AL DIVISION SERIES: GUARDIANS VS YANKEES

October 11, 2022

Anthony Rizzo

Yankee Stadium

New York Yankees

Postgame 1 Press Conference

Yankees - 4, Guardians -1

Q. When Bader hits the home run in the bottom of the third, how much do you feel the momentum shift and relax and get going?

ANTHONY RIZZO: Big time. I think we just talked about the team that we've been all year, about picking each other up. We had the five or six days to talk about that a lot, about how unexpected things are going to happen, and two guys that you're not really expecting to go deep in the game to start it off with Kwan and Bader, get it rolling. But Kwan puts a nice swing on Gerrit's pitch, and then we answer right back at the bottom of the inning. That was a big early test for us. It definitely was a boost.

Q. What did you see from Gerrit tonight, specifically in that third inning? Something changed with the way he was approaching hitters and getting out of that inning.

ANTHONY RIZZO: Was the third the bases loaded?

Q. Yeah.

ANTHONY RIZZO: I think, and again, it was a weird baserunning play. Rosario did a really good job of going home, and then breaking back. So this team has -- we care about each other. So I think when that happened, Gerrit, that was his time to pick us up and you saw him bear down even more and get out of that inning. That was big for us. Hopefully that's going to be the theme throughout October is us picking each other up.

Q. What's the feeling around the team winning Game 1 of a short series and Game 1 of the overall playoffs?

ANTHONY RIZZO: It feels good. I said it out there in the post-game interview, but the Guardians are a young team that has a lot of momentum and have been pitching really well and playing really well. That's a scary combination.

With them coming in after a big Wild Card series win, it feels really good to come out and get Game 1.

Q. You are one of three guys on this roster who has a World Series ring. Can you draw on that experience and can it help your teammates? And the ring itself, do you ever bring it out or is it locked away somewhere?

ANTHONY RIZZO: I think with the experience, it's just in the playoffs, things are going to happen that you're just not used to seeing. I think today was a quick -- you know, that baserunning play at third was a play you don't really see often happen.

You just know things are going to happen; that you start scratching your head, like what is this, what's going on. But I think the more we stay together as a group internally, especially as it gets louder outside, the better off we'll be.

The World Series ring, a lot of mental pictures of it. I'm not really sure where it is. It's somewhere. It's somewhere safe.

Q. Up until that third inning, a lot of long at-bats for the guys. Gerrit was throwing a lot of pitches. Can you sense when you're on the field the way it turned in the fourth inning, the eight-pitch inning that he was locked in from that point forward?

ANTHONY RIZZO: Yeah, I think when you get guys settling into the game, it was a big exhale when we scored right back, and him getting out of that third inning was huge for all of us. It was huge for our dugout, our fans, our stadium.

Then we score some more runs and it feels good.

Q. One run that you guys scored was not a home run set up by Judge's stolen base. Everyone talks about his home runs and defense, but he was second on the team in steals, only caught three times. Is it surprising to you that he's such a good base runner and base stealer?

ANTHONY RIZZO: No, he's a student of the game, and he's well-rounded in every aspect, and that's what makes him so special. He's not just one-dimensional by any means. He's your typical five-tool. He's the model of a five-tool player. He's got speed. He can steal bases if he needs to. He's just all-around prepared at all times.

Q. When you came over last season, how much has this team improved defensively and was tonight proof of how important that is this time of year?

ANTHONY RIZZO: Yeah, I mean, we have been really good defensively. I think that's credit to all of us putting the work in, our coaches putting us in good positions and getting us the work when we need it, and backing off when they know we don't. It's what's going to take us to the promised land is pitching and defense.

Q. You must have played against Bader a lot in the NL Central. How is he different or the same now that you're playing with him? I know he has not been here that long and has not been on the field very long either, but is there anything that's surprised you about him to this point?

ANTHONY RIZZO: You know, I got to know him a little bit with St. Louis when I was in Chicago. I always was a fan of his game. I think getting traded over here, his hometown where he grew up, and the clubhouse and atmosphere we create for everyone here is very welcoming. As soon as guys can get here and feel like themselves right away, I think it's very beneficial. He was able to do that. It was a tough situation coming in, basically in a walking boot, not being able to play for, feels like the whole second half.

When he did play, the impact he has made already on defense, baserunning, the big hit today, I really like his game and I like him as a person.

Q. You talked about that exhale when Bader hit his home run. Did you feel like that as well. Seemed like a pretty good bat flip on your behalf.

ANTHONY RIZZO: Whatever you can add on to a lead, especially in a series like this where it's five games and kind of a sprint, it just feels good. I feel good with our staff, with our bullpen, the way we are designed and lined up after the rest and after the break. So yeah, as many runs as we can score feels good.

Q. The ball that Donaldson hit in the sixth inning, did you think that was a home run? What was your take on it?

ANTHONY RIZZO: Yeah, I thought for sure it was a home run. It was a weird play. It's the second time it's happened to him this year.

Again, that's us picking each other up. Izzy comes up, hits a double, ball gets by the right fielder, gets on third. Trevy comes up, two strikes down. I think he was down 0-2 and puts the ball in play and gets up the sacrifice. That was big pick-me-up for the team after the ball hitting the top of the wall, which he thought it was gone, the way it came back.

Again, just guys picking each other up.

Q. Can you run us through the play in the third with the ground ball to you with the runners on, and as you said, it's not a play you see often. Did you have any impulse maybe to run across the infield right at the runner?

ANTHONY RIZZO: Yeah, I mean, look, in hindsight, I probably could have just took another half-step to let him take another because he fully committed to home. That's what you look for as an infielder.

For me, I want to get the ball to the catcher pretty early so they can get in position to tag them. Because of the new rules and blocking the plate, guys are able to hook-slide.

So I think taking another half-step, I feel like I took my time there to make sure he was committed home and he was committed home and he pull pumped the brakes. It's a good baserunning play.