AL DIVISION SERIES: GUARDIANS VS YANKEES

October 14, 2022

Terry Francona

Yankee Stadium

Cleveland Guardians

Pregame 2 Press Conference

Q. The extra day off, does it benefit you with the run you've been on or would you rather just keep playing?

TERRY FRANCONA: I guess I'll be able to tell you that in a few days. You know, it feels like we have been here a long time, and we have. I think that, you know, you have to be ready to make adjustments. We have been making adjustments all year. We played 12 doubleheaders, maybe 13, I don't know. So whoever -- generally whoever adjusts better, gives yourself a chance to win. We'll be fine.

The series won't be determined in my view by when we've played.

Q. Conversely, the Yankees, this is like their second game in nine days. Which way would you rather have it: Play every day or have such a long break?

TERRY FRANCONA: Well, we're creatures of habit, and you're used to playing every day. But again, it's a game of adjustments, also. So we just play when they tell us to and hopefully we're better than them. Regardless of when we play, we just want to have one run more than them.

Q. The midges being back in Cleveland, is that something that has entered your radar yet?

TERRY FRANCONA: The what?

Q. The midges.

TERRY FRANCONA: The who?

Q. The little bugs.

TERRY FRANCONA: Oh, it's like, man, that's not politically correct. (Laughter) Staying away from that one.

I must be on the late show on that. I haven't seen been thinking about New York. I haven't even -- not even aware.

Q. Have you had experiences with the midges in the past?

TERRY FRANCONA: I don't -- I don't know. I don't -- I don't think so. I don't know. You kind of got me there. I wasn't ready for that. I don't know.

I remember the thing with Joba but I don't believe so.

Q. I'm sure you've been asked this a lot but what makes Cleveland not only drafting and developing and signing guys but acquires guys from outside the organization?

TERRY FRANCONA: I think organizationally we do a really good job of trying to not leave any stone unturned and not being afraid to try things. You know, we've had -- we've had different runs where for a while there, we were bringing up pitching that really helped us when we were having trouble with our hitters.

So I think rather than pound your chest and beat your chest and tell everybody how good you are, you need really good players. And I think we are fortunate there, and I think we have really hard-working people throughout our player development system and our scouts, and that certainly helps.

Q. Your pitchers did a good job of limiting the damage done by Aaron Judge in Game 1, but guys right around him in the lineup found success. What's the message to your guys about attacking not only him but the guys right around him in the lineup?

TERRY FRANCONA: Believe me, they were not trying to attack the guys around him. I guarantee you, that's part of a team's success that you have multiple guys that can hurt you, and the Yankees certainly have that.

Our goal here isn't just to get Judge out. If you get him out, that certainly helps your chances. But that's part of -- you know, I mean, the people that follow us know how many times I've said it. If you want to walk Jose, you really want the other team to have to think about it or maybe pay for it. Well, that kind of shows you, when you have Rizzo, Torres sitting there, that can happen.