Mariners ALCS Game 5 Postgame News Conference

Mariners ALCS Game 5 Postgame News Conference

Just a phenomenal atbat right there all all the way through and then you know the homer earlier in the game to get us on the board. Um you know you can’t say enough about u just how how good it must feel for Gino and and uh picking up those you know five RBI’s for us today um and giving us a victory. This was just a a great day for him and and again um a great day up and down the lineup. That’s, you know, um that’s that’s how we roll and and that’s what we do well and and uh today it came through for us big time. Third row straight ahead. Mike Dan right here. Um you’ve been in that dugout for some of the biggest moments in franchise history, but that eighth inning just what did that feel like? You know, just being in there, feeling the crowd, feeling the momentum. What was that like for you? Yeah. Uh I mean, first of all, it felt like Cal’s ball was in the air for about an hour. Um but, uh you know, to see that one go over and tie the score. Um, and then after Gino’s Grand Slam, I’m not sure I’ve heard that building any louder than that. Um, you know, again, just can’t say enough about the the fans here in Seattle. Um, you know, just how much they support us, how they come out, how they turn out, how they, you know, give us the energy we need. Um, another phenomenal day uh from from the people here in Seattle. And um you know just uh it it makes you emotional just thinking about um that and and just how just how loud it was at that moment and you know talking to a lot of people who have been around here since you know since the the 2001 days and um they don’t remember a time that it was this loud before. So um just an incredible moment I think at T-Mobile and and uh you just you can’t say enough about the support we’ve received from these fans this year. Staying on your far left by the monitor. Jared, how do you how can you articulate what your two big trade deadline acquisitions have meant to this team, especially what’s happened over the last couple weeks here? Yeah. Um, you know, again, we’ve, you know, you you you look at our club and just just how much deeper it got with with uh, you know, with Josh and and uh and Gino and uh, you know, just the number of big hits that they’ve come up with um, for us along the way along the stretch. Um, you know, Nails has been, you know, so good defensively at first, but also just picking up huge knocks, um, all over the place, you know, for us down the stretch. And then, Gino, um, you know, big home runs. And then certainly today, just an absolutely huge day for us. And, and, uh, um, you know, can’t thank the front office enough. You can’t thank, you know, the the job that Jerry Justin and Andy McKay have done to to put this team together. And and, uh, you know, we still have work to do. We still have a lot of work to do here to to to get through uh, and to get to the next step. and and um but uh you know just a huge day all around um and and and a good way to get on that plane. Third row on your right Dan when when Gino struggles it can often look really ugly but have you ever seen a player that doesn’t seem to show his struggles pregame postgame? I mean people are around it but can you articulate to people what it’s really like to be around him when he’s because it doesn’t seem like it’s any different than when he’s rolling. Yeah, I think, you know, as good a player as Gino is, he’s he’s he’s an even better person. And I think that’s that’s what shines through with Gino. Um you know, you can’t tell if he’s in a slump. You can’t tell uh you know, what he’s going through because he’s always picking everybody else up and he’s just a selfless player. And um you know, that’s why everybody roots in in that clubhouse roots for Gino so hard because he just doesn’t think about himself at all. And uh um you know again uh just being able to give Gino a hug after the game and and and knowing uh how much how good it feels uh for him um to to do what he did today. He’s just an incredible person, an incredible leader. Uh you know, an incredible ball player and and uh today just a huge day for him. Right next to Ryan John, I have two questions. One defense, one pitching. On the defensive side, Naylor makes that amazing play on the Himenez liner. I I wonder on that one, is that his positioning? Is that some guidance from infield coaches? I I wonder a play like that that’s massive early in the ball game. Yeah, no doubt. Um, you know, it’s a combination of both. I think, you know, Nails is has has the ability, you know, he’s quick and and uh, you know, he’s able to play off the bag pretty well and and had it positioned very very well, but I know Manny Acta and and uh, you know, our analytics team do a great job of positioning guys, too. So, um, yeah, combination of both there for sure. And and I thought I told him, you know, afterwards that if he’s going to have a quick release like that, we might start putting him behind the plate. So, um, because I thought he got rid of the ball pretty quickly after the line drive. Great play. And then with Woo, how close was that to being exactly the circumstance in which you you wanted to get him into the game and and just the overall pitch count in circumstances. Yeah, I mean, I think uh it worked out well um you know, for him to to be able to get in there um to get his feet wet again and and to see what it was like coming out of the bullpen. Um yeah, and be able to get you know, get two innings in um I thought was a it was a great way to sort of bridge our bullpen at that point. uh you know, having to gone having had to go had to go to the bullpen a little bit early again today. So, giving us a little bit of a bridge and um it worked out well and and it kept the game close. You know, that’s that’s what we’re trying to do is keep the game close and allow our offense to to do some damage late. We’ll go to Ken. Dan, it seems like forever ago now, but I was just wondering your thinking on lifting Bryce when you did. Pardon me, one more time. Lifting Bryce when you did. Oh, yeah. Um, you know, again, uh, we we I thought Bryce was throwing the ball well and and again, we had the we had the ability with, uh, with our, uh, you know, bullpin again today. We we were not as rested as yesterday, but, we had a, you know, a good, uh, handle on what guys were able to do today. And, and again, it was a a situation where we wanted to keep it as close as possible at that point. And, and, uh, so, you know, going to brash, you know, felt felt like the the natural lift right there with the with the leadoff guy on. And um you know, again, we’ve had that luxury here in this series to be able to go early to the pen and and um you know, we’ll just uh uh we keep reading it. We keep you know, taking it day by day and and and and and uh you know, um situation by situation. I’ll finish up with Daniel here. Dan, back to Cal real quick. The double play that he ignited on the ball that stabs in the ground. I mean, you’re a former catcher. Just what kind of wherewithal and awareness does it take to execute that play the way he did? Yeah, it was just just a heads up play. You know, the ball um just I don’t think anybody could have placed it any better than than where it ended up. Uh and then for him to be able to pounce on that um you know, the touchome played and then get the easy double play at first. Uh in that moment, huge moment. Bases are loaded there uh with the one out and and uh to be able to pick up that double play was huge. And and again, um you know, he’s all over it and and and that’s what he’s he’s done all season long. Uh both sides of the ball. we saw, you know, him make that play today. A lot of nice blocks today. Um and then to be able to deliver offensively like he did, it’s just uh you know, again, um in my mind an easy MVP choice. Uh and uh today was, you know, just another perfect example of that. All right, Dan. We’ll see you in Toronto. Thank you so much. Appreciate it. We’ll welcome Gino up to the stage. All right, Gino. Congratulations, but you first you got to introduce us to your roster here. So, all right, guys. This is my two beautiful daughters, Nicole and Melanie. All right. Well, congratulations to all of you, and I will go to questions. We’ll start with Taran right up front. Gina, we talked about it when they brought you back here, but looking in the hallway in the clubhouse, good vibes only is still a sign here. Just the impact you had your first stint. Just what are the emotions after that grand slam and that home run earlier and bringing this team to a place where it’s never been one win away from the World Series? I mean, it’s a lot, you know, be able to do or have days like this and for me is very special, you Um uh emotion is there always high you know the crowd uh keep us you know on on the field keep on the the five they they want they want or they expect something good for us and you know be able I’ve been waiting for for games like this my whole career and uh today I had it today I had it in front of our crowd in front of my family my two daughters my wife and um and the moment is very special right now and know my emotion right now um is very high. I feel so grateful. Um God give me the ability to do something good for this city and uh and uh the vi always going to be high you know even even when you’re struggling um you got to keep it your good vibes because it’s is a gift and today our vibe was so high. We know what is in front of us and and we want to take it. We’re not going to quit. Um, we’ve been playing really good baseball. Today was a special, you know, we did a really good little things help help a team wings and uh and like I say, it was very special to be part of this this organization. Third row. You’re right, Ryan. You know, you said we talked post game, right? I told you. Yes, sir. Okay. Um, how when you’re struggling in the postseason though, how hard is it to maintain good vibes? Like today you’re out dancing and talking to teammates, but is it any more difficult to maintain the good vibes because everything is so magnified? Is is it’s very it’s very hard. Obviously, you want to do something you want to be part of this the do something for the team for the fans and uh me especially I just handle in the good way. I know and I know that this game is so beautiful and they going to give you an opportunity like like today and I just keep my focus uh keep my fire not not quick and and go to every every game and try or play good baseball. I know that I on my abilities I can’t help my team not only hitting homers but defense have a good at bass grind in the game and then stay stay focused. I know and uh this game is is is beautiful and it’s hard at the same time. You just got to keep going. You just got to work hard, never quick, never never doubt on yourself and not not put too much pressure because when you you try too hard is when you not going to have a good results and uh me especially I’m the guy who just believe in what can do and and I put everything on the field and not expect to have a good results every time but uh knowing that uh this moment going to come to my way and today Like I like I say, today was very special. Not only because I hit the grand slam, but I give you the opportunity. My daughters and my wife watching and came here. They came here last night and just for watch this type of game and I be waiting for this and I just feel so grateful right now and uh and and feel so good because we going in Toronto with the opportunity in front of us to go to a World Series. I’m going to Daniel right here. Gino, we’re we’re seeing such raw emotion from you. Is Is this the most emotional you’ve ever been on a baseball field? To be honest, I want to say yes. It’s a lot of good I have a good amounts of beautiful moments of my career, but today is something else. Hit that grand slam and and and help my team win games and the postseason, big game here in front of fans. They’ve been with it for a long time and s of myself too. I’ve been waiting for these moments my whole career. God is good and uh and I got to glorify him because did he give me the opportunity and put everything on the field and doing it for him and doing it for me, for my family and for our our city. Seattle really deserve this. We’ll go to Alejandro over here. Marinch. for Toronto. Sorry. Connect the That Victoria go to Mike and and Tyler. Yeah, Gino, you know, when you get traded back to Seattle and they’re obviously in a in a playoff race and you imagine what this was going to be like, did you imagine a moment like that or was that beyond even what you could have imagined at that time? I mean, I know I know I face I face the team when I was with with with uh Dbacks and and I know how how good they are and uh and I know it that we got a chance to be they do something special for for for our our our uh organization. I know that that um like I always say uh they they make it a really good move not because they bring me or or they or they bring uh Naylor. know they they try to win. They try to win and and for me, you know, big bag and came and came back in this situation and and do uh do my best to help the team uh not only uh win games but go into the position and and and be and and and this in this post posse right now and and and have something special in front of us and obviously is very very good for me and for for our organization too. Go to Tyler in the back. Gino, you know, just um the single yesterday going the opposite way, driving in a run. Did any of that sort of help lock you in? And then if you could just take me through that at bat where you hit the grand slam and the pitch and all that stuff. I mean, um obviously I’ve been grinding all all all post. I know those big hit like that, you know, it give you a confidence and and and tell you that you close and that that that heat right there, I not try too much. Like I always say, I just try to put a ball in play. I got to inside out really well and I put a ball and they’ll use the the whole field is my key right now. I just try to not just pull hard or or or put a put on the on on the air, you know, use the whole field and and lock in. You be ready for something on the harder play, be ready for something on my strike zone and and not and not let the fastball, you know, uh be me. That was my my mentality today, you know, be ready for something there and be ready for the fast ball. On the third row on your left, Gino, you’ve flashed the heart gesture with your hands many times after home runs with your, you know, teammates, things of that nature. When you did it, crossing home plate, it looked like you kind of took a moment to soak it in. What was racing through your head as you looked at the crowd? Um, you know, I just I I just pray in that moment and and I ran the bases, pray and and tell God, um, thank you for this moment. And when I cross the home play, I just pointed my wife because I knew it. She she was praying to because we’ve been we’ve been waiting for this moment and now we got in our hands and and I just want to tell God thank you for everything that he give me because I am here because he he let me be here. He want me to be here and and I hit that homer and I help my team win because him I just I just swing the ball and let that result coming from him. I’ll finish up in that same spot. I have a question for Nicola and Melanie if you would mind. Could you tell us what the best thing about your puppy is? Doing a home run. Doing a home run. Doing a home run. All right. Doing a home run and be the best. Thank you. Well, congrats to the whole family. Thank you guys so much. Appreciate it. Thank you. Great day. And we’ll bring the other Mariners hero up, Cal. Thanks for waiting, Cal. Mariners. Thank you so much. Thank you, guys. All right, Cal, congratulations. Thank you for waiting. Uh, who has the first question? We’ll start with Taran right up front. Cal, uh, on offense and defense, just, uh, in that eighth inning, what were you looking for on that home run and just what was kind of going through your mind in, uh, in that, uh, double play to to Naylor earlier in the game? Yeah, I mean, we uh, I mean, to be honest, you know, we dodged a lot of bullets today, you know, getting that double play and then the weird one there at home uh, when Ernie hit it. So, um, you know, that’s what you got to do, though. You got to find a way to to get through those tough innings and we were able to uh you know make some plays there which was huge. Middle of the third row. Cal, what was your vantage point there for for Gino’s grand slam and what were your immediate thoughts? Yeah, I was um I mean I was just trying to find a place to watch the whole you know obviously dugout was on their feet. So um you know I was just uh he looked good in the bat. He looked good. uh found some pitches off and you know just you know I was just saying I just want him just move it forward just you know get the ball to the outfield. He’s so good with runners and scoring position. He he always has been you know he’s always you know he’s a professional hitter and um you know he’s smart he’s smart and um like I said uh you know he didn’t just get to the outfield got it over. So it was huge and and uh great at bat from him. third row on your right, Ryan K. You watched Gino and can you describe the consistency of his personality? You played with him two different times now. He’s grinding through the postseason, but he doesn’t seem to change. I mean, have you had a teammate like that before? And can you just tell people who aren’t around to see it every day what it’s like? Yeah, I mean Gino’s a a true pro and and uh I guess what I mean by that is, you know, he doesn’t let results, you know, dictate, you know, h who he is as a person. He’s as a teammate and uh you know, how he goes about his business every day. So, um you know, uh obviously hit a little rough patch there a couple week or two ago, but you know, it never phased him. you know, he he stayed with his approach and and he trusted himself and and uh he he like I said, he just he’s he’s awesome. He’s he’s consistent as could be. Same guy every day, great teammate and like I said, always always brings the energy. So, second row, you’re right, Daniel Cal, off the bat with yours, did you know it was gone? And, you know, kind of following up on that, what have you made? What what adjustments have you made to prepare for lefties coming in to face you late in games when they try to flip you around? Yeah. Um, I think uh I first of all I think when I hit the ball I thought I got it but and then obviously realized it went so high and I looked at the straw I believe was in left and uh I believe it was him but uh he was kind of at the fence kind of waiting up and I was like I wasn’t sure and then obviously got got enough. So you know roof roof open you know maybe a different result I don’t know but you know glad I got enough of that one. So, and then um the uh as far as, you know, dealing with that, I think before I just a lot of times I’d get out there and just just start swinging and try to hit something hard and and you know, I was but I was patient, waited for my pitch there and and uh understand that, you know, let the game come to me. uh trying to make solid contact, you know, don’t need a home run, don’t need to try to, you know, hit a ball 500 ft. Just do something good and and adrenal adrenaline will usually take over in those moments. Third row at your left, Mike. Cal, uh you just mentioned adrenaline. You’ve been a part of some massive adrenaline moments here in terms of, you know, ending the drought and the 15 inning game and all those things. Just that eighth inning, uh what did that feel like from your vantage point? Have you been a part of a baseball moment like that? just how do you kind of describe the adrenaline spike in that? Yeah, that was uh incredible. I mean yeah, I mean honestly we we you know the fans in the stadium they were waiting 26 innings for something like that. You know obviously didn’t didn’t deliver the first two games, but you know when those when those moments happened they just exploded and they’ve been they’ve been waiting for that. So that was a huge moment and you know that was you pretty probably one of the loudest moments I’ve ever heard here. So it was uh when Gino cleared that wall it was really really awesome. Just so fun to be a part of the row behind Cal Tyler. Cal as you said the last couple games got away from you early. What in this game made you think like this is more Mariner baseball. This is the kind of game that we play here and that we win. Yeah I mean I think we just we grinded through those innings. uh like I said in those middle innings obviously and we were able to you know you know leave the the scoring at a minimum uh put up not let them put up crooked numbers and you know like I said you know uh kind of getting the win or taking the little small victories with with them just putting up one run uh each inning. So obviously we didn’t want that but they’re a tough lineup. They’re they’re really good. They swing the bat extremely well. They’re they swing a good pitches. So, they’re they’re they’re tough and like I said, just being able to minimize that damage and just, you know, stay in the fight in those innings and and uh not give up that big hit was was the difference maker into the third row on your left. Cal, with with the way it ended like that, how meteoric it was, what’s the challenge now practically speaking to get to Toronto and played less than two days and or what is it about your team that you think you can handle this quick turnaround? Yeah, I mean, um, it’s that time of year, you know, guys are we’re excited, you know. Uh, if if you can’t get up for these games, then you probably shouldn’t be here. So, these our guys are up for the challenge, and we have uh a tough road ahead of us. We have um we know they’re a good ball club. We just have to go in there, you know, play our kind of game, be aggressive, do what we do, and and um you know, try to stay stay in the moment, not for the moment. So, um, just really enjoy it and go out there and try to take care of business. First row on your left, Cal. Yeah, Kyle, kind of adding on that. You lose your first two games here. Talk about the patience and the belief you all had to get here to win this game. Yeah, I mean uh those those first two games were not great. So, um those were tough ones. Couldn’t couldn’t get things going uh on either side of the ball there. And today was just a resilient effort. You know, it was it was just relying on each other. it was, you know, staying in the fight, not not giving up. Uh, you know, um, I think, you know, like I said, getting those those double plays were huge and and, uh, keeping the the crooked number off the board. So, um, you know, just, uh, a great effort and, you know, not giving in, you know, uh, kind of, you know, things went wrong first two games and then today, you know, something bad happened, you know, we we stay in it. We we don’t give up. We don’t stop fighting. So, a third row on your left. Cal. Cal, you wear 29 as a tribute to a family member. It’s an important number in the Rally family. What does it mean to have 29 be such an important number in Seattle as well? Um, yeah. I mean, I wear it for my uncle who passed away. Um, and, uh, he means a lot to my family and, you know, I’m I’m glad to do it. And like I said, he was a he was a big big impact on on my dad and uh the rest of his family as well. So, you know, it’s um like I said, it I never it’s kind of a cool cool thing that um was very kind kind of a coincidence how it happened, but I’m very glad it did that way. Do two last ones. John on your right. Hey, Cal. Uh in retrospect, probably one of the biggest outs of the game was Vlad in the fifth there with Brash on the mound. How did you approach that really important played appearance? Yeah, I mean he’s he’s unbelievable. He’s a one of the best hitters in the game and you know he’s as hot as anybody right now. Um so he I mean to be honest, you just got to execute and even if you do execute sometimes he can still get you. So um you know he’s a great hitter and uh you know brash you know got tipped the cap to him. He made some really good pitches to him. Was able to tie him up a little bit uh there with that sinker on that last pitch. But, um, like I said, he’s he’s he’s a he’s very smart hitter, too. I think a lot of people don’t give him credit for that. But, uh, obviously he’s amazing with his talent, but very smart as well. And then, but then with Woo, uh, your thoughts on just kind of how his stuff looked out of the bullpen tonight? Yeah, I thought he looked great. Um, you know, I again, you got to give them credit. They they were they hit his fastball, which was his best pitch, and and uh, but those were two big innings, you know. um you know, tipped the hat to Kirk and and Ernie as well. You know, hit some pitches. Uh one to Ernie kind of leaked a little bit, but the Kirk one was a good pitch and and um you know, I thought he looked good. He looked he looked sharp. I was uh actually, you know, kind of surprised at how sharp he was for for not pitching so long. So, it was um like I said, I thought he executed pretty well today. We’ll finish up in the front row. On the topic of execution, Bryce, just how he’s pitched the last couple games. He started you guys off with a win. He ended your home stand here with a win. Just it seems like that these past two starts he’s really expanded his arsenal more than he was able to in the regular season. Just what have you noticed from your vantage point? Just how he’s been able to execute these past two starts for him. Yeah, I think um you know he’s doing a great job of of you know using all the pitches. And I think with this lineup and anything you’re facing this time of year, you have to you have to mix. You know, you can’t you can’t rely on uh one pitch or or maybe even two, you know. I mean, obviously there’s the outliers who have those really two one-two combos, but um but you know, he’s doing a great job of of mixing, moving, and like I said, you just got to try to stay ahead a step ahead of these guys, and he’s done a really good job of that. I threw I thought he threw the ball really well again today, being able to mix and and like I said, he uh he has to be able to use that full arsenal and and uh be able to locate different areas of the zone, which, you know, I thought he did a really good job of today again. All right, Cal, congrats on a great day for the Mariners. see in Toronto. Uh that concludes today’s post game uh in Toronto tomorrow.

Hear from the Mariners after an unforgettable ALCS Game 5 victory.