sign in sign up
<<
Home , Dennis Eckersley, John Franco, Josh Hader, Lee Smith (baseball), Trevor Hoffman

MLB : Dodgers vs Red Sox Saturday, October 27, 2018 Edwin Diaz forward to a lot more great things, because he's only 24 years old. Edwin, great year and congratulations to you (applause). The Reliever of the Trevor Hoffman Year presented by The Hartford is Josh Hader of the . Josh, most importantly led the 2018 Reliever of the Year Award Brewers to their first division title in a number of years Presentation and all the way to Game 7's of the League Championship Series. He led all relievers with 143 HEIDI WATNEY: I am Heidi Watney from MLB Network. , the most ever by a left-handed relief . Welcome to the announcement of the 2018 Reliever of In 23 appearances, where Josh pitched two innings or the Year Award presented by The Hartford. These more, the Brewers were 23-0, pretty amazing awards were revamped in 2014, officially named in accomplishment. So, Josh, congratulations to you honor of two of the greatest relievers of all time, and (applause). they're joining us here again today. So thank you, guys, for your time, Mariano Rivera and Trevor Hoffman HEIDI WATNEY: The Reliever of the Year Awards are book-ending this talented table up here. presented by The Hartford for the fourth year in a row. The Hartford has a long and unique history with Major I would like to formally announce our winners and League . It's actually pretty special. They've welcome our special guests. We will start with the been insuring individual clubs for many, many years, Commissioner Rob Manfred. and they even insured in the 1920s, if you can believe it. That's pretty cool. Now, this special COMMISSIONER ROB MANFRED: As Heidi said, the evening has become an annual tradition at the Fall Reliever of the Year Award was revamped in 2014, and Classic. Without further ado, I want to welcome the I have to thank Mariano Rivera and newly minted Hall president of The Hartford, Doug Elliot. of Famer Trevor Hoffman. Their assistance in this process, really has made the awards special for us and DOUG ELLIOT: Thank you, Heidi. I was not there to we appreciate your input. do the underwriting of Babe Ruth's policy.

I also want to thank the relievers who vote every year I just want to thank everybody for joining us today as along with Mariano and Trevor, , Rollie we unveil the Reliever of the Year Awards for both the Fingers, , and . A National and . We're especially really great panel picking our winners each year. honored for have Mariano Rivera and Trevor Hoffman with us, two of the all-time greatest closers, and terrific You know, the redo of this award was really timely. I ambassadors for our brand, The Hartford. think in the last few years relief pitching has probably Congratulations to Edwin Diaz and Josh Hader for an attracted more attention than any other position in outstanding year. We saw another example of how baseball. And I think it's great that the The Hartford pivotal and critical role the relievers play on the game has stepped up to sponsor this award, and has given today. So on behalf of the 19,000 employees of The the award some continuity. Doug Elliot, who is here Hartford we're so proud to partner with the MLB with us, thank you for that. Commissioner and be part of the festivities tonight. Thank you all (applause). Without further preliminaries, the Mariano Rivera Reliever of the Year Award presented by The Hartford HEIDI WATNEY: So we know who these great relievers this year is Edwin Diaz of the . Edwin are up here at the podium. They really need no led the Major Leagues with 57 saves, the second most introduction, but just in case, seven-time All-Star in the in history. He had 1.96 ERA. He was the winning National League, Trevor Hoffman was one of the most pitcher in the All-Star Game. And we're looking intense to ever play the game. If you are were

Rev #2 by #178 at 2018-10-27 23:38:00 GMT page 1 of 3 ever in San Diego when he was coming in, you HEIDI WATNEY: So we will take a few questions on certainly felt the heartbeat of that stadium, Trevor. this topic of the amazing awards that these two guys have won here. TREVOR HOFFMAN: Thank you, Heidi. Obviously it's fantastic to be here with you guys. I can't believe it's Q. The award is usually given to someone who been 20 years since my appearance in the World leads in saves, and this award was given to Josh Series, and getting to go up against a historically great Hader, who isn't a saves leader, more atypical Yankee team was fantastic. But getting the chance to reliever, who comes in whenever and gets guys watch an equally fantastic Mariano Rivera do his work out. What does that say about the changing was an honor, and it's a privilege to be up here on landscape of relievers in baseball? stage with him. TREVOR HOFFMAN: To be honest with you, I think we're seeing a microcosm of what baseball is turning I'm equally thrilled to continue our relationship with The into, with the bullpenning and things like that. Andrew Hartford, Doug and Kathy and Mike, and all they do for Miller received the award a few years ago, the Mariano representing us as players, and the award we're able to Rivera Award, in an equal position with the Cleveland give out today is an honor for me equally. Indians.

Commissioner, I got a chance to hang with you a little I think it was obvious of the year that Josh had, it was bit in Cooperstown this summer. Talk about things, that dominant from a reliever's standpoint, it was taken meeting expectations, I can't begin to express what an into consideration the number of saves, but I think his amazing summer it was for me personally and my year stood out amongst everybody else's. family. So it's great to be here with you again. Q. Nice to see all of you. Mo, as you're embarking Josh, congratulations, man. I'm super pumped to give on your first year on the BBWAA Hall of Fame you the Trevor Hoffman National Reliever of the Year ballot, what are your thoughts? And have you Award. I'm glad Maria could be here with you. talked to Trevor at all about his experiences this Fantastic stuff having you here. Your numbers speak year preparing for it and going through the for themselves. As a former Milwaukee Brewer, I'm ceremony, writing his speech, and all that entails excited to have that connection with you. Hate to be this summer? long-winded, going back to the '16 Futures Game, little MARIANO RIVERA: Yes, I've been asking Trevor the did I know there was going to be such a great player. I minute I saw him, taking some notes about that, too. I only used him for just a third of the inning. Big mistake don't know how to express that, because when it on my part. Congratulations, Josh. Thanks for being comes, I will give you a better answer to that because here. right now I don't know what to expect. It's something that brings me back home when I was just a little one HEIDI WATNEY: In the American League, he is a 13- there in Puerto Camaito, Panama, and now being time All-Star and he really gave the word "" a considered a Hall of Famer, I mean, on the ballot, it's whole new meaning, Mariano Rivera. amazing. So I mean, I think I will give you a better answer when that time comes. MARIANO RIVERA: Thank you. It's amazing, Doug, and you are a closer with this, short and sweet HEIDI WATNEY: You can go ahead and say "Hall of (laughter). That was great. Kathy and Mike, I have to Famer". We all know. thank The Hartford for having us here. Amazing job you guys do. Edwin, you had a bet with your when you got to 50 saves, he would cut his hair just like you. Did you As a former closer and reliever, I mean this man, here, expect him to go through with it? we have a Hall of Famer. I have a question to ask this guy, a lot of things that I have to ask, anyway. EDWIN DIAZ: Yeah, you know, at that point early in the season I had like three saves already. He came to me, I have Josh and Edwin, the job that you have done has I came with a new haircut to the ballpark. He said, been amazing. It's special when we see you guys go "Hey, if you get 50 saves, I will make my hair like you." in there day in and day out, and doing the job that you And I had nothing to lose, so I said, "Let's do it." When guys have been doing. It's amazing. So both of you, I get the 50 saves, I keep all the balls of my saves. I congratulations. But Edwin, great job. And you have keep it, bring them home, and put them everywhere in your parents here, that's important. That's important. the house. But I give that ball to him to let him know, I So for me it's an honor and pleasure to present you got to 50, so you have to be ready to get the haircut with the Reliever of the Year Award (applause). (applause).

Rev #2 by #178 at 2018-10-27 23:38:00 GMT page 2 of 3 recommendations do you have to Mariano moving HEIDI WATNEY: It looks better on you. forward? TREVOR HOFFMAN: Yeah, it was an amazing EDWIN DIAZ: No, he looks swag. summer, obviously. I think the difference between -- Mo's being very humble. There's a guarantee that Mo HEIDI WATNEY: You think he'll start this season with is going to obviously be a first ballot Hall of Famer. It that haircut? reminds me when Mr. Gwynn was on the ballot the first time. He was super humble about it. It goes to show EDWIN DIAZ: No, let's see what happens. Let's see you the type of person Mo is. what I can change next season. It's a whirlwind of a weekend. It's something you only HEIDI WATNEY: Josh, your experience in the dream about. And once you're finally a part of it, you postseason, you came in, and you mentioned earlier, can't believe the men of the game and the pillars of this you don't have as many saves, because you were used game you get to hang with, and what kind of a in different roles, but your experience in the NLCS, you fraternity that is. It's something my family is I will would go three dominant innings, nobody wants always cherish. It's something I'm looking forward to wanted to face you. Do you think that role has embracing Mo being there this summer. changed, it's not necessarily a closer, it's come in whenever. HEIDI WATNEY: Congratulations on a terrific year (applause). JOSH HADER: I think it really comes down to pitching. I think that whenever your time is up and you can get out on the mound and help the team out in any way, I think that as long as you don't set a role to yourself, I think that's really where the game is going now. Pitchers are just going out there to pitch, and ultimately to get outs and help the team win.

HEIDI WATNEY: Do you feel like this award is extra special because you weren't the traditional closer for the year?

JOSH HADER: To even be in the same breath as these guys, it's truly special.

Q. For Josh and for Edwin, I wonder if you could each comment on each other. Is there something you admire about each other's performance this year? JOSH HADER: You know, for us in Milwaukee we always caught the West Coast games, towards the end of their games, and just watching Diaz pitch is unbelievable. Watching how he goes about hitters, and how he uses his as a weapon. I think that's the biggest thing. Kind of played into my game where I kind of focused on using that -slider combination. And seeing what he goes in day in and day out, it's unbelievable.

EDWIN DIAZ: And for Josh, it's amazing, great pitcher. I saw him a lot because those games came early. So if I am a hitter, I don't want to face him, because he's really nasty. It's amazing what he did this year with Milwaukee.

Q. Trevor, I'd like to ask you the same question, what was the year like for you, and what kind of

Rev #2 by #178 at 2018-10-27 23:38:00 GMT page 3 of 3