NL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES: PHILLIES VS PADRES

October 21, 2022

Bob Melvin

Citizens Bank Park

San Diego Padres

Pregame 3 Press Conference

Q. Obviously you have great confidence in Joe and he's been outstanding in the postseason, but postseason is a little bit of a different beast in terms of how it can be draining but also give you an adrenaline flow. Do those things counteract each other equally or do you have to keep an eye on things if he starts giving ground. Anything different in the postseason?

BOB MELVIN: Not really. He's been through it a couple times already, so kind of conditioned for it. He's been pitching big games for us all year, opening day at home, to New York, to where we are.

You might say he's conditioned for it. He's pitched in these games. They're all exciting. They all have a life of their own. I know he's excited about getting another chance here.

Q. As far as facing Suarez, you saw him much earlier in the season, but your lineup at that time is going to have five different guys. And he's not pitching all that well of late. In preparing for him, do you prepare for the Suarez you saw earlier in the season or the one pitching more recently? How do you plan it out?

BOB MELVIN: You look at video, how we were attacked last time. He gets a lot of balls on the ground. He's got a good sinker. He's got a good change-up. A little different mix for lefties and righties, but he's got good stuff.

Got to try to get him elevated and keep him off the ground.

Q. Bob, what do you like about this configuration where you've got Drury in there, Myers in there for the defense? I'm assuming that's what you went with.

BOB MELVIN: Typically with Joe on the mound, we've had Will at first base. Hard not playing Josh, but it also means there's potentially a spot for him. Kind of consistent with what we've done with Joe.

Q. Your thoughts on tomorrow and how you might attack the pitching?

BOB MELVIN: Not yet. Probably after the game.

Q. Is everything on the table for an opener, or will it be Manaea or Clevenger?

BOB MELVIN: I think everything is on the table right now. Soon as I commit to something and something goes a different way in the game, I don't want to have to backtrack on that.

Q. With five in five days, how does your view of how you use Hader maybe change? I know it's early in the process, so he's obviously available today and tomorrow. With five in five days, would it be a little different than it would have been otherwise?

BOB MELVIN: Could be. I think we just play today's game and go at it however, trying to win it the best we can, and then deal with every day after that based on what happened the day before.

You can try to forecast these things and look how am I going to deploy on this day and X the next. But I think each game's so important to try to win that I think we put all our efforts into today's game and then deal with tomorrow tomorrow.

It's a little different than maybe most postseasons where, you know, you play maybe three at the most and get an off-day. Five days is more of a challenge, but as soon as you expect to do something one way, something could pop up in a game and make you do it differently the next day.

Q. Is the catching situation still undecided going forward?

BOB MELVIN: Yes. We'll see if Noles can get the whole thing. If not, we'll make a decision in tomorrow's game because Darvish pitches a day game. My guess is their guy is going to catch every game too. So we'll see how tonight goes.

Q. You were in the Bay area a long time with Bochy. What do you think about him coming back with the Rangers?

BOB MELVIN: I think it's great. It's probably a matter of time. He was biding his time, doing his grandkid thing and so forth, but when you're successful and a legend like he is, you're probably going to get that itch again. So it doesn't surprise me at all. That's going to be a great spot for him.

Some guys over there on the team that I know, Marcus Semien. He's going to be a good guy for that job, and I know they're looking to take it to another level. So happy for him.

Q. Back to the catching stuff, your appreciation as a catcher for I think the athleticism and the abilities of both of these guys in this series, it's pretty extraordinary.

BOB MELVIN: It is, especially in Noles' case for a guy that hasn't caught his whole career. And really this season didn't catch an overwhelming amount to where that's kind of our only concern here with five in a row is seeing how he is from day to day.

I know he's up for it. A lot will have to do with how today's game goes and how long it is and so forth. I don't know what the rain dynamic is for Sunday too, kind of have to weigh that.

It's impressive to see him catching as well as he had all year at this point in time of the season, and their guy is just ridiculous. He's kind of at another level as far as catchers go.

Q. I know you're not going to say who might pitch tomorrow, Clevenger hasn't pitched since L.A., Manaea since the end of the season. What can you speak to to what they can do to stay ready and fresh?

BOB MELVIN: They've been throwing bullpens in full uniform trying to get the intensity as much as they can. Sean through a little bit at home to some hitters. You do the best you can with it, but you know during the postseason sometimes your number is not going to be called for a while, and you just have to stay as ready as you can.