NL DIVISION SERIES: PHILLIES VS BRAVES

October 11, 2023

Brandon Marsh

Citizens Bank Park

Philadelphia Phillies

Pregame 3 Press Conference

Q. Brandon, what is it like for you guys when you're trying to figure out for the Braves who's going to start Game 3? Like how do you prepare, and when you find out, how much work now goes into getting ready for that pitcher?

BRANDON MARSH: Yeah. We just kind of keep the routine the same. Just be stubborn to it. We knew they had a couple of options to go with, and they went with Elder. So that's who we're game planning for now. And yeah, it's going to be a fun one tonight.

Q. Brandon, obviously tough way to end the game the other night. Just wondering kind of the mood, the vibe from your perspective, how it is coming in today after the off day yesterday?

BRANDON MARSH: We're back in the Bank. So we're pretty happy. Splitting the series in Atlanta, it was big to get one in Atlanta. So we know how good they play there.

And the second one got away from us a little bit, but we're blessed with more opportunities here at home in front of the best crowd. So like I said, we're just really excited. The vibes are up.

Q. Brandon, Nick and other guys have talked a lot about the resiliency of this group. Where do you think that comes from, especially in October?

BRANDON MARSH: I think it's from the top to the bottom. We have a really solid group of veteran guys that lead this club to battle every night. And guys like myself, Stott, Bohmer, we feed off of them, and they set the tone for us.

Q. Brandon, I'm wondering what the clubhouse reaction to some of the comments made Arcia after the game were?

BRANDON MARSH: We don't really pay that too much mind. We know it's just good banter. It's two just NL east teams going at it. So we're just ready to get out there tonight.

Q. You mention Atlanta, how they play there, how you guys play here. Do you think this rivalry has gone up a notch or two the last couple of years for obvious reasons, all these huge games?

BRANDON MARSH: Yeah, I would say so. It is just two really good teams. That is where you get rivalries from, especially in the same division. So we love it. I'm sure they love it. And this is why we play the game, for a series like this one.

Q. Brandon, Johan on a couple of occasions has mentioned how much he felt welcomed right away here, just coming up a couple months ago. As a guy who has been here a year plus, where does that come from in terms of the way you guys bring people in and kind of welcome them and assimilate them and make them feel at home?

BRANDON MARSH: Yeah. Like I said earlier, I think it all starts with our veterans, our guys that's came and done and did everything.

I can relate, too. When I got here last August, from day one, I felt like I was a part of this family, and that's just a credit to the locker room and the staff. So, yeah, I'm glad we made Rojas feel the same way they made me feel.

Q. Brandon, teams have taken a lot of different approaches from managers, some young, some old, some experienced, some not. Why do you think Rob has clicked so well with you guys, especially guys waited a long time for the opportunity to do this?

BRANDON MARSH: Yeah, I think he's just made for Philly. He's incredible, and there's no other guy I'd want to go to war with, no other guy I'd want to lead us into battle.

Yeah, Topper is the best. He treats us great. He knows what's right and what's wrong, and he goes with his gut. And I'll always respect that. I just think he fits in really well to Philly, and he pours really well into the guys.

Q. Does that translate to kind of playing harder for a guy or better for a guy?

BRANDON MARSH: Most definitely. You see how bad he wants it. Just makes us want it just as bad. Yeah, Topper is the man.

Q. You have one of the better batting averages against Bryce. So what have you seen from him that you seem to like, and what do you look forward to facing him tonight?

BRANDON MARSH: He's a guy that has good command and none of his stuff is straight. So he kind of puts it where he wants it. And he mixes up well.

He had a great year, and the reason why he's starting tonight for them. I just try to keep it simple, put him in a spot where I feel like I want him and just go from there.

Q. Brandon, to elaborate a little bit more on what you were talking about Rob and why he works so well as the skipper of this team, you said he's made for Philly, he's built for Philly, but what exactly do you mean by that? What makes Rob Thomson built for Philly?

BRANDON MARSH: How bad he wants it. You can just see it in him every day, and it bleeds into his players. Just the grittiness about him, you know? The decisions he makes, the tough decisions he makes. And how calm he is through the whole process. It's pretty impressive. So I think he fits in really well to this city, and it shows.