NL DIVISION SERIES: PHILLIES VS BRAVES

October 9, 2023

Kirby Yates

Truist Park

Atlanta Braves

Pregame 2 Press Conference

Q. Kirby, maybe you expected it, but when you did get the official news that you made your first postseason roster, what were those emotions like?

KIRBY YATES: Honestly, a lot of nerves. You know, I kind of had a feeling that it would happen. I was hoping it would happen. I kind of had a little hiccup in September that might have cost me the spot. But overall, you know, they told me, and I was just excited, overall excited.

Q. When you look at your season as a whole, what has been the key to getting back to the person you thought you could be on the mound?

KIRBY YATES: Kind of a lot of patience and understanding that it's probably a process I had to go through, kind of wear it from the beginning for a little bit. Rough patches here and there and just kind of keep grinding through it.

You know, it has kind of been a battle every time I go to the mound, honestly, it felt like. But the only thing you can control is go out there and compete at the highest level, and that's what I keep trying to do.

Q. I kind of asked Michael this, but it's rare that you guys are in a situation where you feel like must-win game. Can you just give us an insight to the vibe in the clubhouse right now, what guys are saying, how they're talking about this one here tonight?

KIRBY YATES: Look, I think we're all in a good spot. Obviously it is probably a must-win game for us. You don't want to go to Philly 0-2. It's a tough place to play as it is.

I don't want to make it any harder on us, but we're all really confident in the clubhouse. You know, it's business as usual. Everybody's got a job to go out there and do, and we feel really good about our chances.

Q. Kirby, you've been around a long time. You've been to Philly a lot of years. How much tougher has that place gotten to play in the last couple of years now they've gotten really good again?

KIRBY YATES: Yeah. I don't think anybody's really seen that crowd like that. I wasn't on the team, but I was there. It was a little different. But truthfully, in my eyes, that's kind of the way you want every road crowd. It makes playoffs feel different, and that's something that makes it fun, something that makes it enjoyable.

I don't think it should be easy to go to somebody else's place and come away with a game. Same way the opposing team shouldn't come in here and have it easy. They should kind of feel the same way, and I think they do. Both teams have really good home crowds.

Q. When your name is called, what do you do to slow the heart rate, get in the moment, get in a zone when it's just different this time of year?

KIRBY YATES: Look, I think you're a little bit more locked in from the get-go. I think in the regular season, you kind of know when things are going to unfold for your name to be called.

So you're a little bit dialed in more from the get-go. But I think it's the same as the regular season. Before you get that call, the phone rings, your heart's pounding, you know, even in the regular season. The anticipation is probably the worst part.

So once they call down and say your name, I mean, once you kind of touch that mound and start throwing a little, it kind of just drops your heart rate as it is because you're just trying to focus on what you gotta do and get back to your routine as normal.

Q. Kirby, there's been a lot of discussion about the off days leading into this series, mostly on the hitting side. But from a standpoint of relievers and guys who work on an every day basis, do you feel like this might have been at least a little bit beneficial for your particular group in the bullpen.

KIRBY YATES: Look, I don't know. There's probably two ways to answer this question. I think, one, if you needed rest, yes. I think another thing too is you've also gone a week without being in the game. So that's kind of a different look at it, too.

But regardless, we played these games, the three scrimmages. We've all gotten into games. And I think once you kind of get between the lines, you kind of just throw everything out and you gotta go out there and battle and compete and just do your best to be locked in and go out there and execute your plan. I think that's the only thing you can control.

Q. Regarding the scrimmages, inner squads, you guys were keeping your arms active, obviously. But it's different, right? You're not throwing like you would in a regular game. You're not pitching inside on guys' hands, that kind of thing?

KIRBY YATES: Yeah. It's always different when you're facing your own guys. Listen, you don't want to get close and hit somebody on the hand. You know what I mean?

So obviously there's some differences in that when you're facing your own guys as opposed to somebody else. But I think it was good. It was beneficial the fact that we had some fans in the stands. They were playing music. You still had some type of adrenaline.

It wasn't just complete like going in, throwing live BPs where you don't really have the juices flowing. There were some juices flowing. So I do think it was very beneficial.

Q. Going off of Dave's question on Philly. I know you weren't on the team, but when you were there, is that momentum palpable when their offense started to get going in those games?

KIRBY YATES: This is my first one kind of being between the lines since yesterday. You kind of get a sense pretty early on that momentum is pretty big. So whenever you can kind of take advantage of that, you gotta take advantage.

And kind of on the flip side, whenever you can slow it down, you try and slow it down. Momentum does play a part in this, and I think that's why postseason baseball is different in a lot of ways, and that's a big way.