Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Astro outfielder Zach Descenzo is a guest here on The
Matt Thomas Show with Ross Zachets Meant and Ross. How
are you doing and how's the weather in Florida today?
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Hey, guys, I'm doing good man, Thanks for having me on.
I'm down here in Tampa right now. It's hot to
say at least, man, it's hot, so we're enjoying it though.
Speaker 1 (00:21):
Hey, you know what you can do? Tell Skip Look,
I want to play as much as I can, but
don't put me out there tomorrow.
Speaker 3 (00:26):
It's so damn hot at one o'clock in Tampa. FLOORA.
That's ridiculous.
Speaker 1 (00:30):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
Yeah, it's gonna be hot one tomorrow for sure, boys.
But I'm happy to be in the line up either ways.
Speaker 1 (00:35):
All right, before we get to some baseball, let's get
to some football conversation. First of all, where were you
were at the National Championship game?
Speaker 3 (00:41):
Is that correct?
Speaker 2 (00:43):
Yes, sir, Yeah, Me and a couple of my buddies
from my high sta We made the trip down in
Atlanta and we were able to get to that game.
Speaker 3 (00:49):
It was awesome.
Speaker 1 (00:50):
And you were at the fifty yard line because you're
a major league professional athlete, you live your high life,
you spend no amount of money. Exactly how far were
you from the field itself?
Speaker 2 (01:00):
Unfortunately not man, we ended up getting some those bleats,
but uh, just the fact that we were able to
get some tickets was awesome. My buddy's dad had some
season tickets, got them for a little bit of discount,
so we couldn't pass up on the on the opportunity,
you know what I mean.
Speaker 1 (01:15):
So you got none of the the beach of the
Beard die of Ryan Day on your body.
Speaker 3 (01:20):
At this point, you're trying to tell us that's right,
that's right, Yeah, all right, Well, now how hard did
you party after the championship?
Speaker 2 (01:30):
We? Uh, we didn't party too hard, man. You know,
I'm I'm in the off season. I'm I'm focused on
on on baseball, still trying to enjoy enjoying life and
and go do some things that I want to do,
you know. But we uh definitely went and had a
celibratory beverage afterwards and back to the back to the hotel.
So that was about it, all right.
Speaker 1 (01:50):
Well, congratulations on your success so far as young Major
leaguer and your championship Ohio State buck Guys, it has
been interesting the amount of games, moving around, getting days off,
playing a little bit here and there. I mean that
you're not out of the ordinary doing that. So any
advice and who's giving you the best advice? Did you
kind of work your way through your first full season
as a major leaguer.
Speaker 2 (02:11):
Yeah, I've been blessed to have some great teammates on
this team, guys that have been in my shoes coming
up as a rookie and you know, not necessarily being
everyday guys, you know, right away and having to earn
their stripes and pay their dues, so to speak. So
for me, you know, Jake Myers has been a huge,
huge guy to lean on. You know, he's an outfielder
(02:33):
quartered best from the game, and his first two years
in the big league, you know, he was kind of
in and out as well. So he's been He's been awesome.
So to talk to Victor Carrottin, he's another guy. You know,
he is getting a lot more playing time recently, but
you know he's prized himself on his preparation and coming
in and pitch his situations. Uh he and he produces.
He does it with the best of them. And the
(02:54):
third guy that comes to mind, as Christian Walker. Man,
you look at look back at his career and what
he's gone through, and uh, you know where he's at
now and how long it's kind of took him to
establish himself. He's been another guy to lean on for me.
Speaker 4 (03:06):
I'm glad you mentioned Jake Myers as somebody you've been
getting along with. He's because he tries to call you
off everything when he's out there in the outfield, doesn't.
Speaker 2 (03:13):
He He does, He takes charge. He's a leader, uh
he uh. And he can cover some ground. Man, he
can cover some ground. So I kind of let him
do his thing. But uh, we're we're both warming up
to each other. You know, we're getting more familiar with
the you.
Speaker 1 (03:27):
Know what, he's Zach. He's being cocky. He's like, I
cover more center field than anybody else. Get out of
my wife. I'm already covering the old man. Val two
Bay's back. I'll carry your.
Speaker 3 (03:35):
Side if I need to. I don't don't buy his crap.
I'm serious. He's a fraud.
Speaker 2 (03:41):
That's fine with me. As long as the ball gets
coffering out, you know, that's all that matters.
Speaker 1 (03:45):
Yeah, Hey, you got twelve and left field eleven and right.
Tell me tell the different nuances for yourself playing each
one of those corner positions.
Speaker 2 (03:54):
Yeah, everybody asked me, you know, do you feel a difference,
And I'm like, you know what, Like I feel like
you just stick me, stick me out out there at
either spot. I feel like, you know, pretty comfortable. So
that's the most important thing, is just comfortability and uh
just going to make plays, cut the ball, get you out,
and uh, you know, keep it simple. So, uh, I
think each park that I've played at so far, you know,
(04:14):
presents some different some different things, different nuances, Like you said,
like playing and left and Mini Made for example is
or sorry, Dyking Park is a lot different than playing
left field and uh in Kansas City or you know, Texas.
So it's you know, you's got to kind of learn
the parks and learn different intricacies of each of each position.
Speaker 4 (04:34):
And do you have to just react differently depending on
lefties and right out there and spin off the bat
and all that type of stuff out there in the
outfield as well.
Speaker 2 (04:44):
Yeah, the spins are you know, I'm still I'm still
kind of uh, you know, experimenting learning you know, some
of the spins coming off the bat with different players,
But uh, you know, for the most part, I understand,
you know, if I'm playing the opposite field left, the
hitter I'm playing, I'm playing left, left field, right, You're
gonna I left. He spent same thing for rightfield with
a ready with a ready uh ready spin. So it's
(05:04):
I kind of treat him, treat them both the same
wherever I'm at.
Speaker 4 (05:07):
So Zach Dezenzo with us here on Sports Talk seven ninety,
What has it been like for you as far as
mentally and going to the ballpark in conversations either with Joe,
a spotter or others. Uh, when you're gonna play, what
time do they look for pockets? Are you getting the
lineup a couple of days in a row? What is
that like for you kind of mentally to go through?
Speaker 2 (05:29):
Yeah, well it was. It was definitely definitely different, you know,
to start the year not being in the lineup, getting
you know, start every you know, once once a week
or so. Definitely different. You know, I'm used to coming
up and do the minor league. He's being in that,
being that every day middle of the order guy, you know, So, uh,
it was different. But Joe, like I've said before, Joe
(05:50):
is a great communicator, he's a great leader, and uh,
he's made a very well known to me up front
early on this season. What what's the expectation was for me?
You know, for me, that is, uh, he's gonna try
to get to give me a line up as much
as he can, and if I'm producing it on playing well,
then then we're gonna we're gonna keep rolling and he's
gonna keep sticking me out there.
Speaker 3 (06:10):
So last question for you, Zach.
Speaker 1 (06:13):
Look, the offense has had its ups and downs, clearly,
and you're still winning baseball games. But the defense has
been absolutely fantastic. And look, you've certainly shown yourself with
your versatility. Does that that's kind of good pressure, it
feels like, because when the bats aren't doing their best
to be able to have the outfield and the guys
in the infield. Two plays last night at the end
of the game were really special. The way they that
(06:35):
the plays were made by Perettis and by al Twove.
It kind of puts a little bit of you know what,
I can handle whatever response was given to me, and
I if I need to make a play like that,
they just say at ball game, I can do that
as well.
Speaker 2 (06:48):
Yeah, man, it's it's great. Our defense, Like you said,
it's been been awesome. We have a lot of versatility
in our on our roster, and I think that helps
us in a lot of different ways. I pride myself
on that, just being versus Tyle playing multiple positions and
uh being having Joe be able to stick me in
the lineup, you know, wherever wherever need be is is
(07:09):
super important. I think the addition of of coach Tony
Preschka this this year has been awesome. He's great working
with our infielders. He does a really good job. And
as well as as Jason Bellman, I got to give
credit to him. He's been working with our outfielders, working
with me a lot and putting us in, putting us
in great spots and and positions to make plays and
uh and do a good job defensively.
Speaker 3 (07:30):
All right, So Texas plays Ohio Satan Football this year?
Speaker 2 (07:33):
Right?
Speaker 3 (07:33):
Is it open up the year? Is that correct? That's correct?
Who do you got in that game?
Speaker 2 (07:36):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (07:37):
Yeah? Who do you have in that game?
Speaker 2 (07:39):
Zach?
Speaker 3 (07:39):
I'm just curious.
Speaker 2 (07:41):
I think I got the buck guys in that game.
And I think I got the buck guys.
Speaker 3 (07:46):
Do you know CJ. Strow much at all. None.
Speaker 1 (07:49):
Zero.
Speaker 2 (07:50):
I don't know him. Uh, I don't know him on
a personal level. We we were both there on campus
at the same time, across the pass maybe once or twice.
But uh, let the chance to maybe you know, get
to know I'm a little bit better and sit down
and meet him sometimes.
Speaker 1 (08:02):
So why don't I do like a ticket trade because
I'm sure your seats for Texans are pretty good and
yours for the Astros can't be that half that half bad, right.
Speaker 2 (08:11):
That's right, Yeah, maybe we can set that up on time.
Speaker 1 (08:12):
All right, Hey, Zach, thank you so much for coming
on the show. Try to stay cool. It's impossible where
you are right now. But hydrated, yes, se hydrated, that's
for sure.
Speaker 3 (08:21):
Thanks for the visit. We really appreciate it. All right, guys,
thank you for you got Zach de Cinzil with us
here on the Matt Thomas Show with Ross. Nice to
have Zach with us.
Astro outfielder Zach Descenzo is a guest here on The
Matt Thomas Show with Ross Zachets Meant and Ross. How
are you doing and how's the weather in Florida today?
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Hey, guys, I'm doing good man, Thanks for having me on.
I'm down here in Tampa right now. It's hot to
say at least, man, it's hot, so we're enjoying it though.
Speaker 1 (00:21):
Hey, you know what you can do? Tell Skip Look,
I want to play as much as I can, but
don't put me out there tomorrow.
Speaker 3 (00:26):
It's so damn hot at one o'clock in Tampa. FLOORA.
That's ridiculous.
Speaker 1 (00:30):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
Yeah, it's gonna be hot one tomorrow for sure, boys.
But I'm happy to be in the line up either ways.
Speaker 1 (00:35):
All right, before we get to some baseball, let's get
to some football conversation. First of all, where were you
were at the National Championship game?
Speaker 3 (00:41):
Is that correct?
Speaker 2 (00:43):
Yes, sir, Yeah, Me and a couple of my buddies
from my high sta We made the trip down in
Atlanta and we were able to get to that game.
Speaker 3 (00:49):
It was awesome.
Speaker 1 (00:50):
And you were at the fifty yard line because you're
a major league professional athlete, you live your high life,
you spend no amount of money. Exactly how far were
you from the field itself?
Speaker 2 (01:00):
Unfortunately not man, we ended up getting some those bleats,
but uh, just the fact that we were able to
get some tickets was awesome. My buddy's dad had some
season tickets, got them for a little bit of discount,
so we couldn't pass up on the on the opportunity,
you know what I mean.
Speaker 1 (01:15):
So you got none of the the beach of the
Beard die of Ryan Day on your body.
Speaker 3 (01:20):
At this point, you're trying to tell us that's right,
that's right, Yeah, all right, Well, now how hard did
you party after the championship?
Speaker 2 (01:30):
We? Uh, we didn't party too hard, man. You know,
I'm I'm in the off season. I'm I'm focused on
on on baseball, still trying to enjoy enjoying life and
and go do some things that I want to do,
you know. But we uh definitely went and had a
celibratory beverage afterwards and back to the back to the hotel.
So that was about it, all right.
Speaker 1 (01:50):
Well, congratulations on your success so far as young Major
leaguer and your championship Ohio State buck Guys, it has
been interesting the amount of games, moving around, getting days off,
playing a little bit here and there. I mean that
you're not out of the ordinary doing that. So any
advice and who's giving you the best advice? Did you
kind of work your way through your first full season
as a major leaguer.
Speaker 2 (02:11):
Yeah, I've been blessed to have some great teammates on
this team, guys that have been in my shoes coming
up as a rookie and you know, not necessarily being
everyday guys, you know, right away and having to earn
their stripes and pay their dues, so to speak. So
for me, you know, Jake Myers has been a huge,
huge guy to lean on. You know, he's an outfielder
(02:33):
quartered best from the game, and his first two years
in the big league, you know, he was kind of
in and out as well. So he's been He's been awesome.
So to talk to Victor Carrottin, he's another guy. You know,
he is getting a lot more playing time recently, but
you know he's prized himself on his preparation and coming
in and pitch his situations. Uh he and he produces.
He does it with the best of them. And the
(02:54):
third guy that comes to mind, as Christian Walker. Man,
you look at look back at his career and what
he's gone through, and uh, you know where he's at
now and how long it's kind of took him to
establish himself. He's been another guy to lean on for me.
Speaker 4 (03:06):
I'm glad you mentioned Jake Myers as somebody you've been
getting along with. He's because he tries to call you
off everything when he's out there in the outfield, doesn't.
Speaker 2 (03:13):
He He does, He takes charge. He's a leader, uh
he uh. And he can cover some ground. Man, he
can cover some ground. So I kind of let him
do his thing. But uh, we're we're both warming up
to each other. You know, we're getting more familiar with
the you.
Speaker 1 (03:27):
Know what, he's Zach. He's being cocky. He's like, I
cover more center field than anybody else. Get out of
my wife. I'm already covering the old man. Val two
Bay's back. I'll carry your.
Speaker 3 (03:35):
Side if I need to. I don't don't buy his crap.
I'm serious. He's a fraud.
Speaker 2 (03:41):
That's fine with me. As long as the ball gets
coffering out, you know, that's all that matters.
Speaker 1 (03:45):
Yeah, Hey, you got twelve and left field eleven and right.
Tell me tell the different nuances for yourself playing each
one of those corner positions.
Speaker 2 (03:54):
Yeah, everybody asked me, you know, do you feel a difference,
And I'm like, you know what, Like I feel like
you just stick me, stick me out out there at
either spot. I feel like, you know, pretty comfortable. So
that's the most important thing, is just comfortability and uh
just going to make plays, cut the ball, get you out,
and uh, you know, keep it simple. So, uh, I
think each park that I've played at so far, you know,
(04:14):
presents some different some different things, different nuances, Like you said,
like playing and left and Mini Made for example is
or sorry, Dyking Park is a lot different than playing
left field and uh in Kansas City or you know, Texas.
So it's you know, you's got to kind of learn
the parks and learn different intricacies of each of each position.
Speaker 4 (04:34):
And do you have to just react differently depending on
lefties and right out there and spin off the bat
and all that type of stuff out there in the
outfield as well.
Speaker 2 (04:44):
Yeah, the spins are you know, I'm still I'm still
kind of uh, you know, experimenting learning you know, some
of the spins coming off the bat with different players,
But uh, you know, for the most part, I understand,
you know, if I'm playing the opposite field left, the
hitter I'm playing, I'm playing left, left field, right, You're
gonna I left. He spent same thing for rightfield with
a ready with a ready uh ready spin. So it's
(05:04):
I kind of treat him, treat them both the same
wherever I'm at.
Speaker 4 (05:07):
So Zach Dezenzo with us here on Sports Talk seven ninety,
What has it been like for you as far as
mentally and going to the ballpark in conversations either with Joe,
a spotter or others. Uh, when you're gonna play, what
time do they look for pockets? Are you getting the
lineup a couple of days in a row? What is
that like for you kind of mentally to go through?
Speaker 2 (05:29):
Yeah, well it was. It was definitely definitely different, you know,
to start the year not being in the lineup, getting
you know, start every you know, once once a week
or so. Definitely different. You know, I'm used to coming
up and do the minor league. He's being in that,
being that every day middle of the order guy, you know, So, uh,
it was different. But Joe, like I've said before, Joe
(05:50):
is a great communicator, he's a great leader, and uh,
he's made a very well known to me up front
early on this season. What what's the expectation was for me?
You know, for me, that is, uh, he's gonna try
to get to give me a line up as much
as he can, and if I'm producing it on playing well,
then then we're gonna we're gonna keep rolling and he's
gonna keep sticking me out there.
Speaker 3 (06:10):
So last question for you, Zach.
Speaker 1 (06:13):
Look, the offense has had its ups and downs, clearly,
and you're still winning baseball games. But the defense has
been absolutely fantastic. And look, you've certainly shown yourself with
your versatility. Does that that's kind of good pressure, it
feels like, because when the bats aren't doing their best
to be able to have the outfield and the guys
in the infield. Two plays last night at the end
of the game were really special. The way they that
(06:35):
the plays were made by Perettis and by al Twove.
It kind of puts a little bit of you know what,
I can handle whatever response was given to me, and
I if I need to make a play like that,
they just say at ball game, I can do that
as well.
Speaker 2 (06:48):
Yeah, man, it's it's great. Our defense, Like you said,
it's been been awesome. We have a lot of versatility
in our on our roster, and I think that helps
us in a lot of different ways. I pride myself
on that, just being versus Tyle playing multiple positions and
uh being having Joe be able to stick me in
the lineup, you know, wherever wherever need be is is
(07:09):
super important. I think the addition of of coach Tony
Preschka this this year has been awesome. He's great working
with our infielders. He does a really good job. And
as well as as Jason Bellman, I got to give
credit to him. He's been working with our outfielders, working
with me a lot and putting us in, putting us
in great spots and and positions to make plays and
uh and do a good job defensively.
Speaker 3 (07:30):
All right, So Texas plays Ohio Satan Football this year?
Speaker 2 (07:33):
Right?
Speaker 3 (07:33):
Is it open up the year? Is that correct? That's correct?
Who do you got in that game?
Speaker 2 (07:36):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (07:37):
Yeah? Who do you have in that game?
Speaker 2 (07:39):
Zach?
Speaker 3 (07:39):
I'm just curious.
Speaker 2 (07:41):
I think I got the buck guys in that game.
And I think I got the buck guys.
Speaker 3 (07:46):
Do you know CJ. Strow much at all. None.
Speaker 1 (07:49):
Zero.
Speaker 2 (07:50):
I don't know him. Uh, I don't know him on
a personal level. We we were both there on campus
at the same time, across the pass maybe once or twice.
But uh, let the chance to maybe you know, get
to know I'm a little bit better and sit down
and meet him sometimes.
Speaker 1 (08:02):
So why don't I do like a ticket trade because
I'm sure your seats for Texans are pretty good and
yours for the Astros can't be that half that half bad, right.
Speaker 2 (08:11):
That's right, Yeah, maybe we can set that up on time.
Speaker 1 (08:12):
All right, Hey, Zach, thank you so much for coming
on the show. Try to stay cool. It's impossible where
you are right now. But hydrated, yes, se hydrated, that's
for sure.
Speaker 3 (08:21):
Thanks for the visit. We really appreciate it. All right, guys,
thank you for you got Zach de Cinzil with us
here on the Matt Thomas Show with Ross. Nice to
have Zach with us.
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