AL DIVISION SERIES: GUARDIANS VS YANKEES

October 16, 2022

Terry Francona

Progressive Field

Cleveland Guardians

Pregame 4 Press Conference

Q. Tito, have you figured out a starter for a potential game 5 yet?

TERRY FRANCONA: Tomorrow?

Q. Yes.

TERRY FRANCONA: It will be Civale.

Q. I know you're not big on stats, but there was one last night about the three game-winning hits after the 9th or later and it's tied for the most. There is only 6 people that have ever done it, one -- only two have ever done it in the same season and that was him and Big Papi. Does that kind of blow you away? I know you don't want to compare but just the accomplishment of it all?

TERRY FRANCONA: Again, I don't get too caught up in that. You're trying to figure out a way to win, and I really don't care how we do it. But he has a knack of -- we talked about this last night -- kind of shortening it up with two strikes, but he's strong enough where he still hits the ball with authority.

You know, it's interesting, I mean, he swung at a ball in about the 5th inning that almost hit him in the Adam's apple and he comes back and that was an at-bat he went deep to right field. You know, he's learning, and if he learns more -- you know, the more he swings at strikes, he's going to do some damage.

Q. Have you noticed the plate discipline, like, improve throughout the season?

TERRY FRANCONA: I would say it kind of has -- it comes and goes which I think is probably what you'd expect.

Q. Tito, along those lines, how uncommon is it for a guy to have -- he has an aggressive approach, but he's also very patient as well.

TERRY FRANCONA: He's a little unique. I think we have been talking about that all since the spring because he's ultra-aggressive, and you don't want to make somebody something they aren't. What we just tried to do is just get him to swing at good pitches because like -- unlike a lot of young power hitters, he can hit the ball to right field. He can -- you see him with two strikes shortening up. You don't see that a lot from young right-handed power hitters. It is a little unique.

Q. I know you talked about Arias. Did he show you enough that if you needed him again at first that you would go to him?

TERRY FRANCONA: I hope so. That's where he's tonight. He better be! Yeah. Josh is kind of in the same spot, so we're going to play the same line-up.