Space City Houston w Dan Mathews 12-14-24

Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:07):
Welcome aboard, Welcome to another Space City Saturday on Sports
Talk seven ninety Dan Matthews Live and local h Town
breakdown of the world that matters to you, the Houston
sports world.

Speaker 2 (00:21):
All these great Houston fans here. We love you all.

Speaker 1 (00:25):
So finish up on that to do list. Slute up
the cooler, because you can't drink in talk sports all
day if you don't start. Now bear me the eight.
This is Space City Saturday.

Speaker 2 (00:38):
It's insane.

Speaker 1 (00:40):
Here's seven nineties Dan Matthews.

Speaker 3 (00:43):
Oh, welcome inn, Welcome all, and the way we go
here on Space City Saturday. Dan Matthews here with you
on your home of the Astros and the Rockets Sports
Talk seven ninety and obviously with the former team that
I just talked about right there. I mean, what's happened
in the last less than twenty four hours.

Speaker 2 (01:02):
Hmm.

Speaker 3 (01:03):
Yeah, it's kind of escaping my memory right now. But anyway,
there is ton to get into on those guys. There's
also a little bit to get into on the ladder
team that I mentioned too, as well as we're gonna
have Rockets basketball coming your way a little bit later
on tonight. The play in round is in the past.

Speaker 2 (01:22):
Now.

Speaker 3 (01:23):
So now it's the play in tournament semifinals out there
in Vegas, and know that we've got the obligatory Matt
Thomas photo from the blackjack table, which I didn't want
to out him at the.

Speaker 2 (01:35):
Time, but you're not supposed to do that.

Speaker 3 (01:41):
Usually if the casinos catch you doing that, then they
either tell you don't do it again, or they just
tell you, Sarah, pick up your checks, you're done for
the night, and they throw you out.

Speaker 2 (01:50):
So Matt, you know, just fair warning there.

Speaker 3 (01:53):
Yeah, casinos get a little leery whenever the phones come out,
especially if you're around the sports book or anywhere, although
now they don't necessarily, you know, do that as much
because you can get lines anywhere. I mean, it was
pretty much in the days where you know, the gambling
lines were not readily available to everyone out there. But

(02:13):
I mean even in states that don't have legalized gambling,
you can just google in you know, hey, what's the
spread for Army Navy today, and you'll get about, you know,
at least ninety different search results search results for you there.
So anyway, I kid because I care for Matt, So anyway,
Matt Thomas on the call tonight, yours truly bringing you

(02:35):
Rockets launch pad a little bit later on, So we'll
be having some fun talking some Rockets a little bit
later on as they go for a chance to face
whoever comes out of the Eastern Conference for the NBA
playing tournaments. So last of the Lakers won, and that'd
be interesting too, I think. I mean, I know it's

(02:56):
kind of kart ahead of the horse here, but what
if the Rockets win this thing, and what does the
banner look like up there at you know, Toyota Center.
I think if you're the Rockets and you win it,
I think that maybe you just say, hey, we want it,
and then I don't know, maybe put like something on
the side of a girder or something like that to

(03:16):
be like, hey, NBA playing tournament champions, yay. But that's
about all that it really matters for So anyway, I
don't think we need to have like a whole banner
hoisting or anything like that.

Speaker 2 (03:28):
I think you could just probably.

Speaker 3 (03:30):
Do like the curtain in front of it and just
be like, hey, Rockets won the NBA play and tournament,
and we go about our business and hope this team
makes the Western Conference playoffs this year. So I think
that probably would be about all that's needed for that.
So anyway, if the Rockets take care of business tonight
against OKAC, they await the winner of the Hawks and

(03:50):
the Bucks in that one. But we're not going to
be talking too much Rockets for today's show because obviously,
like I said at the beginning of the show, I mean,
we're less than twenty four hours removed from.

Speaker 2 (04:02):
A move that did jar a few of you out there.

Speaker 3 (04:06):
But also too, I gotta say, I mean, I know
that a lot of times in sports media, the immediate
response from the media is to start doing the moral
high ground, moral high horse kind of thing, and you know,
chiding you the fans. But no, I'm actually gonna take
a different tact. I think most of you out there
got what Dana Brown was doing yesterday, and I think

(04:27):
that most of you got what the Astros are trying
to do. So for that, I applaud you. I'm proud
of you for understanding that. Look, I mean, this kind
this thing has kind of met a little bit of
an impasse for this team at this moment. And with
Kyle Tucker here, is this a ALS champion. Probably with
Kyle Tucker here, do you have a chance to be

(04:48):
able to reach the Alcs. Sure, probably, but it's also
too I mean, and we'll hear from Dana Brown as
the show goes along here today that there's many more
moves to be made as well. I mean, they've already
been pretty vocal about adding yet another bat to lineup.
There are loose reports out there that the Astros are

(05:09):
interested in Anthony Santander, and another report that I saw
I believe it was John Hayman who had this that
Santander would be looking for a five year deal. Oh boy,
who is in the market of giving out five six
year deals.

Speaker 2 (05:22):
I think it's a team that plays right here in Houston.

Speaker 3 (05:24):
So as of right now, I mean, Dana had a
comment yesterday about the way the outfield would look right now.

Speaker 2 (05:32):
I'll just go ahead and just say it.

Speaker 3 (05:35):
In my opinion, and I think that my opinion is
probably pretty oak solid in this regard. You won't have
an outfield that has Chas McCormick, Jake Myers, McCormick and right,
Myers and center and then a fill in kind of
platoon situation out in left field. That's not going to happen.
Somebody will be added. You will have a starting either

(05:57):
right fielder or left fielder. I mean, I don't doubt
that you probably will have an outfield that has at
any given time both Myers and McCormick out there, because
I mean the club.

Speaker 2 (06:06):
Is still very high on McCormick.

Speaker 3 (06:07):
And also too, I think that probably you know, last
year was an audition for Myers, and even though the
bat tailed off late in the season, I mean, he
was still an elite outfield defender for you. I mean,
the arm's not great, but in terms of him being
able to go gap to gap and be able to
run down baseballs, he's probably one of the best in
baseball in that regard. So you hope that the bat

(06:30):
does take a step forward this season. I think Myers
is kind of in that same mold as Jeremy Pania,
where you're just kind of like with both of those guys, like, hey, guys,
give us just a little bit more with the bat,
Like we know what the other parts of your game have,
but a little bit more consistency with that part, and
we're cope, asthetic, we're great, Like that would be outstanding

(06:50):
if you were able to do that. So that's the
part that I think a lot of people listened to
yesterday and then also too, Dana, you know when we
do get some of the audio here in the next segment,
I mean, I think that he did a good job
of kind of calming some fears yesterday of you know,
there was the full on hysteria from some out there that's,

(07:11):
oh my god, we're going towards twenty ten, eleven, twelve,
and thirteen, and maybe even a little bit of fourteen
all over again, although fourteen, I think for probably a
lot of us was kind of like last year's Rocket
season where we watched that team and you saw Springer
come up and you knew that Korea wasn't too far
around the corner.

Speaker 2 (07:30):
I think, if I'm not mistaken, was it that year
or was it the year later.

Speaker 3 (07:34):
That Alex Bregman got drafted, and then, of course, oddly enough,
in that same draft Kyle Tucker. So you continue to
add on to that thing. But if nothing else, you
at least saw, Okay, we're starting to get to that
point where you will get these guys back, and you
will start to get these guys into the fold, and
we'll see if the scouting and development of this team
really started to pay off and so a we'll have

(07:57):
to see if that all comes to fruition. But anyway, though,
I mean a interesting move made yesterday by the Astros
that I think for the most part from people that
I've talked with around baseball that you know, it's either
prospect rankings or just those who you know, just look
at overall, just values of trades that people believe.

Speaker 2 (08:18):
The Astros got a pretty good haul.

Speaker 3 (08:19):
Back for Kyle Tucker in this trade, and I think
for the Cubs too, if nothing else from their perspective,
it's number one. I mean, you just saw the Milwaukee
Brewers trade away Devin Williams, and the other part as well,
you know, all throughout baseball with some of these teams
is I mean, while I understand that you want to
be adding more than you're subtracting, especially to the front

(08:40):
end guys on your team, but let's just go ahead
and take a little bit of inventory right now of
what's going on around baseball. The San Diego Padres a
team that a lot of people thought was going to
have a really good chance at making it to the
World Series last year. Obviously, unfortunately for them, they ran
into the eventual World champions last year and got alisted
in the first round. But there's reports again with their

(09:01):
TV deal issues that they're having out there. Of course,
you know, with a lot of teams that have the
Diamond Sports Group, the former Ballet Sports Entertainment or whatever
you want to call them, and you know they've been.

Speaker 2 (09:13):
Having to dump their TV deals left and right.

Speaker 3 (09:16):
And the TV revenue is so massive in terms of
what you're able to do in terms of your spending
power and just the overall revenue structure for your team,
and the Padres are reportedly dangling some key players out
there on the trade market.

Speaker 2 (09:33):
I mean even the team too.

Speaker 3 (09:35):
As well, that you think is your biggest competitor in
the American League West right now because of their pitching staff,
the Seattle Mariners. I mean, for the life of me,
what the hell is Jerry to Poto and the Mariners doing,
Like you seriously are in position with that pitching staff
to go get a couple of good bats in that lineup,
and probably you do close that gap with the Astros.

(09:57):
But then I'm seeing reports that Luis Castillo is being
dangled out on the trade market, that the Red Sox
want to try to get one of the front end
starters for the Mariners, and the Mariners maybe might be
interested in doing that deal. Like look, I just I
bring up those examples to say to Astros fans that
are freaking out right now, if you think it's bad,
look around baseball, because I mean again too, you know

(10:20):
I talked about the Milwaukee Brewers with the Cubs. I mean,
the Brewers just trade away their closer, Devin Williams, and
they lost Willia Damas as well, So I mean it
could always be worse.

Speaker 2 (10:32):
And that's I.

Speaker 3 (10:33):
Think a little bit of the perspective that some of
the Astros fans out there that you know, I saw
it yesterday. I mean I even saw one too that
somebody said that Jordan Jose Altuve and Yinar Diaz should
request a trade, Like, come on, guys, what are we doing?
Like you just added a front of the order, a
middle of the order bat and eatzac peretis who has

(10:54):
superior pull power? And what do you have at Minute
Made Park? Oh yeah, that's right, the Crawford boxes out
there and field. And I know that people were staring
the spray charts yesterday of what you know he can
do in terms of his power numbers. And I mean
you saw the amount of home runs that would have
been out at Minute Made Park had he played at
Minute May Park. So that's a really good addition, was Nesky.

(11:18):
I mean again, I think that Dana Brown kind of
looks at that as a high upside pickup for the
Astros that probably at the beginning will be slotted to
be a fourth or fifth starter in this in this rotation.
But look at the Astros track record too with bringing
in pitchers and in cases like back in the day
with Charlie Morton, I mean, they rejuvenated his career. Charlie

(11:41):
Morton's career would not be continuing right now if he
did not, you know, go through the Astros pitching system
here with at the time Brent Strom, but a guy
that was also part of it as well as your
current pitching coach Josh Miller, and his career was I
mean again put back on track, justin Berlander, the same
deal you say, Kuci last year. So I mean trust

(12:02):
the Astro system in what they have and they have
an incredibly good scouting, research development, all of those parts
of this organization that you know on top of it
all too. I mean, is Dana Brown perfect as a GM, no,
and if you're ever looking for a perfect GM, and
I understand that a lot of you believe that Jeff

(12:23):
Luna was that guy, and he was, but.

Speaker 2 (12:25):
Jeff Luna also had his missteps as well.

Speaker 3 (12:29):
The Carlos Gomez trade, I mean, you know, that's one
that kind of comes to mind. So mistakes will be
made along the way. Nobody bats a thousand in this game.
But in terms of what the Astros did yesterday, I'm
on full board with it. I mean, I am absolutely
on board with this decision because I mean you also
have to look at it from the perspective too as well,

(12:49):
is you can continue doing the things that you're doing
and get nothing in return. I mean, what you give
him a qualifying offer, which he no doubt would decline,
Probably the minute that it got in front of him,
he'd declined, all right, fine, you get a draft pick
if he leaves, Like, how does that help you? It
doesn't help you.

Speaker 2 (13:05):
So I'm on. I'm absolutely in line with what the
Astros did.

Speaker 3 (13:09):
I think that it was an incredibly right move for
them to make, and it was an incredibly baseball savvy move,
and I don't necessarily believe that it does signal to
anybody that this is going to suck for a while,
That's not the case. You know this is going to
suck for a while is when you have a roster
that has Carlo's Corporan and guys like that starting for you.

(13:30):
I mean, no disrespect to Carlo's Corporon, but you don't.

Speaker 2 (13:34):
Have that issue right now as the Astros.

Speaker 3 (13:37):
So a little bit of patience, all right, and just
a little bit of trust. This is an organization that
has done things the right way for the better part
of the last ten years, and.

Speaker 2 (13:45):
I think they'll continue to do that.

Speaker 3 (13:47):
So, you know, I get that yesterday kind of hurt.
Kyle Tucker was a very beloved and a very popular
player here in Houston, but also too at the same time,
him moving on, I mean, it sucks you wish that
he could have been here for the long haul. But
I think also too, I mean, you know, again, this
gets back to trusting Dana Brown. That move yesterday was

(14:09):
being made with the express knowledge that they knew he's
not going to sign long term here. And there's some
other cuts that we need to get to as well
from Dana Brown.

Speaker 2 (14:19):
So we'll do that coming up here. Also, to do.

Speaker 3 (14:21):
You want to get into a little bit of Texans
conversation today on the show.

Speaker 2 (14:25):
But you know, in terms of guest.

Speaker 3 (14:27):
Wise, we will have a couple of recorded interviews that
we have. One of them that I am going to
have for you here in the bottom of this hour
is a guest that joined me and Chris Gordy last
night on the Nightcap, Bruce Levine from six seventy the
Score in Chicago as well as he does some work
on the TV side with Marquee Sports Network, so he

(14:51):
is very in tune with what the Cubs are doing
and just the overall day to day operations of the Cubs.
So we're going to talk with Bruce. We're actually I
gonna let you hear from Bruce again. He joined me
and Gordy last night. So for some of you that
might be feeling the Kyle Tucker Kyle Tucker blues in
terms of him being traded away, I think that Bruce

(15:11):
is going to make you feel a little bit more
optimistic after you hear him talk about what is coming
back to the Astros.

Speaker 2 (15:16):
As well as a little.

Speaker 3 (15:18):
Bit later on the show, Chandler Rome from the Athletic
joined the A team yesterday, so definitely want to get
that into the fold. We'll get into some Texans Dolphins
as well. I mean, a huge game tomorrow for the Texans,
and this next three three game stretch for the Texans
is a massive one up for them as well, and
it starts tomorrow against Miami over at NRG Stadium. So

(15:39):
we'll cut into that just a little bit as well.
And I also want to get you involved on the
phone lines. If you want to jump aboard, please do so.
Semon one three two one two five seven ninety. Once
again that se one three two one two five seven
nine zero. But coming up next. I think that yesterday
signaled to some of you and it is learned behavior

(15:59):
that are going to only get worse. But actually I
think that it's about lessons being learned, and I'll explain
that on the other side when we come back here
on Space City Saturday. It's Dan Matthews here with you
until noon on your home of the Astros in the Rockets.

Speaker 2 (16:13):
Sports Talk seven.

Speaker 1 (16:14):
Ninety Space City Saturday continues Sports Talk seven ninety.

Speaker 3 (16:26):
Sports Talk seven ninety Space City Saturday. You know, I
have a buddy of mine in the business who is
a massive Elvis fan As a matter of fact, he's
written three books about the King, and he has a saying, well,
now there's forty seven presidents at least after January twentieth,
but his line was forty seven presidents, one king, and yeah,

(16:47):
I understand that some of you probably are feeling a
little bit down right now, but you know, I think
that there's reasons still to stay optimistic, and we'll get
into that here in just a second before I get
into more of the Astro conversation here. I guess this
kind of goes in line with the concern that maybe
the Astros will not bring back Alex Bregman. But Chandler

(17:09):
Rome of the Athletic throwing out a report just actually
about thirty minutes ago that the Astros have emerged as
serious suitors to add Nolan Aernato through the trade markets.
So we'll see what that entails. I mean, Aeronato a
guy that is as his career has gone along the

(17:29):
bat and the power has kind of dipped a little bit,
but the fielding is still incredibly strong for him, So
we'll see if indeed that does materialize over the weekend
or maybe even early next week. I mean, he heard
Dana Brown yesterday when we played his press availability talking
about that within the next week the Astros would solidify

(17:51):
going out to get another middle of the order bat
and it'll be interesting to see if there would be
anybody else after that, because, like I've said, I really
strong only do not believe that your starting outfield is
going to be Chas McCormick out and right and Jake
Myer's out in center. I think that, And then the
part that really I don't think we're going to be

(18:13):
seeing is deep platoon out there and left field.

Speaker 2 (18:16):
That's not a competitive team.

Speaker 3 (18:17):
I mean, I think that you do need to go
get somebody that can be an every day starting outfielder
for you and also to be able to kind of
mix and match and rotate, and sometimes Jordan Alvarez is
out and left. I think that probably that is what
eventually you're going to see, but we shall see. So
I gonna let you hear from Dana Brown here in

(18:38):
just a second, But I do want to talk to
the fans. Like I said that yesterday, we're pretty upset
with both Dana Brown even saw Jim Crane starting to
get some strays out there, and you know, the thought
that this is signaling kind of the offloading that the
Astros did starting in about twenty ten. It kind of

(18:59):
ramped up a little bit in twenty eleven, and in
twenty twelve was when you started to see Hunter Pence
traded away. I think that was twelve Pence traded away,
roy Oswalt traded away, and just kind of the beginning
of the end for this Astros organization in terms of
that competitive window they had after they made the World.

Speaker 2 (19:19):
Series in two thousand and five.

Speaker 3 (19:21):
But I actually think that yesterday's trade was trying to
avoid that because let me take you back to those times.
Can we be honest with ourselves that the two thousand
and five team, I mean, did have an outstanding pitching
staff with Clemens Pettit Oswalt and what they were able
to do in that postseason run, and also to the
back end of the bullpen with lydge Qualls, Dan Wheeler

(19:44):
and that group that it was a huge part of
what propelled that team to go from being fifteen and
thirty to all the way to winning a wild card spot,
getting in beating the Braves in that opening round of
the Division Series, and then going to the LCS and
getting revenge against the Cardinals team that the year before
had broken your hearts with Carlos Beltron and crew, and

(20:05):
you kind of thought to yourself, Man, that two thousand
and four team, I mean, I look, I mean it's
one of those that if you want to hop back
into the time machine and a team that could have
put together a hell of a world series. That Astros
Red Sox World Series would have been awesome.

Speaker 2 (20:20):
That would have been amazing to have watched. But we
didn't get that.

Speaker 3 (20:23):
So the following year it was a little bit of
a mix and match a little bit for the Astros.
I mean, you had Morgan Ensburg having a career year,
you had Jason Lane having a hell of a year
Mike Lamb.

Speaker 2 (20:35):
But I say all of that.

Speaker 3 (20:36):
To say that that was not a long term sustainable
competitive model. So the Astros I think kind of kitted
themselves into believing that, hey, we can continue to stay competitive.
Here is Carlos Lee, that was a bad trade, that
was a bad signing, Here's Miguel ta Hatta did some
good things, but for the most part, it was a

(20:58):
shell of what mcguilta hat was doing his heyday with
the Oakland a's and I mean, you know here and there,
you know Yvonne Rodriguez, pud Rodriguez is here, and just
all these other players that at a time had really.

Speaker 2 (21:13):
Good, productive years, but that was not the case at
the end.

Speaker 3 (21:17):
And I think that they just kind of were trying
to build this thing on the fly without any real
foundation underneath them. The difference this time is there is
a foundation underneath you. And if you look back to
that time, there's no way that Kyle Tucker would have
been traded yesterday, and you would have seen Kyle Tucker
leave after next season, and this team probably would have

(21:38):
been even further behind the eight ball than they are
right now. But with the move made yesterday, I believe
that it's signals that not only are you going to
remain competitive, you're also too going to put yourself in
position to keep this thing going for the next few
years and be able to get the best out of
the final years of Jose L TV in the best
out of the years that you've got your Alvarez here,

(22:00):
which he's still here for a remarkable amount of time.
I think at least three more years are still left
on his deals, so you still get really good years
out of your non Alvarez. So this is a good
competitive organization at this point. In Dana Brown talking yesterday
with the media, as Melvin had told you, it's cut
number nine, we'll start with as he talked about.

Speaker 2 (22:22):
That very thing.

Speaker 3 (22:23):
I mean, we've heard him Crane say it in the
past that as long as he's here, the window will
never close. Well, Dana Brown going along that same talking
point and saying, yeah, we're going to remain competitive.

Speaker 4 (22:34):
Yeah, make my mistake.

Speaker 5 (22:35):
You know, sometimes in all sports this is just not
only in baseball. Sometimes there's an opportunity where you trade
a really good player to get back multiple pieces and
it doesn't affect that current calendar year, and then you
have a chance to be even better in the future.
And so you know, I feel like this is one

(22:55):
of those moves. The windows definitely still open. I mean,
we have a room, really good rotation. Our infield is
going to be good. Our you know, we got to
we have a good catcher, Our bullpen is still going
to be good.

Speaker 4 (23:08):
Look, they make no mistake, We're still going to compete.

Speaker 5 (23:11):
And this is probably one of those moves that I
think in the future people will people will see and understand, like, yeah, wow,
I understand it.

Speaker 6 (23:19):
Now.

Speaker 4 (23:19):
I get it.

Speaker 5 (23:20):
And even though it's tough, it's tough in that first
year to stomach because Kyle Tucker has had such a
great career here.

Speaker 4 (23:27):
He's such an outstanding player.

Speaker 5 (23:29):
He's played on some really good teams, he won a championship,
and so all that can be true at one time,
and so I would say that, you know, this is
more to strengthen our opportunities down the road without losing
any footage in the current year.

Speaker 2 (23:49):
And there you go.

Speaker 3 (23:49):
I mean, Dana Brown talking about exactly what I think
he's been saying ever since. I mean, you know, he
was asked that at the winter meetings, I think it
was either Kyle Tucker or Alex Braig not part of
this organization, can you still win the American League West?
And his answer was yes, I truly believe we can.
And right now, I mean, we'll see what happens with

(24:09):
the Nolan Aernado situation. I mean, you have seen some
of you reacting to the report out there. Well, wait
a minute, the Astros were not on his list. I
honestly think that if you came to Nolan Aernado with
this situation, and he looked at this team and saw, yeah,
I could you know, bat around Jose Altuve and Jordan Alvarez,
Yitzak Perettis and Jiner Diaz.

Speaker 2 (24:30):
That's a pretty solid group.

Speaker 3 (24:32):
That's a group that has a chance to be able
to get into the postseason and cause some damage.

Speaker 2 (24:36):
Absolutely I want to be a part of that.

Speaker 3 (24:38):
So I don't think that it's going to be necessarily
a huge ask in terms of you getting him to
waive his no trade clause and accept this trade. But
I mean, only time will tell, And obviously I think
the Astros, with Chandler's reporting, I think would be interested
in this deal if indeed they knew that it was
the right move for them to make, both from a

(25:00):
financial standpoint, but also too from a guy that can
come in and be a huge part of this clubhouse
and a huge part of this team. So we'll see
if indeed that as the other huge move the Astros
make this off season. One other thing too, that I
thought was interesting yesterday from Dana Brown when he met
with the media is he was asked about, you know,

(25:20):
the trade of Kyle Tucker and you know, the ongoing
negotiations with Alex Bregman if he feels like that this
trade kind of signals to the clubhouse that if you're
looking for a long term, high money extension with the Astros,
it's probably not going to happen.

Speaker 2 (25:34):
Dana Brown does not see that being the case.

Speaker 5 (25:38):
I don't think that this sends them the wrong message.
I mean, these these type of things happen in sports.
As I mentioned before, these type of things happen in
sports enough that you know that, look, sometimes you know
clubs will.

Speaker 4 (25:51):
Make a trade with one of their big, big chips and.

Speaker 5 (25:55):
Trying to bring in more to reinforce the and sustained
long term winning.

Speaker 2 (26:01):
All Right, there you go.

Speaker 3 (26:02):
So Dana Brown talking about what this says to the
arrest of the clubhouse, I think, if nothing else, I mean,
what he's trying to say at the clubhouse is, look,
I mean, it might look a little bit different, but
this is still a team that's going to have players
in that room that can be able to help this
team win and get back even further into the postseason
next year. So only time will tell if indeed that

(26:23):
is the case. I mean, you do have to feel
good about the rotation Brown. Yesterday, I thought it was
pretty interesting when he was asked about fromber Valdez, seeing
that they'll evaluate as the season goes along and maybe
even start some of those conversations with him about hey,
do you want to stay here long term or also too,
I mean, if it gets to a certain point where
you look at frober Valdez and stay, yeah, maybe not

(26:45):
going to be somebody that we want to count on
for the front of our rotation going forward, and maybe
that's a trade possibility during the season, but it doesn't
sound like that's going to be the case right now.
I think unless somebody comes along and just really blows
the Astros away with a trade proposal for him, which
I think probably would have already happened at this point,
because I mean, you know, you hear Dana Brown say

(27:06):
it all the time that there is not a you
can never have a shortage of pitching, and I think
that every single organization in baseball looks at the same way.
So I mean, I think that probably you would have had,
you know, teams coming to the Astros pretty quickly about Valdez,
because I mean, he is, in every sense of the word,
in front of the rotation. Guy has his postseasons necessarily

(27:28):
been great the past couple of years now they haven't been,
but still he's a guy that you can count on
to be a probably solid number two, number three in
your rotation, and the Astros are asking him to be
the ace of their staff right now, so we'll see
if he is able to kind of close the gap
on the postseason part of it here going forward. But

(27:49):
as for now, this is an Astros club that is
going to remain competitive, at least according to Dana Brown,
and I have to agree with him too. With the
foundation of players that you have here and the players
that are going to be going forward with this team,
I do think that we are not going to see
a significant drop off from this organization anytime soon. All Right,

(28:11):
what are the Astros getting back in return for Kyle
Tucker in the trade? If you missed it last night
when Bruce Levine joined us on the nightcap with me
and Gordy, I'm gonna give you a chance to be
able to hear that visit because I think Astros fans,
at least the ones who are on the pessimistic side
right now, might start to kind of tip that needle
over to the optimistic side. When you hear about three

(28:34):
players the Astros are getting. In return, we'll hear from
Bruce next right here on Space City Saturday. I'm Dan
Matthews here on your home with the Astros in the
Rockets Sports Talk seven ninety.

Speaker 1 (28:46):
It's Space City Saturday one, Sports Talk seven night.

Speaker 6 (28:50):
Here.

Speaker 3 (28:51):
You know, the studio is, hey, let's bring it in
Paul McCartney to do a Christmas song, and then the
executives go back and listen to it. One of the
guys is like, but I love this song. I like it.
It's one that always puts me in a good mood.
So anyway, I know that not everybody is on board
with it, and that's fine. Hey, look you like it,

(29:11):
and if I just like it, then no worries and
the other way around.

Speaker 2 (29:14):
There you go.

Speaker 3 (29:15):
So we'll see how things move on with the Christmas season.
As I know a lot of you out there with
the football season kind of winding down a little bit,
probably out there doing a little bit of Christmas shopping.
So if you're doing so listening along, appreciate you doing so.
But also too, if you missed last night's conversation that
me and Chris Cordy had with six seventy the scores,

(29:37):
Bruce Levine, Gonna give you a chance to be able
to hear that right now, because we had a really
good visit with the man that works for six seventy
the Score and also with the Marquee Sports Network.

Speaker 2 (29:48):
Let's listen to that visit right now. The Astros did
some business.

Speaker 3 (29:51):
Today with the Chicago Cubs and a man who covers
that club very closely with six seventy the score up
there in Chicago. He is Bruce Levine, and he joins
us here, Bruce, appreciate your time to night. You got myself,
Dan Matthews, you got Chris Gordy with you here on
the flagship home of the Astros.

Speaker 2 (30:10):
Let's just start off first.

Speaker 3 (30:11):
I mean, you know, I'm sure that probably you, like
many around the game, you kind of had your intenta
up a little bit with this, and you'd probably seen
the rumors that the Cubs were one of the teams
that seemingly was involved in the possible trade scenario for
Kyle Tucker. But when it finally went through, what was
the reaction up there, I mean, was a little bit
of surprise. Was it kind of like, Okay, hey, we're

(30:33):
actually gonna have an okay off season up here.

Speaker 2 (30:35):
Like what was it?

Speaker 6 (30:37):
Well, we started to report from.

Speaker 7 (30:39):
The winter meetings that the Astros and Cubs were in
conversations and.

Speaker 6 (30:43):
That Tucker was the object.

Speaker 7 (30:46):
And it seemed that with one year left on his contract,
the Astros were not engaging in any long term contract
with him and therefore they were not interested in just keeping.

Speaker 6 (30:59):
Him for one more year before he left.

Speaker 7 (31:02):
And the Cubs, who desperately needed a all star type player,
left handed hitter with power and outstanding outfielder, somebody to
really solidify their lineup, they pounced and they gave up.
They gave up three really good players for him, and
I know you want to talk about all of them
at some point, but the people here in Chicago are

(31:24):
thrilled they have a star player like Kyle Tucker, who
is considered in Baseball circle to be one of the
most underrated stars in the game.

Speaker 8 (31:37):
Yeah, versus it's a fine line right between. You know,
he's going to be a free agent after this year,
so obviously you don't have too much leverage, but you know,
a little bit of a bidding war with multiple teams
interested in him, so you know, the Astros are tasked
with getting the most they could. I've seen some fans
saying they didn't get enough. I know Suzuki's name was

(31:58):
kind of thrown out there, but you are kind of
stuck between a rock and a hard place, because as
good as this player is, at the end of the day,
it could just be a one year rental. So evaluate
kind of just what they get what the Cubs gave up.
Freddy Astros fan who might be thinking that it wasn't enough.

Speaker 7 (32:14):
Well, you have a pool hitter with a tremendous amount
of power in parades the third basement, and he was
an All Star for Tampa before being traded at the
deadline to the Cubs. He never got on track with
the Cubs. A Wrigley Field, which is known during the
summer for a home run park, played to the second
smallest park in baseball. During the year, they gave up

(32:37):
the second fewest home runs in their history for both
teams in that ballpark. So Paradis never got on track.
But he's a good ballplayer. He's an average defender, he's
got a decent arm, he has tremendous power, and he's
a poll hitter. So Brown and his people did a
lot of homework on the fact that what the Crawford boxes.

(33:01):
This is a guy that should be a thirty home
run hitter for the Houston Astros, and it also gives
them a lot of leverage in the situation going forward
with Bregman, whether he's back or not, you know, you
have somebody to step in there. And I had probably
for more power than Bregman, not the all around player
that Bregman is. I would never suggest that. I think

(33:24):
Bregman is a terrific player, but I don't know if
Bregman is the same player he was two or three
years ago. So with all that in mind, they're protected.
There was Netsky. You have a guy that can start
or relieve. He's a you know, usually hitting around ninety
three miles an hour, got a really good breaking ball,

(33:45):
and he showed the ability to go up and back
between the bullpen and starting and do a good job
on both. He injured himself a little bit, missed the
last three or four weeks in the season, but terrific teammate,
terrific guy. Whether you want him to start or relieve.

Speaker 6 (34:02):
He's not a number one.

Speaker 7 (34:03):
Two or three starter, but if he has to go in,
he can do an adequate job, give you five or
six good innings if you need him as a starter.

Speaker 6 (34:13):
The real player for me in this deal is Cam Smith.

Speaker 7 (34:17):
Every scout that you talk to tells you that this
guy doesn't have a chance to just be a good player.
He has a chance to be a superstar. He came
out of college last year, drafted by the Cubs and
just tore up the minor leagues. Terrific individual, great personality,
team player. He should really mash and I don't think

(34:40):
on the track that he's on it. It'll take more than
another year in the minor league he'll be ready to
come there and.

Speaker 6 (34:46):
Play your ballpark.

Speaker 7 (34:47):
So I think that they got a really great player
possibility for a player who's an outstanding player right now
that was only going to be there with them for
one more year. I just think it's a good trade
for both teams. The Cubs desperately needed a guy that
could hit two, three or four and with power and

(35:08):
play a good right field. They're now going to turn
around and trade either Bellinger or Suzuki one or.

Speaker 6 (35:15):
The other so that there is enough room.

Speaker 7 (35:19):
As a DH and three outfielders. The outfield is really
packed for the Chicago Cubs. They have two really good
young players coming up in the Alcntara and in casey
one of them is likely to get traded in the
deal to bring back a pitcher. So the Cubs are
making all kinds of moves. They're tired of being just

(35:41):
average over the last two years. They're trying to step
up and be the Chicago Cubs of twenty fifteen, sixteen, seventeen,
and eighteen once more.

Speaker 6 (35:51):
Again.

Speaker 3 (35:51):
Bruce Levine joined us from six seventy the Score there
in Chicago. He's also a contributor part of the Marquee
Sports Networks there local regional TV channel up there in Chicago.
And Uh, you know, Bruce, I mean, just from what
you were talking about right there of going through parades
Wesnsky as well as Smith, I mean, is it probably

(36:11):
from some of the people you've talked with within that
Cubs organization that they kind of had to take a
hard swallow right there with including Smith in this package deal.

Speaker 9 (36:22):
Yeah.

Speaker 7 (36:22):
Originally they asked for Smith and uh and Matt Shaw,
which is two of their top number one picks in
the last three years. Okay, they weren't they weren't giving
in on that they give in. They gave in here.
They were they were solid on giving up Parades. They

(36:42):
were solid on uh giving up Smith after you know,
going up and back.

Speaker 6 (36:49):
But was Nesky was.

Speaker 7 (36:50):
The final part of the deal. They wanted to give
a minor league pitcher back. The Astros insisted on Wiznsky,
and the deal is made.

Speaker 8 (37:03):
It's very interesting in him being a Houston kid and
certainly a guy that a lot of people are familiar with.
I want to go back to cam Smith just a
little bit because you mentioned you think he'll be able
to make that rise pretty quickly. It is interesting the
Astros kind of depleted their farm system the last couple
years with all the big trades they moved made and
then obviously losing those draft picks in the signce stealing

(37:25):
thing and all that. But you mentioned, you know, you
think he's going to be ready here pretty soon. Is
he a true third baseman? Do you think there's other
positions he might be.

Speaker 6 (37:34):
Able to play? They're not sure about that.

Speaker 7 (37:37):
You know, third baseman sometimes end up being first baseman, right,
Great hitters sometimes end up being first baseman.

Speaker 6 (37:44):
D HS.

Speaker 7 (37:45):
They think he can play third base, but against Paradus
is under contract for three more years. You have Waznesky
in this trade that they have contract control over for.

Speaker 6 (37:55):
Another four years, and Smith they're going to have.

Speaker 7 (38:00):
So I think Brown is is looking really smart about this.
He's he's getting big league players, he's getting contract control,
and he's also you know, getting rid of a guy
that there probably had no chance to sign next year.
He has a typical type of year as he always does.

(38:26):
He's probably you know, looking at what thirty five million
dollars a year times eight. So I don't think the
Houston was going to be involved in that. As much
as a love Tucker, I mean, what was there you
guys tell me what was there not to like about
Kyle Tucker.

Speaker 2 (38:43):
I mean, I'd say.

Speaker 3 (38:44):
Probably the only gripes that many people had is a
couple of down postseasons. But aside from that, I mean,
to your point there, Bruce, No, he was everything that
you would hoped he would have been when he was
going through the farm system and had all the hype
before he got up here to the major league.

Speaker 7 (39:01):
Yeah, and you know you look at him and okay,
get a couple down playoffs, he wasn't really quite the
player he was coming back from that ankle injury, you know,
in September and then the two games that.

Speaker 6 (39:14):
You lost in the playoffs.

Speaker 7 (39:16):
But for the Cubs, it's a guy that they can
put second or third in their lineup pretty much. Count
on thirty and one hundred, play a solid defense up
until you know, last year he only played what sixty
nine games something like this, seventy one games. He was

(39:37):
steal in thirty bases as well, so I don't see
too many holes in his game. I think that the
Cubs really needed to step up their game. In the
Central Division of the National League. The general manager, president
and general manager have one year remaining on their contract.
Eighty three wins the last two years was just not
cutting it. So the offense is going to be perked

(40:00):
up the Cubs.

Speaker 6 (40:00):
They're not done yet.

Speaker 7 (40:02):
We're talking to the Yankees about Dollinger right now, talking
to numerous other teams about starting pitching. You know, some
of the smaller market teams once some of the young
hitters in the Cub organization. Shaw and Casey are two
guys that are being coveted by a lot of different teams.
So I think you're going to see over the next

(40:23):
week or ten days comes to make at least one,
probably two more trades.

Speaker 3 (40:27):
And that's actually where I wanted to go with a
final question for you, Bruce again. Bruce Levine joined US
from six to seventy a score also Marquee Sports Network
up there in Chicago. Could the Cubs be in on
Alex Bregnan. I mean, doesn't that seem like that would
be a great piece for them to be able to
add after a couple of years ago giving that huge
contract to Dansby Swanson.

Speaker 6 (40:47):
They don't want to go over the luxury tax.

Speaker 7 (40:50):
They hit right over it a little bit last year
at about two hundred and forty one million. They're about
two hundred.

Speaker 6 (40:57):
Million a little bit more right now.

Speaker 7 (41:00):
They're way over now, probably with Bellinger. They have to
The first first big thing they have to do is
they have to get themselves a starting picture that's a
power arm. But as important, they're going to have to
trade Dollinger's contract, which is thirty two point five million
for this year. They have to loosen up the luxury

(41:24):
tax situation, and either him or Suzuki are going to
get traded probably before the first of the year. It's
not that they don't like Dollinger, it's just that getting
Tucker is a replacement and a superior player in their
minds for Dolinger. Now they need the relief for the
payroll of the thirty two point five million that they

(41:46):
owe Dollinger for twenty twenty five.

Speaker 3 (41:50):
Well, Bruce, say, we really appreciate your time, especially to
on a Friday night hopping on to let us know
here in Houston about Paritis Wesnski and also about Cam Smith.
And yeah, we really appreciate you carving out a few
minutes for us, and.

Speaker 7 (42:04):
Chris a pleasure call me anytime, take care of have
a good night, all right.

Speaker 3 (42:09):
Appreciate Bruce Levine joining us last night on the Nightcap.

Speaker 2 (42:13):
If you miss any of that, download the free.

Speaker 3 (42:14):
iHeartRadio app and you can catch that anywhere anyway possible.

Speaker 2 (42:19):
So there you go.

Speaker 3 (42:21):
Good stuff from Bruce Levine, and especially to hearing about
Cam Smith.

Speaker 2 (42:25):
We'll get into a little bit.

Speaker 3 (42:26):
More on both him as well as Hayden was Nesky
and also eastsoc Perettis is a huge part of the
deal that the Astro's got in return for Kyle Tucker.
If you want to jump board you can do so
seven one three two one two five seven ninety once
again at seven one three two one two five seven
ninety because speaking of Perettis, I've got some interesting information

(42:48):
about him that I think Astros fans will love to hear.
We will talk about that on the other side right
here this Space City Saturday on your home of the Astros,
Sports Talk seven ninety.

Speaker 1 (42:59):
Welong Space City Saturday on Sports Talk seven ninety forty Talk.

Speaker 3 (43:07):
Seven ninety and Matthew's here with you in the holiday
spirit around here, and that is a good feeling, no
doubt about it. Again, if you want to hop aboard
on the phone lines, you can do so. Sebon one
three two one two five seven ninety. Once again, that's
Sebone three two one two five seven nine zero. As
the Astro is getting three players back in the Kyle

(43:30):
Tucker trade, Conroe James, I wanted to know about number
one while you trade away Kyle Tucker. I'll start with
that part first, Conro, I mean you trade him because
I think that as Dana Brown has been going through
this offseason and maybe even trying to start some preliminary
conversations with Kyle Tucker's representatives about possibly bringing him back,

(43:52):
that it was pretty much expressed to him, especially after
the deal that Juan Soto just got that Kyle is
going to be looking for a similar.

Speaker 2 (44:00):
Type of deal.

Speaker 3 (44:01):
I think we can agree the Astros are not going
to be paying down that type of a deal. So
when that happens, eventually you start to say, okay, well,
maybe if we start to let teams know, hey, we're
interested in taking phone calls on this guy, if you're
interested in possibly adding him to your organization. And of
course that's when you get teams that start to reach
out and say, yeah, I would like to have Kyle

(44:22):
Tucker out in right field. And not only that, I
mean I think a team like the Cubs that as
of right now, looking to avoid getting over the competitive
balance tax threshold, as you just heard Bruce Levine talk about,
that you can add a guy this season that can
be an upgrade to a guy that they're trying to
ship out and Cody Bellinger, and not only trying to

(44:43):
ship him out, but also to trying to, you know,
give themselves an opportunity to remain competitive. And I don't
have any doubts that after this season the Cubs could
come back and offer age deal to Kyle Tucker and
keep him their long term or be able to you know,
move on from there and kind of retool on their
own end. That's the Cubs business if they want to do.

(45:03):
But in terms of the players the Astros got in return,
I mean, you heard Bruce talk about Cam Smith and
just you know how much of a tough send away
that was for the Cubs as part of that deal,
because he's a guy that's already in the minor leagues
and I think not even a full year in the
minor league system for the Cubs, already up to Double A,

(45:25):
so he's probably about a year away from being an
impact player for this team.

Speaker 2 (45:31):
And also too, you heard Bruce mention.

Speaker 3 (45:32):
That there's belief with his power possibilities that Smith could
be a star in this league. So I think that's
another thing that has to excite you if you're an
Astros fan out there, and I mean, yes, I think
if you want to see Cam Smith this year, you're
probably gonna need to go down to sugar Land and
watch them with the Space Cowboys.

Speaker 2 (45:51):
Maybe even he's a September call up for this team.

Speaker 3 (45:54):
And then finally next year you go to spring training
and you see if he can crack the organization with
you and be able to make a run at the
everyday twenty six man roster in twenty twenty six. So
I think that's what you get with him. But with Perettis,
you know, we talked about him a little bit, and
you heard Bruce mention about his poll power. And I

(46:14):
was talking with a buddy of mine yesterday off air
that covers the Rays, has been part of their radio
network for some time, and I just said, hey, you know,
what can you tell me about Perettis? And he wrote
me back. Much better defender than you'd think, with him
being a stockier guy, a guy that even played a
little bit of shortstop there in Tampa Bay when he

(46:34):
was with the Rays, but of course playing third, which
is his primary position, playing a little bit of first
as well. Strict pull hitter like big time Pool, he goes.
He'll shoot the ball the other way every once in
a while for a single, but all of his power
is to left. Said, never seen a guy be so
pull dominant, he goes. I think the older he gets,

(46:56):
his bat will slow down, but you have to remember
he's only twenty five. I think I think he can
be really good for the Astros, and he goes Yep.
I think he'll be a really great fit. Can play
anywhere in the infield, as best is at the corners,
but like I said, played short a couple of times,
which was weird to see again because given his stature,
you wouldn't think he'd be playing shortstops. So that's at

(47:19):
least what it feels like the Astros are getting in peretis.
He's been a guy that's been a twenty to twenty
five home run guy playing in a ballpark that is
okay for power hitters in the trop there in Tampa,
and then of course last year went over to the Cubs,
and he even talked about yesterday when he met with
the media that he had to adjust a little bit

(47:39):
to playing at Wrigley Field. But we'll see how he
is able to adjust to every day playing at Minute
May Park. So that's what the Astros able to pick
up in that deal. So Conro, good on you. I
appreciate you bringing that up for discussion here, but that's
where we were going anyway. So just wanted to give
you all a little bit of the dossier on all

(48:00):
three players the Astros just got back in return. So
that is what we get there, but coming up next
we'll continue the conversation on the Astros again if you
want to weigh in kind of this hot stove edition
of Space City Saturday. The rumor this morning about Nolan
Aeronauto what could that mean for the Astros?

Speaker 2 (48:19):
Also, what could it mean in.

Speaker 3 (48:20):
Terms of are they out on the Alex Bregman sweepstakes.

Speaker 2 (48:24):
I'll tell you a little bit.

Speaker 3 (48:25):
Of what I'm seeing out there on the rumor mill
in terms of how the Astros are going to conduct
their business going forward.

Speaker 2 (48:33):
So we'll do that on the other side, and.

Speaker 3 (48:35):
Of course too in the eleven o'clock hour, we'll get
into a little bit of Texans conversation as well as
some Rockets as well. So we'll cover it all soup
to nuts from here until noon, as our one is
in the books. Right here on Space City Saturday, I'm
Dan Matthews here on your home of the Astros and
the Rockets, Sports Talk seven ninety.

Speaker 1 (49:01):
Welcome aboard, Welcome to another Space City Saturday on Sports
Talk seven ninety, Dad Matthews Live and local h town
breakdown of the world that matters to you, the Houston
sports world.

Speaker 2 (49:14):
All these great Houston fans here, we.

Speaker 1 (49:16):
Love you all, So finish up on that to do list,
flute up the cooler, because you can't drink in talk
sports all day if you don't start now bear me
in the eight this is Space City Saturday.

Speaker 2 (49:31):
That's insane.

Speaker 1 (49:33):
Here's seven nineties, Dad Matthews.

Speaker 3 (49:36):
Indeed, it is the way we go here in our
two of Space City Saturday. If you want to jump aboard,
do so subone three two one two five seven ninety.
Once again, that's sub one three two one two five
seven nine zero. As I mentioned, with the football season
kind of starting the wind down just a little bit.
I mean, you get to the part of the season

(49:57):
where it's FCS football being on the major networks and
incarnate word out of San Antonio playing right now. But
that's kind of the time of the year for most
of us out there that are football fans, especially college
football fans. We kind of look at it and say, yeah,
this is a good day to be able to.

Speaker 2 (50:18):
Go out and knock off some of that Christmas list.

Speaker 3 (50:20):
So I know some of you out there the Galleria,
Woodland's Mall, Baybrook, Willowbrook, wherever it might be that you're
out there, maybe even some of you, you know, just
pulled off somewhere on the phone, scrolling through taking out
the card to be able to put in the card
information and just have a chipped to your door, whatever.

Speaker 2 (50:38):
Way you do it.

Speaker 3 (50:39):
Either way, I hope that you have a great holiday season.
As know that school's starting to be let out a
little bit, so I know that the kid's going to
be around a little bit more so that's a little
bit more fun.

Speaker 2 (50:53):
But anyway, hopefully everybody is.

Speaker 3 (50:56):
Getting around, getting where they need to go and getting
there safely. Here on this Saturday, again Dan Matthews here
with you is so we continue the Astros conversation and
again phone number if you want to jump aboard some
one three two one two five seven ninety. You can
also hit me up on Twitter at Dan Matthews hou
is where you can hit me up. And one thing

(51:19):
that I did want to get into here actually before
we get into the Astros third base conversation, because there
is a little bit of stuff out there on where
things could be headed in that regard a shout.

Speaker 2 (51:31):
Out a happy birthday.

Speaker 3 (51:32):
I think if you follow the Astros on social media,
you know where I'm going with this Happy birthday to
number seven Craig Vigio or as Milo used to call
him by Gio, but uh, anyway, coach as I call
him of course for a long time being the head
baseball coach over at my proud high school alma mater,
Saint Thomas High School. But anyway, happy birthday to number seven,

(51:57):
the Astros first Hall of Famer, So we love to
see that for Craig, and always always a pleasure to
be able to run into Craig whenever you see him
out at the ballparks. So he is definitely one of
the really good guys here in our city.

Speaker 2 (52:14):
But anyway, happy birthday to Craig Vigio.

Speaker 3 (52:18):
So the Astros where things stand right now with third base.
Earlier this morning, Chandler Rome just before ten o'clock with
a report that the Astros were starting to show serious
interest in making a trade for Nolan Aernado and Aeronauto.
I think in many ways is pretty much in the
same mold as Alex Bregman.

Speaker 2 (52:38):
The bat has started to.

Speaker 3 (52:39):
Dip just a little bit, but still considered to be
an elite fielder over at third base. And yes he
does have a huge contract still remaining. I think it's
seventy four million over the next three years remaining for Aeronado.
As last year he was a two seventy two hitter.
He hit sixteen home runs, knocked in seventy one runs,
had an OPS plus of one pH one. His career

(53:03):
has been one twenty, so well above average there, and
his OPS was one of the lower years that he's
had in quite some time, seven nineteen, so it was
along with his rookie season, a career wasn't a career low.
I mean, his rookie season was seven oh six that year.

(53:23):
He was seven nineteen last year, but I mean before
that he had been consistently in the high seven hundreds,
even into the eight hundreds. I mean, he was an
eight ninety one thirty home runs and one hundred three
runs batted in when he hit two ninety three in
two thousand and two with the Saint Louis Cardinals. He's
been with the Cardinals for the last four years. And

(53:46):
like Bregman too, I mean he's a guy that plays
pretty much every single day. Played one hundred and fifty
two games last year, one hundred and forty eight a
couple of years ago, one forty four in twenty twenty three,
So he posts he plays he's out there almost every
single day. And I've mentioned Ari Alexander Kprc too. Ari

(54:07):
has been all over these stories all week, and he
threw out kind of going along with Chandler's reporting that yes,
the Astros are indeed showing interest in trying to make
a trade for Aeronato, but also that coming from two sources,
but that they are still in on trying to bring
Bregman back. And that's according to three different sources. And

(54:29):
I understand too, the angst in terms of Bregman number one.
I mean, I think that people look at it and say, well,
the Astros just don't want to spend that money. I
think that it really just kind of comes down to
a couple of things. They're one on the Astro side,
one on the Bregman side.

Speaker 2 (54:44):
I think on.

Speaker 3 (54:45):
The Astros side, it's committing the amount of money that
in the amount of years that Bregman probably is looking for.
I mean, I think that the Astros, at least by
their history, have shown you they don't want to go above.

Speaker 2 (54:56):
Three years or excuse me, six years.

Speaker 3 (54:58):
And you know, Bregman probably is a guy that wants
to get into the seven eight year category of where
he is in his career, going to be thirty one,
I believe this year. And then on the Bregman side
of things, I think it's kind of a question of, look,
if I if I commit to you guys, what does
this mean going forward? I mean, does this mean that

(55:19):
you know it's going to be kind of, as Dana
Brown said at the end of last season, trying to
get really creative with how this thing is put together.
And does that mean that we take a step back,
that postseasons are missed, that maybe you know, we're not
in real position to be able to compete for titles
around here in the near future.

Speaker 2 (55:37):
And I think that that's a question that's.

Speaker 3 (55:39):
Kind of in these conversations that he and Scott Boris
and Dana Brown are having right now. And I'm sure
that from the Brown side it's well, no, I mean,
you're a huge part of us staying contention, but also too,
I mean a little bit of the plans going forward.
But it's also too I've seen, you know, and even
some people have reached out to me again at Dan
Matthews hou Is. He can find me on Twitter about

(56:03):
you know, Bregman. Oh, they're moving on. It's it's done.
It's it's not that there is going to be any
any chance that the Astros are going to bring him back.
I actually take it the stance that Dana Brown has
kind of been.

Speaker 2 (56:17):
Through this before.

Speaker 3 (56:18):
So you remember that he came over from the Atlanta Braves,
and the Braves of course their GM alex Anthopolis a
couple of years ago after the after the lockout had ended,
that he had to make a quick decision of do
you make a one last minute run at Freddie Freeman
or do you try to move on. And the Braves
at that time it was a situation of they wanted

(56:40):
to bring back Freeman, there was no doubt about it.
But it was also too they realized, hey, if a
guy like Matt Olsen comes available, we have to jump
on matt Olsen because he's younger, he's going to be cheaper.
Which I know that fans look at it and they
equate that that means you're not serious about winning. But
I think if nothing else, you have to also take
it from the standpoint of no, that is how serious

(57:02):
you are about winning, because you want to be able
to add other really good players. I think I've told
you before and I think it's going to play out
here with Dana that. You know, when we had talked
with Alex in the past, Anthopless in Atlanta, he had
talked about his philosophy on long term contracts that he
would much rather have six, seven, eight guys that are

(57:24):
in that five to six year contract range making about
twenty to twenty five maybe a shade above twenty five
million dollars a year, and be able to build a
roster around that core, as opposed to you go out
and you get the massive superstar that you've got to
pay upwards of thirty thirty five, forty million a year,
and that way you have to get a little bit

(57:45):
more creative in terms of how you're building out your
roster because there's a competitive balance, tax, there's all these
other things that you have to look into. And I
think that that's a little bit at play here. And
it's also too I think a similar playbook being shown
right now with the ASTRA. I mean, look, you know,
despite their best efforts and everything they might try to do,
it just might not be good enough for Alex Bregman.

(58:08):
I mean that's something that I think you have to
wrestle with as a real a realistic possibility for the
way that this thing is going, and they know that.
So that is why you're seeing the rumors of Aeronauto,
maybe even Jorge Polanco as a possibility, or you know,
do you kind of pivot and go somebody that's a
you know, not as expensive an option as Pete Alonso

(58:30):
or maybe even Christian Walker over at first base, and
you know, you have Perettes be your everyday third baseman.
And then you know, of course, when Cam Smith is ready,
does that mean that Perettis kicks across over to first
base and he's your everyday first baseman you kind of
interchange him every once in a while. Any of those things,
I mean, I think if nothing else, you're just kind
of looking for roster flexibility at this point. And again

(58:53):
that's where the Astros are where they need to be
in terms of building up their roster. You don't have
a farm system that has readily available players that can
come up and be impact players for you immediately. Those
days are gone, so you have to be able to
build this thing up as much on the fly as
possible in terms of again having as many guys that

(59:13):
can play numerous different positions. I mean, I know, Mauricio
Dubond's name is thrown out there, and I love what
Mauricio Dubon has done, but I don't think you can
count on Mauricio Dubon being somebody that can be an
everyday impact player for you. I think that he is
exactly in the position that you want him to be
right now, a really good utility man that has probably

(59:34):
overperformed with the bat that's got a shelf life. And
I think the Astros know that as well. So this
is why you have to continue to try to find
two or three other guys that can be flexible position
wise and be able to help your roster and lengthen
out your lineup and be able to put you in
contention to win. So I think that all of that
is kind of in play right now. But one more

(59:55):
note on Aeronato Astros underscore numbers on Twitter, throwing out
that since twenty twenty two, Nolan Aeronado has a forty
eight point one percent poll rate, nineteenth highest among qualified
hitters eat Soak perettis second fifty three point six and
their point was, I think we found out what the

(01:00:16):
Astros are trying to do for the lineup. I mean, yeah, look,
I've said it numerous times. This is a lineup that
last year was known for two things, solo home runs
and singles. And I think that as the meetings have
been going along this offseason that Dana Brown has kind
of talked to his staff and said, we can't continue
down this path. That's not winning baseball. You saw it

(01:00:38):
in the postseason last year. You could not buy an
extra base hit. The only extra base hit you got
in those two games was the Jordan Alvarez double in
the ninth inning. Aside from that, they were all the
single base variety singles exactly. So that's something that you
need to be able to try to find that. Yeah,
you try to go out and find these guys like
Perettas and maybe even like Aeronado that you got a

(01:00:59):
couple runners on base pal it's a three run, it's
a three run homer at that point, and that's something
that they missed last year. So I think that's another
directive in terms of how they want to build out
this roster for twenty five. And that is something that
we could see playing out, but as Chandler has pointed
out to with Aeronado, nothing seems imminent at this point,

(01:01:20):
And I mean that's really if you follow the timeline
of this week how it went with the Kyle Tucker trade,
that's pretty much how these things go. There's the report,
then there is it's gaining steam, and you know, a
day or two later it's, oh, hey, the Astros just
pulled off this deal. So we'll see if it continues
to go down that pathway. But speaking of Chandler, I
know that, you know, the Astros have talked a lot about,

(01:01:44):
you know, the way that they're building out their roster
going forward, and Chandler has been all over the reporting
of all the moves that could be made or have
been made. But in the case of Chandler Rome, he
joined us yesterday on the A team. We will hear
from him next as we had him on immediately after
the news came down about Kyle Tucker. So we will

(01:02:05):
play that visit for you coming up right here on
Space City Saturday again. I'm Dan Matthews here in your
home of the Astros and the Rockets Sports Talk seven ninety.

Speaker 1 (01:02:16):
We now return to Space City Saturday Sports Talk seven ninety.

Speaker 10 (01:02:21):
Everybody settled down out there, Let's get some rational thinking
on a big, big news day here on the Houston
sports landscape, and for that course, when it comes to
the Houston Astros especially we go to our weekly guest
in season. But he's been spending a lot of time
on the show lately because there's been so much going on.
And finally today Chandler Rome of the Athletic we had

(01:02:42):
the Kyle Tucker news come down.

Speaker 2 (01:02:45):
Just initial thoughts.

Speaker 10 (01:02:46):
I'm I'm from the perspective that I didn't ever see
them re signing him anyway, So at least this isn't
you know the show, Hey o Tani from the angel situation.
You want to get something for him as opposed to
just letting him walk for nothing.

Speaker 11 (01:03:00):
Yeah, I mean, after Monday night, it became pretty clear
that this was the direction they were going.

Speaker 12 (01:03:07):
You know, I may have said it on here earlier,
but you know, when.

Speaker 11 (01:03:10):
Dana Brown said that they can still win the American
League West without Tucker or Valdez without either one, like
without one of them, that to me just signaled that
they were this was the route they were going. Still,
to see it happen is pretty Stunning's not the wrong
not the right word, because we've expected it, but I mean,

(01:03:31):
it runs, it runs, so counter to everything they've done
during this decade and how they've operated and things like that.
But it just shows that this franchise is in a
far different place than it was, you know, maybe six
seven years ago. I mean, short of Jim Crane running
a three hundred million dollars payroll.

Speaker 12 (01:03:49):
I didn't see a logical way in which.

Speaker 11 (01:03:52):
This team could improve its standing in twenty twenty six
in twenty twenty seven without doing something like this. And
I think it's become pretty clear that Jim Crane, while
he spends money and while he had I mean, he
carried the fourth largest payroll in baseball last year, he's
also not going to go to the Dodgers territory to

(01:04:12):
the Mets territory in terms of total money.

Speaker 12 (01:04:15):
So they had to be smart.

Speaker 11 (01:04:17):
They had to, you know, make some difficult decisions, and
this was one of them.

Speaker 9 (01:04:21):
The return at some point everybody turns to I turned
to it immediately, looking at the twenty twenty five astros,
and you obviously mentioned the bigger picture twenty six and
twenty seven. Just your thoughts initially on these three players
that come back and return, and my first question about
those three has to be, you know, is Cam Smith
the hopeful clear best player they added in this deal,

(01:04:42):
just obviously not.

Speaker 2 (01:04:43):
Where he is today.

Speaker 12 (01:04:45):
Sure, I think he's.

Speaker 11 (01:04:46):
The one that he's the one that we'll be looking
at in three or four years to judge how good
this trade was. Eastak Paratus, You really you have to
put lump him in there too. I mean, this is
a guy that he's he's got I believe three more
years of team control, like this is gonna be a
fixture for them.

Speaker 12 (01:05:04):
He's gonna be a face, it's gonna be in that
lineup a good bit.

Speaker 11 (01:05:08):
He plays both corner spots the actors were going to
play in at first base last.

Speaker 12 (01:05:13):
Year, had he had they acquired him at the trade deadline.

Speaker 11 (01:05:16):
This year, they have a vacancy at both third base
and first base. If you made me guess right now,
I'd probably say he's your opening day third basement.

Speaker 12 (01:05:24):
But things, obviously, things can change.

Speaker 11 (01:05:27):
There's another third basement out there that everyone's curious about.
But you know, I think Cam Smith's certainly surely becomes
the best prospect in this farm system, which is not
saying a whole lot, but still he's a really good prospect.

Speaker 12 (01:05:42):
A lot of guys a lot.

Speaker 11 (01:05:43):
Of people in the industry really really like him. You know,
is he maybe the third basement of the future. Is
he maybe a guy that you see what he can
do up the middle as Josel two bays getting older
like you never know, but certainly you look at Parade
and was Nesky should impact the twenty twenty five asterers

(01:06:03):
right away. Be fascinating to see what they do with
was Neski. He's relieved, he's started. He's been a swingman,
but this is where the ashers are best. You saw
it with Kakuchi last year. You see it with other pictures.
You know, was Neski's numbers don't look great, but this
is He's coming to a franchise that knows how to
unlock pictures and make them better.

Speaker 10 (01:06:22):
Talking to Chandler Roam of the Athletic Here on Sports
Talk seven ninety on the Dave Kyle Tucker is traded
to the Chicago Cubs, you mentioned that the organization is,
you know, taking a different road as opposed to how
it's done things throughout this this uh, you know, this
championship window that they've had for nearly a decade. That's
interesting just to hear that statement. Considering they're on their

(01:06:45):
third general manager during that run, and fourth if you
count Jeff Bagwell. My next question, as it pertains to that,
would be, okay, does this actually mean maybe they do
hang on to Alex Bregman or is he just the
next domin that's likely to fall?

Speaker 11 (01:07:03):
You know, as long as he's out there, they have
a chance. As long as he's not resigned somewhere, they
have a chance. But you know, bringing Paradis over, I
mean it's a pretty it's a pretty simple plug and
play there. I mean, he's played, Paradis has played first
base in the past, but third basis is better position.
To me on paper, it doesn't look I mean, this

(01:07:24):
would not pretend well for them to bring Alex Gregman back,
but who knows. I mean, as long as he's still
out there, the actress would still have conceivably a chance.
But you look at what the Yankees did today. They
improved their club without spending money. I know they I
know they gave Max Free two hundred and eighteen million dollars,
but they were able to get the best closer, one

(01:07:45):
of the best closers in baseball, for just prospect capital,
for just players, and they just had a seven hundred
and sixty million dollar offer on the table for Loan Soto,
so they've got money to spend, so they need a
third baseman.

Speaker 12 (01:07:59):
I think the Red Sox are still in it.

Speaker 6 (01:08:02):
You know.

Speaker 12 (01:08:02):
I do wonder too if there's a.

Speaker 11 (01:08:04):
Team that we're not talking about that's just kind of
lurking on Bregman. I mean, we've talked about the Tigers
a little bit. Whether the Tigers kind of make that
push or whether there's a team on the cusp of
contention that is going to kind of shock everybody and
and make Alex Bregman kind of the face of their
next team. I don't know, but uh, well, they picked
up au Henio Swarez his option, so he.

Speaker 12 (01:08:26):
Is in trench there.

Speaker 11 (01:08:27):
But I mean they could move him, sure, sure, but
it doesn't seem like the it doesn't seem like the
Dbacks would go into that into the pool money wise,
but they may not have a choice given what's going
on in the NL West.

Speaker 12 (01:08:39):
I mean, the.

Speaker 11 (01:08:40):
Giants got a domis the Dodgers or the Dodgers. The
Padres are really really good. I mean, they want to
keep competing in that division, they may have to make
a big move.

Speaker 12 (01:08:48):
So Yeah, they could be.

Speaker 11 (01:08:49):
Someone involved, but they do have It should be noted
they do have au Heno Swarez under contract next year.

Speaker 12 (01:08:54):
He would play their base.

Speaker 9 (01:08:55):
We talked quite a bit about some of the fallback
options there might be if Bregman signed elsewhere. They have
taken care of that, as you just said, presumably with
Perett's playing third base, but in the process have opened
up a different vacancy in the outfield and still the
vacancy at first base. Are there other free agent names
of whatever value they might command this offseason that you
believe Dana Brown and the Astros and Jim Crane are

(01:09:18):
actually interested in potentially bringing to Houston.

Speaker 11 (01:09:22):
Yeah, I mean, I think they're gonna have to look
in the reliever market, They're gonna have to look in
the in the starting market.

Speaker 12 (01:09:26):
I think now this puts them they're.

Speaker 11 (01:09:28):
Going to have to go get an established outfielder, a
left handed hitting outfielder, and that was there. They've been
needing to do that all all off season, even that
they've been talking about. They didn't even before they traded Tucker.
But so I think they're going to be in the
market for an outfielder. You know, I've heard that while
it's not considered you.

Speaker 12 (01:09:48):
Know, serious or close or anything.

Speaker 11 (01:09:50):
They have checked in on Nolan Aarnado, who is available
to via trade with the Cardinals, but he makes a
lot of money and he has no trade clause, which
means he can, you know, have authority on where he goes.

Speaker 12 (01:10:02):
So they they have at least checked in on him.
So I guess we'll see.

Speaker 11 (01:10:05):
But you know, I think right now they may need
to sit down for a little bit reassessed, let the
gravity of this maybe dissipate for a day or two.
But I think their needs now are the same that
they were always started.

Speaker 9 (01:10:18):
The off season, just out of curiosity one player in particular,
switch hitting outfield or Anthony Sontan dare. Do you think
the Astros would dive into that territory neighborhood of you know,
four years, eighty five years, one hundred and something for
a player like that.

Speaker 2 (01:10:31):
Would they go that long, that much money with a
player like that?

Speaker 10 (01:10:34):
You think?

Speaker 11 (01:10:36):
I find again, I find that hard to believe, because
if they're going to do.

Speaker 12 (01:10:39):
That, then why not just turn back to Bregman?

Speaker 11 (01:10:43):
Like if you're going to go that aav if you're
going to go like a twenty five thirty million dollars
av like I would think Bregman would be the guy,
but maybe they don't value Bregman like you know, other
teams do. I'm not sure, but yeah, I think this
could open it up for you know, maybe a little
bit of a deeper look Anthony Santander a guy that
can play one of the corner spots. This obviously, you know,

(01:11:05):
do you look at teams that are have outfield surplus
and do you look to trade other places? Because look,
there's other pieces on this roster, on this major league
roster that that can be used in trades, you know,
whether it's Valvez, whether you start looking at some of
the guys making you know a little bit less you know,
does this put Chas McCormick on the block?

Speaker 12 (01:11:24):
If if they can go find.

Speaker 11 (01:11:27):
A more proven, concept, more proven outfielder, does this put
Chas McCormick on the trade block? Is maybe somebody that
they can they can get a more veteran outfielder for
I'm not sure. So there could be they could go
a ton of different ways with this, but I.

Speaker 12 (01:11:40):
Don't know that they have it all figured out right now.

Speaker 11 (01:11:42):
It's gonna take a little it's gonna take a little.

Speaker 10 (01:11:44):
Bit, so again Bregman is resigning, right, Please.

Speaker 2 (01:11:48):
Don't please don't look.

Speaker 11 (01:11:51):
Look, guys, I have I have, I have concert tickets
tonight behind them.

Speaker 12 (01:11:55):
I'm I'm just happy that.

Speaker 11 (01:11:57):
I'm just happy this went down now because I I
could have envisioned myself being at this concert hall after
participating in some activities and being in no condition to
talk to you or to write any of this stuff.

Speaker 12 (01:12:11):
Wait, Chamings, thanks to Dana and Jed for getting this done.

Speaker 6 (01:12:15):
Now.

Speaker 10 (01:12:15):
Please tell me that you're going to see Richard Marx
at the Arena Theater tonight.

Speaker 12 (01:12:20):
Who is that? Is he a Marx brother? I thought
they were dead?

Speaker 10 (01:12:26):
No, it's different, it's a different marks, no relation, Chandler.

Speaker 2 (01:12:30):
We know you're very busy.

Speaker 10 (01:12:31):
We appreciate you taking the time out on the fly.
Good stuff as always, and I'm sure we'll catch up
very soon after the Bregman deal follows.

Speaker 12 (01:12:39):
All right, thanks guys.

Speaker 3 (01:12:42):
Richard Marx twenty one jump street right, if I'm not mistaken, No,
maybe wrong anyway, Yeah, Chandler, if you didn't know that,
then me, at thirty nine years old, I would not
know that either. No, it was Richard Griico is who
I was thinking of, right, Yeah, that's right. Richard Griico
was twenty one Jump Street, so anyway, dated reference, I know.

(01:13:04):
But anyway, we've done an hour and a half of
Astro's conversation. You know the rules here on Space City
Saturday if you didn't have a chance to get into it,
but it's been covered. It's fair games, so if you
want to way in going forward, you can do so
again seven one three two one two five seven ninety.
Once again, that's sebon one three two one two five
seven ninety, but a couple of segments left to go

(01:13:26):
coming up next. Let's get into some Texans conversation. An
interesting bit of news regarding the Texans leading into tomorrow's
game that definitely want to share with you and react to.
So we'll do that next right here, Sports Talk seven ninety.

Speaker 2 (01:13:44):
Space City Saturday continues, Sey Matthews with you.

Speaker 3 (01:13:51):
Yeah, you know Astros fans out there, Texans fans too,
hoping that you don't see the Grinch trying to come
in and steal Christmas.

Speaker 2 (01:14:00):
I don't think you will.

Speaker 3 (01:14:02):
But anyway, a good pool right there by Melvin Brown
here on Space City Saturday. Again, Dan Matthews here with you.
We got up until noon, and don't forget, I'll be
coming back your way Rockets launch Pad leading you up
to the Rockets and the Thunder tonight from Las Vegas,
part of the play in Tournament. And like I said,

(01:14:24):
saw Matt Thomas out there at the Blackjack tables last night,
so he's having himself a good time out there. And
hopefully the Rockets able to extend their stay there in
Vegas for the play in Tournament, because if they win
the night, we'll go ahead and see who wins the
earlier game this afternoon between the Atlanta Hawks and the

(01:14:44):
Milwaukee Bucks, and whoever wins that, that's who plays for
the entire thing next week.

Speaker 2 (01:14:50):
So that's what we have to look forward to. Again.

Speaker 3 (01:14:53):
If you want to weigh in on the phone lines,
you can do so seven one three two one two
five seven ninety. Once again, that's seven one three two
one to five seven nine zero. So the Texans know
that they're going to be without Juice Scruggs for some time.
Got a foot issue, not gonna be able to go
tomorrow and likely not gonna be able to go for
at least the next couple of games after that at least,

(01:15:17):
and Aaron Wilson, our own buddy, our own Sports Talk
seven to ninety contributor, throwing out a report about thirty
minutes ago that the Texans are going to move Titus
Howard from right tackle to left guard for tomorrow's game
against the Dolphins, and rookie Blake Fisher going to be
at the right tackle spot, so the offensive line would

(01:15:40):
look like going from left to right Tunsul Howard, Patterson,
Jack Mason, and then also to Fisher there at the
right tackle spot. I mean, look, this is kind of
a situation twofold with the Texans at this point. I think,
you know, the first thing you're looking at is they're
just the first and foremost trying to find a group

(01:16:01):
of five that's going to be able to protect CJ.
Stroud and be able to give them an opportunity to
get the line moving. And I think we can probably
agree that two of the best offensive linemen for the
team this year have been your tackles, both, you know,
Tunsil and Howard. I mean, I understand that Tunsil wears
a lot of frustration from Texans fans, and Howard too

(01:16:22):
a little bit as well with the pre snap penalties
things like that. But I mean, you know, in terms
of this season, the interior of the offensive line has
been an issue. And what my guess is with the
conversations that the coaching staff over thereon Kirby had about
their offensive line was Okay, what can give us the
best opportunity to be able to put our best offensive

(01:16:44):
line together? And I think it's also too as well.
I mean, you look at a standpoint of you spent
a second round pick on Blake Fisher. You want to
see what he's got, and you've been able to see
it a couple of times this year, either through injury
or through just necessity of having to have him play.
But you haven't had him play consistent snaps this season.

(01:17:04):
And I think that now this is kind of one
of those where you might be saying, well, wait a minute, Dan,
in this final four game stretch of the season, this
is not a time to be doing experiments. I would
actually disagree. I think that this is absolutely the time
to be able to do set experiment because you want
to find out what you've got in him and if
he's somebody that you know, if you don't feel incredibly

(01:17:27):
good about what he gives you from the right tackle spot,
then maybe eventually you look at him on the inside.
It doesn't sound like they have any designs of doing that,
but it's also too as well. I mean you've got
to find out number one can he play? And number
two where would be the best spot on the line
for him to play. I mean, this could be something

(01:17:48):
that if it works incredibly well, that all of a
sudden Nick Cassario and his staff there in terms of
building out this roster for the teams going forward, they
say to themselves, all right, well, well, now we've got
three spots on the offensive line that we feel really
good about.

Speaker 2 (01:18:03):
What about the other two?

Speaker 3 (01:18:05):
And if that's either through the draft or if that's
going out free agency, trade, anything like that, that's where
you can find it. I mean, if I had the
guests without looking at Shack Mason's contract number, just the
way he's played this season, I would probably guess this
is the end of the line for Shaq Mason. I
think it's a little bit of kind of a wait
and see on Patterson and Scrugs on the interior. I mean,

(01:18:26):
if you feel like one can be better than the
other as your center, or maybe even two. I mean,
you know, who's to say that this group doesn't work
and that Drew Scruggs comes back and you feel like, hey,
we can slide Scrugs in at the right or right
guard spot and that's a way that you're able to
kind of build up this line from there. And I

(01:18:49):
know that some people might look at it and say, oh, well,
isn't it just as simple as you know, being able
to you know, plug in guys in any spot on
the line and it's just going to work out?

Speaker 2 (01:18:58):
Not necessarily.

Speaker 3 (01:18:59):
I mean, the right tackles responsibilities are far different than
what the left tackles. Responsibilities are. The center different from
right or left guard. So I mean it is something
that you would have to practice through. You'd have to
even go through what experience do you have at those positions?
Because again, I mean it's responsibilities, it's the calls, it's

(01:19:19):
all of these different things that you look through and
try to determine, you know, all right, you know, does
this guy slot out better at being at this position
or does this guy play better at another position? I mean,
I think that that's something that you kind of have
to work through, and that's what it sounds like the
Texans are doing in terms of trying to get ready
for tomorrow's game. In terms of the availability of players

(01:19:43):
for this one tomorrow, the only player that's ruled out
at this moment is Jews Scruggs. Nick Broker has a
hand issue. He's been somebody that's not been active for
most of the season, So I mean, I don't necessarily
know if you were kind of counting on him to
be ready to go for this one.

Speaker 2 (01:20:00):
Kenyan Green.

Speaker 3 (01:20:01):
I mean, you heard Bobby Slowich say it earlier this week,
and we played the audio on the A team that
they're saying, you know, they've got to be able to
try to get him healthy again. I mean, even though
he's been designated to return, he's missed some time and
also too, I mean, I think a huge part of
that as well is that it might kind of be
the beginning of the end for Kenyan Green with the Texans.

(01:20:21):
I mean, just kind of looking at what they've been
able to get out of them, and I don't think
that it necessarily has met what they hoped that they
were getting when they drafted him.

Speaker 2 (01:20:29):
Ount of TEXTA seeing him, So I think that's another
part of it. As well.

Speaker 3 (01:20:33):
I mean, you know, you've gotten good football out of Scruggs,
You've gotten good performances out of Jared Patterson, that it's
kind of like, where does he fit in? I mean,
do we even need to rush him back at this point?
And again, you know I talked about it earlier with
trying to find out what you have of Blake Fisher.
I think that's a part of it as well of
you know, we've given Kenyan Green a chance. Now it's
time for us to give this guy a chance and

(01:20:55):
see what he's got. So I think that's kind of
playing into this a little little bit as well. In
terms of Christian Harris with the calf, he's questionable, but
it sounds like he's going to be a go for
this one. I don't expect much out of Christian Harris tomorrow, honestly.
I mean, I think you're probably looking at mixing and
matching a little bit in terms of series. If I

(01:21:17):
had to guess who the starting linebackers are going to be,
you're looking at Neville Hewitt and you're looking at Henry Tollato.
That's who you're going to be seeing the most of tomorrow.
Devin White, I think with the amount of time that
he's been out with this team this year in terms
of being on the field and going through practices, everything
of the sort, I think he would probably be the
next option to be able to cycle in in those rotations.

Speaker 2 (01:21:40):
But maybe fifteen twenty plays.

Speaker 3 (01:21:43):
Tomorrow out of Christian Harris, I think is kind of
what you're looking at. I mean, the goal now with
getting Harris back at this point is to try to
these next few games kind of treated almost like his
preseason and maybe that final game against the Tennessee iTANs
as kind of, hey, all right, let's give him full
go here, let's see what he's got, and then hopefully

(01:22:06):
if you're able to get into the playoffs then that
wild card round. He's pretty much at mid season shape
at that point, so that's what you get for him
being out for the first fifteen weeks of the season. So,
I mean, he's missed about three and a half months
of football at this point, so it's kind of hard
to think that he can come in and plug and
play immediately, and especially too at that linebacker spot. I

(01:22:27):
just don't see it being the case. So anyway, that's
what it looks like for the Texans. Tomorrow against the
Miami Dolphins. Again, a noon kick over there at NRG Stadium.
Yours truly, Adam Wexler. We'll be over there, and of
course after the game, getting stuff from the postgame locker room.
But a fun NFL weekend nonetheless, I mean, of course,

(01:22:48):
with us paying attention to what's going on over there,
we'll be paying attention in the afternoon two as well
to what's happening with the Colts and the Broncos as
well as I think a lot of Texans fans are
huge Bronco fans tomorrow, especially with what's on the line
between the Texans and the Colts at this point.

Speaker 2 (01:23:05):
I've said it numerous times.

Speaker 3 (01:23:06):
I mean, even though you're in your tougher part of
the schedule, this is the Texans division to lose, and
if they do end up losing out on the AFC South,
then it's only them to blame. I mean, you know,
it's a game tomorrow where you've lost too straight at
NRG Stadium. You want to be able to break that
schneid right there, and also too, I mean the following

(01:23:27):
week you go up to Kansas City, a team that
I think is kind of tempted fate quite a bit
this season. So to believe that the Texans don't have
a chance to win that game, I think would be foolish.
And then finally a team that they just have not
been able to solve the puzzle for pretty much the
entire existence of this organization, the Baltimore Ravens on Christmas Day.

(01:23:47):
That'll be a tough one and no doubt about it.
So that's what Texans have here going forward, all right?

Speaker 2 (01:23:54):
Coming up next the Rockets.

Speaker 3 (01:23:56):
Good things from them the other night, good things for
most of this season, and tonight I think is another
proving ground for them.

Speaker 2 (01:24:03):
I'll explain what I mean next as.

Speaker 3 (01:24:05):
We close out this edition of Space City Saturday. Dan
Matthews here with you on your home of the Astros
and the Rockets, Sports Talk seven ninety.

Speaker 1 (01:24:15):
Welcome back to Space City Saturday, Sports Talk seven.

Speaker 2 (01:24:19):
Ninety Sports Talks seven ninety.

Speaker 3 (01:24:22):
Ian Matthews here with you on a two Christmases away Saturday.
So that's what we have for two weeks away from Christmas.

Speaker 2 (01:24:34):
What a week and a half. I don't know who days,
you know.

Speaker 3 (01:24:38):
Look, the only thing I know is today is Saturday,
all right, and it's eleven forty nine. Right now, That's
that's what I know, all right, Don't ask me for
many more details.

Speaker 2 (01:24:45):
Don't get too demanding with me. Okay, it's been a
long week.

Speaker 3 (01:24:49):
I think once you get to this point, you're kind
of like, eh, whatever, details, semantics. I'll let Adam Wexler
worry about that. But anyway, the Rocket's coming your way
tonight right here on your home of the Rockets Sports
Talk seven to ninety as it will be NBA A
Cup playing tournament semi finals for the Rockets tonight against

(01:25:11):
the Oklahoma City Thunder. And of course to get to
this point Wednesday night, you had to battle towards the end,
and the Rockets able to do that. I mean, it
was looking bleak right there with about a minute and
a half to go. I mean, I think most of
us are probably watching that game and we're just like, man,
come on, like, seriously, we're gonna do this. You know,

(01:25:32):
this is seriously what we're gonna do. We're gonna lose
to these guys again. Then the Rockets able to knock
down some shots, able to get some huge plays down
the stretch, and of course to the foul which Steve
Kerr he whined about, and we heard Steve Kerr whinding
about it, but also too as well. By the way,
I mean, unless I've missed it, has the NBA fined

(01:25:54):
Steve Kerr.

Speaker 2 (01:25:55):
Yet for that? Or is it?

Speaker 3 (01:25:56):
Oh yet again another thing that works in the favor
of Steve Kerr. Okay, yeah, but he wants to act
like a huge victim here, got it? Okay, I just
wanted to make sure, you know, I just want to
make sure we're kind of on the same page here.
But anyway, the NBA did come out with the last
two minute report the next day and said that the
only miscall there in the final two minutes was that

(01:26:20):
Pajemski should have been called for a five seconds violation.

Speaker 2 (01:26:24):
So there you go, Steve Kerr.

Speaker 3 (01:26:26):
You can eat it and you can enjoy being at
home with not being able to go to Vegas. That
was the best part of Kerr's little whiny rant right there,
was at the end when.

Speaker 2 (01:26:36):
He was like, I really wanted to go to Vegas.

Speaker 3 (01:26:38):
Well, you don't get to go to Vegas, and the
Rockets do and looks like they're having fun out there.

Speaker 2 (01:26:43):
They met with the media yesterday.

Speaker 3 (01:26:46):
Gonna get the thunder tonight team that they were able
to take down the last time they faced him after
a really rough performance against them in the game that
they played up in ok See.

Speaker 2 (01:26:58):
But now it's a.

Speaker 3 (01:27:00):
Chance for the Rockets to be able to, you know,
try to not only you know, take another step in
terms of signaling to the NBA world that you know,
this team is taking a step forward in a team
that is a legitimate competitor for the Western Conference. But
I mean, I think it's also too for these young guys,
you kind of get your first taste to playoff basketball.

(01:27:21):
I mean, you know, it is a little bit more
in the mold of the n C DOUBLEA Tournament, which
most of the guys on this team are familiar with.
I mean Jabari Smith junior taking part in the n
C Double A tournament. I mean Fred van Vliet obviously
definitely did I remember seeing Fred van Vliet play in
the final four in that really good game against Louisville
back a few years ago when that was the final

(01:27:42):
four of Wichitas State, Louisville, Syracuse and Michigan there and
of course Louisville able to win it that season. But
he knows experience from that. But I mean just overall
from this. I mean, I think that's another part of it,
is that it's a chance to kind of, you know,
show him like, this is the mindset you have to
have during the playoffs, this is how you have to

(01:28:03):
go about your business during the playoffs, and this is
how you win in the playoffs. And I think that
all of those things are kind of at play right now.
But it will be a fun one tonight again Matt
Thomas and Adam Wexler on the call. Matt there in Vegas,
wex back here in our iHeartRadio Houston studios. So it'll
be a fun time six thirty again coming your way

(01:28:26):
with Rockets launch pad right here on your home of
the Rockets. So look forward to doing that here a
little bit later on. But you know, we've covered a
lot of the astros today, which of course, I mean,
you know, just to kind of put a bow on
that from earlier, of course, yesterday making the trade to
send Kyle Tucker up to the Chicago Cubs. In return

(01:28:46):
you get eat SoC Perettis as well as picking up
Hayden was Nesky, which hadn't talked a ton about him yet.
I mean, I know you heard Bruce Levine talk about
him a little bit earlier, and also so to a
little bit from Chandler Rome when we played that visit
with the A team yesterday. I mean, I think he's
a guy that kind of fits in the mold of
what the Astros have brought in the past. I mean

(01:29:08):
last year relief picture wise, you know, kind of you know,
somebody like they brought in in Taylor Scott of they
felt like he's got good stuff.

Speaker 2 (01:29:17):
Maybe get with.

Speaker 3 (01:29:17):
Them on a couple of things, tweak some things here
and there, and you're able to you know, make him
into a viable option for you. And that's one thing
I think, you know, the Astros go to spring training
this year with the express purpose of trying to make
him into a starter, because remember too, I mean, you know,
you don't have Jose Rachidy. I mean he was non tendered,

(01:29:40):
so I mean maybe you're able to sign him to
a you know, a spring training invite deal or.

Speaker 2 (01:29:45):
Something like that.

Speaker 3 (01:29:46):
But at the same time though, too, I mean, he's
kind of in the same same group as Christian Hobby
here is with the return from Tommy John surgery. So
I mean those guys kind of going through you know,
trying to build themselves back up and get back to
being able to get back on a mound and throw
on a regular basis. And that's something that I think

(01:30:07):
you can kind of keep an eye on. But I mean,
it'll be interesting to see what happens with Lance McCullers.
I mean, you know, where do they go with him?
I mean, you know, it's also too what happens with
the possibility that maybe you trade Ryan Presley this offseason.

Speaker 2 (01:30:20):
And if that's the case. I mean, I've said it
numerous times.

Speaker 3 (01:30:23):
I know Lance not necessarily, he's not very keen to
doing the bullpen thing, but I mean, look, I think
it kind of gets to a certain point of it
seems like starter is not in the cards for you.
So if that's not in the cards for you, then
why would you not consider going to the bullpen where
less taxing on your arm and less innings on your arm,

(01:30:44):
less pitching, all those things kind of rolled into one
and a chance for you to be able to stay
healthy and.

Speaker 2 (01:30:49):
Prolong your career.

Speaker 3 (01:30:51):
I mean, I think if you're McCullers, you've got to
really significantly consider that, and if you're able to kind
of build him into that role, maybe he's some that
can be a late ending guy for you. I mean,
you know how effective he can be on the mound,
and you know, it's just been a problem of being
able to stay durable and stay out of having arm troubles.

(01:31:11):
So that's been something that's been a little bit of
an issue for him since being re uped a couple
of years ago to that five year deal. So we'll
see what happens with him. JP Frantz also to another
guy that was able to do some really good things
for you in twenty twenty three, and now you want
to see what he can do in twenty twenty five
and beyond after trying to come back from that shoulder issue.

(01:31:33):
So we'll see what happens on that front.

Speaker 2 (01:31:35):
But all in all, I.

Speaker 3 (01:31:37):
Mean, I think it just kind of continues to show
you that it's very much a fluid situation with the Astros,
with you know, do you bring back Alex Bregman or
do you decide to go elsewhere. I mean, you know,
there's been the loose rumors out there and I haven't
seen anything in terms of, you know, much from Brian McTaggart,
Chandler Rome or even Ari Alexander which, by the way, too,

(01:32:00):
I do want to take a quick second to shout
those guys out, you know, I think that we need
to be appreciative of what we've got in terms of
those guys here in Houston with Tags, with Chandler, with Ari,
because I mean, I know, when it comes to baseball
and news, I mean, you know, passing is obviously very
relied upon Ken Rosenthal, same deal and some others on

(01:32:23):
the national front. But those guys, in terms of the
work they put in and just how they work their story,
it's just fantastic work. So I want to give them
a little tip of the cap for being all over
the stories this week from both at the Baseball League meetings,
but also too from being able to, you know, just
stay on top of the Kyle Tucker trade news and

(01:32:44):
continuing to stay on this news with the Astros. So
good stuff from them. That's gonna do it for us
here on Space City Saturday. I want to think Melvin
Brown behind the glass. I want to think all of
you too, who hop the board with us here is
don't forget again. Rocket in thunder NBA Cup playing Tournament
semifinal game action tonight from Las Vegas.

Speaker 2 (01:33:05):
Six point thirty Rockets launch Pad coming your way.

Speaker 3 (01:33:08):
I will be leading you up to Matt Thomas and
Adam Wexler on the call. Dan Matthews here on your
home of the Rockets and the Astros, Sports Talk seven
to ninety It Spenspace City Saturday.

Speaker 2 (01:33:18):
We'll talk to you all next week.

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