AL DIVISION SERIES: GUARDIANS VS YANKEES

October 10, 2022

Terry Francona

Yankee Stadium

Cleveland Guardians

Workout Day Press Conference

Q. Tito, how you feeling?

TERRY FRANCONA: Great, thank you. Oh, I thought you were going to have a question.

Q. That was the question?

TERRY FRANCONA: I'm okay. Thanks. Got both shoes on and seem to be trending in the right direction.

Q. How big a loss is Sandlin?

TERRY FRANCONA: Oh, probably be able to tell you more after the series. They are pretty dangerous right-hand hitters. He would be, what we would hope, a huge weapon. Obviously that's not going to happen. I kind of feel more for him than -- well, I always feel like we'll figure it out. Kind of feel more for him. You know, it's a kid that, you know, we all thought that --

Hedgy looked in and we thought that he had crossed him up because of the pitch count. We thought Hedges was looking for a different receiver or antenna, I don't know, whatever you call it. Because he said that, you know, he threw another four pitches and they were all still quality pitches, so that kind of shows you the kid is out there hurt but he's still competing.

I wish -- you know, feel bad for him.

Q. After the incident here last time, have you said anything to him?

TERRY FRANCONA: I would assume they would. I kind of hope they will. This is New York, man. That's part of the fun of being here. It's not like maybe the old Yankee Stadium. But shoot, in the old stadium, you almost wore it as like a badge of honor, like during the National Anthem, people would be like... besides my nose, the lack of hair, like I said, it was kind of fun.

It's not quite like that anymore. That was a long time ago. Myles was kind of sticking up for one of his teammates, and I don't think -- I'd be very surprised if that has anything to do with this series we're going to play.

Q. So you haven't said anything to them?

TERRY FRANCONA: No.

Q. I don't know if you remember, we talked Opening Day back in Kansas City, and you were talking about how pitching is going to be great, you're wondering where the offense is going to come from. You've gotten enough offense to get to the Division Series now. What has been the most pleasant surprise for you offensively?

TERRY FRANCONA: That day we talked, if I remember correctly, we had Amed at left, Bobby Bradley at first, and Chang at second and Gimenez at short. We are a little different than we were then. That's part of it.

You know, we are kind of what we are. And we know it. I mean, we don't hit the ball out of the ballpark very often. Thankfully, we do every once in a while or we might still be playing.

You know, it's a hard way to win. It doesn't mean you can't, and we're trying to prove that. We would gladly take three-run homers. It's just kind of not really how we're built right now.

So you can either whine about it or you can try to figure out a way to win. Fortunately, out guys are on board with, let's see if we can win.

Q. How does your job change at all with the younger clubhouse and how -- what you do if you have a veteran group around?

TERRY FRANCONA: We have tried to balance teaching; not beating them over the head when they make a mistake, but trying to teach. We've asked them to allow us to do that, and they have been great about it.

As a staff, we have done more teaching, and for good reason. Not only are we young, but you've seen it across the game. Guys are getting to the major leagues with less AA and AAA experience than probably ever before. And, again, we just have a bigger number of young guys. So you just continue to teach.

The one good thing -- there's a lot of good things, but one is when you tell them something once, they get it. That really helps.

Q. For a lot of these guys, this is the first time 162, and for a number of them, given the pandemic, was for the first time 144. How does that change or develop?

TERRY FRANCONA: Every single time we do something with this group, it's for the most part the first time.

And you know, again, I mean, this was the first time they have been in a -- what do they call this, AL what?

THE MODERATOR: Division Series.

TERRY FRANCONA: ALDS. They haven't done it before, but that doesn't mean we can't do it. I got asked that in June, July. That's just because they are young. It's not their fault. They are gaining experience as they go. Good part of it is they are competing while they are doing it, and they are doing a good job.

Q. As you come in here for a postseason series, do you get to spend some time with some good memories thinking back on back then?

TERRY FRANCONA: I do have good memories here, don't get me wrong. I get so caught up in what we are doing now. I mean, like when people say, when did you know the team was special? I don't think you have to wait until you get the last out of the last game. Like I think our group is special now, and I enjoy going through it with them. You know, we have ups and downs. I know we have tough conversations. But it's a fun group to go through competition with.

I kind of stay really in the moment. I preach it to our guys, and the reason I do is because that's what I believe in. But I do have good memories. I mean, the All-Star Game here in '08, one of the most incredible things I've ever been a part of was standing -- they had the coaches, some of us were behind home plate, like kind of back by the screen. And as they were introducing all these Hall of Famers at like every position, I remember sitting there thinking, "What am I doing here?"

It was incredible. I was just really fortunate that I got to watch that because that will always stay with me.

Q. As you went through the dog days in August and September, I'm interested in what your emotions were as the White Sox never caught fire, the Twins collapsed. What were your emotions during that time in August and beyond?

TERRY FRANCONA: Well, in August, I mean, we were into September, and I think we were like four games over .500, if I'm not wrong. So we had not pulled away from anybody.

And the White Sox actually started to play a little bit better. And then we went head-to-head with them and did pretty well.

But my emotions are kind of the same every day. If we win, I'm happy; if we lose, I'm not. And then I try by the very next day, regardless of which it is, to put it in the rear-view mirror because it doesn't help, and then move on. That's kind of how I've always been. I don't think that's going to -- I'm too old for it to change.

Q. Is there any difference in the way you approach a hitter the calibre of Aaron Judge in a postseason setting compared to a regular-season game?

TERRY FRANCONA: Okay. Certainly your preparation is deeper and more in-depth in a series like this.

Saying that, every game we play is really meaningful to us. Like we played them back in -- was it April or May? It was early here. Those games are important. If I thought it was right or not right to do it then, if the situation dictated now, I wouldn't change it because it's a playoff game. If I thought it was right, I'd do it. Again, you know, that's part of why they are good. Sometimes, though, you have to get good hitters out. You keep walking people, you're going to give up runs.

Q. And last thing I was wondering, with the different format to the series schedule this time with the extra off-day between 1 and 2, does that affect how you use the pitching staff?

TERRY FRANCONA: A little bit. A little bit. If you're playing back-to-back, and maybe you're down a run or two, you might be a little hesitant to use the back end of your bullpen, just trying to chase a win. But if you have a day off, you're more apt to maybe use a guy that maybe you wouldn't.

But then on the flipside, on the end of the series, back-to-back-to-back, and I know we have rain coming possibly, so could be back-to-back to -- well, you get my point.