AL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES: YANKEES VS ASTROS

October 22, 2022

Nestor Cortes

Yankee Stadium

New York Yankees

Pregame 3 Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: We'll get started with questions for Nestor.

Q. We saw you throughout the season on days where you started, very calm, very loose. What did you learn going through the Cleveland series about being in the postseason? Were you able to maintain that same sort of level and what do you anticipate tomorrow being like for you?

NESTOR CORTES: Yeah, I tried to keep the same kind of game day routine that I had for the playoffs. Those two games were just like I was starting a regular season game for me. Like I said, I know the stakes were higher, everything was going to be more magnified. But as far as the way that I went about it, it was kind of the same through the day.

Of course tomorrow, making my third start of the postseason, obviously the ALCS first time, and I think I'll approach it the same way. I don't think nothing changes. The goal's still to go out there and throw as many quality innings as I can, and that's, I think that's the way that I've done it the whole year and that's why I've had the success I've had.

Q. After going on short rest last time, how did your arm and body bounce back between starts, and did you do everything you normally do?

NESTOR CORTES: Yeah, I was pretty sore the next day. I would say that, as usual. I don't think going on short days affected me that much.

As far as these four days before tomorrow, I've done the same thing I've done all season. It's worked for me. I've gone into the training room every day. I've done all my rehab stuff to be ready for tomorrow.

Q. You faced these guys once during the regular season, I believe. In hindsight, what do you remember, if anything, about that game and do you take anything from it into tomorrow?

NESTOR CORTES: Altuve hit a home run on the first pitch of the game, jumped on the fastball, and then I might have got into trouble in the 3rd or 4th inning where I allowed two runs. I believe it was a double down the line to Jeremy Peña and then maybe a soft contact or broken bat to center field. I think the game plan was spot-on that time around. Obviously it's months since that happened. We're going to be able to adjust based on what we have seen the last two games and tonight. I think what I see tonight is going to be very important, and then tomorrow we'll speak about it more.

Q. When you drop arm slot, do you decide that once you settle on the pitch with Higy or Trevino or do you just decide in the windup to do that?

NESTOR CORTES: To drop down?

Q. Yeah.

NESTOR CORTES: No, I think it's predetermined once I get the ball back from Higy or Trevino. Obviously, there's only two pitches I do from there, which is the fastball or the slider. I think that's no secret to anybody. But I usually, as soon as I get the ball back and I'm walking towards the rubber again to get ready, is when I decide. And then depending on the pitch that he calls it allows me to either okay, like confirm that we're going to do it, or just shut it down and go with what pitches he calls. So, no, it's predetermined once I get the ball back.

Q. And you decide it just based on that's when you think best to disrupt the timing of the batter?

NESTOR CORTES: Yeah, yeah, same thing. I think that that just happens on the spot. Depending on the situation of the game and the count we're in allows me to improvise at that moment.

Q. Do you have a name for it when you do that? Is there something you call it?

NESTOR CORTES: No. No, I haven't really thought of a name for it. It's worked, it worked last year a little bit. I continued to do it this year and had some success. So maybe I'll come up with a name in this off-season.

Q. I was going to ask you, you obviously lived through Aaron Judge, the whole chase for 62. What has he meant to this team and this organization? How would you sum that up or describe it?

NESTOR CORTES: He's meant everything. I think I'm able to say that if he's back here next year, he's our captain, he's the next captain. We follow everything he does. He leads by example. He's not really a guy that comes out and screams at anybody. But if he has to, that's his job. I think he's earned that right to keep us in check. What allows him to be so great, I feel like, is he's a great baseball player, but he's a better human. He treats everybody the same. He follows up on everybody every day. That's what allows him to be who he is.

Q. Have you told him that? Have you told him that he should be the next captain?

NESTOR CORTES: No. I'm sure he knows it already. (Laughing.)

I mean, just the way that we play around him and act around him, he's just the guy for it. I feel like we follow his steps every time. Like I've said before, he's the last one to leave from the clubhouse on the road, and we don't leave until he leaves. We just follow his act. We follow everything he does. I think he's a perfect example for the game of baseball, for the kids that are coming up and learning from the game.

Sometimes I ask myself, how does he have so much time to stop for interviews and signatures? But he finds a way. That's what makes him great.

Q. I presume you haven't told Boone or Cashman that either.

NESTOR CORTES: No, no, no. This is just me going out on a limb and saying it. (Laughing.)

I think, I mean, most of the guys in there agree with me. He's the best to do it.

Q. Do you allow yourself to think about how big the game is tomorrow or do you try not to think about that?

NESTOR CORTES: I acknowledge how big it is, obviously. If we win tonight, we don't want to go 3-1, and if we lose tonight, we don't want to go 4-0. Obviously it's a big situation for me and, like I said before, I'm up for the challenge. I feel like this is a win-win for me. I'm pitching in the ALCS and if we win, we have more life. So just happy to be here and take advantage of the opportunity.

Q. Could you just talk about the lift that Harrison has given you guys this postseason and what he's meant to the club?

NESTOR CORTES: Yeah, it's been great. Obviously we got him over here and he was hurt. We didn't know what to expect from him. But he's definitely turned it on. He's definitely been a, somebody for us that's been great in every situation of the playoffs so far. He's a great clubhouse guy. He's really good people. He cares about all the guys in there, and that's what makes him great too.

He adjusted to what we were doing here, the philosophy we had, and he gelled right with us. So for him to come out and do that with us and to perform how he's been performing, it's been great. So hopefully it can continue.

Q. Those first two postseason starts, was there anything maybe about just the atmosphere, the crowd, the vibe in the first game that took you by surprise, that that second start you then you knew what to prep for or expect when you were on the mound?

NESTOR CORTES: No. I think the whole season has prepared for this moment. I think Tuesday night in the Bronx it's a packed house. We were playing the Oakland A's or whoever we were playing. But that allowed us to have that same energy going into the playoffs, a packed house again, obviously a little bit more noise, more magnified to the situation.

But I didn't think the second game was any different from the first game I pitched. Obviously, I gave up two runs that first game. But I think the atmosphere, the fans, what was at stake, everything was kind of the same for me. So I go out there every time and pitch like it's my last day. So nothing really changed from 1 to 2.

Q. You pitched Game 5 against Cleveland and the optimistic fans are, It's cool, we have Nestor going. You're down 2-0 against Houston and you're hearing from the fans who want to be optimistic, like, It's cool, we have Gerrit and we have Nestor. I know you've always been very humble about kind of what the journey has been like, but do you ever stop and just think like the fans are putting you on that pedestal at this point, that you've kind of elevated your career to the point where people kind of think that way about you?

NESTOR CORTES: Yeah, it feels great. It feels great to know that fans are actually excited to watch me pitch or to have me in that role to pitch a decisive game for us potentially, you know. And to have that, I guess that optimism for me to go out there and pitch well.

I think it's good to have that pressure. Because you know you're liked around the city and hopefully in the community of Hispanics and the Cubans like from where I'm from.

So just to be in that position, it feels great. And I'm happy everybody's rooting along with me.

Q. You spoke about Aaron Judge's leadership. I wanted to ask you about Gerrit Cole. Just the way that he's a leader for you guys on the starting staff. How beneficial has it been to have him here during your first postseason experience?

NESTOR CORTES: It's been amazing. Not even in the postseason, just the regular season alone. I came in this year planning to throw 25 starts, maybe 150 innings.

For me to do that I would have to take care of my body in between starts and know what the recovery is. And he's been super helpful for me. Because he's done it for a long time, obviously he goes 200 plus every year.

For me to have him on my side and ask him what was his opinion on this and what should I do here and what should do I there, I think that's why I got to 28 starts and 158 innings because of him. Because he told me, he would set the way for me and tell me how to prepare and how to go about your recovery between starts. So a lot of credit to him for helping me.

Q. When was the point where, when you were walking down the street in the city, people started recognizing you?

NESTOR CORTES: As soon as I took my mask off from last year. (Laughing.)

No, I mean last year I used to take the subway. Nobody really recognized me because of the mask, like I said. But I think it was this year, maybe like three or four starts into the season. I remember going shopping one day and getting stopped a few times to take pictures. Just greeting me. So that felt kind of cool.

Now it's just, everywhere I go I have a little hoodie on and stuff. (Laughing.) No, it's great. It's great to be recognized. Obviously when you're doing good it's even better. Because you know people like you. But hopefully I'm still loved from here on out.