AL WILD CARD SERIES: MARINERS VS BLUE JAYS

October 7, 2022

Bo Bichette

Rogers Centre

Toronto Blue Jays

Pregame Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: We'll get started with Bo Bichette.

Q. You've been dreaming of this moment since you joined this organization. You're now here. How well did you sleep last night? How nervous or excited are you today? What are the feelings?

BO BICHETTE: Just a lot of excitement, I think. This is why we play is to get an opportunity in the playoffs. And so, yeah, just a lot of excitement. Anxious to get the game started for sure.

Q. With George and some of the vets on the team, have you been talking to them about the environment? Obviously, in 2020 there was no fans. Have you been having any conversations with any of them about what the experience will be like?

BO BICHETTE: No, not really because we've been talking about it for years now, so no need to have any last-minute talks about it.

I know everybody is really excited. And like I said, just can't wait to get started.

Q. Wondering when you look back to 2020 and that team and compared to this team that you have right now, how is this team different and stronger than to that 2020 team?

BO BICHETTE: I think just more experienced, more maturity. Obviously, there's new faces in the clubhouse who have helped us a lot and got us to this point, but I think just maturity and experience. Have a lot more games under our belt. Yeah, I mean, that's pretty much it.

Q. What does home field advantage mean for you guys? Obviously, playing the first postseason game here in Toronto, we look back to 2015-2016. We know how rocking this city can be. What sort of factor is this going to play in for you guys?

BO BICHETTE: It means a lot to be here. Like I said earlier, this is something that I would say majority of our team has been hoping to experience for a long time now. So to get that opportunity is really special. But at the end of the day we still have to play a good game. We're only going to get through this series if we go out there and play well, so that's our focus.

Q. You're a different team now. You have a different manager now, but do you look back at the series in Seattle in July, and if so, what do you take from it? What do you throw away from it?

BO BICHETTE: Not much to take from it, I don't think. But I mean, bottom line is, that's a really good team over there. They have a lot of really good players. Regardless of what happened at the beginning of the year, whenever that was, we're going to have to play a good few games here to get by.

So, yeah, I don't think anything from that in particular, but we understand the talent they have, and we're going to need to play well.

Q. Obviously, you weren't here in 2015, but at the time the city, the whole country went nuts for the Blue Jays. There's a blue wave across the country. I'm wondering, this is your real first taste of it when being here in the playoffs here in Toronto when everything is sort of open. I'm wondering, what's your sense of the vibe in the city? Have you had any sort of interactions with fans and stuff just being in and around, people wishing you well or just, I don't know?

BO BICHETTE: Yeah, I'm not out too much, but I think you can definitely find -- you can feel excitement about this team. I think they've been watching us grow up for a few years now waiting for us to get to this moment, so now we're here. Yeah, I think there's a lot of excitement. I think you'll see it in the stadium tonight.

Q. John was just talking about you and the way over the course of the year you found that right balance between not trying to force things, being able to attack and finding your game, kind of saying that Vlad has gone through the same thing. I'm wondering if you can describe a little bit how you found that right balance between aggression or not trying to force things and maybe what you have seen from Vlad in that regard as well.

BO BICHETTE: First off, I think it's pretty special what Vladdy has been able to do and people are talking about him not being -- doing what he's capable of. I think when push comes to shove, Vladdy normally figures it out. I don't think there's any worry there.

But, for me, just being aggressive and not worrying about what the wrong things that could happen. Just focusing on my game plan and focus on attacking that. That's pretty much it.

Q. You've known Alek Manoah a long time, seen the things that he has done this year, when he has gone over his career high innings by 85, how good he was down the stretch. Silly to ask, what are you expecting from him today, but how much are you looking forward to him getting the ball in the playoff game?

BO BICHETTE: Yeah, it should be fun. He seems like he definitely eats these moments up, so it will be exciting to watch him.

He is just the ultra competitor. You know, at this point, at this level everybody has talent, so competitiveness normally can separate you. Definitely competes better than most. I'm excited to see him.

Q. Hey, Bo, when you think about this season as a whole, what did you learn about yourself, and what did you learn about this Blue Jays team?

BO BICHETTE: I don't know if we learned anything else. We've always known how good we are and what we're capable of accomplishing. This year definitely had its ups and downs. I think if we didn't know it already, we have a lot of fight, and we're going to continue to bounce back no matter what happens and get up and keep fighting. I think we've done that quite a few times this year. We'll keep on doing it as long as we can.

Yeah, I mean, I don't think we learn anything new, but just more clarification on what we're capable of doing and the fight that we have.

Q. You guys have a core group of players who played together and won together in the Minor Leagues. I know this is a much bigger stage, but do you feel that that experience of winning in the Minors is helpful now?

BO BICHETTE: I'm not really sure. It's just completely different, so we just go out there and play hard like we did in the minors. I guess it's no different, in reality. Like I said, that's a great team over there, and every team we play from here on out, if we're going to win a World Series, is a great team.

I guess just like the Minors we have to go out there and play well, so that's pretty much it.

Q. Since you've made your debut, you've always been very confident about what this team is capable of. What have you seen over the last four to six weeks that have maybe shown you that this team is perhaps as good as it's been since you've been up?

BO BICHETTE: Like I said earlier, I've believed in this team through ups and downs. I don't think the way we've played down the stretch makes me believe any more.

I've always known what we can do. And like I said, we just get up and keep on fighting no matter what. Yeah, I mean, like I said, that's what we'll continue to do.

I don't think that I've learned any more about this team from anything that's happened.