AL WILD CARD SERIES: RAYS VS GUARDIANS

October 7, 2022

Shane Bieber

Progressive Field

Cleveland Guardians

Postgame Press Conference

Cleveland Guardians - 2, Tampa Bay Rays - 1

THE MODERATOR: Questions for Shane.

Q. You said you were going to feed off the crowd, the energy from the crowd. Is that how it worked today?

SHANE BIEBER: Hundred percent. That was awesome. I had a blast. I know my teammates had a blast, everybody in that clubhouse. I'm assuming the fans did too. So it was a good win.

Q. After everything you've been through in the last year, what was it like to hear those chants and that applause when you stepped off the mound there?

SHANE BIEBER: Yeah, it was great. It was pretty fulfilling. I look forward to hearing more of that throughout the postseason.

So today was great. It was a hard-fought win. It was a dog fight like we expected. Just a huge team win all around. That was kind of how we expect to win ball games, so focus on doing it again tomorrow.

Q. I suppose you're not at all surprised that José would come through in this spot?

SHANE BIEBER: No, he's inevitable. To do it right away, that was huge. I know for me personally any pitcher will tell you that. I thought Siri put a couple good swings on the ball today, and that second one looked like that was exactly what he was trying to do, got a pitch and drove it to right center and hit it well.

So just tried to get back and attack right away and was able to get out of that inning, limit the damage. Then for us to, for our offense to go out there and pick me up right away that was huge.

Q. What were you thinking when José comes out of the dugout there and he acknowledges the crowd? Were you laughing?

SHANE BIEBER: No, I loved it. That's what we do it for. A lot of ups and downs throughout the season and for the fans to show up like they did first day of the postseason for a 12 o'clock game it's fun. I know I speak for everybody in that clubhouse. We definitely feed off of that, home crowd getting into it, backing us, supporting us through a lot of ups and downs. So that was awesome.

Q. Coming off of last year where you hardly pitched the last three months, a couple innings in September, to this, what has that been like for you?

SHANE BIEBER: A lot of ups and downs. That was a long portion of a down period. I had never really been hurt before. So going through that last year, I'm not going to lie, it was extremely difficult. I've always kind of just enjoyed being out there, looked forward to longevity and health, and never take it for granted. But sometimes things happen.

So just focus on trying to work my way back, be a good teammate, and be there in that clubhouse throughout that second half of last season. I was just, throughout the off-season, really looking forward to each and every opportunity this year.

Q. So you go from that to this huge game for you and were you much better in a game this year? I don't know.

SHANE BIEBER: Yeah, probably. But I'll take it. (Laughing.)

Q. How much is it part of your thought process when you give up a solo homer to just keep it at one, keep the team in it?

SHANE BIEBER: Yeah, it seemed like they were trying to take a couple swings to maybe duplicate that, double or triple that. So just try and not let it throw you off. If you're going to give up a homer, it's the age old adage, right, to hopefully make it a solo. That's where I found myself today.

So just tried to limit the damage, continue to move forward, not let it kind of shake me off my groove. Just to get out of that inning cleanly after that and then the offense picked me up right away, that was huge.

Q. Amed said he was certain he stepped on second base. Were you guys for sure in the dugout?

SHANE BIEBER: It looked like it, right? Didn't see it live. Didn't know that was reviewable either. So it took a little bit. It took a little bit to make the decision. But as long as he's sure, we're sure. So we trust him.

Q. You and McClanahan were both on top of your game today. I imagine that provides maybe just a little bit of extra motivation, not only in a game like this, but knowing you're going up against a fellow ace like him in this spot?

SHANE BIEBER: Yeah, I guess so. I don't think you want to overdo it or give anybody too much credit. So he was great tonight, or today, sorry, this morning, whatever you want to call it. We just happened to be on the right side of it. So I was happy to go out there and compete against him. He's had a great regular season.

Like I said, it was just a lot of fun out there to be able to go out there, take it all in. I wasn't blind to the fact that there were a lot of people there pulling for us, pulling for us to come out of there with a victory. I don't think anybody was. So we won't take that for granted and that's what we do it for.

Q. What was it like hearing them chant your name in the 8th inning?

SHANE BIEBER: It was great. You want to pull through. Ended up giving that hit through the six hole. I don't know, I thought I executed the pitch okay. Just kind of found a hole.

But to hear that, to feed off that energy. It seemed like every time there were two strikes they were willing a strikeout. And that felt great. Kind of helps me personally elevate my game. I don't suspect I'm the only one on our team that does that. But it's a great feeling.

Q. This team has had to grow up fast. Does the youth thing kind of go out the window now that we're in the postseason?

SHANE BIEBER: Yeah, I think so. We don't really feel that way. It's not anything to rest our laurels on. It's something that is great, it's something that has energized us all year. At this point we're dealing with what we got in that clubhouse. And that's a winning ball club. That's what we try and represent. We try and represent youthful exuberance, the city of Cleveland. Just going out there and playing the game of baseball the right way, the way that we want to play it and kind of seeing where the cards fall.

Q. Do you feel like you answered though another question of can this team handle the big stage?

SHANE BIEBER: Yeah, I think we'll continue to do so. I guess there will always be questions of that no matter what stage you're in.

So, like I said, I think it's just important for us to stay ourselves, stay within ourselves, trust in each other. Just continue to get the job done.

Q. Have you ever had people chant your name like that before?

SHANE BIEBER: Yeah. 2019. All-Star Game. Except I struck the guy out, I didn't give up a hit, so....