WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC: POOL B - CZECH REPUBLIC VS CHINA

March 10, 2023

Pavel Chadim

Martin Muzik

Vojtech Mensik

Matej Mensik

Tokyo Dome

Team Czechia

Postgame Press Conference

Czechia - 8, China - 5

THE MODERATOR: First of all, the question to the skipper. You finally get the victory at your dream stage. How do you feel about this?

PAVEL CHADIM: For example, well, we still have two games to go and we still have the opportunity to show what we can do to the world.

Q. You play as a leadoff, you at the first at-bat you got a base hit, you score first. How did you prepare for today's game? How do you feel right now?

VOJTECH MENSIK: My first at-bat, yes, I'm trying to swing whatever the pitcher throw and I swung it and I tried to lead the team.

Q. At the top of 3 you hit a great home run. What's the moment?

MATEJ MENSIK: I was so happy that I hit home run. At that at-bat I got a great adjustment for the timing. I was so happy, the biggest joy.

Q. A question to your brother. How did you feel that your brother, elder brother, hit a home run at the Tokyo Dome in front of you?

VOJTECH MENSIK: So happy. Well, any home run is happy, but especially because my elder brother hit a home run, that made me more happy and I'm so proud of him.

Q. In the top of the 9th, first pitch you swung and you hit a three-run home run. What's the moment you thought you hit a home run?

MARTIN MUZIK: Yes, my only concern and my goal is keep the team alive when we play for the qualifying game. And I didn't want to miss the pitch, so I swung hard. Today, until my last at-bat I didn't get a base hit, so I was so concentrate to get the base hit.

Q. When the moment you hit the home run, three-run home run, not only dugout, but also the entire stadium in the Tokyo Dome was so excited. How did you feel about it?

MARTIN MUZIK: Well, first of all, I am so, well, I was only concerned trying to get the base hit, and I'm so happy that everybody in my dugout was so excited. That makes me so happy. I am always thinking that my teammate, I feel that, I feel like my teammates are the family, my family.

Q. Skipper, how historical game it is?

PAVEL CHADIM: Yes. At the beginning of the game, I thought we had momentum because we scored early in the game, but in the middle of the game, one of my bullpen pitchers, Schneider, he's got a struggle and we give up some run, then the game is tied.

We gave up some error, especially a pick-off error, and then gave up a lot of walks, but later on a miracle happened.

Q. So now you are going to face against Japan tomorrow night with the big momentum.

PAVEL CHADIM: Yes. Well, my first goal we have just done. Now we are officially able to play at the next WBC tournament. We qualify for it. So that was my first goal and we clinched it.

For the game next tomorrow, we'll see the result for tomorrow when we play after the Japan game. Well, everybody in my, all the reporters is expecting team Japan to win, but I wish everybody good luck.

Q. Your probable starter will be the rookie Sasaki. A hundred plus miles high-heater pitcher. How do you prepare?

MATEJ MENSIK: Yes, I am feeling the same that one of our dreams came true. Most of our opponents are ahead of us, and I'm such an honor playing against Japan. So all I concern is just try to put all my effort to play.

Q. Congratulations. I actually have two questions: The first one is: How important were the fans? You had about 200 fans behind home plate cheering for you. And then second: Is it time to put the story about your jobs and that you're amateurs to rest? Is that done now?

MARTIN MUZIK: Well, it's unreal. They flew 200 people from Czech, flew across the world to watch us and support us, so it means a lot for us and it's a huge, like they give us huge energy and like push forward. So it's unreal.

MATEJ MENSIK: I would just add that it's great. We really appreciate it. You saw it in the Regensburg, that when our fans came to Germany what kind of noise they were able to do. And it's really awesome that we have them here and they are cheering for us same as they were in Regensburg and it just makes us play better. So a huge thanks for all our fans.

VOJTECH MENSIK: Yeah, I agree with the guys. I want to thank the fans for coming out. That was special.

And to your other part of the question, we're normal people off the field, but on the field, we just behave professionally and we take that professionality towards training as well. So when it comes to, I know it's a great story for you guys, but when it comes to the actual baseball and on-field stuff we're just as much pros as the other guys.

PAVEL CHADIM: This is tournament of pitch counts and our starter pitched first inning on 13 pitches and second inning 13 pitches. It was a good sign.

Q. This is a question to the manager. Let's talk about the starting pitcher. They pitched 49 pitches. Then the second pitcher, Schneider, also pitched 49. Is this a strategy that you let them pitch maybe the day after today's contest, that's why you save up to the 49 pitches?

PAVEL CHADIM: Yes, when we are talking about the pitchers, yes, we tried to save the opportunity for the rest of the games. That's how I manage our bullpen.

Q. Skipper, historical first WBC international tournament. How big this winning? And also, thinking about the history of the Czech Republic's baseball how big it is. Also, looking back at the top of the 9th, when Muzik hit a three-run jack, tell us about what you feel.

PAVEL CHADIM: Well, today's contest, my dreams became truth, became truth, because of the first swing of the tournament at the WBC, the next competition we've got qualified for the tournament.

The second goal is try to draw a lot of attention to the Czech Republic's kids and fans to expand the baseball, the history of the baseball in Czech Republic.

And also the third aiming is, among the kids, children, I wish all the kids to start playing baseball. I am eager to find out the possibility of the agility of the kids towards the baseball.