Tony Vitello, Adrian Houser react to Giants' series loss to Astros
Tony Vitello, Adrian Houser speak to reporters after San Francisco's 2-1 loss to the Houston Astros on Wednesday at Oracle Park.
Tony Vitello, Adrian Houser react to Giants' series loss to Astros originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Video Transcript
Hey, Tony.
How is, how is Willy Adames, and did he gr- aggravate the back on that throw to second?
He's on, he's Yeah, he's on the table right now.
You know, stemming from the issue from the past, but I think also stemming from, he had mentioned, that he's feeling a little run-down.
I, I would say dating about, about a week ago, we had some stuff kind of go through the locker room, coaches and players, more congestion stuff, sick-wise, so he said a little bit of it is feeling a combo of run-down.
And this is all quick relay from medical post-game.
The only conversations with him in the game were really just about coming out.
You know, we had to fight him tooth and nail, to come out of the game.
But the biggest thing, you could argue what you gotta do in the, in the middle of the game.
Anyone saw him moving around obviously knew he wasn't moving around after that play, full speed.
But the biggest thing was just not to prevent anything from getting any worse than it is.
I, I think his frustration is, you know, there's kind of been symptoms there lingering for, just, just to be honest, I don't, I don't know how long o- of, of the year.
So again, you got, you got kind of some internal stuff, whatever fancy word they used in there.
So there's, there's It's not a fracture or anything like that.
And then you got his willingness and want to, to play, so.
But the, the bottom line is we're at a pretty distinct point here where he needs to get back to getting some treatment on that thing.
I hope that's somewhat of an answer.
Tony, it's pretty clear just watching the game how much treatment he's getting, and, you know, he has the wrap on his back all games.
At, at some point, do you have to take the decision out of his hands, or?
Yeah, I mean, we had to do it today.
And I think we definitely have to do it on Friday, and then we'll go forward from there.
Because this has been bothering him so long, him so long and he comes out of the game today, do you think this is something that, you know, it's finally gonna warrant an IL stint for him to just really get it under control?
I don't think so.
And again, I kind of lean on the, medical staff here.
Quick convos, lengthy text message.
So the initial answer is I don't think so, but kind of open to Again, where we're at, what we're trying to do, whatever's best for his future in general would definitely be best.
But it's kind of in the hands of a few check marks before it, it gets to the coaching staff as far as the lineup stuff goes.
With Hauser today, obviously that was his first actual start start, in two months.
What did you think of the job he did, and, and could it earn him an actual sort of rotation spot rather than- Yeah, he was phenomenal.
I mean, b- before the game, we kind of stated that, you know, this is what we wanted to do today.
There's no reason to close a door saying we wouldn't do something different, given certain circumstances, regardless of how today went.
But yeah, I, I think he's just I think it was beneficial for him to have a change of scenery and do some things.
He helped us win some games, or at least get through some games in addition to winning some games.
But I think he certainly, if we're just gonna isolate today's game, he absolutely established himself and, took ownership of the game.
The thing that stuck out most to me was the fastballs down and into lefties and the fastballs up and out to lefties.
And, and goes without saying with a starter, that's what you have to do, is be able to navigate through a lineup multiple times, and you've also got to be pretty balanced as it relates to right and left and, and that stuck out amongst other positives of how he was able to do that.
With the offense, what stands out more, being one for seven, nine left on base, or only having one base runner from innings five through nine?
Yeah, I mean, we came out of the chute with some really, really good at-bats.
The third inning kind of turned on us a little bit.
I thought that was a big swing moment in the game.
They had a plan and, I don't, I don't mean to speak for them, but I don't f- you know, you, you map that out and it looks great on paper, but if the guys have to get outs, and our guys at-bats were really good, that we were probably speeding up their plan a little bit, and it, it was on course to, to be derailed.
If Jung, whose ball is fair, I think it's kind of derailed, is what I said to myself at least.
And then, in the third inning, I think everything got back on track with about a six-pitch inning and just three at-bats that we kind of gave away.
So I think the innings where we weren't productive, you know, whether it's the third guy up, there's no magic formula.
You gotta dig in and find a way at least to get something productive done in the inning, even if it's, the way you make an out.
But with the guys on base, a lot of times it was, you know, with two outs or with the at-bats were really good getting up to that point, and then, even a couple of those at-bats with, with guys on base, Jungy's ball to, to left center were driven well.
We just didn't have anything to show for it.
But, you know, I, I guess I'm always leaning towards find a way to get on base.
So it sucks to leave as many guys on as we did and to have as big, big of a gap as we did between us and them in that category.
But I'm all for good at-bats, and we just didn't have some in a few isolated innings.
Adrian, I think it had been two months since you'd actually had a start, start.
It looked like you felt very comfortable getting back in that, your regular role.
How, how would you describe it?
Yeah, you know, just being more comfortable on the mound I think is more it.
Not so much if it's in a, you know, starting role or, or, out of the bullpen, just, you know, being more comfortable out there with my mechanics and what I'm feeling and everything like that.
So just trying to build off that and take each good day and stack it on top of each other and keep going.
You think you were able to find in the time you were in the bullpen?
Just like I was saying last time, just a little bit better balance, a little bit more, mechanics, able to get into the lower half a little bit better, and was just able to, you know, execute and command the pitches a lot better than just feeling like I'm just throwing.
Now I feel like I'm pitching.
Would you welcome a return to the rotation if this start leads to that?
Yeah, absolutely.
I mean, that's what I signed here to do.
That's what I want to do.
That's what I see myself as, is a starter.
But, you know, at the end of the day, I always go about my business and wanna, you know, take care of today and, you know, go out there and get outs.
And at the end of the day, that's- that's the name of the game, get outs and win ballgames.
Do you feel ultimately you're a better pitcher, better player if you are in the rotation versus- Uh- bullpen, you know?
Yeah, personally, I feel that way.
I feel like with the things that I do, the routine that I have going on the starter side, I feel like I'm able to get into the right spots and be ready to go every time out, but obviously this game is all about adjustments, and so you have to adjust sometimes and, you know, that's- that's just the name of the game.
And so you just gotta roll with it and go.
You- you were very efficient today, but also your pitching schedule's been a little bit erratic.
But do you feel like maybe you could have gone further or did you-- Was that discussed at all?
Yeah, I think just with everything going on, kind of like you're saying, just getting back into it, I, you know, I felt-- we felt like we're in a good spot to call it right there, but definitely physical-wise, body-wise, I felt like I could've kept going.
So, you know, just keep building off that and keep going with that and try to stay in that same spot.
When you think of that double play, and they were able to turn to get you out of the sixth inning?
That was awesome.
You know, that's how, that's how you draw it up, right?
That's how you draw up a double play.
But no, that was just heads-up baseball right there.
Everybody being where they needed to be, the guys paying attention and, you know, executing the play right there.
And so that was great defense by our guys right there.
Adrian, you've, you've played with Willie, you know, in Milwaukee when he's really kind of been at his best.
Clearly he's been bothered by the back this year.
Has it been tough to see him go through that and maybe not be maybe the player that he, he can be for this team?
Yeah, absolutely.
You know, you want everybody to be their best.
We all know that's, you know, that's not part of it.
You know, everybody wants to be feeling 100%, play their best every single time, every time they go out there.
But everybody knows at the end of the day, you know, those guys are, you know, they're good three times out of 10.
They're Hall of Famers, so, you know, it's tough to watch guys not be able to perform up to their ability what they wanna do.
But as, like I said, it's part of it, and he's been battling through it and, you know, that's kind of what we all have to do, is battle through it.
And, you know, he's been, been hanging in there with us and, you know, hopefully everything gets going back the right way and he can finish these last two months off and be in a good spot heading into the next season.
