The next big thing
Patrick Creighton: Kyle Tucker will be an Astro soon
Mar 27, 2018, 6:47 am
Kyle Tucker should be back in an Astros uniform soon. Rich Schultz
A big groan just came over the crowd the Minute Maid Park. Kyle Tucker had just slashed a two-seamer down the left field line that just missed staying fair. On the first pitch he saw, he came a foot from giving the Astros the lead.
Back to the box, the Astros top hitting prospect tried again. Down 0-1, he got a curve, and he annihilated it.
The second pitch Kyle Tucker saw, he deposited 335 feet into the right field seats for a grand slam that send the announced crowd of 20,276 into exaltation.
It was the only at bat Tucker would get on Monday night, and it wasn’t the biggest bright spot of his spring training, just the cherry on top of a torrid spring where he is currently hitting a ridiculous .439 with 5 HR and 21 RBI in merely 41 AB. The 21 RBI lead all of baseball this spring. He’s scored 13 runs, and posted a video game style 1.345 OPS. His bat has spoken loud and clear to Jeff Luhnow and the Astros:
“I’ll be back.”
(Did you read that in your Arnold voice? Did you just re-read it in your Arnold voice? Of course you did).
Tucker has served notice to the big league team that he is ready to go. He has also served notice directly to Derek Fisher that if Fisher doesn’t hit, he’s going to sit, because Kyle is coming for that job.
The Astros have a history of being patient with their call ups. Under the current administration, Houston has been very wary of Super 2 deadlines, and waiting to call a player up until after they feel it’s safe that the player will not achieve Super 2 status. That is likely the only reason we will have to wait until mid-June or later to see Tucker in an Astros uniform, barring major injury. While a September call-up may have been the plan before spring started, his performance has clearly accelerated that timetable.
What Tucker is done is exactly why I wrote back on Feb. 12 that there was no chance Tucker was being traded (certainly not for J.T. Realmuto!). Jeff Luhnow knew exactly what he has in Tucker, which is a franchise caliber corner outfielder. Luhnow exercised the same strategy in how he approached teams asking for Tucker as he did last season when teams asked for Alex Bregman in trade – by telling GMs they had no chance.
Last season Luhnow made it a point that no matter what, Bregman would be an Astro. Tucker will also be an Astro, and after this spring, much sooner than later.
The Astros are an embarrassment of riches offensively, and Tucker is a pile of gold being kept in the safe until needed.
Kyle Tucker knew March 18 he wasn’t making the Opening Day roster. If he continues to rake at Triple-A even close to the way he has in Spring Training, he could very well be in the starting lineup by the All Star Break.
The “Fresno Watch”’ will be underway very quickly this season.
See you soon, Kyle.
Patrick Creighton hosts “Nate & Creight” Mon-Fri 1-3p on SportsMap 94.1FM, and “Sports & Shenanigans” Sundays 12-5p CT on SB Nation Radio. Follow him on Twitter: @pcreighton1
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C.J. Stroud and the Houston Texans are looking for answers after their passing game couldn’t get going in a loss to the Green Bay Packers.
Houston’s passing attack had been a strength all season, and the Texans ranked fifth in yards passing per game through their first six games. But on Sunday at Lambeau Field, Stroud was limited to a career-low 86 yards in the 24-22 loss, which snapped a three-game winning streak.
Stroud was 10 of 21 and didn’t have a touchdown pass for the first time this season. The second-year player was under duress for much of the day and was sacked four times and hit seven other times.
“We have to go back to the drawing board and see what those issues were,” coach DeMeco Ryans said. “As we watch the film, we’ll see what happened, starting for me the communication and just guys being on the details of the job.”
'Everything is on the table. We have to get it fixed' #Texans coach DeMeco Ryans on offensive line and if personnel changes are being contemplated @KPRC2 pic.twitter.com/AwK0rqeU2z
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) October 21, 2024
The Texans scored a season-high 41 points in a win over New England a week earlier in which Stroud threw a season-best three touchdown passes despite being without star receiver Nico Collins.
They were unable to replicate that success Sunday with Collins out for the second of at least four games after a hamstring injury landed him on injured reserve.
Stefon Diggs led the team with five receptions against the Packers, but they only amounted to 23 yards. Tank Dell, who the Texans expected to step up with Collins out, was targeted four times but didn’t have a catch.
Stroud discussed the importance of getting Dell more involved in the offense.
“We have to find a way to try and get him the rock early and often and then go from there,” he said. “It has to be a focus for us, not only just him, but the whole offense clicking early. That is really my job to get the ball out on time and to where it is supposed to go. So yeah, that definitely has to be fixed.”
Ryans spoke about his confidence is getting Dell going.
'I have all the faith in Tank' #Texans coach DeMeco Ryans expressed confidence in Tank Dell ability to get back to making explosive plays again as he did as a rookie @KPRC2 pic.twitter.com/bojBEx3lYo
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) October 21, 2024
What's working
The Texans have forced seven turnovers combined in their last two games after they hadn’t caused any in their previous three games.
Houston scored 16 points off three turnovers Sunday. The Texans had two interceptions and recovered a fumble on a punt. In their win over the Patriots, they scored 17 points off a season-high four turnovers.
What needs help
The Texans won’t get to where they want to be this season if Stroud doesn’t get back on track. Before Sunday, last year’s AP Offensive Rookie of the Year was averaging more than 262 yards passing a game, giving the team confidence that the problems in the passing game are fixable.
Ryans knows the line must give Stroud more time to throw and said the coaching staff will focus on improving in that area this week.
Stock up
RB Joe Mixon continued to shine Sunday in his second game back after missing three games with an ankle injury. Mixon, who is in his first season in Houston after a trade from Cincinnati, had 25 carries for 115 yards and two touchdowns against Green Bay.
Mixon is confident the Texans will rebound this week if they quit making mistakes.
“Does it look I’m worried? I’m not worried at all,” he said. “Like I said, we got a ... good football team. At the end of the day, we are our own worst enemy.”
Stock down
Dell was unable to help Stroud get the passing game going. The second-year player had a solid rookie season with 709 yards receiving and seven touchdowns in 11 games before breaking his leg. But he hasn’t been able to build on that success this year and has just 194 yards receiving with one score in six games.
Injuries
LB Azeez Al-Shaair (knee), LB Henry To’oTo’o (concussion), CB Kamari Lassiter (shoulder) and S Jimmie Ward (groin) all missed Sunday’s game and it’s unclear if any of these starters can return this week.
Key number
3 — Safety Calen Bullock had his third interception Sunday to tie Dunta Robinson and Jumal Rolle for most interceptions by a rookie in franchise history through the first seven games. He leads NFL rookies in interceptions this season and is tied for third-most among all players.
Next steps
The AFC South-leading Texans (5-2) return to division play Sunday when they host the second-place Colts (4-3), who have won two in a row and four of five.