Tony Vitello, Trevor McDonald, Giants players recap skid-snapping win vs. Padres
Tony Vitello, Trevor McDonald, Casey Schmitt and Jesús Rodríguez speak to reporters after the San Francisco Giants' win over the San Diego Padres.
Tony Vitello, Trevor McDonald, Giants players recap skid-snapping win vs. Padres originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Video Transcript
We talked so much pregame about your young position players.
What, what did you like most about what you saw from your young right-hander tonight?
yeah, I thought you were gonna talk about the two position guys, and so I'll just jump ahead with, probably should let you finish the question, but the, just the carefree way those two guys played I thought was awesome.
And if you looked at the stat sheet, it maybe doesn't show up as much, but, I, I thought that was refreshing and good, and, and quite frankly, it kind of shows the value of having a blank slate or a fresh start.
and then as far as T-Mac, you know, I gotta tell you, there's, you know, there's, there's options and there's a variety of ways we, we could have attacked, that whole situation.
I thought Hauser, if anything, had a start where he easily could argue we took him out too early.
I, I know they came out of the gate swinging against him, but, he threw the ball really well, and that led to us having to select a starter for today.
And, you know, the, the one thing that's been awesome for me being a part of this organization is just the standard that everybody wants to uphold and then also just the group, I don't wanna say groupthink, 'cause that's wrong, but group camaraderie, group, group conversation, and everybody just wants what's best for the organization.
All opinions are welcome.
there's no egos or anything like that.
But, Buster Posey nailed it with T-Mac's competitiveness is, something that you wanna you wanna bet on, or a better way to say it in coaching terms for me is you can rest easy at night if that game doesn't go well tonight, just 'cause of the way he competes.
And then the message he sent as a guy who, you know, to me he's, he acts like a veteran.
I, I know we, we just bring him up in this particular situation, but I think he sent a message that hopefully rang true for all his buddies on the pitching staff is attacking is the way to go.
And, when we've had success this, or I'm sorry, when we've attacked this year as a pitching staff, we've, we've almost always had success, at the very least we did on the defensive end.
Tony, following a start like that, you could argue it's been one of your best of the year.
Is the plan to keep McDonald up with the Major League team?
I, I think it's kinda ongoing conversations, to be honest with you.
I mean, I'm slow to commit to everything, but again, I'll fall back on kind of a group decision and also a group assessment of where guys are at, because we're at the part of the year where you got nicks and knacks, things like Miller going on.
So, regardless of what the immediate future holds, I think the, the distant future or the long term is obviously he's gonna get the ball in his hand again in, in a vital situation.
I mean, in spring training, I wanna hold true to what I told him, and the other coaches were in there, too, is trust him in any situation.
'Cause at the time we were talking about if you're not a starter, you could be a guy that closes a game for us.
So when that next opportunity is, I'm not sure, but I'll be looking forward to it, 'cause you know, again, he's not scared and he's gonna compete.
not an offensive explosion by any means, but what'd you think about the at-bats overall that you saw from- Yeah, they were good.
I mean, y- you know what they're capable of doing in the bullpen.
a- and then starting-wise, you know, ground balls were there and got the ball in on some guys, you know, as far as Vazquez goes.
Got the ball in on some guys a- at times.
So did a good job.
But I mean, a, a big inning in, i- in the, in the first was, was on the table for us.
the swings were better.
The at-bats were more competitive.
and there was some team stuff in there.
guys taking walks.
We get a sac bunt down.
Guys moving runners.
Just doing what you gotta do to drive the guy in from third.
So it wasn't loud and it wasn't a crooked number, but there was all the ingredients you want kinda based in, in team offense was, was there.
Killian seems to have been one of your more trusted guys for a while now, but in that spot, what did he show you and what could it mean for him in the future?
Well, I thought it was awesome to have the opportunity and, and a lot of it's just the way the game plays out.
We sit back there and you map out plan A.
It almost never works out.
but it was awesome for just get back out there.
I mean, it doesn't matter if it's him or any of these other guys.
it is just three outs in, in the ninth inning, or if it's extra innings, it's three outs with a guy at second base.
it's a difficult challenge.
And so the more you can get comfortable and cozy up to the fact that it is the same as pitching in the fifth and the sixth and the seventh, in the moment.
Now, afterwards, the game is, tonight we get the last out, the game is over, but in the moment it is you against the hitter and the goal is to get the three outs in a hurry if you're starting the inning, and then it could be just getting an out or getting two outs, getting out of a jam.
The one thing with him is, he, he probably is, I, I think there's a lot of guys we trust to do different things down there, but he probably is a guy that we trust as much as any in, in jam situations.
Fifth inning and Harper's up or, you know, all the way to that situation he was in tonight.
couple housekeeping things.
The game notes had TBA for tomorrow.
Is, is Logan starting?
Yes.
Okay.
And then, it looked like Peguero was in the dugout.
Is, has he reached the end of his rehab assignment or is- He's, he's completed what he needs to do throwing-wise.
and again, w- we, we I, I think do a pretty good job of commuting training, communicating training room stuff to you.
But then also there's contingencies with some, there's, there's always some stuff going on behind the scenes.
So, you know, we'll, we'll see what everybody's fate is come tomorrow and the next day and the next day.
But I think you're seeing faces that are gonna help us.
And again, I'll, I'll fall back on the fact we started spring training with an unbelievable stat that I had no idea, I guess as just a fan of Major League Baseball, is how many bodies go through your locker room and through your dugout and gotta be out on the field for you to complete a successful season.
So you're seeing the faces and again, I, I think tonight had a, a flavor of a team win, so hopefully those are all good things.What do you, I'm sorry.
When it comes to Luis, a couple of nice hits down the left field line, and obviously he's been great in the field as well.
Just how impressed have you been with Luis on, on the day-to-day, just watching him go about his work?
very.
I would focus more on today.
I was impressed, with him taking the time to say some words to the team.
now I know you're gonna go to him and ask what that is, which, so I wish I wouldn't have said it, but, if you choose not to, I appreciate that because it was more on a personal level.
and if you say it, you're much more likely to do it.
saying it in your head is valuable.
You now have a vision, but when you put yourself out there and say it verbally, now you kinda have a contract with yourself and with your teammates, and he went out there and backed it up.
And, I, I tell you what too, as soon as that game was over, I kinda looked at him and I'm trying to be more professional since I'm supposed to be a, a big leaguer, but I just wanted to run out there instead of shake hands with the other coaches and high-five him or whatever after that game, 'cause it was a game The, the best way I can say it, sum it up is, not a good road trip, not a great start, not a great first month.
I know, I know a lot about this organization and the fan base, and there's a lot of fans that probably at, at this point have had too much frustration, more than they deserve, or too much heartbreak.
I feel like we're in debt to them a little bit.
If anything, at least for Giants fans that have, young people in their family, we had to have made up a little ground tonight.
There's a little bit of a trade-off for some of those losses.
Have your son or your nephew or your young player or a player you coach watch that game tonight.
That is exactly how you want your son or your nephew or anyone you know or anyone you coach to play baseball, is the way he played baseball tonight.
Yeah, I mean, I, I played there, I played outfield in high school my, my freshman and sophomore year.
So it's obviously not the same, but, yeah, I mean, I'm, I'm open to whatever and, and just whatever, whatever I can do to help the team.
How was it just to get back out to third base today and sort of be in that groove overall?
Yeah.
it felt good.
just I've been making sure I've been taking ground balls, you know, just, just everywhere with DH and stuff.
So, just, just making sure I'm, I'm just out there moving around.
When was the last game that you even, like, shagged, like, fly balls in the outfield?
last year actually, I think.
I th- God, I think it was in Arizona.
I was shagging with a I had a lefty glove on just 'cause it was when I got hit in the hand and we were trying to figure out what to do.
But I was, I was out there, you know, running around with, I don't remember whose glove it was, but I was, I had a lefty glove on, just running around, just, just getting some exercise in.
Do you think you could play left field in a pinch?
Do you think you would need a lot of time to work?
I mean, I don't know.
We'll, we'll see.
I mean, I'm open, I'm open to anything.
yeah, just, just do whatever I can.
But yeah, I mean, I think, I think I could, I could be able to do it.
What was the vibe today with the new guys?
It was good.
Yeah.
I think just the big thing is just flushing, flushing that road trip.
And, you know, coming here, coming home and, just, just starting fresh.
And how much of it maybe is a compliment to you that, you know, they're trying to figure out any means necessary to get, like, even with the kind of awkwardness of the roster to get you in the lineup by any means necessary?
Yeah, I mean, it, it feels good.
And like I said, I've always, I've always said, you know, however, however way I can get in there, you know, as, as mu- as much as possible, that's, that's what I'll, that's what I wanna do.
Were you a good outfielder as a freshman and sophomore ?
I was pretty decent.
Yeah.
I wasn't, I wasn't too bad.
I played, let's see.
My freshman year I played left field and then a little bit of center, and then I played right I think my sophomore year for a good, at least half the, I think half the, half the season, half the high school season.
How, how valuable do you think that run was to kinda offset what they did in the first inning?
yeah, I mean, it was just, just good to get, get the, get that run back that, that they got in the, got in the first.
but yeah, I think, I think just, just the defense we played today and the situational at bats, I think it was, I think it was a, it was a really good game, all around.
And yeah, we were, we were, we were pumped up to get back out there.
What do you think about Trevor pitching, how he's pitched well for you guys?
Yeah, I mean, he's, he's been great.
you saw it last season, how he pitched last season.
but yeah, just, just having him, having him out there, having him good, he was, he was really good out there and he looked really good, really confident.
And it, it was, it was just fun to, fun to watch him be out there really.
Over these past few weeks, do you feel like you're, confidence-wise at the plate, is this the most you feel like you've been in sync, I guess you could say, just at this level?
Yeah, I mean, I think it's, I think I try to just, every day is a new day for me.
you know, whether I had a bad game yesterday or whatever, but I just try to keep, keep calm and, you know, just, just try and go out there and, and give it my all and, and not, not leave anything on the mound.
But, yeah, just, just try not to do too much is really a big thing for me.
Did you have an outfielder's glove?
No, I'm not, not yet.
Okay.
Video barrel or- We'll, we'll work on that one.
Video barrel or- What?
Outfield, video barrel outfielder's glove or- Yeah.
I'll, I'll, I'll see if I can, I'll see if I can find one.
Someone, someone, someone will have an extra one for sure.
It's the big leagues.
Different, week for you, flying to Philadelphia, flying back.
Just how did you, how'd your body feel?
How Were you, what, what do you think was able to get you in, into that rhythm so quickly today?
I slept for about 14 hours when I got back to Sac, so, made up on it and then flew here yesterday, and at a reasonable hour, so got some good sleep last night and felt back to normal.
Trevor, what's made him so effective, do you think, in, in these big league cameos he had, you know, last year and go back to the year before?Uh, I mean, I'm just being thankful for the opportunity to be up here, you know?
it's a big moment, big opportunity.
obviously we're on a little, been on a little bit of a skid, so there was some, I guess adrenaline's the word, to go out there and, like, try to give us a spark, you know?
And do the best I can to help us get back on that winning streak, so.
When's the adrenaline wear off though, and then you kind of get in the zone to where, like you did with seven innings tonight?
Yeah, I think it came back a little bit when that ball hit me in the butt.
Just kind of going through your game logs in Sacramento, seems like they've been building you up a, a certain way.
What, what's been the plan over there to try to get you built up at this level here after spring?
yeah, so obviously did, like, the little experiment with being a reliever then the springs, then started the year in Sac building back up.
my last out in there, I think I was up to five and 70, so still in that, the progress of working up.
But, was able to get a little bit higher tonight.
Quick conversation.
When the rush came out, what, what did he say to you?
Or what, what was that like?
he was just checking if I was all right.
He wanted me to throw a pitch and all and I told him that, "No, I won't.
I just wanna keep rolling," you know?
It hit me in the, in the meat, so I was good.
Just let me roll.
You've had the chance to kind of see Bryce and Isan himself close and personal the last few months, even, you know, last year as well.
What have you kind of seen from them in terms of growth- Uh- with Bryce and Isan?
A lot of growth.
been playing with them the last couple years in Sac, and both of them are unbelievable.
I mean, you can look at their numbers in Sac and it'll tell you that.
really, really good hitters, really good ballplayers, and it's just a matter of time before it clicks here and they're off and running, so excited to see it.
What kind of chemistry Oh.
do you have with Trevor, you guys getting to play?
Good chemistry.
He's one of my favorite players.
threw to him several times in Sac, and he did awesome back there tonight, his first big league game.
It was fun to be a part of it with him.
After this losing skid on the road, did it fill me with any added pressure to try to stop the bleeding here?
a little bit, but at the end of the day, it's just another ball game, you know?
I'm just going out there trying to compete and do what I can and, you know, hope for the best, so.
Do you think I mean, they could have gone a lot of ways in the second game of that double header.
Do you think the way that it worked out with you having some advance knowledge of when you were gonna pitch and being able to get rested up, did that, was that i- more ideal for you than if you had pitched in Philly, do you think?
Yeah, I think so.
I was able to When I got back to Salt Lake City, I was able to throw an extended bullpen, since I had those extra days off, and I think that prepared me pretty good for tonight.
Is it Did they tell you then, that you would probably pitch tonight?
No.
They just said it was an option on the table, but it wasn't for certain.
Just, you know, be ready if my name gets called, so.
How'd you find out the news that you were getting called up?
yeah, I mean, after the game, yesterday, we were Salt Lake and then Mikey told me, "Hey, you're going to the big leagues tomorrow night.
Just play hard.
Do your thing."
After the innings, it's good.
Did you get any family or friends here?
just a couple friends.
My family's coming tomorrow.
What do you think made Trevor so good today?
I mean, his pitch, his pitches are, has been always good.
obviously the command of was there too, and when he can, when he can do that, he will be successful.
He's, he's a great pitcher.
He got great stuff and a lot of trust in him.
Did it help you that your first game you were catching someone you were familiar with?
Oh, yeah, of course.
I mean, it was great to have him over there and, like, I mean, I was happy when they say, like, he was in, I was gonna throw to him.
How were the butterflies, if I first asking you?
I mean, I feel like they were there, but, like, I was like in my zone.
I was really happy, and I felt like it was good.
Yeah.
What are you hoping to re- contribute to this team, while you're, while you're up here?
just to be ready for everything.
Whatever they need me, I'll be ready for, for, for whatever, pinch run, whatever.
I just gotta be there and play for this team.
And what about the positions?
How, how many positions do you feel comfortable, playing?
I mean, I feel, I feel good in everything.
Everywhere.
Just, like I said, I just wanna help the team.
Wherever they need me, I'll be there.
Try to give my g- my best.
Was there any surreal feeling when you first got behind the plate and just kind of To catch those first pitches and- Uh- you were throwing them, each one was over the plate?
I mean, it was like, you know, excitement, happy, just taking it all in and just to see everybody in the field, that w- was great.
You gonna try to get any family out for, you know, next eight times down?
Yeah, yeah.
They coming tomorrow.
they coming from Orlando, so hopefully get tomorrow.
Luis Urias joining us now live from Oracle Park.
Great defense, a couple of doubles, Luis.
But first I wanna talk about this team as a whole.
Obviously the six-game losing streak, the road trip incredibly difficult.
What kind of a relief is it just to get this result and to be able to walk away with the win tonight at Oracle Park and to move forward?
Yeah, we just mo- y- we just need to move forward.
So we lose yesterday, but it's something passed.
So I tell the guys, I just, I just, we just need to keep going, keep playing hard, and we have another opportunity today to win the game.
So thanks God we won the game, and then we played really good baseball.
Luis, what'd you see?
you've played second base tonight, obviously a very good second base.
Played great defense.
Made some solid plays behind Trevor- Hold on, hold on, hold on.
Trevor McDonald.
Time out.
Okay, here we go.
Willie.
Here we go.
We, we, yeah.
Let's- Willie need- Time out he give me a hug first.
Let's take a time out for Willie.
Yeah.
Time out, Willie.
Get it done.
Oh, we just got a hug.
No, no, no Oh, there we go.
It's the power after.
It's really cold, but I like it.
You like it?
Here's some more just in case.
Thank you, brother.
In case- I love you, baby just in case you need-There, there's some more.
Hey, hey, Luis, Trevor McDonald tonight, you knew a guy like that right away, hit with the good sinker, there was gonna be a lot of ground balls.
He had 10 ground ball outs tonight.
What did you see from him behind, playing second base, 'cause you've got a lot of action over there?
Yeah.
Man, I faced him in, in spring training, live BP, and then I said, "Wow, this dude got a really good sinker, really good stuff."
And then thank God they bring him, bring him to pitch today, and then he did a really good job.
He's nasty, so I'm glad he's, he's, he's playing with, with the same team I play right now.
Hey, how do you like playing against sinker ball guys, the guys that keep a lot of ground ball, get a lot of ground balls?
Is that, do you play on your toes more?
Do you feel like you're better defensively with guys like that?
man, 100%.
That's why I got a routine every day with Ro Washington and Borgy.
So I prepare my hands, my legs, and then I just need to go out there and have fun.
Whatever you do, you also do a great job preparing offensively, because once again, two for three with a couple of doubles in this game.
How are you able to produce so consistently like this throughout the course of your career?
'Cause it's truly incredible to watch night in and night out.
Yeah.
Competing, competing.
I trust myself.
I just, I just go out there and have fun, and then trust myself.
And then I just want to do something good for the fans, too.
So the fans support us, and then we need to go do, do something for them.
So I just go out there and then have fun and compete.
Hey, Luis, with every defensive play you made tonight, did you ever, did you give a little side look into the Padres dugout- Oh, yeah and say, "Hey- Yeah I can play second base.
What are you guys talking about?"
Play a pretty good second base too, man.
I don't know.
I leave it, I leave it in the, the, my game there, and then they can watch.
And then I want to say thanks God to put me watch in, in my life, and then he helped me a lot.
So I just need to keep continuing to work hard and, have fun.
Well, Luis, thank you so much.
Appreciate the time.
Congrats.
Go dry off.
Yeah.
It's been a joy to watch you though, man.
Good win tonight.
Thank you.
Thank you.
For the team, kind of what was the mentality like coming into this game?
Obviously, the road trip was tough, but you come back home.
you guys came out, and the pitching, the offense, the defense, it all came together tonight.
What'd you see from the group?
Yeah, I mean, I mean, the big thing to, it was just to flush that road trip.
You know, it obviously didn't go the, go any, any way that we wanted to go.
So, that was the big thing, is just going out and flushing it, and it's a new series, new day.
I mean, it was, it was a great game out of, out of everyone.
And, you know, the plays that Louie was making out there were, were outstanding and, you know, Jesus behind the plate and, and Trev throwing the ball, you know, that was a, that was a great game all around for us.
Hey, Casey, pretty good defensive play by yourself at third base when McDonald made that throw- Oh, yeah to you at third.
Were you expecting him to make that play?
Looked like you were over there a little bit late, but you're probably playing a little deeper.
But you nade, made a nice play coming in on the run and making the tag there.
Yeah, I mean- That was a good play in that game.
Yeah.
He's a, I mean, he's an athlete.
He's a hell of an athlete.
yeah, no, he's, he's awesome to be around, too.
I don't know if you guys have heard him, heard his accent.
Man, that, that accent's really nice to listen to.
Straight Mississippi, right?
I'd give a- Straight southern?
Oh, m- oh my God, I w- I want him to read me a story before I go to bed.
That's awesome.
for you offensively, I mean, you have been the most consistent bat on this Giants lineup.
There's no question.
You go yard tonight.
how have you progressed, whether it be in your approach mechanically, to be producing the way that you are this season?
Yeah, I think just, I mean, for me, it was just getting healthy.
You know, I've said it multiple times.
you know, my hand was bothering me a lot of last year, and it kind of- Mm-hmm it kind of affected me a lot, a lot, throughout the, throughout the year from, I think it was from June to, to the end.
But I think just going into the off-season, getting my body good and, and just get, getting healthy was the big thing for me.
And, yeah, just, just building off of what I did last year and just trying not to do too much and just stick with an approach and, you know, working with Hunter and, you know, and OB and everyone just, just, and just keeping it as simple as I can and, and, and not trying to go out there and do too much.
And Casey, you know, obviously today the buzz was with Eldridge and, and, and Rodriguez getting called up today.
what, what kind of, what, what do you think that their, their, I guess, presence- Mm-hmm brought to this ball club today?
Was there a different vibe- Yeah a different energy in the clubhouse?
Yeah, absolutely.
I think, I think just starting that, that new series was huge for us, especially starting with a W and having those guys here.
you know, those guys are gonna be a big part of this team and, you know, just, just having them here has just b- it's been awesome.
You know, you can, you can see it with Bryce.
Bryce's presence in the box, I mean, he's, he's a massive human being.
but yeah, j- just having him and having Trev and having Jesus, you know, they're, they're in, they're ex- they're excellent players, and, we're really happy that they're here.
All right.
Well, Casey, we're just happy you guys got the win.
Congratulations.
Appreciate you joining us.
Thanks, Casey.
