AL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES: YANKEES VS ASTROS

October 18, 2022

Kyle Tucker

Minute Maid Park

Houston Astros

Workout Day Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: We'll get started with Kyle Tucker.

Q. Where have you seen Álvarez improve defensively from kind of when you first played with him in the minor leagues to where we are now?

KYLE TUCKER: Well, I think he's been out there more consistently this year. He's always been a pretty good outfielder. It's just he hasn't been out there as much as he would like. So I think just him getting as many games as he has out there has made him more comfortable and just made him better.

Q. When you see José struggling like he did in the ALDS, do you think that just means that he's due to break out or what have you seen from his swings that gives you some encouragement that he's going to be a huge part of what you guys do going forward?

KYLE TUCKER: I'm not worried about Josey. You guys have seen him his whole career and earlier this year. He's a phenomenal player, hitter. We were just, Seattle was a tough pitching matchup for us, and they did a phenomenal job. But I'm not worried about Josey at all. He'll come around.

Q. Building off of that, when he goes hitless in a three-game series and you guys still sweep, what does that say about the length of your lineup right now?

KYLE TUCKER: I think it says a lot. We don't have to rely on one person. If someone's struggling, there's always eight guys behind him that can go up there and do the job.

So I think it just makes it a little easier just because knowing you don't have to do as much makes you a little more calm up there and makes it a little easier. So obviously I would love everyone went up there and hit everything, but when someone's struggling, we don't have to rely on them so much, just because our lineup's so deep.

Q. With Luis Garcia's outing in Game 3, what stood out to you about his stuff and also how well he was able to sustain it?

KYLE TUCKER: Yeah, it was phenomenal. Our pitching staff did a phenomenal job the entire series, and then him -- I don't know how often he's come out of the pen, but him to do that, first year in the playoffs is huge. He was throwing so hard. He was throwing like 97, 99, like up there. I was like, oh, my God, because typically he's like low, mid-90s. But he was feeling himself out there and he was doing a phenomenal job for us.

Q. Not a lot of 73-year-olds could relate to 20-year-old guys, but obviously Dusty's been doing that for years and he can also party with you guys, celebrate with you guys, in the clubhouse, which he showed after the Seattle game. How would you describe how he handles you guys, allows you to be yourselves, but also finds a way to, daily, relate to young, an entirely younger generation?

KYLE TUCKER: Dusty's been doing this his whole life, he's played, he's coached, managed, so he knows the ins and outs of baseball and he's been around everyone. He loves this sport. He loves being in the clubhouse with these guys. He tries to be as friendly and personable as possible, just because we are here every day with him.

So I think he's done a phenomenal job with that. He loves winning, comes out here every single day, like if we're at the field, might as well win. So he's really enjoying his time here and we're happy to have him.

Q. Do you feel like you guys will have an advantage having swept the series and having a few days off as opposed to whoever you're playing rushing here and having to start another series tomorrow?

KYLE TUCKER: You never know. During the season, we play a game, leave that night, play the next day. So you never really know how it goes. You just got to go out there and win as many games as possible, try and put yourself in as good of a position as you can.

I'm sure whoever we play is going to try and win too, obviously, but we just got to go out there and play hard baseball and try and win the series wherever it is.

Q. What about having Justin ready to go in Game 1?

KYLE TUCKER: Yeah, he's definitely going to give us his all. He's a phenomenal pitcher. He did a phenomenal job coming back from his injury and playing for us this year. We're always excited to have him out on the field, in the clubhouse, phenomenal guy, phenomenal pitcher. We're really excited to have him out there in Game 1, whenever his next time to pitch is. But he gives us a really good chance to win every single time he's out there.

Q. Talking to you guys you weren't wild about that five-day layoff after the regular season. I think it's only been obviously three games since before you play tomorrow. Where do you feel like the squad is in terms of being back in the rhythm and the routine of things?

KYLE TUCKER: I think we're fine. You just got to be mentally prepared. Obviously we're not, we haven't played games in a couple days, but that's where all the preparation and mental side of the game comes in.

So we're still throwing live A-Bs out here, so guys are getting the reps in. You just got to be mentally prepared as possible. We haven't played a game in a couple days, but that shouldn't matter. We do all the work that we can out here during these practices and try and get prepared as possible.

Q. Obviously you guys expected to know who you guys were playing tomorrow. What has that been like for you as you await your opponent to potentially go to the World Series?

KYLE TUCKER: It's fine. We'll have the game up, I'm sure, during our practice today, so we'll kind of be able to watch it and keep up with it. Then obviously we'll figure out who we're playing and then be a little more diligent in our work on trying to get prepared for the series.

So we just go out there and basically control what we can. We just got to go out there, no matter who we're facing or who is out there on the mound, we just got to make sure our swings are good, make sure we're putting up quality at-bats and making sure our defense is solid. So we don't worry too much on who we're playing. We just try and do what we want to do.

Q. Have you been keeping in touch with Myles Straw over the last few days?

KYLE TUCKER: Yeah, it was his birthday yesterday. I tried to FaceTime him, but he didn't answer. I'm sure he was busy. (Laughing.) I didn't want to distract him too much.

And then I saw the game was cancelled, so I texted him later that night, just saying happy birthday. But, yeah, I try and talk to him every now and then.