AL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES: ASTROS VS RED SOX

October 20, 2021

Josh Taylor

Fenway Park

Boston Red Sox

Pregame 5 Press Conference

Q. Hi, Josh. Will the team have any trouble recovering from last night's ninth inning?

JOSH TAYLOR: I don't think we will. I think we put together a pretty good game that kind of got out of hand at the end. I think we're still a good ballclub, and we just need to finish nine innings.

Q. During the season you guys have fairly set roles, and you have a pretty good idea when you're coming in. In the postseason not as much. What kind of adjustment is that for relievers, and how do you sort of differently prepare yourself?

JOSH TAYLOR: You got to kind of look at it, it's the same way how A.C. said "spikes on" for the starters. We're at the point of the year where every out matters, and it doesn't matter what situation you're in. You just buy into going in and doing your job.

It doesn't matter what inning it is. You see Brasier going in the fourth or Otto going in the fifth or Garrett Whitlock going in in the ninth or seventh and eighth. It's whoever they feel is best in that situation, and we're buying into it.

Q. Just a thought on kind of what Johnny asked you, what is it about this particular team that has given you guys the ability to bounce back where seemingly no matter win or lose, the next day show up to the ballpark and do what you do?

JOSH TAYLOR: It goes all the way back to Spring Training. Alex Cora has been saying it all year. We're a good team, and we deserve to be here. Just going back to trusting him and trusting the way he does things. Some people may think it is a little rash and might not be the best idea, but he has the best intention for us, and everyone has bought in. So everyone understands what he thinks is right, we're going to do it.

Q. You mentioned A.C., is he the kind of guy that's going to talk to you guys, rally the troops after a game like that last night, or is he sort of hands-off and lets players lead?

JOSH TAYLOR: He is always leading us. He doesn't necessarily have to say something, but he leads by example, and he is very into what we're doing and, you know, he is passionate about it, and we feed off that alone.

Q. Are you a believer in momentum shifts, or do you think the old saying is true that in baseball momentum is your next starting pitcher?

JOSH TAYLOR: I think it's a new day. I think if we come out swinging, and we come out pitching well. I don't think we have a problem.

Q. You've been here for a little while now. What's it been like having these games with a full capacity and all of the fans, especially after going through last year when 60 games with nobody watching?

JOSH TAYLOR: I've said it a few times this year. People don't realize how big the crowd impacts a game, whether they're cheering for you or against you. You feel it, and it either motivates you or gets to you. You have to learn to pitch with it.

Our fan base has been amazing this year, and they've been great in the postseason. We just need to carry that on.

Q. After what happened last year, not just you guys but the whole sport, how much more do you appreciate that aspect of it?

JOSH TAYLOR: It's incredible. They bring life to the stadium. It's hard to get the adrenaline going in games when you can hear crickets, but when you hear constant crowds, I mean, they had crowd noise, whatever last year didn't really do anything, but, you know, when you have the people, you see people, you feel the energy, it's a big impact on the game.

Q. Kind of to follow that up, Josh, what's it been like in the bullpen? It seemed like it started with the Yankees, the Wild Card game, and it's just grown since. Some of the opposing teams have said it's been a little wild out there. What's it been like sitting out in the bullpen just looking around and seeing these fans?

JOSH TAYLOR: It's crazy, man. You feel them from the first inning until the game is over. Brings energy to us, and, you know, you feed off it.