WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC: QUARTERFINALS 2 - PUERTO RICO VS MEXICO

March 17, 2023

Yadier Molina

LoanDepot Park

Team Puerto Rico

Postgame Press Conference

Mexico - 5, Puerto Rico - 4

THE MODERATOR: Questions for Yadier?

Q. A hard elimination. A great tournament. What are your thoughts about the way it came? Were you able to talk to the players? What did you tell them and how did you see Alex Díaz today?

YADIER MOLINA: What can I say, it was an intense game. We started very good in the offense. I believe that both teams played very well. One of these games that either team could win.

Personally, I would like to say that I'm very happy with the group of players that we have. Professional players, superstars, they are and they went all out on the field. I'm very excited about that because anyone could come here and give up, but they're beasts. Even when they have some money, they decided to defend their country, to represent their country. I'm very happy with their performance.

Q. The team scored four runs in the first inning and then they were not able to score more. Is that the reason for the loss?

YADIER MOLINA: Yes, I think that Mexico did a great pitching. We have to recognize their job. Later in the game they were able to score more runs. It was a good game for both, but better for them. They were able to score more runs.

Q. First, an opportunity that you have to manage internationally and this is a major platform. What have you learned? What's your experience?

YADIER MOLINA: I learned a lot, a lot of emotions, good baseball, great teams. The best teams of the world are here. With the performance we had, of course that was not the result we wanted, but like I said before, I'm very proud of the guys, the way they played and the way they represented Puerto Rico. I'm very proud.

Q. In the 9th inning you put Vargas as a pinch runner. You insisted with the bunt, a right-hander versus a left-hander. Did you regret it?

YADIER MOLINA: No, that was the play. I wanted to put the play on the second base. Lindor was after him and we couldn't execute that play. But that's baseball. That's baseball.

Q. After losing the advantage, the team was threatening in the last couple of innings. I believe in the 8th inning you had this play with a hit of Emmanuel and the play of Randy in the left field. Was it hard?

YADIER MOLINA: Very hard. Very hard. Of course we know what kind of player Randy is. He's a great player. He killed us. We couldn't score. But they played very well. We started very strong, but then the Mexican pitching made some adjustments and kept us in zeros.

Q. Puerto Rico was paralyzed in the last week. Right now you are live for Puerto Rico. Everywhere on the island they are seeing you, and despite of the victory, what can you tell the Puerto Rican people that was connected with you during the week?

YADIER MOLINA: I am very happy with the support we received. We had many, many Puerto Rican fans here in the ballpark and it was beautiful. I saw a piece of news that we haven't had any murders in the last four or five days, so the guys are happy with our performance. Thank you for the praying, thank you for the blessings for our brother Sugar. And we tried, we did our best, but that's baseball.

Q. Congrats for the show both teams gave. We that love baseball loved this game intensely. What can you highlight of the tournament, of Puerto Rican, and if you have something to regret?

YADIER MOLINA: Something to regret? Nothing. Nothing. I've learned a lot. We fought from day one and even before day one. The boys were focused on representing us and I learned a lot. It was a beautiful experience for me personally, and the guys also gained a lot of experience.

Q. It was a great tournament, despite the negative result. In your own career, you took this important challenge as a manager of the national team. If you had the opportunity to manage again Puerto Rico in the next WBC, would you do that and what is coming in your career?

YADIER MOLINA: I'll be there for Puerto Rico always. I love this kind of tournament because we learned a lot.

What is next for me? Well, I'm going to spend my time with the family. Greetings to Los Guapos on the island. I will continue teaching the young guys in Puerto Rico the best possible way. And I want to have some free time to continue watching baseball because the season is starting, and just spending time with my family basically.

Q. You played for team Puerto Rico, now the manager. I saw you pacing in the dugout throughout the game. How difficult is it for you to not want to jump in there yourself and play and the difference between being a player and now being a manager for team Puerto Rico?

YADIER MOLINA: Yeah, I mean, it's tough to be on that one and not be on the field. But it was fun. Like I tell you many times, it was fun just to be in the dugout watching Team Puerto Rico go about it and play hard the way they did. Yeah, it was difficult, but also it was fun.

THE MODERATOR: Thanks for everything. Appreciate it.

YADIER MOLINA: Thank you, guys.