NL DIVISION SERIES: PADRES VS DODGERS

October 8, 2024

Mike Shildt

Petco Park

San Diego Padres

Postgame 3 Press Conference

Padres - 6, Dodgers - 5

Q. What can you tell us about pitching plans for tomorrow?

MIKE SHILDT: It was a good win, wasn't it? Dylan Cease will start.

Q. What led you to that decision on short rest?

MIKE SHILDT: Dylan's willingness to do it. He would be on regular rest if needed, but Dylan's ready to go. And we'll see how many bullets he's got. Had his head around it and discussed it with him and he was enthusiastic about it.

Q. The second inning built on contact. We've seen that all year. Could you walk us through what you saw there?

MIKE SHILDT: I saw our team identity on display. A lot of what we talk about -- offensive machine. The base running is a part of that. You get Jackson hustling on Bogey's ball, and you get Peralta's ball down the line.

You've got Jake with a two-strike opposite-field knock to get it going, Higgy with a sac fly. And then you've got Tati that does the damage. So you get a little bit of everything that inning.

The effort level and the base running was great. And the two-strike hitting was good. Even Pro after Tati's two-run homer, two-strike at-bat, just going down the line and hitting the front part of the bag and being safe by an eyelash.

It's a lot of who our identity is and big part of the game, a big six spot.

Q. A lot had happened over the last 48 hours leading up to this game. It seems like all series it's been the response of your team that's been the big thing. Once you're in between those lines and you see what they were able to do tonight, what kind of pride does that give you after everything leading up to this point?

MIKE SHILDT: You know what? I really just appreciate this group, the way they compete, the way they carried themselves, just love the -- it's a good ball game.

They showed up and it was just nice to actually -- the first pitch be thrown and we're just playing baseball. That was great.

It was a great atmosphere in Petco tonight. The crowd was phenomenal. Clearly I thought a difference maker in part of what we were doing tonight. And we felt them so that was great.

But the guys came out and just played baseball and executed. And that was always pleased to see that. Proud of this group. Love them.

Q. I was going to ask you more about that crowd factor considering what you came off of Dodger Stadium and that sort of interesting interaction. Was there any discussion what's it going to feel like coming from one place to another?

MIKE SHILDT: We're familiar with both places. And we love our home crowd. This has been a group -- our fan base is incredible. They're starting to travel more and spread out through the entire country. We're going to places over the country.

We were in Tampa and there were a lot of fans. And I had a buddy in town. He said, man, you guys travel well. I said, these are just local Padre fans. It's super cool that Padres Nation is spreading like that.

Home field has been tremendous, loud, passionate, enthusiastic, they're hungry. So we knew they'd bring it tonight, and bring it they did. It was just good, clean fun.

Q. Do you understand this base-running rule? I'm not clear on it because Manny ran onto the grass. Dave did not appeal it. I don't know if you could appeal it. What are you allowed to do and what are you not allowed to do, as far as you know?

MIKE SHILDT: I understand it pretty clearly. It's a teach of ours -- it's a teach in the game; we don't corner the market on this thing.

Really good baseball play, didn't bring it, up by Manny. Basically the baserunner can create his own baseline until there's an actual an attempted play on him. So at that point you can run inside the line just like he did and force a throw to be like it is. You can do it from any base.

As soon as the fielder has to make an attempt to a play, now the baseline has been established and you can go from there.

Q. The other question I wanted to ask more substantive, can you talk about the confidence of this team and the fact that you don't want to be overconfident when you have the game to wrap it up on your side?

MIKE SHILDT: It's good to get two, but it doesn't matter until we get three. But overconfidence is -- confidence is a part of this group. I love the fact that they play with some confidence -- not some, a lot of confidence, some swag. I like the fact that they're themselves, but they're respectful do it in a team setting.

But this team stays grounded and focused. And I'm confident that will only continue.

Q. Obviously you used your big guys for the bullpen to get, to close the game, especially the four-out save with Suarez. How big was that? And how much will those guys be ready tomorrow to come back again next day?

MIKE SHILDT: Great job by all of them. Michael was good. Him getting through five was impressive. He's able to come back and overcome the crooked number in the third and grab the fourth and navigate the top of the lineup in the fifth.

I just loved the efficiency of our relievers today. Estrada really good, Adam really good. Scott threw the ball exceptionally well. I just preferred the Suarez/Hernandez matchup.

And Suarez was excellent. I loved the change-ups he was throwing to Muncy and Lux, putting that on display. If he can continue to do that, it makes a very effective guy even more effective.

Relative to their availability, we got a really solid, the residual effort from Darvish, giving us seven innings, and then us being able to add on and score. Your best bullpen is sometimes your starters and you're being able to extend the lead.

So the high-leverage guy we used two nights ago with Scott. So basically now these guys are, Suarez's first time he's pitched all series. He'll be ready to rock. All of them will be ready to go.

Q. Can I get you to drill down a little bit on the Suarez decision, the match-up in particular that you liked, the number you liked and the confidence you had in him, because he did wobble toward the end of the year, but your confidence never wavered?

MIKE SHILDT: He pitched over a long season, you'll have days where it doesn't work out. But I trust our guys. He's been really good. I think last five times out he's up five up, five down.

Just liked him a little bit better. Scott's throwing the ball really well. The beautiful luxury of this, what we have is Adam is really good against lefties. So every lane is a lane for him during the lineup. Estrada is good against lefties. Just felt good about that match-up with Suarez and Hernandez.

Q. What was Machado dealing with in the eighth inning?

MIKE SHILDT: I think he had a twinge, I think in his calf. Nobody it's overly serious but I just got off the field.

Q. And Peralta, to have the moment on Saturday or Sunday and today, what can you say about what he's done for this team?

MIKE SHILDT: A lot went on on Sunday. So he was an unsung hero that got overlooked by myself and didn't give him -- it was a big swing he took the other day, the two-run homer.

And two-run double today. He opened up both games. He's been tremendous for us. Obviously in Tati's absence he was a big part of what got us here. He's done a great job.

Without David Peralta I'd shudder to think where we were and he continues to perform.

Q. Tatis with another home run today -- his postseason numbers are incredible. What makes him so uniquely excellent in these big moments?

MIKE SHILDT: He likes it. He's one of the many guys on our team that appreciates and enjoys bright lights and embraces it. He just wants to go play and perform.

And the thing I love about him and everybody else is just how they're going and competing. He's not trying to do too much. He's got plenty of talent. He's just allowing himself to play. And I love the way he's going about it.