NL DIVISION SERIES: PADRES VS DODGERS

October 6, 2024

Mike Shildt

Dodger Stadium

San Diego Padres

Pregame 2 Press Conference

Q. I know you were asked specifically about situationally pitching to Shohei or not in an at-bat. But just in general, in an overarching way, how much does he outsize the conversation about how to deal with him when you're thinking about the bottom of the lineup, keeping traffic off in front of him, what to do when a base is open and what not to do, just because of the numbers and it's historic what he's doing right now? How much does he dominate more of the thinking than any one particular hitter would who is just an All-Star level player and good?

MIKE SHILDT: It's a lot to unpack. I could sit here and occupy a good portion of the afternoon to discuss through it. But the fact of the matter is, you hit on a big part of it, and that's the bottom half of the order. We weren't able to keep them off in front of him. That's a big key to this. And then it becomes situational.

I can't go through every situation last night. We had a situation that I felt extremely good about in how we managed that situation in the fourth inning. I couldn't have slept any better with how that went down and the match-ups we got in a tough situation.

But specifically with Ohtani, clearly he's a generational talent. So we need to be mindful of that and continue to play it by ear, what the situation calls for. We have conversations about it obviously, but we get that bottom half of the order cleaned up -- they're good players, too -- and then figure out a way to execute against him.

He's still human. We talked about it last night. We executed multiple at-bats last night and got him out. We executed an at-bat that broke his bat that didn't allow us to get an out. That's part of the proverbial game. But clearly we recognize he's a dangerous part of their lineup.

Q. What's the confidence level with Darvish on the mound knowing that he's been in basically this exact same situation two years ago and he's been in a number like it?

MIKE SHILDT: Really high. I mean, this is a tested guy. Whether it's international or clearly here, he's a guy that's pitched very well in big moments. Not going to shy away from it. Knows the arena. So we're delighted have him go tonight.

Q. Now that we're past the wild card series, what was his -- if had he pitched in relief? What was his role? Was it, break glass in case of emergency? Would he have been available for length? How would you have managed it knowing that you probably needed him for this if you got through it?

MIKE SHILDT: Anytime you are in a series, you need to win that series to get to the next one. It wasn't exactly break glass in the case of an emergency. But we have our roles for our bullpen guys. We feel comfortable and confident and use them. We had Joe go out in the fourth inning and was able to put together and hold the lead and bring it home.

But we're in an extra-inning situation without a ghost runner. That was primarily going to be his role if we got to extra innings and we needed some length and had gone through our bullpen, that's what we targeted him for.

Q. After getting three and a third from your starter last night, how is your bullpen today after having to use a lot of guys last night?

MIKE SHILDT: We passed the ball around pretty well last night. Adam went back out. Obviously Estrada went back out. Pretty efficient, Adam was really efficient. We knew when he went back out we wanted him to take down Hernandez. Had toyed with Muncy, but we figured like, okay, he got his guy. Go get Hoeing, knock down the rest of the inning. Keep him fresh for today.

I expect everybody will be available. We just came off two days off.

Q. How much does your replay strategy change in the postseason with that extra challenge that you get?

MIKE SHILDT: Good question. Clearly we could be a little more aggressive. Used it last night. Thought it was a great opportunity to do it.

But especially early on, I really kind of subscribe in general to if we think we have a shot at it, we take it. If we think we're going to get away from either saving a run or putting together an opportunity to take away from a run or add one, we'll take one.

But, yeah, having the extra one, you're going to be more aggressive early.

Q. You had a tough stretch in the last final six innings of the game. Talk to me about how you plan to remedy that and be a little more consistent at the plate with these guys?

MIKE SHILDT: That's an interesting question to figure out how to answer well.

If I said I didn't think it was a rough stretch, you all would think it was nuts, right. But quite honestly, our bullpen was really, really good. They would bloop one in, make one mistake and Hernandez puts a swing on it. Guys were able to hold it right there. Had good enough at-bats against a tough back end of their bullpen, had the chance in the eighth, chance in the ninth. Guys we like were up. So I wouldn't say it was that rough. These games are thin margins sometimes.

So credit to them they were able to execute. Like I said, the bottom of their lineup was good. They were able to take some at-bats. We did a lot of really good things. Did things we would have liked to be a little cleaner on as far as giving a few things away.

But the last six innings, really, if you look at it, there wasn't a whole lot there that -- it was rough based on the outcome and not being able to execute. But as far as anything strategically or effort-wise or the way the guys went about it, I actually felt okay with it.