December 23, 2024 • 11 mins
Christian Walker is the Astros first baseman, on a new 3-year deal. He talks about why he chose the Astros. Plus, what he knows about the Astros organization and what he expects to add to this clubhouse.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hello everybody. Today, we Houston Astros signed Christian Walker to
a three year deal in our pursuit to maintain a
team that's going to be at the top of the division.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (00:11):
You know, we pursue guys that have really good ability
to hit and have power and defense. And we're excited
about signing Christian. And you know when you when you
make this type of signing, you know it's exciting for
the organization. We're all fired up because we're we're at
in the bat that we could put right in the
(00:31):
middle of the lineup. It's a plug and play and
we're really thrilled that you know, we got them. We
welcome them here to Houston. Uh, this is going to
be a wonderful place for him to play. We love it.
We we we we love winning here and we love
we were glad that you're a big part of this.
And Amanda, we appreciate you coming today and we appreciate
(00:53):
having you too. Welcome to Houston. Uh, I think you're
gonna love this family here. This is a family of winning.
We care and we love baseball around here. Hey, Christian, welcome.
Understanding that money and years kind of went out at
the end of the day. But uh, they added Tony
Paris Chica this offseason.
Speaker 3 (01:10):
I guess can you describe kind of what he meant
to you in Arizona and how much you're looking forward
to working with him here.
Speaker 4 (01:16):
Yeah, I would say that that Tony has changed my
career for sure, crossing paths with him. I guess it
was maybe seven years ago. You know, instant credibility when
when you're coaching guys like Paul Goldschmidt and Nick I
ed in the infield, so it was easy to start
listening to him from the jump. But yeah, he's a
(01:36):
big reason why my defense is the way it is.
I'm very excited to work with him again, and I
think it's a great move bringing him on board. He uh,
he makes a difference when when you know, you think
about moving the needle on a team, but you know,
a defense and an infield, he's uh, he's the guy
you want for sure.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
Welcome to Houston. Thoughts on from AFAR watching this organization,
the track record they've had over the last decade, Uh,
what attracted your most to what they've done here, what
they've been able accomplished and the players that have gotten
in place already to keep this thing going.
Speaker 5 (02:11):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (02:11):
Absolutely. You know the word you hear a lot is
is culture. You know for me, that that's that's knowing
how to win, that's being used to winning, that's expecting
to win. But but there's this other angle of of
playing with an edge. You know, when you're out in
the field and you're looking at the energy and opposing dugout,
you can tell when teams have it or don't. And
(02:31):
you know, I've been I've been watching this this team
for a while now, and you know that edge, the energy,
the the expectation. You can tell that they're going out there,
you know, with a standard, and I'm very excited to
be a part of it.
Speaker 5 (02:45):
Acrision.
Speaker 4 (02:45):
We'll conkle here with Fox First, Well, welcome to Texas man.
Did you get to talk to any of the guys
throughout the process here that are on the team, and
if so, who would you talk to? What they say
about maybe a sales pitch? Yeah, honestly, you know, there
there wasn't much sales pitch needed. You know, we're were
very excited from from the jump. I crossed paths with
with Hater way back in the day. We came up
(03:06):
with Baltimore together and so so we were teammates in
low A at one point. So he reached out. Lance
reached out pretty immediately, all all the staff, all the coaches.
You know, it's been it's been great. It's been nothing
but but warm welcomes. But yeah, honestly, there there wasn't
much convincing needed at all. We were excited right from
the get go.
Speaker 6 (03:28):
He Christian, just what made this a good fit?
Speaker 3 (03:30):
What were your priorities, I guess going into the free
agency and what made this a good.
Speaker 1 (03:34):
Fit for you?
Speaker 5 (03:35):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (03:35):
Absolutely, you know, wanting to win for sure, that that
was That was it. I feel like approaching free agency,
it's it's it's pretty unpredictable at times. So so feeling
like you had a decision to make, you know, it's
it's exciting and there's a lot that comes into it.
But you know, at the end of the day, showing
up to a clubhouse where you win, it makes everything
better of you know, I've experienced the other side of
(03:57):
that at times, and you know that that energy is
is it can be weird. So you know, to come
up to the ballpark every day and and you know
there's a standard and and you know what you're getting,
you know, what to expect, you know, from from a
fan base, from your teammates, from your staff. It's it's uh,
it's it's everything that we were looking for. Checked a
(04:19):
lot of boxes for us.
Speaker 3 (04:23):
Christian. I don't know how hands on you were in
the process, but when did the Astros reach out and
just given kind of they've been doing a lot of
different things this winter, were you at all surprised to
hear from them?
Speaker 2 (04:33):
Uh?
Speaker 4 (04:34):
Surprise, No, No, I think for you know, once once
free agency was you know, approaching a man and I
this this was one of our teams that that we
were hoping, you know, it would work out with for
for a while now, and I think, uh, it happened
pretty quick, you know, there was they were circling. It's
(04:57):
this is my first time going through free agency, so
I didn't really what to expect, but you know, it's
it's circling, circling, circling, and then you know it's it's
real interest and it happens quick. We had some momentum.
We wanted to get it done, they wanted to get
it done. It was it was a no brainer.
Speaker 6 (05:15):
Jason Bristol khow U, CBS Houston. Are your thoughts on
the short porch and left or does it matter?
Speaker 4 (05:23):
You know, I guess it doesn't matter. Try not to
change who I am at the plate, but very excited
about that short porch. You know, playing and chase for
so long, it's it's a big park and this can
be at times too. But yeah, I think I think
the the atmosphere on the field as an opposing player
is it's fun to play, and it's it's a challenge.
You know, the crowd gets loud, it's an intimate environment.
(05:45):
The roof, you know, it makes it loud, and you
know that that porch out there is is tempting for sure.
I'm i'm uh, I'm excited.
Speaker 5 (05:56):
Hey, Dana, with the issues you guys have had at
first base over the past, cool beers. How big and
important is it to get a player of his caliber
to come in here and kind of provide some stability
at that position.
Speaker 1 (06:07):
Yeah. Absolutely. You know, one of the things we from
our valuation standpoint, we knew we had to get better
at first base, and so you know, we look at
the scouting side and the data side and information, and
then we also look at the human being and we
knew that he was a special human being and he
could check the box of looking good to the scouting eye,
and he could check the box with all the data
(06:28):
and information, and so we knew that he would fulfill
all of that, and so we pursued him. And we're
excited to have him because we know that we're going
to have a really good first baseman that could defend
and also hit the ball in the seats from time
to time. And he knows how to run the bases
and do a lot of the little things the right
way too, so and I think he's bringing some leadership
(06:49):
to the ball club as well. So we're excited to
have him.
Speaker 3 (06:58):
Dana, obviously, his bat speaks first, but can you speak
to his defense and kind of what you guys, what
you see in him defensively and how he'll help the
right side of yournfield.
Speaker 1 (07:07):
Yeah. I mean I was watching video and I was
getting excited. I started to laugh a little bit, and
so you know, one of the things I always tell
our guys, if you don't catch the ball, you don't
go home at night because the games are long. And
so I'm a big stickler about defense, you know, I
preach it all the time. And you got to catch
the baseball, and you can't give good Major league teams
(07:29):
a lot of outs. And so, you know, getting a
guy like Christian, you know, I think it's going to
take our team to another level. I think, you know,
his defense, you know, we've been missing that at first base.
I think we've been at the bottom, and now you know,
we're getting a guy that's been at the top. So
hopefully he could pull us up and keep things going
(07:50):
in the right direction. Here, Hey, Christian, right, Alexander from
NBC here in Houston. What's sort of your danta mension
leadership as part of what you bring? What is sort
of your leadership.
Speaker 3 (08:02):
Style, and how do you you know, expect to kind
of fit into the clubhouse knowing a few of the
guys that you know, and then in terms of learning
about some of the players that you'll play with.
Speaker 4 (08:10):
Yeah, I'm very excited to get to know my teammates.
You know, the easy answer is I guess the lead
by example type of type of mentality. I take the
game very seriously. I take my preparation very seriously. You know,
I understand everybody has a different angle. Everybody prepares in
their own way, and I respect that for sure. But
(08:31):
at the end of the day, you know, I want
my teammates to be the best version of themselves and
I owe it to them to to to do that
to them. So, you know, preparation is key for me.
And I think, you know, we're all really good at
what we do. And if we can prepare the right
way every day and you know, be good teammates to
each other and treat each other the right way and
treat the game the right way, you know, I don't
think we can lose.
Speaker 3 (08:57):
Hey, Christian, Dana talked a little bit about your sense,
but in your mind, what makes you such a solid
first base?
Speaker 4 (09:05):
You know, first base is uh, it's it's it's a
small part of what's happening on that play. You know,
the ground ball gets hit to one of my infielders,
you know, I'm on the back end of that. And
if if I can be there and and and give
them comfort and confidence. You know, when when my shortstop
blaze out in the hole and he's got to throw
from his knees, I don't want him to have to
worry about making a perfect throw and you know, you know,
(09:28):
turn and let it rip and I'll be there. For you,
I got your back. You know, I pride myself on
picking my guys up, and you know, whether it's a
pitcher or an infielder, you know, for me, it's it's
it's making sure my teammates have have good games, good
years and and can be the best version of themselves.
Speaker 5 (09:48):
Christian, you know, and you mentioned why you wanted to
come here because of the team, But do you know
much about the city itself and are you looking forward
to anything particular about living here.
Speaker 4 (09:57):
I don't know much about the city. I'm most excited
for the food. I love to eat, I love to cook.
The barbecue scene has me has me very interested, but
very very much looking forward to to learning about the city.
And Houston's one of those cities, right h town. It's it.
It fires me up to be a part of it
and get to know it.
Speaker 6 (10:29):
Christian, just curious your perspective on a player like Josel Tuvey,
who has been the foundational piece of this organization, watching
him from afar now getting to be his teammate, just
kind of thoughts on him.
Speaker 4 (10:39):
Yeah, there's there's something special about somebody who can play
this game at a high level for so long and
it's so consistent that that fascinates me. I want to know,
you know, his mentality, I want to know, right, the motivation.
Speaker 2 (10:58):
All of it.
Speaker 4 (10:59):
It's it's obviously the skill and the ability to hit
and compete and and be a leader on this team.
That's that's had a lot of success. But you know,
I get a chance to learn from jose al two. Nothing,
nothing really gets better than.
Speaker 6 (11:11):
That, Dana, because change is so inevitable in this game.
Have you reached out to any of the leaders of
this team, like jose al To and discussed gotten feedback
on some of these moves that have been made.
Speaker 1 (11:25):
Yeah, So I pretty much leave that up to Joe.
You know, Joe's been in touch with those guys consistently.
You know, he's done that, We've done that this way
in the past, and so I think the guys are
really fired up and excited. And every time that we
do something here, Joe will pick up the phone to
call me and say, Hey, I've spoke to this person.
I've spoke to that person. The guys are fired up,
(11:48):
and I think, you know, when you start adding pieces
that could hit in the middle of the lineup and
they could really play good defense. I think that's a
good reason to get fired up, and I think the
guys are really, really fired up.
Hello everybody. Today, we Houston Astros signed Christian Walker to
a three year deal in our pursuit to maintain a
team that's going to be at the top of the division.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (00:11):
You know, we pursue guys that have really good ability
to hit and have power and defense. And we're excited
about signing Christian. And you know when you when you
make this type of signing, you know it's exciting for
the organization. We're all fired up because we're we're at
in the bat that we could put right in the
(00:31):
middle of the lineup. It's a plug and play and
we're really thrilled that you know, we got them. We
welcome them here to Houston. Uh, this is going to
be a wonderful place for him to play. We love it.
We we we we love winning here and we love
we were glad that you're a big part of this.
And Amanda, we appreciate you coming today and we appreciate
(00:53):
having you too. Welcome to Houston. Uh, I think you're
gonna love this family here. This is a family of winning.
We care and we love baseball around here. Hey, Christian, welcome.
Understanding that money and years kind of went out at
the end of the day. But uh, they added Tony
Paris Chica this offseason.
Speaker 3 (01:10):
I guess can you describe kind of what he meant
to you in Arizona and how much you're looking forward
to working with him here.
Speaker 4 (01:16):
Yeah, I would say that that Tony has changed my
career for sure, crossing paths with him. I guess it
was maybe seven years ago. You know, instant credibility when
when you're coaching guys like Paul Goldschmidt and Nick I
ed in the infield, so it was easy to start
listening to him from the jump. But yeah, he's a
(01:36):
big reason why my defense is the way it is.
I'm very excited to work with him again, and I
think it's a great move bringing him on board. He uh,
he makes a difference when when you know, you think
about moving the needle on a team, but you know,
a defense and an infield, he's uh, he's the guy
you want for sure.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
Welcome to Houston. Thoughts on from AFAR watching this organization,
the track record they've had over the last decade, Uh,
what attracted your most to what they've done here, what
they've been able accomplished and the players that have gotten
in place already to keep this thing going.
Speaker 5 (02:11):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (02:11):
Absolutely. You know the word you hear a lot is
is culture. You know for me, that that's that's knowing
how to win, that's being used to winning, that's expecting
to win. But but there's this other angle of of
playing with an edge. You know, when you're out in
the field and you're looking at the energy and opposing dugout,
you can tell when teams have it or don't. And
(02:31):
you know, I've been I've been watching this this team
for a while now, and you know that edge, the energy,
the the expectation. You can tell that they're going out there,
you know, with a standard, and I'm very excited to
be a part of it.
Speaker 5 (02:45):
Acrision.
Speaker 4 (02:45):
We'll conkle here with Fox First, Well, welcome to Texas man.
Did you get to talk to any of the guys
throughout the process here that are on the team, and
if so, who would you talk to? What they say
about maybe a sales pitch? Yeah, honestly, you know, there
there wasn't much sales pitch needed. You know, we're were
very excited from from the jump. I crossed paths with
with Hater way back in the day. We came up
(03:06):
with Baltimore together and so so we were teammates in
low A at one point. So he reached out. Lance
reached out pretty immediately, all all the staff, all the coaches.
You know, it's been it's been great. It's been nothing
but but warm welcomes. But yeah, honestly, there there wasn't
much convincing needed at all. We were excited right from
the get go.
Speaker 6 (03:28):
He Christian, just what made this a good fit?
Speaker 3 (03:30):
What were your priorities, I guess going into the free
agency and what made this a good.
Speaker 1 (03:34):
Fit for you?
Speaker 5 (03:35):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (03:35):
Absolutely, you know, wanting to win for sure, that that
was That was it. I feel like approaching free agency,
it's it's it's pretty unpredictable at times. So so feeling
like you had a decision to make, you know, it's
it's exciting and there's a lot that comes into it.
But you know, at the end of the day, showing
up to a clubhouse where you win, it makes everything
better of you know, I've experienced the other side of
(03:57):
that at times, and you know that that energy is
is it can be weird. So you know, to come
up to the ballpark every day and and you know
there's a standard and and you know what you're getting,
you know, what to expect, you know, from from a
fan base, from your teammates, from your staff. It's it's uh,
it's it's everything that we were looking for. Checked a
(04:19):
lot of boxes for us.
Speaker 3 (04:23):
Christian. I don't know how hands on you were in
the process, but when did the Astros reach out and
just given kind of they've been doing a lot of
different things this winter, were you at all surprised to
hear from them?
Speaker 2 (04:33):
Uh?
Speaker 4 (04:34):
Surprise, No, No, I think for you know, once once
free agency was you know, approaching a man and I
this this was one of our teams that that we
were hoping, you know, it would work out with for
for a while now, and I think, uh, it happened
pretty quick, you know, there was they were circling. It's
(04:57):
this is my first time going through free agency, so
I didn't really what to expect, but you know, it's
it's circling, circling, circling, and then you know it's it's
real interest and it happens quick. We had some momentum.
We wanted to get it done, they wanted to get
it done. It was it was a no brainer.
Speaker 6 (05:15):
Jason Bristol khow U, CBS Houston. Are your thoughts on
the short porch and left or does it matter?
Speaker 4 (05:23):
You know, I guess it doesn't matter. Try not to
change who I am at the plate, but very excited
about that short porch. You know, playing and chase for
so long, it's it's a big park and this can
be at times too. But yeah, I think I think
the the atmosphere on the field as an opposing player
is it's fun to play, and it's it's a challenge.
You know, the crowd gets loud, it's an intimate environment.
(05:45):
The roof, you know, it makes it loud, and you
know that that porch out there is is tempting for sure.
I'm i'm uh, I'm excited.
Speaker 5 (05:56):
Hey, Dana, with the issues you guys have had at
first base over the past, cool beers. How big and
important is it to get a player of his caliber
to come in here and kind of provide some stability
at that position.
Speaker 1 (06:07):
Yeah. Absolutely. You know, one of the things we from
our valuation standpoint, we knew we had to get better
at first base, and so you know, we look at
the scouting side and the data side and information, and
then we also look at the human being and we
knew that he was a special human being and he
could check the box of looking good to the scouting eye,
and he could check the box with all the data
(06:28):
and information, and so we knew that he would fulfill
all of that, and so we pursued him. And we're
excited to have him because we know that we're going
to have a really good first baseman that could defend
and also hit the ball in the seats from time
to time. And he knows how to run the bases
and do a lot of the little things the right
way too, so and I think he's bringing some leadership
(06:49):
to the ball club as well. So we're excited to
have him.
Speaker 3 (06:58):
Dana, obviously, his bat speaks first, but can you speak
to his defense and kind of what you guys, what
you see in him defensively and how he'll help the
right side of yournfield.
Speaker 1 (07:07):
Yeah. I mean I was watching video and I was
getting excited. I started to laugh a little bit, and
so you know, one of the things I always tell
our guys, if you don't catch the ball, you don't
go home at night because the games are long. And
so I'm a big stickler about defense, you know, I
preach it all the time. And you got to catch
the baseball, and you can't give good Major league teams
(07:29):
a lot of outs. And so, you know, getting a
guy like Christian, you know, I think it's going to
take our team to another level. I think, you know,
his defense, you know, we've been missing that at first base.
I think we've been at the bottom, and now you know,
we're getting a guy that's been at the top. So
hopefully he could pull us up and keep things going
(07:50):
in the right direction. Here, Hey, Christian, right, Alexander from
NBC here in Houston. What's sort of your danta mension
leadership as part of what you bring? What is sort
of your leadership.
Speaker 3 (08:02):
Style, and how do you you know, expect to kind
of fit into the clubhouse knowing a few of the
guys that you know, and then in terms of learning
about some of the players that you'll play with.
Speaker 4 (08:10):
Yeah, I'm very excited to get to know my teammates.
You know, the easy answer is I guess the lead
by example type of type of mentality. I take the
game very seriously. I take my preparation very seriously. You know,
I understand everybody has a different angle. Everybody prepares in
their own way, and I respect that for sure. But
(08:31):
at the end of the day, you know, I want
my teammates to be the best version of themselves and
I owe it to them to to to do that
to them. So, you know, preparation is key for me.
And I think, you know, we're all really good at
what we do. And if we can prepare the right
way every day and you know, be good teammates to
each other and treat each other the right way and
treat the game the right way, you know, I don't
think we can lose.
Speaker 3 (08:57):
Hey, Christian, Dana talked a little bit about your sense,
but in your mind, what makes you such a solid
first base?
Speaker 4 (09:05):
You know, first base is uh, it's it's it's a
small part of what's happening on that play. You know,
the ground ball gets hit to one of my infielders,
you know, I'm on the back end of that. And
if if I can be there and and and give
them comfort and confidence. You know, when when my shortstop
blaze out in the hole and he's got to throw
from his knees, I don't want him to have to
worry about making a perfect throw and you know, you know,
(09:28):
turn and let it rip and I'll be there. For you,
I got your back. You know, I pride myself on
picking my guys up, and you know, whether it's a
pitcher or an infielder, you know, for me, it's it's
it's making sure my teammates have have good games, good
years and and can be the best version of themselves.
Speaker 5 (09:48):
Christian, you know, and you mentioned why you wanted to
come here because of the team, But do you know
much about the city itself and are you looking forward
to anything particular about living here.
Speaker 4 (09:57):
I don't know much about the city. I'm most excited
for the food. I love to eat, I love to cook.
The barbecue scene has me has me very interested, but
very very much looking forward to to learning about the city.
And Houston's one of those cities, right h town. It's it.
It fires me up to be a part of it
and get to know it.
Speaker 6 (10:29):
Christian, just curious your perspective on a player like Josel Tuvey,
who has been the foundational piece of this organization, watching
him from afar now getting to be his teammate, just
kind of thoughts on him.
Speaker 4 (10:39):
Yeah, there's there's something special about somebody who can play
this game at a high level for so long and
it's so consistent that that fascinates me. I want to know,
you know, his mentality, I want to know, right, the motivation.
Speaker 2 (10:58):
All of it.
Speaker 4 (10:59):
It's it's obviously the skill and the ability to hit
and compete and and be a leader on this team.
That's that's had a lot of success. But you know,
I get a chance to learn from jose al two. Nothing,
nothing really gets better than.
Speaker 6 (11:11):
That, Dana, because change is so inevitable in this game.
Have you reached out to any of the leaders of
this team, like jose al To and discussed gotten feedback
on some of these moves that have been made.
Speaker 1 (11:25):
Yeah, So I pretty much leave that up to Joe.
You know, Joe's been in touch with those guys consistently.
You know, he's done that, We've done that this way
in the past, and so I think the guys are
really fired up and excited. And every time that we
do something here, Joe will pick up the phone to
call me and say, Hey, I've spoke to this person.
I've spoke to that person. The guys are fired up,
(11:48):
and I think, you know, when you start adding pieces
that could hit in the middle of the lineup and
they could really play good defense. I think that's a
good reason to get fired up, and I think the
guys are really, really fired up.
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