AL WILD CARD SERIES: RAYS VS GUARDIANS

October 7, 2022

Terry Francona

Progressive Field

Cleveland Guardians

Pregame Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Questions for Terry?

Q. Can you discuss the roster yet?

TERRY FRANCONA: I would hope so, yeah. What do you mean?

Q. They're talking about 10 o'clock. But it's just turned 10, so good to go?

TERRY FRANCONA: Oh, I didn't even know that. Okay. Okay. What do you want to know?

Q. Who is on there?

TERRY FRANCONA: Oh, oh, okay. Every position player that we finished with is on the playoff roster. The pitcher that was taken off was Cody Morris. So Zach Plesac is on and then everybody else that was with us is on. That make it easier?

Q. Can you explain the decision then on Cody and Plesac?

TERRY FRANCONA: We went back and forth a ton, just decided in the end a little bit more veteran, a little bit more experience, and especially in a game, or could potentially be a game where, say, it's extra innings, having a guy that holds runners, fields his position, probably gave it the edge.

Q. Last year's Giménez versus this year's Giménez, what have you seen, how would you describe the two?

TERRY FRANCONA: Last year was his first year with us. So not only was he young, he's, English is his second language, with a new team. But he's trying to get two hits every day so he can stay in the lineup. And I understand that. You try to tell guys, you don't have to go about it that way, but I understand it.

This year he's playing to help us win every day and whether it's bunting or hitting or playing second. He's just kind of growing up. When you have those kind of tools you start to see them come out. Then when guys get confident they start doing things maybe they didn't do before or they do it more, on a more consistent basis.

Q. As you get to know all your players, when he came over, especially last year, is he an easy guy to get to know?

TERRY FRANCONA: He's a real quiet kid. I mean, extremely polite, well mannered. Great kid. Just not the loudest guy in the room. That's okay. But he's a good kid. You tell him something and he does it. He's solid. He's a really good second baseman.

Q. What do you think of the player Yandy Díaz has evolved into and did you see that coming?

TERRY FRANCONA: I think we thought that there was that hitter there. When we had him, he was, that's, what, five years ago, and a lot of balls that he hit he wasn't elevating yet. I think there was, sometimes there was a little mistake in communication, because we felt like if he just got his at-bats the field will start moving around for him, like it has been. He's a really good hitter. He doesn't chase much. He takes his walks. He gets the barrel to the ball a lot.

Q. Assuming you went to bed last night, what time did you get up and what was the scooter traffic like this morning?

TERRY FRANCONA: I wanted to have a day because we're such creatures of habit. So I came in about 6 just because I wanted to swim and have some time to get ready. But I went to bed right after dinner. It was an early dinner.

Q. Not much traffic at 6 then?

TERRY FRANCONA: Not much going on.