AL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES: ASTROS VS RED SOX

October 19, 2021

Chas McCormick

Fenway Park

Houston Astros

Pregame 4 Press Conference

Q. Hey, Chas. When did you find out you were starting today, and does that change any preparations you need to make or anything?

CHAS McCORMICK: I found out about 40 minutes ago. I hope Meyers is okay. He is just battling through a little bit right now. No, I mean, since it's postseason, I've been working and preparing today like just in case I got to play. It's the same routine: Got my lift in, got good swings in, got to hit on the field, shag a little bit in the outfield. It's the same process today.

Q. With the way the last two games have gone, it seems like you guys are down 3-1, but really it's only 2-1. Win tonight you're back in it and you have home field. What is the mood among the guys? Are you able to see that vision that you are still right there?

CHAS McCORMICK: Yeah, it's only 2-1. We got a big one tonight. We got a Hall of Famer on the mound tonight for us. This one is big. We obviously got to win this one today or tomorrow, but we would like to bring it back to Houston. I mean, that's kind of what the plan is.

The Boston Red Sox are hot. They've been playing really good baseball, but we got two more games at Fenway. We got to squeeze out one. That's what our plan is. Maldonado after the game yesterday just gave us a little speech about keep fighting. These guys have been in this position before a couple of years.

And, yeah, you know, we're going to keep playing hard and we're pretty pumped to play tonight.

Q. Chas, what does that mean to you to have somebody like Maldi, that everyone respects so much, to take the leadership role when times are tough, knowing that you guys can get back on track with a solid performance?

CHAS McCORMICK: It means a lot. He is our leader. He is our catcher. Smart guy. That's kind of his job. Kind of pumped us up after the game last night. I'm happy he said some things. Odorizzi said some things about the starting staff as well. Those guys are leaders. Obviously we listen to them every single day. Him and Maldonado, I really appreciate that as a person and probably even as a team that they talked to us after the game as a unit, and, you know, just told us to keep going, stay strong. We've been in this position before.

It means a lot. I think it was really good for us to hear that last night.

Q. Have you caught yourself at all during these playoffs saying, wow, I'm in the playoffs in my first full season here?

CHAS McCORMICK: Yeah, yeah. I knew in Spring Training we were one of the better teams in the AL, so nothing surprising, but, yeah, definitely. I remember being -- even getting the first start of ALCS in Minute Maid I remember talking to Joe, and I was like, man, I never thought I would be in this position before, but it's something special.

You can't take this kind of stuff for granted. Every pitch, every game, especially the postseason, you know, just staying ready. You never know what's going to happen. I'm obviously blessed to be in this position, and I'm blessed to be playing tonight and contributing.

Q. I know last night was a tough night, but Kyle Tucker goes to work again. I guess hope has to start with his bat. What do you think of what he has done in this postseason and the way he has kind of elevated his play for this team?

CHAS McCORMICK: He has been amazing all year. Watching him, he is a great hitter. He is great playing up there every single night. All year he has been doing this.

I remember playing with Tucker and Alvarez in the Minor Leagues and just watching them crush baseballs and I was, like, man, these guys are something else. They're different, those two. You know, Tucker being super young, even Alvarez is pretty young, it's impressive to watch them dominate that side of the game, you know, being at a young age, too, and being under control every time.

Tuck has kind of been our hottest hitter for a couple of months now, and when he goes, we go. We need him tonight.