NL WILD CARD SERIES: PADRES VS METS

October 7, 2022

Blake Snell

Citi Field

San Diego Padres

Pregame Press Conference

Q. Blake, you've had great playoff games in the past. What is it about these big games that bring out the best in you?

BLAKE SNELL: I don't know, honestly. I like big moments. I like big games. I like pitching. When there's a good crowd, good atmosphere, you just show up for it. I don't think there's a reason outside of I just like it and I prefer it.

I believe that I could see how good I really am in those moments, and I think that excites me.

Q. How exciting is it for you to know that you're pitching some of your best baseball here down the stretch, as you predicted, heading into postseason?

BLAKE SNELL: I don't know. I'm happy that I'm doing good. I'm happy that I'm learning a lot. I'm happy we're in this position to be in the postseason.

It's really just amazing to play in the postseason. For us to be able to have an opportunity to win a World Series, it's a great feeling.

Q. You faced the Mets twice this year, the first time they got the best of you, five runs in four innings, and the next time you went five innings and no runs. That was the start of you finding your rhythm at that point. Are they going to see a better version of you, and is there anything you can take out of those previous outings?

BLAKE SNELL: I'd like to say so, but the game will predict what's going to happen. I'm confident in my ability. I'm confident in how I feel. But we'll play the game, and we'll see how it goes and learn from it.

Q. Your last postseason outing before tomorrow was the World Series in 2020. Obviously that garnered quite a bit of discussion. When you look back on that day and that memory, what do you think about?

BLAKE SNELL: Honestly, I don't think about it much anymore. It was two years ago. It was probably one of the better games I've thrown in my life, so I was really happy that's what that was.

Excited that I get to pitch tomorrow and kind of just put that behind me. I feel like I've learned a lot since then and I've grown a lot and I've become a better pitcher. I'm excited to see what memories we can make this postseason.

Q. Blake, what have you learned about yourself? You just finished saying you've learned a lot since then. What have you learned about yourself as an individual and as a pitcher?

BLAKE SNELL: I think I've just learned that to be okay with certain things. I think one thing that I've done a lot is I've always like held on to things that I've done bad and been frustrated with them for a long time.

I think, as I've gotten older and played more games and learned myself, I've understood that sometimes when I do bad, it's okay. Sometimes when I do good, it's not okay. But in the end, I'm okay with where I'm at and I'm okay that I'm going to learn from it.

Baseball, good, bad, I would take it to extremes. Now I just stay in the middle, and good, bad, I'm going to get better. I found more happiness in that.

Q. Like the last month or so, when you get in the sixth and seventh, we're still seeing 97s, 98s. How would you say this current version of yourself compares stamina wise where you've been?

BLAKE SNELL: I think me and Kenny have done a great job just with conditioning and strength, and just what I'm doing in between starts. It's a lot better than what I used to do. I'm just growing. I really believe I'm getting better and I'm getting into my prime, I really believe that.

I think every year I learn more and more and I retain that. I just think, yeah, with what I've been doing with Kenny this year has really put me in a good place. I'm excited for the off-season with him as well as next season and so forth.

Q. How different is what you're doing with Kenny this year compared to what you did in the past?

BLAKE SNELL: I'll tell you, it's more consistent. There's really no off-days with him. We focus, and when we get our work in, it's we're focused, we get it done, and we move forward, and we plan the next day.

I would just say the consistency of it is what's made me feel as strong as I am right now.

Q. Tomorrow you have a chance to either put the series away or keep your team alive for one more game. There's one that you obviously would prefer, but is there a change in the mentality as you approach that game depending on the situation?

BLAKE SNELL: I think overall it will be the same. The crowd's going to be there. They're going to be into it. Still got to face the same hitters.

So if we're up one or down one, I don't think it's going to matter. I'm just really looking forward to facing them and just seeing how much better I've gotten and just seeing if I can get a win for the team.

Q. Blake, what do you take away from the two times that you faced them during the regular season?

BLAKE SNELL: They're a really good lineup, really talented. They've got some guys that can hurt you. They've got guys that they have long at-bats, they fight.

But overall as an offensive team collective, they're really good at when they get a guy on second, hand him over, getting him in. They're just a really good lineup.

So I'm excited to see what I've learned in the two games I've faced them, what I've seen as of late, and how I'm going to attack them. But overall it's a really good lineup with a lot of good hitters. So I'm really excited to face them and see what we've got.

Q. Any new swag, any new Nike shoes? Anything you get to add to the collection for postseason gear?

BLAKE SNELL: I might wear some stuff off the field, but on the field, same stuff. I don't really like when I pitch to have any sort of new swag. I kind of keep it the same the whole year.