AL WILD CARD SERIES: RAYS VS GUARDIANS

October 7, 2022

Jose Ramirez

Progressive Field

Cleveland Guardians

Postgame Press Conference

Cleveland Guardians - 2, Tampa Bay Rays - 1

THE MODERATOR: Questions for José.

Q. What's it feel like whenever you're hearing the crowd chant your name like and you're able to step out and wave to them?

JOSÉ RAMÍREZ: It's really happy feeling. It makes me feel very good when I get that recognition and I feel these are the best fans in the world, so it's really happy for me to get that ovation.

Q. I think that's only the second home run McClanahan has given up on a changeup this year. Is that what you were looking for there?

JOSÉ RAMÍREZ: Yeah, that was my plan, just look for that changeup. He got me twice with the same pitch. Because it's a really good pitch. It really resembles a fastball. So I was just sitting on that pitch and I was just trying not to do too much, just put it on the opposing side of the field, and I was able to get a good contact on that.

Q. Were you concerned in terms of when the challenge was in play, if somebody stepped on the base or anything?

JOSÉ RAMÍREZ: I was a little bit like concerned, but at the first I thought it was me not stepping on the base. But I was confident that I stepped on it. But then when they give the resolution, I just felt extra happy and was able to celebrate.

Q. After they took the lead did you have to, did you tell yourself we have to respond here?

JOSÉ RAMÍREZ: Yeah, that came through my mind, but we have a really good team, so I knew we were capable to come back and just trying to put the ball in play and try to get something going.

Q. Do we make too much of this team being inexperienced? It looks like you guys, it's just this young team can play at this level with anybody. Do we make too much of this team's inexperience?

JOSÉ RAMÍREZ: Yeah, I understand that's the messaging, but we have to remember that despite being young it's a very talented team. So I feel with the talent we're very capable of competing with anybody.

Q. Where does that rate among the home runs you've hit?

JOSÉ RAMÍREZ: For me all homers are really important. It's hard to rank them. But the important part is that I help the team and that's what I want to do is help the team win.

Q. What's it like playing behind Bieber whenever he's pitching like that?

JOSÉ RAMÍREZ: It's like a little extra confidence right there because we know with only two, three runs we can get away with the game. It's easy to see what he does, but also when other teams recognize how good of a pitcher he is. So it's real easy when he's pitching there just to get a couple of runs and just get the win.

Q. Off the bat it looked like it was gone but then it kind of like was kind of in limbo there. What did you think when it finally went over? Did you think that you got it or did you have to wait and kind of see?

JOSÉ RAMÍREZ: Yeah, when it came off the bat I felt it was a homer, but with this weather you never know, and when I saw the center fielder trying to get to the wall, I was kind of concerned and I kind of sped up a little bit my pace.