AL DIVISION SERIES: GUARDIANS VS YANKEES

October 10, 2022

Jose Ramirez

Amed Rosario

Yankee Stadium

Cleveland Guardians

Workout Day Press Conference

Q. What has Jose meant to you this season and can you describe your friendship? Seems like your connected at the hip.

AMED ROSARIO: A few words, he's already part of the family, not only a friendship, but more like family.

Q. For Jose, six years ago, you had a great run and you were one of the younger guys, not even expected to be a big part of it and you were a very big part of it. Now you're the guy, we can say, the veteran. How has that transformation been for you?

JOSE RAMIREZ: First of all, thank God for this opportunity to play the game but also for the organization for letting me be part of this. I feel like the progress at that position has been thanks to the coaches, the organization, my teammates. What we have been able to do here is awesome and very special to be part of it and thankfully that's what has brought us here to this point in the season.

Q. Jose, in spring training, did you see this team capable of doing what it's done to reach -- win the Wild Card, win the division, win the Wild Card and now get to the ALDS?

JOSE RAMIREZ: Well, in spring training I wasn't certain that we were going to get this result, but I knew the talent that we have and the pitching that we have. There's always a default every year, so I was confident that we would make a good job and try to compete and get the result.

Q. You guys were labeled as older ducks; if you can describe what allowed you to get to this point?

AMED ROSARIO: First of all, we are really good teammates and play as a team and we focus on playing hard and playing the small ball. In a way, I feel like that's how the game compensates you and rewards you for playing that way, so that has been the case for us so far.

JOSE RAMIREZ: I felt the same. Exactly what Amed said, that's how I felt.

Q. You know, the games were very hard-fought, and the offense wasn't there for both games, not that many runs scored, until Gonazlez' home run how important will the offense be in the playoffs?

AMED ROSARIO: Never had a chance to play with that many young players. The last few years it's a new role I've gotten too into, trying to play with the younger guys. And for me what calls to my attention is reminding them how much talent they have and how good they are as players. And kind of my job, especially with Gonzalez, has been to remind him to keep his head up and know he can play the game. He can play and little by little, he will recognize how good of a player he is.

Q. At the end of the season, the Cardinals, there was an incident with one of the outfielders and the fans got really into it. How do you think the atmosphere is going to be here?

JOSE RAMIREZ: We know this is a big market and a big fan base and we know what they are going to do, but in the reality we cannot put too much attention to that and give my mind to it. We will just focus on our game and try to do our best.

Q. From your experience in the past, what do you think you've done so far and will that be enough for you to be able to win it all?

JOSE RAMIREZ: I trust a lot in my teammates. I know they are really young but I trust what they can do. Just got to play the game, play hard and, you know, thank God for the opportunity to be here. But we want to keep competing and try to do our best.

Q. I was wondering how it feels to be back in New York with your new team to play to start the ALDS, the day after your old team, the Mets, got eliminated.

AMED ROSARIO: I think we have to turn the page and leave things in the past. I'm happy where I am right now in this organization and our focus is here and we are ready to compete.

Q. For Jose, knowing that you have a history with the Yankees, that you have previously destroyed them in previous games, how do you feel about the series and what do you see happening in this series?

JOSE RAMIREZ: We know what we have done in the past, but we have to keep playing and keep demonstrating that you are able to compete. And for us, it's just the excitement to be here and to be able to play with our teammates.

Q. How has it been so far, your experience here in the playoffs and being the first time?

AMED ROSARIO: I'm super thankful to God and my teammates for having the opportunity to be here. At the same time, never give up and always give it my best during the season and that has enabled me to be here right now.

Q. Can you talk about Oscar, specifically to Jose, who has experienced being a young guy in a playoff scenario and doing well, talk about how Oscar handled that pressure, how he handled that situation to hit that home run the other day.

JOSE RAMIREZ: For me, normally I don't pay too much attention to the pressure. I play the same way consistently and if we get the results, thank God. For me, it's always the same, trying to play the game the right way.

When it comes to Gonzalez, I've known him for a long time and I see him play in the past and he's from my hometown in Bani. I know who he has been playing against and I know he can handle pressure accordingly. He's very young and very talented and he knows how to play well in those situations.