HOUR 4 - Questions About Each Texans Opponent + Mini Take-a-Mania + What’s an Acceptable Astros Record?

Summary

Payne & Pendergast – July 2, 2026
HOUR 4: Questions About Each Texans Opponent + Mini Take-a-Mania + What’s an Acceptable Astros Record?

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Main Theme / Purpose

In this episode, hosts Sean Pendergast and Seth Payne dive into key questions facing each of the Houston Texans' 2026 NFL opponents as summer break begins, taking cues from The Athletic’s annual “biggest question for every team” article. There’s also sports radio banter about the Astros’ playoff prospects, tribute videos for former players, and a lively “mini Take-a-Mania” featuring Stephen A. Smith’s Lakers hot take and Adam Schefter’s NFL gambling commentary. The show stays rooted in sharp analysis and relatable humor, complete with memorable quotes and engaging side conversations on food, sports culture, and fan rituals.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Texans – “Have They Done Enough for CJ Stroud?”

[01:29–06:30]

• Main question: Have the Texans done enough this offseason to help CJ Stroud “take the next step”? (per The Athletic)
• Seth’s take:
  • The Texans have added volume to the offensive line, a “Dana Brown approach” of hoping a few of many additions work out—rather than making big-name signings.
  • "Kasario with the offensive line has taken Dana Brown's approach with the pitchers..." [02:39]
• Sean disagrees with critics blaming Stroud’s playoff interceptions solely on a lack of supporting cast:
  • “There wasn’t part of me watching that game going, ‘Boy, CJ Stroud’s throwing four interceptions because they haven’t done enough for him.’ I’m watching it going, ‘CJ Stroud’s throwing four interceptions because either he’s just making silly decisions or the moment’s too big for him.’” [03:37]
• Takeaway: While the offensive additions seem sufficient by volume, expectations for Stroud stepping up are as much about his own psyche and maturity as the talent around him.

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Questions for Texans’ 2026 Opponents

[06:30–16:45]

Jacksonville Jaguars: Can They Replace Travis Etienne Jr.?

• The Jags “chose not to” directly replace Etienne, instead hoping backups or scheme tweaks will save the run game.
• Seth: “I’d be really nervous going into a season thinking, ‘Oh, they can do it all with Trevor Lawrence’s arm.’” [07:16]
• Sean points out positive moments from Parker Washington but doubts he can be an every-down difference-maker.

Cleveland Browns: Who Will Be the QB?

• Discussion of Deshaun Watson’s injuries, contract, and regression.
• Sean: “He has made nearly $200 million and he’s going to make another 40 this year.” [11:29]
• QB battle with Shadour Sanders is unsettled; new coach Todd Monken wants a mobile QB, but Watson “looked like the same inconsistent player” per Zach Jackson. [12:23]
• Memorable stat: Watson has played 19 games and thrown for 3,365 yards in five seasons since leaving Houston.

Philadelphia Eagles: Does the System Suit Jalen Hurts?

• New OC Manion brings a West Coast, under-center approach—will it benefit or stifle Hurts?
• Tension and “dysfunction” persist within the Philly organization.
• Sean: “They’ve just existed in it the entire time with Sirianni there... The Eagles are like the team version of Stefon Diggs—always drama, but always producing.” [14:58]

New York Giants: Will Malik Nabers Be Ready?

• Giants keep signing big-name, aging receivers (Beckham Jr., Keenan Allen speculated) while awaiting their rookie’s impact.
• Seth: “The Giants are fascinating...the fan base is super optimistic and yet at the same time...probably not even going to be a .500 team this year.” [17:15]

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Mini Take-a-Mania: Lakers’ “All White Dudes” Roster & Schefter on the NFL and Gambling

[20:13–27:46]

Stephen A. Smith on the Lakers’ Roster

• Sean plays Stephen A.’s viral rant chastising Lakers’ reliance on “three white dudes” as core players:

  “Where the hell the Los Angeles Lakers think they going with a bunch of white dudes?... In NBA history, when have you seen your three most prominent players... all be white? And that takes you to the promised land?...” [21:28]

• Payne & Pendergast react with a mix of amusement and skepticism, noting colorfully:
  • Seth [23:34]: “Lots of things that haven’t happened in a long time or ever before, happen all the time.”
  • Sean digs up NBA history: “Take this, Stephen A.—the [1950s-80s] Celtics...” [26:06]
• Vibe: The segment lampoons the contrived nature of sports hot takes and the performative outrage of media personalities.

Adam Schefter’s Take on NFL & Gambling:

• Schefter reports the NFL wants “no part of gambling” despite huge partnerships—Payne & Pendergast call out the hypocrisy:
  • Seth: “Despite making a boatload of money from it. They want nothing to do with it.” [25:06]

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Astros Talk: Tribute Videos, Record Expectations, and Second-Half Hopes

[28:04–46:10]

Tribute Videos for Former Astros

• Should guys like Evan Gattis, Ken Giles, Trey Mancini get tribute videos?
• Sean: “I don’t remember any big moments that he [Gattis] had, but I’m starting to come around on your guys who just have a vibe to them.” [28:10]
• Fun banter about the standards for tribute videos: “It’s not a freaking prize…It’s just something to show in the pregame…” – Seth [28:37]

Acceptable Astros Record Entering All-Star Break

• “Is it reasonable for me to expect...the Astros...at the All Star break with a .500 record?” – Sean [35:47]
• Upcoming: Rays, Nationals, Rangers (9 games).
• Seth: “It’s doable.” [37:14]
• Discussion of playoff chances, bullpen, impact of Javier, Blanco returns, and the Yankees/Rays surges.

If You Could Make One Astro an All-Star for the Second Half...

• Sean: Almost says Altuve, but...
• Seth: “Cam Smith. Because then that would pretend great things for the [Astros] future.” [44:33]
• Sean: “Camp Smith's a great one. That’s better than any I had in mind. Good job.” [45:22]
• Cam Smith’s late surge: “.945 OPS over the last 8 games...He’s still .685 on the year.” [46:03]

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Notable Quotes & Lighthearted Moments

• “CJ Stroud’s throwing four interceptions because either he's just making silly decisions or the moment’s too big for him.” – Sean [03:37]
• “The Eagles are like the team version of Stefon Diggs...They got all this stuff going on, and you look up and they win 12 games every year.” – Sean [14:58]
• “If you buy the dinner with us, you have to share a piece of cannoli cake for two with me.” – Seth [39:03]
• “We might be sitting right near where it happened.” (teasing stories for charity dinner) – Seth [40:32]
• “Lots of things that happen haven’t happened in a long time or ever before, happen all the time. Something that’s never happened before happens every day.” – Seth [23:34]

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Food & Fun: Pantry Staples and Upcoming Travels

[50:43–55:00]

• Food segment: “Three things that are always in your pantry or fridge?”
  • Sean: Ritz crackers & pimento cheese, tortillas (with cheese or butter), Chick Fil A sauce.
  • Seth: Tuna fish, mandarin oranges (“healthy until you eat the whole bag”), Greek yogurt—“unsweetened…keeps me from getting hungry.”
• Brief vacation talk: Sean heading to Oregon, Idaho, Montana. “She’s down to Alaska...We’ve been chipping off states for her.” [54:34]

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• [01:29] — Big question for the Texans
• [06:30] — Breakdowns of Texans’ main 2026 opponents
• [12:23] — Zach Jackson’s breakdown of Browns’ QB situation
• [14:58] — Dysfunction in Philadelphia and the “Stefon Diggs” metaphor
• [20:13] — Lakers “all-white lineup” take, Stephen A. Smith
• [25:06] — Adam Schefter NFL gambling hypocrisy riff
• [28:04] — Tribute video banter (Gattis, Giles, Mancini)
• [35:47] — Astros record expectations going into the All-Star break
• [44:33] — “Make a wish”: one Astro (other than Yordan) as a second-half All-Star
• [50:43] — Pantry and fridge staples; food fun

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Tone & Style Observations

• Language: Candid, friendly, full of analogies, gentle sarcasm, and inside-joke feel, but detailed in analysis (“volume shooter” explanation for Texans O-line; past performance breakdowns for Watson, Parker Washington, etc.).
• Dynamic: Lively, sometimes self-deprecating (“I don’t want this in my life.” – Seth on Stephen A.), always Houston-centric.
• Flow: Natural mix of meaty sports questions and breezy diversions (food, vacations, charity auction antics).

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For Listeners Who Missed It

This hour is for sports fans who want a pulse check on the Texans’ 2026 outlook and their biggest opponents, plus some classic talk radio fun—whether debating tribute videos, poking fun at hot-take artists, or sharing what’s always in their pantry. Sean and Seth balance real football insight with the kind of local flavor and playful banter that’s made Payne & Pendergast a staple of Houston sports talk.

Transcript

[Seth]

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[Seth]

Thursday.

[Sean]

Thursday. Yeah. Yeah. What did I say?

[Seth]

I don't know. I didn't know if you're starting.

[Sean]

No, I definitely, I definitely said Thursday. Yeah. No, I feel like, I feel like I'm, I'm having a good. I'm having a good day, man. So the Athletic has the biggest one outstanding remaining question for each NFL team as summer break begins. This is from the Athletic staff.

[Seth]

Usually I really enjoy these exercises leading into the season. Except for this year. Anytime there's any kind of title like this, I know exactly what the item is going to be for the Texans. And it's something about CJ Stroud.

[Sean]

CJ Stroud. Yeah. Yeah. CJ Stroud. Have they done enough? And Mike Jones is the one who provides the answer to this. He writes for the Athletic. Have they, the Texans done enough to help CJ Stroud take the next step?

[Seth]

Yeah, so I guess that's, I mean, it's C.J. stroud related, but it's more about the offensive line, the running back, the wide receivers, all of that.

[Sean]

Yeah, yeah, it is. Do you think they've done enough to help CJ Shroud take the next step?

[Seth]

I think, I think they could have done more. I mean, like, honestly, the Bears last year were just so incredibly aggressive at going out and fixing the offensive line.

[Sean]

And then the center went and retired after the year that they.

[Seth]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. But they still haven't shown that level of aggression. But over the course of two years, I can kind of appreciate, you know, Casseria is almost taking like the Dana Brown's approach. Kasario with the offensive line has taken Dana Brown's approach with the pitchers, which he's become a volume shooter where. All right, we're not necessarily going to blow you away with any of these acquisitions, but hopefully a few of them work out. And I think that's what, that's what ended up happening with that Ingram. But also Cam Robinson was part of that strategy. Yeah, and they brought in Trent Brown last year and like, look, hey, that was, that was a very low level signing he was making, you know, not much more than the veteran minimum, but he ended up being a big part of that win streak. But this year they kind of, they, they upped that a notch. It still wasn't like they were going off after the top tier free agents. But just by addressing it with so many numbers, I'm, I'm cool with it right now.

[Sean]

Is there, is there any connection? Because this, look, the thing, the thing C.J. stroud is getting criticized the most for this off season is the postseason. Last year more so the Patriots game obviously, because they lost that game and it was four interceptions in the first half. But the Steeler game, one great either. But the Patriots game specifically yet hurt. Not having Nico Collins, but there wasn't part of me watching that game going, Boy, C.J. stroud's throwing four interceptions because they haven't done enough for him. I'm watching it going. CJ Stroud's throwing four interceptions because either he's just making six silly decisions or the moments too big for him.

[Seth]

It so much of it felt.

[Sean]

And they couldn't run the football, I guess to be fair.

[Seth]

And I think that's the thing is that he had done a good job all year of managing that there were things that the offense could and could not do. And I think in the regular season when you're racking up wins and you're seeing where you are in the division. Maybe it was an easier challenge psychologically, but I think when you get into single elimination, maybe that's where just that feeling of this game really, really matters. And we're not doing anything offensively. If it was without thinking about the concussion or anything else, like if it was just him just pushing too hard.

[Sean]

Yeah.

[Seth]

Knowing that. All right, this, this time, this is. We're. We're in the playoffs and that we got to make something happen. Like maybe if his faith in the process flagged or whatever it might be.

[Sean]

Yeah.

[Seth]

Cause even though, you know, people point out that he made some nice plays in the Steelers game, there are at least some positive things to point out, too.

[Sean]

Oh, yeah. Christian Kirk had 150 yards in that.

[Seth]

Right. And that is true. But he also had some really bad. I mean, the flea flicker was one that you just got to eat it on that play. You know, you air mailed the pasta wide open. Nico Collins. Like, there were some things that happened in that game that were still just really, really bad and atypical for cj.

[Sean]

Yeah. Yeah. And the weird thing too, about that. And we'll get to some of the other teams here in a second because there are some interesting questions heading into the summer break here for a few of the Texans opponents this year. The other thing that people might say is with respect to the New England game as well, Nico Collins missed that game also, and he's clearly their A1, number one guy. The weird thing about that is that Nico Collins missed the San Francisco game in the regular season. And I think you could. That game has an argument as CJ's one of like his three or four best games as a pro. Yeah, that San Francisco game, there was no Nico Collins in that game. CJ was like 30 for 38 for over 300 yards and they won the game.

[Seth]

Something about that, though, is that the 49ers were missing half their starters on defense, and they were. They ended up being one of the worst defenses in the league. You guys know I gush about Robert Sala, but it was bad last year with how many injuries they had to the starters.

[Sean]

Yeah, yeah.

[Seth]

So, like, it's just. It was a. Playing the Patriots at home in bad weather, playing that defense without Nico Collins, a lot different than playing the 49ers at home in good weather.

[Sean]

Yeah, for sure. For sure. All right, let's get to some of the other. Some of the other teams here with the. The burning questions for the. For summer break. As I get back to the article here, let's get to the Jacksonville Jaguars. The. The Jacksonville Jaguars. One outstanding question for them is can they replace Travis H.N. jr. They really just kind of chose not to. They just let him walk right as they did with.

[Seth]

I mean, they let Devin Lloyd walk. On the defensive side of the ball. They are like the guys that they have returning as starters largely are guys who are already on the team. Yeah. So including guys who are backups to Achan, where they like Tutin.

[Sean]

I like Tuden, I think, too, is a good player.

[Seth]

Tootin's an interesting one. They have. They do have a lot of guys on their roster where you wonder. Okay, you remember Parker Washington. Parker Washington is a guy the last couple years. He'll make a big play against the Texans and I'll feel like, oh, boy, he's really coming along. And then you look at his season totals and he's got like 400, 500. No, I.

[Sean]

But he's a good player, man.

[Seth]

I know, I know. You feel like he's the guy that might really all of a sudden kind of click for them, but they just also, even though they like Tutin, when the offense, when the passing game started clicking, they really still weren't able to run the ball at all. And that's what's so curious about. Okay, are you really. Are you really just believing that you're going to fix the things in the run game despite not adding anybody to your roster? Or are you. And are you putting all that much on tooting or just improving the scheme? Or are you just feeling like you're going to be able to just do it all with Trevor Lawrence's arm? I'd be. I'd be really nervous going into a season thinking, oh, they can do it all with Trevor Lawrence's arm.

[Sean]

I would too, if I were a Jags fan. As a Texan fan, I hope they do that. I hope they lean heavily on him.

[Seth]

Parker Washington ended up having 847 yards. Yeah, 390 the year before.

[Sean]

He's a play. And he's. He's great in the return game, too. He returned a kick against the Texans for a touchdown. No, he's one of those guys, Seth, that is kind of like Alec Pierce was for the Colts the first few years. We're like, okay, his numbers aren't eye popping, but, boy, I feel like every time I watch that team, he's making a play or two in the game. To the point where during the season last year, I was looking up his contract to see how many years he had left. Because I'm like, boy, when he becomes a free agent, that feels like he'd be one of those kind of smart signings where you're not having to pay him 30 million a year. Yeah, he'd be really good for you.

[Seth]

And he's only had one good game against the Texans in 2024. It was. He had six receptions for 103 yards. And that was the one that really stuck out in my mind. Yep. And then last year, he's had a couple of key catches and critical moments.

[Sean]

Yes.

[Seth]

That are like, really nice snags. But. So even. Even in the Texans games, he didn't have great output in 2025. But I felt like, man, this. This kid seems like he's kind of money.

[Sean]

Yep. Yep. So. So that's Jacksonville, Cleveland Browns. They are on the Texan schedule, and of course, their situation still includes desean Watson. And that's their big question. Who's going to be the quarterback of this football?

[Seth]

I had a question for you because you listened Browns radio, but the quote that caught my eye on this one was Watson's one opening to win the job is new coach Todd Monk and wanting a mobile quarterback.

[Sean]

Yeah.

[Seth]

But Watson through the spring looked like the same inconsistent player he was through the first three seasons in Cleveland. Is Watson. Is he still mobile after coming off of those two? He tore the same Achilles tendon twice.

[Sean]

Yeah, yeah.

[Seth]

Is he still looked at as a mobile quarterback?

[Sean]

You know what? As much as I listen in on Cleveland radio, I don't recall listening to talking about his mobility, mostly because the two hosts that I listen to probably aren't out at camp. They're not watching him. And I don't know how big a topic that's been. I. I just know from watching what I've watched. And. And again, this is like the Tank Dell thing. Like, boy, you watch him doing these cone drills and he looks great. Same thing with desean. Like, boy, that guy had two Achilles tears. He sure is moving well with no other human beings to compare him to in this video that he's running around doing.

[Seth]

So.

[Sean]

I don't know, Seth, it's a good question.

[Seth]

And you know that he hasn't had his. His season high anytime since 2020 is 1148 yards.

[Sean]

Season high for what?

[Seth]

For passing over pat.

[Sean]

Oh, wow.

[Seth]

1148 yards. Yeah. Well, you think that was rushing? Sorry.

[Sean]

Well, that's why I thought you might be going. Just because we were talking about his.

[Seth]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. No, no, I was just looking like, since, like this way. He threw her 4,800 yards in 2020. Yeah, he led the league since then. He's got a combined, like, about 3,400 yards passing total since then.

[Sean]

Seth, he's played in 19 football games since that season.

[Seth]

I was being too generous. He's got 3,010 yards passing since then. Oh, no, no, no. That's right. Yeah. Yeah. 3,010 yards total.

[Sean]

Yeah. Yeah. Dude. He's played in 19 games since he was a Houston Texan.

[Seth]

Yeah.

[Sean]

He has made nearly $200 million and he's going to make another 40 this year.

[Seth]

Yeah. 3,365 yards total. I know. It's been 200 in. The guaranteed money is still like his. Nobody's ever had 240 million totally guaranteed.

[Sean]

Right.

[Seth]

Like, without any little. All the other options you see, or all the other guarantee numbers you see, there's like a player. There's like a team option here or there or whatever. And so they consider impractical guarantees. Nobody's had 240 million. 100%.

[Sean]

Here you go. Yeah, here you go.

[Seth]

No matter what.

[Sean]

Here's your money.

[Seth]

This is your money.

[Sean]

19. Missed all of.

[Seth]

So, yeah. Since 2020. Missing all of 2021. I don't know if he was injured or maybe something going on in his personal life. And then. All of 2025. Yeah.

[Sean]

2000. Yes. Over the course of five seasons. 19 games. God.

[Seth]

19 games.

[Sean]

Yeah.

[Seth]

Three. 3365 yards.

[Sean]

Here's what Zach Jackson, who covers the Browns, says about that particular quarterback battle you mentioned. The one opening to win the job is Monkin wanting a mobile quarterback. But Watson through the spring looked like the same inconsistent player he'd been in Cleveland. Shador Sanders finished the spring strong but didn't thoroughly outplay Watson. So the battle will resume in late July and continue into August. That was actually the big topic up there. Seth, as this was all playing out, no TAs in minicamp is that Todd Monken wanted to pick somebody heading into summer break that was QB1.

[Seth]

Yeah.

[Sean]

And he wasn't able to. And it's not because both guys were amazing and just, you know, just throwing haymakers at each other. It's that both guys nobody seem to win. Yeah. Yeah. It's wildly inconsistent. So. So that's Cleveland, other Texans opponents. And the big questions. How about the Eagles, the opponent that they play on Christmas Eve?

[Seth]

I'm. The Eagles are another team because we. We always watch this with a little bit of extra interest when somebody who's in the Kubiak Shanahan type of tree wants to. Wants to do what Cougs and Shanahan.

[Sean]

Is that what Manion is their new.

[Seth]

Yeah, Manion's going to be running mostly a West coast style. A lot of QB under center, doing a lot of stuff that's different from the way they've operated. I mean, they're under center in the tush push all the time. But I like that if Jalen hurts, adapts to it, it could end up being, you know, one of these, like every other year where all of a sudden Jalen hurts. Did I say Jaden Daniels? Jalen Hurts, you know, looks like one of the best quarterbacks in the league. I'm intrigued by it. I. I'm not going to believe in Manion until he proves it.

[Sean]

Yeah. And that's the question that's being asked for this. And it's Brooks Cabina who has the answer. Shout out Brooks Cabina. Does the system suit the quarterback?

[Seth]

Does the system suit the quarterback? And then, I mean, the. The whole other part about it was, man, there's some. There's always weird stuff going on in Philadelphia, but Jeff. Jeff Stoutland choosing to leave the team. It feels like it. When I see some of the people talk about the Eagles, the players, where they're trying to. Where they're trying not to say anything wrong or anything. They almost look like this look in their eyes of like. Like a hostage video. I feel like whatever level of dysfunction they've been comfortable, they've actually thrived with a certain amount of dysfunction in Philadelphia. Maybe this is finally the breaking point.

[Sean]

Maybe I. Dude, for me, in Philly, like, they've. They've passed the point for me where I'm gonna start using that against them. I. They've just existed in it the entire time with Sirianni there.

[Seth]

I just feels to be what works with Sirianni.

[Sean]

Yeah, it's like they're like a team version of one of those. You know what they are. They're like the team version of Stefan Diggs, where Diggs has all this stuff going on in his private life. He's getting sued. He's got baby mama drama. He's. He's always got drama going with teammates. And yet the guy just goes out, puts up 1200 yards every year, even though he's got all this stuff. The Eagles are like the team version of that. Like, they got all this stuff going on. Nick Sirianni's jawing, literally jawing with fans at games. AJ Brown hates Jalen hurts. This guy hates that guy. Who. Who the hell. The constant over constant turnover at offensive coordinator. And you look up and they win 12 games every year.

[Seth]

Right, right. And it's a disappointment. I think that there's part of what the way they operate that I feel like with Jalen hurts because he's such a unique quarterback. He's just kind of fits into his own category of his skill set. Even for dual threat quarterbacks. He's just. He's a unicorn because of the power element, you know, the lower body. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Sean]

That.

[Seth]

I almost feel like they just. I feel like they're at peace thinking, you know what? Just every couple years we need to bring in a different offensive coordinator. He's got a different way of using a mobile quarterback that can make up for some of his deficiencies as a passer. And we just spring it on the league. And if we feel like they're starting to catch up, then we just bring in a different offensive coordinator.

[Sean]

Yeah.

[Seth]

Sean Manual. Win a Super bowl and then get fired two years later.

[Sean]

Right, right, right. Excuse me, A couple more of these. These are final outstanding questions heading into the summer. And we're doing some of the Texans opponents this year, the ones that we find interesting or entertaining. This one I know you like. For the Giants, will Malik neighbors be ready for week one? Yes. Now, that's not the funny part.

[Seth]

The answer is probably no. And they just keep bringing. They bring in all these decrepit old guys and it gets treated with such fanfare.

[Sean]

Yeah.

[Seth]

Now, Beckham Jr. Being out there, I'm watching drills of him going like running through cones at OTAs, and people are saying, look, he's still got it. He's still got it. I think he hasn't had it on NFL field for three years now. I don't know. The Giants are. The Giants are fascinating to me because I feel like the fan base is super optimistic. And yet at the same time, the fan base understands that they're probably not even going to be a 500 win team this year.

[Sean]

Yeah.

[Seth]

Yeah. It's kind of refreshing in a way.

[Sean]

Okay, these are the oldest. These are the oldest free agent receivers still out there.

[Seth]

Yeah.

[Sean]

What if they signed Keenan Allen? Keenan Allen was actually pretty damn good last year.

[Seth]

Oh, yeah. Yeah. No, no, no. Keenan Allen, big step up.

[Sean]

Yeah, he'd be big. Yeah. Yeah. See, it's tight.

[Seth]

We've got Juju, Smith, Schuster, Odell Becket, Beckham Jr. On the roster. I mean, Braxton, Barrios in a way. Like, if you're looking at him as an actual receiver, good luck with that. He's not old. But they've got names. Names, you Recognize.

[Sean]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Seth]

So, no, I think Keenan Allen would be a guy like. Yeah, that's a name. And he's pro. He's past his prime, but he's still very effective.

[Sean]

Keenan Allen, Tyreek Hill, and Stefan Diggs are all out there right now. What was the.

[Seth]

Remember, there was that fervor over Tyreek Hill was going to be ready sooner than people thought.

[Sean]

Oh, I hadn't seen that.

[Seth]

Somebody threw a bunch of cold water on that.

[Sean]

Okay.

[Seth]

He had a really. The. The nature of his injury was. Was way worse than I think people realized.

[Sean]

Oh, yeah. Yep, yep. All right. We. We don't.

[Seth]

Who was the other one? It was Tyree Kill.

[Sean]

Tyree Kill. And. And Diggs.

[Seth]

Yeah. Oh, yeah. Diggs.

[Sean]

Makes a lot of sense. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. That.

[Seth]

I wonder. The fact that Diggs hasn't signed yet kind of surprises me and makes me wonder, okay, maybe there's. Maybe there's something more. Maybe personal life. There's always something in his personal life, so who knows?

[Sean]

Yeah, it's kind of a dead time. Yeah, kind of a dead time. We'll see. I take him back here. All right.

[Seth]

It's not a dead time to sign somebody.

[Sean]

No, no, I know, but it feels like everybody's on vacation and stuff like that. All right. Pain and Pendergast with you. All right, We. We are not. This is our last day this week, so Friday, we are not on the. Seth and I won't be on on Friday, so we won't get to do a Take a Mania this week, but maybe. Maybe. We have an impromptu Take a Mania matchup coming up in the next segment with a wild take about the Los Angeles Lakers from a frequent Take a Mania participant. We've got that coming up for you next. Hey, this is Richard Deitch, the host of the sports media podcast. If you're interested in what's happening with all the places where you consume sports, the sports media podcast has you covered. I've been turning down interviews all week. Coda Copy reached out. Oprah, George Stephanopoulos. So I said no. I was booked on the Deitch podcast before the Taylor Swift phenomenon. I must live up to my responsibility. Listen, wherever you get your podcasts, what

[Seth]

if your drive was fueled with more. Like, more protection for more time on the road? Shell V Power Nitro plus provides more protection for longer lasting engines. So it helps keep your engine running like new for whatever drive is ahead. Shelby Power Nitro plus engine performance that lasts compared to minimum detergent gasoline with continuous use of Shelby Power Nitro plus and Gasoline direct injection engines. Actual effects and benefits may vary. See shell us more protection for more information.

[Sean]

Now at McDonald's, get an $8 McChicken

[Seth]

or a $9 McDouble FIFA World cup meal deal. They come with small fries, a soft

[Sean]

drink, four piece McNuggets and one of nine legend at participating McDonald's for a limited time while supplies last all rights reserve 2026 McDonald's at FIFA World Cup 2026 okay, so the Lakers made a bunch of moves and I'm not going to act like I didn't notice the same thing Stephen A. Smith is about to point out here. They let LeBron go, they resigned. They gave Austin Reaves a big extension. They brought in Walker Kessler. They made a couple other moves that by and large all involved white dudes.

[Seth]

Yeah,

[Sean]

the graphics that were being put up yesterday were hilarious. Of all the white dudes, the Lakers have been signing and resigning. Now that doesn't affect my handicap on what I think the Lakers are going to be this season. They've got one of the five best players in the sport when he's healthy, happens to be white, Luka Doncic. Austin Reeves is a good player. We'll see. I mean they're, they're not on OKC's level or San Antonio's level in the Western Conference, but, but they're, they're a good basketball team. Stephen A. Smith, I think took it a step further here. This was Stephen A. Smith yesterday, not a fan of the Lakers. Gather up all the white dudes. Strategy. Where the hell the Los Angeles Lakers think they going with a bunch of white dudes? Your three top players are white dudes. Really? This ain't golf. This ain't baseball. Hell, it ain't even soccer. What y' all think this is? Basketball? In NBA history, when have you seen your three most prominent players on a basketball team all be white? And that takes you to the promised land. Somebody got to say it. So I'm saying it. This is basketball. I'm not complaining. I'm simply making the point. The Los Angeles Lakers, you ain't going anywhere being led by three white dudes. In today's generation of basketball, I'm letting you know right now it ain't happening. And Lucas a bad brother. And Austin Reeves is no scrub. And they both have earned what they have earned. And then with LeBron James or some other brothers I get. But those two and Walker Kessler, you ain't scaring anybody with that. And Rob Pelinka has done made this white dude Central no wonder LeBron James walked out the door. Okay, so that's something. That part is no wonder LeBron James walked the door.

[Seth]

That's why LeBron left. He was getting a little too white.

[Sean]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Seth]

I don't know, man. Like, Stephen A. Tries so hard. It's like, it's. Yes, it's a. It's not a hard observation to make. The part, though, that's most disingenuous, though, I think is like, he's saying, like, I don't have a problem with it. Like. Okay. By the tone of your voice and screaming your. Your questions about it went a little too far in saying in NBA history, you know, but you got to go back to, you know, like the 84 Celtics or so probably to where you get the best. The big three. The big three on your team being a bunch of white guys. Okay. But listen, lots of things that. Lots of things that happen haven't. Haven't happened in a long time or that have never happened before, happened all the time. Something has never happened before, happens every day until.

[Sean]

Yeah, it's never happened.

[Seth]

Yeah.

[Sean]

Until it happens. Yeah.

[Seth]

So I think the biggest thing would be if you were going to be genuinely irate about it, it would be as if they decided, like, no, we're specifically. What we need to do is have nothing but white guys.

[Sean]

Like, that was strategy.

[Seth]

Nobody's really accusing the Lakers of that, are they?

[Sean]

No.

[Seth]

I feel like if any. If any organization, like, deserves a little bit of grace and understanding that. That black basketball players are a very valuable part.

[Sean]

Right.

[Seth]

Right.

[Sean]

Yeah. You know.

[Seth]

You know what? You know what? It took me a long while to come around out, but I think the. I think the black basketball players, I think they're pretty. I think they're pretty established.

[Sean]

Okay, so can I do an impromptu, Almost like a money in the bank. Spontaneous. Take a mania here.

[Seth]

Yeah.

[Sean]

And put Stephen A's. Take that. We just played up against the champ. This is Adam Schefter from last week talking about the Brendan Sorsby situation. NFL essentially sent him a letter, and the NFL is declining to hold a supplemental draft. And honestly, something was amiss with this all along because every time you spoke to people around the league about when the supplemental draft would be and whether or not there would be a supplementary, I always got pauses and there were

[Seth]

never clear set answers.

[Sean]

And like, the commissioner's got to decide to have it. I'm like, what is the issue? Well, the issue is that the league, despite any gambling partnerships, the league really

[Seth]

does not want any part of gambling. No. Matter how serious. All we need right there. The league, despite the gambling partnerships, doesn't want anything at all.

[Sean]

Anything with gambling.

[Seth]

Despite making a boatload of money from it. They want nothing to do with it.

[Sean]

So is Stephen A's bewilderment with the Lakers seemingly going with some sort of all white direction with their roster a worse take than Adam Schefter?

[Seth]

I just, you know what? Honestly, I just. With it, when it comes to stuff like this with Stephen A, I just don't feel like dealing with it. I got. I think it just. It's just. No, it doesn't make sense.

[Sean]

All right.

[Seth]

No, I just. I don't want this in my life.

[Sean]

Yeah. Yeah. Okay. I mean, it's. It's not the best reason in the world to pick a winner, but it's. You're the judge. What the hell?

[Seth]

I want.

[Sean]

No, I know. That's what I said. You're the judge and jury. Yeah, like it's. Yeah, it's funny. I put in. I asked Chad GPT has there. You know, I want to fact check Stephen A. On this. Has there ever been an NBA title team whose three best players were white? And I see it. I'm kind of glancing down while I'm looking at you, and I'm seeing it start to spit out a few teams. I'm like, oh, take this, Stephen A. The 1957, 58St. Louis Hawks.

[Seth]

Yeah, take that.

[Sean]

Yeah. Bob Pettit, Cliff Hagen and Jack Coleman. 1956, 57 Philadelphia Warriors, Paul Arizon, Tom Gola, Neil Johnston, and then of course, the early George Mikan led Minneapolis Lakers. Now, chat does say in the modern NBA which, which they count as roughly like the. The merger with the ABA in the 70s. These are the teams that have come close. The Dallas Mavericks in 2011, Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Kidd, who is biracial, plus Peja Stojakovich had a supporting role on the team. That's number one.

[Seth]

A supporting role.

[Sean]

Supporting role. The Denver Nuggets, Nicola Jokic and then says an Aaron Gordon. Not white. Okay. So basically they had Jokic. So they wind up on the list because he's a gigantic white guy. He counts as two white guys. And then they. They do bring up the cell. Celtics were the first one I thought of.

[Seth]

Danny Ainge, Larry Bird, and then Kevin McHale.

[Sean]

Yeah, that's the closest. Because I think you could argue, well, Bird was the best player in the league at the time. And Mikhail, I think was definitely one of their three best players. Mikhail was unstoppable in the low post. Danny Ainge was probably. Robert Parrish is probably better than Danny Ainge. But Danny was good.

[Seth]

He was an awesome three prominent white.

[Sean]

That's the closest. Yeah, that's the closest. This is important research that we're doing right here with this. For sure. For sure.

[Seth]

What are the Lakers championship odds right now with.

[Sean]

With their all white strategy? Yeah, I'm not sure. Yeah. How is there. How have their odds moved since they've determined that they're going to be an entirely white? They're basically going to be the Utah Jazz in the Hollywood Hills.

[Seth]

It's impossible to have fun with this topic. Yeah.

[Sean]

So I'm having fun right now. I'm enjoying myself. All right, how about we circle back to should Evan Gattis get a tribute video? Is that an easier one? Because that's a name guy.

[Seth]

Yeah, you go right to that, don't you, Sean? Yeah, yeah. Evan Gattis. Would he not meet your criteria?

[Sean]

Text that I'm reading. I don't remember any big moments that he had, but I'm starting to come around on your guys with the. Who have a vibe to them a little bit. You know, they just, you know, they're. I. Fond memories of them. Just Victor Carrots fond memories. And you were on those World Series teams. It can't just be some dude who played on an 85 win team.

[Seth]

And I like memories of Lou of Caratini. I just say that's where I feel like you're adjudicating, like, sentimentality. Where the.

[Sean]

Yes.

[Seth]

You know, you. You guys are treating you guys and I'm talking to the people who said that I was acting like they're a participation trophy. Yeah. It's not a freaking prize. It's just something to show in the pre game where you're like, oh, hey, look at this guy's back in town. Here we go. Look at it. Remember the good times with this guy. I don't feel like it's a. It's a. I didn't put it attach as much importance to it.

[Sean]

Someone says, I have a special tribute for Mike Fires.

[Seth]

Oh, yeah. Mike Fi. Well, what's his name? Punch himself in the face. Oh. Oh.

[Sean]

Oh, my God. Ken Giles.

[Seth]

Yeah, Ken Giles. Like, should he not get a tribute video?

[Sean]

He definitely should get a tribute video. Please.

[Seth]

Given all of his meltdown, it should

[Sean]

be 90 seconds of him punching himself in the face on a loop over and over and over again, for sure. So, yeah, Mike Fires. Evan Gaddis. Getting some love on here. Trey Mancini. Someone says for that play at first base in the World Series. You were adamant against Trey Mancini.

[Seth]

Yeah, he didn't. They traded for him, and he didn't do anything other than make that. That nice play, which it wasn't. It wasn't like an incredible play or anything. It was one.

[Sean]

It was.

[Seth]

It wouldn't have been an error if he missed it.

[Sean]

Yeah.

[Seth]

But it wasn't, like, the most ridiculously impossible catch to make.

[Sean]

But he had just come in because, remember, Yuli had let. He came in cold off the bench because Yuli had hurt his ankle or something like that.

[Seth]

That's true.

[Sean]

People forget about that. Yuli didn't play in that. In that. In that World Series clincher back in the day.

[Seth]

Smothered a blistering ground ball.

[Sean]

That's what it was. Yes, that's what it was. That's what it was. Smothered the blistering ground ball.

[Seth]

Died for it. I'm watching it right now. I haven't watched it. I've just been going in my mind.

[Sean]

Okay, so you're reacting to it right now. You're looking at it.

[Seth]

Have to go to the turf for it.

[Sean]

Yep.

[Seth]

I'm about to watch the replay because you didn't see it in real time. And I just remember at the time being like, all right, seriously, are we really making it? I mean, he had to step to his left and he stopped it, you know, with his body. Yeah.

[Sean]

This is where I'm gonna get nerdy. Do we know what the exit Velo was off the bat?

[Seth]

It was pretty hard hit.

[Sean]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Seth]

I don't know what the exit.

[Sean]

If we. If it was on the. It wasn't on the Astros broadcast because it was a World Series game, but if it were, Blum would have given us the exit velocity a second after that play was made.

[Seth]

Yeah.

[Sean]

Like, who? 111 off the bat. And look at Mancini making the play.

[Seth]

It looked like it skipped a frame or two on his way to Mancini.

[Sean]

Yeah. Yep. In the end, my whole tribute video thing, I was pretty welcoming with my criteria. I think we pretty much got everybody in there. Maybe everybody except Victor Caratini.

[Seth]

You know, the whole thing about that was. It was. Okay. The two outs, bottom of the eighth, runners on first and third.

[Sean]

Yeah.

[Seth]

And that was. That's. That's a run for. For sure.

[Sean]

Yeah.

[Seth]

Yeah.

[Sean]

Okay. Looks like someone's coming around on the old Trey Mancini tribute video.

[Seth]

And not enough to, like. Lots of guys have made nice plays in the World Series. Lots of guys have made nice plays in the World Series. And you guys, it's like, I don't understand the. The love for Trayman. Even when the Astros were playing Uzi with. Now they were playing him earlier this year.

[Sean]

Yeah.

[Seth]

Mancini was, like, two home runs. And. And I brought up, like, how annoying that was. They're like, I don't know. Mancini.

[Sean]

Yeah, yeah.

[Seth]

Like the old Gaga in your eyes over Trey Mancini.

[Sean]

He. I think he went to Notre Dame, so I may have some subliminal love for him from that.

[Seth]

I don't like any college players.

[Sean]

Yeah.

[Seth]

I don't like any baseball player who went to college. No. Go to work like a man, damn it.

[Sean]

That's it. They'll let you.

[Seth]

Yeah, the Angels. That's right. He's with the Angels.

[Sean]

The Angels, yeah. Yeah, yeah. Whatever happened to Kyle? Kyle Tucker's brother? That would be Preston Tucker. He was part of the Astros when they were really, really bad. I don't know whatever happened to him, he did not make as much money as his younger brother Kyle. All right, Painted Pendergast with you.

[Seth]

Who was the guy that was always pudgy when he was here? And then he left and he got all slimmed up.

[Sean]

Oh,

[Seth]

oh. Somebody that you didn't like. The listeners will remember exactly who I'm talking.

[Sean]

Okay, Text in. Was he a pitcher or was he an everyday player?

[Seth]

I'm not remembering anything more than the pudginess right now.

[Sean]

Okay, let's talk about the Astros. We got the final segment coming up. We'll find out what the guy's got going on on in the Loop. Look, I'm going to be gone for the full week next week, so by the time I get back, it'll be the All Star break.

[Seth]

Tyler White.

[Sean]

Tyler White.

[Seth]

That's right. It was Tyler White. Tyler White.

[Sean]

He got skinny.

[Seth]

Yeah, he got real skinny because people were like, what the hell's going on with him? We went out to LA probably, you know, back before Ozempic was widespread, I'm guessing, and he saw that, like, oh, they got all these actors, you know, those dirty doctors out there in LA that work with a celebrity.

[Sean]

Tyler White. Tyler White, that's right. Was it a.

[Seth]

No, he actually, if I remember correctly, it was. They discovered he had some kind of a thyroid problem or something. Fix it. And he ended up being a little. And then I felt bad for getting frustrated with Tyler White at times.

[Sean]

Yeah.

[Seth]

With his pudginess.

[Sean]

A little chunky. Oh, yeah. Now I do, too. I didn't realize about the thyroid thing. All right, final segment coming up. The Astros are three games under.500 right now. I'm gone till after the All Star break. What is an acceptable record for me for by the time I get back? We'll talk about that with the Astros got coming up. We'll talk about to the guys on in the Loop as well and see what they've got see what they've got going on on in the Loop today, question of the day and so forth. We'll do that coming up next.

[Seth]

It only happens every four years and this time it's here. The biggest tournament in the world. Stadium shaking, flags waving. This is history and you want to be there. But real life can make it tough

[Sean]

work, busy schedules and the price.

[Seth]

That's where Priceline comes in.

[Sean]

Priceline has millions of deals on flights,

[Seth]

hotels and rental cars so you can go see it live.

[Sean]

So find a great deal and make the trip happen. Rally the crew.

[Seth]

Go see the game live. Turn your dreamtrip into reality.

[Sean]

Book now with Priceline.

[Seth]

Football is fun.

[Sean]

Why shouldn't your football podcast be the same? Follow and listen to Heed the Call

[Seth]

NFL podcast with Dan Hanzas and Mark Sesler.

[Sean]

Wherever you get your podcasts now at McDonald's get an $8 McChicken or a

[Seth]

$9 McDouble FIFA World cup meal deal. They come with small fries, a soft

[Sean]

drink, four piece McNuggets and one of

[Seth]

nine at participating McDonald's for a limited

[Sean]

time while supplies last.

[Seth]

All rights reserved.

[Sean]

20:26 McDonald's at FIFA World Cup 20:26 what would you do if you could

[Seth]

get more More dinner parties with friends,

[Sean]

more gear for your garage band, more places to discover. What would you do if you could get more at Shell this summer with the Phil Lucky Sweepstakes? Stop by Shell, scan the QR code at the pump and enter for a

[Seth]

chance to win $100,000 or for free fuel for a year.

[Sean]

No Purchase necessary. Ends 11:59pm Central Time, August 28. Open to USDC residents 21/plus visit shell us/phil lucky for rules and entry details. And so The Astros are 43 and 46. They're off today. They've got Tampa Bay coming to town for three. Then they travel to Washington for three. And then they a big series. I tell you what for, you know, for a series in the middle of July, that three game series with the Texas Rangers up in Arlington. Seth is going to be that. That's a big one for the Astros. Yeah. That's who you're chasing now.

[Seth]

Yeah. In time. She's a winding down Sean in the Back half of the season here. The. The Rangers are the least awful team in this division.

[Sean]

Yep.

[Seth]

For the most. Way to put it, a chance to gain some awful.

[Sean]

Yes.

[Seth]

To gain some ground on the least awful team in the division.

[Sean]

Yeah. So is it reasonable there are three games under.500, so they've got nine games between now in the All Star break. Is it reasonable for me to expect to come in on Monday the 12th? I guess it would be. And have the Astros sitting there at the all star break with a.500 record?

[Seth]

They. Sean, they have three games against the Rays, who currently have the best. Is it three or four games against. Three games against. The Rays currently have the best. The best record in the al.

[Sean]

Yeah.

[Seth]

You know, pacing everybody else. The. I mean, the Yankees have been disgusting the last. They're, they're, they've been back in the last 10. And it's even worse than that, I think. Whereas the Rays have gone on our stretch where they're eight and two now over the last 10 games. So it's, it's going to be dicey. It's going to be nice. And the Nationals aren't a bad team. The Nationals, you know, the Nationals would fit right in in the al.

[Sean]

Yeah. Yeah, that's right. They fit right in in the. And that's on the.

[Seth]

They might be leading a division or two in the al.

[Sean]

Yeah. That's on the road. Texas is on the road. You know, I am. I'm anxious to see this with, you know, Javier coming back. They're going to use him in the bullpen. Yeah. We'll see that. State have to go six and three over these. Well, that's all they do, though, was winning series for a while. I don't think it's unreasonable.

[Seth]

They have to go. Say, you know, the Rangers could go on. You're going to. You're going to be dealing a blow to the Rangers when you come back. Yeah. So that's. No, it's. It's doable.

[Sean]

Okay. It's doable. Okay. Here, let me ask you. Is this doable? Do you think that tomorrow, like last year in the Reggie and Ron Radio thon.

[Seth]

Yeah.

[Sean]

For the Houston Food Bank. Do you think that Payne and Pendergast will fetch the most in the auctions for the dinners, the listener dinners?

[Seth]

I don't see how anything else could be.

[Sean]

This is us appealing to you, the listener.

[Seth]

Yeah.

[Sean]

To make sure that we can still flex on our co workers.

[Seth]

Yeah.

[Sean]

That we generated the most money, that

[Seth]

we help the most people.

[Sean]

Yes.

[Seth]

And that's what Matters Definition. We really care. It's not about the ego or the pride or the ability to say that we did it for two years in a row because obviously we're superior to everybody.

[Sean]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Seth]

It's not. It's about none of those things. It's about helping people. But. Yeah. The best way people can help people.

[Sean]

Yeah.

[Seth]

Is to pay whatever you and I are worth, which is a lot more than anybody else in this environment.

[Sean]

Because the people spoke last year. The people spoke last year. We ended up doing two of them last year. You and I. Yeah. This one, we are. It was. It was made official yesterday. Big shout out to Johnny Carrabba, who confirmed it with me that you and I are going to do our listener dinner with a. An auction winner and a friend of their choice at the OG Original Carabas on Kirby over there.

[Seth]

Oh, nice.

[Sean]

Yeah, we love that spot. You like the dessert Rosa? At that spot?

[Seth]

The dessert Rosa.

[Sean]

It's like a cake that.

[Seth]

At that one. They don't always have it.

[Sean]

They've had it the last couple of times. I've been okay. You know, sometimes there's things that they. You know, they don't have everything on the menu.

[Seth]

I was looking at the. The cannoli cake for two. That's what. That's. If you buy the. If you. If you buy the dinner with us, you have to share a piece of cannoli cake for two with me.

[Sean]

Yeah.

[Seth]

So somebody has to. And we have to share a fork. That's a. That's the other part, too.

[Sean]

And the part where it gets really uncomfortable is when Seth says, we've got to reenact lady and the Tramp with whoever orders spaghetti. And Seth's at one end and the auction winner's at the other, and the auction winner's like, I can't believe I paid $5,000 for this.

[Seth]

Yeah. This experience, that was one of the first places Brandi and I started, like, eating when we first got to Houston was the crab is right there on Kirby.

[Sean]

It's a good spot.

[Seth]

We had a couple of meals there early on.

[Sean]

Yeah, it's kind of a. It's the closest thing in town that I've experienced to, like, you go there and. And there's. There's like a 60% chance you see somebody famous there. Yeah, a lot of famous people go there. Rusty Harden is there all the time. He's famous. Andre Johnson. Andre Johnson. Andre Johnson was there the other night when we took my son Sammy there for his birthday.

[Seth]

What are you putting his business out there for? Man, what was he doing? Does that do. Who's he there with? He's just put other people's business out there.

[Sean]

He's just eating. Yeah, he was just eating. I. I mean, he was. Walked through the restaurant, you know.

[Seth]

Yeah.

[Sean]

Yeah. So. So that'll be. That's where. If you win that auction, that's where you're going with us. So if you like good Italian food, good stories. Because we will tell stories that we can't tell on the radio. So, yeah, that'll. That'll be. That'll be fun. So that.

[Seth]

Tell you a story about the funniest thing that ever happened to me at Carrabba's Grill.

[Sean]

Okay.

[Seth]

When we do that. Yeah, I'll tell that story. If we. With whoever gets our. Whoever purchases that dinner. Well, I'll tell you the story. We might be sitting right near where it happened.

[Sean]

Yep. Sean, this is a text. Sean, get over the Astros going to the playoffs, dude, even if they go to the playoffs, they're going to get their asses spanked in the first round.

[Seth]

We said no Belgians allowed on that text line. I don't need some defeatist attitude from some damn Belgian. Get to take you and your stupid mayonnaise French fries on top of Belgian waffles and get off my text line with that loser Belgian attitude.

[Sean]

I don't get, like, get over them going to the playoffs, even if they go there. So I'm not supposed to root for them to go to the playoffs. Lopez did that last year. Lopez did that thing. Like, I'm not even rooting for them to go. I don't even want them to go to the playoffs. And, like, that just doesn't compute to me that I don't want my team to go to the playoffs. Yeah, I do. I think they're going to win the World Series. Texter. No. Is that how I sound? Do I sound like I think they're going to, like, go on this tear in the playoffs? No, but I. You know what I like, Seth, as someone who likes sports, you know what I like? More sports.

[Seth]

More sports. Now, this is the difference, though, too. It's that I can look and see where I'm open at this point to the Astros continuing to be a different team as the season progresses. First, they were an awful baseball team. Then they started actually playing credible baseball, and then their bullpen actually got solid and good and impressive. And there's still parts of this team where because of either injury or, well, mostly because of injury, that offensively and defensively, there's Still a lot of time for them to be a completely different team in the second half of the season than they are in the first. Yeah. Am I going to be over the moon with the playoff possibilities if they squeak into the playoffs with a.500 record? No, most likely not. But I think there's a chance that they go on a run a couple of times with Javier coming back, Blanco coming back. Was Neski, possibly, and then Pena, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera. I think that the. You might be. You might feel differently in September than you do right now when you say, okay, well, why bother? Even if they make the playoffs.

[Sean]

So Ken Rosenthal did his. His selections for the All Star team. Out of both leagues, the only Astro he has, not surprisingly, the only Astro he has making the All Star team is the only one that's probably going to make it, which is Jordan Alvarez. If you had to pit and, and I think it goes without saying, Seth, they're going to need your Don A, to be healthy and B, to be playing like this to make a run at anything. Playoffs run in the playoffs, whatever. That's. That's undebatable. You need your Don Alvarez to be your Don if you're going to. If you're going to win enough games to get to and maybe make some noise in the postseason. If you had to pick one other guy in the Astros, you get your genie has come down and given you a wish, and you can make one other Astro to play at an All Star level the rest of the season after the All Star break.

[Seth]

Who would it be? I mean, that's a little.

[Sean]

You pick one, I guess.

[Seth]

Okay, so do I go with the guy who, if he's playing at an All Star level, it's the very best? I mean, like Hunter Brown, I guess. Is he in the category?

[Sean]

Well, yeah. Yeah.

[Seth]

No, I think.

[Sean]

I think that's the interesting debate, actually. Is it someone like Jeremy Pena or is it a pitcher like Hunter Brown who only pitches every five days?

[Seth]

Yeah, I guess that's a. It's hard with Hunter Brown because we just don't even know how he's actually pitching this year necessarily.

[Sean]

Right.

[Seth]

So I guess, like, let's leave Hunter Brown out of it. Assume okay, you're going to get an All Star caliber performance out of Hunter Brown.

[Sean]

Okay. Okay.

[Seth]

I would say it might be. It might be. No, I don't want it to be e my. Because then he's definitely. I want. We're stuck in that bind now where we want Imai to look incredible the second half of the season. Which also means that there's not a chance in hell Imai is going to be here next year. That we lived through the hard part and then that he went off. I don't know.

[Sean]

Maybe he. Maybe. Maybe he doesn't want to go through an a re acclimation again at with another 10. I'm going to go to too deep down the e. My.

[Seth]

I'm going to go. I'm going to go with two. Two guys. Cam Smith.

[Sean]

Cam Smith.

[Seth]

Cam Smith.

[Sean]

Okay.

[Seth]

Because that would all. Then, then that would pretend great things for the.

[Sean]

That is. I wasn't even thinking of Cam Smith. But that is a great answer for that very reason.

[Seth]

Yeah. You didn't ask me who's been playing like close to an All Star. No, no, no.

[Sean]

Just they're going to play like an All Star. Yeah. Because that would mean that. That there's potentially we're going to get that moving forward. That is a wish for this season and beyond is what that is. Because my first thought is someone like Altuve, because I don't like as long as they tried out, Altuve is never going to be batting eighth in the lineup or anything like that. Like he's. He's going to try to Altuve out there every day. So as long as I'll Tove is going to be out there every day, then we may as well get the All Star version of Jose Altuve. That would. That I. So I thought about that one. Camp Smith's a great one. That's. That's better than any that I had in mind. Good job.

[Seth]

Set a man. He's still at a.684 OPS on the.

[Sean]

I know. And he's hit a lot of home runs lately, it feels like.

[Seth]

Yeah.

[Sean]

You know, so. Yeah.

[Seth]

Cherry pick. Cam Smith's a good one. If he keeps up the level of play that he's had in the last few games.

[Sean]

Make sure to include the game that he hit two home runs.

[Seth]

I'm going to be. I'm going to cherry pick this to the extreme, Sean.

[Sean]

Okay.

[Seth]

You don't even want to know now. I won't cherry pick to the extreme. I'll go. All right. I'm going to be try to somewhat fair and go back to June 23rd.

[Sean]

Okay. A week ago.

[Seth]

So where over the course of eight games. Oh, over the course of eight games got a.945 OPS.

[Sean]

Yeah. He's hit a bunch of home runs late.

[Seth]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Sean]

That's.

[Seth]

I mean that was with a stretch. That was with a stretch of no hits in there for a few games too.

[Sean]

Yeah, that just. Yeah, that goes to show you what kind of hole he dug for himself. Yeah, dude's at a nine something ops for the last eight or nine games. Whatever it is, he's still 685. Ay yai yai. All right, Paint and pender gas with you here on a. On a Thursday. John Lopez, Reggie Attatula are here. Gentlemen, it's great to see you. It's fantastic to see you, Reggie. You and Ron are doing the. The radio thon. That's right. And we can't wait. We just were talking to the audience about the auction item that Seth and I have. I heard y' all selling it. Honestly, it's. It's a good sell. Yeah, it really and truly is. Yeah. Yeah. The storytelling, the food, the. The environment, the atmosphere. And we're competitive. I think we. I think our auction got the most last year, if I believe it. I believe it did. So we need to defend our title. Yeah, you have to. You do. You do. Because I'm telling you, kids, man, it is. It's for the kids. We can drive some competition. 100%. I will say. I just got news now. Here's the thing. This is. We're getting in under the buzzer again. The radio thon is tomorrow. Yeah, yeah, yeah. If. If something makes the. If something makes the cut, right? If, if. If the NFL allows this Brendan Sorsby to come in on the supplemental draft. The auct. There is a really tempting auction item that'll blow y' all out the water.

[Seth]

Really.

[Sean]

Is it. Is it an item or is it experience? Experience. Okay, it's an experience. But again, I can't say that it's definitively gonna hit, but just from trending. It's trending. It's trending in the right direction.

[Seth]

Look, it is.

[Sean]

It is day to day. All right, it is questionable, but better not be many more days. Game time decision. It's daytime decision. Yeah, but it might. Look, if this comes through, I'm telling you, y' all are going to have a hard time. Is it going to be. It's going to beat me and Seth, you think? I think so. I think so. So you've got. You've got to hope against your charitable instincts that this one doesn't get in. So you. Does it involve anybody amongst the staff at the station here? It does, it does.

[Seth]

Is this some streamer that we've never heard of?

[Sean]

No, no, I can tell you that that's not the case. Did someone come in for our jobs. Yeah, maybe. Okay.

[Seth]

Those guys only make money when they get 20,000 and teenagers to spend a dollar a piece and then they make millions doing that. But for an auction item like this, I don't think their fan base is necessarily going to.

[Sean]

No, no. There's some really cool things coming. You guys were talking about baseball and I'm going to be real indelicate in doing this. Seth, you're my favorite leadoff hitter. Would you be willing to do that tomorrow and jump on with us for the first couple hours of the show?

[Seth]

Oh, yeah. Like right at 6:00am yes, sir. Oh, sure.

[Sean]

And I enjoyed that so much. Getting to like have the energy of pain and Pendergast with Seth. Yeah. Like jumping in. Yeah.

[Seth]

I mean, obviously I don't want to take over the show or anything. Oh, bud, we love it. Yeah.

[Sean]

They got 12 hours. I will not be on that early because I will be on the West Coast. Yeah. I gotta figure out. I'm still. This is the thing that's screwing with my brain today. As John saw earlier, I'm trying to fit the pieces of Sports Radio 610 into 12 hours. That makes it kind of work, flow really nicely. So I'm gonna try and figure out when we can get you on the phone. I gotta figure out like, when you're going to be kind of available. Yeah. I'm kind of driving through some wilderness on that day of the. Don't worry, it'll happen. I just don't know. I don't know what the schedule looks like. But that's. But I'll get on there, I'm sure.

[Seth]

Remember last year when I had to do the first week of training camp from Oregon because I had to be out there, that there was one day where like, I. I don't do well with the time zone and I had fallen asleep early. I Woke up at 11pm local time. And then I was up for the rest of that until. Until our show came on at 4am local time.

[Sean]

Was that the same.

[Seth]

And it was.

[Sean]

Was that the same trip where you got up like spontaneously at 5:59?

[Seth]

Yeah, my phone had died and I just woke up like, right, like three minutes before the show was supposed to start.

[Sean]

Yeah.

[Seth]

I hadn't set up the Comrex or anything. Yeah, I'm ready.

[Sean]

I'm ready. I'm sitting out there in the dark by myself. I remember this tent. Yeah. And I'm like, where's my guy? Yeah, he had it all along. He had it all along. Yeah, he had it all the way yeah. He had it all the way. You're listening to KLT AM, KLTFM HD2, Houston. An Odyssey sports Station Crosstalk brought to you by DNM Auto Leasing. Question of the day, fellas. Yeah, man. Has to do with the radio THON and the Houston Food Bank. Yeah. Which is going to hopefully get a lot of money. Thousands and thousands of monies. They fill pantries, man. So the question of the day. What are three things that are always in your pantry or refrigerator? Oh, okay. Not flour. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. But no, I mean, it could be flour. Maybe you're just real dedicated to, you know, being able to bake at any given time. Yeah.

[Seth]

The staples of our life.

[Sean]

Three things that are always in your pantry or refrigerator to the point where you lose it when you run out. If you. You lose. Okay. Because I do. Okay. You do?

[Seth]

Yeah.

[Sean]

Okay.

[Seth]

Where's no more sandwich?

[Sean]

And then I walk across the street to Whole Foods and I pay way too much. That's right. For whatever it is. Mine would be Ritz crackers. Oh, the sleeves of. You're a Ritz guy. Well, I'm a Ritz and pimento cheese guy. I like dipping in pimento cheese. So I'll have that. I'll have that as. I'll have that as one. Yeah. Pimento cheese with Ritz crackers. That's right. That's right. The only way it gets fancier is if you put them on a cloth. It's not the box where they're all just tossed in there and jumbled. It's this. It's the individual sleeves. Portion control.

[Seth]

Yes.

[Sean]

Right.

[Seth]

Yes.

[Sean]

So that's collectively number one. Number two, tortillas. I love to just. Sometime as a snack, just grab a tortilla, sprinkle a little cheddar cheese on it, put it in the microwave and just. Have you ever had just a tortilla and butter? Yes. I love that, too. It's delicious. Delicious. Delicious. Now I see why you got taqueria. The other thing. The other thing. Chick Fil? A sauce.

[Seth]

Really? I put.

[Sean]

See, this is why I love this question. I put Chick Fil? A sauce on everything. That's awesome. Everything.

[Seth]

Yes.

[Sean]

Yes.

[Seth]

That is awesome.

[Sean]

Yeah. So those are my three.

[Seth]

Mine's boring. I'll go to the pantry. I've always got tuna fish in there.

[Sean]

That's good.

[Seth]

That's quality. Brain damage already. I figure the more mercury, the better.

[Sean]

Yeah, yeah.

[Seth]

And just really go with it. Then in the fridge, Mandarin oranges. All right. Okay.

[Sean]

That's good.

[Seth]

Call. If I don't But I can eat a bag. You know, it's a healthy snack until you eat the whole bag of them. And so I try to limit myself there and then just Greek yogurt.

[Sean]

You eat Greek yogurt all the time?

[Seth]

Yeah, it just keeps me from. It just sits in your belly for days. You don't get hungry after you have a couple of. This is the key, though. You gotta force yourself to eat it unsweetened. Because I'll have. If I have two. If I have. If I have a couple of servings of Greek yogurt unsweetened. Yeah, I just. I'm not hungry again for a long time. If I put any kind of sweetener in it, I'll have two tubs of Greek yogurt, and I want to go eat a pizza.

[Sean]

Nothing like I like more in my fridge than paste. Yes.

[Seth]

Yeah.

[Sean]

Greek yogurt with no sweetener. Not even, like, agave or something healthy like that.

[Seth]

I'll do it. It just. It triggers me, man.

[Sean]

Any kind of.

[Seth]

Any kind of sweetness, any kind of sweetener, artificial or regular or anything, it just. It triggers my appetite.

[Sean]

What's. What. What would be bad about eating so many mandarin oranges? Is it the sugar? Is it the. The fruity sugar?

[Seth]

I mean, it's just the. The overall total calories. Like, there's no. There's no food that's so healthy that you should eat way more of it than you should.

[Sean]

Is it fact or fiction that you actually burn calories eating celery? Is that true? Like, you actually. You. You have a positive calorie effect. I've heard that there's so. It's so few calories and the energy.

[Seth]

There's a net calorie. That's what I've heard.

[Sean]

I've heard.

[Seth]

Not.

[Sean]

Not like, that's my workout for the day type thing.

[Seth]

Like, what are you gonna do?

[Sean]

We should push this to the limit in the extreme and see if that'll work. You know what a real workout is? Get on the elliptical while eating some celery. That's really gonna accelerate the burn. I tells you, I think I'm in full radio thon mode because my brain was like, I want to put this to a test. I want to, like, just spend 12 hours eating celery. Yeah, yeah, yeah. If I weigh myself on the beginning, on the front side and the backside, what it looks like? Well, yeah.

[Seth]

To answer your question about the oranges, I did the. I did calculate the glycemic load on how many oranges I just eaten once. And it was definitely unhealthy.

[Sean]

Yeah, that's what I was just curious.

[Seth]

People love to say. People are so stupid. They'll love to say, like, well, it's almost impossible to overeat fruits and vegetables, but because of the fiber, I'm like, you've. You've never seen me eat. Hello, my name.

[Sean]

My name is Seth. My name is Seth.

[Seth]

Yeah, there's just. You don't understand. Yeah.

[Sean]

Yep, Yep. All right, fellas. Yeah, well, let's. You're literally getting on the road right now. We'll go into the airport in, like, four hours. Nice. Okay. Yeah, yeah. Are we still getting an omelette? No, don't have time. Yeah, I still got a pack. Still got a pack. So tortilla it is, then. Tortilla. Yeah, tortilla with some cheese on it. And I got to get a little workout in before then. I may just eat some celery if I'm being. Yeah, that's a good point. There we go. Yeah. So flying up to Oregon, headed to a lake in Idaho and a lake in Montana. All right. Yeah, should be good. And that crosses off those states for Amy. And how many would you. She's down. She's down to Alaska. I've been at Alaska for 20 years. I've been to all the other states. We've been chipping them off for her with our summer trips every year. Those are her la. These are her last three continental US States. So we have Hawaii and Alaska. And then are we. Are we spreading the territories after that? I don't know. Something. Yeah, yeah. She's gonna agitate for a trip to Europe, guaranteed, because that's where we were supposed to go for our honeymoon. Oh, yeah. But we got coveted. We got married the week of Puerto Rico. I happily go to Puerto Rico. Yeah. Yeah. All right, fellas, have a great show. Thanks, buddy. Have a great radio. Thon tomorrow I will get with you on when I'll be checking in.

[Seth]

Yes, sir.

[Sean]

With you guys. So looking forward to that, Seth. Antibodies to you, my friend.

[Seth]

Antibodies. And just so you don't overeat and get fat on celery. Yeah, it's the. It's a myth that it. Celery a negative calorie food. Yeah.

[Sean]

What if I put peanut butter on it?

[Seth]

More fiber.

[Sean]

Does that help?

[Seth]

Impossible to overeat.

[Sean]

That's right.

[Seth]

Tubs of peanut butter.

[Sean]

Good snack. Love that fiber. Yeah. All right, well, listen, everybody, have a great week.

[Seth]

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[Sean]

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[Seth]

Nice.

[Sean]

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[Seth]

using a Venmo debit card.

[Sean]

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[Seth]

More. Exactly. Because the more you do with Venmo, the more you get.

[Sean]

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[Seth]

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[Sean]

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[Seth]

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[Sean]

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[Seth]

by the Bancorp Bank NA for years, gone south has been a podcast about crime in the American South. But for our new season, we're widening the lens.

[Sean]

Through deeply reported, narrative driven stories, we're

[Seth]

digging into the myths, scandals and power structures that still shape the south and

[Sean]

in a lot of ways, the country itself.

[Seth]

Follow and listen to gone South Season 5 An Odyssey podcast, available now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your shows. Having the right people in your corner for life's biggest milestones makes all the difference. Like a friend who's there when you're house hunting or checking out a new ride, State Farm is there too, helping you choose the coverage you need. With a State Farm agent, you know someone is there to help you along the way. And with so many coverage options, it's nice knowing you have help choosing a plan that fits your needs so you can continue celebrating all of life's milestones. Head to statefarm.com to get a quote. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.