NL WILD CARD SERIES: METS VS BREWERS

October 2, 2024

Pat Murphy

American Family Field

Milwaukee Brewers

Pregame Press Conference

Q. Murph, you just saw Manaea, what, five days ago?

PAT MURPHY: Yes.

Q. I was wondering what you liked about your guys' at-bats against him in that game? And also how beneficial it is for you guys to have seen him so recently?

PAT MURPHY: I think it's the same as them seeing Frankie. I think it is beneficial to the offensive player that you've seen the pitcher. Manaea and Frankie both have had a good year.

Manaea's been exceptional at times. We wanted to get a good look at him last time, and we kind of made sure that our lefties got a better look at him just in case we saw him again.

Q. Today is a similar situation to the spot you were in last year, down 1-0 at home. How do you keep that thought from creeping into these guys' minds of what happened last year in the playoffs and disappointments of years past?

PAT MURPHY: I wish I could control their minds, you know what I mean? We would have covered first yesterday. If I had a shock collar, I could get my little -- a taser, I guess. We could have done the taser yesterday.

I think the important thing is last year was last year. Two years before that is two years before that. People keep talking about this postseason thing where the Brewers have lost X number of games in these years and all that kind of stuff.

Well, first of all, for a team with our budget and our -- what we've been through this year, to get to where we are, let's just take that for what it is. It's not a given. It's not like a given we're going to be in the postseason every year.

I'm sure last year there was the story there too. But the point is last year, when you're the 3 seed, you're always going to play a team that's hot, that's excited to be in.

Every postseason we've been eliminated by has went to the World Series. So we've got kind of a -- you know, when you think of the deal we've got, it's been a team that's been red hot. Hopefully we turn that around and play.

I don't think it's controlling their mind and things like that. I think you just have to be ready to play today.

Q. A core component of this team's offensive identity this year has been making really sound swing decisions. There was a lot more chase from your group last night, especially from the fifth inning onward, chasing pitches out of the strike zone.

Do you think there needs to be an adjustment tonight or just a response to get back to that good plate discipline?

PAT MURPHY: Well, that's it. That's the word, response. Because once that emotional inning happened, we had three plays that could have been made. One would have been a great play, but the ball to left field is catchable, not covering first is inexcusable.

But when that emotion happens and you're kind of looking around like, God, things are just going bad, that's really emotional. Then there's that natural, I want to get it done.

If you look at the other side yesterday, after that inning happened, there was only one base runner in the game, both teams, and it was by walk. There was not another hit in the game. So I think the air and the emotion of the whole game was affected by that.

Yes, we need to respond with better swing decisions.

Q. Didn't really get into a slump all year, haven't lost four straight all season, and you're in a position where you have to bounce back again today.

What is it about the personality of this team that's enable you to respond to adversity as well as you have during the course of the year?

PAT MURPHY: I think it's a combination of the young energy, and the leadership guys have pulled it together, you know what I mean? The leadership guys have not listened to the outside stuff and just said, hey, guys, we can do this. Nobody expected you to be in first place. Nobody expected you to run the table. Nobody expected you to win the division by ten games.

We can do this. We stick to what we do, and the young guys have just listened and emerged.

Q. That said, what's the mood like in the locker room right now? Jackson was just in here saying it's really exciting.

PAT MURPHY: I think they're trying to give you the right answers too, you know what I mean? They come in here, and you're looking for the truth, and you're looking to write a story or whatever, and they're trying to give you good answers.

I think any team that goes through yesterday in that one inning kind of some things just kind of happened. It wasn't just -- you give the Mets credit for putting the ball in play and whatever, but there were some balls hit not at people. There were some plays not made. That's a big thing.

We also had some early opportunities that didn't go our -- that we didn't execute on. And it could have been five, six, seven runs on the board. I think it jars you a little bit, especially when you are facing what we're facing.

I think it's natural to be that way, but I think once the game starts, that's where they're all more comfortable. As great as you guys are, they're not as comfortable or know how to express themselves necessarily completely in front of you guys. But when the game starts, I think they'll be settled down and ready to compete.

Q. You mentioned that No. 3 seed, which you were last year and this year, is always going to face a hot team that just made it in. Do you think that's fair?

PAT MURPHY: That word, fair, I know this, I've been in Major League Baseball ten years now, tenth season. They never try to do anything that isn't fair. They never try to -- you may get the bad end of something or a small market team might get a perceived bad end, whatever it may be. I know I trust MLB does the right thing, and this is the best playoff format, they think, for the game, and I just go with it.

I don't sit there trying to pontificate. I got my hands full. So do I think it's fair? Yes, generally speaking. Is there a better way when you're the 3 seed and you're feeling it from this angle every time? I haven't thought through it.

I'm just thankful for the opportunity, and it's about going out and beating the other team. Bottom line, go out and beat the other team. No matter how hot they are, how experienced, how big their budget is, we've all got excuses.

Today is about going out and winning the round, and then tomorrow win the round. And then whatever they tell us to do after that, go do that. Beyond that, I don't like to get into it.

Q. In some ways you kind of brought Frankie here for this, postseason starts in that instance. What did you like about what he did against the Mets in his last start and the opportunity he has tonight in Game 2?

PAT MURPHY: I think Frankie's been a great addition for us. You think about it, we were really -- we lost four of our five starters to start the season. Then the guys that we signed to replace them were injured, Junis and Ross.

So we were going with guys that hadn't been a Major League starter and had never been in the Big Leagues. We were piecemealing it together all the way through, and then at the trade deadline, we get Civale and Montas, and they both have given us a great lift. They both were great fits. They both had 5.00 E.R.A.s. They weren't having terrific seasons, but they've both settled in here and done a great job.

I think Frankie is experienced, he's a warrior, he's a competitor. What he did last time against the Mets, he gave them a little taste of what he's about. They did fairly well against him, but I think Frankie will rise to the occasion. I believe in that.

Q. Last night you're obviously playing from behind, so that's part of it, but to not have any stolen bases last night and just the two walks, is Manaea the one that you feel like you guys can be more aggressive with and push that part of the running game tonight?

PAT MURPHY: He saw us -- left-handers are harder, but he saw us steal bases against him last time. He saw us bunt. He saw us put the ball on the ground.

Yesterday we didn't steal any bases, but we base ran very well. We took the extra base. So that's in our bag. The threat of the steal can be as big as the steal sometimes. So playing the game like this -- again, I use football as an example. I got a little football background. It's like the threat of the long pass changes how you play defense. The threat of the screen in long yardage situations changes how you rush the passer.

So the same thing goes. I mean, the threat of what we do can be menacing.

Q. I have two if you'll allow it. First one's quick. Would it be Meyers?

PAT MURPHY: I'll let you know after the first one.

Q. Would it be Meyers in Game 3 if you don't need him tonight?

PAT MURPHY: Yes.

Q. The word randomness gets used a lot when referring to MLB's postseason. I wonder if that's a concept you deal with.

PAT MURPHY: I'm going to shock you with this --

Q. You don't listen to what we say.

PAT MURPHY: I don't read anything. I have no idea. I got a couple texts this morning that said a couple things, and I laughed and said great.

Q. I guess the question is after spending so much time and energy on a long season, then you get into this short burst where everything turns on one missed ball in the outfield, one missed cover at first.

How do you and your guys just change the mindset so quickly at this time of year?

PAT MURPHY: Analytics took over the game how many years ago? You guys would know this, right? It became a huge part of the game how many years ago.

Well, the need for mental health and the need for strong psychological approach, a mentality, is alive and well in the game because it's what it takes. It takes that mental toughness. It's tough.

If you think I slept comfortably last night or you think I didn't write for hours on -- I can go down a path with you all the things that come into your mind about changing and doing it, this is a better way. But it really comes down to mentality. It comes down to can we wash it off? Can we respond?

We just got knocked on our butts, took the standing eight count. Can we stand up now and respond? And if we can't respond, that's part of postseason baseball. This is why you win the regular season to put yourself in position to play in the postseason. It's about advancing in the postseason.

We can pat ourselves on the back for all the things I told you, lost starters, cut the budget, traded Corbin, injured closer, no Yelich. I can give you all the excuses in the world, but it won't be a great season in my mind unless we can respond today in the right way.

Will it be a lost season? Will it not be a great achievement of what we did to overachieve with all the adversity we faced? Yes, there will be a way to look at this and say, wow, that's great. But unless we respond today, we're going to have a sour taste.

Q. What was your message to your team yesterday and going on to today?

PAT MURPHY: Just respond. That's what it is. Respond.

Q. I wanted to ask about Tyrone Taylor. I realize Chourio was coming and you guys have a deep outfield here, but was it tough to let him go? What kind of a player was he for you?

PAT MURPHY: Being around Tyrone, period, it's tough to let him go. He's a tremendous human, tremendous teammate, and tremendous player, underrated player/defender. At the end of last season, there was nobody hotter on our team. There was nobody we wanted at the plate on our team. Check the numbers or the hard contacts.

This guy was tremendous. So it's hard to let him go for sure, and we're not surprised about the success he's having and the way he's contributing because he's a great teammate and an even better person.