NL WILD CARD SERIES: PADRES VS METS

October 7, 2022

Buck Showalter

Citi Field

New York Mets

Pregame Press Conference

Q. Buck, what made you feel comfortable activating Marte for this series?

BUCK SHOWALTER: We talked about it. Yesterday we had batting practice. Actually, the young man that came over in the Naquin trade, left there and threw to him and Ruf. We had Tommy Hunter threw. He's been taking some form of that for a little while behind the scenes.

We knew it was a possibility, but there's some unknown. I've learned that from a trust standpoint when -- you know, it was all over, Joey and I and he and Kirb and Chavvy, we talked a little bit. Pretty short conversation where he's concerned. When he tells you something, we've gotten pretty good...

He's a guy that we've trusted with certain things over the years. You learn. Who knows? There's some unknown there. Who's 100 percent this time of year? We'll see.

We do have to -- I think it's evidenced by where he's hitting in the order a little bit. I'm hoping that things go well and we move him back up tomorrow.

Q. Is him batting sixth just because of the unknown at this point with what you're going to get from him?

BUCK SHOWALTER: Yeah. I think especially with where they are in their bullpen and things, we have to be careful. You go, okay, if anybody -- not just Starling, but I say, okay, if something happens and they have to come out, what does it create?

So it worked the best for us right now tonight with all the things that could happen, we hope doesn't happen, but you've got to be prepared.

Q. With Yu Darvish on the mound tonight. Based on the past in postseason, do you think you have a better shot to come out with the W?

BUCK SHOWALTER: He's one of the best pitchers in the league, in baseball for that matter. That's why he's been so coveted through the years by a lot of different clubs. If he's on top of his game, one thing you know for sure is your pitcher's going to have to pitch well. That's one when you're facing good pitching.

It kind of hit me the last three home games, reminded me of the quality of pitching we've been facing for a long time, it seems like. Like I've said many times, if a starting pitcher is on top of his game and the hitter is on top of his game, the pitcher wins. That's why he's at such a premium. It's hard to do and hard to keep healthy.

He's a good one. We've got our work cut out for us. He's got a lot of weapons. A lot of weapons.

Q. Is the Game 2 starter still not to be announced? Is that all strategy?

BUCK SHOWALTER: It's not strategy. I don't know what you want to call it. The win or loss tonight will dictate whose pitch is tomorrow.

Q. I would call that strategy.

BUCK SHOWALTER: It's somewhat strategy, but it's pretty much an open book. Everyone's got it.

Q. Is the blister any part of it? If there was a blister issue, was there a consideration and why not carry Walker or Carrasco, who actually meet the Padres a couple times?

BUCK SHOWALTER: It's not an issue. We don't see it as an issue. If we're fortunate enough to win 2 out of 3, we're going to need a pitcher on Tuesday, a starting pitcher on Tuesday.

Q. How, if at all, does that uncertainty on tomorrow's starter impact the Bassitt and deGrom? Are they both just being told to prepare as if they're starting tomorrow?

BUCK SHOWALTER: It isn't. They know exactly what's going on. They know exactly what's going to dictate who's pitching tomorrow. I don't look at it as that big a strategy as far as that, but I understand what you mean.

They know. They're in. They're prepared. They've known it for quite a while.

Q. Both of them are prepared to start tomorrow?

BUCK SHOWALTER: Oh, yeah. Jake usually doesn't go home -- I don't care if it's a day game the next day. He usually stays around. I don't know what they'll do tonight.

Q. Buck, in the event that you win tonight, one school of thought would be to put your best pitcher on the mound and try to end the series as quickly as possible. Is that a compelling case? If not, why not?

BUCK SHOWALTER: We can talk about it after tonight. This is about tonight's game for me personally, but you can make that argument. You can also -- you know, there's always a lot of things that you have to take into consideration that may not be something to talk about here.

We took in all the factors of where the risk and the probabilities and just felt like this is our best way to go forward to satisfy all the things that you may have to pivot from.

We think Chris Bassitt is pretty good. He's been one of our best pitchers. Jake and Max -- if you look at the number of starts, I don't consider Chris not a good option. I consider him a real good option.

Q. What made you comfortable taking Alvarez on the roster?

BUCK SHOWALTER: A lot of it had to do with the construction of their -- we projected they would -- we thought they would take four left-handers in Minaya and their closer being left-handed. It allows us to do some things earlier, kind of looking at where we may match up late. Also tomorrow's game.

And he's handled himself well. Really like his selectiveness the last couple games, but he seems to -- it will get sped back up again. He's going to be a good one. Just a matter of when. I hope it's the next three games.

Q. Do you see him starting tomorrow?

BUCK SHOWALTER: I'm not going there yet. Let's see how tonight manages. I'm not going to -- get through tonight first. He's certainly a good option.

Q. The other righty, Ruf, how is his neck?

BUCK SHOWALTER: Good. He's been taking some at-bats for a while now, the last four or five days, and feels good. He had some good at-bats yesterday. Took about five or six, maybe more than that, between the left-hander and Tommy even.

He and Starling have done a lot of work to be ready.

Q. Did you give any consideration to Carrasco and Walker in the bullpen role?

BUCK SHOWALTER: We did. I talked to them both last night when we finally sured things up. Yeah, I did. It's always tough this time of year. Regardless of who it was, you're going to be able to ask that question, and should, about somebody. Those aren't fun conversations.

Heck, Tommy Hunter's tough. He's been a rock for us. Williams, tough.

I think the other part of it being a three-game series, as opposed to five, gives a whole different dynamic to it. I wish there was more stuff to draw from about history with that, but there isn't.

You know, you could have made a case for taking 11 pitchers. Then all of a sudden, the other part of it is because the extra inning rule has changed, it gives you a little different, something else to think about too.

Three games, and I think Jeremy and them have done a great job of putting ourself in a pretty good place where, if we need to extend some people, we can.

Q. Buck, given McCann's career numbers against Darvish, was that a tough consideration to go with Nido over him tonight?

BUCK SHOWALTER: It was. That certainly figured into it. But Tomas has been one of our hotter hitters. James had a good game the last game. I was kidding with him and said, heck, we've been playing you out of position. We should have been playing you at first base. He actually beat me to it, all this time.

We looked at some of the exit velocities and different things. He's one of the more unlucky hitters on our team if you look at balls hit hard. So it gives us a good option, but it was a consideration. Yeah, I saw that.

Q. Buck, given the small sample size that you saw from McGill in his new role, what sold you that he could help out of the bullpen?

BUCK SHOWALTER: A little bit of history. I think the last couple of outings we started to see him a little more like the guy we thought we might get. Quite frankly, there's been a couple of little adjustments that Jeremy and him have made mechanically that played out real well the last two outings.

We just trusted it, and we'll see where it takes us. It's tough. It's a good experience for him too, he and Pete, because we know they're going to be a part of things next year more than likely.

Q. With Naquin not being on the roster, does that suggest Marte is more for right field or more of a lefties on the mound situation?

BUCK SHOWALTER: A little bit of both. I'm not telling you this is exactly what Starling is going to do. I'm going to be looking like everyone else.

It's like when I was talking to Tyler, this is three games. We feel like this is the best way for us to go against what we think is going to be thrown at us, but no pun intended. Things change if we're fortunate enough to -- it's going to be tough to get through this. We know that.

Things could change. Not this three games, but I hope we have the opportunity to change things. It's going to be challenge.

Q. Historically, and it feels more so even the last few years, teams that hit more home runs tend to do very well in the playoffs. How do you feel your offensive style lends itself to a three-game series?

BUCK SHOWALTER: We'll see. I don't mean to be -- that's why we play the game. That's why it's intriguing. Things that appear on paper don't always play out that way. Otherwise, nobody would be here.

I know what history states. There's been teams that -- you know, you put a team together to withstand the long haul, and then it's always fascinating to see if it can handle the short one.

Pitching usually -- starting pitchers, sometimes that have great track records from the regular season, it doesn't play out.

I don't know. I wish I could watch it and critique it like everybody else is able to. I'm just glad people care enough to watch. So I hope it's entertaining.