NL DIVISION SERIES: GIANTS VS DODGERS

October 8, 2021

Trea Turner

Oracle Park

Los Angeles Dodgers

Pregame 1 Press Conference

Q. When you think about just the 2019 season when you guys won the Wild Card with the Nationals and went on to win the World Series, how do you see that same thing and the ability of just momentum from that, how that can carry over for this team this year?

TREA TURNER: Yeah, I was telling some of the guys in the clubhouse, it's, the Wild Card is really good and really bad. You're either going home or you basically get kind of a warm-up game for the next Series.

So you got to take care of business and it's tough. You're playing good teams. So you don't want to be in the Wild Card, but I think if you win that game, I definitely think that helps you going into the Series, just getting reps, and staying in the swing of things.

Q. Dave kind of hinted that he talked to you a little bit about the Giants-Dodgers rivalry. What have been your impressions in the short time you've been in L.A.? And in September, the Series here was a pretty good glimpse of what you might see.

TREA TURNER: Yeah. No, I think, I grew up a baseball fan, obviously. Just appreciate the game and it's those few crazy rivalries in sports where it's Red Sox-Yankees and then it's probably Giants-Dodgers and maybe a few others that really stand out.

So to be a part of it is pretty cool. Those games were electric. Blows my mind that they never met in the postseason. I couldn't believe that when I heard that. But I think a lot of that last Series we played, I think it will be a lot of similar games this next week and hopefully we can get the job done.

Q. Now that you've been in the Dodgers uniform for the past couple months, what's been the main difference you've noticed playing in L.A. as opposed to playing for Washington?

TREA TURNER: The amount of fans. The fans in Washington were great, had a great time there, loved it there, but going on the road and hearing a pretty decent portion of the crowd cheering for you is a little weird.

I had a little lapse earlier when we played the Cardinals. I thought the left fielder caught the ball because the fans made a loud noise, and I almost ran off the field, but it was the Dodgers fans cheering me because I hit a ground rule double. So I think that's kind of weird to me is traveling to other stadiums and having a good portion be rooting for you as opposed to against you. I think that's the one thing that kind of sticks out.

But just fans in general, playing at Dodger Stadium is unbelievable, having 50,000 almost every single night and just the energy is electric.

Q. Obviously Logan Webb has been one of the best pitchers in the second half. What will be key to you guys to kind of get to him early in the game?

TREA TURNER: Know the strike zone, control the strike zone. I think in the postseason it comes down to hitting the stakes and not chasing, taking your walks, getting those free passes if they're giving them to you. Some days they're there, some days they're not. But if you can get a couple runners on for walks or whatever it may be, and then you do get that one hit, that means a lot more than trying to string two singles together or multiple hits a little bit harder. So just controlling the strike zone and I think over the series I think whoever does that best will probably come out on tomorrow.

Q. Speaking of fans what was it like seeing Juan Soto the other night at Dodger Stadium?

TREA TURNER: Yeah, it was one of the coolest things I think that's happened in my career and probably will happen in my career, because I think, I don't know, I think it's appreciated by a lot of people, but the talk in our clubhouse was that was unbelievable, him and Kevin Long coming, I didn't know they were coming. And then to be in me and Max's jerseys is even kind of more funny and cool. And he's a special person and you guys see all the stats, but playing with him and getting to interact with him every single day, it's a treat and he's got a good career ahead of him.

Q. Wanted to ask your, your impressions of Brandon Crawford and as somebody who's played a lot of shortstop just what you watch when you sort of see him across the way?

TREA TURNER: Stud. He's just a good player, man. He does everything. This year too the offense has been unbelievable. He's always been a good player, clutch player, unbelievable defense, but this year it's a guy you want to avoid, you don't want him coming up to the plate with runners on or any situation, really. So he's been the total package for most, I mean for all of his career, and he's a World Series champion, he's got everything. So I enjoy talking to him when I've been on base, or he's been on base, I enjoy talking to him, pick his brain, talk to him a little bit, nice guy and I got a lot of respect for him.

Q. Did Juan follow you here?

TREA TURNER: I don't know. (Laughing) I hope so. I mean, he might have helped with the win last time, so hopefully he's at this series as well. I don't know, he hasn't texted me, so it will be a surprise.

Q. When it comes to on the field do you find yourself changing maybe your mindset on the bases when you're hitting third as opposed to leading off?

TREA TURNER: Oh, yeah, always. I think for me when I'm on base there's so much more that goes into it than just your fast steal. So you can look at it however way you want, but I'm the one out there and I feel like sometimes the risk doesn't outweigh the reward or vice versa and so I'm always playing that game in my head, the score, situation, who is behind the plate, who is on the mound, just different things and make my decision and I live with it.

Q. Crawford follow-up. You mentioned picking his brain when you're on the bases. Those conversations can be pretty quick. Have you ever gleaned anything helpful from him?

TREA TURNER: For me it's just like seeing who they are as people. I think that says a lot about you and how you play the game. And you think you know a guy because you see him across the diamond or highlights on TV, but until you actually talk to him you don't know what he's like. So, no, he's just one of those people that I enjoy talking to. I don't necessarily know if there's any one specific thing like, Oh, I'm going to go try that, but just like I said watching him, got a lot of respect for him and then to talk to him and just have good conversation is nice.

Q. Kind of every starting pitcher has a different demeanor on the mound, obviously Max is always angry, but what's Walker Buehler kind of like when he's on the mound?

TREA TURNER: I think he's similar to Kershaw and Max. He has that intensity and that fire. But I think he talks a little bit more in the dugout and is willing to communicate a little bit more and I guess be personable during his start. But that fire's there, that competitor's there, that's why he's good, that's why he's great in the postseason, and that's why he's a champion as well. And that's why he's consistent and goes out there and gives you innings and keeps you in the ball game and he's got a lot of that same fire that those guys do.