MLB WORLD SERIES: PHILLIES VS ASTROS

October 30, 2022

Rob Thomson

Citizens Bank Park

Philadelphia Phillies

Workout Day Press Conference

Q. (Question about weather.)

ROB THOMSON: They want to make sure that there's no delays, that they got enough time to get it in.

Q. Would it matter if it's light versus if it's heavy or if it's just steady that would be something that they would say maybe let's hold off?

ROB THOMSON: If it's really light and misty and it's not going to get any heavier, they may start it. If it's going to be moderate to heavy rain, they won't start it.

Q. What are your expectations for Noah tomorrow night and how do you anticipate deploying him?

ROB THOMSON: Well, he hasn't had a real start really since probably the middle of September, and probably his highest pitch count is like around 35 pitches. So he's a big, strong guy. It's the World Series, so we'll see how he does, see how he feels, constantly communicate with him as he comes off the field. If he's throwing the ball well and he's not rusty and he's sharp, we'll keep going as long as he feels good.

Q. Is that nine out thing one time through the lineup kind of in your mind, though, as a guideline, given that he did that so well against Atlanta?

ROB THOMSON: I guess. But, I mean, I could really see him going a little bit further than that too. So we'll see. But I think that three-inning mark is -- probably three, four innings, is probably where we're at.

Q. Do you think this is a pressure start for him in terms of he hasn't really had a real quote/unquote start in quite some time and it's tied 1-1 and this is a swing game. Did you consider the pressure you put on him as opposed to maybe going with Ranger, who has started more games recently on short rest?

ROB THOMSON: Well, the one thing is that Noah, I believe Noah started in a World Series game and Ranger hasn't, so there's probably going to be a certain amount of pressure on Ranger too, although we all know how he handles that.

So yeah, I don't really worry too much about Noah, about his nerves and getting caught up in the moment. He's a pretty steady guy, and he's been through it before, so I feel pretty confident in that.

Q. Going back to Suárez, since he pitched in relief in Game 1, does that affect his ability to go out and make a normal start quote/unquote? I think he threw, what, five in the NLCS. Could he hit that mark or beyond or is he maybe more limited now?

ROB THOMSON: No, I think he can get there. I really do. We kind of treat that relief outing in Houston as sort of a super bullpen. It's a little more taxing than a normal bullpen, but I think he'll be in good shape.

Kind of the same as Noah, though. We'll be talking and constantly communicating with him when he comes off the field and, How are you feeling? Tired? Fatigued? All that type of thing.

But, again, Ranger's a different cat. He's pretty calm and I feel good about him as well.

Q. I guess just generally speaking how much of a challenge are these next two games going to be in the sense that they're going to be doing a lot of mixing and matching with all of your relievers for potentially a lot of innings for two straight games.

ROB THOMSON: Yeah, it's going to be, and really that's why we put Ranger Game 4, to give him that extra day. That may give him an extra 20, 25 pitches, as opposed to going Game 3.

But, yeah, I mean, you know, we're going to be using the bullpen and I have a lot of confidence in everybody out of that bullpen. So they will be, we'll be grinding on 'em a little bit for sure.

Q. And you have made a point not to change your lineup at all, righties, righty lineup, lefty lineup, but Stott has been so good --

ROB THOMSON: So good.

Q. Yeah, with really long at-bats. I think he's seen more pitches per plate appearance than anybody else in the postseason. Does that give you any pause or any consideration next time if you do face a lefty or whatever, keeping him in there regardless?

ROB THOMSON: Yeah, I think so. You're right. This kid, he's put up quality at-bats for awhile now, not just against right-handers, but left-handers as well. So that's something that we'll discuss as we get closer. That will be Game 6, so we got a little bit of time to think about it. But he's been really good.

Q. In general McCullers has got that great breaking ball. What's the, you saw him a few weeks ago. I guess that's a good thing. What is the approach that your lineup has to take against a guy like that?

ROB THOMSON: I think right-handers got to get that breaking ball close to 'em, and lefties got to get it away from 'em so it's breaking into 'em and not back foot and starting in the middle of the plate and ending up off. It is a good breaking ball. He throws it a lot. He throws it any count. I think that's the key, though, is if you're a right-handed hitter, just get it close to you.

Q. Would Altuve kind of coming alive a little bit, does that change how your staff, complete staff, has to approach that lineup? How much of a different lineup are they when he's producing and swinging it like he did last night?

ROB THOMSON: You know, I kind of look at their, with him, whether he's good or bad, I kind of look at him like he's going to be good all the time because that's just, he's a good hitter. He's got three batting titles, and I don't think you can, at any time, no matter what he's doing, think of him as just an out because he's not. At some point he's going to get hits because he's a good hitter.