March 8, 2026 • 38 mins
Originally aired on March 7, 2026. On this episode, your sports talk therapist Cole Thompsontalks about the US victory over Brazil in the World Baseball Classic, the newly released Astros lineup, and Texans free agency coming Tuesday. The doctor is in, and his name is Cole Thompson.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
In the words of Champ Kind, if you watched how
that game ended last night, quite lately.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
Just whaar me, whaar me, whar me, whare me fifteen.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
To five wins your United States eat Brazil in the
first round of the World Baseball Classic in dik In Park.
And with that we say, let's get the show on
the road. Sub friends, Cole Thompson, rockman chew for only
forty five minutes today, Spacecay Saturday rolls right along as
we get prepared for the Astros taking on spring training
game number fourteen of the entire season. They will be
(00:32):
having an opportunity to go ahead and continue down their
winning ways. After defeating the Washington National seven to one
yesterday first pitch out of eleven h five against the
Miami Marlins, your Rockets, well, they found a way to
make it too close for interesting, but still one oh
six ninety nine. Nobody's complaining about moving to thirty nine
and twenty three on the year, especially when you have
a high low performance from the likes of Amen Thompson
(00:53):
dropping twenty six and Opportune Gooon dropping twenty eight, plus
of course KD dropping twenty eight of eighteen for the field,
and of course we gotta talk about some news going
around the NFL. Maybe not as much Texans, though we
will throw some Texans on in. However, one major trade
should be the baseline for Houston next offseason.
Speaker 2 (01:12):
When it comes to this stipulation.
Speaker 1 (01:14):
Take phone calls, Take questions at seven one three, two,
one two, five, seven nine if you want to join
on in. All right, let's talk real fast about the
World Baseball Classic, and then we'll.
Speaker 2 (01:23):
Get into some mass shows.
Speaker 1 (01:24):
Last night, fifteen to five victory over Team Brazil a
little bit too close for comfort.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
At one point you allow three home runs.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
It's interesting if you would have taken the bet total
and said, hey, I think of that team that doesn't
have a single Major League player active is gonna hit
more home runs than the Red, White, and Blue going
into the ninth inning, you would have.
Speaker 2 (01:43):
Won that bet. Nobody would have expected that.
Speaker 1 (01:46):
But I will say, I think there is something that
needs to be brought up when talking about the World
Baseball Classic.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
Maybe this is just me, Maybe I'm alone on this take.
I don't think I am.
Speaker 1 (01:57):
I feel something whenever I watch the colors be represented.
Speaker 2 (02:01):
I do, and I don't know if it's just patriotism.
Speaker 1 (02:03):
I don't know if it's just the fact that I'm
someone who enjoys loving, you know, watching the best players
in baseball take the main stage in your home town.
But once, like I felt with the Olympics, there's a
certain level of pride that you get knowing that you're
representing your country. And that's why it's really hard for
me to go ahead and stand on the take about
Jeremy Panning about not playing in the World Baseball Classic
(02:24):
because for me, Matt Thomas has brought up on multiple
ocaions whenever he does the Matt Thomas show that the
World Baseball Classic should not feature major leaguers or at
least ASTROS players.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
And I get that to a certain.
Speaker 1 (02:36):
Level because of right now, Jimmy Panye if he used
to miss any time, it hurts your team going into
next season, a year where you're gonna be a good roster,
but you're not elite, Like we can just call it
as is. This is a team that probably needs to
have a couple of breaks and a few highlight stars
coming to the spotlight to guarantee that they're playing deep
into October and having an opportunity to win a Commissioner's trophy,
(02:58):
but at the same time, watching his last night, a
seventeen year old kid from Georgia gets to ground out
double play ending ending moment against Aaron frickin judge, against
probably the most hated person in the tournament in this city, which,
by the way, we can talk about the dik and
stuff in a minute, but still to see a seventeen
(03:18):
year old representing his father's country like that says something
to me, and it makes me go back to the
whole point of why I was so for a guy
like Jim m Payer playing in this tournament. Now I'm
okay with it not playing because it only helps out
the Astros long term.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
But I get it. I do.
Speaker 1 (03:36):
There's something about representing those colors that are a part
of your history and a part of your background that
you want to.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
See on the biggest dange.
Speaker 1 (03:44):
And there's something about knowing that there are people representing
you sitting back at home that gives it just a
little bit more validity.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
I don't know what it is.
Speaker 1 (03:52):
If it's the long ball, if it's the fact that
you're seeing the color scheme, if it's the fact that
you're just watching his other teams have to bend the
need to you and your dominance on the on the
you know, on the grid iron or on the athletic field.
That's so that's just the way it is for me,
that that's always just been the way that I've looked
at it. I do think, however, this is gonna be
the last time that we see the World Baseball Classic
played in the month of March, and I understand the
(04:14):
reasoning why it is, but a part of me also
thinks that if you want to get the best players involved,
because let's just say teen Puerto Rico is an early out,
are they an early out because they're a bad organization,
or that the players that they're developing aren't actually reaching
their peak, or are they not making it past these
second stage or the first round or the wild or
the round robin tournament because you have ownerships and you
(04:38):
have teams saying thanks but no thanks, you want your
insurance costs be kicked on in you can't play, so
the best players being left at home, that I think
that we're going to be at that point where that
becomes a major conversation starter, and it has to. If
you want the best players involved, you got to be
able to get them at the right time possible. Now,
the only right time possible would be probably at the
end of the season. Now, the reason why they do
(05:00):
World Baseball Classic right now versus doing it later on
is simply because of ratings. What are you going up
against in the middle of October and November That would
throw a wrench in the curve for Fox Sports and
everybody else.
Speaker 2 (05:12):
I'll save you the trouble. It's college football season. And
it's not college football season, it's college baseball. I mean
it's the NFL season.
Speaker 1 (05:18):
So Saturday and Sunday has taken on over by the
Gridiron Gang, and Fox, which has a major stock involved
with the likes of the Big ten and Big twelve
networks and what they provide in terms of viewership, are
going to pivot over to baseball because of we have
a game of a top fifteen matchup. So you're trying
to do everything possible to guarantee the most eyeballs are
(05:40):
put on center stage. When you have teams like the
Dominican Republic taking on Chinese Taipei, or you have teams
like Australia going down to the wire.
Speaker 2 (05:48):
Against check Up.
Speaker 1 (05:50):
They want to do that because if they know that
this is a television product at the end of the day.
Speaker 2 (05:54):
But I think that there.
Speaker 1 (05:55):
Is also going to be a level of you can
always put more people in watching the game when you
get the better players.
Speaker 2 (06:03):
Like I'll just be completely real. The Olympics this.
Speaker 1 (06:06):
Past year reached record setting numbers, specifically in hockey because
of they allowed NHLers to take two weeks off and
represent their country.
Speaker 2 (06:17):
They did. Now again, nhler's are psychopaths. They are.
Speaker 1 (06:21):
I mean quite literally, there are guys who are playing
on one leg and have half of a mouth filled
with fake teeth, that are going back out on the
ice after having literally one of their teeth knocked out
and they're getting slapped in the face into saying walk
it off when they're in concussion protocol.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
I mean, they like they're different breed of athletes. They
just are. But still they made sure that the game.
Speaker 1 (06:42):
Was at a peak because of who was representing teams
on the ice. You didn't have these up and coming
stars or the kids that were gonna be the next
big times.
Speaker 2 (06:52):
No, you have the proven names right now.
Speaker 1 (06:54):
And because of it, the United States where Jack Hughes
won the Golden Goal and they brought back gold for
the first time in forty six years. If you want
the best product, you gotta go out and you gotta
make sure that you get the best people up melved
and the only way to guarantee that probably is by
doing it.
Speaker 2 (07:07):
At the season's end.
Speaker 1 (07:08):
World Series is over, you're having the parade Commissioner's Trophy
is back here at Tyking Park.
Speaker 2 (07:13):
And then two weeks.
Speaker 1 (07:14):
Later, well, if Josel Touve wants to play for Team
Venezuela because his body still is gonna be able to
hold on up, he'll have enough time to recover before
we get to spring training. And if you don't have
enough time to recover before spring training, you'll have enough
time to recover before opening day.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
And the same thing goes for Carlos Korea. And then
this is a moot point.
Speaker 1 (07:31):
For Team Dominican Republic when it comes to Jeremy Pana,
because he would be out okay, but maybe he could
be back in time for the final or better yet,
maybe the laundry list of the least that we have
on players would be shorter because of you don't have
to worry about what's going on with them playing Moving forward,
(07:52):
I don't know.
Speaker 2 (07:53):
Maybe that's just me.
Speaker 1 (07:55):
And I'm saying all this because of I last night
was fully invested in watching as Team USA was able
to molly wop in the ninth inning and clean the
floor with Team Brazil. And I'm gonna be watching today
and I'm gonna be watching for the next two weeks
because I think it's a great sport. I think it's
a great game that is going to draw in interest.
But I think the big interest selling point moving forward
(08:17):
is having the stars beyond the court. I mean having
the stars beyond the diamond they just start and when
you're missing talents like Carlos Correa and when you're missing
talents like Jeremy Pana. And I'm not saying this as
an Astros fan, because I absolutely agree with Dana Brown.
Speaker 2 (08:29):
Do not let them play.
Speaker 1 (08:31):
Specifically, do not let them play because of the insurance
clause and what you're dealing with with the infield collusion,
whatever it is. You have to be able to guarantee
that you have as many of the high profile figures
as possible.
Speaker 2 (08:42):
If you want to go.
Speaker 1 (08:43):
If you don't want to believe me, that's fine, go
look at what ratings say. Ratings say, the stars of
today are the ones that are gonna put butts in seats,
and they're gonna have people at bars, They're gonna have
people in buildings, and they're gonna have people taking off
work to sit down and take in nine innings.
Speaker 2 (08:59):
Because they did that for three periods in hockey every
single night. That was just the case.
Speaker 1 (09:03):
Speaking of which, with the Astros news coming out of
the World Baseball Classic, which is important because of this
may be solving a solution.
Speaker 2 (09:13):
Dana Brown's not himself a backup catcher.
Speaker 1 (09:15):
I don't know if any of you saw the report,
but Brian McTaggart Resa came on out.
Speaker 2 (09:20):
Christian Vasquez, former.
Speaker 1 (09:21):
Astros catcher spent last season with the Twins, is signing
a minor league deal to join the organization through offspring
training while he is at the World Baseball Classic. Now
he is expected when the World Baseball Classic ends to
go join the team down on West Palm and he
will compete. Why is this a big deal, because if
we've been asking for a while, what are you planning on.
Speaker 2 (09:42):
Doing with your backup catcher position? What is it?
Speaker 1 (09:45):
Are you gonna have, Sayzar Salazar or are you going
to wait for somebody to go ahead and make the play.
There was rumors that you said Pirees could be in
some type of deal to go ahead and guarantee that
you get somebody else to come in the building and
then go bring in the backup catcher that way, with
a proven commodity. There was conversations of maybe you go
out and you bring in somebody who you think is
very cheap, team friendly. There's conversations of just hey, says
(10:05):
Our Salazar, you're sticking around.
Speaker 2 (10:07):
They made the call.
Speaker 1 (10:09):
Now they're going out and they're adding in a guy
who has already been acclivated with the organization from his
time via Boston Houston winning a World Series title in
twenty twenty two, and he understands the assignment. I'm here
to be a catcher every sixth day, be one or
two people's personal dude, a veteran presence inside the clubhouse,
(10:29):
and fighting throughout all the spring training to earn that
I am a better fit than says Our Salazar. At
this point, I'm going to say the choir part out loud.
I think that we know the answer of that one. Yeah,
it is going to be Christian Vazquez. When all things
are said and done, he will be leading West Palm
and coming back to Houston.
Speaker 2 (10:46):
And it's a smart move.
Speaker 1 (10:47):
It's a team friendly contract. It ends up benefiting I
think all parties involved. Jan Diaz gets a quality backup
to where you feel confident that if he's to miss
a game or two, you can trust putting him in.
Speaker 2 (10:56):
The eighth hole and lo and behold.
Speaker 1 (10:58):
While offensively he won't had much you, defensively he'll be fine.
And then on top of all that, it allows you
to bring in somebody that you know is a proven commodity.
Speaker 2 (11:09):
And I understand that Walker Yannick.
Speaker 1 (11:10):
You're hopeful that he can eventually pan on out and
turn into a really really solid playmaker and a guy
that you can trust in the backstop, maybe even rotating
in that first base when you got to get rid
of Christian Walker's contract, whatever it is. But I look
right now when I say to myself, this is actually
a win for the Astros.
Speaker 2 (11:28):
It is.
Speaker 1 (11:29):
I'm not saying that I want Christian Basquez playing more
than eighty games. I'm not saying that Christian Basquez has
got to start for a week. I'm gonna feel confident
that you're winning all six games. What I'm saying is
there were worse options available. The only reason why I
hate this deal, the only reason is because I wish
you just would have gotten him in twenty twenty six
(11:50):
and not in twenty twenty two when you had to
give up a player to be named later, because that
player to be named later was what You're a brat.
Speaker 2 (11:55):
You are the Boston Red Sox. Now he is killing
it in right field.
Speaker 1 (11:59):
Now, conversations going on, how do we trade to bring
them on back? And Dave Dombrowski has made it abundantly clear,
I'm not interested in making any of.
Speaker 2 (12:05):
These movies with you, Astros. You're not getting Eastside Peredes
for Will Your Break You? Straight up? We want more.
Speaker 1 (12:10):
We want to bend you over the barrel, and we
want to say you're gonna play our game, and the
answers just won't bunch. And if you didn't have, you
gave up We ri Christian Vasquez adding Christian Basquez.
Speaker 2 (12:20):
A couple of years ago. Will Your Break You maybe
starting in the right field. Better yet, he could.
Speaker 1 (12:24):
Be starting in left camp Smith and right and lo
and behold, you got your left handed, power hitting bat.
That would add incredible volume to the middle of your
lineup seven one, three, two, five, seven ninet. If you
want to get it on the guest line, take a
quick time out when we come back. Max Crosby is
in the AFC still and not with the Raiders.
Speaker 2 (12:43):
How does this tie you into the Texans?
Speaker 1 (12:44):
I'll explain next right here on a space, say Saturday,
sports Talk seven ninety space say Saturday, rolling right along
here on Sports Talk seven ninety sud friends, Cole Rockerman,
chew just.
Speaker 2 (12:54):
Till ten forty five today because you.
Speaker 1 (12:56):
Got Astros versus Marlins taking place in West Palm Beach.
Rockets win last night one O six ninety nine, and
your Cougars they close out the regular season a college
basketball before the Big twelve Tournament begins next week against Oklahoma.
Satan catch that game over on KPRC nine point fifty.
(13:17):
Astro's lineup is officially out. I don't know how many
of you guys have seen it, but Esach Perettes too,
what you're made.
Speaker 2 (13:23):
Up at second base?
Speaker 1 (13:24):
Brother Zach Cole leads off Perettes at second in the
three hole.
Speaker 2 (13:28):
Not opposed to it. I like him in the five
hole still, but regardless.
Speaker 1 (13:31):
Christian Walker Joey Liperfido, He's gonna be your right fielder.
Centerfield is Jake Myers, d H Taylor Trammel a third base,
Jack Winkler, Carlos Perez behind the dish, Nick Allen is
the ninth hole hitter at shortstop, and Jason Alexander on
the mound. None of this matters because of again, really,
lets this be real. The only thing that we're focusing
on is the bullpen and what Esach looks like at
second base. I can tell you what every fan around
(13:53):
the NFL should be looking at right now, and it
is the Max Crosby trade. Late last night, deal gets done,
Blockbuster Baltimore. Jesse Minter says, you know what f M picks.
We don't really care. We want to go ahead and
win right now. We got Lamar Jackson, we got Derrick Henry.
Let's go ahead and get ourselves a legit enforcer in
(14:14):
Max Crosby, five time pro bowler, three time All Pro
defensive end from Las Vegas is headed out to the
East coast, headed back to the west side. Well, you're
gonna go get two first round picks. Okay, Now, why
is this such a big deal? I think for multiple reasons,
for starters. The Ravens once again realized last season was
a fluke. We need to be a playoff contender. Ye're
(14:36):
inning year out if that means that we got to
go all in on adding in a player like Max
Crossey's potential, because we cannot keep living in this world
of trying to draft offensive lineman, trying to get these
dudes they are gonna deliver, trying to get these guys,
i mean, defensive ends, trying to get these pass rushers
that can't live up to what Zadarius Smith was or
what you saw from Terrell Suggs for a while. Then
we gotta go get a proven commodee. And we're not
(14:59):
that far off, and we know that we could spend
money in free agency on certain positions, and we know
the areas that we can address we can get on
Day two for the next two years, and Las Vegas
is interested in moving him, so let's just go ahead
and pull the trigger. That's what smart gms do, That's
what Eric Tacosta is. That's why the Ravens were able
to go ahead and pull off this deal. Two first
(15:19):
round picks going back to Las Vegas. Now, the second
part of this is probably where you're asking yourself, Cole,
why are you bringing up a deal that has nothing
to do with the Houston Texans. I'm so glad that
you asked. I'm so glad that Josh and Frankie asked.
I'm so glad that everybody's paying attention to this, because
here's the thing, guys, Eventually the Texans are going to
be put in the choke hold.
Speaker 2 (15:40):
That is not gonna be a fun conversation.
Speaker 1 (15:41):
I have the beauty about what Nick Cassario has done
and what Dimigo Ryans has done with the development of talent,
and the hits on defensive draft picks is you have
a number one defense and you do number one scoring
unit last season, number two in total yards allowed, great
inside of red zone opportunities, top five and takeaways. The
plus margin differential was fantastic. Like the Texans had a
(16:04):
super Bowl caliber defense and the offense unfortunately had five
turnovers in a game against New England that ultimately led
to them speaking show the door with the ultimate demise.
The problem with hitting on all those draft picks is
everyone wants to get paid, and there's not a level
of where you can go ahead and guarantee that you're
going to find the right names on the open market.
Speaker 2 (16:27):
You just aren't. I'm telling you it happens. So what
does that mean.
Speaker 1 (16:33):
You're gonna have a very awkward conversation if you are
Nick Cassio next offseason, if you are still the GM.
I don't know if that's gonna happen. I'm not a wizard.
I just can tell you that I believe what I
think is.
Speaker 2 (16:42):
Going to be the case around Houston.
Speaker 1 (16:45):
But if the Texans once again are really good defensively
and they once again are making the playoffs, you're going
to have another player that wants a deal. Will Anderson
Junior is getting paid this offseason like it or not,
which you all should because he's the best young defensive
player in the sport. He is going to be the
highest paid defensive player in the league next season, or
at least he will have the highest paid contract going
into his end of the rookie year in twenty twenty seven,
(17:07):
so that money kicks on in you're gonna have the
awkward conversation of do you extend to Neil Hunter, arguably
the most underappreciated defensive lineman of the last twenty years,
for another year or are you going to let him
walk after twenty twenty seven when you then have to
pay for Will Anderson Junior, You're gonna have to probably
have a conversation about extending Derek Stingley, and then you're
(17:29):
gonna have to have the conversation about what do you
do with the two young guns? Because I can tell
you right now, Kamari Laster is gonna get paid. I
don't know if it's by Houston, but he will get paid.
That is a top twelve cornerback in the NFL, and
he would be starting as the CB one, going up
against can't miss wide receivers for about twenty teams, if
not more.
Speaker 2 (17:49):
That's how damn good he is.
Speaker 1 (17:50):
That's how awesome he is played, and that's how much
I think teams will value what his overall mentality is.
Speaker 2 (17:56):
So he's gonna get paid.
Speaker 1 (17:57):
And Kylen block guys, if you have not been paying attention,
let me remind you. This was a ball honking safety
at USC, a center fielder sorts that would just make
picks and break up passes, and in two years he
has gone from being a liability in open field tackling
to one of your most surefire stoppers. Fifteen yards downfield,
(18:21):
if it's exposed to play happens. Oh and he also
does that whole thing about picking off balls a lot,
so he is.
Speaker 2 (18:26):
Going to cost you a pretty penny.
Speaker 1 (18:28):
The reason I'm bringing this up is if you've seen
more growth and more stability and more oh my god,
highlight plays what he made that type of move and
the Texans benefit off of it. The awkward conversation that
we're going to have to have is one of those
two is probably getting shipped on out before the end
(18:49):
of their rookie deal because you can't afford him.
Speaker 2 (18:52):
And I'm saying this because of when you look at
the Max.
Speaker 1 (18:54):
Crosby deal, you're probably not gonna get a first two
first round picks. Max Crosby is one of those highlight,
can't miss, superstar defensive ends that everybody is terrified of
going up against everybody, even the best offensive lineman will
tell you I had a bad day at the office
going up against ninety eight. That's just the case. He's proven,
(19:15):
so that's why he was worth two first round picks.
He also plays a premier position, but one one first
round pick in the third for Kamari Laster. I don't
want to have this conversation. It hurts me. It's painful
to even think about that. But that's the way you're
gonna have to live. You're gonna have to have that
awkward chat. A first round pick and maybe a fifth
(19:37):
round pick or two second round picks for Kaylin Block
when we already hit with one safety in the past.
I mean, we were able to go get in a
guy like Kaylen before in the third round. Nick seems
to have a knack of finding these dudes. Within picks
seventy five through eighty, I think that we could do
it again. I think that we could find a replacement,
(19:57):
pretty good player that would elevate and fit in Dimiko's defense.
Speaker 2 (20:01):
All right, pull the trigger.
Speaker 1 (20:03):
The reason I'm bringing up the Max Crosby deal is
because of the Raiders realized pretty quickly underneath the new regime,
we're nowhere near competitive. We're not We're nowhere near gonna
be able to be built to win a title right now.
So we got to do its best for the organization
and caught our losses. And I look at this also
compared to what you saw with Cincinnati a couple months ago.
(20:26):
Because Cincinnati and Dallas had the same I Daddy. They said, oh,
you know what, we're a really good team. We think
that we can be competitive, but we got to cut
some taxes here. We think that we can be a
super Bowl caliber roster, but we can't afford everybody.
Speaker 2 (20:40):
So what did they do well?
Speaker 1 (20:42):
They said, uh, thanks, but no, thanks to Trey Hendrickson.
We're going to extend both of our wide receivers and
our quarterback and one of our offensive linemen, and.
Speaker 2 (20:51):
We're gonna call it a day.
Speaker 1 (20:52):
And then they let go of Logan Wilson, and they
let go of two defensive tackles, and they let go
of now Trey Hendrickson, and their defense, which is already
hardboard do do, is gonna be even worse.
Speaker 2 (21:03):
And they're probably.
Speaker 1 (21:04):
Gonna fire their head coach and it's gonna be a
wasteful season around a really good quarterback at Joe Burrow,
and the same thing could be said about Dallas. Dallas
went out and they said, we know that we have
a generational and I don't use that word lightly, so
I will make sure I say it properly, a generational
defensive player that can line up anywhere on the field.
(21:25):
And we got a wide receiver one, and we got
a quarterback that all need to get paid. The quarterback
got paid and the wide receiver got paid. And then
Jerry Jones said, thanks, but no, thanks to Micah Parsons,
who is really, really good. We're gonna send you on off.
We're gonna get a proven player and two picks back.
And they did, and they proceeded to not make the
playoffs this year, and once again they're picking in.
Speaker 2 (21:45):
The twelve spot. That's what they did.
Speaker 1 (21:48):
The Texans are gonna have to have that same awkward conversation.
You already have one bona fide shutdown quarterback locked on up,
you do. His name is Eric Singley Junior, and he's
not leaving any time soon. You already have one superstar
wide receiver locked on up.
Speaker 2 (22:03):
His name is Ego Collins.
Speaker 1 (22:04):
He's probably gonna want another extension, which means you're gonna
have to find money in the budget to be able
to afford him. You got David Montgoverny that's gonna be
here on a team. From the contract, they're probably gonna
restructure out another year onto the deal.
Speaker 2 (22:15):
It ends up being a win for the organization.
Speaker 1 (22:18):
You have most of the important positions figured out and Now,
going into the offseason, you're saying, well, now we gotta
go out. We gotta make sure that we resign and
get the best version of Will Anderson locked up, and
we got the Neil Hunter locked up. You don't have
much more funds to work with guys, at least for
the homegrown talent. Now you're gonna have to start banking
on hitting picks every single year, because if you want
(22:42):
to keep a lot of these names around, you're gonna
have to pay them a premium price and you're not
gonna let and you're gonna have to be able to
miss out on some free agents.
Speaker 2 (22:51):
And right now, the seconds are not built that way.
Speaker 1 (22:54):
So I bring up the Max Crosby deal because Max
Crosby earned the highest value he possibly could. And when
they looked at the market, Vegas said, now we got
to pull the trigger. Now we gotta go on. We
gotta make this move. We got to do it because
if it's our best interest for the organization, if the
Texans know in two years they can't afford everybody, and
(23:18):
they're already paying Will and they gotta pay CJ. And
they got to up Nico, and they got to make
sure that Derek Stingley Junior is happy and they already
got d Niel and they don't want to lose him either.
You have an odd man out, whether or not it's fair,
whether or not I want to see it happen, because
I don't. Teams will always look to be as most
proactive as possible. The awkward conversation that you're gonna have
(23:42):
to have is do we let him walk for nothing
in two years? Let him go, He'll sign elsewhere, he'll
be a problem for us and we have to hit reset.
Or do we try to cash on in when their
value is high, knowing that we're gonna hurt our defense
a little bit, but also seeing how we've been able
to structure the way things go, it may be something
(24:03):
that we have to at least really consider as a
viable option. The Raiders did it, and now they're in
a better chance to hit the rebuild button earlier. The
Texans they're not gonna be hitting a rebuild button, but
they're gonna have more opportunities to hit on players and
have more draft picks to where they won't be walking
away empty handed by losing guys who they thought they
(24:23):
couldn't live without.
Speaker 2 (24:24):
Seven one three, two, five, seven ninety Take quick time out.
Speaker 1 (24:27):
Texans Free Agency is underway starting Tuesday. I'm gonna tell
you exactly how this is gonna go. And for some
Texans fans they're gonna say this is normal. For others
they're gonna hate the truth. But the youth needs to
be said. And Space Day Saturday right here on Sportstock
seven ninety. Next Space Day Saturday, rolling right along here
on Sportstock seven ninety. Cole Thompson rocking with you for
(24:49):
a few more minutes. Soon though you'll hear the Ashers
and the Marlins take place as Jason Alexander is on
the mound east Side Parades. Is your starting second baseman.
I could say win last night one O six ninety nine.
Not a good performance overall in terms of how you
close things on out, but you'll take a twenty plus
point performance from Amen Thompson, and certainly not from Katie
(25:10):
and Apprin Shingoon. Meanwhile, Max Crosby two years, I mean,
two first round picks are headed to Las Vegas.
Speaker 2 (25:17):
And he said over to the.
Speaker 1 (25:18):
Baltimore Ravens seven one three, two, five seven nine if
you want to get on in James incline, Good morning, dude,
what's on your mind?
Speaker 3 (25:27):
Yeah, with the Astra's lack of hitting in the in
the in the screen training, why can't they do what
the Yankees do with Aaron Judge and have yord On
Averaz just play left deild and let them bat and
play left field most of the time. May let Aaron Judge.
Do they not afraid of the Aaron Judge getting hurt? James?
Speaker 1 (25:45):
Are you asking me like why they're not doing it
or why.
Speaker 3 (25:49):
Yeah, why don't they just do it? Because they're gonna
need that bat and they're gonna need him in the
lane up every day, and then that frees up the
you know the U the uh, you know the spots
on the d.
Speaker 2 (26:01):
James, James, you listen? Do you listen at six to
ten in the mornings one weekdays?
Speaker 3 (26:08):
I'm sorry, what do you do?
Speaker 1 (26:10):
You listen on weekdays from six am to ten? Because
I've had this argument, like multiple times, I'm with you.
Speaker 3 (26:15):
I don't know, I'm sorry, I don't.
Speaker 1 (26:17):
Know why on earth Dana Brown is looking at this lineup,
especially in the outfield, and saying, hey, we're good, jord On,
you can just play dh It makes no sense.
Speaker 2 (26:26):
To me, it doesn't.
Speaker 1 (26:28):
But Brian mey Taggert was on with us on Thursday
and even told us you could think whatever you want
about how they're interested in the move of having rd
On play outfield. He'll play at most, probably ten games
out there. Now, I won't answer your question on one part.
Part of the reason why the Yankees have Yaron Judge
playing in the outfield is because who is their designated hitter? Oh,
(26:52):
Don Carlos Stanton, John Carlos Stanton. He can't play in
the outfield. He is literally the biggest liability in the
outfl So he can't play first, he can't play in
the infield. He can't play in the outfield, and he
still is under a contract that has three two more
years left on what was at the time the largest
deal in.
Speaker 2 (27:11):
Major League Baseball history. So that's why he's designated hitter.
Speaker 1 (27:15):
And you're and Aaron judgson the outfield that that's that's
the main reason why.
Speaker 2 (27:20):
But for the ass.
Speaker 3 (27:20):
Okay, another thing is why would you have him batting second?
I know he likes the spinal election to bat second.
To me, it seems like, my guys, he even gets
on bas He's not gonna steal. I don't understand that
theory at all.
Speaker 1 (27:35):
When is he hit second in the regular season over
the last two years, I'm genuinely asking, Well.
Speaker 3 (27:43):
Last year, last year, he did him in the second
the regular season, hit the third season. Okay, well he
hit second a couple of times, suits and I remember that,
and he had him hit second spring training already too.
Speaker 1 (27:52):
Well, because that's where the lineup is right now, James,
We're not looking out the lineup filled with players that
are going to be actually on the field. Like like,
if you can tell me, okay, if you tell me
the scenario, you have Josel two by, Jeremy paying at eastside, Peredes,
Carlos Carrera, Christian Walker, and Ordon Alvarez all playing at
the same time. Let's just say this is the game
that you're On's in left field, You'redon's batting third. Essach
(28:16):
Predes is your two hole hitter. Esach Parreddies was your
two hole hitter all of last season. He's gonna be
your two hole hitter right now. The question is do
you move him down to the four hole because of
you have to put Jose al two bay in the three,
or do you want him in the five or do
you want him in the sixth hole?
Speaker 2 (28:32):
That's where the conversation really is going to.
Speaker 3 (28:35):
Okay, all right, well, I just I just notice him
in the second hold later in spring training. Of that,
my god, get him out of the second Yeah.
Speaker 1 (28:42):
I will almost guarantee you. I will bet you one
thousand dollars. You can go ahead and email me at
Cole Thompson, iHeartMedia dot Com. You'don Alvarez will not see
more hit I mean more reps in the two hole
than he will in the three.
Speaker 2 (28:53):
Of the four hole.
Speaker 3 (28:55):
Okay, all right, Well, I just want to call and
get your perspective on whether or not you think you
should play every day, because I think it should play
every day and I'm not every day, but elist either
regular outfielder out there and I would be the DH.
Speaker 1 (29:05):
I appreciate your phone call, James. I absolutely agree. I
do like I very much think right now he should
be in the outfield.
Speaker 4 (29:12):
Doc.
Speaker 1 (29:13):
If you listen to me on Mondays through Fridays six
or ten am, I've been screaming from the mountaintops and
I got vehemently upset with Brian McTaggert, not because of
tags as wrong, but because of the report.
Speaker 2 (29:23):
Tags told me.
Speaker 1 (29:25):
That you were going to see ten games, twelve games
of your don Alvas in the outfield, and you're.
Speaker 2 (29:34):
Not gonna play.
Speaker 1 (29:36):
You're not gonna play East. I praise at your DH spot.
Really are we watching the same outfield right now in
spring training? And I get it, it's spring training West Palm.
Cool story. You're going up against some pictures that you
probably will never see again and some that are only.
Speaker 2 (29:50):
Going out there for two innings.
Speaker 1 (29:51):
You can have a bad ending, It's okay, But I'm
looking at it from the perspective of Joey, Li Braffito,
Zach Cole, cam Smith, and Jake Myers can't consistently hit.
And if you listen to Josh Reddick on Chandler Rohan's podcast,
he even said, if I'm an outfielder right now, the
(30:11):
thing that I'm looking for is the ability to hit.
Speaker 2 (30:15):
Well, you got a guy, his name is your Nonavarez.
Speaker 1 (30:18):
All he does is unload four hundred and fifty yard
feet bombs in the left and right field. Why would
you not want to see him hit? Why would you
not want to see him out there?
Speaker 2 (30:30):
That's my point.
Speaker 1 (30:31):
But we're gonna try to protect him because of we're
afraid he could get hurt. You do realize that last
season the two times he got hurt was swinging a
bat and touching home and he also got hurt sliding
into second. You know what, he hasn't gotten hurt before
playing in left field. It makes no sense to me,
James Timy Houston, It makes no sense to me. You
(30:54):
have an opportunity when you get back of healthy Jeremy
Pangiam to keep Eastoch Paradez's bad in the law, and
you're going to take away reps because you don't want
your outfielder by default playing in the outfield. It makes
absolutely no sense to me. But I'm at the GM
and I'm at the manager. I'm just a guy asking questions.
(31:16):
You should be asking the exact same questions. Seven ninety
Richard in the East Side, what's going on with man?
Speaker 4 (31:24):
Hey? I enjoy your show, and uh, I wanted to
talk about the Houston Cougars basketball team, something that doesn't
get a lot of airtime. And since they're not under
the same kind of scrutiny, of course that the Texans
and the Astros are, nonetheless they're every bit as interesting
(31:44):
on paper. They project pretty well, and there are certain
pundits like the Eye on College Basketball, people who actually
projected them as a good chance to win. But I
don't see that, and I see them fading. They're they're
offensively troubled, which I think the source of that is coaching,
not the athletes. Secondly, Milos Uzan is on the struggle bus,
(32:09):
and interestingly no one is discussed. Isaiah Harrel came in
as a five star recruit and the other five star
recruits they have are getting playing time and doing a
fairly good. Flemmings is unbelievable.
Speaker 3 (32:24):
Senak is held his own and by.
Speaker 4 (32:27):
The way, is starting to slide a little bit. But
Harold started out with a lot of minutes. He started
out with a lot of playing time. He literally is
a twenty six percent shooter on the season, and in
the last two games has gotten zero minutes and no
one's talking about it. I think that's a concern, and
I'll hang up and listen Richard.
Speaker 2 (32:48):
I appreciate it. Yeah, they're gonna be playing today.
Speaker 1 (32:50):
You can actually listen to the game over on KPRC
nine to fifty, last regular season game before they hit
the tournament.
Speaker 2 (32:57):
Here's what I We'll say about the Cougars.
Speaker 1 (33:00):
I'm pulling for them, not because of I live in Houston,
not because of I enjoy watching my teams be able
to win at the highest level. It's more so selfishly, Frankie,
I threw down money last season, a lot of money
on the way too early, ploy that Houston was going
to win the National Championship between twenty six so selfishly
because of I want to make a buck. I need
(33:22):
Houston to go far in the tournament, like I need
them cutting down the nets, like like I listen. I
know it's a long shot right now, but I'm not
really ready.
Speaker 2 (33:30):
To throw on the towel.
Speaker 1 (33:31):
What I will say is I do agree with Richard
on one point. Right now you are seeing Milo's Houston
on the struggle bus he has. I've been playing great offensively.
It's also felt like times and the part that's really
been upsetting to me watching the Cougars play this season.
Speaker 2 (33:51):
There are so many games that you look back and.
Speaker 1 (33:52):
Ask what went wrong And it's not like something was
terrible in the game, because you still won by like
ten points, but why did it take you so long
to close or why did you allow a team that
probably wasn't as good work their way back in to
make it interesting. TC used a bubble team. Why are
you beating them by nine when you're up by sixteen
(34:13):
Kansas State at one point? What's within the reach of you?
Why are you letting that happen? When Jerome tang is
going to be shown the door. Utah is not a
good roster this year, and you win by twelve? What
gives there?
Speaker 4 (34:27):
Like?
Speaker 1 (34:27):
It just feels like there's so many moments to where
Houston should be a team built right now to not
only be able to drain threes, consistently win at the basket,
out rebound and box out opponents to where they're getting
second chance opportunities and they're squandering it late.
Speaker 2 (34:43):
It's not a bad team.
Speaker 1 (34:44):
It's a team that I still think you can go
on a run and easily make it to the final four.
It's a seam that if they make it to the
national Championship, I don't think anybody should be shocked. And
if you listen to Tommy Lloyd after Arizona came on
into Fortita Center and they beat Houston and they handle
business against Houston, Houston able to work their way back
down eleven they got up by two and then it's like.
Speaker 2 (35:03):
The brain set Bee Boop factory reset and now.
Speaker 1 (35:06):
In the last seven minutes, it's all gonna be walkat
basketball like that's what happened in that game. But Tommy
Lloyd said afterwards, you can be the two seed in
the Big twelve, the four seed in the Big twelve,
and because of it's this conference, you could still win
the national championship.
Speaker 2 (35:23):
You got to get better play. I think from Milo Susan.
Speaker 1 (35:26):
You gotta be able to see Joseph Tugler not getting
a foul trouble early on in the game to where
he's losing minutes late in the final twenty. You gotta
be able to see a little bit more. I think
offensive consistency from Chris Chris Chris Sanak, and you can't
rely on Kingston Flemings and Emmanual Sharp to bellue out
of trouble every single day.
Speaker 2 (35:46):
That's gonna be your game plan. You've already lost the battle.
Speaker 1 (35:49):
And I think that because of the tournament bracket that
they'll be in, they have an opportunity to easily coast
their way through the first two days and they'll be
in the sweet sixteen. But when you look at potentially
who could be the four seed one scene, the sixth scene.
Speaker 2 (36:03):
You don't want to run that risk. That's all I'm saying.
Speaker 1 (36:06):
You want to make sure that you're closing things on
out this upcoming week in Kansas City, feeling as if
all of the things that squandered opportunities for you in
the past are gonna be left in the regular season,
because if you play that way during the postseason, you
are absolutely gonna get cooked by someone. It may not
be in the Sweet sixteen, it may be in the
Elite eight, it could be in the round of thirty two.
(36:29):
All those are actual possibilities that are opening for a
team like Houston two five seven ninety. Speaking of the Texans,
I do want to bring this on up. Everyone's focused
in I think, on the wrong thing when it comes
to the Daniel Hunter deal. Sod Neil Hunter gets paid
a one year, forty point one million dollar contract, fully
guaranteed deal to twenty twenty seven, and the first comment is, well,
(36:51):
now they're not gonna go after offensive lineman.
Speaker 2 (36:54):
No, they're gonna go after offensive lineman.
Speaker 1 (36:56):
I remember when Nick Cassario and and Damiko Ryans brought
up that they were going to go off for a
quarterback in twenty twenty three, and then was like, oh,
they're gonna get Will Anderson Junior.
Speaker 2 (37:06):
And they did.
Speaker 1 (37:07):
They also kept their word and and they got a quarterback.
All we've heard this offseason is the Texans aren't going
to get a quarterback, I mean get offensive lieman.
Speaker 2 (37:16):
They are.
Speaker 1 (37:17):
Here's the thing that we have to have the legitimate
conversation on. I think the Texans are going to get
the same offensive lineman that they're accustomed to seeing, guys
on one year, seven million dollar deals, maybe a two
year ten million dollar contract, team friendly veteran looking for
their second chance, and someone getting traded in the next
(37:37):
ninety six hours. That will be the next heading group.
And until I'm improve an otherwise wrong. That's why I
think most Sextants fans should think, here's the good news.
We're gonna have the answer to this come Wednesday when
we start to see movement on the tampering period, and
maybe the.
Speaker 2 (37:53):
Texans will prove us wrong. Here's just going to prove
us right.
Speaker 1 (37:56):
That they're a good team at see Astros and some
Marlins and it comes away next right here.
Speaker 2 (38:00):
On Sports Talk seven ninety pace
In the words of Champ Kind, if you watched how
that game ended last night, quite lately.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
Just whaar me, whaar me, whar me, whare me fifteen.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
To five wins your United States eat Brazil in the
first round of the World Baseball Classic in dik In Park.
And with that we say, let's get the show on
the road. Sub friends, Cole Thompson, rockman chew for only
forty five minutes today, Spacecay Saturday rolls right along as
we get prepared for the Astros taking on spring training
game number fourteen of the entire season. They will be
(00:32):
having an opportunity to go ahead and continue down their
winning ways. After defeating the Washington National seven to one
yesterday first pitch out of eleven h five against the
Miami Marlins, your Rockets, well, they found a way to
make it too close for interesting, but still one oh
six ninety nine. Nobody's complaining about moving to thirty nine
and twenty three on the year, especially when you have
a high low performance from the likes of Amen Thompson
(00:53):
dropping twenty six and Opportune Gooon dropping twenty eight, plus
of course KD dropping twenty eight of eighteen for the field,
and of course we gotta talk about some news going
around the NFL. Maybe not as much Texans, though we
will throw some Texans on in. However, one major trade
should be the baseline for Houston next offseason.
Speaker 2 (01:12):
When it comes to this stipulation.
Speaker 1 (01:14):
Take phone calls, Take questions at seven one three, two,
one two, five, seven nine if you want to join
on in. All right, let's talk real fast about the
World Baseball Classic, and then we'll.
Speaker 2 (01:23):
Get into some mass shows.
Speaker 1 (01:24):
Last night, fifteen to five victory over Team Brazil a
little bit too close for comfort.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
At one point you allow three home runs.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
It's interesting if you would have taken the bet total
and said, hey, I think of that team that doesn't
have a single Major League player active is gonna hit
more home runs than the Red, White, and Blue going
into the ninth inning, you would have.
Speaker 2 (01:43):
Won that bet. Nobody would have expected that.
Speaker 1 (01:46):
But I will say, I think there is something that
needs to be brought up when talking about the World
Baseball Classic.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
Maybe this is just me, Maybe I'm alone on this take.
I don't think I am.
Speaker 1 (01:57):
I feel something whenever I watch the colors be represented.
Speaker 2 (02:01):
I do, and I don't know if it's just patriotism.
Speaker 1 (02:03):
I don't know if it's just the fact that I'm
someone who enjoys loving, you know, watching the best players
in baseball take the main stage in your home town.
But once, like I felt with the Olympics, there's a
certain level of pride that you get knowing that you're
representing your country. And that's why it's really hard for
me to go ahead and stand on the take about
Jeremy Panning about not playing in the World Baseball Classic
(02:24):
because for me, Matt Thomas has brought up on multiple
ocaions whenever he does the Matt Thomas show that the
World Baseball Classic should not feature major leaguers or at
least ASTROS players.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
And I get that to a certain.
Speaker 1 (02:36):
Level because of right now, Jimmy Panye if he used
to miss any time, it hurts your team going into
next season, a year where you're gonna be a good roster,
but you're not elite, Like we can just call it
as is. This is a team that probably needs to
have a couple of breaks and a few highlight stars
coming to the spotlight to guarantee that they're playing deep
into October and having an opportunity to win a Commissioner's trophy,
(02:58):
but at the same time, watching his last night, a
seventeen year old kid from Georgia gets to ground out
double play ending ending moment against Aaron frickin judge, against
probably the most hated person in the tournament in this city, which,
by the way, we can talk about the dik and
stuff in a minute, but still to see a seventeen
(03:18):
year old representing his father's country like that says something
to me, and it makes me go back to the
whole point of why I was so for a guy
like Jim m Payer playing in this tournament. Now I'm
okay with it not playing because it only helps out
the Astros long term.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
But I get it. I do.
Speaker 1 (03:36):
There's something about representing those colors that are a part
of your history and a part of your background that
you want to.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
See on the biggest dange.
Speaker 1 (03:44):
And there's something about knowing that there are people representing
you sitting back at home that gives it just a
little bit more validity.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
I don't know what it is.
Speaker 1 (03:52):
If it's the long ball, if it's the fact that
you're seeing the color scheme, if it's the fact that
you're just watching his other teams have to bend the
need to you and your dominance on the on the
you know, on the grid iron or on the athletic field.
That's so that's just the way it is for me,
that that's always just been the way that I've looked
at it. I do think, however, this is gonna be
the last time that we see the World Baseball Classic
played in the month of March, and I understand the
(04:14):
reasoning why it is, but a part of me also
thinks that if you want to get the best players involved,
because let's just say teen Puerto Rico is an early out,
are they an early out because they're a bad organization,
or that the players that they're developing aren't actually reaching
their peak, or are they not making it past these
second stage or the first round or the wild or
the round robin tournament because you have ownerships and you
(04:38):
have teams saying thanks but no thanks, you want your
insurance costs be kicked on in you can't play, so
the best players being left at home, that I think
that we're going to be at that point where that
becomes a major conversation starter, and it has to. If
you want the best players involved, you got to be
able to get them at the right time possible. Now,
the only right time possible would be probably at the
end of the season. Now, the reason why they do
(05:00):
World Baseball Classic right now versus doing it later on
is simply because of ratings. What are you going up
against in the middle of October and November That would
throw a wrench in the curve for Fox Sports and
everybody else.
Speaker 2 (05:12):
I'll save you the trouble. It's college football season. And
it's not college football season, it's college baseball. I mean
it's the NFL season.
Speaker 1 (05:18):
So Saturday and Sunday has taken on over by the
Gridiron Gang, and Fox, which has a major stock involved
with the likes of the Big ten and Big twelve
networks and what they provide in terms of viewership, are
going to pivot over to baseball because of we have
a game of a top fifteen matchup. So you're trying
to do everything possible to guarantee the most eyeballs are
(05:40):
put on center stage. When you have teams like the
Dominican Republic taking on Chinese Taipei, or you have teams
like Australia going down to the wire.
Speaker 2 (05:48):
Against check Up.
Speaker 1 (05:50):
They want to do that because if they know that
this is a television product at the end of the day.
Speaker 2 (05:54):
But I think that there.
Speaker 1 (05:55):
Is also going to be a level of you can
always put more people in watching the game when you
get the better players.
Speaker 2 (06:03):
Like I'll just be completely real. The Olympics this.
Speaker 1 (06:06):
Past year reached record setting numbers, specifically in hockey because
of they allowed NHLers to take two weeks off and
represent their country.
Speaker 2 (06:17):
They did. Now again, nhler's are psychopaths. They are.
Speaker 1 (06:21):
I mean quite literally, there are guys who are playing
on one leg and have half of a mouth filled
with fake teeth, that are going back out on the
ice after having literally one of their teeth knocked out
and they're getting slapped in the face into saying walk
it off when they're in concussion protocol.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
I mean, they like they're different breed of athletes. They
just are. But still they made sure that the game.
Speaker 1 (06:42):
Was at a peak because of who was representing teams
on the ice. You didn't have these up and coming
stars or the kids that were gonna be the next
big times.
Speaker 2 (06:52):
No, you have the proven names right now.
Speaker 1 (06:54):
And because of it, the United States where Jack Hughes
won the Golden Goal and they brought back gold for
the first time in forty six years. If you want
the best product, you gotta go out and you gotta
make sure that you get the best people up melved
and the only way to guarantee that probably is by
doing it.
Speaker 2 (07:07):
At the season's end.
Speaker 1 (07:08):
World Series is over, you're having the parade Commissioner's Trophy
is back here at Tyking Park.
Speaker 2 (07:13):
And then two weeks.
Speaker 1 (07:14):
Later, well, if Josel Touve wants to play for Team
Venezuela because his body still is gonna be able to
hold on up, he'll have enough time to recover before
we get to spring training. And if you don't have
enough time to recover before spring training, you'll have enough
time to recover before opening day.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
And the same thing goes for Carlos Korea. And then
this is a moot point.
Speaker 1 (07:31):
For Team Dominican Republic when it comes to Jeremy Pana,
because he would be out okay, but maybe he could
be back in time for the final or better yet,
maybe the laundry list of the least that we have
on players would be shorter because of you don't have
to worry about what's going on with them playing Moving forward,
(07:52):
I don't know.
Speaker 2 (07:53):
Maybe that's just me.
Speaker 1 (07:55):
And I'm saying all this because of I last night
was fully invested in watching as Team USA was able
to molly wop in the ninth inning and clean the
floor with Team Brazil. And I'm gonna be watching today
and I'm gonna be watching for the next two weeks
because I think it's a great sport. I think it's
a great game that is going to draw in interest.
But I think the big interest selling point moving forward
(08:17):
is having the stars beyond the court. I mean having
the stars beyond the diamond they just start and when
you're missing talents like Carlos Correa and when you're missing
talents like Jeremy Pana. And I'm not saying this as
an Astros fan, because I absolutely agree with Dana Brown.
Speaker 2 (08:29):
Do not let them play.
Speaker 1 (08:31):
Specifically, do not let them play because of the insurance
clause and what you're dealing with with the infield collusion,
whatever it is. You have to be able to guarantee
that you have as many of the high profile figures
as possible.
Speaker 2 (08:42):
If you want to go.
Speaker 1 (08:43):
If you don't want to believe me, that's fine, go
look at what ratings say. Ratings say, the stars of
today are the ones that are gonna put butts in seats,
and they're gonna have people at bars, They're gonna have
people in buildings, and they're gonna have people taking off
work to sit down and take in nine innings.
Speaker 2 (08:59):
Because they did that for three periods in hockey every
single night. That was just the case.
Speaker 1 (09:03):
Speaking of which, with the Astros news coming out of
the World Baseball Classic, which is important because of this
may be solving a solution.
Speaker 2 (09:13):
Dana Brown's not himself a backup catcher.
Speaker 1 (09:15):
I don't know if any of you saw the report,
but Brian McTaggart Resa came on out.
Speaker 2 (09:20):
Christian Vasquez, former.
Speaker 1 (09:21):
Astros catcher spent last season with the Twins, is signing
a minor league deal to join the organization through offspring
training while he is at the World Baseball Classic. Now
he is expected when the World Baseball Classic ends to
go join the team down on West Palm and he
will compete. Why is this a big deal, because if
we've been asking for a while, what are you planning on.
Speaker 2 (09:42):
Doing with your backup catcher position? What is it?
Speaker 1 (09:45):
Are you gonna have, Sayzar Salazar or are you going
to wait for somebody to go ahead and make the play.
There was rumors that you said Pirees could be in
some type of deal to go ahead and guarantee that
you get somebody else to come in the building and
then go bring in the backup catcher that way, with
a proven commodity. There was conversations of maybe you go
out and you bring in somebody who you think is
very cheap, team friendly. There's conversations of just hey, says
(10:05):
Our Salazar, you're sticking around.
Speaker 2 (10:07):
They made the call.
Speaker 1 (10:09):
Now they're going out and they're adding in a guy
who has already been acclivated with the organization from his
time via Boston Houston winning a World Series title in
twenty twenty two, and he understands the assignment. I'm here
to be a catcher every sixth day, be one or
two people's personal dude, a veteran presence inside the clubhouse,
(10:29):
and fighting throughout all the spring training to earn that
I am a better fit than says Our Salazar. At
this point, I'm going to say the choir part out loud.
I think that we know the answer of that one. Yeah,
it is going to be Christian Vazquez. When all things
are said and done, he will be leading West Palm
and coming back to Houston.
Speaker 2 (10:46):
And it's a smart move.
Speaker 1 (10:47):
It's a team friendly contract. It ends up benefiting I
think all parties involved. Jan Diaz gets a quality backup
to where you feel confident that if he's to miss
a game or two, you can trust putting him in.
Speaker 2 (10:56):
The eighth hole and lo and behold.
Speaker 1 (10:58):
While offensively he won't had much you, defensively he'll be fine.
And then on top of all that, it allows you
to bring in somebody that you know is a proven commodity.
Speaker 2 (11:09):
And I understand that Walker Yannick.
Speaker 1 (11:10):
You're hopeful that he can eventually pan on out and
turn into a really really solid playmaker and a guy
that you can trust in the backstop, maybe even rotating
in that first base when you got to get rid
of Christian Walker's contract, whatever it is. But I look
right now when I say to myself, this is actually
a win for the Astros.
Speaker 2 (11:28):
It is.
Speaker 1 (11:29):
I'm not saying that I want Christian Basquez playing more
than eighty games. I'm not saying that Christian Basquez has
got to start for a week. I'm gonna feel confident
that you're winning all six games. What I'm saying is
there were worse options available. The only reason why I
hate this deal, the only reason is because I wish
you just would have gotten him in twenty twenty six
(11:50):
and not in twenty twenty two when you had to
give up a player to be named later, because that
player to be named later was what You're a brat.
Speaker 2 (11:55):
You are the Boston Red Sox. Now he is killing
it in right field.
Speaker 1 (11:59):
Now, conversations going on, how do we trade to bring
them on back? And Dave Dombrowski has made it abundantly clear,
I'm not interested in making any of.
Speaker 2 (12:05):
These movies with you, Astros. You're not getting Eastside Peredes
for Will Your Break You? Straight up? We want more.
Speaker 1 (12:10):
We want to bend you over the barrel, and we
want to say you're gonna play our game, and the
answers just won't bunch. And if you didn't have, you
gave up We ri Christian Vasquez adding Christian Basquez.
Speaker 2 (12:20):
A couple of years ago. Will Your Break You maybe
starting in the right field. Better yet, he could.
Speaker 1 (12:24):
Be starting in left camp Smith and right and lo
and behold, you got your left handed, power hitting bat.
That would add incredible volume to the middle of your
lineup seven one, three, two, five, seven ninet. If you
want to get it on the guest line, take a
quick time out when we come back. Max Crosby is
in the AFC still and not with the Raiders.
Speaker 2 (12:43):
How does this tie you into the Texans?
Speaker 1 (12:44):
I'll explain next right here on a space, say Saturday,
sports Talk seven ninety space say Saturday, rolling right along
here on Sports Talk seven ninety sud friends, Cole Rockerman,
chew just.
Speaker 2 (12:54):
Till ten forty five today because you.
Speaker 1 (12:56):
Got Astros versus Marlins taking place in West Palm Beach.
Rockets win last night one O six ninety nine, and
your Cougars they close out the regular season a college
basketball before the Big twelve Tournament begins next week against Oklahoma.
Satan catch that game over on KPRC nine point fifty.
(13:17):
Astro's lineup is officially out. I don't know how many
of you guys have seen it, but Esach Perettes too,
what you're made.
Speaker 2 (13:23):
Up at second base?
Speaker 1 (13:24):
Brother Zach Cole leads off Perettes at second in the
three hole.
Speaker 2 (13:28):
Not opposed to it. I like him in the five
hole still, but regardless.
Speaker 1 (13:31):
Christian Walker Joey Liperfido, He's gonna be your right fielder.
Centerfield is Jake Myers, d H Taylor Trammel a third base,
Jack Winkler, Carlos Perez behind the dish, Nick Allen is
the ninth hole hitter at shortstop, and Jason Alexander on
the mound. None of this matters because of again, really,
lets this be real. The only thing that we're focusing
on is the bullpen and what Esach looks like at
second base. I can tell you what every fan around
(13:53):
the NFL should be looking at right now, and it
is the Max Crosby trade. Late last night, deal gets done,
Blockbuster Baltimore. Jesse Minter says, you know what f M picks.
We don't really care. We want to go ahead and
win right now. We got Lamar Jackson, we got Derrick Henry.
Let's go ahead and get ourselves a legit enforcer in
(14:14):
Max Crosby, five time pro bowler, three time All Pro
defensive end from Las Vegas is headed out to the
East coast, headed back to the west side. Well, you're
gonna go get two first round picks. Okay, Now, why
is this such a big deal? I think for multiple reasons,
for starters. The Ravens once again realized last season was
a fluke. We need to be a playoff contender. Ye're
(14:36):
inning year out if that means that we got to
go all in on adding in a player like Max
Crossey's potential, because we cannot keep living in this world
of trying to draft offensive lineman, trying to get these
dudes they are gonna deliver, trying to get these guys,
i mean, defensive ends, trying to get these pass rushers
that can't live up to what Zadarius Smith was or
what you saw from Terrell Suggs for a while. Then
we gotta go get a proven commodee. And we're not
(14:59):
that far off, and we know that we could spend
money in free agency on certain positions, and we know
the areas that we can address we can get on
Day two for the next two years, and Las Vegas
is interested in moving him, so let's just go ahead
and pull the trigger. That's what smart gms do, That's
what Eric Tacosta is. That's why the Ravens were able
to go ahead and pull off this deal. Two first
(15:19):
round picks going back to Las Vegas. Now, the second
part of this is probably where you're asking yourself, Cole,
why are you bringing up a deal that has nothing
to do with the Houston Texans. I'm so glad that
you asked. I'm so glad that Josh and Frankie asked.
I'm so glad that everybody's paying attention to this, because
here's the thing, guys, Eventually the Texans are going to
be put in the choke hold.
Speaker 2 (15:40):
That is not gonna be a fun conversation.
Speaker 1 (15:41):
I have the beauty about what Nick Cassario has done
and what Dimigo Ryans has done with the development of talent,
and the hits on defensive draft picks is you have
a number one defense and you do number one scoring
unit last season, number two in total yards allowed, great
inside of red zone opportunities, top five and takeaways. The
plus margin differential was fantastic. Like the Texans had a
(16:04):
super Bowl caliber defense and the offense unfortunately had five
turnovers in a game against New England that ultimately led
to them speaking show the door with the ultimate demise.
The problem with hitting on all those draft picks is
everyone wants to get paid, and there's not a level
of where you can go ahead and guarantee that you're
going to find the right names on the open market.
Speaker 2 (16:27):
You just aren't. I'm telling you it happens. So what
does that mean.
Speaker 1 (16:33):
You're gonna have a very awkward conversation if you are
Nick Cassio next offseason, if you are still the GM.
I don't know if that's gonna happen. I'm not a wizard.
I just can tell you that I believe what I
think is.
Speaker 2 (16:42):
Going to be the case around Houston.
Speaker 1 (16:45):
But if the Texans once again are really good defensively
and they once again are making the playoffs, you're going
to have another player that wants a deal. Will Anderson
Junior is getting paid this offseason like it or not,
which you all should because he's the best young defensive
player in the sport. He is going to be the
highest paid defensive player in the league next season, or
at least he will have the highest paid contract going
into his end of the rookie year in twenty twenty seven,
(17:07):
so that money kicks on in you're gonna have the
awkward conversation of do you extend to Neil Hunter, arguably
the most underappreciated defensive lineman of the last twenty years,
for another year or are you going to let him
walk after twenty twenty seven when you then have to
pay for Will Anderson Junior, You're gonna have to probably
have a conversation about extending Derek Stingley, and then you're
(17:29):
gonna have to have the conversation about what do you
do with the two young guns? Because I can tell
you right now, Kamari Laster is gonna get paid. I
don't know if it's by Houston, but he will get paid.
That is a top twelve cornerback in the NFL, and
he would be starting as the CB one, going up
against can't miss wide receivers for about twenty teams, if
not more.
Speaker 2 (17:49):
That's how damn good he is.
Speaker 1 (17:50):
That's how awesome he is played, and that's how much
I think teams will value what his overall mentality is.
Speaker 2 (17:56):
So he's gonna get paid.
Speaker 1 (17:57):
And Kylen block guys, if you have not been paying attention,
let me remind you. This was a ball honking safety
at USC, a center fielder sorts that would just make
picks and break up passes, and in two years he
has gone from being a liability in open field tackling
to one of your most surefire stoppers. Fifteen yards downfield,
(18:21):
if it's exposed to play happens. Oh and he also
does that whole thing about picking off balls a lot,
so he is.
Speaker 2 (18:26):
Going to cost you a pretty penny.
Speaker 1 (18:28):
The reason I'm bringing this up is if you've seen
more growth and more stability and more oh my god,
highlight plays what he made that type of move and
the Texans benefit off of it. The awkward conversation that
we're going to have to have is one of those
two is probably getting shipped on out before the end
(18:49):
of their rookie deal because you can't afford him.
Speaker 2 (18:52):
And I'm saying this because of when you look at
the Max.
Speaker 1 (18:54):
Crosby deal, you're probably not gonna get a first two
first round picks. Max Crosby is one of those highlight,
can't miss, superstar defensive ends that everybody is terrified of
going up against everybody, even the best offensive lineman will
tell you I had a bad day at the office
going up against ninety eight. That's just the case. He's proven,
(19:15):
so that's why he was worth two first round picks.
He also plays a premier position, but one one first
round pick in the third for Kamari Laster. I don't
want to have this conversation. It hurts me. It's painful
to even think about that. But that's the way you're
gonna have to live. You're gonna have to have that
awkward chat. A first round pick and maybe a fifth
(19:37):
round pick or two second round picks for Kaylin Block
when we already hit with one safety in the past.
I mean, we were able to go get in a
guy like Kaylen before in the third round. Nick seems
to have a knack of finding these dudes. Within picks
seventy five through eighty, I think that we could do
it again. I think that we could find a replacement,
(19:57):
pretty good player that would elevate and fit in Dimiko's defense.
Speaker 2 (20:01):
All right, pull the trigger.
Speaker 1 (20:03):
The reason I'm bringing up the Max Crosby deal is
because of the Raiders realized pretty quickly underneath the new regime,
we're nowhere near competitive. We're not We're nowhere near gonna
be able to be built to win a title right now.
So we got to do its best for the organization
and caught our losses. And I look at this also
compared to what you saw with Cincinnati a couple months ago.
(20:26):
Because Cincinnati and Dallas had the same I Daddy. They said, oh,
you know what, we're a really good team. We think
that we can be competitive, but we got to cut
some taxes here. We think that we can be a
super Bowl caliber roster, but we can't afford everybody.
Speaker 2 (20:40):
So what did they do well?
Speaker 1 (20:42):
They said, uh, thanks, but no, thanks to Trey Hendrickson.
We're going to extend both of our wide receivers and
our quarterback and one of our offensive linemen, and.
Speaker 2 (20:51):
We're gonna call it a day.
Speaker 1 (20:52):
And then they let go of Logan Wilson, and they
let go of two defensive tackles, and they let go
of now Trey Hendrickson, and their defense, which is already
hardboard do do, is gonna be even worse.
Speaker 2 (21:03):
And they're probably.
Speaker 1 (21:04):
Gonna fire their head coach and it's gonna be a
wasteful season around a really good quarterback at Joe Burrow,
and the same thing could be said about Dallas. Dallas
went out and they said, we know that we have
a generational and I don't use that word lightly, so
I will make sure I say it properly, a generational
defensive player that can line up anywhere on the field.
(21:25):
And we got a wide receiver one, and we got
a quarterback that all need to get paid. The quarterback
got paid and the wide receiver got paid. And then
Jerry Jones said, thanks, but no, thanks to Micah Parsons,
who is really, really good. We're gonna send you on off.
We're gonna get a proven player and two picks back.
And they did, and they proceeded to not make the
playoffs this year, and once again they're picking in.
Speaker 2 (21:45):
The twelve spot. That's what they did.
Speaker 1 (21:48):
The Texans are gonna have to have that same awkward conversation.
You already have one bona fide shutdown quarterback locked on up,
you do. His name is Eric Singley Junior, and he's
not leaving any time soon. You already have one superstar
wide receiver locked on up.
Speaker 2 (22:03):
His name is Ego Collins.
Speaker 1 (22:04):
He's probably gonna want another extension, which means you're gonna
have to find money in the budget to be able
to afford him. You got David Montgoverny that's gonna be
here on a team. From the contract, they're probably gonna
restructure out another year onto the deal.
Speaker 2 (22:15):
It ends up being a win for the organization.
Speaker 1 (22:18):
You have most of the important positions figured out and Now,
going into the offseason, you're saying, well, now we gotta
go out. We gotta make sure that we resign and
get the best version of Will Anderson locked up, and
we got the Neil Hunter locked up. You don't have
much more funds to work with guys, at least for
the homegrown talent. Now you're gonna have to start banking
on hitting picks every single year, because if you want
(22:42):
to keep a lot of these names around, you're gonna
have to pay them a premium price and you're not
gonna let and you're gonna have to be able to
miss out on some free agents.
Speaker 2 (22:51):
And right now, the seconds are not built that way.
Speaker 1 (22:54):
So I bring up the Max Crosby deal because Max
Crosby earned the highest value he possibly could. And when
they looked at the market, Vegas said, now we got
to pull the trigger. Now we gotta go on. We
gotta make this move. We got to do it because
if it's our best interest for the organization, if the
Texans know in two years they can't afford everybody, and
(23:18):
they're already paying Will and they gotta pay CJ. And
they got to up Nico, and they got to make
sure that Derek Stingley Junior is happy and they already
got d Niel and they don't want to lose him either.
You have an odd man out, whether or not it's fair,
whether or not I want to see it happen, because
I don't. Teams will always look to be as most
proactive as possible. The awkward conversation that you're gonna have
(23:42):
to have is do we let him walk for nothing
in two years? Let him go, He'll sign elsewhere, he'll
be a problem for us and we have to hit reset.
Or do we try to cash on in when their
value is high, knowing that we're gonna hurt our defense
a little bit, but also seeing how we've been able
to structure the way things go, it may be something
(24:03):
that we have to at least really consider as a
viable option. The Raiders did it, and now they're in
a better chance to hit the rebuild button earlier. The
Texans they're not gonna be hitting a rebuild button, but
they're gonna have more opportunities to hit on players and
have more draft picks to where they won't be walking
away empty handed by losing guys who they thought they
(24:23):
couldn't live without.
Speaker 2 (24:24):
Seven one three, two, five, seven ninety Take quick time out.
Speaker 1 (24:27):
Texans Free Agency is underway starting Tuesday. I'm gonna tell
you exactly how this is gonna go. And for some
Texans fans they're gonna say this is normal. For others
they're gonna hate the truth. But the youth needs to
be said. And Space Day Saturday right here on Sportstock
seven ninety. Next Space Day Saturday, rolling right along here
on Sportstock seven ninety. Cole Thompson rocking with you for
(24:49):
a few more minutes. Soon though you'll hear the Ashers
and the Marlins take place as Jason Alexander is on
the mound east Side Parades. Is your starting second baseman.
I could say win last night one O six ninety nine.
Not a good performance overall in terms of how you
close things on out, but you'll take a twenty plus
point performance from Amen Thompson, and certainly not from Katie
(25:10):
and Apprin Shingoon. Meanwhile, Max Crosby two years, I mean,
two first round picks are headed to Las Vegas.
Speaker 2 (25:17):
And he said over to the.
Speaker 1 (25:18):
Baltimore Ravens seven one three, two, five seven nine if
you want to get on in James incline, Good morning, dude,
what's on your mind?
Speaker 3 (25:27):
Yeah, with the Astra's lack of hitting in the in
the in the screen training, why can't they do what
the Yankees do with Aaron Judge and have yord On
Averaz just play left deild and let them bat and
play left field most of the time. May let Aaron Judge.
Do they not afraid of the Aaron Judge getting hurt? James?
Speaker 1 (25:45):
Are you asking me like why they're not doing it
or why.
Speaker 3 (25:49):
Yeah, why don't they just do it? Because they're gonna
need that bat and they're gonna need him in the
lane up every day, and then that frees up the
you know the U the uh, you know the spots
on the d.
Speaker 2 (26:01):
James, James, you listen? Do you listen at six to
ten in the mornings one weekdays?
Speaker 3 (26:08):
I'm sorry, what do you do?
Speaker 1 (26:10):
You listen on weekdays from six am to ten? Because
I've had this argument, like multiple times, I'm with you.
Speaker 3 (26:15):
I don't know, I'm sorry, I don't.
Speaker 1 (26:17):
Know why on earth Dana Brown is looking at this lineup,
especially in the outfield, and saying, hey, we're good, jord On,
you can just play dh It makes no sense.
Speaker 2 (26:26):
To me, it doesn't.
Speaker 1 (26:28):
But Brian mey Taggert was on with us on Thursday
and even told us you could think whatever you want
about how they're interested in the move of having rd
On play outfield. He'll play at most, probably ten games
out there. Now, I won't answer your question on one part.
Part of the reason why the Yankees have Yaron Judge
playing in the outfield is because who is their designated hitter? Oh,
(26:52):
Don Carlos Stanton, John Carlos Stanton. He can't play in
the outfield. He is literally the biggest liability in the
outfl So he can't play first, he can't play in
the infield. He can't play in the outfield, and he
still is under a contract that has three two more
years left on what was at the time the largest
deal in.
Speaker 2 (27:11):
Major League Baseball history. So that's why he's designated hitter.
Speaker 1 (27:15):
And you're and Aaron judgson the outfield that that's that's
the main reason why.
Speaker 2 (27:20):
But for the ass.
Speaker 3 (27:20):
Okay, another thing is why would you have him batting second?
I know he likes the spinal election to bat second.
To me, it seems like, my guys, he even gets
on bas He's not gonna steal. I don't understand that
theory at all.
Speaker 1 (27:35):
When is he hit second in the regular season over
the last two years, I'm genuinely asking, Well.
Speaker 3 (27:43):
Last year, last year, he did him in the second
the regular season, hit the third season. Okay, well he
hit second a couple of times, suits and I remember that,
and he had him hit second spring training already too.
Speaker 1 (27:52):
Well, because that's where the lineup is right now, James,
We're not looking out the lineup filled with players that
are going to be actually on the field. Like like,
if you can tell me, okay, if you tell me
the scenario, you have Josel two by, Jeremy paying at eastside, Peredes,
Carlos Carrera, Christian Walker, and Ordon Alvarez all playing at
the same time. Let's just say this is the game
that you're On's in left field, You'redon's batting third. Essach
(28:16):
Predes is your two hole hitter. Esach Parreddies was your
two hole hitter all of last season. He's gonna be
your two hole hitter right now. The question is do
you move him down to the four hole because of
you have to put Jose al two bay in the three,
or do you want him in the five or do
you want him in the sixth hole?
Speaker 2 (28:32):
That's where the conversation really is going to.
Speaker 3 (28:35):
Okay, all right, well, I just I just notice him
in the second hold later in spring training. Of that,
my god, get him out of the second Yeah.
Speaker 1 (28:42):
I will almost guarantee you. I will bet you one
thousand dollars. You can go ahead and email me at
Cole Thompson, iHeartMedia dot Com. You'don Alvarez will not see
more hit I mean more reps in the two hole
than he will in the three.
Speaker 2 (28:53):
Of the four hole.
Speaker 3 (28:55):
Okay, all right, Well, I just want to call and
get your perspective on whether or not you think you
should play every day, because I think it should play
every day and I'm not every day, but elist either
regular outfielder out there and I would be the DH.
Speaker 1 (29:05):
I appreciate your phone call, James. I absolutely agree. I
do like I very much think right now he should
be in the outfield.
Speaker 4 (29:12):
Doc.
Speaker 1 (29:13):
If you listen to me on Mondays through Fridays six
or ten am, I've been screaming from the mountaintops and
I got vehemently upset with Brian McTaggert, not because of
tags as wrong, but because of the report.
Speaker 2 (29:23):
Tags told me.
Speaker 1 (29:25):
That you were going to see ten games, twelve games
of your don Alvas in the outfield, and you're.
Speaker 2 (29:34):
Not gonna play.
Speaker 1 (29:36):
You're not gonna play East. I praise at your DH spot.
Really are we watching the same outfield right now in
spring training? And I get it, it's spring training West Palm.
Cool story. You're going up against some pictures that you
probably will never see again and some that are only.
Speaker 2 (29:50):
Going out there for two innings.
Speaker 1 (29:51):
You can have a bad ending, It's okay, But I'm
looking at it from the perspective of Joey, Li Braffito,
Zach Cole, cam Smith, and Jake Myers can't consistently hit.
And if you listen to Josh Reddick on Chandler Rohan's podcast,
he even said, if I'm an outfielder right now, the
(30:11):
thing that I'm looking for is the ability to hit.
Speaker 2 (30:15):
Well, you got a guy, his name is your Nonavarez.
Speaker 1 (30:18):
All he does is unload four hundred and fifty yard
feet bombs in the left and right field. Why would
you not want to see him hit? Why would you
not want to see him out there?
Speaker 2 (30:30):
That's my point.
Speaker 1 (30:31):
But we're gonna try to protect him because of we're
afraid he could get hurt. You do realize that last
season the two times he got hurt was swinging a
bat and touching home and he also got hurt sliding
into second. You know what, he hasn't gotten hurt before
playing in left field. It makes no sense to me,
James Timy Houston, It makes no sense to me. You
(30:54):
have an opportunity when you get back of healthy Jeremy
Pangiam to keep Eastoch Paradez's bad in the law, and
you're going to take away reps because you don't want
your outfielder by default playing in the outfield. It makes
absolutely no sense to me. But I'm at the GM
and I'm at the manager. I'm just a guy asking questions.
(31:16):
You should be asking the exact same questions. Seven ninety
Richard in the East Side, what's going on with man?
Speaker 4 (31:24):
Hey? I enjoy your show, and uh, I wanted to
talk about the Houston Cougars basketball team, something that doesn't
get a lot of airtime. And since they're not under
the same kind of scrutiny, of course that the Texans
and the Astros are, nonetheless they're every bit as interesting
(31:44):
on paper. They project pretty well, and there are certain
pundits like the Eye on College Basketball, people who actually
projected them as a good chance to win. But I
don't see that, and I see them fading. They're they're
offensively troubled, which I think the source of that is coaching,
not the athletes. Secondly, Milos Uzan is on the struggle bus,
(32:09):
and interestingly no one is discussed. Isaiah Harrel came in
as a five star recruit and the other five star
recruits they have are getting playing time and doing a
fairly good. Flemmings is unbelievable.
Speaker 3 (32:24):
Senak is held his own and by.
Speaker 4 (32:27):
The way, is starting to slide a little bit. But
Harold started out with a lot of minutes. He started
out with a lot of playing time. He literally is
a twenty six percent shooter on the season, and in
the last two games has gotten zero minutes and no
one's talking about it. I think that's a concern, and
I'll hang up and listen Richard.
Speaker 2 (32:48):
I appreciate it. Yeah, they're gonna be playing today.
Speaker 1 (32:50):
You can actually listen to the game over on KPRC
nine to fifty, last regular season game before they hit
the tournament.
Speaker 2 (32:57):
Here's what I We'll say about the Cougars.
Speaker 1 (33:00):
I'm pulling for them, not because of I live in Houston,
not because of I enjoy watching my teams be able
to win at the highest level. It's more so selfishly, Frankie,
I threw down money last season, a lot of money
on the way too early, ploy that Houston was going
to win the National Championship between twenty six so selfishly
because of I want to make a buck. I need
(33:22):
Houston to go far in the tournament, like I need
them cutting down the nets, like like I listen. I
know it's a long shot right now, but I'm not
really ready.
Speaker 2 (33:30):
To throw on the towel.
Speaker 1 (33:31):
What I will say is I do agree with Richard
on one point. Right now you are seeing Milo's Houston
on the struggle bus he has. I've been playing great offensively.
It's also felt like times and the part that's really
been upsetting to me watching the Cougars play this season.
Speaker 2 (33:51):
There are so many games that you look back and.
Speaker 1 (33:52):
Ask what went wrong And it's not like something was
terrible in the game, because you still won by like
ten points, but why did it take you so long
to close or why did you allow a team that
probably wasn't as good work their way back in to
make it interesting. TC used a bubble team. Why are
you beating them by nine when you're up by sixteen
(34:13):
Kansas State at one point? What's within the reach of you?
Why are you letting that happen? When Jerome tang is
going to be shown the door. Utah is not a
good roster this year, and you win by twelve? What
gives there?
Speaker 4 (34:27):
Like?
Speaker 1 (34:27):
It just feels like there's so many moments to where
Houston should be a team built right now to not
only be able to drain threes, consistently win at the basket,
out rebound and box out opponents to where they're getting
second chance opportunities and they're squandering it late.
Speaker 2 (34:43):
It's not a bad team.
Speaker 1 (34:44):
It's a team that I still think you can go
on a run and easily make it to the final four.
It's a seam that if they make it to the
national Championship, I don't think anybody should be shocked. And
if you listen to Tommy Lloyd after Arizona came on
into Fortita Center and they beat Houston and they handle
business against Houston, Houston able to work their way back
down eleven they got up by two and then it's like.
Speaker 2 (35:03):
The brain set Bee Boop factory reset and now.
Speaker 1 (35:06):
In the last seven minutes, it's all gonna be walkat
basketball like that's what happened in that game. But Tommy
Lloyd said afterwards, you can be the two seed in
the Big twelve, the four seed in the Big twelve,
and because of it's this conference, you could still win
the national championship.
Speaker 2 (35:23):
You got to get better play. I think from Milo Susan.
Speaker 1 (35:26):
You gotta be able to see Joseph Tugler not getting
a foul trouble early on in the game to where
he's losing minutes late in the final twenty. You gotta
be able to see a little bit more. I think
offensive consistency from Chris Chris Chris Sanak, and you can't
rely on Kingston Flemings and Emmanual Sharp to bellue out
of trouble every single day.
Speaker 2 (35:46):
That's gonna be your game plan. You've already lost the battle.
Speaker 1 (35:49):
And I think that because of the tournament bracket that
they'll be in, they have an opportunity to easily coast
their way through the first two days and they'll be
in the sweet sixteen. But when you look at potentially
who could be the four seed one scene, the sixth scene.
Speaker 2 (36:03):
You don't want to run that risk. That's all I'm saying.
Speaker 1 (36:06):
You want to make sure that you're closing things on
out this upcoming week in Kansas City, feeling as if
all of the things that squandered opportunities for you in
the past are gonna be left in the regular season,
because if you play that way during the postseason, you
are absolutely gonna get cooked by someone. It may not
be in the Sweet sixteen, it may be in the
Elite eight, it could be in the round of thirty two.
(36:29):
All those are actual possibilities that are opening for a
team like Houston two five seven ninety. Speaking of the Texans,
I do want to bring this on up. Everyone's focused
in I think, on the wrong thing when it comes
to the Daniel Hunter deal. Sod Neil Hunter gets paid
a one year, forty point one million dollar contract, fully
guaranteed deal to twenty twenty seven, and the first comment is, well,
(36:51):
now they're not gonna go after offensive lineman.
Speaker 2 (36:54):
No, they're gonna go after offensive lineman.
Speaker 1 (36:56):
I remember when Nick Cassario and and Damiko Ryans brought
up that they were going to go off for a
quarterback in twenty twenty three, and then was like, oh,
they're gonna get Will Anderson Junior.
Speaker 2 (37:06):
And they did.
Speaker 1 (37:07):
They also kept their word and and they got a quarterback.
All we've heard this offseason is the Texans aren't going
to get a quarterback, I mean get offensive lieman.
Speaker 2 (37:16):
They are.
Speaker 1 (37:17):
Here's the thing that we have to have the legitimate
conversation on. I think the Texans are going to get
the same offensive lineman that they're accustomed to seeing, guys
on one year, seven million dollar deals, maybe a two
year ten million dollar contract, team friendly veteran looking for
their second chance, and someone getting traded in the next
(37:37):
ninety six hours. That will be the next heading group.
And until I'm improve an otherwise wrong. That's why I
think most Sextants fans should think, here's the good news.
We're gonna have the answer to this come Wednesday when
we start to see movement on the tampering period, and
maybe the.
Speaker 2 (37:53):
Texans will prove us wrong. Here's just going to prove
us right.
Speaker 1 (37:56):
That they're a good team at see Astros and some
Marlins and it comes away next right here.
Speaker 2 (38:00):
On Sports Talk seven ninety pace
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