NL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES: BRAVES VS DODGERS

October 19, 2021

Alex Vesia

Dodger Stadium

Los Angeles Dodgers

Pregame 3 Press Conference

Q. The other night when Max Scherzer was just talking about the game he said that he knew that you were the right guy to come in and take out Freeman and Albies. How big were those strikeouts for you and your confidence and just with your experience in the postseason?

ALEX VESIA: I mean, my experience is slim to none, so every time I go out there it's a new learning experience for me. So for him to say that, that was pretty cool. My mom said that to me, and she was like, I can't believe that Max Scherzer is saying that about you. So that was cool.

You know, and going out there and I just, I tried to stay calm, make my pitches, and felt like it went pretty good. I was hyped after it.

Q. How proud are you of yourself and kind of just the growth you've had this season in being able to have those big moments in the postseason?

ALEX VESIA: Right. Right. I'm definitely, I'm thankful, you know what I mean? It's been a long season, for sure. To look back where I started and where I'm at now, I'm very proud to kind of see that progress.

Q. Like you said, you're kind of growing, especially in this postseason. This is your first one. How did you like it and have you felt any pressure?

ALEX VESIA: No, nothing like that. I'm actually, I enjoy those moments because I know that all the hard work and everything that I've put in, it's going to pay off, and I definitely feel like I'm in a good spot with like my mechanics and everything like that, and mentally on the mound, I'm ready to go out there and do my thing.

Q. And do you feel you can pitch deeper than two innings?

ALEX VESIA: Whatever Doc needs me to do, I'll do it.

Q. Specifically what do you feel like you've learned from being in that moment that would help you moving forward as far as when you're on the mound the next time?

ALEX VESIA: Honestly, the crowd, just the atmosphere, it's a big moment. You have runners on first and second, you need a strikeout, you need a weak contact, so for me it was just a challenge to myself to execute pitches at the top of the zone and then also keep Freddie off-balance with the slider and I feel like I executed that.

Q. You've had so many big moments where like at the end of an inning either a strikeout or a big play, you're pretty pumped up coming off the mound. What's been the transition like when like say the umpire comes and has to do the check for the glove, like for you?

ALEX VESIA: Yeah, I mean, some people have commented where it's like I go from being super hyped and then it's like a kid when he gets like in trouble where you're like (Indicating) here you go.

But like for me I walk up to him and I just, I don't want to be like disrespectful or anything. I know he has to do that and whatnot and for me sometimes I'm still hyped about what I just did. So, yeah, no, that's not a big worry for me or anything like that, and just you know, take my hat off, check the belt, and go on my way.

Q. I know they have only been checking since about June and you've had your baseball life without that. Has that been like, is it just routine now or do you still notice it?

ALEX VESIA: No, it's definitely routine. I walk off the mound and I know like I usually am looking for either the third base, first base umpire, or the home plate umpire. Yeah, it's pretty routine now.

Q. Is there someone on the team that you look to in these big situations for advice on just how to handle the pressure of the playoffs or the pressure of the moment or just how you are kind of focusing your energy here?

ALEX VESIA: I mean, yeah, you have, with all the great veteran guys that we have in the clubhouse, I've definitely picked everybody's brain. I talk with David Price a lot. He's definitely my go-to guy on certain things. But then also like Blake Treinen, Kenley, I've asked them about how to deal with success, how to deal with failure, kind of just sticking on my routine. Getting late into playoffs, I don't really think I've thrown this far in like a long season, so that's been, tailoring routines, stuff like that, just to stay healthy and making my body feel good. So they have been helping me out a bunch and I can't thank them enough.

Q. How are you feeling at this point in the year having thrown so many innings and pitching so deep into this season?

ALEX VESIA: No, it's been great, really. I feel good. The training staff, the trainers, they do great job and as long as I communicate to them, they communicate indicate to me, so it's all good.

Q. You spoke about speaking with David Price. How invaluable is that to have a guy like David Price with all his experiences being able to disseminate information to you and help you?

ALEX VESIA: Oh, yeah, it's the best. I love that guy. I could ask him anything and he's going to be real with me. He's not going to sugarcoat anything and I like that. I don't want someone to sugarcoat anything because I feel like the truth is what I need. I don't need anything else.

Q. Does your mindset change from going in as a reliever, a closer, starter? When Doc comes to you does your mindset have to change at all because you are so routined, and your everyday process, does that change?

ALEX VESIA: The routine, the process, doesn't really change. I'm looking to get either three batters out or one or two outs, execute the plan that Bardo and I go through down in the bullpen.

The inning doesn't really matter to me as long as I get an out, put up a zero, and then pass it to the next reliever, however that is, so, yeah.

Q. Is there any advice that you received from David that you can share with us that has kind of stuck out to you or really from Blake or any of the guys?

ALEX VESIA: Kind of just keep being myself. It's a long season, you have a lot of ups and downs, highs and lows, and kind of just to stay even, don't ride the highs too high or the lows too low. I've said that a couple times and I kind of like that expression because that's the truth. You go and get a big out, right, the night before, well the next day it's -- you can't live in the past, it's a new day, it's a new game and so like that's something that I've tried to tell myself that, when I go out and play catch and stuff like that, it's on focused on the game at hand.