NL DIVISION SERIES: PADRES VS DODGERS

October 4, 2024

Jurickson Profar

Dodger Stadium

San Diego Padres

Workout Day Press Conference

Q. You've been here for all three of these Division Series match-ups. Each time kind of like the circumstances have been different, your pitching problems in 2020, and they beat you guys so much in 2022 but then you beat them. How does this Padres team compare to those previous two teams?

JURICKSON PROFAR: I think this time we're a little more prepared, and a lot of players on our team have been through this Division Series numerous times already. And I think we are more than prepared this time.

Q. As far as facing the Dodgers, there was a time when you first got here it was like, oh, the Dodgers, and it was, how do we do against them. That doesn't seem to be the case anymore. I wonder how much you guys have changed in that way.

JURICKSON PROFAR: Like I said, we are more prepared and more successful, too. We've been winning a lot of games against the Dodgers already and we're prepared.

Q. Obviously these two teams saw each other very recently at the end of the regular season. How would you describe that series, the intensity of that match-up? And how do you think, from your side it's kind of prepared you all for this Division Series?

JURICKSON PROFAR: Yes, down the stretch every game, every game mattered. Every game was a playoff game. We came here first and then we went to Arizona. They were fighting, too, for a playoff spot. And it prepared us for now. Those games were playoff games.

Q. On the Dodgers side, we often hear about just how you all and the Padres, in specific, show up with a lot of intensity when it comes to this match-up. Where do you think that stems from, whether it's in the clubhouse, just how you guys play on the field? Could you like put that into words, if possible?

JURICKSON PROFAR: I think we play high intensity against every team. But the Dodgers have a really, really good team, and I think the energy that the game itself brings is a little different.

Q. Could you talk a little bit about what Luis Arraez brings in that top spot, setting the tone at the top of the order and getting to hit behind him most nights?

JURICKSON PROFAR: It's a lot of things. It's like if he goes, we go. He always put great at-bats together and he's a hitting machine, yes.

Q. How different is the mentality of this Padres group going into the playoffs compared to years past?

JURICKSON PROFAR: I think we are more confident just by winning. Winning makes that happen. You're more confident in yourself and in your teammates, and we have a great team. And we believe in each other and we always are fighting for each other.

Q. You guys often, as a lineup, have these long, extended at-bats. How did you guys get to that point? Because I know you're not up there intentionally every time trying to have these long at-bats. But just by the style in which you guys play, it seems like you guys end up dragging these pitchers out to the deep end. Is that something that you guys have purposely done? Or is it just as the year has evolved you guys have gotten to this place?

JURICKSON PROFAR: Yes, I think we got there. I think the whole lineup is like that. We've got guys that, you know, are really, really tough outs, 1 through 9.

I think that's a good job by the front office, you know?