WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC: POOL C - COLOMBIA VS MEXICO

March 10, 2023

Jolbert Cabrera

Oscar Mercado

Nabil Crismatt

Gio Urshela

Chase Field

Team Colombia

Workout Day Press Conference

Q. The Colombians, how do they feel about the growth of their game throughout the years.

JOLBERT CABRERA: We're just going to go out there and let our guys showcase their abilities and showcase what they're willing to do for the national team, and also to have fun, to enjoy the moment and bask in it because it doesn't come around often. And we'll show what we're capable of, and we're not afraid of anybody or anything right now.

Q. Obviously you're missing Jose Quintana on the team. How confident are you to send Nabil tomorrow, and what do you think of the rest of the team?

JOLBERT CABRERA: It's a great loss, and I said it before. The kind of player Quintana is different, and you're going to miss that on the mound. But his presence in the clubhouse is what I really miss, having him around the other guys. He's our leader in there.

And Nabil, I have the same confidence in him that I have with Jose. They're both very capable guys. Nabil showcases himself as a great swing man for the Padres. He pitched great for the national team last time in 2017 Classic. He has starred in the Dominican winter ball league as a starter.

So the confidence is very high. And the group of guys that we have, especially coming from the bullpen, you guys saw in the last couple of days, they're going to attack the zone and they're going to be aggressive and they're going to throw good stuff. That's all we can ask of them.

Q. Has anyone stepped up to take that leadership role that Quintana had held?

JOLBERT CABRERA: Definitely Nabil has. He spoke to the pitching staff today. He was very vocal about telling them to believe -- that they need to believe in themselves and their stuff to be successful in this kind of tournament.

I love what I'm seeing, the growth of this young group from 2016 when we first went to Panama, when we qualified, to where we are now, nine years later, is unbelievable.

Q. Were you guys anticipating that Mexico would throw Urias at you tomorrow? How did you map out what the scenarios would be?

JOLBERT CABRERA: Definitely just because I know Walker pitched yesterday. So, by the pitch count he won't be able to pitch against us. They're definitely going with Urias.

(Indiscernible) have great relationships with the Mexican staff. And they know who we're throwing. We don't play any hiding games here. It's the elephant in the room. Everybody knows it's Urias. You've got to win the first game. You're going to try to win the first game. That's your best guy, you're going to go with him.

Q. Could you tell me your experience playing in Japan and what did you learn?

JOLBERT CABRERA: Well, the discipline of the Japanese player is paramount. You can't even put it -- it's unbelievable. I was so fortunate that I played for Sadaharu Oh, who is a living legend in Japan. I played for him two years. I learned a lot. He's a very smart man.

But just what shocked me when I first got there is how much the people of Japan love baseball. They really embrace it and I really love that. The experience was unbelievable.

Q. You have been in different (indiscernible). You've been making good papers for the Padres. How are you going to do with opening this first?

NABIL CRISMATT: I think it's something very important. When I started my career, the team gave me the opportunity to prepare me. I think that something big is going to happen, something big for us, the opportunity -- I'm trying to start with the right foot.

Q. You are a pitcher that has had a lot of experience in baseball in Mexico. How do you analyze the Colombian rival?

NABIL CRISMATT: We have a little names, but there's no small rivals. It's a team that has a lot of heart and we want to come forward. We're going to give a lot of people to talk about.

It's not an exception. I think we have a lot of talent. And we're going to try to do our best to go to the second round.

Q. What's the best that Colombia has?

NABIL CRISMATT: I believe the talent and the heart and the love they have for the game is something big, especially for a short tournament.

Q. In this moment, what would you do to strengthen the Colombia team? If you weren't the pitcher what would you tell?

NABIL CRISMATT: How we spoke today, we had a small reunion with the teammates, with the pitchers, I think that a lot of us have the advantage that the hitters from the other team have never seen our pitchers. I think that's very important.

And we should just -- the important thing is to attack them, send the message and forget who is at-bat because we are going to face a lot of people who have a lot of talent in the game. But we have to execute and be ready at box. Yes there will be errors but we've prepared ourselves to overcome this.

Q. You had mentioned your past, through Mexico. You were under Benji Gil. How does this affect tomorrow?

NABIL CRISMATT: I think I like that they know me because then the game turns out fun. I will try to do my best the four innings that I have. After the game we will talk about the result. But hopefully it will be positive.

Q. In general, it's not the first time you put on the colors of Colombia, but what does it mean to you to represent the country once again?

OSCAR MERCADO: It's awesome just being able to be out here with the guys and competing with them and just being able to represent our country. It's an honor and something that we've been looking forward to since the last time.

I think it's going to be an amazing time in front of a bunch of people and on the world stage. We're excited and looking forward to it.

Q. In 2017 Colombia left a good fingerprint in Miami. After COVID there's a lot of things that happened. You have the opportunity to be a protagonist. What would be the difference of Colombia in this Classic with baseball players like you that have experience in this tournament?

OSCAR MERCADO: The last time a lot of people knew about the sport in Colombia. And now, after what was done in that Classic five, six years ago, now the expectations have changed. Everybody knows that we can compete with anybody. I'm talking about baseball and the country of Colombia; it's in a high level now. So our goal is to compete and show that we deserve to be here.

Q. Will we see each other in Miami?

OSCAR MERCADO: With God's favor, yes. But let's focus in each game.

Q. What message do you send to all of Colombia so that the interest grows in baseball that sometimes it doesn't have that much interest, and sometimes they give deference to other sports? What would you tell them now?

OSCAR MERCADO: I will tell them to cheer for us and just try to show them that the sport has increased, has grown in the country. There's a lot of talent. And just a lot of attention, give respect in the country.

Obviously football, soccer is another sport over there but baseball is increasing.

Q. 2017, in Miami, we already know Giovanni (indiscernible) 2023, you were the great Giovanni (indiscernible) after you were with the New York Yankees. What do you bring to the Classic with all this experience and beautiful moves you've given to the country, like you said.

GIO URSHELA: A lot of experience, a lot of confidence. We've come here a lot more prepared since 2017. It was the first Classic that Colombia had had. And it helped us a lot to grow as baseball players. And it's helped us a lot to get that experience and we're better prepared now.

Q. How is it to face Mexico after winning twice against MLB teams? Since in 2017, with Colombia, we didn't do as well.

GIO URSHELA: Well, we have come prepared. Mexico, it's a rival that's very strong but we come prepared. We play well this last two games, preparation. I see the teammates very positive and confident that tomorrow is going to be a great day.

Q. What is the greatest fortitude that Colombia has?

GIO URSHELA: I see a combination of everything. And these days I see the combination of pitching and batting that we have, a lot of confidence in the pitchers.

We know that there's players, sadly they couldn't come for Colombia. But the ones that are here they have shown that they have that -- they want to help the team.

Q. Have you prepared intensely after the season, the break, not only for your team, for the Angels but for the Classic? Are you focused? Is the Classic in your head and your heart?

GIO URSHELA: Yes, since last time there's been a couple of years that I have been thinking about the Classic. But thank God it happened this year and all the team is very happy and coaches, everybody that is working with the team. We're very content and excited.

Q. How different is this experience for you compared to 2017?

GIO URSHELA: We're coming for this game, like --

Q. Yes, for the WBC.

GIO URSHELA: For this WBC, we have more experience. We've got a lot of young players that they are excited to play.

Really I'm very excited to play too. And just trying to do the best we can, trying to win.