NL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES: DIAMONDBACKS VS PHILLIES

October 21, 2023

Aaron Nola

Chase Field

Philadelphia Phillies

Pregame 5 Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: We'll get started with Aaron.

Q. It seems like we asked you this question all the time in the last couple of years. I mean, no matter what happens today, your start is going to have a significant magnitude. Do you think about that, and why have you been able to sort of be so consistent this time of the year for the most of the last two years?

AARON NOLA: I feel like lately it's been a little more consistency delivery-wise, like I've said, these last couple of outings and especially in the postseason. I mean, everything matters so much right now, right?

We're in Game 5 right now. Wheeler is taking the ball, and get one more start back home for the NLCS, so hopefully we can get this it one today and get back home to Philly and get prepared for that one. Today is a big game too.

Q. How about mentally? I understand you've made mechanical and physical adjustments, but you just seem to be pretty unflappable even when things don't go right in the postseason.

AARON NOLA: The only thing I can control is the controllables, which is the delivery and mostly where the ball goes. But once it leaves my hands, the results are out of my control.

I've tried pretty much my whole career to understand that and to know that is out of my control. Baseball is baseball. Sometimes you make a pitch, and you get a bloop hit that scores a run. Sometimes you throw a pitch down the middle, and they pop it up. You just never know with this game. That's why it's so beautiful.

But the only thing I can control is the controllables. So that's kind of what I always think about and focus on in my routine leading up to a start, which kind of keeps me focused.

Q. At what point did you come to terms with that idea that so much is out of your control, and what exactly got you to that point?

AARON NOLA: A lot of ups and downs, successes and failures. Really looking deep into -- when I was struggling years ago, I went to the video room and watched a lot of games, watched a lot of past games. And just really tried to think about what's going wrong and what's going right and take the positives away of what's going right and try to fix the wrongs.

But there would be times that would I make pitches, but balls would squeak through holes, and I can't control that, right? So if I take those out and focus on the little things that I am doing right and keep my focus on that and have good work weeks in between outings and bullpens and keeping my body healthy, anything can happen. If I stay on that routine and that regimen, that keeps me focused and positive.

So the more I do that and the more I did that, the more it became easier, and the more I enjoyed it. That's kind of how over the years I've stuck with that mentality and ran with it.

Q. Aaron, just following that up, did you do that with somebody? A coach? Did you have a team psychologist? How did you come to all that? As simple as it sounds, it's a complicated road to get there.

AARON NOLA: Honestly, I saw this article on Roy Halladay and what he said years ago. He said something like pitchers, you know, will get caught up in the seven innings or three runs or less all the time. He always said that he controls the next pitch that he throws and tries to make that a quality pitch.

I kind of read deep into that, and it's true, right? I feel like a lot of times we do get caught up in having really good outings. Obviously it's good, but at the end of the day for ourselves, what did we do good and what's our main job? And our main job is to compete and to try to make quality pitches and to control the strike zone and do our little goals each outing and try to succeed in those.

Q. I guess kind of along the same lines, you're a starter. You're used to sitting for four days and not having control of things. But how hard is that especially in a game like yesterday when you know every out is crucial, and in a game like today where I'm sure you would love to be a part of changing the in momentum.

AARON NOLA: Yeah, crazy games the past two days. Good hard-fought ball games by both teams. Obviously didn't go our way for these past two, but that's how it goes sometimes.

We fought until the end. Two heartbreakers. We were right up in both of those. I just try to learn as much as I can on the bench. I love watching the game. I love watching our pitchers and what they do and our hitters, and try to learn the opposing team as much as possible.

I know I already pitched against them once, but if I can take anything away from one of our pitchers, what they did, a hitter or what not, I do that. Not pitching every day, obviously, and being in the dugout, like you said, I just try to watch the game.

I love watching the game and talking to some of the players on the bench that are watching too.

Q. In that vein, Aaron, what do you admire about Zack, and what have you learned from him since he has become a Philly?

AARON NOLA: He is an ultra competitor. Seen him a lot when he was with the Mets, and then I was pretty pumped when he signed over here.

From hitting against him too a couple of times, I knew what he had, right? He had such electric stuff. Not just his fastball, but everything else was really good.

To see a guy that has the velocity that he has, his four-seam and two-seam, and the way he pitches with that, you don't really see as much starting pitchers that do that in the game nowadays.

When I saw him and observed what he does in his bullpens and during the games, he really works on commanding the baseball, which is obviously important for a starting pitcher. But to command it at that velocity that consistently is pretty special.

To go along with those two elite pitches, also he has his sweeper now, his curveball. His slider and cutter are all great pitches too. So that's what makes him so good.

He never gets too up. Obviously if anybody knows Wheels, he doesn't show too much emotion. Nothing really gets to him. I believe that's why he is so good.