MLB WORLD SERIES: PHILLIES VS ASTROS

November 3, 2022

Jose Altuve

Citizens Bank Park

Houston Astros

Pregame 5 Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: We'll get started with José.

Q. We know how much you love to swing first pitch. Has that been something you've done your whole life? And kind of who maybe taught you that or how long have you kind of had that approach?

JOSÉ ALTUVE: I think all my career, since I remember playing the minor leagues or Little League. I was just that type of player that likes to swing the bat. I don't think there's any reason why should I change right now. So I just like the way I go up there and try to swing at good pitches sometimes.

Q. This could be sort of a bullpen game tonight for the Phillies. You could see three or four different pitchers. What kind of challenge is that as a hitter when you got to get ready for different guys every time you're up?

JOSÉ ALTUVE: I think we are focused on the starter today. Obviously, nobody knows how long he's going to go. So we just focus on him, and then depending upon how the game develops, just focus on the next guy and then the next guy and try to get a good approach and a game plan for whoever we're facing in whatever inning.

Q. Can you talk about how you guys are hoping to keep the momentum tonight but also to get to Syndergaard early?

JOSÉ ALTUVE: Yeah. No, I think we're going to go out there and play our game. I think we faced him twice this year before tonight's game. So just like I say, create a good game plan and a good approach for the lineup and try to score early in the game and go from there.

Q. There's been a lot of off days for you guys during this postseason. For a sport that you guys play every day during the regular season, how difficult of an adjustment has that been in October to have, stop and start and have so many off days?

JOSÉ ALTUVE: I think we've been doing good. That's why I think we are here. Since the start of playoff, we've been playing good ball and just, we are in the World Series, so that means we as a team are doing good.

Q. How did the rally with consecutive hits, which had been kind of missing for a while, how did that allow the lineup as a whole to relax?

JOSÉ ALTUVE: I think that was a good inning, obviously, for us last night. It was the only inning where we scored some runs and good enough to win the game. Yeah, we got like three hits in a row, and then Álvarez got a hit and Bregy with the big double and then a Zack fly and another hit by Yuli. I think it was a great inning, good at-bats in a row that. Yeah, sometimes you're going to do that, sometimes not. That's why it's baseball. And just happy that we could do that yesterday and allow us to win the game and tie the series.

Q. Last night was obviously pretty historic for the franchise, for baseball in general. Realmuto and Rob Thomson kind of just said, hey, one game, got to move on. What about you guys, though, how do you move on from such a historic night to this goal?

JOSÉ ALTUVE: Same thing. We move on. Obviously the game yesterday was great, but we got to go out there and win tonight. It's a tied series, so I think tonight's game is probably the most important game for both sides. So I know we both are going to try to win it and go from there.

Q. You've won a World Series. You might win another here in a few days. You've won multiple batting championships. What would you like to accomplish in this game that you haven't yet?

JOSÉ ALTUVE: I want to win this year, obviously. That's why we are here. I think just, I just like to take it one day at a time. My goal is to win tonight's game and then win another one and be able to win this World Series, and then go from there.

Maybe my next goal is win another World Series. So I just like to think about today's game and, like I said, it's going to be a big game for both teams and we're going to do everything we can to win it.

Q. You were asked about Verlander. Your faith in him on this stage, everybody's well aware of his World Series record, but Alex explained to us tonight, you've seen him pitch so well so many times that this team perhaps has the ultimate faith that he'll go out and deliver tonight.

JOSÉ ALTUVE: No, obviously we have faith in him. He's been a great pitcher. Like you said, not only this year, but all his career. And he got a Cy Young, MVP, all that kind of stuff. We as a team, we are really happy that he's our guy tonight.

Q. You've played at, your home park your whole career has been Minute Maid Park and the season is going to end there again. What do you like about that ballpark? What do you like about playing in Houston maybe compared to other places? And maybe especially these last few years where it's tough for you guys on the road from fans, but in Houston they always love you, what do you like about that?

JOSÉ ALTUVE: I think that our fans are great. They support us no matter the situation we're at. For us as a team, that's our motivation, like daily motivation, to go out there. And it seems like every time we win a game, it's our way to pay them back for all the support and motivation that they give us every day.