Mark Kotsay, Athletics players react after 5-2 win to clinch series vs. Mariners
Mark Kotsay, Shea Langeliers, Jacob Lopez and Jeff McNeil speak to reporters after the Athletics' 5-2 win vs. the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday night.
Mark Kotsay, Athletics players react after 5-2 win to clinch series vs. Mariners originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Video Transcript
We talked pregame about Lopez and wanting to throw a little more strikes.
Do you feel like today was maybe a step in the right direction for him?
Yeah, absolutely.
Today was a, a really good outing for, for Jacob.
I know he had two walks in the first inning, but, after that he settled in and, and did a great job.
You know, sending him back out for the sixth, him getting up, you know, getting Crawford, to lead that inning off, just says a lot about, you know, his, overall performance tonight, his focus and, yeah, a good start for him.
we talked about Shea a lot and what he's meant for you guys.
obviously, what Does that mean that big homer late there and against a lefty, who's, he's somewhat, had a little bit of struggles against them early on.
Yeah, I mean, you know, it's early in the season- Yeah to, to I mean, he had a good year last year against left-handed pitching, I think.
And, you know, that was a big at bat.
You know, it And anytime you can add onto a lead, like we talk about, that, that gives you, you know, just gives the relievers a little more cushion, and, can afford to make a mistake.
So, bullpen did a great job.
I thought Barlow's outing was great.
You know, Harris coming in, getting the big out on Naylor.
And, and for Perkins, you know, that additional run from, you know, two to three, you could see him go out and just attack the, the guys, in the ninth.
And, just it worked out really well today.
Obviously coming, on the road after kind of a, a tough series against the White Sox to secure at least a series win.
Just what do you think of kind of the start to this road trip?
No, it's a good start to the road trip.
we still got a long way to go, but, you know, for us coming off the, the series with Chicago, this, this club came in here, focused, prepared.
like we talked about, you know, this is the end of a, a, a 16 game run, tomorrow.
So to, to see them win a series at the end of it is, it's a good feeling.
It's obviously super early in the year, but, so now you, I think you've had more success against righties- you know, opposed to lefties at this point.
how good is it just to obviously get a homer off a lefty there, and in a big spot like that as well?
Yeah.
yeah, I think it, it's just one of those things.
La- last year, you know, performed really well against lefties.
I think just early in the year, it's kind of just a game of adjustments, you know, how they're pitching me- how I adjust to it, stuff like that.
So it's not something that I'd look into this, this early.
just, with Lopez on the mound there, I know he was looking to throw more strikes and kind of get back on track.
What do you think of that outing for him today?
Yeah, I thought, you know, I thought he did a great job.
obviously, you know, he showed us all last year what he's capable of, capable of doing.
and like you said, it's just kind of like getting him back to, you know, staying aggressive one pitch at a time.
You know, be around the strike zone, make the guys make swing decisions, you know, make them uncomfortable, things like that.
And I thought he did a really good job tonight.
You know, we talked about kind of your success here early on.
I don't know how much there is to ask about it, but, just I What do you think maybe has been the key for you to kind of consistently, keep up kind of the production that you've been able to have to this point?
Yeah.
Honestly, it's kind of just one of those things when, like, when you're checking boxes.
I show up to the field every day, do my routine, just mentally understanding that, you know, I've done everything to prepare for the game.
and then the game is the game.
Like, you just go out there, you compete, you leave it out on the field, come back in, kind of wash it, whether it's good or bad, and then move on to the next day.
So it's just very routine oriented.
I know it's kind of, kind of a grueling stretch of 16 in a row.
What do you think of being able to finish it at least with a series win- Yeah after taking these first two games here?
Yeah.
Yeah, it's great.
I mean, 16 in a row this early in the year is, kind of a, a little, a shock to the body.
but yeah, it's, it's been a grind.
We've, we've grinded through.
the Overall we've played good baseball kind of all the, all the way through, so, hopefully we'll finish it strong tomorrow.
I know, Cox mentioned before the series kind of limiting the walks as an emphasis kind of for all the pitchers.
for you, do you feel like today was a step in the right direction in that aspect?
I think so.
I don't know how many I finished with, but today was just about competing, you know?
It's one of those days where I really needed to grind mentally and physically, so yeah.
Just especially, given your tough start to the year, just what maybe helped you, I guess, today in this outing specifically to kind of maybe improve upon those first couple innings?
you know, I'm working on things between every start, but, I feel like I've been progressing well besides the end of my outings.
So today I just really needed to go to a whole nother level mentally- Yeah and be able to finish.
Shea obviously threw a guy out for you early there, and then obviously hit the clutch homer late.
Just what do you say kind of overall kind of what he continues to bring to this team for you guys?
Yeah, he's been great.
You know, he's I feel like he's playing almost every game, and what he does for the pitching staff and his pitch calling ability has been great.
And, yeah, his bat.
His bat, it's one of the best in the league.
And I think just overall the team offensively, at least when I pitch, I feel like they always have our backs.
You know, there's no shutdown innings on the other side for the most part, so they've been really good.
Obviously it's been kind of a grueling stretch for you guys of 16 in a row.
What do you think of coming in here and kind of finishing it at least with a, a series victory and cleaning up a- Yeah couple wins here?
It's a good way to start the road trip.
We have another game here, take care of business, then another division opponent, at the end Over the weekend.
So we just, you know, one game at a time, but Well, the Athletics with a series win over the Mariners, and Jeff McNeil right in the middle of that.
You had great numbers against Luis Castillo coming into the game tonight.
You get the first home run as an A, but what happened in the dugout?
No celebration.
Yeah.
they forgot it.
So, forgot the chain.
forgot stomper.
So, you know, that was, that was tough.
But, definitely got to enjoy it.
Well, you haven't forgotten how to swing the bat, my friend.
Another outstanding performance, not only on the offensive side of the baseball, the defensive side of the baseball.
It's gotta feel pretty good the way that you've come in.
You've impacted this young group.
You're playing a great, great second base.
Talk about how good it is to watch this unit continue to progress.
Even though you guys aren't at full strength right now, you have found different ways to win baseball games, and it showed up again tonight from a total team effort.
Starting pitcher, the bullpen, and again, offense and defense clicking.
Yeah, that was just a good, team win there.
yeah, I feel like we haven't really, you know, like, got going yet.
you know, I, I feel like we're swinging the bat pretty well.
You know, I think, you know, there's th- things we can improve on, but, you know, we're a good ball club.
We're finding ways to win, and I think that's what matters.
Yeah, definitely great to see the offense come alive, for sure.
Thanks for joining us, Jeff.
We appreciate it.
Congrats on number one of the season here for the A's.
Thanks, guys.
