NL DIVISION SERIES: PADRES VS DODGERS

October 14, 2022

Wil Myers

Petco Park

San Diego Padres

Pregame 3 Press Conference

Q. Wil, obviously there's been a lot of talk about getting postseason baseball back here to Petco. You guys are certainly familiar with the energy and negative energy being in opposing ballparks, but is there extra amped-up approach being here with that energy and is that something you need to be aware of?

WIL MYERS: Yeah, we've played five road games so far here in the postseason, so it's good to be back at home in the home crowd, cheer for some runs. Usually it's been quiet on the road when we score, so it will be nice to hear the crowd behind us. We're all excited to get here in front of these fans, play in front of them.

Q. Is it anything you actually need to make sure that you reel in? Can it get out of control?

WIL MYERS: Yeah, I think that comes with any postseason game, home or road. I think at this point with our sixth one, we kind of know what's out there with the crowd, so I think we'll do a good job of that.

Q. As far as facing Gonsolin goes, how much are you able to trust scouting reports versus just having to adapt to what you see what he has on a given day?

WIL MYERS: Yeah, I've heard, I think, his pitch count may be limited, so I doubt we'll have more than one or two at-bats off of him. But we've faced him in the regular season before, so we'll use that information into today's game.

Q. Wil, given the amount of time you've spent with this organization and a lot of that time was some rough seasons, how does that position you to appreciate the position the team is in right now and this game tonight?

WIL MYERS: Yeah, it's really cool, especially finally getting to this point. Obviously had some tough seasons here in San Diego, but I think -- definitely lost a decent amount of games to the Dodgers, but I think this series can really cap that off to where those other games didn't mean anything.

I think we get to this series, we like where we're at right now. We can come away with this win here, I think that'll put all that to bed.

Q. What do you remember about the 2020 series here and kind of the way the city responded to you? And at that time, do you remember kind of thinking, maybe wistfully, what it would be like with a packed ballpark here?

WIL MYERS: Yeah, I think in 2020 we saw some videos online and saw after the game the people kind of going crazy downtown, which is really cool. I think tonight to have that same mentality in the ballpark, people going crazy, I think is going to be really cool.

I think this is a great time for San Diego coming in today, just around the ballpark was buzzing. I think everybody in San Diego is excited about tonight, and the players are, as well, to see Petco rocking.

Q. You say it's buzzing downtown; what have you noticed?

WIL MYERS: I just felt like I saw a lot more Padre fans kind of walking around. I did not see as much blue, which was nice, a lot of brown and yellow, which was good to see. So I think everybody here downtown, especially in San Diego, as well, is just excited for the game.

Q. You're not from here; what do you think the deal is with the Dodgers? Is it that the fans don't like the geography, they don't like the Dodgers winning all the time?

WIL MYERS: With San Diego not liking the Dodgers? I just think it's just a San Diego-LA thing. I think that's just kind of that rivalry there.

Q. I've seen you make some pretty good plays at first base recently. How much have you enjoyed being back there?

WIL MYERS: Yeah, first base is fun. You're involved in the game a lot. There's a lot of action there. I enjoy it, keeps you in the game. It's been a lot of fun playing there in the postseason.

Q. Have you thought about how your career might have been slightly different if you had stayed there?

WIL MYERS: No, I haven't honestly thought about that. I think when you're with a team they ask you to do something, I think it's one of those things it's your job to go out there and do. I think in those situations at that time it was best for me to play the outfield, and that was just what I did there.

Q. You've been part of a lot of clubhouses and quite a few managers. What stood out to you about this clubhouse and Bob Melvin in particular after that game in Arizona and how you guys have come together for the postseason?

WIL MYERS: Yeah, he's been really good. He got on us there in Arizona. I won't go into the details of what he said, but it was a really great speech, one that got us very motivated. And I feel like really since that speech, I felt like we've played our best baseball, especially at this moment now.

And I think that's just what comes with a guy like that who has that experience, who has a steady hand on the wheel. He really only gave us one speech in that one moment in Arizona all year, and it was the right timing.

I think somebody like that who's been around the game, has that type of timing and knows when and where to have those types of talks.

Q. Have you seen anything different from Manny in the postseason? Anything different about how he goes about --

WIL MYERS: I think Manny has been doing the same thing he's been doing all year. When we need him most, he's coming through. He's been that guy all year. He's been our MVP, and I would expect nothing less tonight and the rest of the postseason from him.

Q. Obviously there's been a lot of talk about Bob's talk to you guys in Arizona, but the next day you had a players' meeting, as well. What have you seen about this group of guys and --

WIL MYERS: Yeah, I think the players' meeting was obviously good, as well, the next day. It was just reiterating what Bob said. I think Manny has done a great job with really leading this team. He's been that guy that the Padres signed to really lead this organization, to lead this team, and I think with what he said just following what Bob said that day was really good.

Hearing it from a guy like that who's an MVP candidate means a lot more. Not more than Bob, but just means a lot from a teammate like that, to say something like that, really gets you motivated and really gets you ready for the game.