WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC: POOL C - COLOMBIA VS MEXICO

March 10, 2023

Benji Gil

Randy Arozarena

Julio Urias

Chase Field

Team Mexico

Workout Day Press Conference

Q. You know Patrick Sandoval. What makes Patrick Sandoval the pitcher to start versus the United States?

BENJI GIL: I think he is, before nothing, we have chosen to start with Julio since he's the ace of the team because want to start with the best possibility with the right foot. And also we want to -- he has the days, and I'm thinking we're going to advance the group. So, Julio, he will be available for the quarterfinals game as well.

So I think he will be a tremendous candidate since how he was pitching. Patrick Sandoval, he's a lefty, very complicated. He had a good season last season, under 3.00. We like him. So we like the combination of lefty against the United States after Julio against Colombia.

Q. Have you thought about the [inaudible] of the pitchers you have, like, up to seven? Some managers have said if you have a lot of openers you could have two openers per game. Is it something you have thought about or just depends on the game, two pitchers, or do you use both openers in the game?

BENJI GIL: Yes, I have thought about two openers in the game for this face, for the group because the number of pitches that we're limited. We have maximum of 65. So one inning they could be clean, but a lot of -- maybe we can throw, maybe he has to throw 20 and maybe it can be an inning of zero.

So it can be complicated to have difficulty with the pitcher. What I like to, what I believe to be able to use two openers so we can get to that sixth, seventh inning. It would make it a lot easier to not have to use a lot of relief pitchers because this format is -- because of this format because relievers cannot throw in consecutive games.

Q. How difficult is it to get to a competitive tournament that is very short only with two games of spring training with pitchers starting, with the routines, and then a group that possibly, like the United States, that they know each other, between and among themselves?

BENJI GIL: It's very complicated, but it's even. It's even for everybody. You have said it, we have the Japanese team. They train a lot more time. They play together. They have international tournaments that they play in.

Like the United States, they are in the big leagues. They all know each other. Basically even the rivals, we have the unions or the company with each other instead of us.

But that does not worry me. The chemistry that we have as a team, the enthusiasm that they've shown the days we've been together, it's something that's wonderful. And I'm very proud that they have a union, they bonded.

But we would like to have a week or 10 days, but one has to understand that we're going to start the big leagues again, and the players have to be with their clubs or their teams and also the national team.

Q. I'm going to ask about Colombia, the rival. Everybody says that the United States is going to finish first. Why? Because of the quality of the team. Do you see that Colombia is like the past, if you win, maybe Great Britain that they see underneath of everybody, do you see that Colombia is like the key game who decides who advances or not?

BENJI GIL: No, I think that's the error that a lot of teams can come in. We have seen the games that are in Asia. A lot of the teams that were supposed to be winning beat the rivals. That has been the contrary. Australia should not beat Korea on paper.

Even last night's game, Panama was about to beat Cuba, an excellent team, 0-3, until they came back. We are not disregarding anybody.

The game against Colombia, yes, it's key. But sincerely for us it's always starting with the right foot and winning the first game gives you that motivation and happiness for the next game.

So after winning the first game, you are motivated and focused to win the second game. And it does not matter who the team is. Obviously we know who the rival is, but if we're 0-2, that pressure changes completely to the other side instead of us.

We're going to have it day to day. The rival, the immediate rival right now in importance is Colombia. Once that's over, then the next rival is the following day.

Q. The question about the closeness to Mexico and all the fans here tomorrow and Sunday, a lot of Mexicans come. They come see the Mexican team. We don't have this every day. Do you feel that you have this compromise since you are local because Mexicans are local here in Arizona?

BENJI GIL: Yes, there is a lot of Mexicans in the stadium seeing the game live. It's motivation. We are with all Mexicans that are in Mexico and the outside, the people who come here.

And also we're trying to put Mexico and Mexico's name in the highest places. Hopefully the 21st of March we'll be playing in Miami. This is something positive having this many fans cheering for Mexico.

Q. How is the focus since first it was announced that Quintana (phonetic), now first a lefty, now a right pitcher, since you've been presenting in your preparation?

BENJI GIL: We both know both pitchers. I personally will let you know Nabil more since he was at a pitcher with the Tomateros de Culiacán, since I was a coach there, since he had to pitch in Mexico.

We know more nationals than the Americans. They have faced each other versus Nabil than Quintana, and I will let you know. It's not disregarding them, but if there's something that they have to worry to be I don't think it is. I think they will manage it the way they have it.

If someone had to be worried, it's Colombia because obviously now they have already assigned the first pitcher versus us. But sadly he had to drop off. But a pitcher of his quality of Quintana is. But we have had a couple of days.

But if it was today that was the change, it would be a little more difficult, or tomorrow in the morning, but we had already had, since it was already announced we had -- we already knew it would be the opener, one of them would be Nabil and the other and that's how it happened.

We had a time to see more profoundly since we had to be assertive that he was going to throw against us and not possibly.

Q. Julio, you have been, in your career, important World Series, the closer for the Dodgers. What pressure sentiment, is it different from what has had with the Dodgers since you're going to be the opener for Mexico?

JULIO URIAS: It's going to be different since I feel the backing of all the country because we all know that Los Angeles there's a lot of Mexicans and something special for them.

But it's a different type of tournament. It's a short tournament. And I know it matters game to game. It's going to be a beautiful experience. It's different but it's baseball. At the end of the day, we have to focus 100 percent of each of us to be victorious.

Q. Julio, you're going to be opening versus Colombia. Would you have preferred to open versus the United States because you play in the big leagues? Or do you feel the same since you're the principal pitcher for the Mexican team?

JULIO URIAS: Obviously there's the coaches and the staff. They have the decision. I respect it as a team. And here I always try to respect their decisions. It's their decision, and all I do is I just put the best of me 100 percent.

And I was always available for any game. Fortunately I start tomorrow and it's the same focus. It's baseball, it's 27 outs. And I have to do my maximum against the teams.

Q. The manager was saying a few days ago it doesn't matter how few days you have together. He has a chemistry amongst you. Obviously the talent that the Mexican team has, with all the big league players and all the talent from the Mexican League, what is your best tool so that the fans can be happy?

JULIO URIAS: I think the want, the need, all the teams have their stars, have their talents. I think whoever focused more and has a more want to play the best baseball is going to be the ones who win.

Like I said, we all have the backing of an entire country. It's very beautiful. And it's not going to be the exception throughout the series. The focus is going to be there. Whoever focuses the best is going to be the one who is going to be the winner.

Q. Julio, how interesting is it to have Austin Barnes? And are you teaching him Spanish?

JULIO URIAS: He gives me a lot of security. Barnes, he knows me very well. I feel more calm to have him behind home. He knows what pitches I like to throw. He knows how I like to play against the batters. He's going to be very fun.

He's learning. He's learning. It's not easy to have a club where you hear the Mexican music and also the Spanish. The harmony is very good. We're going to see that tomorrow on the field.

Q. Randy, you have said before, so can you express it once more. What does Mexico mean to you in your life? And what does it mean to represent that jersey this tournament?

RANDY AROZARENA: To me, Mexico is special, as I've said it a lot many times ago, since when I left Cuba, Mexico is a country that received me with arms open. I have a Mexican girl. And I have it in my heart since I arrived in Mexico. I expressed I wanted to represent in the World Baseball Classic, and I have the chance now.

Q. How complicated is it to have the spring training and having to play this tournament and represent a country since understanding the progression after 162 games of Major Leagues? Maybe is not the best or maybe you started the preparation before since you know that this tournament was coming?

RANDY AROZARENA: Once, since before, because I had it in my mind that the Classic was coming, we did a good preparation so we, so that it also lasts towards preparation to the league. I've been preparing to be good for the Classic.

JULIO URIAS: It's the same answer for me. We all know that the tournament was coming. It's a bit different. But the post (indiscernible), it's a lot of work, a lot of games. So if you would want to compare it, right now I feel fresh. There's a lot of competition where post (indiscernible), it's different. But it's the same for everybody. We have to enjoy it. That's what we have.

Q. Both of you have played a World Series, since you both played in the World Series, as the previous day, do you feel like it's the same to the World Series? Julio, you had a start in the World Series or whatever you're feeling today, maybe tomorrow is going to be a good attendance, maybe not at a (indiscernible), but it's something important that could happen tomorrow with the team?

RANDY AROZARENA: Two tournaments, very different. Like Julio says, it's the same, it's baseball. This is a tournament that I have a lot of illusions, more than 100 Mexicans -- yeah, it's 100 million, 100 million Mexicans.

It's a tournament. It's going to be very fun. We're going to fight to the end so that the country can be happy.

JULIO URIAS: Like Randy said, it's the same baseball, but the focus is, it's still there. We have to focus just a bit different. As he was saying, obviously versus the World Series and the season it's very different with lots of lows and highs, highs and lows. We haven't had any competition right now, but it's the same baseball. Like Randy stated, the focus is tomorrow. Like I said, we have to enjoy it as baseball players and we have to give happiness to the country.

Q. Since you're gold players, (indiscernible), he has made all his professional career in the United States. You've been coming here, what opinions do you have of him?

RANDY AROZARENA: To me, he's a great coach, a winner. He actually beat me. He beat me when I was playing for the Pacific. I see it with Culiacán. He always wins, and it motivates me a lot. I like that my manager is a winner. He's been doing a good job with Los Angeles. He has a good team and they're all unified.

JULIO URIAS: Same for me. It motivates me a lot that he is the captain of the ship. It's like Randy says, it has not been a consequence since he won all the championships in Culiacán, and had the opportunities to play Culiacán will be difficult for me.

And so to have him here in this tournament, so one of the reasons that actually I'm here, I learned from them. There's a great staff, a pitching staff, it's God's blessing to be working with them.