Gwynn & Chris On Demand
Padres manager Mike Shildt
Mike Schildt is our guest here on this Friday or Friday the managers report with Mike Schildt is brought to you by San Diego County Credit Union It's not big banking. It's better Mike. It's been a it was a long night last night Obviously the Padres weren't able to get the victory and then they had to hop on the plane Fly here to Arizona where they have a three pretty important games remaining On a night like this where travel is is rough what goes into You know putting a lineup together today as you try to you know get guys Prepared for the postseason, but also these three games you have in front Yeah, Tony. I'm good talking to you guys We'll run up pretty much in the same lineup. I mean we did get in later than typical But we have a night game and you know our guys are able to sleep in and They're ready. They're ready to go boy. They all want to be in the lineup and get after it We're talking to Padres manager Mike Schildt here on 97 through the fan Thanks so much for your time today and you clinched on Tuesday guys have battled in the last two games But there are still three games remaining in the regular season So my question for you is how do you avoid looking ahead to the decisions you have to make next week versus the Decisions you have to make this weekend Yeah, you know we take it day by day. We're clearly aware and getting prepared for next week But you know we still work to be done these next three games to You know we'd really like to come in and be able to play in pet go to start to play off So, you know that's still on the table and we're looking to take it off the table and make it happen Mike I want to take you back to the beginning of of this season as you guys begin this journey You were pretty adamant about you know locking in on some of the smaller things And I remember at a point during the season when when a lot of us on the outside We're talking about it being a roller coaster and you kind of pushed back against that What gave you the confidence even as this team was was teetering? You know back and forth between 500 that you knew that these guys would eventually get to the point that they're at now Great question, you know, I'm glad you asked it, you know we'd like to snap our fingers and and accelerate a lot of processes that need to be put into place and Create some clarity and allow some some learning curve with some players. I mean if you look back at the All season there was a lot of question marks. Um, you know, no particular order, you know You slash the payroll, you know $90 million you lose a lot of was over 600 quality innings including the saw young guy and Blake and You know a lot of downcloser and Josh and you know, of course Walker and Lugo and You know Nick Martinez and and we could see a guy like that and you know, he was a generational talent and Juan Soto Yeah, we got a we had a really confident. We had a great core obviously with Manny and Toddy and Bogey and crony and you and You know that entire group But you know plus you got a new manager. You got a new, you know, you know, you got a fair amount of new staff members including Victor Rodriguez our hitting coach and People that were on the staff last year that were in different spots couples so You know, and then you bring in new guys that have been great clearly, you know, Michael King and a lot of the group in the Yankees Higgie and Vasquez burrito contributed of course we trade for seats and Arise everybody knows kind of the story, but what I'm ultimately getting that trying to paint the picture for a long answer to the question is You know, there's a lot of variables You know, there's a lot of a lot of moon is taking place and Like I said, I wish you could just we could just snap our fingers. Yeah, it's gonna be fine But the thing that I had confidence in During all that so expecting some kind of learning curve or and quite candidly, you know Being able to stay at a at a place where we should remain competitive with Toddy being out for a long period of time bogey being out for over two months both of them over two months Joe and and Darvish being out over two months a piece I Feel I may be coming back off of surgery You know other poor six group of guys really only crony was a guy that you know was able to you know be consistent and be healthy So us holding it together with, you know, Ricky in the outfield that never played outfield before is clearly rewarded it and did great in Jackson And you know, so let's let's be able to keep it right there. I thought was free darn good, you know, and Some ups and downs were I just knew we're gonna take place. I mean, I think anybody's been around the game. It's At least for me, you know would be naive to think otherwise So but really it was just that day-to-day Commitment from the from the group of guys, which what a special group and we all know You know the staff we do our part, but just that dedication to Continual improvement and continue to work together to to put together what what we know is how to play the game of baseball And how to compete every day give us your best chance of winning We're talking to a Padres manager Mike Schilt here on 97 3 the fan You just mentioned you Darvish being back and with you Darvish being back You have some pretty good options in terms of the possible three game wildcard series rotation And I know you don't want to look ahead too much But do you anticipate whoever does not make that wildcard rotation will be available from the bullpen? I? Think we're going early on the know finalize roster. I think it's possible for sure it's a fair question But I don't have anything definitive for you right now. Okay, Mike Schilt joins us here on Gwen and Chris And Mike let's talk a little bit about Jackson You get this young kid, and I think you kind of knew you kind of were able to see him prior to this year And how he conducted himself and I remember a conversation with it with you last year talking about how Advanced in terms of mentally he was With the game so you get this new this new piece and you run him out there and he's doing well How much did you have to resist moving him up too quickly and giving him too much too fast? Where it could have it could have maybe you know been a detriment to him Another great question. Yeah, I got a real blessing to get to know Jackson my last couple years Through instructional leagues and and big league camp and then going to watch him play a little bit in the minor leagues And and you're really just getting to know him and you know the talent the talent clearly it's it's Pretty special, but it's the makeup. It's the mindset. It's a mental acumen to play the game. So we knew we were on having a Really good kind of player and making that move to center field. It's easy made it is as beyond impressive You know for me and bias a little bit, but I think it's really a question. He's Ricky though of the year but then ultimately if your question Tony is is You know me and Victor talked about it a fair amount the good news is we try to link the line up. We got guy for a period time Didn't really You know obviously at the beginning of season, you know Made sense to hit him down the lineup and just let him get as a bat and let him get a speed on her And they started performing more You know we did move him up a little bit got him got him up Just to hair and in that in that sixth range and Again had conversations with dick about it. We just felt like you know what we got other guys that are carrying the mail that have been doing this And he's in a good spot and performing. He's um You know he's doing what he needs to be doing and and then you know he kept doing it and so Looked up over in San Francisco, you know a couple weeks ago and said, you know what this kid He's been able to pretty much handle everything we we put in front of him. So we I think we put it in front of him appropriately And then we slid him up to the fifth spot and he's you know, he's done what he's done He's been able to take good at bats and for four We're talking to Padres manager Mike Schill here tonight and What is the status of Haas on Kim and with it when he could potentially rejoin the team? Yeah, you know what um, I wish you had really like really super positive news You know, he's just hadn't been able to To be able to get over that that hump with his throw and the hitting is not a problem That part's good, but you know immediately consistently throw with any any You know aggressive, you know and behind it and intensity is just that and half and so You know, we're still Way into what's taking place, but you know right now He's not in the spot where we can count on in a very near future Mike is there is there a point where it's too late and and you know that that window closes There is there is the um, you know, we and we may be getting there We'll know something here, you know sooner than later last one before we let you get out of here I got to ask you you mentioned Victor Rodriguez. You guys is the Padres Hayden coach This offense is is is is it has multi facets to it? Did was this the plan all along to have an offense that you know can can beat you in multiple ways Or did this kind of come about as you know, everybody kind of found their footing and and it's kind of blossomed into this Combination really I've known Victor a long time We're very like-minded how we see the game how we want to play the game and compete offensively We both have always been a believers in a very Holistic offense which to me makes common sense. We've had conversations to you about it You know, there's a lot of different ways to compete in this game and having as many Many tools in your toolbox to be able to do it because it's so situational base and having the guys that can handle the bat but our game's changed, you know as many guys handle the bat so the second part of that that's really been the Biggest part because we can have all the philosophy one and we can you know think about how we want to compete and play the game But you don't players that can execute that. It's just a it's just you know It's it's a lofty ideal that doesn't come to fruition, but we want to give AJ credit for this And all our players. I mean, you know, look you get on the line But AJ bringing a rise in so on a win for all ten even professional hitters that play the game have back control But also give credit to, you know, Manny profile has led the way for sure. Manny's been tremendous We've all seen him move runner seeing hit the ball the other way. Toddy, you know, walk off it the other day in the right center It's not the only said hit the ball the other way as you know But the game calls for it. That's what you do and the little things to lead to big things We've had some good things happen for sure as well So, you know, it's been a combination between, you know a belief system that We wanted to create bigger than a great job creating a clear identity with the group and then the guys buying into it and having the ability to execute Well, it's been a lot of fun to watch this year three games remaining Division still, you know a chance to be able to capture it you need some help But you know, you have the city of San Diego behind you Mike appreciate you coming on here with this morning after the long night and good luck tonight Thanks guys, appreciate you.