93RD MLB ALL-STAR GAME

July 11, 2023

Rob Thomson

T-Mobile Park

National League

Press Conference

National League - 3, American League - 2

THE MODERATOR: Who has got the first question for Rob?

Q. On an All-Star team filled with Betts, Freddie, those guys, what do you make of Elias Díaz to hit the game-winning homer in his first ever All-Star Game?

ROB THOMSON: It's fantastic. It really is. When I talked to -- I talked to all the managers about what the availability was of all their players, what they expected, and I talked to Bud Black about Elias and he said, this is one of the finest people you'll ever meet. He's a complete team player. Do anything you want. If he doesn't play, that's fine. If he does play, that would be great. He's just happy to be there.

So for this to happen -- and he was exactly right. As soon as he walked in the clubhouse and I met him, he said, "I'll do anything you want. If I play, I play. If I don't, I don't. I'm just so happy to be here."

So for him to do that, it's fantastic.

Q. How much did the players kind of talk around you about how long it had been since the NL had gotten a win and how important was this for them just to snap that streak?

ROB THOMSON: Yeah, I don't think they really pay too much attention to that anymore. I think if you're playing in a game, you want to win. But I don't think there was much significance to that at all.

Q. Go through what your feeling in the 9th with your guy out there, and he walks two guys and facing one of the best hitters in baseball to try and get this out.

ROB THOMSON: Yeah, I was more worried about the pitch count than anything, to make sure he was available for Friday, and he will be. But that was going to be his last hitter, no matter what.

But I'm happy that he got the save. That's his first save ever in an All-Star Game. So I'm happy for Craig for that.

Q. What have you seen across the field of Elias the last few years? He's went from struggling to where Pittsburgh cut him, had defensive problems the first year in Colorado, to this year, a solid year, he had a big hit against you guys in April?

ROB THOMSON: Yeah, he's really improved in every phase of his game. His defense has really improved, his throwing and now his hitting and hitting for power obviously. So, yeah, they're doing a nice job with him and he's done a lot of work, obviously.

Q. After Díaz hit the pinch-hit go-ahead two-run home run in the 8th, was there any consideration to possibly leave him in the game to catch and lift Will Smith?

ROB THOMSON: Because then we'd lose our DH and we were running out of players at that point. I was trying to get everybody in the game. So we got Alonso in for Olson, and then Díaz in for the DH spot. So we would have lost the DH and I would have had to have a pitcher go up and stand there, so it wasn't...

Q. What are your thoughts on the crowd tonight and how does it compare to other All-Star Games you've participated in?

ROB THOMSON: Well, the last All-Star Game I participated in was 2010, so I don't really remember too much about it. But it was a great crowd. It really was. It was really exciting when Rodríguez got in the game, came to the plate, you know, the drama in the 9th inning, you know, with the walk and then him coming to the plate. It was really, really -- I thought they were great. I really did.

Seattle's a beautiful city and MLB and the city of Seattle just did a fantastic job for this.

THE MODERATOR: Rob, thank you. Really appreciate everything.

ROB THOMSON: Thank you.