WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC: QUARTERFINALS - ITALY VS JAPAN

March 16, 2023

Lars Nootbaar

Tokyo Dome

Team Japan

Pregame Press Conference

Q. Finally the knock-down tournament, quarterfinal, is coming up. What's in your mind right now? Are you excited?

LARS NOOTBAAR: Super excited. You know, this is win-or-go-home, so everything is on the line today. This is kind of what we worked for, one game away from going to Miami, going to the semis.

Obviously every game is important but obviously today is the most important game that we've played so far. I'm excited, a little nervous, ready for the team to go out and play their game.

Q. You played against Italy. Do you have a lot of scouting report, and also what kind of impression do you have for Team Italy?

LARS NOOTBAAR: Yeah, I've got a lot of respect for Team Italy. Obviously managed by Mike Piazza who is a legend. But they have got a roster filled with Big Leaguers, too, and guys I'm familiar with. One of my teammates is Andre Pallante, a great pitcher for them. We have a lot of respect for their team. I know that they can hit and they can pitch, so they are here for a reason. But hopefully today we come out victorious.

Q. Let's talk about your role. You are the leadoff guy for Team Japan. What's in your mind what you have an at-bat?

LARS NOOTBAAR: Get a good pitch to hit. Be patient today, I think. We're going to see a lot of arms, so I want to make sure I get a good pitch to hit and I'm not too anxious or anything like that.

But kind of sticking with the approach that we've had as a team. I think we've done well offensively, so don't want to deviate or change too much from that. I think we've done a good job up to this point and want to keep it going.

Q. Of course the battle is continuing, but this is the last game in Japan in front of a huge audience. How do you feel about it?

LARS NOOTBAAR: Yeah, I've been very thankful for the fans and environment we've played in so far. Baseball in Japan is special and it's been a passionate group.

So I'm very thankful for every opportunity that I've had so far. Like I said before, hopefully we win today, we go to Miami and play, and I know that atmosphere in Miami is going to be crazy. But hopefully we can pack the stands a little bit with some of the Japanese fans.

But like I said, we've got to win today before anything. We want to leave the Tokyo Dome on the right note with a win.

Q. A while ago, you mentioned that you were super excited. How do you manage yourself, having the feelings of excitement, yet you seem very calm. How do you manage yourself, especially when you have an at-bat?

LARS NOOTBAAR: I think it just takes time and represents. Obviously in the big leagues, there's big situations like that, playoff baseball stuff. So that kind of stuff, making sure that you're comfortable in those situations.

But it's something that I've dreamed of since I was a little kid, you know, playing in front of these big crowds, passionate crowds and in important games. So it's something that I've always wanted to do and like to do. That's kind of why I -- you play the game as a kid to be in those kind of moments. To be able to calm yourself down is an important thing, but I love those kind of situations.

Q. I don't know if you've heard about you apparently a ramen shop has named a new meal called "Nootbaar Noodles," and apparently the pepper grinder sales are skyrocketing in Japan. What are thoughts on the embracing that's been going on since you've been here?

LARS NOOTBAAR: Haven't heard about the Nootbaar Noodles. That's pretty cool. I heard about the pepper grinder; the sales have gone up since the team has been doing that. We actually had some of the young guys go buy a pepper grinder, so we'll probably have one in the dugout today; spoiler. But yeah, it's been really cool to see the fans and the team kind of enjoy that. That's kind of the idea behind it.

Obviously didn't know it was going to be this big but just getting something that the team could get behind after hits and have a little camaraderie in the dugout, especially for me, I don't speak the language that they speak. So to kind of bridge that gap again us, for me and the fans and the team, it's been huge, so super thankful, obviously, for them embracing me.

Q. I think you've been in the playoffs and the Wild Card Game, but what would you consider the biggest game you've ever played in your career, and how did the way you felt before that game compare to what you're feeling right now before this game?

LARS NOOTBAAR: Yeah, I remember there was a noon (ph) league fifth grade baseball tournament we played against our rivals in elementary school. That was a pretty big game. I remember being nervous going over there for that one.

But no obviously last year playing against the Phillies was big and today playing here in the Tokyo Dome is going to be big. When I was in fifth grade that was the most important game of my life. Obviously last year playing in Philly was the most important game of my life; the football game in high school that was the most important game of my life.

Any game that I'm playing today is the most important game of my life. So all the nerves are kind of the same. As weird as it is, the feeling that I had in fifth grade is the same as it is now. So embracing the moment, cherishing the moment, and being thankful that I get to play the game and be in those kind of situations.