NL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES: METS VS DODGERS

October 20, 2024

Dave Roberts

Dodger Stadium

Los Angeles Dodgers

Postgame 6 Press Conference

Dodgers - 10, Mets - 5

Q. After Game 3 of the DS, you guys are down 2-1 with your season on the line. It can get dark for a lot of teams there, and I remember you said you believed with those guys in that room. It might look different on the outside but what do you think they proved to each other over the next 10 days?

DAVE ROBERTS: I think they proved to themselves how tough they are. I think that when you get in a position that we were in against a division rival, against a very talented team at that point, it turns into a street fight.

And it's lose and go home or you just fight like heck. And I think that that's what got us over the top in the DS and also what bled into the fact it allowed us to finish these guys off in six games.

Q. Just what do you think of the trajectory Tommy Edman has been on from not even playing a game until August and then being the NLCS MVP here?

DAVE ROBERTS: It's a crazy trajectory. I can't say enough about the front office being able to acquire him at the deadline. What he can do for us on the field, in the clubhouse, it's just amazing.

I never imagined once we acquired him, he'd be hitting fourth in a postseason game. But I trust him. The guys trust him. He's made huge defensive plays for us and had huge hits. Just very fortunate to have a player like Tommy.

Q. You being second guessed all the time on your decisions, how do you block out the noise, especially on a day like today you have to make a bullpen game and every pitching change carries the weight of the world, at least as far as the fans are concerned?

DAVE ROBERTS: Number one, I don't do social media. That's a start for me. Number two, I just think that I've got to do, make decisions, bet on players that I feel are capable, put them in the best position to have success and be willing to live with whatever consequence.

Tonight this series, this postseason, I've had a lot of clarity. And the players have made me look really good.

Q. With the season Chris Taylor has had, what can you say about a game like this and delivering?

DAVE ROBERTS: I can't say enough about Chris. He's obviously had a tough season as far as the health, the consistency with the bat. But I think it's just one of those things, when you're talking about the postseason, sometimes it just comes down to betting on a person.

And the moment's never going to be too big for him. You know he's going to be prepared. And he showed out and had some big hits, some big plays, a big sac bunt today. And he's won a lot of big games for us.

Q. What's the message moving forward? Is it just four more wins?

DAVE ROBERTS: That's it. That's it. Obviously we're going to celebrate tonight, as we should. I think the whole world was looking forward or hoping for this potential match-up, this showdown.

It's going to be great. They're a very talented team. But I think for us, it's kind of one game at a time but appreciating the fact that we've still got four wins to take care of business.

Q. Can you talk about Max Muncy's performance just throughout the CS?

DAVE ROBERTS: Max has been -- he's a postseason player. I think there's a lot said about what Kiké does in the postseason, but Max is a guy that throughout his postseasons with us, he finds a different gear as well.

He's an on-base machine. He controls the strike zone. And for him to pivot from third base to first base, which he hadn't played in a few years, also speaks to his ability and his talent.

And it's not easy to make up for a loss of Freddie Freeman, but Max has been able to help us make that transition a little bit easier.

Q. You had a 7-4 ball game, Treinen comes in on the eighth, they tacked three more in the bottom half to ease the burden a bit. Had it stayed the same, did you have any backup plans?

DAVE ROBERTS: That was my only plan right there. From the first inning, the first pitch, I had a lot of contingency plans, but at that point we were going to ride or die with Blake.

And I want to congratulate Carlos and the Mets. They've had a tremendous season. They fought hard, and I just think Carlos does a great job with that club.