NL WILDCARD GAME: DODGERS VS CARDINALS

October 5, 2021

Nolan Arenado

Dodger Stadium

St. Louis Cardinals

Workout Day Press Conference

Q. As far as playing in the wild-card game, what did you learn from that game with the Rockies, the dynamics of a one-game playoff?

NOLAN ARENADO: Yeah, I think it's just, you know, this is one game, different than any other game as far as like you just don't hold back on it I guess. You do everything you can do win. You throw everybody, starters in the bullpen. You're not saving anything. You're doing everything you can to win this game and hopefully move on. That's the one thing I notice that's a little different.

I think the matchups will be a little bit different, trying to match up with guys where this year, there's a three-batter rule and all that, I think you're going to see a little bit more matchups to make sure everyone feels as uncomfortable as possible.

That's just kind of how it goes. It's kind of a crazy game. Like I said, you don't save nobody for nothing. Everyone is going to be in the pen and everyone has to be ready to go.

Q. You've played the Dodgers a lot in the division. What's the emotions?

NOLAN ARENADO: This game reminds me of 163 in 2018 coming here. My emotions will be fine. Played the Dodgers a lot. Lost a lot. I think if you're going to go with a team to get to where you want to go, Dodgers are always going to be in the way. That's just kind of how it goes. Respect them. I have a lot of respect for that organization, how they go about it and those players, but you know, it's one game and we are going to try to find a way to win and beat them.

Q. To that end, as somebody who grew up around here, is today a day where you can enjoy playing a postseason game at Dodger Stadium?

NOLAN ARENADO: It's nice to have a day off, come here, get a workout in and get on the field, the air, the fresh air. I know when I land in California, I can tell by the air that I'm home. But especially coming here, you know, obviously I'm so used to having a lot of my family here for these games and it's a lot of fun to play, and I expect tomorrow will be pretty intense, pretty good environment, so it will be great.

Q. What did you see from your team over the last week when things were pretty well locked down for you and you were still staying dialed, in staying ready and making sure you were able to turn it right back on to where it was for tomorrow night?

NOLAN ARENADO: I think we played meaningful baseball games all the way till the last week of the season and that's always great. Even though we clinched last Tuesday, all those other games, you still want to do something, play well, stay fresh.

But there's nothing like the playoffs. Just to be honest, don't matter how long you clinch, when you get to the playoffs, it's amazing and it's an intense environment. Nothing matches this and you have to try to slow it down and I think we'll be ready to go. We'll be more than ready.

Q. What have you seen from O'Neill this season and how have you been able to serve as a mentor of sorts?

NOLAN ARENADO: Those guys have just been great. I mean, just playing great baseball. I mean, they are just kind of developing. It's been pretty cool to see, not just them -- D.C., also. You could see the development from April to, you know, September. You could really see how much better they have gotten as the months have gone on throughout the season.

And that's just experience, and I just feel like they are only going to get better and better. And it's been a lot of fun to watch them compete and just, like I say, get better as the year has gone on. I noticed this they have been able to slow the game down, asking the right questions as the year has gone on. It's been pretty cool.

Q. You said you knew the Dodgers were always going to be there in the way. You guys split that series in St. Louis after losing the first two. How much did that kick-start the winning streak, and did you feel like that was a turning point?

NOLAN ARENADO: It was big for sure. Obviously getting a Grand Slam walk-off against us in Milwaukee and flying the next day to face Scherzer on a 3 o'clock day game, this is not the greatest scenario. But to come back and win those two games, win the series against the Reds and then, I don't even know how it ended up, forgot who we played but continued to play well.

We played hard, and that's the one thing I've been amazed with this team is we keep coming, we do. We have lost some tough games this year, but we found a way to continue to compete and try to be there in the end, and there's no game that really rattled us, and that was something that I was in awe of because after that walk-off Grand Slam, a lot of people probably wrote us off, like this is it. But we kept coming and we went on a great streak and now we're here.

Q. Adam was in here and he detailed the difference in June during the rough stretch where the team felt like they were defeated when something unideal happened compared to September when you would come to the park and think, we are not losing, ever again. What led to that mentality? The winning does help but to build that up and keep the course, what leads to that change?

NOLAN ARENADO: I think it's just, like I said, you know, we continue to show up and we're the same guys every day. Losing tough games -- we have lost some tough games this year, games like this is really bad, and to see us come back every day and that just shows who we are.

That mentality of show up every day and get after it and whatever happens, happens. That has carried us toward the end, where maybe some other teams got tired at the end and lost a little focus because they clinched early or whatever or they felt the pressure. And we just stayed even-keel and we continued to fight and that's why we went on that streak.

Q. How did you see the offense grow through the course of this year? And Tyler goes into batting third, and just the number of different ways you guys have been successful over the past month?

NOLAN ARENADO: Yeah, I think offensively, we feel in the first half, we hit the ball hard. We played -- you know, obviously we had a rough month. We played bad baseball and we hit the ball hard and we were always saying -- we all said it right before the first half, it's going to turn sooner or later, and it didn't turn until September, it really turned.

And that's the mentality we've had, it's going to turn and you just have to keep going, keep going. It's the maturity of the offense, putting Top 100 until the 3-hole, and Goldy, who has been our leader, here is like my little MVP champ, but seriously he really cared us to get to the playoffs, when Goldy got hot, we all fed off him. He's been critical for us.

Just those guys at the top of the order, and then Tommy played well. But like I said, bottom of the order played well, too, but Goldy is the one who got it going for us.

Q. Does it help, scoring in different ways?

NOLAN ARENADO: For us to win one game, you have to be able to do everything. You have to be able to maybe hit a homer or work a rally. The Dodgers got good pitching so you've got to find a way to fight against them and their offense is really good, too. They feel the same way probably about them where they can clip you or work an at-bat.

I think their offense is really good, but we are pretty steady, too, and we can play defense and I really like our chances and it's not going to be an easy task at all, but I feel confident in our group.

Q. Some people are like, Cardinals, again. What is your sense that other players look at the Cardinals always seem to end up there; is there a sense around the league, how does it always work out for them?

NOLAN ARENADO: Absolutely. The rough stretches, you're kind of like, I don't know, man, this is not good and then just the way Yadi and Waino, the way they carry themselves, you don't get too high or too low. You just continue to follow their lead.

They have been around a long time, and they have seen some crazy streaks. And I think that's just the difference between good teams and bad teams is how steady can you stay throughout an eight-month season, you know, and the Cardinals have always done that. They always find themselves in it at the end because of how we stay steady and continue to fight.

Q. Adam and Matt said this is the best Cardinals defense they have been on. How important is that in your eyes and especially against a guy like Scherzer, where one run can decide the game?

NOLAN ARENADO: Absolutely, I agree. This is the best defense I've ever played on, defensive team I've played on as far as the outfielders and first base men, obviously the greatest catcher ever, and just our infield has been so solid.

There's no doubt our defense is the best in the game and I think that's going to help us in a game like this where we've got to be able to cover ground and make some plays, because you know, I would assume the Dodgers, hopefully not, but I would assume they are going to have good at-bat. They are going to hit the ball hard and we have to find a way to stop them and make some plays.

Q. Adam was in here saying he feels young despite his age. Do you catch him acting his age?

NOLAN ARENADO: I look at him as a dad, he's like the Godfather, same with Yadi, that's basically what we call them, the Godfathers of our team. The interactions you have with them, it's just like a normal young player. I think he's trying to make trades right now in fantasy. He's just like that. He's just down-to-earth, laid back, and he'll be ready to go tomorrow.

Q. Every manager is going to be hyper-focused on this game. What have you learned about Mike Shildt this season, playing underneath him?

NOLAN ARENADO: Well, obviously I trust Skip. I know he's going to make the right decisions and what he feels is the best decision for our team. But you know, obviously I got a lot of respect for him but I'll be honest with you, I don't -- I'm trying to just focus on my job and doing my job. That's a hard job, I'll let him focus on that but I believe he'll make the right decisions.

Q. What have you learned about playing for him for a year?

NOLAN ARENADO: For him and the rest of the coaching staff, I think it's more steady, like I said, I know I keep saying that word but it pays dividends to who we are, nobody gets too high or too low through good times or bad times. It's not just him. It's the whole coaching staff. They bring the same energy every day. It's been a lot of fun playing for them.