489 00:24:18.400 --> 00:24:21.200 honestly think that if you came to Nolan Aernado with 490 00:24:21.240 --> 00:24:24.119 this situation, and he looked at this team and saw, yeah, 491 00:24:24.160 --> 00:24:28.519 I could you know, bat around Jose Altuve and Jordan Alvarez, 492 00:24:28.599 --> 00:24:30.759 Yitzak Perettis and Jiner Diaz. 493 00:24:30.880 --> 00:24:32.079 That's a pretty solid group. 494 00:24:32.119 --> 00:24:33.640 That's a group that has a chance to be able 495 00:24:33.680 --> 00:24:36.359 to get into the postseason and cause some damage. 496 00:24:36.680 --> 00:24:38.119 Absolutely I want to be a part of that. 497 00:24:38.319 --> 00:24:41.079 So I don't think that it's going to be necessarily 498 00:24:41.119 --> 00:24:45.119 a huge ask in terms of you getting him to 499 00:24:45.640 --> 00:24:48.200 waive his no trade clause and accept this trade. But 500 00:24:48.519 --> 00:24:51.000 I mean, only time will tell, And obviously I think 501 00:24:51.039 --> 00:24:55.000 the Astros, with Chandler's reporting, I think would be interested 502 00:24:55.000 --> 00:24:57.480 in this deal if indeed they knew that it was 503 00:24:57.640 --> 00:25:00.039 the right move for them to make, both from a 504 00:25:00.039 --> 00:25:02.640 financial standpoint, but also too from a guy that can 505 00:25:02.680 --> 00:25:05.160 come in and be a huge part of this clubhouse 506 00:25:05.480 --> 00:25:07.920 and a huge part of this team. So we'll see 507 00:25:07.960 --> 00:25:10.720 if indeed that as the other huge move the Astros 508 00:25:10.799 --> 00:25:13.599 make this off season. One other thing too, that I 509 00:25:13.640 --> 00:25:16.839 thought was interesting yesterday from Dana Brown when he met 510 00:25:16.880 --> 00:25:20.079 with the media is he was asked about, you know, 511 00:25:20.119 --> 00:25:22.799 the trade of Kyle Tucker and you know, the ongoing 512 00:25:22.839 --> 00:25:26.559 negotiations with Alex Bregman if he feels like that this 513 00:25:26.680 --> 00:25:29.440 trade kind of signals to the clubhouse that if you're 514 00:25:29.440 --> 00:25:32.640 looking for a long term, high money extension with the Astros, 515 00:25:32.960 --> 00:25:34.599 it's probably not going to happen. 516 00:25:34.720 --> 00:25:37.119 Dana Brown does not see that being the case. 517 00:25:38.480 --> 00:25:40.799 I don't think that this sends them the wrong message. 518 00:25:40.839 --> 00:25:43.400 I mean, these these type of things happen in sports. 519 00:25:43.400 --> 00:25:46.039 As I mentioned before, these type of things happen in 520 00:25:46.079 --> 00:25:50.519 sports enough that you know that, look, sometimes you know 521 00:25:50.640 --> 00:25:51.720 clubs will. 522 00:25:51.519 --> 00:25:54.599 Make a trade with one of their big, big chips and. 523 00:25:55.079 --> 00:25:58.440 Trying to bring in more to reinforce the and sustained 524 00:25:58.759 --> 00:25:59.599 long term winning. 525 00:26:01.640 --> 00:26:02.480 All Right, there you go. 526 00:26:02.599 --> 00:26:06.319 So Dana Brown talking about what this says to the 527 00:26:06.480 --> 00:26:08.559 arrest of the clubhouse, I think, if nothing else, I mean, 528 00:26:08.559 --> 00:26:10.359 what he's trying to say at the clubhouse is, look, 529 00:26:10.519 --> 00:26:12.440 I mean, it might look a little bit different, but 530 00:26:12.920 --> 00:26:14.759 this is still a team that's going to have players 531 00:26:14.799 --> 00:26:16.440 in that room that can be able to help this 532 00:26:16.519 --> 00:26:20.680 team win and get back even further into the postseason 533 00:26:20.720 --> 00:26:23.599 next year. So only time will tell if indeed that 534 00:26:23.680 --> 00:26:25.400 is the case. I mean, you do have to feel 535 00:26:25.400 --> 00:26:28.079 good about the rotation Brown. Yesterday, I thought it was 536 00:26:28.079 --> 00:26:31.240 pretty interesting when he was asked about fromber Valdez, seeing 537 00:26:31.279 --> 00:26:34.119 that they'll evaluate as the season goes along and maybe 538 00:26:34.160 --> 00:26:36.680 even start some of those conversations with him about hey, 539 00:26:36.680 --> 00:26:39.519 do you want to stay here long term or also too, 540 00:26:39.759 --> 00:26:41.519 I mean, if it gets to a certain point where 541 00:26:41.519 --> 00:26:45.039 you look at frober Valdez and stay, yeah, maybe not 542 00:26:45.119 --> 00:26:47.200 going to be somebody that we want to count on 543 00:26:47.319 --> 00:26:49.599 for the front of our rotation going forward, and maybe 544 00:26:49.599 --> 00:26:52.400 that's a trade possibility during the season, but it doesn't 545 00:26:52.400 --> 00:26:54.359 sound like that's going to be the case right now. 546 00:26:55.160 --> 00:26:57.799 I think unless somebody comes along and just really blows 547 00:26:57.799 --> 00:27:01.279 the Astros away with a trade proposal for him, which 548 00:27:01.480 --> 00:27:04.079 I think probably would have already happened at this point, 549 00:27:04.119 --> 00:27:06.519 because I mean, you know, you hear Dana Brown say 550 00:27:06.519 --> 00:27:11.160 it all the time that there is not a you 551 00:27:11.200 --> 00:27:13.599 can never have a shortage of pitching, and I think 552 00:27:13.599 --> 00:27:17.119 that every single organization in baseball looks at the same way. 553 00:27:17.319 --> 00:27:19.799 So I mean, I think that probably you would have had, 554 00:27:20.119 --> 00:27:23.279 you know, teams coming to the Astros pretty quickly about Valdez, 555 00:27:23.319 --> 00:27:25.680 because I mean, he is, in every sense of the word, 556 00:27:25.680 --> 00:27:28.480 in front of the rotation. Guy has his postseasons necessarily 557 00:27:28.480 --> 00:27:30.920 been great the past couple of years now they haven't been, 558 00:27:31.400 --> 00:27:33.160 but still he's a guy that you can count on 559 00:27:33.200 --> 00:27:37.200 to be a probably solid number two, number three in 560 00:27:37.480 --> 00:27:39.960 your rotation, and the Astros are asking him to be 561 00:27:40.000 --> 00:27:42.440 the ace of their staff right now, so we'll see 562 00:27:42.599 --> 00:27:45.599 if he is able to kind of close the gap 563 00:27:45.640 --> 00:27:48.920 on the postseason part of it here going forward. But 564 00:27:49.400 --> 00:27:52.359 as for now, this is an Astros club that is 565 00:27:52.400 --> 00:27:55.640 going to remain competitive, at least according to Dana Brown, 566 00:27:55.880 --> 00:27:57.880 and I have to agree with him too. With the 567 00:27:57.880 --> 00:28:01.680 foundation of players that you have here and the players 568 00:28:01.720 --> 00:28:03.920 that are going to be going forward with this team, 569 00:28:04.240 --> 00:28:06.480 I do think that we are not going to see 570 00:28:06.519 --> 00:28:11.400 a significant drop off from this organization anytime soon. All Right, 571 00:28:11.440 --> 00:28:14.519 what are the Astros getting back in return for Kyle 572 00:28:14.599 --> 00:28:17.119 Tucker in the trade? If you missed it last night 573 00:28:17.240 --> 00:28:20.440 when Bruce Levine joined us on the nightcap with me 574 00:28:20.599 --> 00:28:22.599 and Gordy, I'm gonna give you a chance to be 575 00:28:22.599 --> 00:28:25.519 able to hear that visit because I think Astros fans, 576 00:28:25.640 --> 00:28:27.720 at least the ones who are on the pessimistic side 577 00:28:27.799 --> 00:28:30.920 right now, might start to kind of tip that needle 578 00:28:31.000 --> 00:28:34.119 over to the optimistic side. When you hear about three 579 00:28:34.119 --> 00:28:36.799 players the Astros are getting. In return, we'll hear from 580 00:28:36.799 --> 00:28:39.920 Bruce next right here on Space City Saturday. I'm Dan 581 00:28:40.000 --> 00:28:42.279 Matthews here on your home with the Astros in the 582 00:28:42.359 --> 00:28:44.319 Rockets Sports Talk seven ninety. 583 00:28:46.200 --> 00:28:50.039 It's Space City Saturday one, Sports Talk seven night. 584 00:28:50.039 --> 00:28:50.200 Here. 585 00:28:51.000 --> 00:28:53.079 You know, the studio is, hey, let's bring it in 586 00:28:53.240 --> 00:28:56.200 Paul McCartney to do a Christmas song, and then the 587 00:28:56.279 --> 00:28:58.160 executives go back and listen to it. One of the 588 00:28:58.160 --> 00:29:02.839 guys is like, but I love this song. I like it. 589 00:29:02.559 --> 00:29:04.480 It's one that always puts me in a good mood. 590 00:29:04.640 --> 00:29:07.799 So anyway, I know that not everybody is on board 591 00:29:07.839 --> 00:29:10.279 with it, and that's fine. Hey, look you like it, 592 00:29:11.119 --> 00:29:13.480 and if I just like it, then no worries and 593 00:29:13.599 --> 00:29:14.359 the other way around. 594 00:29:14.440 --> 00:29:14.920 There you go. 595 00:29:15.119 --> 00:29:20.960 So we'll see how things move on with the Christmas season. 596 00:29:20.960 --> 00:29:22.519 As I know a lot of you out there with 597 00:29:22.799 --> 00:29:25.759 the football season kind of winding down a little bit, 598 00:29:25.799 --> 00:29:27.799 probably out there doing a little bit of Christmas shopping. 599 00:29:27.799 --> 00:29:30.839 So if you're doing so listening along, appreciate you doing so. 600 00:29:31.240 --> 00:29:34.599 But also too, if you missed last night's conversation that 601 00:29:34.680 --> 00:29:37.680 me and Chris Cordy had with six seventy the scores, 602 00:29:37.839 --> 00:29:40.559 Bruce Levine, Gonna give you a chance to be able 603 00:29:40.559 --> 00:29:43.160 to hear that right now, because we had a really 604 00:29:43.200 --> 00:29:45.839 good visit with the man that works for six seventy 605 00:29:45.880 --> 00:29:48.440 the Score and also with the Marquee Sports Network. 606 00:29:48.480 --> 00:29:51.160 Let's listen to that visit right now. The Astros did 607 00:29:51.160 --> 00:29:52.119 some business. 608 00:29:51.720 --> 00:29:54.960 Today with the Chicago Cubs and a man who covers 609 00:29:55.000 --> 00:29:58.240 that club very closely with six seventy the score up 610 00:29:58.279 --> 00:30:02.039 there in Chicago. He is Bruce Levine, and he joins 611 00:30:02.119 --> 00:30:04.240 us here, Bruce, appreciate your time to night. You got myself, 612 00:30:04.279 --> 00:30:07.440 Dan Matthews, you got Chris Gordy with you here on 613 00:30:07.559 --> 00:30:09.400 the flagship home of the Astros. 614 00:30:10.000 --> 00:30:11.119 Let's just start off first. 615 00:30:11.119 --> 00:30:13.720 I mean, you know, I'm sure that probably you, like 616 00:30:13.799 --> 00:30:16.799 many around the game, you kind of had your intenta 617 00:30:16.920 --> 00:30:19.240 up a little bit with this, and you'd probably seen 618 00:30:19.279 --> 00:30:21.880 the rumors that the Cubs were one of the teams 619 00:30:21.880 --> 00:30:25.640 that seemingly was involved in the possible trade scenario for 620 00:30:25.839 --> 00:30:28.559 Kyle Tucker. But when it finally went through, what was 621 00:30:28.599 --> 00:30:30.119 the reaction up there, I mean, was a little bit 622 00:30:30.160 --> 00:30:33.200 of surprise. Was it kind of like, Okay, hey, we're 623 00:30:33.200 --> 00:30:35.240 actually gonna have an okay off season up here. 624 00:30:35.039 --> 00:30:35.680 Like what was it? 625 00:30:37.359 --> 00:30:39.240 Well, we started to report from. 626 00:30:39.160 --> 00:30:42.240 The winter meetings that the Astros and Cubs were in 627 00:30:42.279 --> 00:30:43.440 conversations and. 628 00:30:43.359 --> 00:30:46.599 That Tucker was the object. 629 00:30:46.720 --> 00:30:50.559 And it seemed that with one year left on his contract, 630 00:30:51.079 --> 00:30:55.160 the Astros were not engaging in any long term contract 631 00:30:55.200 --> 00:30:59.440 with him and therefore they were not interested in just keeping. 632 00:30:59.279 --> 00:31:01.519 Him for one more year before he left. 633 00:31:02.079 --> 00:31:07.519 And the Cubs, who desperately needed a all star type player, 634 00:31:07.640 --> 00:31:12.200 left handed hitter with power and outstanding outfielder, somebody to 635 00:31:12.279 --> 00:31:16.559 really solidify their lineup, they pounced and they gave up. 636 00:31:17.279 --> 00:31:19.559 They gave up three really good players for him, and 637 00:31:19.599 --> 00:31:21.759 I know you want to talk about all of them 638 00:31:21.799 --> 00:31:24.599 at some point, but the people here in Chicago are 639 00:31:24.640 --> 00:31:29.920 thrilled they have a star player like Kyle Tucker, who 640 00:31:29.960 --> 00:31:33.160 is considered in Baseball circle to be one of the 641 00:31:33.160 --> 00:31:35.200 most underrated stars in the game. 642 00:31:37.079 --> 00:31:40.559 Yeah, versus it's a fine line right between. You know, 643 00:31:40.960 --> 00:31:43.160 he's going to be a free agent after this year, 644 00:31:43.359 --> 00:31:47.759 so obviously you don't have too much leverage, but you know, 645 00:31:47.799 --> 00:31:50.000 a little bit of a bidding war with multiple teams 646 00:31:50.039 --> 00:31:53.079 interested in him, so you know, the Astros are tasked 647 00:31:53.119 --> 00:31:56.200 with getting the most they could. I've seen some fans 648 00:31:56.200 --> 00:31:58.680 saying they didn't get enough. I know Suzuki's name was 649 00:31:58.759 --> 00:32:00.720 kind of thrown out there, but you are kind of 650 00:32:00.759 --> 00:32:02.519 stuck between a rock and a hard place, because as 651 00:32:02.559 --> 00:32:04.880 good as this player is, at the end of the day, 652 00:32:04.920 --> 00:32:07.359 it could just be a one year rental. So evaluate 653 00:32:07.440 --> 00:32:09.920 kind of just what they get what the Cubs gave up. 654 00:32:10.359 --> 00:32:13.160 Freddy Astros fan who might be thinking that it wasn't enough. 655 00:32:14.039 --> 00:32:17.000 Well, you have a pool hitter with a tremendous amount 656 00:32:17.000 --> 00:32:20.680 of power in parades the third basement, and he was 657 00:32:20.720 --> 00:32:23.680 an All Star for Tampa before being traded at the 658 00:32:23.680 --> 00:32:26.920 deadline to the Cubs. He never got on track with 659 00:32:27.039 --> 00:32:30.359 the Cubs. A Wrigley Field, which is known during the 660 00:32:30.400 --> 00:32:33.680 summer for a home run park, played to the second 661 00:32:33.720 --> 00:32:37.519 smallest park in baseball. During the year, they gave up 662 00:32:37.559 --> 00:32:40.640 the second fewest home runs in their history for both 663 00:32:40.680 --> 00:32:44.240 teams in that ballpark. So Paradis never got on track. 664 00:32:44.759 --> 00:32:49.200 But he's a good ballplayer. He's an average defender, he's 665 00:32:49.240 --> 00:32:53.200 got a decent arm, he has tremendous power, and he's 666 00:32:53.240 --> 00:32:57.200 a poll hitter. So Brown and his people did a 667 00:32:57.240 --> 00:33:00.680 lot of homework on the fact that what the Crawford boxes. 668 00:33:01.279 --> 00:33:03.880 This is a guy that should be a thirty home 669 00:33:03.960 --> 00:33:07.359 run hitter for the Houston Astros, and it also gives 670 00:33:07.400 --> 00:33:10.920 them a lot of leverage in the situation going forward 671 00:33:10.960 --> 00:33:14.480 with Bregman, whether he's back or not, you know, you 672 00:33:14.640 --> 00:33:18.119 have somebody to step in there. And I had probably 673 00:33:18.160 --> 00:33:21.240 for more power than Bregman, not the all around player 674 00:33:21.240 --> 00:33:23.960 that Bregman is. I would never suggest that. I think 675 00:33:24.000 --> 00:33:27.759 Bregman is a terrific player, but I don't know if 676 00:33:27.759 --> 00:33:30.519 Bregman is the same player he was two or three 677 00:33:30.599 --> 00:33:33.960 years ago. So with all that in mind, they're protected. 678 00:33:34.079 --> 00:33:38.319 There was Netsky. You have a guy that can start 679 00:33:38.440 --> 00:33:42.200 or relieve. He's a you know, usually hitting around ninety 680 00:33:42.200 --> 00:33:44.640 three miles an hour, got a really good breaking ball, 681 00:33:45.079 --> 00:33:47.160 and he showed the ability to go up and back 682 00:33:47.200 --> 00:33:49.680 between the bullpen and starting and do a good job 683 00:33:50.079 --> 00:33:53.079 on both. He injured himself a little bit, missed the 684 00:33:53.160 --> 00:33:57.880 last three or four weeks in the season, but terrific teammate, 685 00:33:58.119 --> 00:34:01.599 terrific guy. Whether you want him to start or relieve. 686 00:34:02.079 --> 00:34:03.480 He's not a number one. 687 00:34:03.480 --> 00:34:06.559 Two or three starter, but if he has to go in, 688 00:34:06.680 --> 00:34:09.760 he can do an adequate job, give you five or 689 00:34:09.760 --> 00:34:12.400 six good innings if you need him as a starter. 690 00:34:13.639 --> 00:34:17.360 The real player for me in this deal is Cam Smith. 691 00:34:17.760 --> 00:34:20.480 Every scout that you talk to tells you that this 692 00:34:20.559 --> 00:34:23.039 guy doesn't have a chance to just be a good player. 693 00:34:23.400 --> 00:34:25.440 He has a chance to be a superstar. He came 694 00:34:25.440 --> 00:34:28.440 out of college last year, drafted by the Cubs and 695 00:34:28.599 --> 00:34:35.639 just tore up the minor leagues. Terrific individual, great personality, 696 00:34:35.800 --> 00:34:39.920 team player. He should really mash and I don't think 697 00:34:40.480 --> 00:34:42.440 on the track that he's on it. It'll take more than 698 00:34:42.480 --> 00:34:45.639 another year in the minor league he'll be ready to 699 00:34:45.679 --> 00:34:46.280 come there and. 700 00:34:46.239 --> 00:34:47.239 Play your ballpark. 701 00:34:47.360 --> 00:34:51.440 So I think that they got a really great player 702 00:34:52.480 --> 00:34:57.000 possibility for a player who's an outstanding player right now 703 00:34:57.400 --> 00:34:59.119 that was only going to be there with them for 704 00:34:59.159 --> 00:35:02.039 one more year. I just think it's a good trade 705 00:35:02.079 --> 00:35:05.679 for both teams. The Cubs desperately needed a guy that 706 00:35:05.719 --> 00:35:08.280 could hit two, three or four and with power and 707 00:35:08.320 --> 00:35:11.039 play a good right field. They're now going to turn 708 00:35:11.079 --> 00:35:15.159 around and trade either Bellinger or Suzuki one or. 709 00:35:15.119 --> 00:35:18.000 The other so that there is enough room. 710 00:35:19.280 --> 00:35:24.119 As a DH and three outfielders. The outfield is really 711 00:35:24.159 --> 00:35:27.920 packed for the Chicago Cubs. They have two really good 712 00:35:27.960 --> 00:35:32.760 young players coming up in the Alcntara and in casey 713 00:35:33.320 --> 00:35:35.199 one of them is likely to get traded in the 714 00:35:35.239 --> 00:35:38.800 deal to bring back a pitcher. So the Cubs are 715 00:35:38.800 --> 00:35:41.719 making all kinds of moves. They're tired of being just 716 00:35:41.920 --> 00:35:44.760 average over the last two years. They're trying to step 717 00:35:44.840 --> 00:35:49.039 up and be the Chicago Cubs of twenty fifteen, sixteen, seventeen, 718 00:35:49.079 --> 00:35:50.199 and eighteen once more. 719 00:35:51.000 --> 00:35:51.280 Again. 720 00:35:51.400 --> 00:35:54.559 Bruce Levine joined us from six seventy the Score there 721 00:35:54.599 --> 00:35:58.559 in Chicago. He's also a contributor part of the Marquee 722 00:35:58.599 --> 00:36:03.519 Sports Networks there local regional TV channel up there in Chicago. 723 00:36:03.800 --> 00:36:05.559 And Uh, you know, Bruce, I mean, just from what 724 00:36:05.599 --> 00:36:07.760 you were talking about right there of going through parades 725 00:36:07.800 --> 00:36:11.519 Wesnsky as well as Smith, I mean, is it probably 726 00:36:11.559 --> 00:36:13.320 from some of the people you've talked with within that 727 00:36:13.360 --> 00:36:16.239 Cubs organization that they kind of had to take a 728 00:36:16.280 --> 00:36:20.679 hard swallow right there with including Smith in this package deal. 729 00:36:22.480 --> 00:36:22.679 Yeah. 730 00:36:22.760 --> 00:36:26.639 Originally they asked for Smith and uh and Matt Shaw, 731 00:36:27.000 --> 00:36:30.880 which is two of their top number one picks in 732 00:36:30.920 --> 00:36:35.280 the last three years. Okay, they weren't they weren't giving 733 00:36:35.320 --> 00:36:38.039 in on that they give in. They gave in here. 734 00:36:38.960 --> 00:36:42.960 They were they were solid on giving up Parades. They 735 00:36:42.960 --> 00:36:47.840 were solid on uh giving up Smith after you know, 736 00:36:47.920 --> 00:36:48.800 going up and back. 737 00:36:49.159 --> 00:36:50.599 But was Nesky was. 738 00:36:50.559 --> 00:36:53.039 The final part of the deal. They wanted to give 739 00:36:53.079 --> 00:36:58.440 a minor league pitcher back. The Astros insisted on Wiznsky, 740 00:36:59.039 --> 00:37:00.880 and the deal is made. 741 00:37:03.920 --> 00:37:06.679 It's very interesting in him being a Houston kid and 742 00:37:07.000 --> 00:37:09.199 certainly a guy that a lot of people are familiar with. 743 00:37:09.639 --> 00:37:11.679 I want to go back to cam Smith just a 744 00:37:11.679 --> 00:37:14.000 little bit because you mentioned you think he'll be able 745 00:37:14.039 --> 00:37:16.400 to make that rise pretty quickly. It is interesting the 746 00:37:16.440 --> 00:37:19.320 Astros kind of depleted their farm system the last couple 747 00:37:19.440 --> 00:37:21.559 years with all the big trades they moved made and 748 00:37:21.599 --> 00:37:25.239 then obviously losing those draft picks in the signce stealing 749 00:37:25.360 --> 00:37:28.559 thing and all that. But you mentioned, you know, you 750 00:37:28.559 --> 00:37:31.039 think he's going to be ready here pretty soon. Is 751 00:37:31.079 --> 00:37:33.360 he a true third baseman? Do you think there's other 752 00:37:33.400 --> 00:37:34.280 positions he might be. 753 00:37:34.199 --> 00:37:37.320 Able to play? They're not sure about that. 754 00:37:37.480 --> 00:37:40.920 You know, third baseman sometimes end up being first baseman, right, 755 00:37:41.679 --> 00:37:44.159 Great hitters sometimes end up being first baseman. 756 00:37:44.280 --> 00:37:44.920 D HS. 757 00:37:45.760 --> 00:37:48.559 They think he can play third base, but against Paradus 758 00:37:48.639 --> 00:37:52.400 is under contract for three more years. You have Waznesky 759 00:37:52.519 --> 00:37:55.639 in this trade that they have contract control over for. 760 00:37:55.719 --> 00:37:59.280 Another four years, and Smith they're going to have. 761 00:38:00.239 --> 00:38:05.199 So I think Brown is is looking really smart about this. 762 00:38:05.360 --> 00:38:09.360 He's he's getting big league players, he's getting contract control, 763 00:38:10.039 --> 00:38:14.199 and he's also you know, getting rid of a guy 764 00:38:14.239 --> 00:38:18.760 that there probably had no chance to sign next year. 765 00:38:19.360 --> 00:38:25.440 He has a typical type of year as he always does. 766 00:38:26.039 --> 00:38:30.000 He's probably you know, looking at what thirty five million 767 00:38:30.039 --> 00:38:33.320 dollars a year times eight. So I don't think the 768 00:38:33.360 --> 00:38:35.400 Houston was going to be involved in that. As much 769 00:38:35.440 --> 00:38:38.480 as a love Tucker, I mean, what was there you 770 00:38:38.519 --> 00:38:41.880 guys tell me what was there not to like about 771 00:38:42.000 --> 00:38:42.719 Kyle Tucker. 772 00:38:43.719 --> 00:38:44.559 I mean, I'd say. 773 00:38:44.400 --> 00:38:47.360 Probably the only gripes that many people had is a 774 00:38:47.400 --> 00:38:50.719 couple of down postseasons. But aside from that, I mean, 775 00:38:50.760 --> 00:38:53.840 to your point there, Bruce, No, he was everything that 776 00:38:54.280 --> 00:38:56.480 you would hoped he would have been when he was 777 00:38:56.519 --> 00:38:58.320 going through the farm system and had all the hype 778 00:38:58.519 --> 00:39:00.559 before he got up here to the major league. 779 00:39:01.920 --> 00:39:04.199 Yeah, and you know you look at him and okay, 780 00:39:04.760 --> 00:39:08.920 get a couple down playoffs, he wasn't really quite the 781 00:39:08.960 --> 00:39:12.679 player he was coming back from that ankle injury, you know, 782 00:39:12.760 --> 00:39:14.920 in September and then the two games that. 783 00:39:14.880 --> 00:39:16.159 You lost in the playoffs. 784 00:39:16.199 --> 00:39:22.039 But for the Cubs, it's a guy that they can 785 00:39:22.079 --> 00:39:25.880 put second or third in their lineup pretty much. Count 786 00:39:25.960 --> 00:39:31.639 on thirty and one hundred, play a solid defense up 787 00:39:31.679 --> 00:39:34.239 until you know, last year he only played what sixty 788 00:39:34.320 --> 00:39:37.880 nine games something like this, seventy one games. He was 789 00:39:37.960 --> 00:39:41.400 steal in thirty bases as well, so I don't see 790 00:39:41.440 --> 00:39:44.239 too many holes in his game. I think that the 791 00:39:44.280 --> 00:39:46.760 Cubs really needed to step up their game. In the 792 00:39:46.760 --> 00:39:51.400 Central Division of the National League. The general manager, president 793 00:39:51.440 --> 00:39:54.599 and general manager have one year remaining on their contract. 794 00:39:55.000 --> 00:39:57.719 Eighty three wins the last two years was just not 795 00:39:57.840 --> 00:40:00.360 cutting it. So the offense is going to be perked 796 00:40:00.440 --> 00:40:00.840 up the Cubs. 797 00:40:00.840 --> 00:40:01.719 They're not done yet. 798 00:40:02.159 --> 00:40:06.239 We're talking to the Yankees about Dollinger right now, talking 799 00:40:06.280 --> 00:40:10.719 to numerous other teams about starting pitching. You know, some 800 00:40:10.760 --> 00:40:13.559 of the smaller market teams once some of the young 801 00:40:13.639 --> 00:40:18.000 hitters in the Cub organization. Shaw and Casey are two 802 00:40:18.039 --> 00:40:20.800 guys that are being coveted by a lot of different teams. 803 00:40:20.880 --> 00:40:23.000 So I think you're going to see over the next 804 00:40:23.000 --> 00:40:25.760 week or ten days comes to make at least one, 805 00:40:25.840 --> 00:40:27.039 probably two more trades. 806 00:40:27.440 --> 00:40:29.079 And that's actually where I wanted to go with a 807 00:40:29.320 --> 00:40:32.239 final question for you, Bruce again. Bruce Levine joined US 808 00:40:32.280 --> 00:40:35.400 from six to seventy a score also Marquee Sports Network 809 00:40:35.519 --> 00:40:38.119 up there in Chicago. Could the Cubs be in on 810 00:40:38.199 --> 00:40:40.400 Alex Bregnan. I mean, doesn't that seem like that would 811 00:40:40.440 --> 00:40:42.440 be a great piece for them to be able to 812 00:40:42.519 --> 00:40:44.519 add after a couple of years ago giving that huge 813 00:40:44.559 --> 00:40:46.199 contract to Dansby Swanson. 814 00:40:47.920 --> 00:40:50.400 They don't want to go over the luxury tax. 815 00:40:50.519 --> 00:40:52.760 They hit right over it a little bit last year 816 00:40:52.760 --> 00:40:56.280 at about two hundred and forty one million. They're about 817 00:40:56.400 --> 00:40:57.480 two hundred. 818 00:40:57.119 --> 00:40:59.039 Million a little bit more right now. 819 00:41:00.639 --> 00:41:05.000 They're way over now, probably with Bellinger. They have to 820 00:41:05.360 --> 00:41:08.239 The first first big thing they have to do is 821 00:41:08.280 --> 00:41:11.880 they have to get themselves a starting picture that's a 822 00:41:11.960 --> 00:41:16.000 power arm. But as important, they're going to have to 823 00:41:16.000 --> 00:41:19.119 trade Dollinger's contract, which is thirty two point five million 824 00:41:19.559 --> 00:41:24.760 for this year. They have to loosen up the luxury 825 00:41:24.840 --> 00:41:28.320 tax situation, and either him or Suzuki are going to 826 00:41:28.360 --> 00:41:31.840 get traded probably before the first of the year. It's 827 00:41:31.840 --> 00:41:36.199 not that they don't like Dollinger, it's just that getting 828 00:41:36.239 --> 00:41:39.400 Tucker is a replacement and a superior player in their 829 00:41:39.440 --> 00:41:43.159 minds for Dolinger. Now they need the relief for the 830 00:41:43.280 --> 00:41:46.599 payroll of the thirty two point five million that they 831 00:41:46.679 --> 00:41:49.400 owe Dollinger for twenty twenty five. 832 00:41:50.039 --> 00:41:52.679 Well, Bruce, say, we really appreciate your time, especially to 833 00:41:52.840 --> 00:41:55.440 on a Friday night hopping on to let us know 834 00:41:55.480 --> 00:41:58.960 here in Houston about Paritis Wesnski and also about Cam Smith. 835 00:41:59.480 --> 00:42:02.679 And yeah, we really appreciate you carving out a few 836 00:42:02.679 --> 00:42:04.960 minutes for us, and. 837 00:42:04.840 --> 00:42:07.320 Chris a pleasure call me anytime, take care of have 838 00:42:07.360 --> 00:42:09.599 a good night, all right. 839 00:42:09.639 --> 00:42:13.079 Appreciate Bruce Levine joining us last night on the Nightcap. 840 00:42:13.119 --> 00:42:15.079 If you miss any of that, download the free. 841 00:42:14.880 --> 00:42:19.760 iHeartRadio app and you can catch that anywhere anyway possible. 842 00:42:19.880 --> 00:42:21.280 So there you go. 843 00:42:21.280 --> 00:42:24.599 Good stuff from Bruce Levine, and especially to hearing about 844 00:42:24.639 --> 00:42:25.280 Cam Smith. 845 00:42:25.280 --> 00:42:26.800 We'll get into a little bit. 846 00:42:26.920 --> 00:42:30.960 More on both him as well as Hayden was Nesky 847 00:42:31.119 --> 00:42:35.280 and also eastsoc Perettis is a huge part of the 848 00:42:35.320 --> 00:42:37.719 deal that the Astro's got in return for Kyle Tucker. 849 00:42:38.199 --> 00:42:39.840 If you want to jump board you can do so 850 00:42:39.960 --> 00:42:42.840 seven one three two one two five seven ninety once 851 00:42:42.880 --> 00:42:45.320 again at seven one three two one two five seven 852 00:42:45.440 --> 00:42:48.639 ninety because speaking of Perettis, I've got some interesting information 853 00:42:48.679 --> 00:42:51.960 about him that I think Astros fans will love to hear. 854 00:42:52.079 --> 00:42:54.079 We will talk about that on the other side right 855 00:42:54.119 --> 00:42:56.880 here this Space City Saturday on your home of the Astros, 856 00:42:56.880 --> 00:42:58.320 Sports Talk seven ninety. 857 00:42:59.159 --> 00:43:07.280 Welong Space City Saturday on Sports Talk seven ninety forty Talk. 858 00:43:07.239 --> 00:43:11.079 Seven ninety and Matthew's here with you in the holiday 859 00:43:11.159 --> 00:43:14.320 spirit around here, and that is a good feeling, no 860 00:43:14.639 --> 00:43:17.400 doubt about it. Again, if you want to hop aboard 861 00:43:17.519 --> 00:43:19.719 on the phone lines, you can do so. Sebon one 862 00:43:19.719 --> 00:43:21.880 three two one two five seven ninety. Once again, that's 863 00:43:21.880 --> 00:43:26.519 Sebone three two one two five seven nine zero. As 864 00:43:26.840 --> 00:43:29.960 the Astro is getting three players back in the Kyle 865 00:43:30.039 --> 00:43:33.960 Tucker trade, Conroe James, I wanted to know about number 866 00:43:34.000 --> 00:43:36.760 one while you trade away Kyle Tucker. I'll start with 867 00:43:36.760 --> 00:43:41.079 that part first, Conro, I mean you trade him because 868 00:43:41.360 --> 00:43:44.480 I think that as Dana Brown has been going through 869 00:43:44.480 --> 00:43:47.800 this offseason and maybe even trying to start some preliminary 870 00:43:47.840 --> 00:43:52.440 conversations with Kyle Tucker's representatives about possibly bringing him back, 871 00:43:52.519 --> 00:43:55.400 that it was pretty much expressed to him, especially after 872 00:43:55.400 --> 00:43:58.719 the deal that Juan Soto just got that Kyle is 873 00:43:58.760 --> 00:44:00.800 going to be looking for a similar. 874 00:44:00.440 --> 00:44:01.039 Type of deal. 875 00:44:01.239 --> 00:44:03.880 I think we can agree the Astros are not going 876 00:44:03.920 --> 00:44:06.239 to be paying down that type of a deal. So 877 00:44:06.480 --> 00:44:10.440 when that happens, eventually you start to say, okay, well, 878 00:44:10.599 --> 00:44:13.360 maybe if we start to let teams know, hey, we're 879 00:44:13.360 --> 00:44:15.920 interested in taking phone calls on this guy, if you're 880 00:44:15.960 --> 00:44:18.599 interested in possibly adding him to your organization. And of 881 00:44:18.599 --> 00:44:21.039 course that's when you get teams that start to reach 882 00:44:21.079 --> 00:44:22.840 out and say, yeah, I would like to have Kyle 883 00:44:22.880 --> 00:44:25.400 Tucker out in right field. And not only that, I 884 00:44:25.400 --> 00:44:27.519 mean I think a team like the Cubs that as 885 00:44:27.559 --> 00:44:31.280 of right now, looking to avoid getting over the competitive 886 00:44:31.320 --> 00:44:34.920 balance tax threshold, as you just heard Bruce Levine talk about, 887 00:44:35.679 --> 00:44:38.239 that you can add a guy this season that can 888 00:44:38.280 --> 00:44:40.360 be an upgrade to a guy that they're trying to 889 00:44:40.400 --> 00:44:43.679 ship out and Cody Bellinger, and not only trying to 890 00:44:43.679 --> 00:44:46.880 ship him out, but also to trying to, you know, 891 00:44:46.920 --> 00:44:50.280 give themselves an opportunity to remain competitive. And I don't 892 00:44:50.280 --> 00:44:53.079 have any doubts that after this season the Cubs could 893 00:44:53.119 --> 00:44:55.880 come back and offer age deal to Kyle Tucker and 894 00:44:55.960 --> 00:44:59.480 keep him their long term or be able to you know, 895 00:44:59.559 --> 00:45:01.599 move on from there and kind of retool on their 896 00:45:01.639 --> 00:45:03.800 own end. That's the Cubs business if they want to do. 897 00:45:03.960 --> 00:45:07.280 But in terms of the players the Astros got in return, 898 00:45:07.519 --> 00:45:10.119 I mean, you heard Bruce talk about Cam Smith and 899 00:45:10.480 --> 00:45:13.920 just you know how much of a tough send away 900 00:45:14.000 --> 00:45:16.039 that was for the Cubs as part of that deal, 901 00:45:16.079 --> 00:45:18.559 because he's a guy that's already in the minor leagues 902 00:45:18.880 --> 00:45:22.920 and I think not even a full year in the 903 00:45:22.960 --> 00:45:25.400 minor league system for the Cubs, already up to Double A, 904 00:45:25.599 --> 00:45:29.360 so he's probably about a year away from being an 905 00:45:29.360 --> 00:45:30.679 impact player for this team. 906 00:45:31.119 --> 00:45:32.960 And also too, you heard Bruce mention. 907 00:45:32.920 --> 00:45:37.360 That there's belief with his power possibilities that Smith could 908 00:45:37.360 --> 00:45:40.480 be a star in this league. So I think that's 909 00:45:40.519 --> 00:45:42.320 another thing that has to excite you if you're an 910 00:45:42.320 --> 00:45:45.840 Astros fan out there, and I mean, yes, I think 911 00:45:45.840 --> 00:45:47.639 if you want to see Cam Smith this year, you're 912 00:45:47.679 --> 00:45:49.840 probably gonna need to go down to sugar Land and 913 00:45:49.880 --> 00:45:51.239 watch them with the Space Cowboys. 914 00:45:51.280 --> 00:45:54.000 Maybe even he's a September call up for this team. 915 00:45:54.039 --> 00:45:56.280 And then finally next year you go to spring training 916 00:45:56.320 --> 00:45:58.280 and you see if he can crack the organization with 917 00:45:58.320 --> 00:46:01.360 you and be able to make a run at the 918 00:46:01.480 --> 00:46:04.440 everyday twenty six man roster in twenty twenty six. So 919 00:46:05.280 --> 00:46:08.440 I think that's what you get with him. But with Perettis, 920 00:46:09.079 --> 00:46:10.519 you know, we talked about him a little bit, and 921 00:46:10.559 --> 00:46:14.519 you heard Bruce mention about his poll power. And I 922 00:46:14.559 --> 00:46:17.320 was talking with a buddy of mine yesterday off air 923 00:46:17.519 --> 00:46:20.480 that covers the Rays, has been part of their radio 924 00:46:20.519 --> 00:46:22.840 network for some time, and I just said, hey, you know, 925 00:46:23.119 --> 00:46:25.079 what can you tell me about Perettis? And he wrote 926 00:46:25.119 --> 00:46:28.679 me back. Much better defender than you'd think, with him 927 00:46:28.719 --> 00:46:31.320 being a stockier guy, a guy that even played a 928 00:46:31.320 --> 00:46:34.920 little bit of shortstop there in Tampa Bay when he 929 00:46:34.960 --> 00:46:37.559 was with the Rays, but of course playing third, which 930 00:46:37.599 --> 00:46:39.960 is his primary position, playing a little bit of first 931 00:46:40.039 --> 00:46:45.920 as well. Strict pull hitter like big time Pool, he goes. 932 00:46:46.079 --> 00:46:47.880 He'll shoot the ball the other way every once in 933 00:46:47.920 --> 00:46:50.159 a while for a single, but all of his power 934 00:46:50.320 --> 00:46:53.199 is to left. Said, never seen a guy be so 935 00:46:53.400 --> 00:46:56.639 pull dominant, he goes. I think the older he gets, 936 00:46:56.639 --> 00:46:58.519 his bat will slow down, but you have to remember 937 00:46:58.559 --> 00:47:00.480 he's only twenty five. I think I think he can 938 00:47:00.519 --> 00:47:04.679 be really good for the Astros, and he goes Yep. 939 00:47:04.679 --> 00:47:06.440 I think he'll be a really great fit. Can play 940 00:47:06.480 --> 00:47:09.360 anywhere in the infield, as best is at the corners, 941 00:47:09.360 --> 00:47:11.599 but like I said, played short a couple of times, 942 00:47:12.039 --> 00:47:15.239 which was weird to see again because given his stature, 943 00:47:15.679 --> 00:47:19.039 you wouldn't think he'd be playing shortstops. So that's at 944 00:47:19.079 --> 00:47:21.679 least what it feels like the Astros are getting in peretis. 945 00:47:21.719 --> 00:47:24.079 He's been a guy that's been a twenty to twenty 946 00:47:24.119 --> 00:47:27.599 five home run guy playing in a ballpark that is 947 00:47:27.719 --> 00:47:32.760 okay for power hitters in the trop there in Tampa, 948 00:47:32.800 --> 00:47:34.880 and then of course last year went over to the Cubs, 949 00:47:34.880 --> 00:47:37.119 and he even talked about yesterday when he met with 950 00:47:37.159 --> 00:47:39.440 the media that he had to adjust a little bit 951 00:47:39.480 --> 00:47:42.840 to playing at Wrigley Field. But we'll see how he 952 00:47:42.920 --> 00:47:45.519 is able to adjust to every day playing at Minute 953 00:47:45.559 --> 00:47:48.199 May Park. So that's what the Astros able to pick 954 00:47:48.320 --> 00:47:51.440 up in that deal. So Conro, good on you. I 955 00:47:51.480 --> 00:47:55.119 appreciate you bringing that up for discussion here, but that's 956 00:47:55.119 --> 00:47:57.639 where we were going anyway. So just wanted to give 957 00:47:57.639 --> 00:48:00.559 you all a little bit of the dossier on all 958 00:48:00.599 --> 00:48:03.599 three players the Astros just got back in return. So 959 00:48:04.400 --> 00:48:07.440 that is what we get there, but coming up next 960 00:48:07.599 --> 00:48:10.679 we'll continue the conversation on the Astros again if you 961 00:48:10.719 --> 00:48:13.599 want to weigh in kind of this hot stove edition 962 00:48:13.719 --> 00:48:17.599 of Space City Saturday. The rumor this morning about Nolan 963 00:48:17.679 --> 00:48:19.639 Aeronauto what could that mean for the Astros? 964 00:48:19.639 --> 00:48:20.920 Also, what could it mean in. 965 00:48:20.920 --> 00:48:24.480 Terms of are they out on the Alex Bregman sweepstakes. 966 00:48:24.519 --> 00:48:25.920 I'll tell you a little bit. 967 00:48:25.840 --> 00:48:29.559 Of what I'm seeing out there on the rumor mill 968 00:48:29.679 --> 00:48:31.840 in terms of how the Astros are going to conduct 969 00:48:31.840 --> 00:48:33.000 their business going forward. 970 00:48:33.039 --> 00:48:35.800 So we'll do that on the other side, and. 971 00:48:35.800 --> 00:48:37.880 Of course too in the eleven o'clock hour, we'll get 972 00:48:37.880 --> 00:48:40.480 into a little bit of Texans conversation as well as 973 00:48:40.519 --> 00:48:43.400 some Rockets as well. So we'll cover it all soup 974 00:48:43.440 --> 00:48:46.800 to nuts from here until noon, as our one is 975 00:48:46.840 --> 00:48:49.360 in the books. Right here on Space City Saturday, I'm 976 00:48:49.400 --> 00:48:51.199 Dan Matthews here on your home of the Astros and 977 00:48:51.199 --> 00:48:54.760 the Rockets, Sports Talk seven ninety. 978 00:49:01.119 --> 00:49:05.199 Welcome aboard, Welcome to another Space City Saturday on Sports 979 00:49:05.239 --> 00:49:09.079 Talk seven ninety, Dad Matthews Live and local h town 980 00:49:09.280 --> 00:49:13.559 breakdown of the world that matters to you, the Houston 981 00:49:13.760 --> 00:49:14.760 sports world. 982 00:49:14.559 --> 00:49:16.639 All these great Houston fans here, we. 983 00:49:16.679 --> 00:49:20.920 Love you all, So finish up on that to do list, 984 00:49:21.480 --> 00:49:24.880 flute up the cooler, because you can't drink in talk 985 00:49:24.960 --> 00:49:28.239 sports all day if you don't start now bear me 986 00:49:28.320 --> 00:49:31.480 in the eight this is Space City Saturday. 987 00:49:31.599 --> 00:49:32.239 That's insane. 988 00:49:33.440 --> 00:49:35.880 Here's seven nineties, Dad Matthews. 989 00:49:36.400 --> 00:49:39.039 Indeed, it is the way we go here in our 990 00:49:39.280 --> 00:49:42.880 two of Space City Saturday. If you want to jump aboard, 991 00:49:42.920 --> 00:49:45.760 do so subone three two one two five seven ninety. 992 00:49:45.800 --> 00:49:48.039 Once again, that's sub one three two one two five 993 00:49:48.159 --> 00:49:52.239 seven nine zero. As I mentioned, with the football season 994 00:49:52.320 --> 00:49:54.440 kind of starting the wind down just a little bit. 995 00:49:54.519 --> 00:49:57.679 I mean, you get to the part of the season 996 00:49:57.760 --> 00:50:03.280 where it's FCS football being on the major networks and 997 00:50:03.800 --> 00:50:06.719 incarnate word out of San Antonio playing right now. But 998 00:50:07.519 --> 00:50:10.519 that's kind of the time of the year for most 999 00:50:10.559 --> 00:50:13.039 of us out there that are football fans, especially college 1000 00:50:13.079 --> 00:50:15.719 football fans. We kind of look at it and say, yeah, 1001 00:50:15.760 --> 00:50:17.840 this is a good day to be able to. 1002 00:50:18.079 --> 00:50:20.719 Go out and knock off some of that Christmas list. 1003 00:50:20.960 --> 00:50:23.480 So I know some of you out there the Galleria, 1004 00:50:23.519 --> 00:50:26.599 Woodland's Mall, Baybrook, Willowbrook, wherever it might be that you're 1005 00:50:26.639 --> 00:50:29.320 out there, maybe even some of you, you know, just 1006 00:50:29.599 --> 00:50:33.280 pulled off somewhere on the phone, scrolling through taking out 1007 00:50:33.360 --> 00:50:36.320 the card to be able to put in the card 1008 00:50:36.360 --> 00:50:39.000 information and just have a chipped to your door, whatever. 1009 00:50:38.760 --> 00:50:39.679 Way you do it. 1010 00:50:39.840 --> 00:50:43.199 Either way, I hope that you have a great holiday season. 1011 00:50:43.440 --> 00:50:46.320 As know that school's starting to be let out a 1012 00:50:46.400 --> 00:50:49.199 little bit, so I know that the kid's going to 1013 00:50:49.239 --> 00:50:52.639 be around a little bit more so that's a little 1014 00:50:52.639 --> 00:50:53.280 bit more fun. 1015 00:50:53.360 --> 00:50:56.559 But anyway, hopefully everybody is. 1016 00:50:56.840 --> 00:50:59.440 Getting around, getting where they need to go and getting 1017 00:50:59.519 --> 00:51:04.519 there safely. Here on this Saturday, again Dan Matthews here 1018 00:51:04.679 --> 00:51:08.079 with you is so we continue the Astros conversation and 1019 00:51:08.400 --> 00:51:10.480 again phone number if you want to jump aboard some 1020 00:51:10.639 --> 00:51:13.039 one three two one two five seven ninety. You can 1021 00:51:13.079 --> 00:51:16.199 also hit me up on Twitter at Dan Matthews hou 1022 00:51:16.719 --> 00:51:19.159 is where you can hit me up. And one thing 1023 00:51:19.159 --> 00:51:21.480 that I did want to get into here actually before 1024 00:51:21.519 --> 00:51:25.039 we get into the Astros third base conversation, because there 1025 00:51:25.079 --> 00:51:28.119 is a little bit of stuff out there on where 1026 00:51:28.239 --> 00:51:31.360 things could be headed in that regard a shout. 1027 00:51:31.159 --> 00:51:32.559 Out a happy birthday. 1028 00:51:32.760 --> 00:51:34.880 I think if you follow the Astros on social media, 1029 00:51:34.960 --> 00:51:37.639 you know where I'm going with this Happy birthday to 1030 00:51:37.760 --> 00:51:41.119 number seven Craig Vigio or as Milo used to call 1031 00:51:41.199 --> 00:51:46.199 him by Gio, but uh, anyway, coach as I call 1032 00:51:46.320 --> 00:51:49.199 him of course for a long time being the head 1033 00:51:49.239 --> 00:51:52.480 baseball coach over at my proud high school alma mater, 1034 00:51:52.559 --> 00:51:57.440 Saint Thomas High School. But anyway, happy birthday to number seven, 1035 00:51:57.679 --> 00:52:01.840 the Astros first Hall of Famer, So we love to 1036 00:52:01.880 --> 00:52:06.159 see that for Craig, and always always a pleasure to 1037 00:52:06.199 --> 00:52:08.079 be able to run into Craig whenever you see him 1038 00:52:08.119 --> 00:52:12.079 out at the ballparks. So he is definitely one of 1039 00:52:12.119 --> 00:52:14.840 the really good guys here in our city. 1040 00:52:14.920 --> 00:52:17.880 But anyway, happy birthday to Craig Vigio. 1041 00:52:18.000 --> 00:52:22.360 So the Astros where things stand right now with third base. 1042 00:52:22.760 --> 00:52:25.960 Earlier this morning, Chandler Rome just before ten o'clock with 1043 00:52:26.199 --> 00:52:29.199 a report that the Astros were starting to show serious 1044 00:52:29.239 --> 00:52:33.639 interest in making a trade for Nolan Aernado and Aeronauto. 1045 00:52:33.880 --> 00:52:36.760 I think in many ways is pretty much in the 1046 00:52:36.800 --> 00:52:38.480 same mold as Alex Bregman. 1047 00:52:38.599 --> 00:52:39.800 The bat has started to. 1048 00:52:39.760 --> 00:52:42.519 Dip just a little bit, but still considered to be 1049 00:52:42.519 --> 00:52:45.599 an elite fielder over at third base. And yes he 1050 00:52:45.639 --> 00:52:49.719 does have a huge contract still remaining. I think it's 1051 00:52:49.960 --> 00:52:54.000 seventy four million over the next three years remaining for Aeronado. 1052 00:52:54.039 --> 00:52:56.760 As last year he was a two seventy two hitter. 1053 00:52:56.840 --> 00:52:59.679 He hit sixteen home runs, knocked in seventy one runs, 1054 00:52:59.679 --> 00:53:03.599 had an OPS plus of one pH one. His career 1055 00:53:03.639 --> 00:53:07.079 has been one twenty, so well above average there, and 1056 00:53:07.360 --> 00:53:11.119 his OPS was one of the lower years that he's 1057 00:53:11.159 --> 00:53:14.719 had in quite some time, seven nineteen, so it was 1058 00:53:15.199 --> 00:53:21.199 along with his rookie season, a career wasn't a career low. 1059 00:53:21.400 --> 00:53:23.719 I mean, his rookie season was seven oh six that year. 1060 00:53:23.760 --> 00:53:27.360 He was seven nineteen last year, but I mean before 1061 00:53:27.400 --> 00:53:30.800 that he had been consistently in the high seven hundreds, 1062 00:53:31.079 --> 00:53:32.800 even into the eight hundreds. I mean, he was an 1063 00:53:32.840 --> 00:53:36.000 eight ninety one thirty home runs and one hundred three 1064 00:53:36.199 --> 00:53:39.480 runs batted in when he hit two ninety three in 1065 00:53:39.480 --> 00:53:43.599 two thousand and two with the Saint Louis Cardinals. He's 1066 00:53:43.599 --> 00:53:46.119 been with the Cardinals for the last four years. And 1067 00:53:46.320 --> 00:53:49.840 like Bregman too, I mean he's a guy that plays 1068 00:53:49.840 --> 00:53:52.199 pretty much every single day. Played one hundred and fifty 1069 00:53:52.199 --> 00:53:55.079 two games last year, one hundred and forty eight a 1070 00:53:55.159 --> 00:53:59.320 couple of years ago, one forty four in twenty twenty three, 1071 00:53:59.480 --> 00:54:02.760 So he posts he plays he's out there almost every 1072 00:54:02.800 --> 00:54:07.440 single day. And I've mentioned Ari Alexander Kprc too. Ari 1073 00:54:07.559 --> 00:54:10.920 has been all over these stories all week, and he 1074 00:54:11.000 --> 00:54:14.760 threw out kind of going along with Chandler's reporting that yes, 1075 00:54:14.840 --> 00:54:17.719 the Astros are indeed showing interest in trying to make 1076 00:54:17.719 --> 00:54:22.400 a trade for Aeronato, but also that coming from two sources, 1077 00:54:22.440 --> 00:54:25.719 but that they are still in on trying to bring 1078 00:54:25.880 --> 00:54:29.079 Bregman back. And that's according to three different sources. And 1079 00:54:29.920 --> 00:54:34.559 I understand too, the angst in terms of Bregman number one. 1080 00:54:34.760 --> 00:54:37.119 I mean, I think that people look at it and say, well, 1081 00:54:37.119 --> 00:54:39.440 the Astros just don't want to spend that money. I 1082 00:54:39.480 --> 00:54:41.159 think that it really just kind of comes down to 1083 00:54:41.239 --> 00:54:43.400 a couple of things. They're one on the Astro side, 1084 00:54:43.400 --> 00:54:44.719 one on the Bregman side. 1085 00:54:44.760 --> 00:54:45.280 I think on. 1086 00:54:45.199 --> 00:54:49.159 The Astros side, it's committing the amount of money that 1087 00:54:49.280 --> 00:54:51.960 in the amount of years that Bregman probably is looking for. 1088 00:54:52.000 --> 00:54:54.400 I mean, I think that the Astros, at least by 1089 00:54:54.440 --> 00:54:56.679 their history, have shown you they don't want to go above. 1090 00:54:56.480 --> 00:54:58.440 Three years or excuse me, six years. 1091 00:54:58.920 --> 00:55:02.039 And you know, Bregman probably is a guy that wants 1092 00:55:02.119 --> 00:55:05.039 to get into the seven eight year category of where 1093 00:55:05.039 --> 00:55:07.199 he is in his career, going to be thirty one, 1094 00:55:07.440 --> 00:55:10.599 I believe this year. And then on the Bregman side 1095 00:55:10.599 --> 00:55:12.880 of things, I think it's kind of a question of, look, 1096 00:55:13.000 --> 00:55:15.880 if I if I commit to you guys, what does 1097 00:55:15.920 --> 00:55:18.679 this mean going forward? I mean, does this mean that 1098 00:55:19.039 --> 00:55:21.039 you know it's going to be kind of, as Dana 1099 00:55:21.079 --> 00:55:23.760 Brown said at the end of last season, trying to 1100 00:55:23.760 --> 00:55:26.519 get really creative with how this thing is put together. 1101 00:55:27.039 --> 00:55:29.239 And does that mean that we take a step back, 1102 00:55:29.280 --> 00:55:33.079 that postseasons are missed, that maybe you know, we're not 1103 00:55:33.440 --> 00:55:35.760 in real position to be able to compete for titles 1104 00:55:35.840 --> 00:55:37.440 around here in the near future. 1105 00:55:37.480 --> 00:55:39.239 And I think that that's a question that's. 1106 00:55:39.440 --> 00:55:42.360 Kind of in these conversations that he and Scott Boris 1107 00:55:42.400 --> 00:55:44.360 and Dana Brown are having right now. And I'm sure 1108 00:55:44.400 --> 00:55:47.280 that from the Brown side it's well, no, I mean, 1109 00:55:47.320 --> 00:55:50.760 you're a huge part of us staying contention, but also too, 1110 00:55:50.920 --> 00:55:53.079 I mean a little bit of the plans going forward. 1111 00:55:53.639 --> 00:55:56.599 But it's also too I've seen, you know, and even 1112 00:55:56.639 --> 00:55:58.920 some people have reached out to me again at Dan 1113 00:55:59.000 --> 00:56:02.960 Matthews hou Is. He can find me on Twitter about 1114 00:56:03.159 --> 00:56:05.519 you know, Bregman. Oh, they're moving on. It's it's done. 1115 00:56:05.679 --> 00:56:09.719 It's it's not that there is going to be any 1116 00:56:09.880 --> 00:56:13.679 any chance that the Astros are going to bring him back. 1117 00:56:13.880 --> 00:56:17.079 I actually take it the stance that Dana Brown has 1118 00:56:17.119 --> 00:56:17.599 kind of been. 1119 00:56:17.519 --> 00:56:18.199 Through this before. 1120 00:56:18.280 --> 00:56:22.159 So you remember that he came over from the Atlanta Braves, 1121 00:56:22.360 --> 00:56:25.519 and the Braves of course their GM alex Anthopolis a 1122 00:56:25.559 --> 00:56:28.679 couple of years ago after the after the lockout had ended, 1123 00:56:29.480 --> 00:56:32.320 that he had to make a quick decision of do 1124 00:56:32.760 --> 00:56:35.440 you make a one last minute run at Freddie Freeman 1125 00:56:35.599 --> 00:56:37.639 or do you try to move on. And the Braves 1126 00:56:37.679 --> 00:56:40.599 at that time it was a situation of they wanted 1127 00:56:40.599 --> 00:56:42.760 to bring back Freeman, there was no doubt about it. 1128 00:56:42.840 --> 00:56:46.000 But it was also too they realized, hey, if a 1129 00:56:46.039 --> 00:56:48.599 guy like Matt Olsen comes available, we have to jump 1130 00:56:48.599 --> 00:56:52.039 on matt Olsen because he's younger, he's going to be cheaper. 1131 00:56:52.559 --> 00:56:54.719 Which I know that fans look at it and they 1132 00:56:54.760 --> 00:56:57.599 equate that that means you're not serious about winning. But 1133 00:56:57.840 --> 00:56:59.679 I think if nothing else, you have to also take 1134 00:56:59.679 --> 00:57:02.679 it from the standpoint of no, that is how serious 1135 00:57:02.719 --> 00:57:04.960 you are about winning, because you want to be able 1136 00:57:05.000 --> 00:57:07.480 to add other really good players. I think I've told 1137 00:57:07.519 --> 00:57:10.159 you before and I think it's going to play out 1138 00:57:10.159 --> 00:57:13.159 here with Dana that. You know, when we had talked 1139 00:57:13.159 --> 00:57:16.400 with Alex in the past, Anthopless in Atlanta, he had 1140 00:57:16.440 --> 00:57:20.079 talked about his philosophy on long term contracts that he 1141 00:57:20.079 --> 00:57:24.559 would much rather have six, seven, eight guys that are 1142 00:57:24.559 --> 00:57:27.960 in that five to six year contract range making about 1143 00:57:28.199 --> 00:57:31.760 twenty to twenty five maybe a shade above twenty five 1144 00:57:31.800 --> 00:57:35.199 million dollars a year, and be able to build a 1145 00:57:35.280 --> 00:57:38.679 roster around that core, as opposed to you go out 1146 00:57:38.719 --> 00:57:40.760 and you get the massive superstar that you've got to 1147 00:57:40.760 --> 00:57:44.119 pay upwards of thirty thirty five, forty million a year, 1148 00:57:44.280 --> 00:57:45.760 and that way you have to get a little bit 1149 00:57:45.800 --> 00:57:47.800 more creative in terms of how you're building out your 1150 00:57:47.880 --> 00:57:51.000 roster because there's a competitive balance, tax, there's all these 1151 00:57:51.039 --> 00:57:53.639 other things that you have to look into. And I 1152 00:57:53.679 --> 00:57:55.559 think that that's a little bit at play here. And 1153 00:57:55.599 --> 00:57:58.960 it's also too I think a similar playbook being shown 1154 00:57:59.039 --> 00:58:01.679 right now with the ASTRA. I mean, look, you know, 1155 00:58:02.119 --> 00:58:04.840 despite their best efforts and everything they might try to do, 1156 00:58:05.559 --> 00:58:08.519 it just might not be good enough for Alex Bregman. 1157 00:58:08.719 --> 00:58:10.599 I mean that's something that I think you have to 1158 00:58:10.639 --> 00:58:15.559 wrestle with as a real a realistic possibility for the 1159 00:58:15.599 --> 00:58:17.840 way that this thing is going, and they know that. 1160 00:58:18.119 --> 00:58:21.679 So that is why you're seeing the rumors of Aeronauto, 1161 00:58:21.800 --> 00:58:25.039 maybe even Jorge Polanco as a possibility, or you know, 1162 00:58:25.119 --> 00:58:26.960 do you kind of pivot and go somebody that's a 1163 00:58:27.400 --> 00:58:30.440 you know, not as expensive an option as Pete Alonso 1164 00:58:30.639 --> 00:58:34.119 or maybe even Christian Walker over at first base, and 1165 00:58:34.440 --> 00:58:37.440 you know, you have Perettes be your everyday third baseman. 1166 00:58:37.639 --> 00:58:39.960 And then you know, of course, when Cam Smith is ready, 1167 00:58:39.960 --> 00:58:43.079 does that mean that Perettis kicks across over to first 1168 00:58:43.079 --> 00:58:45.280 base and he's your everyday first baseman you kind of 1169 00:58:45.320 --> 00:58:47.760 interchange him every once in a while. Any of those things, 1170 00:58:47.800 --> 00:58:49.599 I mean, I think if nothing else, you're just kind 1171 00:58:49.599 --> 00:58:52.920 of looking for roster flexibility at this point. And again 1172 00:58:53.119 --> 00:58:55.639 that's where the Astros are where they need to be 1173 00:58:55.880 --> 00:58:58.639 in terms of building up their roster. You don't have 1174 00:58:58.840 --> 00:59:02.760 a farm system that has readily available players that can 1175 00:59:02.760 --> 00:59:05.320 come up and be impact players for you immediately. Those 1176 00:59:05.400 --> 00:59:07.880 days are gone, so you have to be able to 1177 00:59:07.880 --> 00:59:10.119 build this thing up as much on the fly as 1178 00:59:10.159 --> 00:59:13.559 possible in terms of again having as many guys that 1179 00:59:13.599 --> 00:59:16.519 can play numerous different positions. I mean, I know, Mauricio 1180 00:59:16.599 --> 00:59:18.960 Dubond's name is thrown out there, and I love what 1181 00:59:19.039 --> 00:59:22.559 Mauricio Dubon has done, but I don't think you can 1182 00:59:22.559 --> 00:59:25.639 count on Mauricio Dubon being somebody that can be an 1183 00:59:25.719 --> 00:59:28.559 everyday impact player for you. I think that he is 1184 00:59:28.639 --> 00:59:30.760 exactly in the position that you want him to be 1185 00:59:30.840 --> 00:59:34.039 right now, a really good utility man that has probably 1186 00:59:34.360 --> 00:59:37.519 overperformed with the bat that's got a shelf life. And 1187 00:59:37.559 --> 00:59:40.239 I think the Astros know that as well. So this 1188 00:59:40.360 --> 00:59:42.880 is why you have to continue to try to find 1189 00:59:43.239 --> 00:59:45.920 two or three other guys that can be flexible position 1190 00:59:46.000 --> 00:59:49.039 wise and be able to help your roster and lengthen 1191 00:59:49.039 --> 00:59:51.280 out your lineup and be able to put you in 1192 00:59:51.320 --> 00:59:53.280 contention to win. So I think that all of that 1193 00:59:53.480 --> 00:59:55.280 is kind of in play right now. But one more 1194 00:59:55.320 --> 01:00:00.800 note on Aeronato Astros underscore numbers on Twitter, throwing out 1195 01:00:01.079 --> 01:00:05.119 that since twenty twenty two, Nolan Aeronado has a forty 1196 01:00:05.159 --> 01:00:09.960 eight point one percent poll rate, nineteenth highest among qualified 1197 01:00:10.000 --> 01:00:14.400 hitters eat Soak perettis second fifty three point six and 1198 01:00:14.760 --> 01:00:16.400 their point was, I think we found out what the 1199 01:00:16.400 --> 01:00:20.280 Astros are trying to do for the lineup. I mean, yeah, look, 1200 01:00:20.519 --> 01:00:23.320 I've said it numerous times. This is a lineup that 1201 01:00:23.440 --> 01:00:26.199 last year was known for two things, solo home runs 1202 01:00:26.199 --> 01:00:29.199 and singles. And I think that as the meetings have 1203 01:00:29.239 --> 01:00:32.840 been going along this offseason that Dana Brown has kind 1204 01:00:32.880 --> 01:00:35.360 of talked to his staff and said, we can't continue 1205 01:00:35.360 --> 01:00:38.039 down this path. That's not winning baseball. You saw it 1206 01:00:38.079 --> 01:00:40.960 in the postseason last year. You could not buy an 1207 01:00:41.000 --> 01:00:43.039 extra base hit. The only extra base hit you got 1208 01:00:43.079 --> 01:00:45.719 in those two games was the Jordan Alvarez double in 1209 01:00:45.760 --> 01:00:48.199 the ninth inning. Aside from that, they were all the 1210 01:00:48.239 --> 01:00:52.559 single base variety singles exactly. So that's something that you 1211 01:00:52.639 --> 01:00:54.360 need to be able to try to find that. Yeah, 1212 01:00:54.480 --> 01:00:56.280 you try to go out and find these guys like 1213 01:00:56.320 --> 01:00:59.239 Perettas and maybe even like Aeronado that you got a 1214 01:00:59.239 --> 01:01:02.159 couple runners on base pal it's a three run, it's 1215 01:01:02.159 --> 01:01:04.639 a three run homer at that point, and that's something 1216 01:01:04.639 --> 01:01:07.119 that they missed last year. So I think that's another 1217 01:01:07.159 --> 01:01:09.280 directive in terms of how they want to build out 1218 01:01:09.280 --> 01:01:13.000 this roster for twenty five. And that is something that 1219 01:01:13.000 --> 01:01:16.400 we could see playing out, but as Chandler has pointed 1220 01:01:16.440 --> 01:01:19.639 out to with Aeronado, nothing seems imminent at this point, 1221 01:01:20.199 --> 01:01:23.000 And I mean that's really if you follow the timeline 1222 01:01:23.039 --> 01:01:25.280 of this week how it went with the Kyle Tucker trade, 1223 01:01:25.280 --> 01:01:27.760 that's pretty much how these things go. There's the report, 1224 01:01:27.840 --> 01:01:30.559 then there is it's gaining steam, and you know, a 1225 01:01:30.639 --> 01:01:33.280 day or two later it's, oh, hey, the Astros just 1226 01:01:33.320 --> 01:01:35.960 pulled off this deal. So we'll see if it continues 1227 01:01:36.000 --> 01:01:39.719 to go down that pathway. But speaking of Chandler, I 1228 01:01:39.760 --> 01:01:44.000 know that, you know, the Astros have talked a lot about, 1229 01:01:44.280 --> 01:01:46.039 you know, the way that they're building out their roster 1230 01:01:46.280 --> 01:01:49.360 going forward, and Chandler has been all over the reporting 1231 01:01:49.480 --> 01:01:52.599 of all the moves that could be made or have 1232 01:01:53.000 --> 01:01:56.039 been made. But in the case of Chandler Rome, he 1233 01:01:56.119 --> 01:01:58.960 joined us yesterday on the A team. We will hear 1234 01:01:59.000 --> 01:02:02.800 from him next as we had him on immediately after 1235 01:02:02.840 --> 01:02:05.639 the news came down about Kyle Tucker. So we will 1236 01:02:05.800 --> 01:02:08.000 play that visit for you coming up right here on 1237 01:02:08.079 --> 01:02:11.039 Space City Saturday again. I'm Dan Matthews here in your 1238 01:02:11.039 --> 01:02:14.239 home of the Astros and the Rockets Sports Talk seven ninety. 1239 01:02:16.360 --> 01:02:20.840 We now return to Space City Saturday Sports Talk seven ninety. 1240 01:02:21.320 --> 01:02:24.360 Everybody settled down out there, Let's get some rational thinking 1241 01:02:24.920 --> 01:02:27.679 on a big, big news day here on the Houston 1242 01:02:27.719 --> 01:02:30.760 sports landscape, and for that course, when it comes to 1243 01:02:30.800 --> 01:02:34.639 the Houston Astros especially we go to our weekly guest 1244 01:02:34.719 --> 01:02:36.639 in season. But he's been spending a lot of time 1245 01:02:36.639 --> 01:02:38.840 on the show lately because there's been so much going on. 1246 01:02:38.920 --> 01:02:42.679 And finally today Chandler Rome of the Athletic we had 1247 01:02:42.679 --> 01:02:44.559 the Kyle Tucker news come down. 1248 01:02:45.239 --> 01:02:46.280 Just initial thoughts. 1249 01:02:46.840 --> 01:02:50.000 I'm I'm from the perspective that I didn't ever see 1250 01:02:50.000 --> 01:02:52.760 them re signing him anyway, So at least this isn't 1251 01:02:52.840 --> 01:02:55.760 you know the show, Hey o Tani from the angel situation. 1252 01:02:55.880 --> 01:02:57.880 You want to get something for him as opposed to 1253 01:02:57.920 --> 01:02:59.119 just letting him walk for nothing. 1254 01:03:00.880 --> 01:03:04.400 Yeah, I mean, after Monday night, it became pretty clear 1255 01:03:04.480 --> 01:03:06.199 that this was the direction they were going. 1256 01:03:07.400 --> 01:03:09.559 You know, I may have said it on here earlier, 1257 01:03:09.559 --> 01:03:10.280 but you know, when. 1258 01:03:10.280 --> 01:03:13.559 Dana Brown said that they can still win the American 1259 01:03:13.639 --> 01:03:17.880 League West without Tucker or Valdez without either one, like 1260 01:03:18.079 --> 01:03:20.840 without one of them, that to me just signaled that 1261 01:03:21.039 --> 01:03:24.039 they were this was the route they were going. Still, 1262 01:03:24.119 --> 01:03:27.800 to see it happen is pretty Stunning's not the wrong 1263 01:03:28.000 --> 01:03:31.000 not the right word, because we've expected it, but I mean, 1264 01:03:31.360 --> 01:03:34.960 it runs, it runs, so counter to everything they've done 1265 01:03:35.039 --> 01:03:38.320 during this decade and how they've operated and things like that. 1266 01:03:38.360 --> 01:03:40.760 But it just shows that this franchise is in a 1267 01:03:40.800 --> 01:03:43.599 far different place than it was, you know, maybe six 1268 01:03:43.679 --> 01:03:46.800 seven years ago. I mean, short of Jim Crane running 1269 01:03:46.800 --> 01:03:48.480 a three hundred million dollars payroll. 1270 01:03:49.639 --> 01:03:52.440 I didn't see a logical way in which. 1271 01:03:52.280 --> 01:03:55.360 This team could improve its standing in twenty twenty six 1272 01:03:55.480 --> 01:04:00.599 in twenty twenty seven without doing something like this. And 1273 01:04:00.920 --> 01:04:03.440 I think it's become pretty clear that Jim Crane, while 1274 01:04:03.440 --> 01:04:06.039 he spends money and while he had I mean, he 1275 01:04:06.039 --> 01:04:09.920 carried the fourth largest payroll in baseball last year, he's 1276 01:04:09.960 --> 01:04:12.480 also not going to go to the Dodgers territory to 1277 01:04:12.840 --> 01:04:15.360 the Mets territory in terms of total money. 1278 01:04:15.440 --> 01:04:16.920 So they had to be smart. 1279 01:04:17.000 --> 01:04:19.320 They had to, you know, make some difficult decisions, and 1280 01:04:19.360 --> 01:04:20.119 this was one of them. 1281 01:04:21.159 --> 01:04:23.960 The return at some point everybody turns to I turned 1282 01:04:24.000 --> 01:04:27.119 to it immediately, looking at the twenty twenty five astros, 1283 01:04:27.159 --> 01:04:29.199 and you obviously mentioned the bigger picture twenty six and 1284 01:04:29.239 --> 01:04:32.639 twenty seven. Just your thoughts initially on these three players 1285 01:04:32.639 --> 01:04:35.679 that come back and return, and my first question about 1286 01:04:35.679 --> 01:04:38.079 those three has to be, you know, is Cam Smith 1287 01:04:38.679 --> 01:04:42.320 the hopeful clear best player they added in this deal, 1288 01:04:42.400 --> 01:04:43.280 just obviously not. 1289 01:04:43.360 --> 01:04:44.239 Where he is today. 1290 01:04:45.760 --> 01:04:47.159 Sure, I think he's. 1291 01:04:46.920 --> 01:04:49.639 The one that he's the one that we'll be looking 1292 01:04:49.679 --> 01:04:52.079 at in three or four years to judge how good 1293 01:04:52.119 --> 01:04:56.360 this trade was. Eastak Paratus, You really you have to 1294 01:04:56.480 --> 01:04:58.039 put lump him in there too. I mean, this is 1295 01:04:58.079 --> 01:05:01.639 a guy that he's he's got I believe three more 1296 01:05:01.719 --> 01:05:04.039 years of team control, like this is gonna be a 1297 01:05:04.079 --> 01:05:04.880 fixture for them. 1298 01:05:04.920 --> 01:05:06.840 He's gonna be a face, it's gonna be in that 1299 01:05:06.880 --> 01:05:08.400 lineup a good bit. 1300 01:05:08.840 --> 01:05:12.159 He plays both corner spots the actors were going to 1301 01:05:12.199 --> 01:05:13.679 play in at first base last. 1302 01:05:13.519 --> 01:05:16.000 Year, had he had they acquired him at the trade deadline. 1303 01:05:16.039 --> 01:05:19.079 This year, they have a vacancy at both third base 1304 01:05:19.119 --> 01:05:22.360 and first base. If you made me guess right now, 1305 01:05:22.400 --> 01:05:24.800 I'd probably say he's your opening day third basement. 1306 01:05:24.880 --> 01:05:27.320 But things, obviously, things can change. 1307 01:05:27.960 --> 01:05:31.079 There's another third basement out there that everyone's curious about. 1308 01:05:31.119 --> 01:05:36.679 But you know, I think Cam Smith's certainly surely becomes 1309 01:05:36.880 --> 01:05:39.639 the best prospect in this farm system, which is not 1310 01:05:39.719 --> 01:05:42.400 saying a whole lot, but still he's a really good prospect. 1311 01:05:42.440 --> 01:05:43.559 A lot of guys a lot. 1312 01:05:43.480 --> 01:05:46.679 Of people in the industry really really like him. You know, 1313 01:05:47.760 --> 01:05:49.960 is he maybe the third basement of the future. Is 1314 01:05:49.960 --> 01:05:52.480 he maybe a guy that you see what he can 1315 01:05:52.480 --> 01:05:55.920 do up the middle as Josel two bays getting older 1316 01:05:55.920 --> 01:06:00.000 like you never know, but certainly you look at Parade 1317 01:06:00.239 --> 01:06:03.440 and was Nesky should impact the twenty twenty five asterers 1318 01:06:03.519 --> 01:06:05.440 right away. Be fascinating to see what they do with 1319 01:06:05.559 --> 01:06:09.239 was Neski. He's relieved, he's started. He's been a swingman, 1320 01:06:09.840 --> 01:06:11.480 but this is where the ashers are best. You saw 1321 01:06:11.519 --> 01:06:13.719 it with Kakuchi last year. You see it with other pictures. 1322 01:06:13.760 --> 01:06:17.320 You know, was Neski's numbers don't look great, but this 1323 01:06:17.360 --> 01:06:19.719 is He's coming to a franchise that knows how to 1324 01:06:19.880 --> 01:06:22.119 unlock pictures and make them better. 1325 01:06:22.639 --> 01:06:24.920 Talking to Chandler Roam of the Athletic Here on Sports 1326 01:06:25.000 --> 01:06:28.280 Talk seven ninety on the Dave Kyle Tucker is traded 1327 01:06:28.320 --> 01:06:33.159 to the Chicago Cubs, you mentioned that the organization is, 1328 01:06:33.239 --> 01:06:36.000 you know, taking a different road as opposed to how 1329 01:06:36.039 --> 01:06:38.880 it's done things throughout this this uh, you know, this 1330 01:06:39.000 --> 01:06:42.440 championship window that they've had for nearly a decade. That's 1331 01:06:42.559 --> 01:06:45.280 interesting just to hear that statement. Considering they're on their 1332 01:06:45.360 --> 01:06:47.840 third general manager during that run, and fourth if you 1333 01:06:47.960 --> 01:06:52.400 count Jeff Bagwell. My next question, as it pertains to that, 1334 01:06:52.440 --> 01:06:56.519 would be, okay, does this actually mean maybe they do 1335 01:06:57.000 --> 01:06:59.400 hang on to Alex Bregman or is he just the 1336 01:06:59.440 --> 01:07:02.760 next domin that's likely to fall? 1337 01:07:03.599 --> 01:07:05.639 You know, as long as he's out there, they have 1338 01:07:05.639 --> 01:07:07.840 a chance. As long as he's not resigned somewhere, they 1339 01:07:07.840 --> 01:07:11.800 have a chance. But you know, bringing Paradis over, I 1340 01:07:11.840 --> 01:07:15.440 mean it's a pretty it's a pretty simple plug and 1341 01:07:15.480 --> 01:07:18.280 play there. I mean, he's played, Paradis has played first 1342 01:07:18.320 --> 01:07:20.639 base in the past, but third basis is better position. 1343 01:07:21.920 --> 01:07:24.000 To me on paper, it doesn't look I mean, this 1344 01:07:24.039 --> 01:07:26.880 would not pretend well for them to bring Alex Gregman back, 1345 01:07:27.559 --> 01:07:29.960 but who knows. I mean, as long as he's still 1346 01:07:30.000 --> 01:07:32.960 out there, the actress would still have conceivably a chance. 1347 01:07:33.039 --> 01:07:35.239 But you look at what the Yankees did today. They 1348 01:07:35.280 --> 01:07:39.199 improved their club without spending money. I know they I 1349 01:07:39.239 --> 01:07:43.239 know they gave Max Free two hundred and eighteen million dollars, 1350 01:07:43.280 --> 01:07:45.840 but they were able to get the best closer, one 1351 01:07:45.840 --> 01:07:49.119 of the best closers in baseball, for just prospect capital, 1352 01:07:49.159 --> 01:07:53.400 for just players, and they just had a seven hundred 1353 01:07:53.440 --> 01:07:55.639 and sixty million dollar offer on the table for Loan Soto, 1354 01:07:55.719 --> 01:07:58.639 so they've got money to spend, so they need a 1355 01:07:58.679 --> 01:07:59.320 third baseman. 1356 01:07:59.440 --> 01:08:00.960 I think the Red Sox are still in it. 1357 01:08:02.199 --> 01:08:02.440 You know. 1358 01:08:02.679 --> 01:08:04.320 I do wonder too if there's a. 1359 01:08:04.280 --> 01:08:06.400 Team that we're not talking about that's just kind of 1360 01:08:06.480 --> 01:08:09.119 lurking on Bregman. I mean, we've talked about the Tigers 1361 01:08:09.159 --> 01:08:11.719 a little bit. Whether the Tigers kind of make that 1362 01:08:11.840 --> 01:08:14.559 push or whether there's a team on the cusp of 1363 01:08:14.679 --> 01:08:17.439 contention that is going to kind of shock everybody and 1364 01:08:18.239 --> 01:08:20.279 and make Alex Bregman kind of the face of their 1365 01:08:20.319 --> 01:08:24.119 next team. I don't know, but uh, well, they picked 1366 01:08:24.199 --> 01:08:27.000 up au Henio Swarez his option, so he. 1367 01:08:26.960 --> 01:08:27.840 Is in trench there. 1368 01:08:27.840 --> 01:08:30.199 But I mean they could move him, sure, sure, but 1369 01:08:30.520 --> 01:08:32.720 it doesn't seem like the it doesn't seem like the 1370 01:08:32.760 --> 01:08:35.399 Dbacks would go into that into the pool money wise, 1371 01:08:35.439 --> 01:08:38.039 but they may not have a choice given what's going 1372 01:08:38.079 --> 01:08:39.359 on in the NL West. 1373 01:08:39.399 --> 01:08:40.119 I mean, the. 1374 01:08:40.000 --> 01:08:42.800 Giants got a domis the Dodgers or the Dodgers. The 1375 01:08:42.840 --> 01:08:45.439 Padres are really really good. I mean, they want to 1376 01:08:45.520 --> 01:08:48.119 keep competing in that division, they may have to make 1377 01:08:48.159 --> 01:08:48.720 a big move. 1378 01:08:48.760 --> 01:08:49.640 So Yeah, they could be. 1379 01:08:49.560 --> 01:08:51.800 Someone involved, but they do have It should be noted 1380 01:08:51.800 --> 01:08:54.600 they do have au Heno Swarez under contract next year. 1381 01:08:54.640 --> 01:08:55.479 He would play their base. 1382 01:08:55.760 --> 01:08:57.920 We talked quite a bit about some of the fallback 1383 01:08:57.960 --> 01:09:00.319 options there might be if Bregman signed elsewhere. They have 1384 01:09:00.399 --> 01:09:02.880 taken care of that, as you just said, presumably with 1385 01:09:02.920 --> 01:09:05.600 Perett's playing third base, but in the process have opened 1386 01:09:05.680 --> 01:09:08.479 up a different vacancy in the outfield and still the 1387 01:09:08.520 --> 01:09:12.359 vacancy at first base. Are there other free agent names 1388 01:09:12.399 --> 01:09:15.239 of whatever value they might command this offseason that you 1389 01:09:15.359 --> 01:09:18.479 believe Dana Brown and the Astros and Jim Crane are 1390 01:09:18.600 --> 01:09:21.279 actually interested in potentially bringing to Houston. 1391 01:09:22.640 --> 01:09:23.920 Yeah, I mean, I think they're gonna have to look 1392 01:09:23.920 --> 01:09:25.600 in the reliever market, They're gonna have to look in 1393 01:09:25.640 --> 01:09:26.680 the in the starting market. 1394 01:09:26.720 --> 01:09:29.039 I think now this puts them they're. 1395 01:09:28.880 --> 01:09:32.000 Going to have to go get an established outfielder, a 1396 01:09:32.079 --> 01:09:34.560 left handed hitting outfielder, and that was there. They've been 1397 01:09:34.600 --> 01:09:37.239 needing to do that all all off season, even that 1398 01:09:37.600 --> 01:09:39.840 they've been talking about. They didn't even before they traded Tucker. 1399 01:09:39.920 --> 01:09:41.880 But so I think they're going to be in the 1400 01:09:41.880 --> 01:09:46.760 market for an outfielder. You know, I've heard that while 1401 01:09:46.760 --> 01:09:48.199 it's not considered you. 1402 01:09:48.199 --> 01:09:50.000 Know, serious or close or anything. 1403 01:09:50.479 --> 01:09:54.000 They have checked in on Nolan Aarnado, who is available 1404 01:09:54.119 --> 01:09:57.119 to via trade with the Cardinals, but he makes a 1405 01:09:57.159 --> 01:09:59.239 lot of money and he has no trade clause, which 1406 01:09:59.279 --> 01:10:02.079 means he can, you know, have authority on where he goes. 1407 01:10:02.199 --> 01:10:04.439 So they they have at least checked in on him. 1408 01:10:04.479 --> 01:10:05.359 So I guess we'll see. 1409 01:10:05.359 --> 01:10:08.479 But you know, I think right now they may need 1410 01:10:08.520 --> 01:10:11.159 to sit down for a little bit reassessed, let the 1411 01:10:11.359 --> 01:10:13.840 gravity of this maybe dissipate for a day or two. 1412 01:10:13.880 --> 01:10:17.159 But I think their needs now are the same that 1413 01:10:17.199 --> 01:10:18.520 they were always started. 1414 01:10:18.279 --> 01:10:20.960 The off season, just out of curiosity one player in particular, 1415 01:10:21.000 --> 01:10:23.760 switch hitting outfield or Anthony Sontan dare. Do you think 1416 01:10:23.800 --> 01:10:27.640 the Astros would dive into that territory neighborhood of you know, 1417 01:10:27.720 --> 01:10:31.079 four years, eighty five years, one hundred and something for 1418 01:10:31.119 --> 01:10:31.880 a player like that. 1419 01:10:31.920 --> 01:10:34.159 Would they go that long, that much money with a 1420 01:10:34.199 --> 01:10:34.760 player like that? 1421 01:10:34.880 --> 01:10:35.279 You think? 1422 01:10:36.640 --> 01:10:39.119 I find again, I find that hard to believe, because 1423 01:10:39.119 --> 01:10:39.840 if they're going to do. 1424 01:10:39.800 --> 01:10:42.720 That, then why not just turn back to Bregman? 1425 01:10:43.159 --> 01:10:45.199 Like if you're going to go that aav if you're 1426 01:10:45.199 --> 01:10:47.319 going to go like a twenty five thirty million dollars 1427 01:10:47.359 --> 01:10:50.399 av like I would think Bregman would be the guy, 1428 01:10:50.479 --> 01:10:53.359 but maybe they don't value Bregman like you know, other 1429 01:10:53.399 --> 01:10:56.079 teams do. I'm not sure, but yeah, I think this 1430 01:10:56.159 --> 01:10:59.119 could open it up for you know, maybe a little 1431 01:10:59.119 --> 01:11:01.800 bit of a deeper look Anthony Santander a guy that 1432 01:11:01.840 --> 01:11:05.359 can play one of the corner spots. This obviously, you know, 1433 01:11:05.560 --> 01:11:08.920 do you look at teams that are have outfield surplus 1434 01:11:08.960 --> 01:11:11.119 and do you look to trade other places? Because look, 1435 01:11:11.119 --> 01:11:14.359 there's other pieces on this roster, on this major league 1436 01:11:14.439 --> 01:11:16.880 roster that that can be used in trades, you know, 1437 01:11:17.159 --> 01:11:20.439 whether it's Valvez, whether you start looking at some of 1438 01:11:20.479 --> 01:11:22.920 the guys making you know a little bit less you know, 1439 01:11:23.039 --> 01:11:24.800 does this put Chas McCormick on the block? 1440 01:11:24.960 --> 01:11:26.760 If if they can go find. 1441 01:11:27.000 --> 01:11:30.920 A more proven, concept, more proven outfielder, does this put 1442 01:11:30.960 --> 01:11:33.319 Chas McCormick on the trade block? Is maybe somebody that 1443 01:11:33.640 --> 01:11:35.640 they can they can get a more veteran outfielder for 1444 01:11:35.800 --> 01:11:37.800 I'm not sure. So there could be they could go 1445 01:11:37.840 --> 01:11:40.520 a ton of different ways with this, but I. 1446 01:11:40.760 --> 01:11:42.760 Don't know that they have it all figured out right now. 1447 01:11:42.760 --> 01:11:44.640 It's gonna take a little it's gonna take a little. 1448 01:11:44.399 --> 01:11:48.479 Bit, so again Bregman is resigning, right, Please. 1449 01:11:48.279 --> 01:11:50.479 Don't please don't look. 1450 01:11:51.039 --> 01:11:53.640 Look, guys, I have I have, I have concert tickets 1451 01:11:53.640 --> 01:11:54.760 tonight behind them. 1452 01:11:55.600 --> 01:11:57.840 I'm I'm just happy that. 1453 01:11:57.880 --> 01:12:00.039 I'm just happy this went down now because I I 1454 01:12:00.039 --> 01:12:04.159 could have envisioned myself being at this concert hall after 1455 01:12:04.960 --> 01:12:08.880 participating in some activities and being in no condition to 1456 01:12:09.840 --> 01:12:11.800 talk to you or to write any of this stuff. 1457 01:12:11.840 --> 01:12:15.640 Wait, Chamings, thanks to Dana and Jed for getting this done. 1458 01:12:15.640 --> 01:12:15.800 Now. 1459 01:12:15.920 --> 01:12:18.079 Please tell me that you're going to see Richard Marx 1460 01:12:18.119 --> 01:12:20.359 at the Arena Theater tonight. 1461 01:12:20.720 --> 01:12:26.319 Who is that? Is he a Marx brother? I thought 1462 01:12:26.319 --> 01:12:26.840 they were dead? 1463 01:12:26.960 --> 01:12:30.199 No, it's different, it's a different marks, no relation, Chandler. 1464 01:12:30.279 --> 01:12:31.279 We know you're very busy. 1465 01:12:31.319 --> 01:12:33.640 We appreciate you taking the time out on the fly. 1466 01:12:33.880 --> 01:12:35.840 Good stuff as always, and I'm sure we'll catch up 1467 01:12:35.920 --> 01:12:38.079 very soon after the Bregman deal follows. 1468 01:12:39.119 --> 01:12:40.039 All right, thanks guys. 1469 01:12:42.239 --> 01:12:46.680 Richard Marx twenty one jump street right, if I'm not mistaken, No, 1470 01:12:46.840 --> 01:12:51.439 maybe wrong anyway, Yeah, Chandler, if you didn't know that, 1471 01:12:51.600 --> 01:12:54.359 then me, at thirty nine years old, I would not 1472 01:12:54.520 --> 01:12:57.000 know that either. No, it was Richard Griico is who 1473 01:12:57.039 --> 01:13:01.000 I was thinking of, right, Yeah, that's right. Richard Griico 1474 01:13:01.319 --> 01:13:04.680 was twenty one Jump Street, so anyway, dated reference, I know. 1475 01:13:04.880 --> 01:13:07.640 But anyway, we've done an hour and a half of 1476 01:13:07.840 --> 01:13:11.039 Astro's conversation. You know the rules here on Space City 1477 01:13:11.079 --> 01:13:13.359 Saturday if you didn't have a chance to get into it, 1478 01:13:13.399 --> 01:13:16.439 but it's been covered. It's fair games, so if you 1479 01:13:16.479 --> 01:13:18.479 want to way in going forward, you can do so 1480 01:13:18.600 --> 01:13:21.199 again seven one three two one two five seven ninety. 1481 01:13:21.199 --> 01:13:24.039 Once again, that's sebon one three two one two five 1482 01:13:24.359 --> 01:13:26.840 seven ninety, but a couple of segments left to go 1483 01:13:26.960 --> 01:13:30.239 coming up next. Let's get into some Texans conversation. An 1484 01:13:30.319 --> 01:13:34.680 interesting bit of news regarding the Texans leading into tomorrow's 1485 01:13:34.720 --> 01:13:37.720 game that definitely want to share with you and react to. 1486 01:13:37.840 --> 01:13:41.079 So we'll do that next right here, Sports Talk seven ninety. 1487 01:13:44.479 --> 01:13:51.359 Space City Saturday continues, Sey Matthews with you. 1488 01:13:51.680 --> 01:13:55.119 Yeah, you know Astros fans out there, Texans fans too, 1489 01:13:55.640 --> 01:13:59.279 hoping that you don't see the Grinch trying to come 1490 01:13:59.319 --> 01:14:00.760 in and steal Christmas. 1491 01:14:00.920 --> 01:14:01.800 I don't think you will. 1492 01:14:02.000 --> 01:14:06.159 But anyway, a good pool right there by Melvin Brown 1493 01:14:06.319 --> 01:14:10.199 here on Space City Saturday. Again, Dan Matthews here with you. 1494 01:14:10.319 --> 01:14:14.520 We got up until noon, and don't forget, I'll be 1495 01:14:14.560 --> 01:14:17.119 coming back your way Rockets launch Pad leading you up 1496 01:14:17.119 --> 01:14:21.600 to the Rockets and the Thunder tonight from Las Vegas, 1497 01:14:21.640 --> 01:14:24.479 part of the play in Tournament. And like I said, 1498 01:14:24.520 --> 01:14:28.039 saw Matt Thomas out there at the Blackjack tables last night, 1499 01:14:28.199 --> 01:14:30.520 so he's having himself a good time out there. And 1500 01:14:30.560 --> 01:14:34.319 hopefully the Rockets able to extend their stay there in 1501 01:14:34.640 --> 01:14:38.079 Vegas for the play in Tournament, because if they win 1502 01:14:38.119 --> 01:14:41.560 the night, we'll go ahead and see who wins the 1503 01:14:41.680 --> 01:14:44.840 earlier game this afternoon between the Atlanta Hawks and the 1504 01:14:44.880 --> 01:14:48.920 Milwaukee Bucks, and whoever wins that, that's who plays for 1505 01:14:48.960 --> 01:14:50.439 the entire thing next week. 1506 01:14:50.600 --> 01:14:53.319 So that's what we have to look forward to. Again. 1507 01:14:53.800 --> 01:14:55.399 If you want to weigh in on the phone lines, 1508 01:14:55.399 --> 01:14:57.239 you can do so seven one three two one two 1509 01:14:57.319 --> 01:14:59.760 five seven ninety. Once again, that's seven one three two 1510 01:14:59.760 --> 01:15:04.920 one to five seven nine zero. So the Texans know 1511 01:15:05.039 --> 01:15:08.359 that they're going to be without Juice Scruggs for some time. 1512 01:15:08.479 --> 01:15:10.399 Got a foot issue, not gonna be able to go 1513 01:15:10.439 --> 01:15:13.039 tomorrow and likely not gonna be able to go for 1514 01:15:13.800 --> 01:15:17.520 at least the next couple of games after that at least, 1515 01:15:17.640 --> 01:15:21.359 and Aaron Wilson, our own buddy, our own Sports Talk 1516 01:15:21.399 --> 01:15:24.439 seven to ninety contributor, throwing out a report about thirty 1517 01:15:24.520 --> 01:15:27.199 minutes ago that the Texans are going to move Titus 1518 01:15:27.199 --> 01:15:32.960 Howard from right tackle to left guard for tomorrow's game 1519 01:15:33.079 --> 01:15:36.520 against the Dolphins, and rookie Blake Fisher going to be 1520 01:15:36.680 --> 01:15:40.119 at the right tackle spot, so the offensive line would 1521 01:15:40.119 --> 01:15:45.079 look like going from left to right Tunsul Howard, Patterson, 1522 01:15:46.560 --> 01:15:50.159 Jack Mason, and then also to Fisher there at the 1523 01:15:50.239 --> 01:15:53.000 right tackle spot. I mean, look, this is kind of 1524 01:15:53.039 --> 01:15:57.079 a situation twofold with the Texans at this point. I think, 1525 01:15:57.720 --> 01:15:59.800 you know, the first thing you're looking at is they're 1526 01:15:59.840 --> 01:16:01.680 just the first and foremost trying to find a group 1527 01:16:01.720 --> 01:16:04.000 of five that's going to be able to protect CJ. 1528 01:16:04.119 --> 01:16:07.199 Stroud and be able to give them an opportunity to 1529 01:16:08.159 --> 01:16:10.760 get the line moving. And I think we can probably 1530 01:16:10.800 --> 01:16:13.119 agree that two of the best offensive linemen for the 1531 01:16:13.119 --> 01:16:16.079 team this year have been your tackles, both, you know, 1532 01:16:16.239 --> 01:16:19.439 Tunsil and Howard. I mean, I understand that Tunsil wears 1533 01:16:19.439 --> 01:16:22.680 a lot of frustration from Texans fans, and Howard too 1534 01:16:22.960 --> 01:16:25.880 a little bit as well with the pre snap penalties 1535 01:16:25.920 --> 01:16:28.479 things like that. But I mean, you know, in terms 1536 01:16:28.520 --> 01:16:31.479 of this season, the interior of the offensive line has 1537 01:16:31.520 --> 01:16:34.359 been an issue. And what my guess is with the 1538 01:16:34.399 --> 01:16:38.920 conversations that the coaching staff over thereon Kirby had about 1539 01:16:38.960 --> 01:16:41.840 their offensive line was Okay, what can give us the 1540 01:16:41.840 --> 01:16:44.600 best opportunity to be able to put our best offensive 1541 01:16:44.600 --> 01:16:47.560 line together? And I think it's also too as well. 1542 01:16:47.640 --> 01:16:50.039 I mean, you look at a standpoint of you spent 1543 01:16:50.079 --> 01:16:53.279 a second round pick on Blake Fisher. You want to 1544 01:16:53.279 --> 01:16:55.279 see what he's got, and you've been able to see 1545 01:16:55.279 --> 01:16:57.840 it a couple of times this year, either through injury 1546 01:16:58.079 --> 01:17:01.640 or through just necessity of having to have him play. 1547 01:17:02.000 --> 01:17:04.760 But you haven't had him play consistent snaps this season. 1548 01:17:04.960 --> 01:17:07.239 And I think that now this is kind of one 1549 01:17:07.279 --> 01:17:09.840 of those where you might be saying, well, wait a minute, Dan, 1550 01:17:09.880 --> 01:17:13.039 in this final four game stretch of the season, this 1551 01:17:13.119 --> 01:17:15.560 is not a time to be doing experiments. I would 1552 01:17:15.560 --> 01:17:18.880 actually disagree. I think that this is absolutely the time 1553 01:17:18.960 --> 01:17:21.640 to be able to do set experiment because you want 1554 01:17:21.680 --> 01:17:23.800 to find out what you've got in him and if 1555 01:17:23.800 --> 01:17:27.399 he's somebody that you know, if you don't feel incredibly 1556 01:17:27.439 --> 01:17:30.159 good about what he gives you from the right tackle spot, 1557 01:17:30.720 --> 01:17:33.880 then maybe eventually you look at him on the inside. 1558 01:17:33.920 --> 01:17:36.479 It doesn't sound like they have any designs of doing that, 1559 01:17:37.079 --> 01:17:39.920 but it's also too as well. I mean you've got 1560 01:17:39.920 --> 01:17:43.319 to find out number one can he play? And number 1561 01:17:43.359 --> 01:17:45.600 two where would be the best spot on the line 1562 01:17:45.640 --> 01:17:47.920 for him to play. I mean, this could be something 1563 01:17:48.000 --> 01:17:50.960 that if it works incredibly well, that all of a 1564 01:17:50.960 --> 01:17:54.760 sudden Nick Cassario and his staff there in terms of 1565 01:17:54.800 --> 01:17:58.039 building out this roster for the teams going forward, they 1566 01:17:58.119 --> 01:18:01.079 say to themselves, all right, well, well, now we've got 1567 01:18:01.159 --> 01:18:03.399 three spots on the offensive line that we feel really 1568 01:18:03.399 --> 01:18:03.880 good about. 1569 01:18:03.960 --> 01:18:04.960 What about the other two? 1570 01:18:05.399 --> 01:18:08.000 And if that's either through the draft or if that's 1571 01:18:08.079 --> 01:18:11.039 going out free agency, trade, anything like that, that's where 1572 01:18:11.039 --> 01:18:12.800 you can find it. I mean, if I had the 1573 01:18:12.840 --> 01:18:16.000 guests without looking at Shack Mason's contract number, just the 1574 01:18:16.000 --> 01:18:18.560 way he's played this season, I would probably guess this 1575 01:18:18.600 --> 01:18:20.800 is the end of the line for Shaq Mason. I 1576 01:18:20.840 --> 01:18:22.159 think it's a little bit of kind of a wait 1577 01:18:22.199 --> 01:18:26.359 and see on Patterson and Scrugs on the interior. I mean, 1578 01:18:26.800 --> 01:18:29.359 if you feel like one can be better than the 1579 01:18:29.399 --> 01:18:32.479 other as your center, or maybe even two. I mean, 1580 01:18:32.520 --> 01:18:34.760 you know, who's to say that this group doesn't work 1581 01:18:35.199 --> 01:18:38.279 and that Drew Scruggs comes back and you feel like, hey, 1582 01:18:38.399 --> 01:18:43.079 we can slide Scrugs in at the right or right 1583 01:18:43.119 --> 01:18:46.000 guard spot and that's a way that you're able to 1584 01:18:46.119 --> 01:18:49.199 kind of build up this line from there. And I 1585 01:18:49.279 --> 01:18:51.760 know that some people might look at it and say, oh, well, 1586 01:18:51.760 --> 01:18:53.960 isn't it just as simple as you know, being able 1587 01:18:54.000 --> 01:18:56.680 to you know, plug in guys in any spot on 1588 01:18:56.680 --> 01:18:58.399 the line and it's just going to work out? 1589 01:18:58.680 --> 01:18:59.760 Not necessarily. 1590 01:18:59.840 --> 01:19:03.359 I mean, the right tackles responsibilities are far different than 1591 01:19:03.359 --> 01:19:06.319 what the left tackles. Responsibilities are. The center different from 1592 01:19:06.439 --> 01:19:09.640 right or left guard. So I mean it is something 1593 01:19:09.680 --> 01:19:12.199 that you would have to practice through. You'd have to 1594 01:19:12.479 --> 01:19:15.680 even go through what experience do you have at those positions? 1595 01:19:15.800 --> 01:19:19.920 Because again, I mean it's responsibilities, it's the calls, it's 1596 01:19:19.960 --> 01:19:22.960 all of these different things that you look through and 1597 01:19:23.199 --> 01:19:25.600 try to determine, you know, all right, you know, does 1598 01:19:25.640 --> 01:19:28.079 this guy slot out better at being at this position 1599 01:19:28.319 --> 01:19:31.199 or does this guy play better at another position? I mean, 1600 01:19:31.239 --> 01:19:33.479 I think that that's something that you kind of have 1601 01:19:33.560 --> 01:19:35.640 to work through, and that's what it sounds like the 1602 01:19:35.680 --> 01:19:38.600 Texans are doing in terms of trying to get ready 1603 01:19:38.680 --> 01:19:43.359 for tomorrow's game. In terms of the availability of players 1604 01:19:43.399 --> 01:19:45.680 for this one tomorrow, the only player that's ruled out 1605 01:19:45.760 --> 01:19:50.399 at this moment is Jews Scruggs. Nick Broker has a 1606 01:19:50.479 --> 01:19:54.560 hand issue. He's been somebody that's not been active for 1607 01:19:54.640 --> 01:19:57.359 most of the season, So I mean, I don't necessarily 1608 01:19:57.359 --> 01:19:58.880 know if you were kind of counting on him to 1609 01:19:58.920 --> 01:19:59.960 be ready to go for this one. 1610 01:20:00.600 --> 01:20:01.199 Kenyan Green. 1611 01:20:01.439 --> 01:20:03.800 I mean, you heard Bobby Slowich say it earlier this week, 1612 01:20:03.840 --> 01:20:07.279 and we played the audio on the A team that 1613 01:20:07.479 --> 01:20:09.399 they're saying, you know, they've got to be able to 1614 01:20:09.439 --> 01:20:11.439 try to get him healthy again. I mean, even though 1615 01:20:11.479 --> 01:20:14.199 he's been designated to return, he's missed some time and 1616 01:20:14.279 --> 01:20:16.000 also too, I mean, I think a huge part of 1617 01:20:16.079 --> 01:20:18.800 that as well is that it might kind of be 1618 01:20:19.039 --> 01:20:21.960 the beginning of the end for Kenyan Green with the Texans. 1619 01:20:21.960 --> 01:20:24.159 I mean, just kind of looking at what they've been 1620 01:20:24.199 --> 01:20:25.520 able to get out of them, and I don't think 1621 01:20:25.560 --> 01:20:28.640 that it necessarily has met what they hoped that they 1622 01:20:28.640 --> 01:20:29.960 were getting when they drafted him. 1623 01:20:29.960 --> 01:20:33.000 Ount of TEXTA seeing him, So I think that's another 1624 01:20:33.000 --> 01:20:33.840 part of it. As well. 1625 01:20:33.960 --> 01:20:36.399 I mean, you know, you've gotten good football out of Scruggs, 1626 01:20:36.439 --> 01:20:40.600 You've gotten good performances out of Jared Patterson, that it's 1627 01:20:40.680 --> 01:20:42.399 kind of like, where does he fit in? I mean, 1628 01:20:42.439 --> 01:20:44.760 do we even need to rush him back at this point? 1629 01:20:45.159 --> 01:20:47.159 And again, you know I talked about it earlier with 1630 01:20:47.199 --> 01:20:49.079 trying to find out what you have of Blake Fisher. 1631 01:20:49.159 --> 01:20:51.119 I think that's a part of it as well of 1632 01:20:51.319 --> 01:20:53.960 you know, we've given Kenyan Green a chance. Now it's 1633 01:20:53.960 --> 01:20:55.840 time for us to give this guy a chance and 1634 01:20:55.920 --> 01:20:58.520 see what he's got. So I think that's kind of 1635 01:20:58.880 --> 01:21:01.960 playing into this a little little bit as well. In 1636 01:21:02.039 --> 01:21:05.720 terms of Christian Harris with the calf, he's questionable, but 1637 01:21:05.760 --> 01:21:07.520 it sounds like he's going to be a go for 1638 01:21:07.640 --> 01:21:11.680 this one. I don't expect much out of Christian Harris tomorrow, honestly. 1639 01:21:11.880 --> 01:21:14.800 I mean, I think you're probably looking at mixing and 1640 01:21:14.840 --> 01:21:17.359 matching a little bit in terms of series. If I 1641 01:21:17.359 --> 01:21:19.920 had to guess who the starting linebackers are going to be, 1642 01:21:20.119 --> 01:21:22.560 you're looking at Neville Hewitt and you're looking at Henry Tollato. 1643 01:21:23.399 --> 01:21:26.319 That's who you're going to be seeing the most of tomorrow. 1644 01:21:26.359 --> 01:21:28.800 Devin White, I think with the amount of time that 1645 01:21:28.840 --> 01:21:31.439 he's been out with this team this year in terms 1646 01:21:31.479 --> 01:21:34.399 of being on the field and going through practices, everything 1647 01:21:34.399 --> 01:21:36.600 of the sort, I think he would probably be the 1648 01:21:36.600 --> 01:21:40.039 next option to be able to cycle in in those rotations. 1649 01:21:40.560 --> 01:21:44.119 But maybe fifteen twenty plays. 1650 01:21:43.680 --> 01:21:46.079 Tomorrow out of Christian Harris, I think is kind of 1651 01:21:46.079 --> 01:21:48.760 what you're looking at. I mean, the goal now with 1652 01:21:48.800 --> 01:21:51.399 getting Harris back at this point is to try to 1653 01:21:51.800 --> 01:21:54.079 these next few games kind of treated almost like his 1654 01:21:54.119 --> 01:22:00.520 preseason and maybe that final game against the Tennessee iTANs 1655 01:22:00.600 --> 01:22:03.000 as kind of, hey, all right, let's give him full 1656 01:22:03.039 --> 01:22:06.680 go here, let's see what he's got, and then hopefully 1657 01:22:06.920 --> 01:22:08.840 if you're able to get into the playoffs then that 1658 01:22:08.920 --> 01:22:12.159 wild card round. He's pretty much at mid season shape 1659 01:22:12.239 --> 01:22:15.439 at that point, so that's what you get for him 1660 01:22:15.479 --> 01:22:17.960 being out for the first fifteen weeks of the season. So, 1661 01:22:18.159 --> 01:22:19.800 I mean, he's missed about three and a half months 1662 01:22:19.800 --> 01:22:22.239 of football at this point, so it's kind of hard 1663 01:22:22.279 --> 01:22:24.279 to think that he can come in and plug and 1664 01:22:24.319 --> 01:22:27.359 play immediately, and especially too at that linebacker spot. I 1665 01:22:27.439 --> 01:22:30.159 just don't see it being the case. So anyway, that's 1666 01:22:30.199 --> 01:22:32.479 what it looks like for the Texans. Tomorrow against the 1667 01:22:32.560 --> 01:22:36.239 Miami Dolphins. Again, a noon kick over there at NRG Stadium. 1668 01:22:36.279 --> 01:22:39.880 Yours truly, Adam Wexler. We'll be over there, and of 1669 01:22:39.920 --> 01:22:43.479 course after the game, getting stuff from the postgame locker room. 1670 01:22:43.560 --> 01:22:48.199 But a fun NFL weekend nonetheless, I mean, of course, 1671 01:22:48.239 --> 01:22:50.520 with us paying attention to what's going on over there, 1672 01:22:50.760 --> 01:22:53.079 we'll be paying attention in the afternoon two as well 1673 01:22:53.119 --> 01:22:56.159 to what's happening with the Colts and the Broncos as 1674 01:22:56.199 --> 01:22:58.720 well as I think a lot of Texans fans are 1675 01:22:58.880 --> 01:23:02.960 huge Bronco fans tomorrow, especially with what's on the line 1676 01:23:03.000 --> 01:23:05.560 between the Texans and the Colts at this point. 1677 01:23:05.840 --> 01:23:06.920 I've said it numerous times. 1678 01:23:06.960 --> 01:23:08.760 I mean, even though you're in your tougher part of 1679 01:23:08.800 --> 01:23:11.720 the schedule, this is the Texans division to lose, and 1680 01:23:12.039 --> 01:23:15.159 if they do end up losing out on the AFC South, 1681 01:23:15.279 --> 01:23:17.600 then it's only them to blame. I mean, you know, 1682 01:23:17.680 --> 01:23:20.520 it's a game tomorrow where you've lost too straight at 1683 01:23:20.600 --> 01:23:23.199 NRG Stadium. You want to be able to break that 1684 01:23:23.319 --> 01:23:27.119 schneid right there, and also too, I mean the following 1685 01:23:27.159 --> 01:23:28.920 week you go up to Kansas City, a team that 1686 01:23:28.960 --> 01:23:31.600 I think is kind of tempted fate quite a bit 1687 01:23:31.640 --> 01:23:34.279 this season. So to believe that the Texans don't have 1688 01:23:34.279 --> 01:23:36.399 a chance to win that game, I think would be foolish. 1689 01:23:36.800 --> 01:23:39.439 And then finally a team that they just have not 1690 01:23:39.560 --> 01:23:42.119 been able to solve the puzzle for pretty much the 1691 01:23:42.279 --> 01:23:47.000 entire existence of this organization, the Baltimore Ravens on Christmas Day. 1692 01:23:47.479 --> 01:23:50.000 That'll be a tough one and no doubt about it. 1693 01:23:50.079 --> 01:23:54.119 So that's what Texans have here going forward, all right? 1694 01:23:54.159 --> 01:23:56.199 Coming up next the Rockets. 1695 01:23:56.520 --> 01:23:59.399 Good things from them the other night, good things for 1696 01:23:59.520 --> 01:24:02.399 most of this season, and tonight I think is another 1697 01:24:02.520 --> 01:24:03.439 proving ground for them. 1698 01:24:03.479 --> 01:24:05.479 I'll explain what I mean next as. 1699 01:24:05.319 --> 01:24:08.680 We close out this edition of Space City Saturday. Dan 1700 01:24:08.720 --> 01:24:10.960 Matthews here with you on your home of the Astros 1701 01:24:11.000 --> 01:24:12.960 and the Rockets, Sports Talk seven ninety. 1702 01:24:15.279 --> 01:24:19.399 Welcome back to Space City Saturday, Sports Talk seven. 1703 01:24:19.199 --> 01:24:22.520 Ninety Sports Talks seven ninety. 1704 01:24:22.960 --> 01:24:30.520 Ian Matthews here with you on a two Christmases away Saturday. 1705 01:24:30.680 --> 01:24:34.760 So that's what we have for two weeks away from Christmas. 1706 01:24:34.800 --> 01:24:37.319 What a week and a half. I don't know who days, 1707 01:24:37.359 --> 01:24:37.600 you know. 1708 01:24:38.000 --> 01:24:40.359 Look, the only thing I know is today is Saturday, 1709 01:24:40.399 --> 01:24:42.680 all right, and it's eleven forty nine. Right now, That's 1710 01:24:42.800 --> 01:24:44.880 that's what I know, all right, Don't ask me for 1711 01:24:44.920 --> 01:24:45.720 many more details. 1712 01:24:45.720 --> 01:24:48.039 Don't get too demanding with me. Okay, it's been a 1713 01:24:48.039 --> 01:24:49.680 long week. 1714 01:24:49.319 --> 01:24:51.359 I think once you get to this point, you're kind 1715 01:24:51.359 --> 01:24:55.279 of like, eh, whatever, details, semantics. I'll let Adam Wexler 1716 01:24:55.319 --> 01:24:59.000 worry about that. But anyway, the Rocket's coming your way 1717 01:24:59.119 --> 01:25:01.680 tonight right here on your home of the Rockets Sports 1718 01:25:01.720 --> 01:25:06.000 Talk seven to ninety as it will be NBA A 1719 01:25:06.079 --> 01:25:11.680 Cup playing tournament semi finals for the Rockets tonight against 1720 01:25:11.760 --> 01:25:15.359 the Oklahoma City Thunder. And of course to get to 1721 01:25:15.399 --> 01:25:18.319 this point Wednesday night, you had to battle towards the end, 1722 01:25:18.479 --> 01:25:21.079 and the Rockets able to do that. I mean, it 1723 01:25:21.119 --> 01:25:22.880 was looking bleak right there with about a minute and 1724 01:25:22.880 --> 01:25:24.800 a half to go. I mean, I think most of 1725 01:25:24.880 --> 01:25:28.039 us are probably watching that game and we're just like, man, 1726 01:25:28.079 --> 01:25:31.880 come on, like, seriously, we're gonna do this. You know, 1727 01:25:32.680 --> 01:25:34.840 this is seriously what we're gonna do. We're gonna lose 1728 01:25:34.880 --> 01:25:37.760 to these guys again. Then the Rockets able to knock 1729 01:25:37.800 --> 01:25:40.800 down some shots, able to get some huge plays down 1730 01:25:40.840 --> 01:25:44.560 the stretch, and of course to the foul which Steve 1731 01:25:44.640 --> 01:25:48.000 Kerr he whined about, and we heard Steve Kerr whinding 1732 01:25:48.039 --> 01:25:51.079 about it, but also too as well. By the way, 1733 01:25:51.239 --> 01:25:54.119 I mean, unless I've missed it, has the NBA fined 1734 01:25:54.239 --> 01:25:55.319 Steve Kerr. 1735 01:25:55.039 --> 01:25:56.840 Yet for that? Or is it? 1736 01:25:56.960 --> 01:25:59.840 Oh yet again another thing that works in the favor 1737 01:25:59.840 --> 01:26:03.119 of Steve Kerr. Okay, yeah, but he wants to act 1738 01:26:03.159 --> 01:26:05.960 like a huge victim here, got it? Okay, I just 1739 01:26:05.960 --> 01:26:07.319 wanted to make sure, you know, I just want to 1740 01:26:07.359 --> 01:26:09.520 make sure we're kind of on the same page here. 1741 01:26:09.560 --> 01:26:12.359 But anyway, the NBA did come out with the last 1742 01:26:12.359 --> 01:26:16.000 two minute report the next day and said that the 1743 01:26:16.039 --> 01:26:20.439 only miscall there in the final two minutes was that 1744 01:26:20.880 --> 01:26:24.119 Pajemski should have been called for a five seconds violation. 1745 01:26:24.359 --> 01:26:26.079 So there you go, Steve Kerr. 1746 01:26:26.119 --> 01:26:28.319 You can eat it and you can enjoy being at 1747 01:26:28.319 --> 01:26:31.239 home with not being able to go to Vegas. That 1748 01:26:31.319 --> 01:26:33.880 was the best part of Kerr's little whiny rant right there, 1749 01:26:34.520 --> 01:26:36.279 was at the end when. 1750 01:26:36.399 --> 01:26:38.359 He was like, I really wanted to go to Vegas. 1751 01:26:38.520 --> 01:26:41.000 Well, you don't get to go to Vegas, and the 1752 01:26:41.159 --> 01:26:43.840 Rockets do and looks like they're having fun out there. 1753 01:26:43.880 --> 01:26:45.439 They met with the media yesterday. 1754 01:26:46.079 --> 01:26:49.279 Gonna get the thunder tonight team that they were able 1755 01:26:49.319 --> 01:26:51.640 to take down the last time they faced him after 1756 01:26:52.079 --> 01:26:56.640 a really rough performance against them in the game that 1757 01:26:56.640 --> 01:26:58.000 they played up in ok See. 1758 01:26:58.319 --> 01:27:00.439 But now it's a. 1759 01:27:00.479 --> 01:27:03.199 Chance for the Rockets to be able to, you know, 1760 01:27:03.279 --> 01:27:06.640 try to not only you know, take another step in 1761 01:27:06.720 --> 01:27:09.560 terms of signaling to the NBA world that you know, 1762 01:27:09.600 --> 01:27:12.239 this team is taking a step forward in a team 1763 01:27:12.279 --> 01:27:15.680 that is a legitimate competitor for the Western Conference. But 1764 01:27:15.960 --> 01:27:18.840 I mean, I think it's also too for these young guys, 1765 01:27:18.840 --> 01:27:21.079 you kind of get your first taste to playoff basketball. 1766 01:27:21.199 --> 01:27:22.960 I mean, you know, it is a little bit more 1767 01:27:23.000 --> 01:27:25.279 in the mold of the n C DOUBLEA Tournament, which 1768 01:27:25.560 --> 01:27:27.479 most of the guys on this team are familiar with. 1769 01:27:27.520 --> 01:27:29.960 I mean Jabari Smith junior taking part in the n 1770 01:27:29.960 --> 01:27:33.079 C Double A tournament. I mean Fred van Vliet obviously 1771 01:27:33.600 --> 01:27:36.760 definitely did I remember seeing Fred van Vliet play in 1772 01:27:36.800 --> 01:27:40.239 the final four in that really good game against Louisville 1773 01:27:40.520 --> 01:27:42.239 back a few years ago when that was the final 1774 01:27:42.279 --> 01:27:47.640 four of Wichitas State, Louisville, Syracuse and Michigan there and 1775 01:27:48.079 --> 01:27:50.520 of course Louisville able to win it that season. But 1776 01:27:51.239 --> 01:27:54.159 he knows experience from that. But I mean just overall 1777 01:27:54.239 --> 01:27:56.760 from this. I mean, I think that's another part of it, 1778 01:27:56.800 --> 01:27:58.920 is that it's a chance to kind of, you know, 1779 01:27:59.000 --> 01:28:01.079 show him like, this is the mindset you have to 1780 01:28:01.119 --> 01:28:03.800 have during the playoffs, this is how you have to 1781 01:28:03.800 --> 01:28:05.760 go about your business during the playoffs, and this is 1782 01:28:05.800 --> 01:28:08.039 how you win in the playoffs. And I think that 1783 01:28:08.960 --> 01:28:11.479 all of those things are kind of at play right now. 1784 01:28:11.680 --> 01:28:14.760 But it will be a fun one tonight again Matt 1785 01:28:14.800 --> 01:28:18.680 Thomas and Adam Wexler on the call. Matt there in Vegas, 1786 01:28:18.720 --> 01:28:23.279 wex back here in our iHeartRadio Houston studios. So it'll 1787 01:28:23.319 --> 01:28:26.000 be a fun time six thirty again coming your way 1788 01:28:26.039 --> 01:28:27.800 with Rockets launch pad right here on your home of 1789 01:28:27.840 --> 01:28:31.479 the Rockets. So look forward to doing that here a 1790 01:28:31.479 --> 01:28:34.840 little bit later on. But you know, we've covered a 1791 01:28:34.840 --> 01:28:39.359 lot of the astros today, which of course, I mean, 1792 01:28:39.399 --> 01:28:41.239 you know, just to kind of put a bow on 1793 01:28:41.279 --> 01:28:43.640 that from earlier, of course, yesterday making the trade to 1794 01:28:43.680 --> 01:28:46.920 send Kyle Tucker up to the Chicago Cubs. In return 1795 01:28:46.960 --> 01:28:50.640 you get eat SoC Perettis as well as picking up 1796 01:28:51.800 --> 01:28:54.960 Hayden was Nesky, which hadn't talked a ton about him yet. 1797 01:28:55.000 --> 01:28:57.680 I mean, I know you heard Bruce Levine talk about 1798 01:28:57.720 --> 01:29:00.399 him a little bit earlier, and also so to a 1799 01:29:00.399 --> 01:29:02.600 little bit from Chandler Rome when we played that visit 1800 01:29:02.640 --> 01:29:05.439 with the A team yesterday. I mean, I think he's 1801 01:29:05.439 --> 01:29:06.840 a guy that kind of fits in the mold of 1802 01:29:06.840 --> 01:29:08.880 what the Astros have brought in the past. I mean 1803 01:29:08.960 --> 01:29:12.920 last year relief picture wise, you know, kind of you know, 1804 01:29:13.000 --> 01:29:15.800 somebody like they brought in in Taylor Scott of they 1805 01:29:15.880 --> 01:29:17.279 felt like he's got good stuff. 1806 01:29:17.319 --> 01:29:17.960 Maybe get with. 1807 01:29:17.920 --> 01:29:20.560 Them on a couple of things, tweak some things here 1808 01:29:20.600 --> 01:29:23.640 and there, and you're able to you know, make him 1809 01:29:23.640 --> 01:29:26.840 into a viable option for you. And that's one thing 1810 01:29:26.920 --> 01:29:29.000 I think, you know, the Astros go to spring training 1811 01:29:29.000 --> 01:29:32.119 this year with the express purpose of trying to make 1812 01:29:32.199 --> 01:29:35.880 him into a starter, because remember too, I mean, you know, 1813 01:29:36.079 --> 01:29:40.439 you don't have Jose Rachidy. I mean he was non tendered, 1814 01:29:40.520 --> 01:29:43.359 so I mean maybe you're able to sign him to 1815 01:29:43.479 --> 01:29:45.800 a you know, a spring training invite deal or. 1816 01:29:45.720 --> 01:29:46.479 Something like that. 1817 01:29:46.560 --> 01:29:49.000 But at the same time though, too, I mean, he's 1818 01:29:49.079 --> 01:29:52.960 kind of in the same same group as Christian Hobby 1819 01:29:53.000 --> 01:29:55.880 here is with the return from Tommy John surgery. So 1820 01:29:56.159 --> 01:29:58.399 I mean those guys kind of going through you know, 1821 01:29:58.399 --> 01:30:00.680 trying to build themselves back up and get back to 1822 01:30:01.119 --> 01:30:03.319 being able to get back on a mound and throw 1823 01:30:03.399 --> 01:30:07.119 on a regular basis. And that's something that I think 1824 01:30:07.319 --> 01:30:09.159 you can kind of keep an eye on. But I mean, 1825 01:30:09.199 --> 01:30:12.560 it'll be interesting to see what happens with Lance McCullers. 1826 01:30:12.720 --> 01:30:14.359 I mean, you know, where do they go with him? 1827 01:30:14.439 --> 01:30:17.199 I mean, you know, it's also too what happens with 1828 01:30:17.640 --> 01:30:20.760 the possibility that maybe you trade Ryan Presley this offseason. 1829 01:30:20.760 --> 01:30:22.640 And if that's the case. I mean, I've said it 1830 01:30:22.760 --> 01:30:23.439 numerous times. 1831 01:30:23.479 --> 01:30:27.000 I know Lance not necessarily, he's not very keen to 1832 01:30:27.439 --> 01:30:30.439 doing the bullpen thing, but I mean, look, I think 1833 01:30:30.439 --> 01:30:32.399 it kind of gets to a certain point of it 1834 01:30:32.479 --> 01:30:34.399 seems like starter is not in the cards for you. 1835 01:30:34.520 --> 01:30:37.239 So if that's not in the cards for you, then 1836 01:30:37.399 --> 01:30:40.439 why would you not consider going to the bullpen where 1837 01:30:40.960 --> 01:30:44.479 less taxing on your arm and less innings on your arm, 1838 01:30:44.600 --> 01:30:47.119 less pitching, all those things kind of rolled into one 1839 01:30:47.720 --> 01:30:49.399 and a chance for you to be able to stay 1840 01:30:49.399 --> 01:30:49.960 healthy and. 1841 01:30:49.920 --> 01:30:50.880 Prolong your career. 1842 01:30:51.039 --> 01:30:53.039 I mean, I think if you're McCullers, you've got to 1843 01:30:53.039 --> 01:30:57.880 really significantly consider that, and if you're able to kind 1844 01:30:57.880 --> 01:31:00.319 of build him into that role, maybe he's some that 1845 01:31:00.399 --> 01:31:02.319 can be a late ending guy for you. I mean, 1846 01:31:02.399 --> 01:31:04.680 you know how effective he can be on the mound, 1847 01:31:04.920 --> 01:31:07.720 and you know, it's just been a problem of being 1848 01:31:07.720 --> 01:31:11.680 able to stay durable and stay out of having arm troubles. 1849 01:31:11.720 --> 01:31:13.520 So that's been something that's been a little bit of 1850 01:31:13.560 --> 01:31:16.359 an issue for him since being re uped a couple 1851 01:31:16.399 --> 01:31:19.399 of years ago to that five year deal. So we'll 1852 01:31:19.399 --> 01:31:22.520 see what happens with him. JP Frantz also to another 1853 01:31:22.560 --> 01:31:25.079 guy that was able to do some really good things 1854 01:31:25.119 --> 01:31:27.359 for you in twenty twenty three, and now you want 1855 01:31:27.399 --> 01:31:30.119 to see what he can do in twenty twenty five 1856 01:31:30.199 --> 01:31:33.000 and beyond after trying to come back from that shoulder issue. 1857 01:31:33.079 --> 01:31:35.920 So we'll see what happens on that front. 1858 01:31:35.960 --> 01:31:37.560 But all in all, I. 1859 01:31:37.560 --> 01:31:39.479 Mean, I think it just kind of continues to show 1860 01:31:39.520 --> 01:31:43.399 you that it's very much a fluid situation with the Astros, 1861 01:31:43.439 --> 01:31:46.079 with you know, do you bring back Alex Bregman or 1862 01:31:46.119 --> 01:31:48.479 do you decide to go elsewhere. I mean, you know, 1863 01:31:48.520 --> 01:31:51.760 there's been the loose rumors out there and I haven't 1864 01:31:51.800 --> 01:31:56.039 seen anything in terms of, you know, much from Brian McTaggart, 1865 01:31:56.079 --> 01:31:59.920 Chandler Rome or even Ari Alexander which, by the way, too, 1866 01:32:00.399 --> 01:32:02.680 I do want to take a quick second to shout 1867 01:32:02.720 --> 01:32:05.640 those guys out, you know, I think that we need 1868 01:32:05.680 --> 01:32:08.800 to be appreciative of what we've got in terms of 1869 01:32:08.840 --> 01:32:13.399 those guys here in Houston with Tags, with Chandler, with Ari, 1870 01:32:14.000 --> 01:32:15.960 because I mean, I know, when it comes to baseball 1871 01:32:16.159 --> 01:32:19.800 and news, I mean, you know, passing is obviously very 1872 01:32:19.920 --> 01:32:23.600 relied upon Ken Rosenthal, same deal and some others on 1873 01:32:23.640 --> 01:32:26.439 the national front. But those guys, in terms of the 1874 01:32:26.520 --> 01:32:29.159 work they put in and just how they work their story, 1875 01:32:29.199 --> 01:32:32.159 it's just fantastic work. So I want to give them 1876 01:32:32.159 --> 01:32:34.359 a little tip of the cap for being all over 1877 01:32:34.359 --> 01:32:37.560 the stories this week from both at the Baseball League meetings, 1878 01:32:38.159 --> 01:32:41.800 but also too from being able to, you know, just 1879 01:32:41.800 --> 01:32:44.000 stay on top of the Kyle Tucker trade news and 1880 01:32:44.920 --> 01:32:47.359 continuing to stay on this news with the Astros. So 1881 01:32:47.600 --> 01:32:50.399 good stuff from them. That's gonna do it for us 1882 01:32:50.399 --> 01:32:53.119 here on Space City Saturday. I want to think Melvin 1883 01:32:53.159 --> 01:32:55.079 Brown behind the glass. I want to think all of 1884 01:32:55.079 --> 01:32:58.279 you too, who hop the board with us here is 1885 01:32:58.319 --> 01:33:02.800 don't forget again. Rocket in thunder NBA Cup playing Tournament 1886 01:33:02.880 --> 01:33:05.600 semifinal game action tonight from Las Vegas. 1887 01:33:05.800 --> 01:33:07.840 Six point thirty Rockets launch Pad coming your way. 1888 01:33:08.000 --> 01:33:09.920 I will be leading you up to Matt Thomas and 1889 01:33:10.000 --> 01:33:13.720 Adam Wexler on the call. Dan Matthews here on your 1890 01:33:13.760 --> 01:33:16.560 home of the Rockets and the Astros, Sports Talk seven 1891 01:33:16.560 --> 01:33:18.359 to ninety It Spenspace City Saturday. 1892 01:33:18.600 --> 01:33:19.800 We'll talk to you all next week.