WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC: QUARTERFINALS 2 - USA VS VENEZUELA

March 17, 2023

Lance Lynn

LoanDepot Park

Team USA

Workout Day Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Questions for Team USA.

Q. Lance, congratulations. How much have you been looking forward to seeing all the spectacle of Miami? I know that things in Arizona have been very cool too, but seeing everything going on in Miami, about this atmosphere, and getting to face a team like Venezuela?

LANCE LYNN: It's exciting. Things like this is the reason you play the game. So when we get opportunities like this, you got to enjoy them, relish 'em, when you see the fans are enjoying it and that's what this is all about. So fans are rooting for their countries. They're having a good time and we enjoy competing, so it's going to be fun.

Q. When did you get word that you were going to be starting this game? Was this something that Mark had charted well before this point?

LANCE LYNN: I found out yesterday for sure. The last game I threw a bullpen to prepare for it, if it was a possibility. I don't know if it was charted out this way. I think it was one of things, we'll see how the first round plays out and then kind of go from there, and it worked out with normal routine going tomorrow.

Q. What's the challenge of facing a lineup like this one where they have All Stars basically from 1 to 9?

LANCE LYNN: Yeah, you got to make pitches and be careful. I got to know every one of them and they know me. So it's going to be one of things, you versus me, here we go and see who comes out on top. You got to execute, you got to make good pitches, and don't make mistakes really because they will hurt you.

Q. Do you feel guys feel at all at a disadvantage of coming from a different ballpark now having to adjust to this ballpark while the other team has been here for now over a week?

LANCE LYNN: I mean, the only disadvantage is they have been here. We've all played in this ballpark. We know what it's about. The atmosphere is going to be fun. I think that's going to be the most enjoyable part. But it's just like any other season -- or when during the season, you fly in and play the next day. So it's something you get used to.

Q. Playing in the AL Central clearly you have a lot of history with Salvador, Miggy. How would you describe that history and who has gotten the better of it?

LANCE LYNN: I think if you would ask them we both got each other one way or the other. That's the beauty of this. I've played against 'em for a long time, and they're both really good players. You enjoy competing against 'em. But they have gotten me and I've gotten them, so it will be fun.

Q. You ramped up earlier this week than you typically would. How did you come out of that start and how do you feel going into tomorrow?

LANCE LYNN: Everything feels good. I've been on five days since the start of Spring Training to prepare for this. Talking with the White Sox and going over everything this winter, I'm in a good spot. So everybody's comfortable, I feel good, so I'm going to go see what I got tomorrow night.

Q. Since the injury to Edwin Díaz, there's been a bit of vitriol out there about the professional players, obviously Major League players, in the WBC. Where is your stance on injuries and maybe the importance, like, why is it important to have a WBC and for you particularly to participate in it?

LANCE LYNN: Yeah, unfortunately, you don't want to see that. Edwin's an amazing player and it's a big loss for the Mets. But when you look at what this is all about and all that, I don't think he would tell you that he regrets being a part of this. We like to compete, we like to compete for our countries, people that we care about and things like that.

You never want to get hurt. People get hurt in Spring Training games every day right now, and no one says we shouldn't have Spring Training. So that's the unfortunate part of the game, people will get hurt, but the beauty of the game is to see the fans, see the passion that players have this time of year, especially in these events. That's what the game -- that's why you play the game.

So telling guys not to play the game they love for the country they love is tough because you can get hurt walking down the street, to be honest. So it's unfortunate, but I think that you see the bigger picture of this, people playing for their countries and having a great time. Sometimes things happen, unfortunately.

Q. So during your last start after you came out with that very good first inning, you kind of let the U.S. dugout know that you had some expectations. How do you think your particular passion, your intensity, your demeanor is favorable to you in a situation like this?

LANCE LYNN: Like I said, the environment that we're in, it's going to bring that out anyway, and that's something that I play with every time I take the mound, no matter where I'm at.

So when you come off the mound, you try to make sure everybody knows you're there for one thing and that's to win the game. And that's who I've been my whole career. On these stages it might show up a little bit, I guess, quicker than a normal game. A normal game you kind of build into it and get the flow of the game. But you don't know how long you're going to be in there right now, and so you got to go enjoy it and have as much fun as you can and compete.

Q. You've pitched in big games before. Where does this rank?

LANCE LYNN: I'll let you know after, you know? You know what it means and you're excited for it. But, yeah, I've been on some good stages and I've had that opportunity, and so hopefully it gets you prepared for it. But I don't think there's anything that's going to -- there's going to be a different -- it's going to be a different atmosphere than a World Series game or things like that, just because of where we're at, to be honest with you.

Q. When you think of a lineup, the Venezuela lineup, and you look at it up and down, what do you think of a lineup that has Salvador Perez, Miguel Cabrera, Anthony Santander, just to mention a few, José Altuve, basically an all-star lineup, just like the Team USA does too?

LANCE LYNN: Yeah, when you watch our team play you're like, man, I wouldn't want to go through that. Then you look at these guys and they're the same. You're like, okay, that's not going to be fun. You know what, it's not going to be fun 1 through 9, so don't even get -- you get ready to get after it. That's all you can do. You start worrying about, hey, this guy, this guy, this guy, it's like, well you got to worry about all nine, no matter what. So you might as well go in there and just compete and go make pitches and see who comes out on top at the end.

THE MODERATOR: All right. Thank you.