Mark Kotsay, Jacob Lopez discuss ‘difficult' Athletics' tough extra-inning loss
Athletics manager Mark Kotsay and starter Jacob Lopez speak with the media after a 4-3 loss to the Baltimore Orioles on Friday at Sutter Health Park.
Mark Kotsay, Jacob Lopez discuss 'difficult' Athletics' tough extra-inning loss originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Video Transcript
Start with Lopez.
Obviously his pitch count got up pretty early, but, five innings, two runs.
Overall, how'd you see his outing today?
Yeah, I think for Jacob, you know, early just a little bit of lack of command.
You know, a hit, a hit batter, a walk in that inning.
S- an unfortunate play, you know, where he fields the ball and doesn't stay in his glove.
But overall, like you said, his pitch count got up and, and we pushed him.
I mean, for him to go five innings after, you know, coming in in the fourth at, like, 84, I think, or somewhere, somewhere in or around there, I thought it was a, it was a gutsy performance tonight.
That's what I would call it.
Around this time last year was when he had that outing that kind of ended his season.
How big, how important is it for him, I guess, going into this last month to just finish healthy, this year?
Yeah, definitely important for him to finish healthy.
You know, and, and as well as just to continue doing what he's doing.
And tonight was a big step forward in a game that, like you said, I, I mean, he grinded through.
Easily could have, you know, let a game get away from him, which we've seen, especially early in the year.
And he didn't let it get away from him.
He kept us in the game, gave us five innings.
Obviously Blewitt did a nice job in the sixth and seventh.
I thought the bullpen did a great job.
You know, tough matchup for Basso there, with, with Mayo.
But overall, you know, those, those extra inning games are, are difficult for any reliever to manage and, and try to get through, with a runner starting out, out at second base.
Yeah.
It, it seemed a little worrisome when, Lopez fell there over his left side.
Then he threw a pitch, and see how he was doing.
How he came out of, out of that?
It seemed like he came out of it fine.
You know, maybe a little trap soreness, but nothing more.
I think he, showed that, you know, obviously by continuing to be in the game and, and continuing to pitch, through five innings.
Yeah.
Could you talk about Zack Galef?
Great bunt there to move the runners, and then he came through in the 10th with a base hit RBI.
Yeah, no, great at-bats by Zack.
You know, I think the bunt was huge, getting the runners in scoring position.
You know, we came inches away from taking the lead there in the eighth inning.
It's a great play, great throw.
I thought it was a great send, you know, with one out and making an out, making a, outfielder make a play, which he did.
And, you know, overall for Zack tonight, the hit in the 10th to keep the game going, get Butler up there with a chance to win, win the game or tie was, was a good at-bat.
Muncy had a couple of hits earlier in the game.
Just what are you seeing from him at this point?
He looks a little bit different, but just what, what changes have you seen from him?
Yeah, I think we're, we're really working on just pitch recognition, end zone swing decisions.
For, for Munce, you know, I think when he controls the zone obviously and swings at strikes, you know, good things happen.
A- as for any hitter you can say that, but, you know, for, for Munce I think it's important that we see that, for the rest of the season.
And then there hasn't been a, a starter announced for tomorrow.
It's supposed to be Perkins, but would that, is that- Yeah, it, it will be Perkins tomorrow.
Yeah.
And no Basso to begin?
No.
Okay.
Scott, Jonah Heim and, Jeff McNeil, I just want to get your thoughts on, you know, their, their presence in the, clubhouse because they've been playing tough as nails.
No, it, it's nice to have veteran players, especially, you know, a situation we're in with guys, you know, being here that are young.
You know, helping them, talking the game with them.
I think, you know, it, it's, it's also nice to have the guys that are on the IL in there as well with them.
So, you know, Jonah's doing a great job.
Max's been playing great.
And like you said, you know, they're guys in the clubhouse that these younger guys can go to and talk about their experiences and gain some knowledge from them.
By the nature of the, kind of limit the damage there?
Yeah.
I mean, the second inning was just kind of a disaster as far as wanting to, like, give length for the team.
But, I mean, usually I'd be pretty upset with, giving up errors and stuff like that, but I think, just maturity of continuing and going three scoreless afterwards and doing my best to, you know, I don't think six plus was a reality after 30 pitches in the second inning, but I just tried to turn the page and, you know, no matter how I was feeling physically, just try to grind it out.
Around this time last year was kind of when you had the outing in Seattle where things kind of went south.
How, how much of your focus over this last month is just, I guess, staying healthy and maybe finishing what's been a good second half for you?
Yeah, I mean, it was just so weird in Seattle last year, right?
I was pitching really well and I thought I was crushing it in the weight room and training room.
My body felt really well.
Just elbow stuff kind of happens, right?
It's, you know, you know, you can't outwork it.
But, I think just trying to have a dialogue with the trainers and the strength coach, as best as I can to try to finish strong is the key.
Yeah.
It look very scary when you fall over your pitching arm.
Mm-hmm.
Yeah, when it fell down there, any moment you thought probably you wouldn't be able to continue the game.
Yeah.
There's a whole lot of different emotions right there, like embarrassment, frustration and, you know, pain.
But, I think just, I was, honestly my trap was pretty tight at, at, in that inning.
So I think once I kind of got rocked by Navarreza, it kind of just boosted my adrenaline and I was able to just feel better and get through it.
Yeah.
It, it, the, the first few innings you got out pretty fast of two of those innings.
Mm-hmm.
And probably that inning, whether you call it a disaster, would've been a lot better if you yourself didn't make an error.
Yeah.
Can you talk about that play?
Yeah, I mean, it's a routine play.
I just kind of misjudged, how, and I always think catchers are a little slow, but he was pretty quick honestly.
So I, I just misjudged how fast he was getting down the line and, usually when I get the ball like that, the runner gives it up, you know?
And, but I just, I bobbled it and I just mis- misread how far, how close he was to me.
So, just really frustrating giving up the second run like that or just hanging a slider to Biebers, you know, just not getting extension on the slider to lefties today.
But, you know, we kept the, kept the team in the ballgame and that we came back and almost took care of business.
You finished the outing out with three scoreless, as you said.
Mm-hmm.
Then you hopped off the mound after striking out the last couple.
Just what was going through your mind at that moment?
Yeah, I think just I felt good about, like, the maturity of, you know, I haven't felt that bad physically on a mound since maybe, maybe against the Yankees.
So, just being able to stay with it and mentally get through it and go five for the team and keep us in the ballgame felt good.
