MLB WORLD SERIES: DIAMONDBACKS VS RANGERS

October 31, 2023

Chris Young

Chase Field

Texas Rangers

Pregame 4 Press Conference

Q. When you're making a decision on Adolis Garcia, I assume one of the factors is will he be available for pinch hits late in games. What's the tradeoff there between availability for Duran now? Can you talk us through the decision-making process?

CHRIS YOUNG: It was pretty easy. Adolis did everything he could today. He came in, was the first guy in today. He got as much treatment as possible. He went down to the cage and gave it a go, and it was very clear he was in pain.

It's not something that's going to get any better over the next five to seven days. I think it would be more significant timeline if this were the regular season. Made the decision pretty easy.

Q. On Max, what's the status there?

CHRIS YOUNG: Max came in today. His back is in the same spot it was last night. He received full day of treatment and there was no progress. Our medical team has extreme concern in term of his ability to recover over the next few days that would allow him to pitch in this series. So he's been ruled out as well.

And if this were the regular season, they would both be ILs. And we're just at a point in time where we don't have the time to wait these things out.

Q. Without having seen a press release, who are you replacing him with at this point?

CHRIS YOUNG: Ezequiel Duran and Brock Burke.

Q. On the Burke decision, Duran is the one position player you've got with you right now. And Burke, there were some other pitchers, is Burke is the most guy capable of giving you innings, is that the general feeling?

CHRIS YOUNG: Brock has been a significant part of our team all season long. He's been on the playoff roster earlier in the playoffs. And we felt like he gives us the best chance to step in and perform and win. And we're confident he's going to be ready to answer the call and help us.

Q. Was there any thought of anybody else other than Duran? Or is he the guy because he's played so much or because he's been with you the whole time?

CHRIS YOUNG: Zeke is great. He's been great in the live BPs. He's really kept himself in great shape and he's prepared. Again, he filled in very admirably throughout the year when we've had other injuries. And Zeke's a winning player and he's going to help us. We have no doubt about it.

Q. Max Scherzer was pretty adamant yesterday that when he's had these back spasms in the past, it's kind of day two that matters the most. He kept talking about it's usually 48 hours afterwards when he could really tell if it's going to improve. How much thought, if any, was there to waiting to tomorrow to make a decision with him, especially since he technically wouldn't be in Game 7?

CHRIS YOUNG: It factored into our decision today. We saw how Max came in, how he responded to treatment. It was certainly a consideration in terms of Max's history. But given where we were at the end of the day, after all the treatment he received, it was clear.

Q. Given the competitor that Max is, did he try to talk you out of it or delaying the decision?

CHRIS YOUNG: Max is actually unbelievable in terms of understanding in these situations. And he's honest, he's open and he's authentic. And he gives us as much information as he possibly can provide, and wants us to make the best decision.

But he doesn't fight once the decision's made. He understands that we try to do what's best for the team. He understood completely, but we had a lot of conversations today. And I have just great admiration for him, the way he handles these things.

We certainly would love to have him out there in a Game 7 situation. Unfortunately, it's not going to be the case.

Q. Wyatt Langford was not a serious consideration?

CHRIS YOUNG: No.

Q. Given the impact of these losses, how much more confidence does that give new the decision you made when you went to Nashville last fall?

CHRIS YOUNG: In terms of hiring Bruce Bochy? Just in terms of the context of the entire season and the performance of the team, I think Boch has proven to be an exceptional manager and he's handled every situation. He's handled the adversity.

He provides stability and confidence for our guys during tough times. And that's my expectation here. There's no better person to have in our dugout. And that's why he's one of the great ones.

Q. Obviously there's no way to paint it as good news to lose two guys of that stature at this point, but how much solace can you and the guys in the clubhouse take from the knowledge that you have had to face these kind of obstacles almost constantly all year and the team has always seemed to respond?

CHRIS YOUNG: It's been a theme of our team. It has. It's kind of the next-man-up mentality. Our guys don't feel sorry for themselves, and I love that. That's a true characteristic of the Texas Rangers, and I'm proud of that. And I'm sure the guys will respond in the same manner that they have all year.

Q. What was your conversation like with Adolis? How is he taking the news?

CHRIS YOUNG: He so badly wanted to give it a go to the point where he wanted to go down to the batting cage and try to take a swing and see how he felt.

He's just a warrior. He's a champion. I think what he's done this postseason has been remarkable. Speaks to the character of the person and the talent.

He wants so badly to be out there. But he also understood and has full confidence that Ezequiel Duran will step in and help us reach our goals here.

Q. With both these guys, what level is your sort of personal disappointment, I guess, in not getting to see them just play? With the postseason that Doli is having and sort of going out and getting Max to be the kind of guy who could come in in a Game 7 situation, how are you feeling about it?

CHRIS YOUNG: My feelings are really for the players themselves. I mean, they've worked their entire lives to be on this stage and be in this moment. And they've both suffered injuries that are going to take them out of that. I have great empathy for them in terms of that.

But, again, they're team players, and they've got positive attitudes. And the rest of the group is the same way.

But I hurt for those guys personally because I know how much they mean to our club, how hard they've worked to be in this situation. And then now it's gone for them.

Q. How important is it for Zeke to have been with the club this whole time on the road, now that he's thrown in there instead of coming from Arlington?

CHRIS YOUNG: I mean, he's been part of our team all year. We weren't going to leave him behind. He has been with us training, taking live BPs, working hard. It was just part of the strategy early on in terms of the way we shaped our traveling party.

Q. Given Brock Burke and Ezequiel Duran obviously haven't played very much for a while, how much of a role do you anticipate them playing in the next few days?

CHRIS YOUNG: The game will determine that. When their number is called they'll be ready and go out and give everything they have.

It's the World Series. You don't have any other options. You go out and give your best. And those guys are champions, and they'll be ready when their number's called.

Q. With four games max left, what kind of impact do you think this makes on your team?

CHRIS YOUNG: I really haven't thought about it. It's sort of we go out and make one good pitch at a time and try to have one good at-bat at a time.

It's been our mentality all year. It's what I expect this group to do right now when we're facing some adversity.

But it's a strong group of guys. They've got high character. They have responded to adversity all season. And, again, nobody's feeling sorry for us. We're going to go out and give it our best.