AL DIVISION SERIES: MARINERS VS ASTROS

October 10, 2022

Logan Gilbert

Minute Maid Park

Seattle Mariners

Workout Day Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: First question, please.

Q. Can you share some memories of postseason runs that you watched a lot as a kid, teams that you really followed that you really kind of go back to when you think about your first postseason start?

LOGAN GILBERT: Yeah, right away I think about probably the Yankees/Red Sox early 2000s, all those games, and seeing the streak broken for the Red Sox. I watched a lot of Yankees growing up, so that's the one that probably sticks out.

Q. I used to live in Seattle before living in Houston. I know that Seattle is a great baseball town that has not had the luxury that other teams or other cities have had to have a postseason game. Talk about that, how does that mean as a human being as a resident of Seattle to give them a postseason for the first time in so long and also how do you guys plan to beat the Houston Astros and keep their offense under wraps?

LOGAN GILBERT: Yeah, man, it's really exciting. Just, winning the last series and knowing that we're going to have home games in Seattle. We feel the energy, we see it, we feed off of it. They have been so good to us for so long, and the city's ready for it. So it's going to be really exciting going back there and just seeing T-Mobile packed and feel the energy being out there.

As far as the Astros, we've faced them a lot this year. We went back and forth. We've won some, they've won some. I think at this point it just comes down to execution. We have seen each other a lot of times and familiar with each other. They have a lot of good players, so just comes down to execution.

Q. If you look at your fastball month by month for your whole career, the month you're coming off of in terms of your average velocity, the quality of contact against it, the swing and miss, it really was, you can make a strong case pretty easily the best month for your fastball of your young major league career when you would think that maybe it would be one of the more taxing months just simply because of the innings. Is there something that you attribute that to?

LOGAN GILBERT: Hard to say. I think it's just exciting. It's an exciting time and we're deep in the season and we were trying to make that postseason run to at least get into the postseason, and now we are here making that run.

So I think just being out there knowing that we're playing in big games and big moments, it's easy to get up. Your body gets excited and amped up. So I think that's probably a big part of it.

Q. You were slated to start Game 3 if you guys needed to, but you get the benefit of a few extra days rest, and you'll have nine or ten days at this point between starts. How much does that help you at this stage of the season and how, if at all, did your routine change kind of coming into this one, given all the extra rest you had?

LOGAN GILBERT: Yeah, definitely. It's a big change knowing that we usually go on five days and now getting those extra days. I've been off the mound a couple times because I thought I might be starting in Toronto. And just wait to see how everything plays out. So it takes a little adjustment, but for good reason I had to wait nine or ten days because we ended up winning the series and being here.

So it's all good changes and nothing bad. It's, if anything, good to get a little extra rest, especially at this point in the year.

Q. Can you imagine Cal not catching you in a game? What is your relationship like? Does he really have a Big Dumper?

LOGAN GILBERT: (Smiling.) Cal's the man. I'm just so excited. I've said it so many times, but where he's at right now and what he's done for this team, we wouldn't be here without him. So it's really exciting to see that, just as a teammate but as a really close friend, for what he's done for this team and the entire city. Everybody loves him and you can tell.

So we have a really good connection. We've had it since early in the minors, so it's going to be fun throwing to him.

And for your last question, probably, I would say, yes.

Q. Routine aside and not knowing if you would pitch on the final day in Toronto or not, what has the anticipation been for your first start in the postseason, and what has it been like taking it all in, learning the atmosphere, and watching everything that you just watched for a couple of days there?

LOGAN GILBERT: Yeah, it's a dream come true. I've watched these games since I was little. I grew up dreaming about playing in these games and now we are here. So I'll take the mound tomorrow and it will be a dream come true.

I was just excited thinking I might be throwing in Toronto and just waiting and getting a little antsy because I want to be out there, and now finally getting my turn, it's just really special. It's something, just embrace it, take it all in for a second. It's a big deal to be here, and this entire team has earned it. So I'm just going to try to do my part and help the team.

Q. A couple trends that stand out if you look at some of your numbers. One is how well you've done against Houston individually this year. Four quality starts. I think you went 7 shutout innings in one of 'em. In another one, this isn't related to Houston, but this time of year, last September and this September, have been lights out for you. Is there anything you attribute either of those trends to?

LOGAN GILBERT: Yeah, hard to say. I think at this point in the season hopefully just get everything ironed out, however you're feeling. Some guys might taper off. But fortunately, I've been in a position where I feel like everything's just kind of come together and clicked late in the season last year and this year. So hopefully I can continue to just hold on to that and move in that direction.

But I don't think there's any magic answer, just having a good feel for your pitches and, like I said, getting everything ironed out.

Q. Would you say the same is true of how you played the Astros? Anything stand out about that?

LOGAN GILBERT: Yeah. Well, that's a little different because it was throughout the year at different points. Like I said earlier, I think just execution. It's not always, it's not an easy matchup, so I don't want to put it like that. But I think I've just been fortunate to have some good games this year and hopefully keep that trend rolling.

Q. The goatee, the mustache, attitude enhancer, little more of a bad-assery look?

LOGAN GILBERT: Big time (smiling.)

No, I don't know. I don't know how it started, probably Cal pressuring me into it. But, yeah, I'm just rolling with it, hoping it helps.

Q. I'm curious, after your rookie season, which certainly feels, you know, there were some bumps along the way, there were some really good outings, what were the major points you took into the off-season that you wanted to improve upon and where do you think you made the biggest gains?

LOGAN GILBERT: I think it's just consistency, and I think it will always be that way. You're always trying to clean it up. But probably from an off-speed perspective made some tweaks and talked about that going into spring training. But nothing's ever perfect. You're always moving in that direction. I think even during the course of the season, I've kind of continued on that progression, ironed some things out, and just get that feel that I'm talking about.

Q. Do you have a favorite play that Julio Rodríguez has made this season that you watched and what is it like to begin a series and have that sense that he'll do something special to help you win a game at some point?

LOGAN GILBERT: Yeah, man, I remember his first home run. That sticks out for sure. Couple catches he's made definitely when I'm on the mound are the ones that stick out. He's awesome to have out there, selfishly, when I'm on the mound because I know that anything out there, he let's me know when we go in the dugout, too. He's like just give me the ball. I'll catch it anywhere. And I believe him because he'll track it down. He's that fast. And he's a really special player, awesome to have on our side.

Q. You have been really aggressive for your career on first pitches of at-bats, a lot of fastballs. Opposing hitters have been really aggressive against you on the first pitch of the at-bat. Over the course of this season, a full 32 starts, how have you combatted that, worked towards that, altered things, not altered things? What's been your overall approach on 0-0 counts?

LOGAN GILBERT: You're trying to be aggressive and get in a good count right away, so you want to go right after 'em, of course not get too predictable. I think it changes as you turn over the lineup, as you get deeper in games, as you've seen teams multiple times. So it's a little bit of a chess match. There's a lot that goes into it.

But I think for my strengths, I just like to go right after people and also work with the catcher and try to get a feel to turn the tables on 'em a little bit before they catch on to whatever we're doing.

Q. Could you just talk about the defense this year. It's nice to strike out a lot of people, but knowing that you're going to throw a pitch in a good location, ball's going to be in play, these guys make the plays behind you all season long, what's it like doing that and watching your defense behind you?

LOGAN GILBERT: Yeah, it's been amazing, something definitely not to for granted because we have one of the best defenses in the league and, you know, Gold Glove guys out there, obviously J.P. at shortstop, guys like D MO and Haggerty are just awesome to have out there. They play as hard as they can every single play and that's a lot to ask out of somebody.

So being a pitcher, that's what you want to see behind you, guys that are working that hard, and I really appreciate everything they have done. They have definitely saved me a bunch of times this season.

Q. The Walter personality and being stubborn and intense on the mound, when things aren't going or Cal or Pete is talking to you about something you need to change, how do you kind of process that when you're focused on what you are, because Cal talked about how stubborn you are at sometimes and how much you guys butt heads about different things, discussing pitching and catching, what he's seeing, but what you're feeling.

LOGAN GILBERT: Yeah, he's let me know that a time or two. I think it's a give and take in a good way. You want to stay true to who you are and what makes you successful, but also know there's a time and a place where you have people hopefully in your corner that know what they're talking about, and fortunately, in our organization we do, and Cal and the catchers, guys that see that kind of stuff.

So you want to take in all their perspective, what they have to offer, and just kind of blend that with what you know, and hopefully turn that into the best version of yourself.

Q. You've had a few starts against Justin Verlander this year. After each, you've kind of talked about what you admire about his game. Have you gotten a chance to at all get to know him and what have you seen from him from afar in this career renaissance after Tommy John at 39 years old and probably going to win the Cy Young.

LOGAN GILBERT: Right. Yeah. No, I haven't gotten a chance, but I obviously really respect him and so impressed with what he's done this year, especially after TJ, like you're talking about.

But he was on of the guys I looked up to growing up, early on, so it was a big deal getting a start against him. It's a big deal tomorrow. So definitely take that in. It only adds to the situation.

I have looked at his game. We're not identical pitchers, but there's some things to take from him. I really like what he does with his slider. Really respect him. It's going to be an honor to start against him.

Q. Can you talk about the fan support this year. To see all those fans at Rogers Center the other day celebrating with you guys on the field. The thousands that show up at the ballpark to watch the game on Mariners Vision. Can you just address your thoughts about the support of the fan base throughout the course of the year to give you all that support?

LOGAN GILBERT: Yeah, I can't say enough about 'em. Obviously this is the only place I played, in Seattle. But I would say best fans in the league, for sure. Just what you feel from them, you know they care. They're so passionate. They show up throughout the entire year. Especially late in the year. We feel how excited they are for us and kind of pushing us on.

I even saw the video, the rally shoe and all that stuff. And they were showing up to the ballpark and we're not even playing there, just to watch us play somewhere else. So it's amazing to see that. Something you never take for granted. Just because they care so much that they're a part of this too.