NL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES: METS VS DODGERS

October 17, 2024

Dave Roberts

Citi Field

Los Angeles Dodgers

Postgame 4 Press Conference

Dodgers - 10, Mets - 2

Q. Whether it's injuries to the pitchers, Freddie being out -- your All-Star first base, former MVP -- it doesn't seem to bother you guys or affect you guys the way it would other teams. Why does this team have such a next-man-up mentality, win for Freddie, whatever it may be, whoever is down, you guys don't skip a beat and keep on rolling, why is that?

DAVE ROBERTS: I don't know the answer. I think part of it is we've dealt with it all year with very key contributors. And it's a clubhouse that's very welcoming to new players -- whether by way of trade, waiver-wire pick-ups, young players that get called up by the system -- it's a focused, tough group.

It's something that probably is something I feel proud that we can hang our hat on, that there's never been an excuse all year for our club as far as winning the division and winning 11 games in October.

And even as recently as this year, to not have Freddie start a playoff game, but there was no excuse. We were expecting to win this game tonight.

Yeah, it is that next-guy-up mentality. And the fight that I've seen in these guys, I don't think you can kind of quantify it. But I do believe that the mindset, the attitude is applicable and it manifests itself into winning baseball games.

Q. What are your emotions about how dominant you've been these last two games?

DAVE ROBERTS: Emotions, probably I'm still -- we still have a lot of work to do. We have to win one more game this series.

I love the way that our guys haven't let off the gas in the sense of I think that the outcome of the last two games, certainly if you watch the games, it doesn't tell the story. So the way we're able to add on the last couple of nights has been huge to win a long series.

I think right now, I'm still kind of enjoying it a little bit, but I'm already thinking about Peterson tomorrow. Yeah, we've still got some work to do.

Q. We saw it near the end of the regular season, a couple times Ohtani got walked intentionally, the way Mookie kind of responded to that. Today the first three hits came right after Ohtani walked. How do you think Mookie takes that when he sees them basically not challenging the guy in front of him?

DAVE ROBERTS: I think he took it the same way Vientos took it -- personal. And that's okay. That's okay. And I think that he understands that whether it's a manager putting four fingers up or you're throwing intentional balls two feet outside, you're going to go after the next guy.

So I think that Mookie takes it personal like all competitors should. And I do think that stuff like that lights a little fire under him.

Q. Do you have a starter tomorrow?

DAVE ROBERTS: Flaherty, Jack's going to start.

Q. How did you get to that?

DAVE ROBERTS: I think that he gives us the best chance to win tomorrow. And so it's regular. We have our full slew of guys behind him. And there's a sense of urgency to win this game tomorrow.

Q. After the first game against the Padres, everyone was talking about what's wrong with Mookie. Then after the first two games here it was what's wrong with Ohtani. How much do you think those guys pay attention to that stuff and kind of motivate themselves?

DAVE ROBERTS: I think Mookie much more so than Shohei. So I think that Mookie getting a couple of knocks -- but tonight was certainly a breakout, even the way he can go backside and hit a line drive to right field. The home run, a breaking ball that he was missing in past series.

So I think that bled into Mookie's psyche a little bit.

But I think with Shohei, I don't think much affects him. I really don't.

Q. When you talked to us before the game, you said you were a little unsure whether Jack would start tomorrow or not. Did you see something in this game that you and the team determined would go with that? Or is that just didn't want to say anything to us?

DAVE ROBERTS: No, we were still kind of deliberating. But after tonight, just talking to the pitching guys, the front office and Jack, most importantly, we just felt that tomorrow's the day. So he's lined up. So not really what went into the game.

Q. I know it's a little lost with all the offense, but can you speak to the job Phillips and Treinen did at the point they came in?

DAVE ROBERTS: They did a great job. They did a huge job. Obviously Evan, there was some traffic there, some stress. Certainly getting out of that fifth inning was huge. That part of the order I felt was the time to deploy him. And then to kind of go back out there created some stress.

But for him to get the two outs with the bases loaded, for me, I just felt that, at that point in time, I think he was up to, like, 31, 32 pitches. And that's a pivotal part in the game.

So I felt at that point in time I think he could still be alive for tomorrow. I just felt Blake was the best chance to get Winker. And fortunately he lined out to Mookie.

Both those guys did a fantastic job. I think the culture in the pen is they just pick each other up. Regardless of when they get the baseball, they're ready when called upon, which is huge.

Q. You've been pretty open in the second half and the postseason just about how challenging this year has been for yourself, for the guys in the room. I'm just curious, knowing all that, how does it feel to be one win away from the World Series?

DAVE ROBERTS: It feels good. I think that we've done a good job putting ourselves in this position. I sort of like the us-against-the-world attitude that our guys have sort of taken on. I think that's kind of ironic with the Dodgers, but I like that.

I haven't enjoyed it yet. I'm not good at enjoying things in the moment. But, yeah, once we win five more games then I'll be much happier.

But, yeah, I'm very excited to be in this position. And I just want to keep our guys hungry and focused and not let these guys back in the series.

Q. You guys usually are the world.

DAVE ROBERTS: Right, right. We usually are. That's fair. That's fair. We usually are the world.

Q. That wasn't really a question.

DAVE ROBERTS: That's right. (Laughter).

Q. Dave, with the quality of stuff that the pitchers are throwing around baseball right now, how difficult is it for hitters to lay off? And how impressive, conversely, is it that yours have been able to draw 32 walks over the first four games?

DAVE ROBERTS: It's remarkable. And leading the way is Max Muncy. I was just made aware that he set a postseason record with consecutive times on base. And yesterday, he didn't swing at one ball, one pitch out of the hitting zone.

Given all the stuff and how you're seeing different arms. And the stuff, the velocity, the spin is so good and late, it's remarkable.

I still believe that these players are better than they've ever been and given, obviously, with information and things like that.

Today was a good one for us in the sense that Quintana, he nibbles. And he's a crafty veteran pitcher, and you've got to be really stubborn in your hitting zone.

Our hitting coach did a great job. I thought we did a good job using the big part of the field, getting to the pen, taxing them, winning pitches. And when we get to their pen, we do the same thing.

We've had a lot of good looks at the guys in their pen. And the one guy we really don't want to see, we haven't seen much of.

So to keep him in the pen is a good thing for all of us. But outside of that guy, we've seen everyone else. So I feel good about that. I think we've got Peterson tomorrow. So we've seen him. And the goal is to get him out of the game and make him have a short outing.

Q. Knowing personally how one play can turn a series around, is there any added incentive to getting it done tomorrow and not letting the Mets come up for air?

DAVE ROBERTS: Absolutely. Every play is big. I think that Carlos would like to have some plays back on their side, some at-bats. And I still even -- I'd love to have some defensive plays back. And we didn't convert some outs that cost some pitches.

But, yeah, we don't want to give these guys any momentum. And we feel good, we've got some momentum, and we've got to continue to come out with some intent tomorrow. Yeah.