We are now getting players 50 and 49 in the NFL TOP 100 today – CJ ain’t making it, is he?

Summary

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Payne & Pendergast: “We are now getting players 50 and 49 in the NFL TOP 100 today – CJ ain’t making it, is he?”

Date: July 27, 2026
Hosts: Sean Pendergast & Brandon Scott (in for Seth Payne)
Podcast: Payne & Pendergast (Audacy / SportsRadio 610)

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Episode Overview

This episode centers on Houston sports personalities debating the ongoing reveal of the NFL Top 100 list, focusing especially on CJ Stroud's absence from the list and what it signifies for the Texans' quarterback. The hosts display their trademark blend of sharp analysis and banter, diving into Houston’s representation (or lack thereof) across the NFL, MLB, and NBA, and finishing up with a nostalgic discussion about Hall of Fame inductions and former Astros pitchers. The tone is passionate, humorous, and unmistakably “H-Town.”

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. DeAndre Hopkins, Mike Vrabel & The NFL's “Patriot Pipeline”

• [00:28] The show picks up with a discussion on DeAndre Hopkins possibly returning to Houston, debating whether his quickest path back could be through connections with Patriots staff.
• Memorable Quote:
  • “Wouldn't the quickest way back to Houston be to get on the Patriots coaching staff? Lotta Patriot ties on the Texans staff.” (B. Scott, 00:28)
• Hosts recall Hopkins carrying a small dog in his Gucci bag on Hard Knocks, joking about the evolution of an NFL career.

2. NFL Top 100 List: Texans Edition & Quarterback Drama

• [02:08]–[13:04]
  • Major topic: NFL Top 100 list has reached player #50 (Derwin James), with hosts noting the intrigue of Texans’ rankings.
  • Nico Collins (Texans WR) is the highest Houston offensive rep at #58; CJ Stroud hasn’t made the cut with only 50 spots left.
  • CJ Stroud’s Absence:
    • [03:23] Sean: “After that, I kind of wipe my hands at that point. I don’t think he’s going to make the list, man.”
    • Trevor Lawrence, Bo Nix, Jalen Hurts, etc., all receive higher placements—surprising, perhaps, but explained as a result of injuries, narratives, or list subjectivities.

Notable Quarterback Rankings Discussed

• Bryce Young (#98)
• Brock Purdy (#85)
• Baker Mayfield (#77)
• Jordan Love (#72)
• Lamar Jackson (#69, considered shockingly low)
• Trevor Lawrence (#62)
• Bo Nix (#59) (over Stroud, a particular stinger)
• Jalen Hurts (#56)
• Caleb Williams (#51)

[05:27] Sean: "If I'm CJ Stroud, I'm throwing my drink at Bryce Young for the obvious reasons... But the Bo Nix one would, I think, offend me."

[07:17] Brandon Scott:

• “If Bryce Young is 98 and CJ cares about this, I think his reaction is relief. Like, if Bryce made it, then I’m definitely in the top 100… Whereas Bo Nix, him being in it at all with CJ not in it—him being 59th, that gets me upset.”

The Outrage Section

• **Hosts call out the “outrage” of Bo Nix and Trevor Lawrence ranking above Stroud and even over Lamar Jackson, framing it as a motivation for CJ Stroud to have a “petty year”—using omission as fuel.
• [07:21] Sean: “Just flat-out, full stop... this is an outrage.”

3. Texans’ Defense and NFL 100 Saturation

• [07:37] – [09:39]
  • Kaylen Bullock and Jalen Pitre are unlikely to make the list; Derwin James’s inclusion closes the door for most Texans defenders this year, though Will Anderson and Derek Stingley are expected higher.
  • [09:10] Sean: “They might (have 5 top-tier defenders), but... voter fatigue. I could see that.”
  • Subjective nature of the ballot comes up—players are asked for their top 20, not a full 100, lending itself to inconsistencies and “too many good players” syndrome.

Prediction for Top Texans Remainings:

• Will Anderson
• Derek Stingley
• Danielle Hunter

4. Quarterback Hierarchies and Youth Movement

• [10:08] – [14:07]
  • List of QBs still to be revealed: Josh Allen, Drake Maye, Joe Burrow, Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert, Dak Prescott, Jaden Daniels, Jared Goff, Matthew Stafford, Sam Darnold.
  • The hosts boggle at the inclusion of potentially 19 QBs in the list, with CJ Stroud nowhere to be found.
  • Memorable Quote:
    • “If you’d told me there’d be 19 QBs on here and CJ’s not one, I’d have thought he’d be about 13th among them…” (Brandon, 12:30)
    • “Bo Nix was the one I didn’t mention who comes after CJ Stroud, but there you go.” (Sean, 12:59)
  • Question raised: Which is a bigger snub—Stroud or Jaden Daniels? Consensus: Jaden Daniels, given rookie season impact.

5. Hall of Fame Talk – Houston Athletes & Fan Pilgrimages

• [17:36] – [29:40]
  • With Jeff Kent and Carlos Beltran entering the Baseball Hall of Fame, hosts discuss which future Houston inductees are true must-see events for fans.
  • “Non-negotiable, must-go” pilgrimages: Jose Altuve, J.J. Watt.
  • Serious considerations: Justin Verlander, Danielle Hunter.
  • “If I’m in the area…”: DeAndre Hopkins, Zach Greinke, James Harden, Chris Paul, Honey Badger (Tyrann Mathieu), Kevin Durant.
  • Harden is debated—legendary, but legacy is complicated by style, playoff exits, and how he forced his way out.
    • [25:38] Sean: “James Harden should be on the Altuve-Watt level... but it’s his own fault.”
  • “No effing way” bucket: Garrett Cole, Russell Westbrook, possibly Framber Valdez (if he gets there).
  • Early “if it happens” commits: Will Anderson Jr., Jordan Alvarez among current stars on Hall of Fame trajectories.

6. Astros Present & Nostalgia: Playoff Race, Old Friends, and Roster Moves

• [31:19] – [46:42]
  • Astros sit at 52-55, only two games out of the wild card. Are the hosts optimistic about their playoff chances?
    • Resigned optimism: The American League is underwhelming, so an average Astros team can still hang around.
    • [34:27] Sean: “They do suck... But what we’re trying to articulate is they don’t suck the most out of all the sucky teams.”
  • Argument over buying versus selling at the trade deadline, given the state of the front office and Jim Crane’s influence.
    • Skepticism about Dana Brown’s agency (potentially making short-term moves for job security).
• Nostalgia watch:
  • Lance McCullers DFA’d by the Brewers after just two appearances; Dallas Keuchel signs with the A’s minor league club.
  • Both were Astros All-Stars in 2017; now both are clinging to the last embers of MLB careers.
  • Keuchel’s career earnings and motivations (love of the game) discussed.
    • [44:23] Brandon: “It’s a little over $100 million... Higher than I thought.”
    • [45:22] Reggie Atatula: (On why athletes can’t quit) “Their biology is different, and they need this.”

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• On CJ Stroud’s Omission:
  • “Bo Nix, that’s the one for me... Bo Nix over CJ Stroud, that’s the one. Bo Nix over Lamar Jackson, everything you just laid out, that’s gotta be it.” (Sean, 07:33)
• On Voter Fatigue:
  • “Do the Texans really have five of the best players in football on their defense? I could definitely see that.” (Brandon, 08:38)
• On James Harden and Houston’s complicated relationship:
  • “James Harden should be one of those guys... should be Altuve-Watt level. But it’s his own fault.” (Sean, 25:38)
• On Astros’ Playoff Aspirations:
  • “They do suck... but what we’re trying to articulate is they don’t suck the most out of all the sucky teams.” (Sean, 34:27)
• On the concept of sports nostalgia:
  • “Sean’s another type of junkie. Sean’s a nostalgia junkie. Just give me more, these hits.” (Reggie, 46:36)
  • “I’m the guy that wants the Undertaker in Wrestlemania every year. He can’t walk anymore!” (Sean, 46:41)

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Important Timestamps

• 00:28–02:08 – Hopkins, Vrabel, and Texans’ coaching connections
• 02:08–04:51 – NFL Top 100, Texans on the list, and general anticipation/frustration
• 05:27–07:37 – CJ Stroud snub outrage and breakdown of other QBs
• 07:37–09:39 – Closing the book for secondary Texans; Will Anderson’s prospects
• 10:08–14:07 – Discussing which QBs are still unlisted; where does Stroud fit historically?
• 17:36–29:40 – Hall of Fame talk, Houston athletes, and emotional “must-go” trips
• 31:19–36:33 – Astros’ playoff odds and AL standings; trade deadline strategies
• 41:19–46:42 – Lance McCullers and Dallas Keuchel nostalgia, old stars’ twilight, addiction to athletic competition

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Episode Takeaways

• The NFL Top 100 list remains a consistent content-driver (and source of fan/player irritation), especially as it snubs hometown favorites like CJ Stroud in favor of “less deserving” QBs.
• Texans are now considered almost “victims of their own success” on defense—too many good options, causing voter fatigue for top-100 lists.
• The hosts blend sports analysis with storytelling and cultural observations—including sharp takes on Hall of Fame fan priorities, what makes a player revered in Houston, and the sometimes accidental comedy of aging sports legends refusing to walk away.
• The Astros, despite mediocrity, remain within punching distance of the playoffs simply because the league itself is in a funk.
• The power of sports nostalgia—whether it be for Hall of Fame players or washed-up former All-Stars—remains a core part of Houston sports culture.

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Transcript

[Sean Pendergast]

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[Brandon Scott]

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[Sean Pendergast]

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[Brandon Scott]

Berry Blast with berry flavors and cold foam.

[Sean Pendergast]

Who knew ice cold drinks could be so fire six? All new drinks are here now at McDonald's.

[Brandon Scott]

Refreshers contain caffeine. Sports Radio 610 presents Payne and Pendergast. Someone brings up a good point on the text page. We were talking earlier about Mike vrabel talking about DeAndre Hopkins looking at possibly coaching, maybe coaching for the Patriots. Someone brought up a good point. Cause DeAndre still lives here in Houston. And I think would, you know, pretty much everybody who's. I think everybody who was involved in moving DeAndre out of here is out of the building. You know, maybe he, you know, some sort of reunion with the Texans. I don't know how the Texans feel about that, but someone says didn't Dion Hopkins wouldn't the quickest way back to Houston to be get it on the Patriots coaching staff? That's pretty good. That is a lot of Patriot ties on the coaching staff. Texans. Indeed. Indeed.

[Sean Pendergast]

Fair enough.

[Brandon Scott]

Someone also brings up this point about DeAndre Hopkins. This goes back to Rabel holding that dog under his arm at the press conference. And I joke that maybe it's a support dog. And if Rabel has to do drills and hand his support dog to somebody, then maybe that would be Hopkins job is he's hold my dog guy.

[Sean Pendergast]

Yeah.

[Brandon Scott]

Rabel puts that linebacker vest on and, you know, starts doing the hands drills and things like that. Someone points out DeAndre used to carry a little dog in his little Gucci bag.

[Sean Pendergast]

I remember that.

[Brandon Scott]

That was on Hard Knocks, Right?

[Sean Pendergast]

I remember.

[Brandon Scott]

Yeah. He talked about wanting to have that. I think.

[Sean Pendergast]

Yeah. I can remember him being like big guy, small dog.

[Brandon Scott]

Yeah.

[Sean Pendergast]

Tandem sort of thing. So this. This would be on brand, albeit a fall from grace, going from catching passes, the holding little small dogs on the sideline. But get it how you live, as they say.

[Brandon Scott]

That's right. So we are halfway through the top 100. The NFL top 100. We're halfway through. And in fact, they probably just revealed player 50 moments ago. I got to look.

[Sean Pendergast]

Yeah.

[Brandon Scott]

Player 50. There it is. Derwin James. Okay, so now. Okay, this. So this is starting to get interesting. Derwin James was just named the 50th best player.

[Sean Pendergast]

Yeah. So this is. This is getting interesting because I think. I mean, it's all. It's almost getting less interesting. Because.

[Brandon Scott]

Do you like. Sorry? Do you like the NFL top 100?

[Sean Pendergast]

I think it's cool. Yeah, I think it's cool.

[Brandon Scott]

Like, Seth's not a big fan of it. I think I've made him come around on it a little bit.

[Sean Pendergast]

I'm not a big fan of the rollout.

[Brandon Scott]

Yeah.

[Sean Pendergast]

Like, I don't need. I'm not that desperate for it where I need the anticipation, but.

[Brandon Scott]

Two per day.

[Sean Pendergast]

Two per day. But I do like. And you. I think you and I are similar in this way. Team content.

[Brandon Scott]

Oh, yeah.

[Sean Pendergast]

Like, since I am a content creator and radio, whatever. Like, I appreciate it from that standpoint. If I wasn't that I would roll my eyes at it a little bit more. But, I mean, if Derwin James is on this list and. And CJ Stroud has not made it, I don't think we can objectively call CJ Stroud better than Derwin James. And I'll even go further than that. Once I saw Nico Collins make this list. Nico Collins is the best offensive player

[Brandon Scott]

that the Texans have, 58th on the list.

[Sean Pendergast]

So after that, I kind of wipe my hands at that point. I don't think he's going to make the list, man.

[Brandon Scott]

I thought for about a couple of weeks now that when Lamar Jackson showed up at 69, that was it, too. I'm like, CJ's cooked. He's not making it. And then. And then Trevor Lawrence pops up at 62. Bo Nix pops up, pops up at 59. Jalen Hurts at 56 is 1. I just. Jalen Hurts is a tough one to wrap your head around because by certain criteria, Jalen Hurts is getting screwed at 56. And by other criteria, Jalen Hurts should be happy to be 56.

[Sean Pendergast]

Yeah. You know, I think that's a great

[Brandon Scott]

way to put it. He's a weird one.

[Sean Pendergast]

Yeah, it's a great way to put it.

[Brandon Scott]

Caleb Williams at 51, the very guy that CJ was perceived to have big broed after that Sunday Night Football game,

[Sean Pendergast]

told him to stop taking all them hits.

[Brandon Scott]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Don't worry about the turnovers. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So let me ask you this. These are the nine quarterback names that have been announced with no CJ Stroud. Which one? If CJ is paying close attention to the top 100, which I would say, CJ, do it. Pay close attention to it so that the petty side of you can be channeled properly and you can stick it in the crawl of all these peers of yours that decided not to vote for you for the top one. Hundred. And let's have that old C.J. walk through the door. Of these nine names, which one do you think if you were C.J. stroud? B. Scott. I think it's probably pretty obvious. So we may go one or two names here.

[Sean Pendergast]

Yeah.

[Brandon Scott]

But of these names, and I'll Count up from 98 where Bryce Young is. Bryce Young at 98. Brock Purdy at 85. Baker Mayfield is 77. These, again, these are all the rankings in the NFL top 100. Jordan Love, 72. Lamar Jackson, 69, which I just don't get. Trevor Lawrence, 62. Bo Nicks, 59. Jalen Hurts, 56. Caleb Williams, 50. One of those players. Which one do you think C.J. was most likely to take his drink and throw it at his computer when he saw it?

[Sean Pendergast]

It's got to be Bryce Young, and then it's got to be Bo Nicks. Like some. Some combination of those two guys. Yeah, I like. I don't see the. The Lamar Jackson thing is explained simply because of, I think his injuries last year. He's way better than that. But like Bryce Young making this list and CJ Stroud being omitted, Bo Nicks, look, he showed a lot last year, proved me wrong in a lot of ways. That is not a more talented quarterback than CJ Stroud. I refuse to believe it under any context or circumstance at all. That ain't it. So if, like, if I'm C.J. stroud, I'm throwing my drink at Bryce Young for the obvious reasons. They're boys. They were drafted right. Right next to each other.

[Brandon Scott]

Yeah.

[Sean Pendergast]

But the boat. Knicks, one would, I think, offend me.

[Brandon Scott]

Here's. Here's why I think it's Bo Nix again. I'm talking about him throwing his drink at his computer when he sees the reveal.

[Sean Pendergast]

Yeah.

[Brandon Scott]

If I had to guess, C.J. stroud seeing Bryce Young is 98. If he. If he cared. If he cared enough about this. And again, I'm saying, somewhat tongue in cheek, that I hope he cares deeply about this. That's the matter is a lot of the players care about this. My guess is his reaction when he saw Bryce Young at 98 was relief. Like, oh, I definitely made it. I def. You know, like, if Bryce made it at 98, then I'm definitely in the top 100. Yeah, I don't think his. I don't think his reaction in the moment at all would have been like, damn it, I didn't make it. Bryce Young did. Whereas Bo Nix. That's the one that I even said that I had that in the Rundown. Bo Nix got revealed a day that Seth was in here. And I remember saying to Seth, I'm like, man, you. He had just. Seth had just heard me the day before kind of saying how much I love this, but I don't get emotionally worked up about it. I just enjoy anything. That's a power ranking for me. I like numbers. Bo Nicks got me upset. I'm like, I cannot believe, like, him being in it at all with CJ not in it, but him being 59th.

[Sean Pendergast]

You're right. You're right.

[Brandon Scott]

Mars 69. And Bo Nix is 59. What the hell? And CJ's not in here at all. Yeah.

[Sean Pendergast]

Hell's going on, plain and simple. You're correct. Like, this is an outrage.

[Brandon Scott]

Like, just an outrage.

[Sean Pendergast]

Just flat out, full stop. Yeah, this is an outrage.

[Brandon Scott]

Yeah, man.

[Sean Pendergast]

Bo nicks over C.J. stroud.

[Brandon Scott]

That's the one for me, Bo.

[Sean Pendergast]

Knicks over Lamar Jackson, everything. You just laid out that that's got to be it.

[Brandon Scott]

So we're at 50 now. Derwin James just got revealed at 50, which I'm going to close the book on two other Texans who I thought might make it. I thought Kaylen Bullock had a shot,

[Sean Pendergast]

but he's not making it ahead of Derwin.

[Brandon Scott]

I thought. I thought the book is kind of closed on Bullock and Jalen Petrie. I'll throw in there as well. Petrie is actually almost more of a doppelganger for Derwin James because they play similar roles on the team.

[Sean Pendergast]

Yeah.

[Brandon Scott]

So I don't. I think we can cross off Bullock and Petrie for good because they play the same position. I had crossed them off a couple of weeks ago, but, like, now it's like, okay, like, Kevin Bayard was 61. I'm like, all right. I could see maybe one of them being viewed as better than Kevin Bayard. Now I think the book is closed.

[Sean Pendergast]

How much do you think. Before you move on, how much do you think that the Texans are, like, it's oversaturated, like, they're a prisoner of their own success. There's too many guys. The conversation we were having earlier about the best secondary in the league, like, I wonder if. And then Derek Stingley, of course, is the best of them all.

[Brandon Scott]

Yeah.

[Sean Pendergast]

Yeah. I wonder how much they're hurting their own value here. Their own individual value.

[Brandon Scott]

Yeah. Because the way.

[Sean Pendergast]

Because they're so good collectively.

[Brandon Scott]

Because the way the voting is done is at least reportedly, you know, we'll see. You know, it's not like you've got, you know, some accounting Firm overseeing them, counting the ballots. I'm guessing, I'm guessing it's. I'm guessing the ballots give them some sort of guidance and then they use some subjectivity. That said, the way that the players vote is just to list the 20 who they think the 20 best players in football are. And I could totally see that where they're like, look, we've already got Will Anderson and Stingley in here. What am I going to have? Do the Texans really have five of the best players in football on their defense? I could definitely see that.

[Sean Pendergast]

And they might, but like, you know, voter fatigue of some form of it. Yeah, I could see that.

[Brandon Scott]

So these are the quarterback. So I think the book is closed on Petrie and Bullock. I think the book is closed on Lassiter. I think he would have been announced by now. That said, I think Stingley and Hunter and Anderson are all going to make it. And I think we're probably like a couple weeks away from hearing any of their names. They were all in the top 25. Well, Will was like 46, but Will might be top 10 this year.

[Sean Pendergast]

Yeah, I mean, he's the second. He's no worse than the third or fourth best defensive player in football. Probably the second.

[Brandon Scott]

Yes.

[Sean Pendergast]

So, yeah, I mean, he's right there with the Miles Garrett, Micah Parsons conversation. Like he's not. He's not on his way there.

[Brandon Scott]

Right.

[Sean Pendergast]

He is there now.

[Brandon Scott]

Yes.

[Sean Pendergast]

So. Yeah.

[Brandon Scott]

So. So back to the quarterbacks. These are the guys I still think have not been announced yet who are going to make it. Tell me if I get to a name where you don't think they're in the top 50 players.

[Sean Pendergast]

Okay.

[Brandon Scott]

Josh Allen, Drake May, Joe Burrow, Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert, Dak Prescott, Jaden Daniels. He was like top 20 last year.

[Sean Pendergast]

Yeah. And he had that injury riddled season,

[Brandon Scott]

so only played seven games.

[Sean Pendergast]

I mean, he and Burrow also, I mean, they missed time, but everybody knows gonna make it. Oh, he's got. He's and he's. As he should.

[Brandon Scott]

Yeah. Burrow's gonna make it.

[Sean Pendergast]

I think Jaden Daniels is gonna make it too.

[Brandon Scott]

I do too.

[Sean Pendergast]

Oddly enough. And I know he had that, you know, injury riddled season, but when he plays, he's kind of undeniable.

[Brandon Scott]

And he's gonna be in the top 50. He's gonna be. Because they just announced they're. He's gonna be in the top 49. Dude.

[Sean Pendergast]

Yeah. How do you feel if you're C.J. stroud? I mean, I'm looking at these names. You haven't even gotten through all of them.

[Brandon Scott]

I'll do the rest of the names. Yeah, go ahead. Jared Goff, Matthew Stafford, who might be number one. And then Sam Darnold, who gets real interesting. I like, there's no way Sam Darnold is behind some of these guys, and yet they're getting to a part of the top 100 here where I'm like, got Sam Darnold, you know, 40th, really, like, he's good, but like the 40th best player. But he is the quarterback for the defending super bowl champs.

[Sean Pendergast]

Yeah. I don't know if you're allowed to have a list I don't like. Context be damned. I don't feel like you're allowed to have a quarterback list where Sam Donald appears ahead of Lamar Jackson. I don't care how many games he missed. I don't care if he missed all games.

[Brandon Scott]

Buckle up, Buttercup here.

[Sean Pendergast]

Absurd. Yeah. What are we doing? I mean, it might. You're right. It could happen. It looks like it might happen. Okay, but that's crazy.

[Brandon Scott]

So you had thoughts on Jaden Daniels before we did the rest of the list?

[Sean Pendergast]

No, I just think that not just Jaden Daniels, but I keep going back to this. All of these young quarterbacks. All of these quarterbacks, and C.J. stroud himself is a young quarterback. Yeah. But all of these guys that have come behind him that we feel like are going to surpass him on this list. Talking about Caleb Williams, Drake May. Right. Jaden Daniels. I mean, like, that's a.

[Brandon Scott]

If you agree that all 10 of those names I just read are still yet to be revealed. There's nine that have been revealed already. That's 19 quarterbacks. If you had told me before this thing started getting revealed that a player vote. A player vote for the top 100 players would have 19 quarterbacks on it, and C.J. stroud was not going to be one of them.

[Sean Pendergast]

If I had told you that, win.

[Brandon Scott]

If you had told me that before they revealed the very first player.

[Sean Pendergast]

Okay, okay.

[Brandon Scott]

If you told me that before they revealed player number 100, whoever that was, I think it was Quentin Nelson. If you had told me before they revealed that that there's going to be 19 quarterbacks in here, I would have said, all right, well, CJ's probably, like 13th among them. Which would have put him, like, in the 70s somewhere.

[Sean Pendergast]

Yeah.

[Brandon Scott]

You know, would have put him, like. It would have put him like around where Trevor Lawrence is at 62. The ones as a Texan fan, that might be Bo Nix. Bo Nix offends me as a football watcher.

[Sean Pendergast]

Bo Nix was the one I didn't mention who comes after C.J. stroud, but there you go. Yeah, yeah, there you go.

[Brandon Scott]

Trevor Lawrence might be the one as a Texan fan that irritates me the most that he's in there and CJ Stroud isn't. And I know Trevor Lawrence had a better season last year. He was an MVP finalist. I get that. I, I just need to wait and see on Trevor Lawrence before he's had two really good halves of seasons in his five year career. Yeah, that's what he's had. That's why they've been picking so high in most seasons when Trevor Lawrence has been the quarterback of their football team.

[Sean Pendergast]

After the first two seasons of C.J. stroud's time in the league, I felt pretty comfortable saying that Houston, the Texans had the best quarterback in the AFC South. I still feel pretty comfortable with that. Even if I have to acknowledge that year three for C.J. stroud is advantage Trevor Lawrence. But it does put you put into perspective of where you are right now. I mean again after the rookie year, I've got C.J. stroud top seven, top eight in his position. Yeah. You know, just, just based off of that gear alone. Okay, here's one and we're way past that now.

[Brandon Scott]

What if, if Jaden Daniels is omitted, what's the more, what's the more startling omission? C.J. stroud or Jaden Daniels? If he's omitted from the top 100,

[Sean Pendergast]

the more startling omission would be Jaden Daniels. I think, I think so. Yeah. I mean he was, he was really good. Obviously he was amazing his rookie year and just up and down in and out of the lineup last year, but still amazing when he played.

[Brandon Scott]

This list is not just performance last season. Otherwise Jaden Daniels wouldn't be on the list.

[Sean Pendergast]

Right.

[Brandon Scott]

It's. We know this firsthand here. J.J. watt still made the NFL top 100 after the seasons where he hurt his back and after the season where

[Reggie Atatula]

he

[Brandon Scott]

tore his or broke his tibial plateau. Yeah, yeah, yeah, he was in the top one. He was like 35 the year after he played three games and he was like in the 80s the year after the, the leg. So, so they, for great players, they account for injury.

[Sean Pendergast]

Yeah, it's the, it's the reason why Lamar Jackson is in the 60s and not in the 20s. Yeah, right. It's just because he was injured. But nobody is like fooled themselves into thinking that Lamar Jackson belongs. Can't play anymore.

[Brandon Scott]

Yep.

[Sean Pendergast]

Yeah. That's not happening.

[Brandon Scott]

A few people texting in. Yeah. There's breaking news. We don't have all the details yet, but yeah, Eric B. Enemy, the once again offensive coordinator, right. For the Kansas City Chiefs. Yeah.

[Sean Pendergast]

He's going to be returning in his first year back as their offensive coordinator this year. I think he was with the Bears the last couple of years.

[Brandon Scott]

If I'm not mistaken, he spent a little time at ucla. He's. Yeah. So he's, he's been, he's been out of the offensive coordinator role in the NFL for a while, but he's back to the place where he was an offensive coordinator for some super bowl teams. His wife was shot at their home in Virginia on Sunday. Now it sounds like the Enemy is in Missouri at Chiefs training camp. So you know is because that's the first question I think people ask was it a domestic dispute of some sort of. So we don't have all the details on it. We'll find the articles during the break. But yeah, that's some scary news.

[Sean Pendergast]

Yeah. Nate Taylor from the ESPN saying that Eric B. Enemy was with the Chiefs earlier Sunday. Earlier Sunday in St. Joseph, Missouri at the campus of their training camp. So that leads you to believe that that's where he was when all of this happened. But what a very scary thing to happen. And all thoughts and prayers and all of those things with the B. Enemy family.

[Brandon Scott]

No doubt. No doubt. All right, Brandon Scott in for Seth Payne as we roll on here in the 9 o' clock hour. All right. We had a couple players going to the Baseball hall of Fame with Astro ties this weekend. I am curious if anybody watched did we see Astro fans up there supporting Carlos Beltran and Jeff Kent? My question though, B. Scott, is this of the future hall of Famers in this town which ones are non negotiable must go pilgrimages to Canton or Cooperstown or Springfield?

[Sean Pendergast]

Springfield.

[Brandon Scott]

Yeah, we'll do that. I've got two at least we'll do those. Sports Radio 610 presents live from the West Point Lincoln and West Point Lincoln of Sugarland Studios. Here's Pain and Pendergast. Hi, good to be with you on a Monday. Hope you had a great weekend. Sean Pendergast, Brandon Scott in for Seth Payne. Seth will be back on Wednesday which just so happens to also be the first day of Texans training camp. I think the fellas are all back in the building tomorrow and then practice first practices on is on Wednesday.

[Sean Pendergast]

Yeah, man, it'll be all hands on deck coming Wednesday, man. The team the The Texans actual team, our radio team. It's going to be lit. Yep.

[Brandon Scott]

Gonna be great. And just keep it tuned here to Sports Radio 6 10. And then, like, halfway through training camp, all of a sudden, poof. We'll be 95. 7 the fan. So we got some exciting times coming up here.

[Sean Pendergast]

Yeah.

[Brandon Scott]

If you missed it, if you're on vacation last week, we should probably talk about it almost every segment. But you probably hear the promos running. We are moving to an FM stick, as they say. 95. 7 the fan station will still run on 6 10. It'll be 6. 10 the fan over here. But we still get texts from people like, is 610 still going to be around? Because people, they like nostalgia. Some of them. Some of them enjoy nostalgia and may have a fetish for light static.

[Sean Pendergast]

Yeah.

[Brandon Scott]

Might turn them on. Yeah.

[Sean Pendergast]

But to each their own. To each their own. I will say, though, this is not quite like. Like, you know, Sean, some people who still like to listen to their music on a record player.

[Brandon Scott]

Yeah.

[Sean Pendergast]

But that's a little comeback. But that's a little bit different. Like, there is a charm in the different sound on the record player.

[Brandon Scott]

Someone say the record's better. Yeah.

[Sean Pendergast]

That's much different from the AM vs FM dial, but it reminds me of the same type of feel. Like, I remember back when it used to sound like this.

[Brandon Scott]

Yes.

[Sean Pendergast]

Versus how it sounds now.

[Brandon Scott]

We can all agree the worst was cassette tapes.

[Sean Pendergast]

Yes.

[Brandon Scott]

That was the worst sounding of all of them. They were just more portable, that's all.

[Sean Pendergast]

Not just the worst sounding, but could also make the most of a mess. Like, the biggest mess. If you were to. If the tape was to.

[Brandon Scott]

Tape got stuck.

[Sean Pendergast]

Oh, my God. So glad we're past that.

[Brandon Scott]

Bad times.

[Sean Pendergast]

Yeah.

[Brandon Scott]

All right, so Jeff Kent and Carlos Beltran went into the Baseball hall of Fame this weekend. Definite ties to the Astros. I don't know which cap each of them is wearing or, you know, which cap is going to be on their plaque for. I didn't bother to look up, I would think. I think Jeff Kent, to me, is most associated Giant. He's a giant.

[Sean Pendergast]

Yeah.

[Brandon Scott]

Him and Barry Bonds. Yeah. Yeah.

[Sean Pendergast]

That's a giant.

[Brandon Scott]

He's a giant. Carlos Beltran is an interesting one because he rose to prominence as a Kansas City royal.

[Sean Pendergast]

Yeah.

[Brandon Scott]

And. But he was probably the best version of himself as a New York met.

[Sean Pendergast]

Yeah. He's a man.

[Brandon Scott]

Or he might have been. You know, those early years, he was like a 40, 40 guy.

[Sean Pendergast]

Yeah.

[Brandon Scott]

In. In Kansas City.

[Sean Pendergast]

That Astro run, too, though, was pretty damn good.

[Brandon Scott]

Well, it was as short as it was very short. It was short. It was crazy productive. Yeah. The 2004 one 2017 was just a different flavor.

[Sean Pendergast]

Yeah.

[Brandon Scott]

That was just different flavors. Here is a leader and things like that. But I, you know, I, I get the sense that Astro fans are happy for both guys. You know, I don't know what the sign stealing scandal did for Carlos Beltran's Q rating here in Houston. What I got to thinking though was I, I have never been to a Hall of Fame induction ceremony before. We thought, Amy and I thought about going to Andres Andre Johnson's ceremony up in Canton a couple years ago. Yeah, it just didn't work out because the Texans were playing in the hall of Fame game. I had to stay back here to do some duties here. It just didn't make sense to travel. The one I'm really sad that I've missed was Jeff Bagwell's. Yeah, because I, I mean I told you this last week. You know, Jeff Bagwell played sports in the same conference that my school was in back in high school. So I've known about Bagwell since he was a 36 goal scorer in soccer back.

[Sean Pendergast]

Played soccer against your brother?

[Brandon Scott]

Against my brother. Yeah. So. So I was, I was really mad at myself for not going to that one. And I told myself, man, if someone is at that level going into the hall of Fame, you know, career guy icon, I said I'm going to go. Whoever it is, I'm going to go. So I've got two non negotiable must gos that I will be at. One way or the other, I will find a way to be there. And if I need to be back on Monday for work, I'll be back on Monday for work.

[Sean Pendergast]

Yeah.

[Brandon Scott]

Jose Altuve, J.J. watt.

[Sean Pendergast]

Yeah, I think those are pretty safe.

[Brandon Scott]

Those are the two non negotiable must go they that for you also they,

[Sean Pendergast]

they are non negotiable. Now I'm not in the same position. I'm not even sure if I'll be allowed to negotiate. Like in a perfect world, let's just, let's just make this fun and say in the perfect world, if I'm, if I rule the world, if I can make it non negotiable, these would be the two on the top of my list. I will say though that a number, another name that's about to that's not a non negotiable should be a non negotiable. But it's his own. It's not our fault, it's his own fault. I think that he's not a non negotiable. Like he should be far more revered by the Houston sports fan base than he is, but he's lower on this list and I think it's his own doing.

[Brandon Scott]

Okay, okay.

[Sean Pendergast]

We'll get there.

[Brandon Scott]

Okay. We'll get there. So I've got these in, in different buckets.

[Sean Pendergast]

Yeah.

[Brandon Scott]

Okay. So the first bucket is non negotiable. Must go Jose Altuve and J.J. watt. And admittedly it's easy for me to say that my kids are all grown up. I don't have to, you know what I mean? Like there's, I get it for people, like life happens. I know that. Exactly. Serious consideration is the next category. These are for me, serious consideration. Curious what you think, B. Scott, Justin Verlander, Daniel Hunter.

[Sean Pendergast]

I like the Neil Hunter. Daniel Hunter is kind of a late ad for me because like I think he's always had and it has only extended and made better a low key, kind of quiet hall of Fame career, so to speak, or hall of Fame resume, I should say. But I wouldn't have necessarily put him on this list before last year. And he's really sort of just like solidifying himself as one of the all time great Texans in a really short amount of time. So I, I'm good with both of these guys.

[Brandon Scott]

And he's from here too.

[Sean Pendergast]

From here. From the Katy area. Morton Ranch.

[Brandon Scott]

Yep.

[Sean Pendergast]

Yeah, I'm with that at you.

[Brandon Scott]

So you're with. Yeah. Verlander is one, you know, I, I, it's, that's, he's.

[Sean Pendergast]

Well, Sean, there used to be a Verlander day, like when he. Yeah, like we called it that. I understand Hunter Brown's the ace now and we've had other really good pitchers, great pitchers here, but Verlander, specifically Verlander day. And in 2022 when he won the Cy Young, I made a habit to just go park my fanny right there in the Crawford boxes and just watch him do his thing.

[Brandon Scott]

He's the second most meaningful player of that stretch behind Jose Altuve. To me, you can, you can argue Alex Bregman, you can probably argue George Springer, Carlos Correa, Jordan a little bit later on. No one's more meaningful than Jose Altuveta.

[Reggie Atatula]

That run.

[Brandon Scott]

Nobody. And Justin Verlander's number two.

[Sean Pendergast]

I think that's accurate.

[Brandon Scott]

Yeah.

[Sean Pendergast]

Yeah.

[Brandon Scott]

All right. If I'm in the area, this is the third bucket. These are ones I would go to if I happen to be in upstate New York.

[Sean Pendergast]

Why does, if I'm in the area feel passive?

[Brandon Scott]

Does it feel. Does it feel a little dismissive?

[Sean Pendergast]

Feels a little dismissive a little bit.

[Brandon Scott]

Well, I'm not going out of my way to buy a thousand dollar airline ticket.

[Sean Pendergast]

Yeah.

[Brandon Scott]

Or anything. You know what I mean?

[Sean Pendergast]

Like, I get the.

[Brandon Scott]

Yeah.

[Sean Pendergast]

The gist of it.

[Brandon Scott]

It's better than no. Which is the next category if I'm in the area? DeAndre Hopkins, have we gotten to the one yet that you teased?

[Sean Pendergast]

Not yet. We're getting here. We're getting there.

[Brandon Scott]

Zach Granke. I like this one because I think the speech would be incredible. James Harden.

[Sean Pendergast]

Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding. Okay, there's the one.

[Brandon Scott]

Okay. I mean, let me finish up this bucket and then we'll back to Harden. Chris Paul, Honey Badger.

[Sean Pendergast]

Yeah.

[Brandon Scott]

I know it's just one year, but I like the Honey Badger.

[Sean Pendergast]

I love the Honey Badger. Yeah.

[Brandon Scott]

I would go if I would. If I happen to be in the. In the Greater Cleveland and Canton area in the last first week of August, first weekend in August, I'd make an effort to go watch him go in.

[Sean Pendergast]

I also feel like his speech would be memorable. I would want to be thousand. I wouldn't want to be there for it.

[Brandon Scott]

Well, he's a, he's a redemption story, too. So there's probably a lot of very interesting nuggets of his upbringing that he would cite in that speech.

[Sean Pendergast]

100%.

[Brandon Scott]

Kevin Durant's the last one. I would go to Kevin Durant's. I know people feel a certain kind of way about Durant these days. I would go to his hall of Fame speech if I happen to be in Springfield, Massachusetts. Okay, circling back, your tease on James Harden, which has now been revealed was

[Sean Pendergast]

what, dude, James Harden should be one

[Brandon Scott]

of those guys should be on the Altuve Watt level.

[Sean Pendergast]

I think so. But.

[Brandon Scott]

But accomplishment wise, he 100% should be.

[Sean Pendergast]

But it's his own fault. I think it's a couple of things. It's the style of play, which I think Rockets fans, a lot of them had to negotiate themselves into rooting for, especially the ones that weren't children when he was playing. Like, there are a lot of people that are adults now that were kids when James Harden got here and view him as like some kind of godly figure. So they're not in this bucket. But all of us who were adults when James Harden got here and had to kind of like adjust and decide that we were okay with this style of play, those people feel a certain way. The playoff shortcomings, it's hard to kind of like divorce yourself from that. As if it's not a part of the James Harden story and narrative overall. But certainly since he's been in Houston. And then of course, how he left.

[Brandon Scott]

Yes.

[Sean Pendergast]

The fact that he left in sort of a hissy fit with sort of a disregard to the fact that the Rockets were in that position that they were in in large part because they were trying to. To placate him, you know, so it's like this. A lot of this was your doing. The Russell Westbrook, Chris Paul trade happens because of you to begin with and now we're just not good enough. Well, no bleep, Sherlock. It's because of you.

[Brandon Scott]

Texter agrees with you, says Harden's done so much for the community and single moms.

[Sean Pendergast]

That's great.

[Brandon Scott]

No, it is great. These are sports fans we're talking about. I am a sports fan. I do not like the way he left either.

[Sean Pendergast]

Yeah.

[Brandon Scott]

I'm saying I would go. He's not in the next bucket, which is no effing way. Which would be Garrett Cole, Russell Westbrook, and if he keeps putting a few good years together. From Valdez.

[Sean Pendergast]

From Valdez. You already know for me. Is in the definitive. Hell no. He is. He is in. He's definitely in the. Can't say it on the radio. Fcc. No. Yes version for me for sure. I ain't going. I won't be there.

[Brandon Scott]

Too early to tell if there's a conversation to be had about them like this because I don't. None of these. What? The only ones that are surefire hall of Famers are Altuve, Watt, Verlander, Granky, Harden and Paul, like Tyron Matthews. Borderline oh. Kevin Durant. Also like DeAndre Hopkins. If I had to bet, I would say DeAndre Hopkins might not get in in my lifetime. I have no idea. You know, I.

[Sean Pendergast]

You're so the lifetime part is the key because he's going to get in at some point.

[Brandon Scott]

Some point. Yeah. Better in this committee.

[Sean Pendergast]

And it's a log jam at that position. Wide receivers one of the more tricky ones to try to predict. But hey, look, I think if you really look at it, Daniel Hunter.

[Brandon Scott]

Yeah.

[Sean Pendergast]

Like he's got to be. He's got a low key, like easy hall of Fame resume.

[Brandon Scott]

If he did what he has done in his career in New York, he'd be in. He'd be a surefire thing.

[Sean Pendergast]

Or if he just talked a little.

[Brandon Scott]

It's a combination of a soft spoken personality with playing in Minnesota, which, you know, for a lot of the people that vote on These things that follow the NFL might or that. That that drive the narrative on these things because ultimately it's 50 people in a room that decide that probably no Minnesota better. But the narratives for segments like this. Minnesota might as well be Manitoba.

[Sean Pendergast]

Yeah. By the time he gets his shot at it, I don't know if McClain will still be around doing this sort of thing. But whoever is that version of, you know, the next generation's version of John McClain. Hell, it could be me. I don't know. But whoever's doing that needs to make sure that they go out of their way to make this case. Daniel Hunter, because he's not going to make the case for himself.

[Brandon Scott]

Too early to tell if there's a combo to be had. But I can tell you right now, I would be front and center at Will Anderson Jr's induction.

[Sean Pendergast]

Yeah.

[Brandon Scott]

If he keeps doing this for another eight years or whatever it is.

[Sean Pendergast]

Yeah. I don't have a lot in my savings, but I would bet every dollar of it on Will Anderson Jr. Making

[Brandon Scott]

it the two that it's too early to tell if they are going to be hall of Famers, but if they continue to do things the way they are, stay healthy, etc. That I would put into the non negotiable must go Will Anderson Jr. Jordan Alvarez.

[Sean Pendergast]

Agreed.

[Brandon Scott]

Yep.

[Sean Pendergast]

Agreed.

[Brandon Scott]

Those, those are non negotiables. 100%. Two of my favorite players.

[Sean Pendergast]

I think by the time it's all said and done, Jordan Alvarez has a chance to be the best at. I know right now it's Jose Altuve. Yeah. I think he's got a shot to be the best Astro of all time. We'll just, we'll see how it goes. Gotta stay healthy, but he's got a shot.

[Brandon Scott]

He's the best hitter I've ever seen. The conversation you're talking about. I know. Factors more into what is the total body of work look like.

[Sean Pendergast]

Yeah. And team success.

[Brandon Scott]

I've never seen a better hitter than him. Yeah.

[Sean Pendergast]

But. But like if they can reinvent themselves as a squad and like let's say, make a couple of more runs at it. And, and Jordan's already a part of the previous era. Yeah. He's. He's in that conversation.

[Brandon Scott]

We'll find out what the guy's got going on on in the loop. What's the question of the day here on a Monday on Sports Radio 6 10. As long as we're talking about nostalgia and Jeff Kent and Carlos Beltran going into the hall of Fame, there was some interesting nostalgia with the Astros going on this weekend. Kind of the other type of nostalgia that we'll get to. We'll set up this series that they've got going on with with the Angels over the next few days. We'll do all of that. Coming West Point, Lincoln of Sugar Land Studios, here's Pain and Pendergast. All right, Sean Pendergast. Brandon Scott in for Seth Payne in tomorrow as well. And then Seth will be back for the first day of training camp for the Texans on Wednesday this week, August 13th. Circle it. That is when Sports Radio 6. 10 transforms into 95. 7 the Fan and 610 the Fan. We will simulcast on both stations. So we're very excited about that. The Astros are 52 and 55, so we'll lay out the upcoming slew of baseball for the Strohs here in a little bit under.500. And yet still only two games back in the west and two games back of the wild card right now.

[Sean Pendergast]

Yeah.

[Brandon Scott]

With a series against the Angels coming up here. Imai pitching tonight, I believe I'm not mistaken.

[Sean Pendergast]

You. You just cannot count them. You cannot rule them out. Despite the fact that it's been largely underwhelming at the very least, like up and down or. Or down, then up and then from there, kind of like almost like a plateau. Cause they felt like a.500 baseball team for a little while now, but you just can't count them out. And this was my thing from watching them over the weekend. It's like, okay, now, I've watched him do this a couple of times in a couple of weeks. You know, they do it a couple of weeks ago against the Rays. They do it this past weekend against the White Sox. These are two of the better teams in the American League. The Astros have not confused you into thinking that they're one of the better teams in the American League. But there they are competing with the best teams in the American League and with a puncher's chance of actually either winning their division or backing their way into this thing as a wild card.

[Brandon Scott]

So it's interesting they have Emi going tonight. They got Lambert going on Tuesday, and then Wednesday, there's no listed starter. So we'll see. We'll see what happens with, with, with that. And then they're off on Thursday this week. Look, this is a big week for. What does this team think it is? Yeah, you know, you got three games against the Angels, which are games you should win. It's not a good baseball team, the Angels. And then you got a day off, and then you come back here for three against the Texas Rangers. That's it. Before the trade deadline. Whatever you think you are is going to be shaped by the next seven days, the next six games in seven days. Because then the trade deadline is the next day. The trade deadline is Monday, about two hours before the first pitch against the Toronto Blue Jays here at Dyke and Park.

[Sean Pendergast]

And it does feel like. Like you. Correct me if you think you're. If you think I'm wrong on this, but it does feel like we know who the Astros are. Like, it feels like this is who they are. Like they're an up and down, somewhat average, sometimes slightly above, sometimes slightly below, but mostly average baseball team, but top heavy in the lineup.

[Brandon Scott]

Yep.

[Sean Pendergast]

With a bona fide ace pitcher, which is what we learned over the weekend, or were reintroduced to. And Hunter Brown returning the form on Saturday against the White Sox.

[Brandon Scott]

That was big.

[Sean Pendergast]

So, okay, they got a couple of key ingredients to a team that could make a run. They've got an ace. They got a couple of guys that were still trying to figure out how much we trust. But it does feel like they've got at least perhaps two more trustworthy starting pitchers. And then we know that. That that lineup is front loaded.

[Brandon Scott]

Yes.

[Sean Pendergast]

With. With the Jordan clearly being the star of it, the MVP of it all. So they've got some ingredients, man.

[Brandon Scott]

Yep. Absolutely. Of course, this texter completely disagrees with you. Would you please stop talking about the Astros like they have a chance in the playoffs? Yes, they're only two games out of playoff contention, but they're not going anywhere. Can't you be realistic? They suck.

[Sean Pendergast]

No, this is the thing, though.

[Brandon Scott]

He's right.

[Sean Pendergast]

They do suck. But what we're trying to illustrate to you, what we're trying to articulate to you, is that they all suck. And they don't suck the most out of all the sucky teams. Like, it's a weird. It's one of those really weird and strange years where I'm not trying to, like, oversell the Astros to you, but I'm trying to properly sell the pitiful American League to you and let you know that the Astros, pitiful as they might be, could actually be in the mix.

[Brandon Scott]

Cleveland. Cleveland is 54 and 53. They are the final wild card team. 54 and 53. Twins are one game back. Seattle, a game and a half back. Astros two games back. Boy, it's like you're counting by half a game. Baltimore. God, if you had just taken one of those games. Yeah, you're, you know, you got A little bit of daylight, but they're two and a half back.

[Sean Pendergast]

Getting swept by Baltimore is a feather in the Texas cap. Like an argument?

[Brandon Scott]

Yeah, sure.

[Sean Pendergast]

Like, what are we doing?

[Brandon Scott]

Yeah. No, I'm not here to tell you that this is the, that this is the 2022 Astros or any. Or 2019 Astros or any of those teams that, that went to ALCS is not at all, not one bit. I am just a sports fan who happens to like it when my teams make the postseason. You know, but I understand it. I get it. And I think there's some people. And I said this last week, B. Scott, and I'll say it again. I. I think there are Astro fans out there that Wish they were 10 games under.500 instead of three games under.500, because then they would be more likely to take what is probably the pragmatic approach, which is to flip some of the assets that you have into more long term assets.

[Sean Pendergast]

Well, this is where I was at least a month ago, maybe six weeks ago, where I'm like, man, the writing is on the wall. It is best. And it is time to rip the band aid off with this Astros thing. Like, rip the band aid off from the previous era and start thinking about the long term health and viability of the franchise. Now, the big question with that was, are the people in charge, the people that Jim Crane has employed for him now, are those the people that you want making the decisions?

[Brandon Scott]

Yep.

[Sean Pendergast]

Are those the people that you want the future of the franchise? Like, say you trade Jeremy Pena or God forbid, where to trade Hunter Brown or somebody better than that, Would you want the return for a player like that to be, to be entrusted in the hands of somebody that's not going to be here in four to five months or however long it's going to be?

[Brandon Scott]

It's a great point. It's a great point. And here my, my issue is, is that Jim Crane, if he's smart, which he is, if he's, if he were to let Dana Brown and I don't think they're trading guys away. I, I don't. But I think even, even if they're buying at the deadline, I think Jim Crane needs to have some oversight here because Dana Brown's trying to save his job.

[Sean Pendergast]

Right.

[Brandon Scott]

So if you're doing it with no oversight, then Dana Brown's got to look at it like, I don't care what Xavier Nyons is like, three years from now, I might not be here three months from now.

[Sean Pendergast]

Yeah.

[Brandon Scott]

So I think Jim Crane has to have oversight whether they're buying or selling. He needs to be look, looking and scrutinizing. And in my opinion, this is where it gets a little scary. Taking the deals that Dana Brown puts together and getting a second opinion on it. My issue there is who's he getting the second opinion from? Yeah, is he getting the second opinion from the same people who are giving him second opinions when he was the GM Jim Crane for like two months back in 2023?

[Sean Pendergast]

So just based on that was not

[Brandon Scott]

good advice he was getting back then.

[Sean Pendergast]

Based on the history which you're describing and just having been around these guys a little bit, it does seem like, like obviously Jim Crane has the interest, like the long term health of the franchise in his best interest as the owner of the team. But the way he's wired and thinks, I think would be more in line. Not because they're motivated by the same things, but just because they would be wired in the same way. Dana Brown want to go all in, go for broke and trying to save his job. Yeah. But also Jim Crane would just like that competitive nature. Oh, we're always in it, you know, we're always going to. The window is always going to be open. Even if he does have the long term health of the franchise in his best interest. Still thinking sort of consistently with Dana Brown, even if their interests are. He.

[Brandon Scott]

He walked away from a GM who I think people thought was maybe a little too conservative in James Click. I think in retrospect, James Click that that that's when the franchise turned. We could do a whole segment on that. But then walking away from James Klik is when it's, you know, it was a wild, wild west for a little while.

[Sean Pendergast]

I do want to say, like, I'm not trying to take any kind of victory lapse cause I care about the long term health of the franchise as well. But at the time I said this was a, this was not a good idea. This was not great. Did not love the way that they just kind of unceremoniously parted ways with James Clicker, decided not to bring him back. And because they were coming off the World Series victory and I understand it, we were kind of click schmick, like, forget him, Jim Crane, let's go. If this is what he thinks. But at the time I'm like, I don't know about that. And now looking back at it, I'm not taking a victory. Like I'm just thinking, hey, I really wish that we would have given that a little bit more thought.

[Brandon Scott]

He had no idea that Jeff Bagwell's contributions were going to be as damaging as they're perceived to be. Maybe I'm off base on that. You know, maybe, maybe it's. Maybe, you know, Bagwell wasn't as strong a voice in the room or what? I have no idea.

[Sean Pendergast]

Well, whether he was or not, I think the biggest point is that we sort of just over estimated Jim Crane. Like we can be. You can be thankful for him buying the team and turning the franchise around and winning these World Series and having this run, the AOCS Invitational here in Houston and all of that. Give him credit for that. But also acknowledge that he probably went a little bit too far by not bringing this guy back.

[Brandon Scott]

Hey, we got to get to the nostalgia part of this before we talk to the guys on in the Loop. The nostalgia part of the Astros yesterday, the good part was Jeff Kent, Carlos Beltran going into the hall of Fame.

[Sean Pendergast]

Right.

[Brandon Scott]

The sad part over the weekend, Lance McCullers, DFA by the brewers after two appearances and 11 days in four and two thirds innings.

[Sean Pendergast]

So imagine to be a semi old school Astros fan. And when I say semi old school, I'm talking about late 2000s. Early 2000s. Yeah.

[Brandon Scott]

The early part of the golden era.

[Sean Pendergast]

Yeah. When this era, when this Lance McCullough, this era starts to kind of really start to hum, you get Lance McCullough's DFA by the brewers, but also like out of nowhere, Dallas Keiko signing a minor league deal.

[Brandon Scott]

They had two pitchers make the All Star team in 2017. The Astros did. They were Dallas Keiko and Lance McCullers. And this weekend, Lance McCullers was DFA'd by the Brewers 11 days after being traded there. I we can say it now like I like now, especially like I was kind of trying to talk my way into Lance kind of recapturing something in a different you like, change of scenery kind of because you want.

[Sean Pendergast]

It's easy to.

[Brandon Scott]

I'm rooting for him. I like Lance. So I was trying to talk myself into it. Like, not in retrospect. The brewers lit $2 million on fire. Yeah, they just dumped gasoline all over 2 million bucks and took a match and said, oh, let's burn this good for them. And someone said to me when I said that yesterday, they're like, well, they got Colton Gordon and the deal too. Have you looked at his number since he got to their Triple A team? He's got like a seven ERA for their Triple A team.

[Sean Pendergast]

Hey, worth the shot, right?

[Brandon Scott]

Kaikal signs a minor league deal with the A's Dallas K's career is a fascinating one. He pitched seven seasons in Houston and he had a 366 ERA. He had a WHIP of a little over 1.2. Like decent number. Those are decent numbers, not great numbers.

[Sean Pendergast]

Yeah.

[Brandon Scott]

But then you get to 2014 where he, you know, he won 12 games that year. The next year he wins 20. And wins the Cy Young from 2014 to 2018. His last year here, 3.28 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, won a Cy Young Award, made the All Star team a couple of times.

[Sean Pendergast]

He's the first pitching star, so I know put Jose Altuve to the side for a second. He's the first pitching star to emerge from this Astros run.

[Brandon Scott]

No, no question. And. And it doesn't show up on the. On Baseball Reference, but reportedly a big part of the sales pitch to Justin Verlander to waive his no trade clause.

[Sean Pendergast]

Yeah.

[Brandon Scott]

Back in 2017. So Dallas Keiko is a significant figure in this era of Astros baseball since he left Houston. And this is just the stuff that's showing up on his major league page because he's been in the minors. And I don't know if Dallas Keiko and maybe John Lopez or Reggie Atatula knows. I can't recall. Has Dallas Keiko pitched in any of the international leagues either. Has he pitched in Mexico? I don't think so.

[Sean Pendergast]

Off the top of my head, though.

[Brandon Scott]

But I know he's been in the minors. Yeah. And we know he's going to the minors with the A's. His ERA since leaving Houston, just at the major league level, 5.03. And that includes a Covid season where he was top five for the Cy Young. It looked like he had kind of recaptured his magic in the CO. He was like 6 and 2 with like a 19 era in the COVID season. And then, you know, Dallas Kle, depending on if you think they changed the strike zone around. And he was a victim of that. Cause he lived in that lower part of the strike zone.

[Sean Pendergast]

Yeah.

[Brandon Scott]

So now everything. All his stuff. Stuff is basically all the stuff that was a 12 count before, was a 3, 0 count now, that kind of thing. So, you know, I didn't watch him enough to know that. What if that had the most to do with it?

[Sean Pendergast]

Hey, look, he was apparently last in Japan. Oh, really?

[Brandon Scott]

Thought.

[Sean Pendergast]

Yeah. But two years ago.

[Brandon Scott]

Yeah.

[Sean Pendergast]

And that's when he last pitched.

[Brandon Scott]

Yeah.

[Sean Pendergast]

What is he doing? That's a guy that loves baseball.

[Brandon Scott]

How much? Okay. Yes.

[Sean Pendergast]

That's a guy that loves baseball.

[Brandon Scott]

You know how, you know this. How much do you think? I know the number already. How much money do you think Dallas Keiko has made in his career? He's been pitching since 2012. Got that one decent sized deal from the White Sox. I'm gonna say three year deal back in the day. 90 million, Reggie.

[Sean Pendergast]

Ooh. It's gotta be more than that. Yeah, I was imagining.

[Reggie Atatula]

But also the way that this has been set up makes me wonder if it's a lot lower than it should. Than. I was gonna go like a hundred.

[Brandon Scott]

It's a little over a hundred million.

[Reggie Atatula]

Okay.

[Brandon Scott]

It's like a hundred point three million dollars. That was higher than I thought.

[Sean Pendergast]

He loves baseball to be.

[Brandon Scott]

He must.

[Reggie Atatula]

And.

[Brandon Scott]

And like, just not. Loves being a major league baseball player.

[Sean Pendergast]

Yeah.

[Brandon Scott]

Loves being in the clubhouse. Loves the process of it. Probably Big one likes being, quote, around the guys.

[Sean Pendergast]

Yeah.

[Brandon Scott]

Like, I like being just, you know, what's the. Always asking.

[Sean Pendergast]

I always say, what do you think

[Brandon Scott]

you're going to miss the most? I miss being around the guys.

[Sean Pendergast]

Yeah.

[Brandon Scott]

You know, I don't know, man.

[Sean Pendergast]

Once he married Kelly Nash in 2022, and I thought he was just gonna ride off into the sunset. Beautiful wife, accomplished career, made all of this money. Yeah. Still got that strong beard, kind of like Reggie's.

[Brandon Scott]

Reggie does have a strong.

[Sean Pendergast]

Like, it's all working for my man.

[Brandon Scott]

It was just trimmed, mind you. Yeah.

[Sean Pendergast]

What are we doing? Go live your life, my man.

[Reggie Atatula]

Yeah, that's what I. That's one of those things where on. From the outside looking in, it's like, oh, man, you got everything and you're on the inside. You're like, this don't feel.

[Sean Pendergast]

This ain't.

[Reggie Atatula]

This isn't hitting me the way I want to.

[Sean Pendergast]

Apparently empty inside.

[Reggie Atatula]

Especially these dudes that are professional athletes, man. And it's something that seems obvious, but I feel like we can never feel it unless we were inside that competition does something different to them, man. There's not really. There's not a. There's not a comparison for it. I think I was. It was the piece that. Was it Seth Wickersham that embedded himself with Sean during this last offseason. Apparently, Bill Parcel gave him a call at some point, like Sean Payton. They keep in touch. And some of this is just because Bill Parcells want to stay around it. Bill Parcell's old ass is just like, I love it. I still need it. Yeah. Like they're junkies.

[Brandon Scott]

Yeah. This stuff.

[Reggie Atatula]

This stuff is. It gives it somewhere in there. I don't know, like psychology or really, honestly, probably down to their DNA, man. Like this. Their biology is different, and they need this.

[Sean Pendergast]

But when was the last time that Dallas Kaiko's biology was competitive?

[Reggie Atatula]

Yeah, he's chasing the high was the

[Sean Pendergast]

last time this man was truly competitive. I mean, he was in Japan two years ago. It hasn't been pitched since and has not been good in like, half a decade or more.

[Brandon Scott]

Bring him back here. Please. Don't. At least let him pitch in Sugar Land.

[Sean Pendergast]

Hey, we just. They just traded. They just traded Lance McCullers. And Sean wants to go back and bring back. Maybe that's.

[Brandon Scott]

Man.

[Reggie Atatula]

Sean's another type of junkie. Sean's like nostalgia junkie.

[Brandon Scott]

I'm a. I'm a huge. I want more of these.

[Reggie Atatula]

Just give me more. These hits.

[Brandon Scott]

I'm a huge nostalgia junkie. I get.

[Sean Pendergast]

I get it.

[Brandon Scott]

I'm the guy that wants the Undertaker in WrestleMania every year. He can't walk anymore. All right.

[Reggie Atatula]

And you're going to accelerate that time by continuing to bring him back to

[Brandon Scott]

whatever it takes, man. It's all about.