NL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES: DIAMONDBACKS VS PHILLIES

October 18, 2023

Ranger Suarez

Chase Field

Philadelphia Phillies

Workout Day Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: We'll get started with Ranger Suarez.

Q. You're a different pitcher than Aaron or Zach, but how much can you maybe pick up from watching how they approached Arizona's hitters in the first two games of the series?

RANGER SUAREZ: Yeah, something that I observed from them was that they attack the zone. They have pretty good command of the strike zone, and they got ahead in the count early.

Q. I'm wondering from your perspective what it's like to see Bohm be so confident at third base? You've been around him for a while now. Some of those plays he made in the first few games were pretty good.

RANGER SUAREZ: You know, Bohmer is one of those guys that whenever he makes an error, he is the first guy out the next day working with Bobby Dickerson. You know, he shows up early. He does all the infield work that he has to do to get better.

He has played great defense, and we have to give him a lot of credit because he's played not only third base but also first base. It's not easy to make that switch at times. So honestly I'm very, very happy for him.

Q. Ranger, for someone who hasn't seen the Phillies in person this postseason at all, what is the difference between you guys right now and the way that you were playing during the regular season?

RANGER SUAREZ: I don't really know what it is, but for us the postseason is different. You know, we're just a different team in the postseason.

We understand that if you lose, you go home, and that's not what we want. We want to complete what we didn't complete last year, which was to win the World Series.

Q. If I can just follow up, the difference between this postseason and last postseason, what's different about the team right now compared to last October as well?

RANGER SUAREZ: Honestly, I think last year we did great work in the playoffs. The postseason overall was really good. I feel that we're on the same track, but again, this year we're focused on completing the job, just finishing the job.

Q. You've had tremendous success in the playoffs. The Phillies have won every one of the games you've pitched. They're 7-0. You're 3-0. You have one game save. You have a .116 ERA. What's difference between the Ranger during the regular season and the Ranger during the postseason?

RANGER SUAREZ: Yeah, I mean, I didn't have a good start of the year. I was injured. But I am the type of pitcher that the more I pitch, the better rhythm I get. So actually the workload helps me out just to be a better pitcher.

Q. Ranger, what has your pitching staff done differently this series to completely stop their running game? They've run wild all season, but they haven't even attempted a stolen base yet.

RANGER SUAREZ: Yeah, I mean, we're aware that Arizona runs well. They have pretty fast guys when they get on base, but we've done a really good job holding the runners on the bases. And we have to give a lot of credit to especially Nola and Wheeler that have been doing a pretty good job there.

Q. After you were pulled earlier than expected in that first start in Atlanta, how did you not let it affect you the next time you pitched?

RANGER SUAREZ: Honestly I wasn't angry or upset with anyone on the team particularly. I was just mad at myself because I knew I could have done better. My goal is to go as deep as possible in games. Again, I knew I could have been better. I always want to be better, and that was a goal of mine the next time out. I wanted to show them what I was capable of. I was fortunate enough in Game 4 against the Braves to go deeper in the game, and I showed them my skills.

Q. Stubbs didn't play all last postseason, and he hasn't played in the postseason yet this year, so when he got in the game last night or maybe after the game, how much messing around were you guys doing with him or joking around with him about getting into a game?

RANGER SUAREZ: Yeah, so Stubbs has an incredible energy, and I honestly admire it because he's one of those guys that, especially in the postseason, he knows he's never going to play or rarely is going to play, but he embraces it. He knows that. He is a bench player. He's going to support the team from the bench.

But last night when he got in the game, we just joked with him in the clubhouse, and we shared a couple of laughs.

Q. Ranger, what did you guys learn last year? You mentioned it in the process going through the -- you ran through the Padres in pretty much the same fashion in the NLCS and then ran into a wall with Houston in the World Series especially after the no-hitter. What did you learn from that that you are taking into this year?

RANGER SUAREZ: Last year we were not an experienced team in the playoffs. We were a young team in my opinion. We didn't have much experience in the NLCS, World Series, anything like that.

We're a more compact team this year, and I think overall we're a better team. Again, we're all ready to finish the job this time.

Q. What does Turner add to it?

RANGER SUAREZ: I mean, he adds in every aspect of the game. Defense, offense. He's always looking for ways to help his teammates out.

And, honestly, not only Turner. Every single one on the team is trying to help each other out, and that makes it better.