The Matt Thomas Show with Ross - Kyle Tucker On His First MLB Walk Off Home Run

Episode Date: August 17, 2020

Kyle Tucker On His First MLB Walk Off Home Run

This is 790 baseball direct. Direct from the ballpark. To your radio. Driven by Texas Direct Auto, powered by Vroom. And Tucker hits it high in the air to right field. It sends back four at the wall looking up. See you later. See you later.

With a walk-off home run in the bottom of the night. And the Astros beat the Mariners 3 to 2. Well, you're talking about selling out for a fastball. That's what Tucker did. Middle end, and he pulled it high and far to right field, and the Astros sweep the Mariners. And the man that did that joins us right now on Sports Talk 790. Kyle, it's Matt and Ross.

Congratulations. Is this your first walk-off ever or just first as a major leaguer? First in the major league, yeah. Can you remember the last time you had a walk-off? walk off? Some minor league games. Maybe you're in the sixth grade. When was the last time you had to walk out prior to yesterday?

I remember I had, I think, one or two and 18 when we were in Fresno. And I think I had one last year in AAA. Yeah, but that score probably was like 19 to 15, right? Because that AAA ball is some high scoring games, correct? Yeah, we put up some runs back there. No question about that. Congratulations on the effort yesterday. they said you were waiting for a fastball.

Is that an accurate statement from our broadcasters yesterday? Yeah. I mean, the guy in the down is big power arms. There's 97, I think. And, you know, I was just getting down to that. And you were able to do that. How surreal was it to have that walk off, knowing there weren't 40,000 people

screaming at the top of their lungs congratulating you? Yeah, it's definitely different without all the fans there. cheering, cheering us on and everything. But, you know, it's still a big league win, so a lot of fun. And, you know, we had a good time yesterday. So as you're circling the bases, do you hear the guys screaming in the dugout? I mean, what could you hear as you were going from base to base? When I hear it, when I hit it, I heard everyone start cheering. And when it went out, obviously everyone started yell a little louder and smiling around bases a little bit. and then coming around home, seeing everyone there was pretty cool.

I was listening to the game on radio, so I didn't see it. What is a social distancing gang dog pile feel like? I mean, did you guys separate by six feet? Did you have water thrown on you or at least maybe some ice chips or something? Oh, I think Yule got straw with some, you know, the little ice bucket we had in there. But, I mean, it's not your typical, you know, a little celebration. We were a little separated, but it's still fun being out there with those guys and celebrating. Yeah, no question about it.

You've been able to get the Mariners six times so far out of the seven games. Is it because of familiarity or just that you've been able to put it all together at the right time? Yeah, I mean, the last, I think, four games, you know, we've won and, you know, we've been playing pretty well lately. So we're just trying to stick to that game plan. And, you know, we've just been playing well whenever we played them. and we're trying to keep that up. What has it been like? You've seen yourself move up and down the order.

You're in the lineup on a regular basis. It must be just from a pure selfish standpoint, much more fun to walk in the clubhouse and see your name on the scorecard every single day. Yeah, I mean, that's what everyone wants is to just get an opportunity to play in the game. And I mean, our team's so talented and, you know, everyone one through nine in the lineup can do damage. and I don't really necessarily care where I'm at in this lineup.

You know, everyone can do their part and help the team once. Is there a different mindset or what is it if you're batting in the front or as compared to the back of the line of it? Do you prepare yourself any differently? I mean, I go back, you know, same game plan, whether I'm hitting second, third, fifth, third, eighth. I mean, you still got to go up there and hit the guy on the mound. But, I mean, that's just how I approach it.

it doesn't really matter from that first or last. You just got to go up there and do your job. Are you hearing much conversation between pitcher and catcher because there's obviously no fans around. I know the cron noise that they amp in there a little bit tries to do a little bit here and there. But can you hear the relationship between those two guys more so than if it was a regular game? No. I mean, I don't hear him, you know, whether there's 40,000 people in the fans or zero.

You know, they might talk a little softer or whatever now, but I mean, that's just between them, too. You can't really hear that. How about just the game atmosphere in itself? I would assume by at this point, everybody's fully adjusted to it. What are some of the nuances of playing in front of no one that you never would have expected and now you're experiencing on a daily basis? Yeah, I mean, it's just different. I mean, without, you know, a packed stadium sharing us on from,

the first pitch to the end, I mean, you know, in Houston, you know, the fans are always on their feet cheering us on and it gets real loud in there. And now we just have the, you know, the recording of, you know, the fans cheering and whatnot. They'll turn it up a little bit in some situations, but it's not the same that's having everyone there screaming. That's for sure. Kyle Tucker with us here on the Matt Thomas show. Kyle, the biggest adjustment I have talked to with young players, especially from the left side of the plate, is going against left.

hand in pitching. You've now seen perhaps more of it now, the major league level than you ever had before. What's that like for you? Do they present, as Brig of a challenge, as a lot of great left-handers have said that it's so difficult to have success against lefties? Me personally, I don't really have a problem hitting lefties. I kind of like it. But I think that the reasoning for that is, you know, when I was growing up, my brother's, my brother he's a lefty, and we would always play with a ball in the backyard, and he would always pitch. So I think I just got used to that now. Whenever I face lefties, it doesn't really matter.

You know, there's a right-of-year lefty on the mound. I try and just do my job and, you know, get some hits. So every time you hit a home run against the lefty, Preston's going to text you and say it was because of me, right? Probably. I'm probably expecting that now. Is he still playing over in Korea right now? Yeah, yeah, he's over there playing.

I think they played over half their season. around 80-ish games or so. But, you know, they got about two months left, I believe. But, you know, he's doing well. They're having a good time over there. I think they started allowing a couple of fans in. I don't really know that. But, you know, he's having a good time with it, and he's doing well.

Are you debarring his games, or are you just waiting for his reports from him himself? I mean, I'll say time him every now and then and see I was going and talk to him, but I'll also look at the stats and try and watch a couple ADs whenever I can. So I stay up to date with him. Kyle Tucker here on the Sports Talk 790. Kyle, we're getting to meet a lot of your pitchers really for the first time because they're so young and they weren't really on the radar because of injuries and whatnot. You've known these guys, I think, a little bit through your time of the minor leagues.

Tell me about a couple of stories, if you have any, about who's making some impact for you guys that maybe just six months ago you guys were talking about days in the minor leagues. I mean, I don't know if you knew Blake Taylor very much or scrubber. any of those guys, but these are young men that were just in the minor leagues a handful of months ago, and now they're trying to help you get major league outs. Yeah, I mean, they've done a tremendous

job, you know, coming out of the bullpen and, you know, starting some games and, you know, really helping us out with some of the injuries we've had. But, I mean, some of these guys, you know, they were in A ball last year or double A. I mean, they've really stepped up to, you know, come up and, you know, just start the season in the big leagues and start having to pitch a lot and coming up in some big situations and doing their job.

I mean, I can't complain they've all done really well, and they're great guys, and, you know, happy to have them on my team. Do they come to you guys for advice much, or is it because the situation in this season is so freaky, no one has experienced it is hard to give advice when you're trying to play 60 games in 66 days in a stadium that's got no fans in it? Yeah. I mean, I'm sure, you know, some of the older pitchers have, you know, been. around for a little while to help them out some and try and get them used to what they should

approach the game with and everything. I mean, it's a little different. They come in to pitch, you know, you don't have the 40,000 people screaming, watching right there. But, you know, they're watching on the TV and, you know, those guys just go out there and do their job, you know, whether there's no one in the stands or a ton of people in the sands, they'll do just fine. Last question for you, Kyle. You guys have been on one road trip so far.

You're going to go to Colorado after the game tomorrow. Under normal circumstances, are you a guy that likes to run around the city a little bit, go to some restaurants, go shopping, or do you kind of keep to yourself in the room? I typically just hang out and, you know, try and stay in the room and whatnot. But I'll go out. You know, if it's a cool city or I have some family in town and, you know, I haven't been there before, I'll try and go do a little bit. but if I'm just there by myself, I'll try and just rest up for the game the next day.

That's the only thing that sucks, in my opinion, for you guys, is that all your road trips this year are at a really cool places. I mean, you're not going to, like, Milwaukee and Cleveland. You're going to be in Denver and San Diego, and you were in San Francisco before that, L.A. I mean, these are some fun spots, so I applaud your discipline because I know it can't be easy. But we wish you the very best luck tonight, and the road trip coming up, and we appreciate it coming on the show this afternoon. Awesome. Thanks for having me.

You got it, Kyle. I appreciate it. Kyle Tucker, the Houston Astros with us here on Sports Talk 790. We're back to play, believe it or not, for a chance to win some tickets to see some baseball and consolation field. 242 on Sports Talk 790. And I want to welcome a brand new friend of the 790 family. And it's Big Rivers Water Park. When I was a kid, Waterworld was my jam.

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