NL DIVISION SERIES: PADRES VS DODGERS

October 11, 2024

David Peralta

Dodger Stadium

San Diego Padres

Pregame 5 Press Conference

Q. Mike Shildt was out here a little while ago saying that the clubhouse should feel, for a big game like this, as it does in April, May or June anytime of the year. What do you think the vibe is in there? And what do you want to see the vibe like?

DAVID PERALTA: It's the same. We're confident. We know how good we are. We know who we are going to face, too. It's going to be a crazy atmosphere out there. That's exciting. We like that.

It's going to be a good game, good game. We're going to go out there and do our best and compete like the way we've been doing the whole postseason, the whole season.

And it's nothing different. It's going to be exciting. It's going to be a lot of emotions and everything. And that's what we're here for.

Q. The offense has hit starting pitching well in the postseason. The relievers have been a struggle. What do you see going on with that?

DAVID PERALTA: I don't think it's -- we're doing our best over there. They have good relievers, good starters, too. I don't think it's anything that we have to change. We just have to go out there and do our best to compete and do everything.

Sometimes it doesn't go the way we wanted to hit a reliever but we prepare the best we can. We have a great coaching staff, a hitting coach that is giving us a good scouting report to execute.

We just have to score one more run than them and that's it. It's part of the game. It's the postseason. Anything can happen. We'll see what's going to happen today.

Q. For you, when you think back to where you were at the start of this baseball season and where you are sitting right now, what do you make of 2024 for yourself?

DAVID PERALTA: Ooh, good question. Like, the beginning of the year, you guys know I was just out of surgery, I was looking for a job to prove myself that I can keep playing and everything.

It was kind of tough for me and, like, for teams to give me an opportunity. And the Cubs gave me an opportunity and helped me to finish my rehab and all this kind of stuff. I'm very thankful for them.

I had to go to Triple-A to prove myself that I'm healthy, so teams can know this and that. I was hoping to get to the big leagues, to the big leagues with the Cubs.

But it didn't work. It happens. But I'm very thankful for them because they helped me a lot to go through this.

I always believed things happen for a reason. When I went home, like, the period of time when I was waiting for a call, the Padres called me. Right away, it was a good connection.

I went to Triple-A to play a couple of games. I don't want to say this, but Bogey got hurt and everything and that was my chance to come up to the big leagues and help these guys.

Man, they gave me an opportunity. They gave me the opportunity. They believed in me, and it took me a little bit to show them that, hey, I'm still -- there's a lot of David Peralta for everyone -- but I finally did it.

I felt like I did my job, especially when Tatis went down. I was helping the team as much as I can. And it's special for me.

I worked really hard, really hard this offseason to come back early from the surgery. And it was tough. But here I am, talking to you guys in the postseason. And it's special for me.

Q. Baseball is baseball, but is there anything that you do different at all in the postseason, like mentally or anything? Or is it just the routine?

DAVID PERALTA: It's the same routine. I know it's postseason, it's a lot of intensity and all this kind of stuff. But it's the same game. We are facing good teams and we're a good team.

And I always like to keep it the same way -- control my emotions, control what I can control, and just not to put too much pressure on myself. And I always do the same routine, like a normal game, like a normal game.

It's just going to be more energy, more craziness out there, which is -- that's what I like. That's what we like. That's what, talking about for me and for all my teammates, that's why we work in the offseason, to be ready for this moment.

Q. This team has been on a pretty great ride since the All-Star break and into the postseason, and I think also a resilient group, really the whole year, bouncing back after tough losses and so on. What gives you confidence about this particular team that you guys can get it done tonight?

DAVID PERALTA: You just said it. During the season, we had tough luck, and we were able to turn the page and come back and just win. I know we had tough luck the last game at home, but we've been doing it the whole year, turning the page and come back and just put in a good game and win.

I don't think it's going to be any different. I believe and we believe in every single person in the clubhouse -- relievers, starting pitchers, everyone from the lineup all the way from the top to the bottom, the bench guy -- we believe in each other. And we believe we're going to do a good job.

And the best thing about this team is no matter what the situation, we've always got our backs. Don't worry, whatever goes down, we've got your back. That's what we've been doing the whole year and we're going to do it today.