AL WILD CARD SERIES: BLUE JAYS VS TWINS

October 3, 2023

Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Target Field

Toronto Blue Jays

Pregame Press Conference

Q. Want to know how the knee is feeling. You've had a couple of days to rest up.

VLADIMIR GUERRERO JR: Feels great. It feels a lot better, thanks to God. And obviously at this point it doesn't matter how you feel, you've got to give all you've got.

Q. What do you remember about the emotions you felt at the end of the Wild Card series last year and how you've used those emotions to help motivate you going into this season?

VLADIMIR GUERRERO JR: Definitely. I mean, last year, the way we ended up, it leaves a mark. Very emotional. But you learn from that. You learn from that and you use that for this playoff and showing you that it doesn't matter what the score is, you've got to play hard to the end of the game, make sure you finish strong to the end of the game.

Q. Now that you've had the a little bit of time to look at this matchup with the Twins, what do you think they pose as a challenge, and what do you like about how your team matches up with Minnesota?

VLADIMIR GUERRERO JR: I don't really see any advantages after a couple of days, knowing that we're facing the Twins. I mean, I always say that the team that wins their division, it's a great team, regardless of the division. It's a big league team, good team. So, we've got to go out there and just play hard and we'll see what happens.

Q. What do you think the atmosphere is going to be like tonight? And how do you think your team will handle being the road team this series?

VLADIMIR GUERRERO JR: I think for us it doesn't matter. It doesn't matter whether we play at home or on the road. The good thing, there's a lot of veterans in this club that have been through that, and they know how to deal with the situations, especially when you're on the road. So I think we're going to be fine.

Q. (Off microphone) the way it ended for you guys in the playoffs last year ...

VLADIMIR GUERRERO JR: I mean, not just last year. Going back to 2020, when we lost to Tampa, I think it accumulates. And if you think about that, and now when you're in the playoff again, you remember that. Of course you don't want that to happen again.

Q. How do you feel mentally and physically after this season? And what do you think Toronto needs to do to win the series?

VLADIMIR GUERRERO JR: Myself, I feel good mentally and physically. As a team, I think we're feeling great right now. One of the things, I will say both teams, the Twins also, we both go out there and we work very hard. We play hard to the end. And somebody's got to win in the end. But we're feeling really good overall.

Q. Over the past couple of weeks, how have you felt with your approach? What have you liked about your approach, your swing? How do you feel that carries forward into the playoffs and sets you up?

VLADIMIR GUERRERO JR: To be honest with you, I don't think much about the approach or whatever happens in the regular season. I think playoffs are a different whole game. I'm just looking for a good pitch to hit. If I don't get it, take my walks and just trust my teammates.

Q. How do you think the lineup changed moving Bo to 4 and Belt to 2? How has that impacted you if at all?

VLADIMIR GUERRERO JR: Personally it won't affect me, who is hitting behind me. But whoever is hitting behind me, I'm trusting that guy and our manager or front office. I think that Bo's the right guy for whatever reason they think, then it's fine with me. Regardless, I trust whoever is hitting behind me.

Q. Now that you have some experience in the playoffs from 2020 and 2022, has that impacted your preparation at all as you prepare for this series with the Twins?

VLADIMIR GUERRERO JR: Definitely, definitely changed a lot. Back from in 2020 and last year, I can tell you that I feel like kind of very anxious myself. And that experience, like this year, whoever sees me in the clubhouse right now they think I'm not even playing. There's no playoff. I'm feeling good right now. So, yes, but going back to 2022, yeah, very anxious. Now I'm feeling great.

Q. Jose Bautista, one of the better clutch performers in franchise history, he recently talked about in the big moment, trying to do less and really slowing the game down. These are obviously big moments from here on out. Have you considered or thought of ways to maybe slow it down or try and do less, because a lot of eyes will be on you?

VLADIMIR GUERRERO JR: I always say this is not the NBA when one player can score 80 points. It's nine players out there. Like I said before, I gotta stay calm. I gotta try and do my job the best possible. But, again, trusting my teammates. If I can trust my teammates, if I do that, I think we're all going to be fine.

Q. What has impressed you the most about the season Jose Berrios has put together, especially after the way things went for him last year? And how excited are you for him to get the start against his old team?

VLADIMIR GUERRERO JR: Since Spring Training. Once I saw him in Spring Training, the way he shows up, he was very focused. His work ethic, I knew then that he was going to have a great year.

And about starting the second game, he deserves that. He deserves that. Like you mentioned, him having a great year like that, why not?

Q. Basically after playing all the good teams in the American East Division, you think that we're going to come here with a better rhythm being that the Twins haven't won a postgame since 2004?

VLADIMIR GUERRERO JR: Like I said, this playoffs, for me, this is not a small enemy here. This team has players that have been there, won the World Series, won the seventh games in the World Series and won it all. So we're going to have to adapt to that.

Like I said, they're a great team and it's not an advantage for us at all, and we just gotta play our game and just be ready.