AL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES: ASTROS VS RED SOX

October 18, 2021

Kendall Graveman

Fenway Park

Houston Astros

Pregame 3 Press Conference

Q. Kendall, you talked about when they acquired you how excited you were to pitch in the playoffs for the first time. I guess, what has the experience been like, and has it been everything you've sort of dreamed it would be pitching in the playoffs?

KENDALL GRAVEMAN: Yeah, especially the first series. There was some nerves. I mean, we're human, right? It's a big environment and a big stage, but I think the experience has really helped with that especially going into this series. So I think guys that are fortunate enough to play in the postseason, as many of our guys on our team have, then the excitement goes up and the nerves go down, and it's just kind of an exciting day to show up to the park. A little bit more exciting than the regular 162.

So the intensity shows up, and I think the focus is a little bit more. I think that's something that I've learned as it's the second series in the postseason for me.

Q. Considering the bullpen has carried such a big load the first two games, how do you think you guys will hold up over the bulk of the series if you're called upon to do that game in and game out? I guess especially the next three here it would be in three days in a row.

KENDALL GRAVEMAN: It's next man up, and you never want to see injuries or anything, but it's part of our game. You piece it together, and guys have stepped up and done a huge job for us. I think Javier has been one of the biggest successes this postseason just to go out and throw the ball the way he has. For me that's been fun to watch, and you don't get those stories without, unfortunately, something negative happening sometimes.

I told our guys in the bullpen, we'll go as far as this bullpen takes us, and I believe that. I believe in all the guys down there, and when you continue to challenge the zone and throw strikes, good things happen. I think you see that walks escalate in the postseason, and just to eliminate those is something that we're really working on in the bullpen.

Q. I asked a little bit about the attitude that goes with taking the ball in big-time situations. How much do you have to want to be in that situation to succeed, and, again, you guys have done such a remarkable job. Game 4 in Chicago, the first game in this series. What kind of attitude goes into that kind of success?

KENDALL GRAVEMAN: Dusty said it perfectly. I've never heard it said like that, but he said that it's okay to be nervous, but it's not okay to be scared. I think that's true. Just going out, and at the end of the day every moment is a big moment in the postseason, so whoever's name is called, no matter if it's the eighth inning with one run or if you are trying to keep the game close in the fourth inning and bridge it to the next guy.

So all of these runs matter. At the very basic element of pitching, it's going out and executing pitches, so if you can just take it one pitch at a time and execute that pitch, that's where you find success even in the biggest moments.

Q. Like everybody, you had a short year last year. Even shorter, really. How has that impacted you now at the end of a very long year, and how do you think it's impacting pitchers in general at this time?

KENDALL GRAVEMAN: In my case I haven't played a full season since 2017, so a long time ago. Middle of '18 on May 30th I had Tommy John surgery, and I missed that year. I missed '19, and then last year was a shortened season, but I was still dealing with some physical issues. And this year to be healthy all year has been truly a blessing.

But overall in baseball, especially the four teams left, it's difficult. I don't think a lot of people realize it because it was a year ago. Especially fans and maybe people outside the game, but you start to feel a little fatigue, and that's where the mental aspect of playing this game comes in to be able to show up each day knowing that you're -- really no one at this point is feeling too fresh, and the mental side of being able to overcome that, the physical elements that everyone is kind of dealing with is, I think, where you separate some of the guys.

Q. Kendall, obviously, the heavy workload that the bullpen has had to handle, that's come kind out of necessity, as you mentioned, but I'm curious in your previous stops, how you've seen different managers over your career kind of manage their bullpens and some more aggressive than others perhaps, more intentionally putting bullpen games out there. I guess, what's been your experience with that?

KENDALL GRAVEMAN: Every organization I've been in has been different, and there's a small changes of thinking and philosophy. I'm here now and it's more of a standard like seventh, eighth innings are kind of set. Some other organizations there's another thought process of being able to throw your guys in the biggest moments of the game, maybe that's the sixth or seventh inning, and not going with the traditional closer setup. I don't disagree or agree 100% with either one. I just know that whatever you're working with, you got to be bought in.

And even when I was in other organizations and there were bullpen days and things like that, there was some natural complaining, and as me being a person that doesn't want to complain, it's, hey, guys, this is what we're dealt with, this is the hand we're dealt. Either we can complain and lose games, or we can pick each other up and continue to battle through some of the innings that we were throwing. I think you saw that with the team I was with earlier in Seattle.

For me personally, I think all of it works. It's just a mindset of going out there and pitching and performing.

Q. I'm curious, you mentioned Seattle. Coming over midseason, playing a road game with a hostile crowd. A little different opposing crowds, Seattle compared to the Astros. Do they sort of bring out some of that, and how have the guys handled it, some of those guys that have been here?

KENDALL GRAVEMAN: Yeah, there's a different element to the game when you put on this jersey, and I think the whole city of Houston has embraced it and realized that -- when I came over, I'm a guy of forgiveness, and I never want to hold anything, a grudge or anything against anyone, and personally, that's me. I've seen how these guys have dealt with some of this stuff, and some of the nicest guys I've ever played with. Some of the stuff that they get kind of handed to them right now has made them really close. It's a close-knit group and a group that's played in a lot of big games and a lot of playoffs games, and there's a special bond between some of these guys that I didn't realize when I was playing against them, but these guys have really pulled together and picked each other up in moments that weren't so good.