WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC: POOL B - CHINA VS AUSTRALIA

March 11, 2023

Dean Treanor

Tokyo Dome

Team China

Pregame Press Conference

Q. This is your third game you're about to play. What's in your mind right now?

DEAN TREANOR: Well, it's pretty obvious it's a must-win today. That's how we're going into this. But you know, by letting that game get away yesterday, it put us into a must-win situation today.

I've looked at the standings of the tournament for this round, and I think we're still, obviously we are still in this. Some things have to take place with had some other teams but we just need to win this game and we need to win the Korea game, also.

Q. I know there's no moral victories in this but yesterday you talked about how your team just keeps showing so much fight, both against Japan and against the Czech Republic. That game yesterday was pretty tough. How do you keep the heads up in the room?

DEAN TREANOR: It's a real good question. I mean, I still feel that yesterday's loss, like I said yesterday, it was as tough as any loss that I've ever been around. But the fight in the team, we're going to come back and we're going to fight today. I expect nothing less, and you know, we talked a little bit after the game yesterday, but after a game like that, there's not much you can say other than we're still in this. As long as we're alive, we're going to keep fighting.

But I just can't say enough about the way this team has fought and has made, and I know that now, hearing and reading some things in the media, that I think people are starting to see and understand what's inside these guys, and there's a lot of heart. You know, I know those are clichés but this team has got heart. I expect them to come out today and I'm not sure we can play much harder than we have been playing but they are going to try to raise the level of the game today.

Q. Yesterday you talked a little bit C pitched at the end of the game and you had to stretch him a little bit. I was wondering, what's the status of the bullpen and how important were those middle innings from Alan Carter when he came in and shut down the Czech Republic?

DEAN TREANOR: I mean, they were huge. Can't say enough about that, how important that was. It kept us in the game, and then we went ahead. He was the -- he was really the key to the game at that point to give us a chance to get back in it. You know, he threw the ball very, very well, very well. You know, he had pitched in some exhibition games for us, and his velocity ticked up yesterday. His stuff ticked up.

He threw the ball really well, and you know, unfortunately our plan in yesterday's game was to have him later in the game but I had talked to him and I said, you know, that if this thing gets to a high-leverage situation, I'm going to have to bring you in earlier. So he really stepped up for us, and then we went and got him because of the pitch count and hopefully with two days off, he'll be ready for Korea.

But just a great job and really showed why the Angels signed him, and he's got a bright future ahead of him.

Q. (Did you feel the earthquake)?

DEAN TREANOR: Yes, we did, it shook the rooms, shook my bed. I think it was letting everybody know that Team China was awake and going to get after it today.