AL Wildcard Game: Athletics vs Yankees Tuesday, October 2, 2018 Liam Hendriks Athletics Workout Day Q. Liam, after what you've been through this season, getting designated for assignment a Q. Liam, I'm assuming you're the one starting couple months ago, now starting the Wild Card tomorrow? game or opening the Wild Card game, what's the LIAM HENDRIKS: I'm the one opening. Yeah, we like feeling in your mind? How exciting is this? the term "". We're going to start with that one. LIAM HENDRIKS: I'm just happy to be a part of it. I'm I'm the one opening. just happy to be on the team, to be honest. Obviously it was a trying year regardless of everything else. But Q. You've done it obviously several times this it's one of those things where I've had to adapt, I've month. How do you feel about doing it on this type had to overcome some things this year, and I think it's of stage and about the process of going through made me better. It's definitely humbled me, it's with a game like this? definitely brought me back down to earth, and it's LIAM HENDRIKS: Yeah, so it's been my ninth time definitely brought out that little animosity about opening. Same as any other game. I'm taking it the everything, just trying to go out there and prove that I same way, warming up the same as I do, trying to keep can do this. I mean, in September I did it a little bit, it as much as a relief appearance as I can. All it means and this will be another test. Just one step at a time; is I'm relieving in the first inning. we'll see how it goes.

There's no difference in the game. Obviously it's a do Q. When were you told you were going to open, or die, but to everybody out there, it's the same strike and what was that conversation like? zone, same guys in the box, just going to go out there LIAM HENDRIKS: I got told at 10:58 through a text and do it and see how it goes. message. So the conversation was brief. But I had kind of thought about it a little bit. It was one of those Q. Blake, as a reliever yourself, what have you things, it's like, there had been a bunch of stuff alluding thought of this strategy when you guys have to it. So it's one of those things where I was preparing to be it, but I was also preparing not to be it. I wasn't employed it with using essentially either all setting myself up. I wasn't trying to do anything any relievers or opening with a reliever? different. I did the same thing I would normally do if I BLAKE TREINEN: Well, kind of how Liam touched, I was relieving yesterday. Walked around the city, went think it's important just to focus on when your name is to the Met. That's about it. It's the same as every called, to go out and do your job. You get hung up on other game to me. Just going out there, I'm relieving in the things you can't control, it can tend you drive you a the first inning instead of sixth, seventh or eighth or little bit one way or the other and you maybe get caught taking over for him in the ninth. up in a situation that you're not used to. Q. Blake, you've gone more than one inning on You know, our job in the bullpen as players, as starters or whatever the role may be, is to get outs. That's what numerous occasions this year. How many innings we get paid to do. That's what we've worked our whole do you think you could work, if need be, in a Wild lives to do. The whole season we've been doing it. If Card game? you get caught up in anything more than that, I think it's BLAKE TREINEN: Well, I mean, the season comes kind of silly. So just focus on what we're here to down to tomorrow. If I feel fresh and they want to call accomplish, to win a ballgame. No matter how it has to me whatever inning it may be, I'll be ready. I can't say get done, it has to get done. how long I can go because you never know what situations are going to be dictated. But I think in a I think we all have faith in everybody out here to go out perfect world, we've got plenty of capable arms that are there and compete. We've got a great staff, and our going to be able to give us multiple innings, multiple offense is good, so it'll be fun. It's a really good team outs. You know, we'll cross that bridge when we get over there. there, but I do know that the season runs on tomorrow, so whatever is needed, I'll be ready for it.

Rev #1 by #166 at 2018-10-02 17:58:00 GMT page 1 of 5 was checking into the hotel in Oakland after I flew in Q. You had the chance to open against the Yankees from Nashville. It was Scott Emerson, the pitching last month; does that give you any type of -- that coach, who called me up and was like, "By the way experience help you out at all? I know back in you're going to start today. Obviously we don't expect Oakland, it was only a month ago, only one inning. you to go deep into the game but you'll probably go an LIAM HENDRIKS: That'll be interesting because I'm inning, maybe plus. We'll see how it goes." And that not sure who they're going to throw out there. They was pretty much the conversation then, and then I got had some injuries then. Their lineup is going to be a to the field about an hour later, and it was kind of, "Yep, little different. I mean, it's just the same as any other we're going to try this opening thing, see how it goes." team, we'll face their guys and whoever comes up comes up, and they're the guys I have to get. It doesn't We've had some success with it. Obviously it's still a really bother me too much who's going to be up, new thing to us a little bit, but we've had enough whether I did it against him before because every success with it over the last month or so that we're game is different, obviously new ballpark, different going to give it a whirl. We've got enough guys settings and everything like this. But it's the same, I've whether whoever comes in after me or if it's a -- got to get as many outs as I can. I'm trying to go for six whatever is going to happen, we're just going to see innings, get a quality start out there, send it over to the how it goes and take it from there. We've got definitely bullpen, but we'll see how it goes. capable arms, and then we're going to mix and match, and we'll see how it goes. Q. Liam, could you explain how the throwing program was put in your lap down in Triple-A and Q. What was your reaction then and what were why that was able to put you in a situation where your questions? you got a couple more ticks of velocity and got LIAM HENDRIKS: Mainly the question was, how long things back on track? am I going? But at the same time, I'm a reliever, so if I LIAM HENDRIKS: So pretty much just went down there come into a game, I don't know how long I'm going. It's and said, if I'm going to do this, I'm going to do it my one of those things, I'm going to take it, I'm going to way, scrapped everything, and went and -- while I was throw as hard as I can for as long as I can and see how lucky enough to be with Bobby Wahl, who was long it goes. Obviously that was the -- that probably wasn't tossing every day. I remember doing it in '15 with a guy the best experience -- like, time for me to do it. Just named Mark Lowe, who had some success in the Big out of the eight times I've done it, that was probably the Leagues, as well. We just long tossed every day. I worst one I've done. I think like everything it was trying was like, if this was going to be what I am going to do, I to find a groove of me warming up normally, getting am going to long toss every day. Did that, and as I into the game normally, and just going about it. kept doing it, I continued to see a little uptick in velocity and everything. We'll see how it goes tomorrow, but it's the same as the other eight times I've done it, and the 34 times before It's one of those things that I've kept. I've maintained that, and the couple times in Triple-A. that program of just long tossing every day. I've got a good guy here who I throw with, Fernando Rodney Q. What has Jonathan Lucroy meant to you guys every, day, who goes back pretty far every day. as a staff, and you personally this year, having him back there? Yeah, it's just maintaining that program. Pretty just BLAKE TREINEN: Jonathan is a very prepared myself going in, what made me successful in '15, what individual. I think his attention to detail when he comes made me feel the best arm-wise, body-wise, everything into a game is pretty elite, so it always helps when you like this. And it was pretty much I go there, I get into have somebody, whether it be young staff members my locker, I sit there, read my book, I go out and throw coming in. It helps having somebody like Jonathan it as far as I can, and then I go back down and read my back there that has a game plan. I think it takes the book again. It seems to be working (laughing). So I'm pressure off of certain , and as we develop as going to stick with what's working and see if I can ride it players, we learn to take a little bit into our own hands, out. too, and he's taught me that to not only rely on him but also have my own game plans. Q. When you were first told before the Seattle game at the start of September that they wanted you in I think we work well together, bounce ideas off. He's this opening role, who explained it to you? Was it been able to shoot some stuff my way, because he's Bob or a pitching coach? What was your reaction taught some established and some really successful and what were some of your questions? closers in the past. I think for us, it's just been a very -- LIAM HENDRIKS: The first time I found out about it, I like a mutual respect, and it's been great to work with somebody who is so dedicated back there.

Rev #1 by #166 at 2018-10-02 17:58:00 GMT page 2 of 5 get hurt and you have to rely on the bullpen, there's It's not easy doing what he's had to do this year. I don't certain guys that have to be down. So they have to go even know the numbers of starters that we've gone out and battle for us through seven innings and give us through with unfortunate injuries. And then the amount opportunities. of arms that we had in the bullpen through September, trying to keep hitters off balance, knowing what But this is a must-win situation for us, and we all know everybody has, trying to read their stuff on that day. that, and I think we're all just willing to do whatever it He's been pretty solid to say the least for us back there, takes to win. You can't say going a starter for seven and it's a good luxury to have. innings is the best way. You can't say that going an opener is the best way. But this is what's going to work And let's not forget about Phegley, also. He's been for us, and we're going to ride it out, and we have full awesome in the games he's been able to come in. In faith in whoever makes the decisions. I'm excited to fact, pretty sure his record has been pretty solid. We're see what this game does because it's kind of a first of pretty blessed to have two phenomenal back its kind, and I think we all fully embrace that. there, each carrying their own strengths, and I just don't think you can say enough about what they've Q. Liam, I believe this makes you the first done for us. Australian-born to start a Major League playoff game; does that mean anything to you? Q. What do you guys think about this bullpen LIAM HENDRIKS: Yeah, it sounds about right because concept? And what does it tell you that this is the I think we've had some Australians in the postseason, way management feels, it's the best way to win the we've had all this. The other only guy that comes to biggest game of the year? mind would be but I'm not sure if he LIAM HENDRIKS: I think obviously as you can attest to was ever starting at that point. Obviously Graeme the last couple years, the starters have been going Lloyd won a couple rings here with the Yankees, and shorter. The bullpen has been throwing a lot more, he was the lefty specialist out of the pen. and it's just another concept of that. Instead of the starter going six and handing it over to the bullpen or It's definitely an honor. Obviously I'm the 31st going five and handing it over to the bullpen, now we're Australian to make it to the Big Leagues. We've had, I just reversing it and the guy is going to throw the first think, 33 now, and so it's -- any time you get a chance three, so maybe the starter can go that sixth inning and to put in the forefront in Australia, it's a good put him in in the seventh. thing. I mean, we're in the top ten world rankings, and it's pretty cool to see how baseball has advanced It's one of those things. It's one of little bit of a variation through Australia into over here. The more success on using the bullpen a little bit more. I think it's one of guys like me, Warwick or Peter Moylan have had this those things where if you're not constantly striving to year it's definitely kind of helped push that agenda a be -- like get that first foot in, get something in the door little bit more in Australia. just to move forward, I think you're going to stand still, and we're trying some different ways. If there's any I may be the first, but I'm hoping I won't be the last. other team to do it, it's the A's. We've been ahead of We've got a bunch of young guys coming up, and the curve on a whole lot of things, so it's just another hopefully they get a chance to do it. But for right now, way that hopefully we're ahead of the curve, and we'll it's not weighing on my mind or anything like that. I'm see how many teams do it next year. more worried about going out there and putting up a one, two, three inning in the first and we'll see where it BLAKE TREINEN: I'll just touch on something: I feel takes us, and hopefully we advance and take it over to like in today's game, I think there's been a struggle Boston. between old-school mentality and sabermetrics, and this is a way to kind of incorporate sabermetrics with Q. Was there ever a moment in the season when effectiveness. We have guys in the front office that do you guys had the injuries and then you get on this a lot of research to put us in the best situations for crazy hot streak, was there a moment you said to success, and I think it's our job to put some faith in yourself, what the hell is happening, either good or them. We've got the arms to make this make sense. bad? LIAM HENDRIKS: Well, they went on a winning streak You know, I don't want to sit here and hoo-rah one way as soon as I left. It was kind of a little bit -- apparently or another because I feel like our starters have been I'm a pariah. But no, watching these guys when I was monumental for us this year, and I don't think they get down in Nashville, it was impressive. Every time you enough credit, having to jump into different roles, come in from a game, all of a sudden you might go having to step up when other guys go down, having to outside and it's 4-0, and you come inside and they're bite longer innings because sometimes when starters

Rev #1 by #166 at 2018-10-02 17:58:00 GMT page 3 of 5 up 5-4 or whatever it is, and they're just -- you go in It's an honor to be here. I think all of us feel very there and there was never a thought that, okay, they're privileged, and it's a tribute to how much work we've going to slow down. It was like, no, they're just put in, and I think we're just here to enjoy this moment continually just chugging along. and leave it all on the line. To go back to that point, you said there was a point in time where it was kind of I think we've outpaced a lot of people. I think it helps a like we were 31-32. That's probably when our season lot of people have counted us out because it's given us started to turn. It's pretty incredible to look back. It's that little chip on our shoulder that said, okay, we been quite the blessing. weren't meant to be here, we've got pretty much nothing to lose, we're going to go out there and do Q. Liam, how was your visit to the Met? And for what we can to prove to all of these people that no both of you, what's it like to pitch when you've got matter what talent you've go on paper, there's a whole somebody like Matt Chapman playing defense over lot more that goes on into a clubhouse with character at third base? with everything like that than there is on paper. That's LIAM HENDRIKS: Well, the Met was great. My wife why the team has been able to do what we've done. wanted to go see the Heavenly Bodies exhibit, which was incredible, and I was super ecstatic all the BLAKE TREINEN: Yeah, I think you look at it, and we medieval armor because that's what I love. I am feel for our teammates because a lot of guys had reading a book now about the aftermath of the Battle ambitions to help us be where we are today, and from a of Hastings in 1066. So it's all about medieval French personal standpoint, being our friends, our brothers, and English and all of that. But yeah, the Met was you know, it sucks to see that stuff happen. You never great. I think I ended up walking 10 and a half miles want anybody to go down. But the mentality for us was yesterday, so I got my exercise in. to dog-pile last year. Whenever I came over and had a chance to be with this organization with the young But with the defense behind you, it's incredible. Like I talent, it didn't take long for me to see that there was remember in '15 I had with the Jays, it was Donaldson, potential within at least the next couple years and then Tulowitzki, Ryan Goins and Justin Smoak in the infield, the way we played down the stretch last year. We and you just throw it up, like hit a ground ball, it's an definitely felt like we had some opportunities. out. It's the same thing here. We've got between Chapman, Semien, Jed and then Matt Olson over at So when stuff like that happens, it's a gut check first base, it's the same deal. Just get a ground ball because those are guys we were hoping to rely on, and and you've got an out. It's pretty much almost unfortunately things happen. It's a violent game. Your guaranteed with the guys we've got over there. body goes through quite a bit, especially as a starter. I think that's where most of our hits have been this year. They've been amazing. I've never played behind a But we kind of rallied around each other. There was a team that focuses on defense as well as they have this point in time where I think we all looked each other in year as opposed to the last couple years, and it hasn't the eyes and realized that we had to start doing been our strength. But we've got guys now that not something or there was potential for the team to get only can they hit but they can play defense, and that's broken up. It's just the business of it all. how you make winning teams.

Our young guys truly bought into what they were BLAKE TREINEN: Yeah, I think as a ground ball capable of doing probably well ahead of what most pitcher myself -- people in the baseball industry expected. They won together in the minor leagues. They brought that LIAM HENDRIKS: Sitting there with 100 ? young, winning mentality up here, and we just had the right blend of veteran presence and young talent that BLAKE TREINEN: I feel like it takes pressure off you every day is just so much fun. I mean, every day isn't as a pitcher to know you can rely on your team behind work for us. We truly buy into a team aspect. you. I've been pretty fortunate to have good defenses behind me in my career, and what Chapman has been I think when the baseball world saw us making that able to do at third is pretty impressive. I played with a transition is when it became prevalent that we had really good one in D.C. in , and it's something special and we could continue to push the been a luxury to have. Semien has played games how we were. Success breeds success; it's phenomenal this year, Jed obviously an All-Star, you contagious, and now it's not just contagious, it's a can't speak enough to what he does, and I don't know reality. We know how good we are. We respect our if Olson gets enough credit at first for his ability. opponent. Everybody who's here is here for a reason, and that's a really good team across the field from us. You talk about the infield, but our have made really, really good reads, and Laureano has been

Rev #1 by #166 at 2018-10-02 17:58:00 GMT page 4 of 5 huge for us down the stretch. I think his outfield assist per game rate is probably through the roof right now. Yeah, when you have a good defense, it makes it easier on the pitcher. It takes the pressure off, you don't have to try to be too fine, force the issue, and usually good things happen. You get hitters on the defense. It helps things out down the road if you're trying to get a big , get ahead in the count, or if you're behind in the count, you're trying to pitch to contact because you know you've got seven guys behind you that are going to compete and get outs for you.

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