NL DIVISION SERIES: BREWERS VS BRAVES

October 7, 2021

Willy Adames

American Family Field

Milwaukee Brewers

Workout Day Press Conference

Q. This team is known for its pitching and you're coming from a team known for developing pitching. Do you see any similarities in the way the Rays and Brewers have done it and brought all these good arms to the Big Leagues?

WILLY ADAMES: Obviously, like you say, we have -- our main thing is the pitching staff, the same as the Rays. And I feel like there is something there, and when you have a pitching staff like that you have a pretty good chance to go deep in the postseason. And I think there's a lot of similarities.

And I think that's why we have, that's why we play so good this whole season. And I think that's why we're here in this spot right now. And hopefully we can continue to keep the guys healthy and to keep playing good baseball.

Q. You're one of the guys on this team that has been to a World Series. Aside from obviously talent and good luck, what did you learn last year that a team needs to get to that point?

WILLY ADAMES: I feel like the most important thing in the postseason is the pitching staff. If you have good pitching, you're going to go as deep as you can. But I feel like that's the main thing for our team to get to the World Series because when you have a pitching staff like we have, I think you have the advantage, because when you have some guys like the starting pitchers we've got and the bullpen, for me that's the most important thing.

Like for the Rays last year, we didn't hit and we still got to the World Series. As a team we didn't hit. We still got to the World Series because the pitching staff.

And I think that's why we're in a good spot here. And I think that's why we have a pretty good chance to get there.

Q. We were talking to Counse not that long ago about you. He said something pretty incredible. He said Willy Adames has changed our team. He changed who we are. What does that mean to you when you hear a manager say that, and what do you think that you did to change a team?

WILLY ADAMES: I don't know, man. I don't think I did anything crazy or anything special. I just come to the field every day just to play the game in the right way, just to have fun and enjoy this, because this is what we live for. And for me, personally, I just focused to try to be the best version of myself and try to help whoever needs my help if I can help anybody.

And it makes me feel good that he thinks like that about me. And I am just happy to be part of this organization, happy to be here at this point of the season. And, like I say in the beginning, I don't think I do anything extra. I just try to be me and just try to be happy every day.

Q. In that regard, this team added a number of players over the course of the season. First you and then whether it be Rowdy, Hunter, Eduardo. How did you fit in so seamlessly and maintain the consistency you all did all season with so many guys coming in over the course of the year?

WILLY ADAMES: I feel like the culture we have in the clubhouse and the chemistry we have on and off the field, I think that's been the main reason for us to keep it that way.

And I feel like everybody that has come to the clubhouse is kind of like a great fit for the team because when I got here I feel like the guys were really happy to have me here. The same happened to Rowdy and Eduardo and all the guys that came in on the trade deadline.

And I think that's why we have such a great chemistry, because the guys here, it's a great group of guys. Guys that wanted to compete every day and just try to be, have fun on the field. And I think that's why we have that really good chemistry on and off the field.

Q. You look at right before you came, Luis was the starting shortstop. For a lot of guys that would be a huge blow to them for someone new to come in and take over their position. You look at what he did the rest of the year. How he handled that, I know you had some guidance with him, but what did you think of the way he handled it?

WILLY ADAMES: I think it was pretty mature. Someone else probably would have been mad I came here to play shortstop every day. But he was pretty mature about it. He did the right thing. He tried to get better and tried to continue to be a better player every day.

And for me it was special to see that. For me, like he went from being, like, a good player to a really good player, you know what I mean? And when you see a guy as young as he is to show that mature of, like, okay, a new guy came in to my position. But I'm going to do my work every day, I'm going to try to get better. And for me that was something special to see that and to try to get better.

It was special, and that shows you what kind of talent he is and what kind of person for me. And he's and even player, such a great guy off the field. And for me it was special to see that evolution he did in the regular season.

Q. We haven't asked you for a while, how is your quad?

WILLY ADAMES: It's good. I'm ready. No issues.

Q. Bigger-picture question, how would you describe the team's confidence level when Corbin Burnes is on the mound?

WILLY ADAMES: I think you've seen it all season. Every time he takes the mound, it's like for us it's a win. We know he's going to -- he's going to have a quality start. He's going to go strike out everybody.

So for us, for me personally, it's kind of boring because I don't get any ground balls. But it's amazing to see the ability, the dominance he has on the mound. He dominates everybody.

He shows -- I don't know, the abilities he has, it's something special. Something special that he has. And for me to be part of it, to watch that every day. And for the team, the confidence levels is in the sky when he's pitching.

For us, we know he's going to do a quality start every day and we expect big things for him in the postseason now.

Q. A lot of people were wondering just how the last road trip went, the last week went. How confident are you that this team can turn the light on for the postseason and play like you guys did for the majority of the second half?

WILLY ADAMES: I mean, our confidence is there. I feel like the last week of the season, we kind of like were more chilled, kind of like just trying to finish the season healthy and you just try not to do anything crazy.

After we clinched, I felt like everybody just kind of relaxed a little bit. And I know now it's time to go. Now it's time to go play hard, to go to a winning game and now is the time that it matters. So we know we have to turn on the switch and to go out there and compete. And it's not going to be the like the last week of the season because we know we have to win or we go home.

Q. I believe you've made the playoffs three years in a row. How have you learned to like manage your feelings personally and just prep for the playoff pressure and other than the difference in teams, you know, switching teams, what is different this year?

WILLY ADAMES: Obviously, you know, I feel like as more as you go to the postseason, you get more mature, you get more confident when you're playing in those situations.

And for me last year it was kind of like a learning process, because it wasn't my best on the offensive side. And it was like motivation for me. Now that I'm on this team, since I got here, the guys, they gave me a lot of confidence. And I feel like that's the difference this year than the past two years, the confidence that I have personally.

And I know that the team here, the chemistry we have here, is special. So I feel like we're in a good spot and it's been a really good year, and we're trying to make it even more special.

Q. Wondering what your take is on the Braves. It's been a little bit since you guys have seen them, but what are you expecting from them?

WILLY ADAMES: Obviously a really good game. They have a pretty good team. They're going to come with their A game. We'll have Charlie Morton on the mound and I see him in the postseason he's a different animal.

We need to bring our A game to compete against them. They have really good players. They play the game the right way. They're going to come to try to take these two games. That's why we know we have to compete and just to go out there and continue to have fun and try to make it really hard for them, just try to take those wins on our side.

And we're expecting really good games these next two days. And the obviously hopefully we get those wins. But we know we have to compete really hard against them. There's a reason why they're here. And we know we have to bring our A game, too.

Q. You mentioned Charlie Morton, a different animal in the postseason. From your time playing with him, what was different about him in the playoffs?

WILLY ADAMES: I don't know. I don't know. Every time October came, he was just a different animal. He was just a guy that you can just give the ball to him. He's going to give you a really good start. He's going to give everything he has. And he's going to go out there and make every pitch a hard pitch to the hitter. And I know I've seen it. I know he's going to be tough tomorrow. We know we have to make adjustments and try to take advantage of whatever he gives us. And he's just a really good pitcher. He's something different in the postseason. But we know that. I've seen it. And the guys are -- they're ready for it.