Looked like you had the perfect game plan going in to allow him to be at his best.

Yeah, I mean, he's got the best stuff in the league.

Our whole staff has the best stuff in the league.

They're nasty.

Just trusting our guys.

I don't know.

I don't know.

Tell us about your progress this year and what's made you such a clutch hitter, it seems.

Was there a discussion had about having to take two here in Chicago, and wanting to, to kinda get a little revenge? And is there a conversation going forward about defending home field on Saturday?

I mean, the discussion was if we lose, we're gone.

So [laughs] might as well go out there and win, and we still got one more to win at home.

So again, this was a awesome atmosphere to play in, and uh, we can't wait to get back to Cleveland for game five.

Can, can you take us inside the clubhouse and give us an idea of like the makeup of this team, and why they are built to win in October?

Yeah.

I mean, I think it starts with the leadership from the top down.

Um, you know, guys, guys show up every day.

Was there a discussion had about having to take two here in Chicago, and wanting to, to kinda get a little revenge? And is there a conversation going forward about defending home field on Saturday?

I mean, the discussion was if we lose, we're gone, so [laughs] might as well go out there and win, and we still got one more to win at home.

So again, this was a awesome atmosphere to play in, and, uh, we can't wait to get back to Cleveland for game five.

Can, can you take us inside the clubhouse and give us an idea of, like, the makeup of this team, and why they are built to win in October?

Yeah.

I mean, I think it starts with the leadership from the top down.

Um, you know, guys, guys show up every day.

They're the same.

But did you envision this happening?

Yeah.

I mean, this was awesome.

When I got traded over here, everyone Well, I mean, shoot, one of the first years we've had was in Detroit.

And I think someone said the division ran through the AL Central ran through Cleveland.

And I was like, all right, sounds good.

Again, we're so happy to I'm so happy to be here, man.

But until you get here, what is the secret sauce that makes it happen here? Man,

Obviously, there's goals in mind, but did you envision this

happening? Yeah.

I mean, this was awesome.

When I got traded over here, everyone I mean shoot one of the first years we've had was in Detroit and I think someone said the division ran through the AL Central ran through Cleveland and I was like all right sounds good again we're so happy to I'm so happy to be here man like this is this is so cool and golly I'm just

blessed I don't know what to say you'd see it from the other side with with another team albeit in the National League but until you get here what what is the secret sauce that makes it happen here Man,

it's a really unselfish group of guys that, man, like, the individual stuff doesn't matter.

Like, we care about wins.

We care about each other.

And when you were acquired, um, the theory was that, that the Guardians would have this tremendous defensive catching tandem, and yet you s- you and Austin Hedges have really become factors offensively as well, and from a pride standpoint, how important is that to you both that, that you can still obviously get it done behind the plate, but hitting-wise as well?

Yeah, I mean, at the end of the day, we wanna do everything we can to help the team win and, um, obviously we do that with the things we do behind the plate.

But, um, it's always, it's always nice to do it at the plate as well and, um, it's been cool to kinda see Hog do the, the things that he's done the, [coughs] this season with, you know, the career he's had and, I mean, I've talked with him quite a bit, um, you know, even before being acquired here with kinda the hitting side and, um, balancing both and, um, it's been really fun to actually see it in the dugout and, um, the work that he's put in to do what he's done this year's been pretty cool.

Um, how much has, uh, it changed, uh, how you look at things in terms of framing and, and what you're trying to do back there?

Um, I think the framing's kinda the same.

Like, you're still trying to present the ball and give the best, um, I guess, look the umpire can have.

Um, at the end of the day, I've kinda always said this, like, our job is to keep strike strikes.

Um, I think that's the most important thing and, um, I think with the ABS, I think the zones have gotten smaller for sure, and so I think now you're kinda playing, like you're catching, but you also have to play umpire a little bit.

From a pride standpoint, how important is that to you both that you can still obviously get it done behind the plate, but hitting-wise as well?

Yeah, I mean, at the end of the day, we want to do everything we can to help the team win.

And obviously we do that with the things we do behind the plate.

But it's always nice to do it at the plate as well.

And it's been cool to kind of see Hogg do the things that he's done this season with, you know, the career he's had.

And, I mean, I've talked with him.

Quite a bit, even before being acquired here with kind of the hitting side and balancing both.

How much has it changed how you look at things in terms of framing and what you're trying to do back there?

And, and how have you done that to kind of speed up a process that's probably hard to do?

Yeah, I mean, it just takes reps out there.

Um, definitely getting more and more comfortable, um, catching these guys.

And look, everyone...

The, the stuff on this is, in this rotation in the bullpen is, it's gotta be one of the best in the league.

And, um, for me, it's just trying to figure out how to, um, not necessarily enhance it, but just make the most of it and, um, [laughs] typically call the right pitches.

[laughs]

Um, your reaction in initially, and then looking at the positives of it, um, how has that turned out?

And, and how have you done that to kind of speed up a process that's probably hard to do?

Yeah, I mean, it just takes reps out there.

Um, definitely getting more and more comfortable, um, catching these guys.

And look, everyone, the, the stuff on this is, in this rotation in the bullpen is, it's gotta be one of the best in the league.

And, um, for me, it's just trying to figure out how to, um, not necessarily enhance it, but just make the most of it and, um, [laughs] typically call the right pitches.

[laughs]

Um, your reaction in- initially, and then looking at the positives of it, um, how has that turned out?

Yeah, I mean, uh, again, super grateful for, um, the Giants and the opportunities that they gave me.