Tony Vitello, Robbie Ray break down Giants' series-opening win vs. Padres
Giants manager Tony Vitello and pitcher Robbie Ray speak to reporters after San Francisco's win against the San Diego Padres on Thursday at Petco Park.
Tony Vitello, Robbie Ray break down Giants' series-opening win vs. Padres originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Video Transcript
On Robbie's night, especially, you know, given the circumstances of what may not happen.
Yeah, it w- it was phenomenal.
I mean, kind of showed you who he is there with, you may get something done against him.
They, they obviously get the one run, but he's so good at managing innings and navigating his way through the, the lineup and the entire game, and kind of emptied the tank there at the end, and, and left it all on the table, which is normally his deal, too.
And, it's good we found our stride for his sake of we've played really good ball behind him, kind of followed his leadership.
Early in the year, he was kind of doing what he needed to do, and it just kind of wasn't working out.
So it was good that this evening had a little bit of everything of what he does, and then what we're capable of doing when we follow his leadership.
Kind of- Have you talked at all afterwards, or just- No, just, uh- Business as usual?
I mean, a little bit of a tough N- not really that tough if you break it down a whole bunch, but, just a, a late decision of, you know, do you let him go out there and face Merrill, who's ultra dangerous, and you'd rather have a lefty on him, or just go ahead and move to the bullpen.
So it was kind of more about that.
And then after the game, the normal routine with the celebrating and all that.
What did you make of that last inning?
I think his hardest pitch of the night when it was like his 81st, and, you know, in that sixth inning.
Yeah, like, I mean, you could tell he k- kind of emptied the tank.
I mean, I'm, I'm not a genius, but y- I got really smart people around me, and several people said it, too.
So, you can kind of see it when a guy does that and has the ability to go, to another level.
Changeup was really good, you know, to finish the inning, so it was, it was more than commendable, I can tell you that, his effort.
You've, you've mentioned how you've, told guys to go ahead and bunt on their own if they see something.
Yeah.
Did you mean Rafael- is it, too?
A little bit.
I mean, he's fun to tease with about anything.
Just trying to do whatever you gotta do to get that fourth run.
Ironically, that's what it was.
And to be honest with you, that's a little bit more coach speak than it is, I think, Rafi just on his mind, and he's even said it in meetings, you know, "Be who you are, but be willing to do stuff, that maybe the game calls for."
Again, not changing who you are, but maybe what the game calls for, be willing to do it, whatever it takes to win.
So, I mean, I can say it with every ounce of my body, I mean, I, I think if you're in this league, there's critics no matter who you are, so, whatever you wanna critique about Rafi, the one thing you can never, ever say is he doesn't wanna win.
I promise you with, with everything I have standing here, at the very least, that guy wants to win badly every night.
What did you think of the catch that Tats made to rob him in, in the first inning?
It was a little unfortunate, I can tell you that.
I'm glad Ramos did what he needed to do and tag up.
But the guy's as athletic as anybody that's in pro sports.
So when the ball was lofted and, and in the air the way that it was, you knew he'd have an opportunity.
But it was, it was an outstanding play and, you know, funny how the game balances out.
He hammers that ball, doesn't get anything for it other than the sac fly, but gets on with a, a bunt.
Although the exit velo on the bunt was probably pretty high.
You guys don't have a starter listed for tomorrow.
Do you know who's gonna be starting?
We'll see.
We'll, we'll make sure we, we got kind of a certain plan of what we wanna do the next three games.
I know we've asked you an awful lot about the circumstances this time of year and whether you thought about it and been pretty consistent in saying, but on a night like tonight, when it potentially could be your last start in this uniform, does it go through your mind?
A little bit, yeah.
Just with, you know, the trade deadline coming up, I just try to put everything out of my head, as far as, you know, leading up to, to this start.
But yeah, I mean, it obviously, it obviously comes up now that this could be my last start in a Giants uniform.
Can you embrace, embrace that just in case?
Yeah.
I mean- How so?
you know, you know, I felt like this whole year, you know, it's been a tough year.
As a team, you know, we're not where we wanna be.
But I feel like I've put myself in a good position.
You know, I've gone out every day and tried to give my team a chance to win and, you know, I've said it all year, and it probably You guys are probably sick of hearing it, but, you know, the, that's kind of been my whole thing this year, is just go out, put up zeros, and give us a chance.
And, I felt like, I felt like this was a, you know, this was a good one.
You came to this organization pretty deep in rehab mode.
Just how are you gonna reflect on your whole time wearing this uniform?
Yeah.
You know, super thankful, given the opportunity, mid-rehab to come over here, and continue the rehab process with the guys they have over here.
Training staff has been amazing.
And just given the opportunity to pitch, I think that's the biggest thing, get back on the field and, and do what I love to do.
You know, they've been They, they've given me a chance to, to come back from that injury and, I'm just thankful for that.
Robbie, what do you think you showed the last six, seven weeks, just for anyone, any scouts, any teams that might have been there, just on the field, what do you think you showed?
I feel like I've been locked in lately.
I feel like my, my last few starts, my last two in particular, I felt like I was kind of on cruise control.
Didn't really feel pressured the, my last two starts all that much.
Just felt like I was in flow state kind of the whole time.
Felt comfortable with all my pitches, in any situation.
And I think, you know, that's, as a starting pitcher, that's kind of where you wanna be, to be able to turn over a lineup three times.
And I feel like that's kind of where I'm at right now.
Looked like you gave it a little extra there in your last inning.
Were you Was it by design?
Yeah, I mean, I assumed that I was probably getting close to being done.
So I was, at that point, just trying to empty the tank and, and leave it all out there.
When you came here as a rehabbing pitcher, you must had goals and expectations.
Did you match all those or reach all those?
Yeah, I mean, you know, last year coming back fir- first full season, being able to make all my starts, going from two years throwing 30 innings to throwing over 180 last year, making the All-Star team, that was a, that was a good bounce back year from, from surgery.
And then, you know, this year, it's still going on, but feel like I've, like I said, just gone out and give my team a chance to win.
Is it kind of a thrilling feeling to, to think that you might be on a contending team, you might pitch in October?
You know, I haven't thought that far through.
Just kind of s- take it all in right now.
Yeah.
The first time you ever had a conversation with your son mid-game in the dugout?
Yeah.
Yeah, yeah.
He knows to kind of leave me alone, when I'm working, but at that point I was done, and so he, he came over and, and had some words to say.
