NL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES: BRAVES VS DODGERS

October 21, 2021

Brian Snitker

Dodger Stadium

Atlanta Braves

Pregame 5 Press Conference

Q. When did you hear about Soler and how do you, how will he fit the rest of the series?

BRIAN SNITKER: Today when Alex called and said that he was cleared and he would be back with the club. He'll be a bat off the bench.

Q. Was there any hesitation in activating him right away or about his conditioning or anything like that?

BRIAN SNITKER: No. No, he's been working out on his own. So, I mean, I think he's good to go.

Q. If you were fortunate enough to advance, would he take, it would help him to get some live BP and that type of thing and get back in game shape and then he would ready to go, probably?

BRIAN SNITKER: Yeah. Well, yeah, theoretically, yes. But it's just something I hope we are dealing with that.

Q. Nice to have that extra --

BRIAN SNITKER: Oh, no, that's a great weapon off the bench right there too, yeah.

Q. Dave Roberts announced Joe Kelly is going to be the first pitcher to start the game, but the unique challenges of a bullpen game, obviously you guys did it yesterday, you won the game, I mean, how does that present a challenge for you guys?

BRIAN SNITKER: It's hard. I mean, like I said, it's like having four pinch hits, which pinch hitting is probably one of the toughest things to do in baseball and when teams do that, I mean, it's a rough thing for hitters to have to face somebody new every time they go up there because pretty much that's what you're doing.

I don't think it's something you can't, during the season you can't do a lot of. Every now and then you're kind of set up to do that, but it's a rough go.

Q. Obviously it would be a big deal for the organization to get to the World Series. I'm just wondering, what would it mean to get Freddie there after what he's meant to the franchise over the last decade-plus?

BRIAN SNITKER: Oh, I think it would be awesome, not only for Freddie, but for all those guys out there. It's an accomplishment. It's hard to get there, as we have seen. It's a big deal if you can grind your way and work your way there, so I think it would be awesome for all those guys to be able to experience that.

Q. Something Freddie's ever kind of talked about openly about wanting to get there?

BRIAN SNITKER: No, not really. Yeah, I've never had a, had that discussion with him.

Q. Looking at Max, I think some of us still don't realize how veteran he really is right now just because he feels like he just burst on the scene, but making I guess his seventh postseason start tonight, tell me what he's learned and what you've seen out of his growth in these postseason games?

BRIAN SNITKER: Just Max's growth as a major leaguer has been really cool to watch from when he first came here and how he's learned to develop routines and who he is as a pitcher and how meticulous he is in his work and consistent he is in his work and how he approaches the game and the study and, I mean, he's all-in on this. He does everything he can to prepare himself. He works on all the little things. He's won a Gold Glove. His hitting, bunting, run control, everything, fielding his position, all that kind of stuff, I mean, he does a lot of things to help himself win games. It's been a really neat thing and all over the years to watch him mature and become the major leaguer that he is.

Q. Could this shoulder have been an issue for Ynoa down the stretch and is it a concern moving forward?

BRIAN SNITKER: No, I mean, it wasn't. Actually, the other day was the first time he had ever, he said playing catch he felt something pop. I don't think he really knew the severity of it when we talked to him two nights ago before we left here, and he was like, you know, I should be ready to go, and he woke up that morning and felt good, yesterday morning and felt good. But it hadn't been anything that -- but it was significant enough after two days ago that we were, and then yesterday, it was just you could tell, there was something not right there.

He's going to have all the tests run and everything and we'll see probably in a couple days where he's at. But they don't feel right now that it will impede him starting spring training, but they haven't done the MRIs and everything yet either.

Q. I just asked Austin Riley about the sense of urgency for this team really to finish this off here or as soon as possible. You mentioned with their experience from a year ago being better versed for this. What can you point to right now or does anything feel different, look different?

BRIAN SNITKER: I just think there is because we've been through this before, so they have experienced it. I think every time you experience something you're a little more ready for it the next time. I think that's just kind of, overall I think these guys understand that, yeah, we're up 3-1, but that doesn't mean anything.

You just, we need to go out and try and win another game and that's easier said than done. But I think the experience they had last year just is good for 'em.

Q. A more esoteric question here. You've been around for so long, what's the difference in style of managing now as opposed to the way it was when you came along in the minor leagues and through the Braves system?

BRIAN SNITKER: Yeah, there's just more information, there's more out there. There's more just the social media thing, the analytics now. Analytics is good information. And I think just there's just a lot different -- I mean, like you say, the groups are bigger now. Our traveling party is bigger, everything in the clubhouse is bigger. It's not as simple as it used to be just playing the game and going off your gut and the instincts so much, because there are a lot of really good, there's a lot of really good information and it's just more involved now than it used to be.