AL WILD CARD SERIES: MARINERS VS BLUE JAYS

October 8, 2022

Mitch Haniger

Rogers Centre

Seattle Mariners

Pregame Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: We'll start for Mitch now.

Q. In watching that game yesterday and watching the games throughout the season, it sort of seems like, understanding that sometimes it's tough for you guys to score runs, but it can come from various places throughout the lineup. I think maybe that's what makes the whole thing work for you guys. Can you kind of talk about that dynamic a little bit and how maybe one night it's you, maybe one night it's Geno or Julio, or maybe someone at the bottom of the order like Cal?

MITCH HANIGER: Definitely. I think that's what good teams do, and we've been able to do that all year. We've had production from one through nine at any given moment in the big moments, and I think that's the most important thing.

Especially, I feel like the offense hasn't been what we want at times throughout the year, but I think that's offenses in general throughout baseball. It's tough to be top notch, top tier throughout the year. There's always ebbs and flows and ups and downs.

For us we've always done a good job in the big moment and the timely hits, and I think that's just trust with the guy behind you and not trying to do too much and just staying within yourself and putting pressure on the pitcher.

When we get in those big situations we know there's more pressure on the pitcher than the guy in the box.

Q. Mitch, you waited so long for this moment. What was it like yesterday running out on the field and just being a part of all of that and also hearing 47,000 people get really quiet really quickly?

MITCH HANIGER: Pretty fun. Like nothing I've experienced before. Yeah, I can't really explain what it stacks up to.

Played in some pretty cool places and a lot of different opening days and played in Japan and all these different places I played, but nothing was like playoff baseball.

So, obviously, I was really excited for the moment. We were all pretty fired up and then had a great start. I think that just really helped everybody relax a little bit and able to play some really good baseball.

Q. Kind of building on what Cory was asking, you guys have hit a ton of homers over the past few months. How important has that been to the dynamic of your offense? Specifically, you know, when you get into the postseason, Scott has talked about stringing together five hits in an inning can be pretty challenging.

MITCH HANIGER: I think we have a lot of good hitters with power in our lineup. I think oftentimes when we hit a home run it can be the deciding factor in a game because our pitching is so good.

Especially late in a game. We know that if our starter can give us some length, our bullpen will lock it down. It's been a blast playing behind those guys. Our starters and our bullpen, our entire staff. But, we have a lot of confidence late in games. Especially even when we're down just a couple runs, we know if we get it back, these guys are going to lock it down and we'll get the win.

Q. Cal has delivered so many big hits for you guys down the stretch. What have you observed about his growth through this season?

MITCH HANIGER: Just steady, even-keel. I feel like he's really good in the moment.

I've never seen him pressed. Early in this year I definitely saw it, but he's just pretty cool, calm, and collected. It's really good to see especially from a young player. It's been really impressive.

Especially how he handled getting sent down and coming back up, and been one of our best players for us. It's been great.

Q. I know Luis Castillo has only been a teammate for a few months now, but I'm just curious what have you really learned about him since he's been a teammate? He seems very cool and collected out there, but he'll also smile a lot. You can tell he's really enjoying the game. What can you tell us about Luis?

MITCH HANIGER: He's different in a good way. Usually you walk in, and I know who's starting by just the way someone is acting in the clubhouse. They're usually sticking to themselves, they're quiet.

I'll be in the training room getting ready for a game, he comes in and he's making jokes with me. This guy is starting today?

He's relaxed. I know he cares, but it's like he doesn't care. It's just another day. It's not like he's pitching that day. That's pretty cool. When I see that, I'm like, this guy is going to dominate.

Q. Mitch, this is such an exciting thing for Seattle as a city. How do you guys balance that inside the clubhouse? This is such an exciting moment for the city and for the team, 21 years without playoff baseball, while also maintaining that you guys have to walk out on that field and play it just like it's another game. Is there anybody that's talking a message to you or --

MITCH HANIGER: I think we're really excited too. We waited a long time for this. We've dreamt of this as kids. I know I have.

We're just embracing it. We know, like I said before yesterday's game, most of us have never been in this position in postseason baseball, and just embrace it and don't try to run from -- it's excitement. There's a lot of excitement.

I think some people try to say that there's different words. There's no fear. There's no different emotions. It's excitement. We're really pumped up for the moment.

I think after the first game you get your feet wet. Especially the first couple of innings go by, and you realize that you're just playing baseball. Obviously the fans are louder, and it's a great environment to play in. Especially here at Rogers Centre, it's really loud, and it's fun. We do well on the road, and I think we embrace it.

We have a lot of guys that stick together in our clubhouse, and we've always been able to rely on each other and get each other going.

Q. There's been a lot of talk on the Toronto side of things facing a former teammate in Robbie. What has been your experience? Obviously, every pitcher and hitter is different. What's been your experience when you face a pitcher who used to be in your clubhouse? Do you feel like that is an advantage, or do guys change enough over the course of maybe even a single season that now all of a sudden it's not quite the same guy that you thought it was? What's your perspective on that?

MITCH HANIGER: I don't really know. Whether you've played with a guy for a long time, you might just kind of know what he goes to, but at the end of the day, you haven't seen what he's like in the box. I think that's what matters most.

For me it's like I never really know what I'm going to get from a guy I haven't faced until I've seen him. Unless those guys have faced Robbie in the past, it's a lot different.

I know when I faced Robbie in the past, he's a completely different pitcher. When I faced him, I believe in '18 to '21 last year, completely different guy.

It's always different. It's a really hard answer to give you. But yeah, I don't think it really plays too much of a factor unless you've faced him before.

Q. Playing off what you said about Luis, what is Robbie's demeanor like when he's pitching and you walk in?

MITCH HANIGER: Really locked in and focused. That's how I probably would be too. There's no right way to do it.

Robbie is an incredible pitcher. Cy Young pitcher. I know that most guys, most pitchers, I would say 95% of them, maybe 99% of them that I've played with are really locked in and quiet on their start day.

Luis is different. He comes in, and he's happy and smiling. He'll joke with you. Usually a starting pitcher I just stay away from. They want to be left alone. They want to focus. That's great. That's probably exactly how I would be.

But, yeah, Luis is different, and it's funny, and it just makes me, wow, this guy, he's different, and he's going to go out and shove.

Q. If Luis is easygoing, and Robbie is locked in, how would you describe Logan on his start day? Because he seems to be really different.

MITCH HANIGER: Locked in. A lot like Robbie. Most of them are very much the same. Quiet, focused, don't really talk to anybody. They have the blinders on.

Some guys will get the headphones and cut everybody out. Yeah, he's very much like Robbie.

Q. Have you seen the Walter personality, though, that everybody talks about with Logan?

MITCH HANIGER: Start days, yeah, it's there.

Q. Obviously, you guys getting to the playoffs is a major victory for the organization and for the city. You expect to win, there's no question, but have you allowed yourself to think about what it would mean in terms of even further validation, whether it be you personally or collectively as an organization, to win a series in the postseason as opposed to simply getting to the postseason?

MITCH HANIGER: Yeah, I don't think about winning one series. I think about winning the World Series a lot. Almost every day.