WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC: QUARTERFINALS - ITALY VS JAPAN

March 14, 2023

Yu Darvish

Tokyo Dome

Team Japan

Workout Day Press Conference

Q. Moving toward into the quarterfinal, tell us about the atmosphere of Team Japan and as well as tell us about your condition?

YU DARVISH: Yes, me personally, I threw a bullpen, I had a good one. My condition is going up. It's a good day today. Other players, I believe that they have the day off yesterday and it's a good refresh time for them, I believe.

Q. In the quarterfinals, you played against Italy. Did you have any idea who is coming or who you're playing against, or did you have any specific information, let us know, please the.

YU DARVISH: Yes, personally, me searching my by receive, but tonight we have a team meeting, so I will start watching deeply then.

Q. As of now, what's the impression for Team Italy? Do you think is there a strength point?

YU DARVISH: First of all, most of the lineups are very good condition and they have a good team.

Q. Day before yesterday, you just mentioned to us that Team Japan is one group that never dies and is a play hard group. How do you evaluate Team Japan?

YU DARVISH: Yes, there's a bunch of good, solid, balanced players, for both pitchers and hitters. And in the clubhouse, there is always many players having a lot of good conversation with me, so it's huge.

Q. A couple days ago, you took some pitchers and took them for ramen the other day. What's behind that story?

YU DARVISH: Well, when we stay in the U.S., it difficult for us to find real, solid Japanese ramen. I don't know when exactly is going to be the next time, and if I go, I like to go to my friend's place. But during that time, my friend had a day off but my friend opened it, so I asked some of the players if they wanted to go with me, that's it.

Q. Did you enjoy the ramen? And even during the off-day, you had a great conversation and communicate on such an important thing; do you how do you feel?

YU DARVISH: Well, being together, spending relaxed time is such a good thing. Yeah, probably going to a ramen place together is one of the memorable moments, so it's a joy.

Q. Starting from the quarterfinal, it's an elimination game. What's in your mind right now?

YU DARVISH: Yes, we cannot control the result, but what we can control is the process. So each individual player, they have their own unique experience, so in order succeed in the actual games, we have to prepare well, that's the key.

Q. During spring training at Miyazaki, how do you see the media coming all of Samurai Japan, everybody is watching you nationwide and the media covered every single piece. How do you feel?

YU DARVISH: Of course, being watched and getting attention, it's such an honor. Representing Japan, it's such a happy thing.

Q. This is the fifth annual tournament with such huge attention, how do you feel?

YU DARVISH: It's such an honor.

Q. The other day in the press conference, you mentioned pitching in front of the packed Tokyo Dome might be the last opportunity for you or not. You've got a long contract with the Major League Baseball organization. What is the meaning you explained the other day that this might be the last opportunity for you? Can you explain that, please?

YU DARVISH: Yes, including my age, I'm not for sure if I could throw harder in three or four years. Making the national team roster, yes, I think this must be the last opportunity for me. That's what I meant.

Q. Quarterfinals, semifinals, final. You have three games to go. What's the key point for each three games, as of your view?

YU DARVISH: I am not for sure completely. All I can say is be prepared well. Having a good -- well, fudge about the key situation, key plays, yeah, it's not the proper way to proceed, so be prepared well. That's my answer.

Q. You've mentioned that nutrition is an important thing to you. I'm surprised that you had ramen the other day at midnight. Is there any specific method you use?

YU DARVISH: Yes, during the young age, yes, like when I was -- like ten years ago, yes. But I have minimum things to do -- yes, we have ramen, and we also have noodles or pasta. It's always welcome to have a cheat meal, because I'm not eating ramen consecutively. It's not a big deal.

Q. During this camp in Miyazaki, you had a lot of conversations with teammates. And throughout teammates comment -- it's changed, I think during your stay in the States, sending a message through the media, is there anything that you learned from your experience?

YU DARVISH: What I learned is sending my message, is not always right. The way people think, the way Japanese think, the way Americans think, the trend, the culture, but if you send as many messages, as much as you can, yes, we could get a better understanding than throughout that experience.

Yeah, I feel my experience helped me being a better person.

Q. At Miyazaki, you had a huge dinner with the pitchers. After that, you invited not the pitchers but the hitters, that group, as well. What's the point?

YU DARVISH: Yes, I am always willing to join the field players dinners, and I'm the elder player, so I'm not the person to ask, hey, players, I want to join. When I had a conversation with Yamakawasan, Yamakawasan was asking me, Nakamurasan these things, they are asking, hey, Darvishsan, would you like to join the players' meeting, the players' dinner, why don't you come? Thus that's the whole story. I didn't ask but they invited me.