NL DIVISION SERIES: PADRES VS DODGERS

October 8, 2024

Gavin Lux

Petco Park

Los Angeles Dodgers

Pregame 3 Press Conference

Q. I know this postseason you guys have approached things a little bit different really focusing on just the team dynamic, you guys staying together, sacrificing time with your family. How are you seeing just that camaraderie amongst you all coming together? And how important was it especially coming out of the last game, a loss, and also the emotions on and off the field of it?

GAVIN LUX: I think Game 1 it showed where we were down early and fought back, everyone staying together. Even when we were down big in Game 2, guys are still all in dugout together on the rail, cheering each other on.

I think just emphasizing staying together through the ups and downs -- playoffs are all momentum based; they're going to score; we're going to score; it's going to be back and forth. And through all that just trying to stick together and rooting for your guys.

And I think that approach especially showed up in Game 1 when we were down early and came back. I think it's helped being together a lot and trying to do what we did in the bubble in 2020, and I think that's helped.

Q. Ask you about the topic of the day. Did you see the Manny throw to the dugout when it happened? And how much focus was that among you guys internally the last 48 hours?

GAVIN LUX: No, I didn't. I was actually in the cage looking at my at-bat before the inning started. No, I didn't.

And I think it was talked about, but at the end of the day we're going to try to leave everything out on the field. It is what it is.

And emotions run high. It's an emotional game, and playoffs are huge, where everyone's -- there's a rivalry here. Emotions always are going to run high. I think we all kind of understand that. It's the competitive nature of this sport. Not making too big of a deal out of it.

Q. How much do you think the emotional dynamic of this whole series kind of will play into the next couple games here? And in what ways do you feel that during a game?

GAVIN LUX: I think this is a really good crowd. They have great fans that are really passionate. And I expect them to come out and it to be an emotional game.

I think at the same time we've got to stay in our own shoes internally and in our clubhouse and lock it in and try not to let the outside noise affect us too much, which I think we do a good job at.

But at the same time, I think we're going to be emotional, too. And I think that's probably a good thing for us.

Q. This is your fifth postseason experience. What have you learned from the past and what is different between the last one to this year?

GAVIN LUX: I think in '22 -- I missed last year obviously, I can't speak on that -- but '22, they came out and beat us down pretty good. And I think we kind of folded a little bit, where this year it feels like we're going to fight back no matter what.

And I think that's kind of the difference between this year and '22 is just the guys in the clubhouse. And I think we're hungry to prove people wrong.

But I think just over the years you try to take the 4-for-4 approach, when you're walking up to the plate and you're 4-4 you feel really good. And J.T. told me that in my postseason in '19, he said, try to go up there feeling like you're 4-for-4 every at-bat, and try not to lose that feeling.

That's the best piece of advice I've gotten that I've tried to incorporate. And I think I've gotten better at doing it over the course of these last couple of postseasons I've got to be a part of. And trying to enjoy it.