NL DIVISION SERIES: GIANTS VS DODGERS

October 11, 2021

Tony Gonsolin

Dodger Stadium

Los Angeles Dodgers

Pregame 3 Press Conference

Q. What have they told you about tomorrow in terms of like what your role will be, and will you be ready in the pen ready to go tonight if necessary?

TONY GONSOLIN: I don't know if I'll be in the pen tonight but I'm pitching tomorrow at some point.

Q. How is the energy from the fans? Do the players feel that at Dodger Stadium? It seems so awesome, but do you guys feel it and how do you feel it?

TONY GONSOLIN: Absolutely. Coming from last year, our playoff experience last year, and then this year, it's just completely different. You can really feel the energy from the fans and they support us through and through.

Q. You mentioned last year's playoff experience. You started two World Series games. So what did you learn from that experience that you can take over into this NLDS when you take the mound tomorrow?

TONY GONSOLIN: Just attack guys. We're all playing under the same pressure and just going out there and seize the moment.

Q. Given your Vacaville roots and St. Mary's, did you grow up watching, following, rooting for the Giants at all?

TONY GONSOLIN: I wouldn't say I followed them. My whole family is Giants fans so I knew kind of what was going on. I was at St. Mary's during their like run of a couple rings, so I kind of knew what was going on, but I didn't really follow them.

Q. Is tomorrow's start going to be especially important for you at all just to face them?

TONY GONSOLIN: It's just another start. Got to go out there, or whenever I pitch. I don't know if I'm starting yet. But, yeah, just another opportunity to go out there and pitch and throw strikes and hopefully come away with a win.

Q. In hindsight, how difficult was last fall with your role being as nebulous as it was and opening and pitching bulk and starting and back and forth and how much easier might it be this year?

TONY GONSOLIN: Not sure what the full role is yet, but I'm just ready to go out there and throw, and when Doc says I'm done, then I'm done.

Q. And last year, now that you look back on it?

TONY GONSOLIN: Yeah, just a good learning opportunity. I didn't throw very well last year, but in hindsight, like, there's a lot to learn from it.

Q. Does your mindset change from knowing you might be a starter or reliever? How does that change for you?

TONY GONSOLIN: Try to go out there the same way. Still got to attack guys, still got to pitch guys similarly, still got to get ahead. It's the same game whether it's the 1st inning or the 6th.

Q. You had a nice little run of starts and appearances in September. Physically are you feeling like you're back to normal?

TONY GONSOLIN: Yeah, I'm feeling a lot better. Definitely back to normal, ready to build on that and get my first playoff appearance out of the way.

Q. In your career, I wonder what the impact and the experience at St. Mary's was like. Weren't you an outfielder turned pitcher and how did all that shake down?

TONY GONSOLIN: What's the question?

Q. The impact that, or how your career changed or was altered at St. Mary's or how did it help you move on?

TONY GONSOLIN: Oh, yeah. I mean, I was a hitter at one point, so I got to learn kind of the hitter's side of attacking a pitcher, so I can kind of use that to I guess attack hitters or like plan for what hitters may be thinking. So I get a little bit of both sides of the ball, which is kind of nice.

Q. You talked about how your family -- obviously grew up rooting for the Giants. What have those conversations been like with your friends and family, how many of them were at Oracle Park, and what are their thoughts about just this dynamic?

TONY GONSOLIN: It's been pretty good. A couple of them have reached out to me and said, Well, we want the Giants to win, but when you're pitching we want you to win. So we just got to get out there so then they can start rooting for the Dodgers. So, but, yeah, it's been fair, it's been friendly, it's been fun.

Q. How many people would you say that, friends, family, how many people are at Oracle Park?

TONY GONSOLIN: There was only a couple friends.

Q. I know you've been around Kersh for the last couple years, but some more future Hall of Famers in Max Scherzer now and Pujols. Have you picked their brains and what are some of the things that they have told you that's helped you become a better pitcher as well?

TONY GONSOLIN: Yeah, definitely have talked to Scherzer a lot, talking about his game planning, how he goes about his process for getting ready to face a lineup multiple times through kind of thing. And then just watching how he goes about his business, everything, when he touches a ball, it's time to work and then when he's not he's pretty play full, which is cool.