AL DIVISION SERIES: MARINERS VS ASTROS

October 14, 2022

Julio Rodríguez

T-Mobile Park

Seattle Mariners

Workout Day Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: We'll get started with Julio Rodríguez.

Q. I imagine as a kid you watched a lot of playoff baseball on TV and all that. But what has this experience been like going through these games, playing on the road in hostile environments, and just what kind of vibe have you gotten from postseason baseball?

JULIO RODRÍGUEZ: It's amazing. It's amazing. I feel like this is the best baseball you can play. It's exciting. It's exciting being able to play with the fan base so engaged in the game and like going at you basically. It's exciting to play in an environment like that. I feel like everybody plays as hard as they can, so that's why I'm a big fan of playing in the postseason.

Q. You've engaged with this fan base since you were in the minors and have had a real affinity and attachment for 'em. Have you allowed yourself to think of what tomorrow's atmosphere is going to be like with the sold-out crowd and this environment that's going to be here?

JULIO RODRÍGUEZ: I definitely engage a lot with the Mariners fans coming up and I know that they're going to be, it's going to be a lot of excitement out there. I cannot wait to step on the field with them in the first postseason game in a long time here. I'm definitely excited for that and I know they're going to enjoy it. I know they're going to enjoy it.

Q. You're four games into your first postseason games. What's different about those games when you get out on the field?

JULIO RODRÍGUEZ: It just feels like everything's laying, everybody's laying everything they got on the line to win the game. I feel like there is nothing, there is no other goal, there is no numbers, there is no season, there is not anything. There is everybody just laying out everything they got to get a win that night.

I feel that's my biggest takeaway of those games, and that's why I loved it so much, because I feel like every time you step on the field, it doesn't matter what game it is, I feel like you should just lie everything you got to win that night.

Q. You said it last night and a lot of players said it, that you guys are going to come back, you're going to find a way. Why do you believe that this team will come back and compete and find a way to win this series?

JULIO RODRÍGUEZ: I just feel like everybody that has been watching the games and just things didn't go our way in those games. I feel we did everything we could. We just didn't catch break. I feel like we just got to keep putting the pressure on, keep putting good at-bats. I feel like we faced very much the two best pitchers they got and we played good games. Respect to them, because they're a really good team too. But I feel like we're right there with them. I feel like we got the stuff to compete and we got enough to turn everything around.

Q. I saw you re-tweeted the video last week of the guys at the car dealership that were dancing and doing the circle. With those guys in particular and even just the fan base as a whole, seeing the excitement around town, I mean what does it mean to you in your first year here to have delivered and to have people that excited?

JULIO RODRÍGUEZ: I feel that's what everything's about the. I feel like if you see the genuine joy that the Mariners fans show for the love of the game. It's just amazing. I feel like that's what it's all about. That's what it's all about. Just playing for them. Because this is a really fun fan base to play for. It's a really fun fan base. I feel like that's why I feel like this is probably one of the best places to play too. Because just genuine the love of the team is.

And you can see it in that video. They were just at that dealership right now and doing the little circle we do whenever we win the game. I feel there is not a better example than that right there.

Q. Throughout the regular season, whether it was the Home Run Derby or the late inning homers, you seemed to just kind of drown out the pressure. How much has that mentality helped you to take into the postseason where the pressure's as high as it's going to be?

JULIO RODRÍGUEZ: I feel like a lot. I feel like in those situations if you're afraid to give your best shot, then you're not going to get a good result. I feel like if you don't give your best in those situations, even though you can be nervous or whatever, but I feel that doesn't have to get in the way of what you're trying to do. I feel like nerves are just a feeling but I feel like if you find a way to manage that feeling and just keep on going, keep on being yourself in those pressure moments, I feel like you're going to deliver.

I find it fun. I find it fun being able to get those clutch hits or whenever everybody's against you and it's just you and the pitcher out there in the box, I feel like it's fun whenever everybody's just against you and you come out on top.