NL DIVISION SERIES: BREWERS VS BRAVES

October 11, 2021

Brian Snitker

Truist Park

Atlanta Braves

Postgame 3 Press Conference

Braves - 3, Brewers - 0

Q. As that inning's beginning, are you envisioning Travis and Dansby getting on base, that Joc is going to come up; how do you think as that inning is beginning?

BRIAN SNITKER: I'm just thinking that I'm glad the way it worked that I could get him at right-handed at-bat. That's the biggest thing. I'm going to try to pop him on a right-hander as soon as I can, whether it's two out, nobody on. Huge hits by obviously Travis and Dansby to set that table right there.

Q. What about the job that Ian did to pitch out of that and the defense that was played behind him?

BRIAN SNITKER: Unbelievable. Both things. I talked earlier about how Ian in some previous starts was kind of getting the feel of the change, the fastball command, all that earlier and earlier, after he had came back. And today he had it from pitch one. It was really really good from pitch one and what he did to get out of the fifth inning is something else.

Q. You've seen Joc now in a couple of -- three postseason games where he's gone 3-for-3 with two homers. What about him do you think you've seen that made him so successful in these situations with the Dodgers, because he's doing it again with you guys?

BRIAN SNITKER: He's been in these situations a lot, number one, I think. Number two, that guy's got no heartbeat at all. It's like he's on the playground. Playing against him in the postseason last few years, you could tell that. I don't know.

He just slows things down and has his at-bat. And it's really focused -- he's a very talented young man. And he really slows everything down and doesn't get caught up in anything other than his at-bat, I think. He's been very successful in the postseason.

Q. Is he one of those guys that swagger is real, that confidence?

BRIAN SNITKER: It is. It is for real. He's a guy that attracts people, I mean, his persona and all. I've really enjoyed getting to know him. He's something else (laughter) -- in a good way. You see him interact with his kids. He's an awesome guy. Awesome guy.

Q. Following that up, what does he bring to a clubhouse? And also is there any chance that you might show up in pearls tomorrow?

BRIAN SNITKER: I won't show up in pearls. Again, he's kind of like some of these other guys. You trade for him, they come in -- he's been in the big moment, on the big stage. And he's performed. And I think guys appreciate that. They respect that.

And Joc's Joc, I guess, maybe you'd say. But we've enjoyed having him here. I know that. The guys love him. I love him. He's an awesome guy. I've talked to him a few times a month ago. And he's, like, I'm ready to do whatever you need me to do. And he does.

He stays -- when he's in the batter's box, it's game on, I know that. He slows it down and he has skills.

Q. Have you thought about who is going to start tomorrow for you guys on the hill?

BRIAN SNITKER: I thought about it. But these games happen. We're in there. We're talking about it. And then later on this afternoon we'll kind of narrow it down. We've talked to a few guys about some possible scenarios and we'll narrow it down later on this evening.

Q. Counsell was really talking up Ian's change-up today. Said they're almost looking for it in some spots and it was just so good they just could not hit it. You've seen it --

BRIAN SNITKER: Like I said earlier, he had it from the go. I mean, it was really really good. I was looking at the -- sometimes I didn't really know what it was until I looked at the velocities. But as I said earlier, as he's come back, he's gotten it quicker and quicker.

There's a couple of outings where it took him four innings to really get the feel. Today he had it from the get-go. Big stage, all the people. People asked me about that. If anything, it helped him.

Q. You mentioned Joc having no heartbeat. It seems like he's a slow-heartbeat guy, too, right?

BRIAN SNITKER: Right. And Ian's been through a lot. Like I said earlier, in a short Major League career and pitched a lot of postseason games.

He went to bed knowing he had the NLCS deciding game, Game 7. That's huge for a young kid. And today. That's the thing that attracts you to Ian, why he's going to be so good. And that intangible that he has and the confidence in himself he likes it.

And people asked me about the crowd. It didn't faze him one bit. I thought he would and he did feed on it.

Q. Is Charlie on short rest on the table?

BRIAN SNITKER: Everybody's on the table.

Q. He's only done it once in his career. That was back in '08. How much of a consideration might that be when you make your decision?

BRIAN SNITKER: Everybody's on the table.

Q. Given the struggles you guys had back in May, is this kind of a surrealistic moment for you right now?

BRIAN SNITKER: Yeah, a little bit. I told people even in June, in the first of July, I mean if you would have told me we're going to be sitting here right now like this, just where we were, like I said, I don't know if we were treading water, we had a straw going up through the base sucking air. We weren't even at the top.

And, yeah, it is a little bit. I always believed in the guys. And I've said many times over the last six months that just keep waiting for when we're going to have our run because I knew we would at some point in time.

And then we had it and we got to first place and we kept it. I'm so proud of these guys. They'll be sitting here right now talking to you all a game away from going to the NLCS again. Who knows what's going to happen. But that we put ourselves in this position is a credit to all those guys in that room.

Q. You were asked about lineups the other day. I'm curious with Joc, do you just prefer to have him for these unique pitching roles?

BRIAN SNITKER: I like having him for that. What's to say I'm going to do -- my head hits the pillow and I toss and turn and things come about. And I don't know what we're going to do tomorrow. Quite honestly. I'll be honest with you, I don't.

Shoot, anything can happen when I wake up. Actually I'll have a chance to get a cup of coffee before I come to the ballpark. I didn't want to risk it today, if you know what I mean. (Laughter).

Q. What can you say about your entire pitching staff? I think it's been 19 innings since the Brewers have scored a run, not just Ian but all of them?

BRIAN SNITKER: I can't say enough about them, what they've done, in this environment. They've been awesome. The starting pitching. We've had three really strong starts. And the bullpen's been just so good. They have been for a long time. And they pick each other up and they execute. And what they've done it's been really good, really good.

Q. Number one, what did you see in the second with that play with Adam at second? And with Will, what he's been able to do these last two outings?

BRIAN SNITKER: That wasn't a good play by Adam. I talked to him about it. He agrees. It was probably just getting caught up in the moment. And for a number of reasons. I mean, that's one of the guys, he doesn't make mistakes. And he did right there. And he'd tell you if he came in here right now and sat down, he'd say, "I screwed up."

Q. And Will?

BRIAN SNITKER: Will's been awesome. Unbelievable. That's why he's got almost 40 saves. Sometimes he creates his own trouble but he's always -- there's a lot of the guys are like that. Shoot, my hat's off to Will the way he hangs in there and turns the page and just like I say he's done a great job for us this year. He always shows up.

When that phone rings Will doesn't never answer it. He's ready to go. Never makes any excuses. He's accountable. He's what they're made of.