NL WILD CARD SERIES: PADRES VS METS

October 7, 2022

Brandon Nimmo

Citi Field

New York Mets

Pregame Press Conference

Q. Brandon, you were on the team in 2016 but weren't on the playoff roster for that one game. What is your level of anticipation? What are your emotions right now ahead of your first playoff game at CitiField?

BRANDON NIMMO: Excitement. Definitely excited coming to the field. Hopeful that the energy will match what I've got in my head.

It took an hour and 15 minutes to get to the field today, so I'm hoping that's part of the reason. Lots of people are wanting to come and enjoy this.

But, yeah, I'm really excited. I think it's going to be a lot like the Atlanta series where there's a lot riding on it. It has that same feeling, but it was good to go through that because I think it's prepared us for heading into this series.

Q. I was going to ask you about that series. You're one of a handful of key guys who had never experienced a playoff series before. I know the Atlanta series didn't go the way you wanted it to, but just how valuable of a situation to go through do you think that was heading into your first postseason?

BRANDON NIMMO: I think it was invaluable to be able to get that almost precursor, just a few -- actually, just one series before the playoffs. I think it was really helpful to have that.

I liked the at-bats I had during that series. So I think it's definitely something to draw on for the guys that weren't having as much playoff experience as some of the other guys in the clubhouse.

So I'll definitely be drawing on that experience. It will be nice to be at home and hopefully be feeding off of that energy as well.

Q. Somewhat similar question, Brandon. Just looking back over the last week, how long did it take you guys to kind of get over that and move on to the fact that now you have the Padres for three games? And was that difficult, or was it easy for you?

BRANDON NIMMO: Honestly, I think Monday we knew that it was a long shot to win the division by that point, but we were going to give it everything that we had and finish the season strong.

I like the way that we came out and competed on the double header on Tuesday. You know, it probably wasn't a bad thing that we got a day to kind of gather the thoughts and move on.

These guys, we've all been preaching since the beginning, that once you get in the playoffs, that all bets are off. So we all knew that, whether it was with the division or whether it was with the Wild Card, once you get in there, all that matters at that point is who gets hot and who plays well, and you can take it all the way to the World Series.

I think by Tuesday those guys had all put it behind them, and we're just trying to win ball games and get ready for the playoffs.

Q. You, Pete, and Jeff are kind of in the same situation. You've all been part of this core for a few years and you're having your first postseason experience together. What has that been like for you?

BRANDON NIMMO: It's been great. Obviously Pete and Jeff are amazing players and All-Stars, batting champion, home runs, all that stuff. There's all these accolades to go along with them. I've enjoyed being with them for this process.

It's been a long time coming. You know we've had a lot of hard work to get to this point, and now it's just the time to turn it loose and have fun out there.

I'm excited for these guys in this situation. Like I said, I'm excited for this atmosphere. Yeah, I kind of got spoiled on it in the beginning, being a part of the atmosphere in 2016. I got to be in the dugout. I got to enjoy it. And I thought this was how it was going to go for a while.

Now it's six years in between. So I'll definitely be out there enjoying every minute of it. I'm sure they will be too. They're fierce competitors, but they enjoy playing this game and playing it at the highest level.

Q. How long does it normally take to you get here?

BRANDON NIMMO: It normally takes me 20 minutes, 25 minutes. So I hope that this is a good indication that a bunch of people are going to be here and we'll be sold out and the fans will be rowdy.

Q. Brandon, given that it's only been a month really since you played with Marte, do you have to remind yourself of how aggressive he is and just kind of be aware since it's been a little while since you played in the same outfield with him?

BRANDON NIMMO: Yeah, we played five months together, and I think it's more weird to not have him out there. So once he gets back out there, I'm sure that our ebb and flow and feel of each other will go right back to where it was before.

I'm very, very comfortable with Starling out in the outfield, and I'm very, very comfortable with Starling hitting behind me. I'm not sure exactly how the lineup is written right now, I don't know if he's going to be right behind me or not --

Q. 6th.

BRANDON NIMMO: 6th, okay. It won't have any action on how I take my at-bat. I'll just be glad to have him back in the lineup.

Q. Understand your focus is on today and the playoffs, but obviously you're going to be a free agent after the year. Just have you thought about these could be your last few days, your last few weeks with the Mets?

BRANDON NIMMO: I hadn't but I guess that's a good point.

(Laughter).

I guess I really didn't think about it until just now because I was used to the regular season being done, but had to kind of adjust the expectations again there.

I haven't really thought about the finality of the end yet, so I hadn't really thought about that. Yeah, I guess that gives even more reason to try and not make these the last ones. I'd like to win the last one. That would be good, be the last team standing.

No, I haven't given it much thought, I guess, but I've had great memories here this year. And however it works out, I will think fondly of this place.