Mariners ALCS News Conference: Dan Wilson

Mariners ALCS News Conference: Dan Wilson

Dan, through these first two games of the ALCS, the bullpen has really just stepped up. Just how impressed have you been by the performance of the relievers and how ecstatic are you that you’re going into these three home games with pretty much all of them on on decent rest? Yeah. Um, you know, this has been down the stretch especially, uh, has been a big strength of ours has been the bullpen and, um, I think the the bullpen and actually the starters work very well together and and the way it has worked out um, has gone, you know, fairly smoothly and and, uh, you know, you give, like we’ve said before, you trust all of our guys and whenever you give them the ball, um, you know, they’re going to do the job and and yesterday was no exception. um you know, a couple of guys giving us a couple of innings uh was huge and and uh you know, allowing the offense to to kind of break it open a little bit and um so it was a a good bullpin series so far and and uh you know, you know, looking for that to continue as we go forward. Questions for Dan in the third row on your left. Dan, in a series and a half now, you’ve seen basically all your pitchers get build up that postseason experience. How have you seen that kind of I don’t know get more them get more relaxed on the mound or be able to uh understand the moment a little bit more? Yeah, I mean obviously that the experience of it is huge and we’ve talked about that um all along just you know getting your feet wet, getting a chance to get out there and get that first one under your belt and um it does take a minute and and uh you know I think uh the way we’ve seen our guys adjust to it, it’s been great. Um you know they again this is a group that’s tight. You know the whole pitching staff together is tight. They share information. and they talk about it, they uh you know, they let each other know what it’s like and so they they’re a little bit more prepared, too. So, um but uh it’s it’s good knowing that um you know, these guys are have had a little bit experience now under their belt and and uh they’re ready to go. We’ll stay over there on on your left. Dan, from your standpoint here to be back in Seattle ahead 20, I mean, what is the word or the feeling I think that you know embodies the team right now when you think about being in this position to come back home and have potentially three in front of you here? Yeah, obviously it’s a very advantageous position. Um, we’re we’re excited about that, but you know, there’s there’s work to do here and and I think the focus is tomorrow night. That’s that’s where our focus goes and um that’s kind of what how we’ve done this, you know, all along is just, you know, we’re taking it one day at a time. You know, it sounds very cliche, but uh you take it one step at a time and and um you know, tomorrow night we’re looking forward to to getting back out there. Uh you know, you know, taking in the atmosphere here at T-Mobile. I know it’s going to be an awesome atmosphere here for baseball. Um, so that that’s where our focus lies. We we get back to work. I think, you know, as we’ve talked about the pitching, it’s been so solid and and offensively able to do some great things. So, both sides of the ball, we just need to continue to keep doing that and and uh, you know, I think that’s that’s the focus going forward. Up front on your left, D. Kind of similar. I was kind of similar question, but I’ll try to go a little deeper. Just the importance of the details. You’ve talked about that from day one. just important to the details, each pitch, each at bat. Yeah, no doubt. Um, you know, I think we’ve seen uh we we talk about the postseason where little things make big differences. We’ve seen that in in in a lot of these postseason games, not just our games, but in all the games. And um so you you you do you focus on the details. You know that each pitch has uh you know, magnified significance. Um you know that each out makes a big difference. Um each at bat can can be huge. So, um, I think we’ve talked about it with our offense that, you know, you start stacking those tough at bats back to back and and over time you start to to wear down pitchers and and that’s when we’re at our best. Um, so yes, each pitch, each at bat, um, those are all very big things here in the postseason and and our guys know that and that’s why our focus continues to be um, you know, tomorrow night and and uh, we’ll get back out on the field and and get started again. Right up front, Dan. kind of continuing on that train of thought of just the subtle differences. You know, ALDS, you guys uh came back home, it was win or go home. You knew the situation, this situation a little bit different, have an opportunity to close it out. Just what is the kind of difference or variation in pressure compared to having that lead with an opportunity to close it out at home compared to, you know, win or go home? Um I I you know, again, I think we take the same mindset. we we go out and and uh we play good baseball tomorrow night. That’s our focus. Um uh and I think um that’s that’s where we’re at as a team and and that that’s where our that’s what our goal is is is uh to come out tomorrow um and continue to do the things we’ve been doing and um that’s that’s the hope and and um that’s what our preparation will be, you know, geared towards and uh we’ll do the things that we’ve been doing on the mound. Uh you know, preparation wise, we’ll be doing the things offensively that we’ve been doing preparation wise and we’ll be ready to play at game time. second row on your left, Dan. Dan Bryan’s going to be up here in a little bit and I’m just wondering a if there’s any updates with him and um b just you know how how vital he is to you guys going forward even on a limited pitch count. Yeah. Um you know I think uh all reports have been good as we had expected and um continues to make his progression. You know the obviously the live abs the other day was was a big step for him. Uh he felt pretty good yesterday. I think he’s going to get out and you know throw again a little bit today. Um and uh yeah, I mean getting him back, you know, you know, one of the guys that has really led this staff this year, um obviously will be huge for us. And um you know, whatever whatever that looks like as we get into the later part of this series. Um and uh but but getting him back and getting him healthy is the key. And um you know, he’s he’s getting close. And the third row on your left, uh the Blue Jays are a team that don’t strike out, but then your pitching staff dominates the zone, right? So, this has set up this really interesting kind of chess match. The Blue Jays hitters have said they don’t mind going down 01 because they’d ra and not swing at a pitcher’s pitch early in the count because they’d rather be 01 than one for 0 for one. So, how important is executing that first pitch for your pitching staff? How pleased have you been with how that’s gone? Yeah, I mean I think you know um that is what we talk about a lot as an organization is winning that O pitch and um you know the quality of that pitch is certainly important. Uh but getting getting strike one is big and and we’ve you know we’ve talked about controlling the count and how different it is uh when you’re ahead in the count and and I think you know with the hope being that even if you know even if it’s a team that doesn’t strike out as much uh you’re hoping to get weaker contact when you’re ahead in the count you’re going to get weaker contact. So, um, I think our guys have done an outstanding job of getting ahead, um, and doing that and and, um, you know, that’s again, that’s what we will continue to prepare for and keep doing as we go along in the series. The second row up front, Dan, Dan, having that advantageous position, it feels like maybe your group of guys more than most understand that situation, that there’s a good group over there that they’re not going to take it lightly. They’re going to keep grinding and all that. What is it about your guys that, you know, they’re still going to be locked and they’re not going to let this 2 lead kind of get ahead of itself or anything like that? Yeah, I mean, um, you know, I think that’s who these guys are. Um, you know, we talk a lot about Cal and the season he’s had, um, not getting wrapped up in it and keeping his humility about him as he’s gone through it. Um, and and has allowed him to continue and be consistent. I think, you know, that’s a big part of it with a lot of our guys. You know, we’re um, we understand um, how fickle this game can be and so each night is important, each detail is important. Um, and uh, you know, that’s why I think we we go about it very consistently. we prepare the same and and um you know I think that they’ll again like I said they’ll be ready tomorrow night to go on the third row on your left hand Dan we saw how the matchups between the hitters and the relievers kind of evolved in the ALDS which with every single outing and every single game how much can hitters learn about relievers in a series length and then with that being said how big was it that you get through the first two games only throwing each reliever once? Yeah, excuse me. Yeah, I I think it it does make a big difference. Um, you know, I think, uh, obviously seeing guys more and more does help you get a better picture of what they’re going to do. Um, and and you know, you can look at a guy on paper and and understand on paper what he’s going to do and what the ball might do. Uh, but then seeing it in the box is is a different story. So, um, I think as hitters, yes, that’s great. And and I think all hitters on all teams will share information. That’s, you know, that’s how you learn and and you get prepared for your at bat. So, um, that’s all been going on and and as normal and and, uh, but but it is good to to to get in the box and actually see that getting at bat, um, and and get a feel for what, you know, what what the ball’s actually doing and and, uh, so, you know, yes, I think it’s great that we’ve been able to, um, you know, only have a couple guys go out there, you know, you know, on on a couple outings. Um, and and, uh, you know, hopefully that that helps us as we go forward. Couple last ones will stay in the same row. What makes Josh Naylor so good at that high and away pitch? It It’s a pitch that’s a foot outside. You don’t expect him to do damage on it. And then we saw it against Scooble with the double. We saw it in the series with the Blue Jays. What is it about his swing? How does he get to that? I mean, he’s just uh you know, number one uh as I’ve said, he’s smart and and a headsy. um you know and he can you know maybe think along sometimes uh with with pitchers but I also think you know he’s got the ability his his swing has adjustability to it and when when he sees a pitch up in the zone he’s able to stay really short and get on top of it and that’s the key um and uh you’re right you know that that the double off of scuba was was huge um to be able to go up there off of the the VO that that he was throwing and uh to be able to to to hit that to left field like that um you know that that that really requires you to get on top of the ball and and uh you know we’ve seen him do it over and over again and that’s um that’s just because his swing is so adjustable. Anything else for Dan before we let him go? All right, Dan, thank you so much. Appreciate it. Uh Brian will be down in a few minutes. You call me my face or not. You call me out to my face. What do you mean? You as I was ask you know ain’t cool to come on. That was funny as hell. I know you didn’t mean a single thing, but it conversation just You guys are all question ask what his favorite restaurant That’s a good question. What’s that? Exactly. Just get the tri and get the hammer. What’s the As far just for your planning purposes, Brian’s running a little bit late. So Schneider will be at 245 and Brian will be at three. Now Give my

Hear from Mariners manager Dan Wilson on our off day during the American League Championship Series presented by loanDepot.