AL DIVISION SERIES: MARINERS VS ASTROS

October 15, 2022

Logan Gilbert

T-Mobile Park

Seattle Mariners

Pregame 3 Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: We'll open it up to questions for Logan Gilbert.

Q. That was a pretty electric atmosphere over there in Houston, on the road though. How excited are you to pitch in front of your own fans when you take the mound tomorrow?

LOGAN GILBERT: Yeah, it's going to be awesome. Just the playoff atmosphere anywhere is amazing, but to be back here in Seattle is pretty special and we care as much for the fans and we've felt their energy all year. So it's going to be fun to see it in a playoff atmosphere.

Q. I know we talked real briefly at the end of the game in Houston about that curveball that you threw and it had good bottom to it, good depth to it, and it looks like you're in a really good place with that. How has the evolution of that pitch worked for you this year? And it looks like you're in a real good place with it.

LOGAN GILBERT: It feels good right now. It kind of happened at the right time. There's been times throughout year where we kind of strayed away from it because it wasn't feeling as good. But I think I got back to what makes it successful and what has that shape that you're talking about.

So it's just nice to have that and have another option as a starter trying to go a few times through the order just to give them different looks.

Q. What's the mentality for you today? The team's facing an elimination game and you obviously have the faith in your guys to come through, but just kind of sitting there and waiting and not knowing what tomorrow might hold?

LOGAN GILBERT: Yeah, it's tough. Usually you know you're pitching the next day. I mean, I think I will be pitching tomorrow, but right now all we can focus on is today. We got to win this one. We know that. We got to win three in a row, but it starts with one. It starts with today. We have all the confidence in the world in the guys today, and George out there, he's proven all year what he can do with the ball. He's like an artist on the mound, just full confidence in him and what he's going to do and hopefully get us to tomorrow.

Q. What did you learn about a first playoff start?

LOGAN GILBERT: Man, it was fun. It was awesome. I think there's a lot that I took away from it. You just kind of, it brings a little new awareness to yourself. So breathing, simple things, like what makes you successful, not trying to do too much. I think that's a big trap in the playoffs, and I only have one start, so I'm not speaking like an expert here. But you feel like you have to be perfect. You feel like you have to do more than what you're capable of. But exactly what we've done all year is what got us here so just trying to keep it simple and do what we've done all year.

Q. You came up through the system at a time when the Mariners were trying to get to this point, the drought and everything. What did you see on your way up and once you got here that gave you faith that a day like this would happen and would happen soon?

LOGAN GILBERT: Yeah, I think you see it all the way up through the system. But just the way everybody buys in. I think it's a culture thing. I think it's something that we built here the last few years that we paid really close attention to and what makes the good teams so successful.

I think that's a good thing, not only for this year but the future. I think we're just going to keep rolling and building from here. Because we have that culture in place and the core and the guys in the clubhouse that are going to keep us, carry us through to the next step every year. I think that's the biggest part.

Q. How do you describe the culture?

LOGAN GILBERT: I mean, I think it's just guys that care about each other. I think that's the main part. It's tough because it's authentic, it's genuine and you can't force it. But we've really put a lot of time and attention to it with meetings in the off-season and spring training and just all that stuff. You can tell when you step into the clubhouse. It's hard to describe, but you see it when you're in there.

Q. You have known George for awhile. What about his personality, besides his talent, is going to allow him to have success in these situations moving forward?

LOGAN GILBERT: Yeah, that's a good question. I think that's just who he is. That's his makeup. He's 25 or whatever he is. He's young. But I feel like he's beyond his years in what he can do on the mound and his makeup like you're talking about.

He's just tough. He finds a way to get it done. He's as consistent as they come. I think we have seen that throughout the entire year. So I have no doubt what he's going to do today and what he can do in the playoffs. He's a really good guy to have on your side.

Q. Continuing on George too. Scott mentioned he's from New York, so he has a little bit of an edge to him. I mean obviously you guys see that on the mound. Do you see that in the clubhouse or off the field, does he have a little bit of an edge even off the field?

LOGAN GILBERT: Yeah, I would say so. He's definitely competitive. And he does bring that intensity that you're talking about, that Skip was talking about. He's a laid-back guy, for sure. But I think especially now he's getting more comfortable in there and it's fun to see and hang out with him.

He does have that edge and he'll give it to you a little bit and play around and stuff like that. But when it's time to take the ball he gets serious. And you can see it on the mound. Just his posture, his confidence, the way he carries himself.

Q. When you get a guy like Yordan Álvarez who is as hot as he is, as a pitcher, do you change your game plan with him? Do you focus more on him? What's your outlook on that?

LOGAN GILBERT: Yeah, it's a tough game plan honestly. I think the best thing is just trying to give a steady mix. I think if he sees the same thing a couple times, you might be able to beat him once, but you don't want to give him another look on it.

So just try to keep it new every at-bat. Get creative. You really want to give yourself a lot of options and hopefully have a lot of pitches available at that time that you have feel for. Because if not you don't want to get boxed into a corner or anything like that.

So he's a tough at-bat but really just comes down to like I said last time, just execution. You make your pitch, you have a good chance. If not, he'll make you pay for it.