NL DIVISION SERIES: GIANTS VS DODGERS

October 9, 2021

Cody Bellinger

Oracle Park

Los Angeles Dodgers

Pregame 2 Press Conference

Q. Dave just talked about the mindset for you guys going into today being a one-and-done-type of mindset. Does it feel like for you guys that tonight is a must-win?

CODY BELLINGER: In a way, yeah. I mean, we knew it was going to be tough. And Logan Webb, tip your cap to him yesterday. We have been in this situation before, multiple times, and we just got to go out and take care of our own business and I think if we do that we'll be all right.

Q. We've asked you a lot about the mechanical changes you made, but how much of what you're working through right no is approach versus mechanical?

CODY BELLINGER: Oh, yeah, it's more so approach than anything at this point.

Q. What are the things that you're sort of working on with that?

CODY BELLINGER: I mean, it changes throughout every day, every pitcher. You're not going to have one thing. So depends on who is on the mound, situation in the ball game, all that kind of stuff.

Q. You're starting at first base tonight. What's the most difficult transition for you when you haven't played at that position, I guess in a while? Is it the one-hopper or is it, defensively what's the most difficult transition?

CODY BELLINGER: I mean, it's nice to have played there in the past and then obviously I've had a few games there this year. I think the, just the game's a lot closer than in center field, you know? Reaction time's a little quicker.

So once you get that, the flow of the game, it all feels the same eventually, though.

Q. There's been so much analysis and talk about your swing, your approach, all year, you've heard it all year. Are you sick of it and how do you deal with it?

CODY BELLINGER: Well, how I'm doing it right now, I get asked the question and I answer it. But I just do what I can to help this team win at the end of the day, you know, that's all I can do.

Q. I'm not sure how much you've been asked about this, about this being the first every Dodgers-Giants actual playoff series. What do you make of it and do you like how it has played out so far?

CODY BELLINGER: I was shocked. I still can't believe that that's true. It seemed like yesterday, I mean, the fans were going crazy, so definitely, it's definitely a real playoff game, you know what I mean? So it's a fun one.

Q. In your second year, after the Rookie of the Year season, year two, the league kind of adjusted back to you, you kind of went through some troubles there. Is there any similarities kind of working through right now and what you went through then?

CODY BELLINGER: Yeah, I think it's always going to be a cat-and-mouse game. Obviously there was some more factors into it this year with what I had to deal with. But at the end of the day that's in the past, so I'm only looking forward.

Q. Are you frustrated at all or, I mean, how are you kind of managing emotionally?

CODY BELLINGER: No, I mean, I'm feeling good. I've been feeling good, not frustrated.

Q. How does the offense change without Max?

CODY BELLINGER: I mean, obviously it's a huge blow. How does it change? I mean, guys are going to have to step up. We've done it before. Guys come in through injuries and perform and that's just the beauty of our team and kind of what we've built it on these past few years, is the depth, and now we can go out and show it again this series.

Q. You've obviously seen so many nasty off-speed pitches. Where does Kevin Gausman's splitter rank and what makes that pitch so successful for him?

CODY BELLINGER: Yeah, it's a really good pitch. He throws it well off his fastball. He's a smart pitcher with, I mean, they have Buster Posey behind the dish as well who's been through a lot of baseball games in his career as well, so it's a good combination.

Q. Going through pandemic playoff baseball and now back to real playoff baseball and you're going to go back to Dodger Stadium, what was it like, just the biggest difference for, and how much do you appreciate the fans even if you're on the road like you are?

CODY BELLINGER: Yeah, I think the feel, like the nervousness, the anxiousness, is the same. It's just, I mean, it's got a little different feel to it. But, yeah, I mean, it kind of feels the same, like in the clubhouse and everything, you know?

Q. There was a point there before your shoulder surgery where Dave didn't want to play you at first base because of the possibility of it popping. Is that even a concern anymore at this point and how much do you think this shoulder problem this season sort of impacted you?

CODY BELLINGER: Yeah, I mean, I try not to think about that. But, no, my shoulder, it's definitely better than, in a better spot than it was before the surgery. Now it's just all about strengthening it and getting the small muscles around it strong so I can keep the capsule in it, all that kind of, weightlifting and training stuff.

But I think, I mean, it needed to be done, so it's better to have it now than later, I guess.

Q. Guys that have had shoulder things done, I'm thinking like Matt Kemp, Adrián González, they always talked about it took a couple years it regain the flexibility of that initially, right, because they're trying to tighten it, you kind of lose some range of motion. Have you experienced that at all?

CODY BELLINGER: Yeah, I mean, that's how it goes. There's no way around it. I think with Adrián it was his lead shoulder, with Matt Kemp it was his lead shoulder. So everything's just, your body adjusts to it. I don't know what the facts are. It's loose or whatever, something is different about it, so your body just has to adjust to it, and so, yeah.

Q. Just to follow up, given not only the shoulder situation, but unfortunately the other injuries you've had this year, are you going to be a hundred percent before next spring? What percentage of like full capacity are you right now?

CODY BELLINGER: Yeah, I would say that I'll be a hundred percent. I think having a full off-season is going to be very beneficial. I was rehabbing all off-season last year and then everything happened this year. But a full off-season I'll for sure be ready to go.

Q. Where would you say you are right now?

CODY BELLINGER: I feel a hundred percent, you know. I don't know how my body is, but I feel really good.