Q. You were here last year playing in a playoff situation against the Yankees in front of this crowd. What did you take away from that experience that you'll take into tomorrow night?
ANDRÉS GIMÉNEZ: A lot of energy. You can feel the energy definitely here in New York, Yankee Stadium. They're loud. So we just have to be focused on our game and keep it simple. But, yeah, you can feel the energy for sure here in Yankee Stadium.
Q. Is that the mindset heading into tomorrow, just kind of keep it simple? Or what's the approach from you guys going into a Game 3?
ANDRÉS GIMÉNEZ: I think just play our game. Try to get on base, try to score runs, pitchers executing and defense making the plays. I think that's kind of our mindset, the mindset we've had since Spring Training. So we have to keep doing it.
Q. As a team, you did a lot of things right those first two games. What did you like most? What stood out to you most that you liked?
ANDRÉS GIMÉNEZ: I think the fact that everyone contributed to those wins. I feel like every guy coming out of the bullpen did great. Hitters, the guys who slug the ball, they slugged the ball. The guys like me that my work is to get on base, we get on base for other guys. I think I really liked those parts the first two games.
Obviously we have to keep it consistent because we have a couple games left.
Q. When we spoke to your manager John Schneider the other day, he said he likes your at-bats even more since you moved to shortstop defensively. Do you think there's any connection there between the two?
ANDRÉS GIMÉNEZ: I don't know. Maybe something familiar because through my Minor League career I played shortstop the whole time. But I've been feeling good. The last month I've been feeling good. The results weren't there, but I was feeling good at the plate. I don't know if it's lucky or the right moment, I don't know, but yeah.
Q. You've been around Shane Bieber as much as anyone with the Jays. What do you expect him to bring in terms of energy into tomorrow's start?
ANDRÉS GIMÉNEZ: He's going to compete for sure. He's a great competitor. He's a great pitcher. Tomorrow he's going to compete for sure. He's going to go out there and try to dominate and try to give us the best opportunity for us to score runs. Hopefully we win tomorrow.
Q. John Schneider said a couple times this year that there's good off days and bad off days. Coming off 23 runs and two big wins, do you have a sense of where this off day falls in that?
ANDRÉS GIMÉNEZ: I don't know. Everybody's a little bit different. For me, it's a good one because my shoulder and my body is a little bit tired. Playing shortstop now, I have to adapt a little bit. For me, it's a good one today.
Q. Could you tell me what it's like to have George Springer as a teammate? I understand the team and the fans call him Uncle George.
ANDRÉS GIMÉNEZ: It's amazing. I got the opportunity to work out in the off-season with him, so I kind of know him a little bit better. He's a great leader in the clubhouse. He's one of those leaders that he's really vocal, and he shows it on the field as well. I'm really glad to play with George. In postseason, he's a different beast. So I'm happy to play with him.
Q. Could you tell me what did you learn from him during the off-season? You said you worked out with him.
ANDRÉS GIMÉNEZ: I think the consistency that he's got on everything on a daily basis with routines and everything. I feel like that's the most important thing that obviously he teach with his actions. Just consistency, preparation, and focus on the game.
Q. You've had a good view of Trey Yesavage in the few weeks he's been on the team. What do you think makes his splitter so effective?
ANDRÉS GIMÉNEZ: I think it just looks exactly like a fastball. Yesterday I was at shortstop right behind him, and I was like it looks exactly the same, the fastball and the split and then the slider. Obviously an electric fastball, but the split is pretty good. I think it just looks the same.
Q. I don't know if you're a superstitious guy, but the white panel hats have been very successful. I know you've got a blue cap on right now, but do you think the white caps are here to stay?
ANDRÉS GIMÉNEZ: I don't know, but it's a good chance to use it tomorrow.
Q. You've been on a bunch of teams. Playing in Canada, do you think these games in October with a big U.S. national television audience kind of raise the profile for fans of who the Blue Jays are and what these players can do?
ANDRÉS GIMÉNEZ: I don't know. In Canada it's been amazing. This season I feel like the fans show up every single night, especially the last three months. I think we play a couple straight games sold out.
But I don't know. Postseason is different. You feel that energy in every stadium, but definitely we're feeling it in Canada and we're really happy for that.
Q. It's been about a month since you moved to shortstop. How do you feel about how you've been playing defensively there? How has that transition gone for you?
ANDRÉS GIMÉNEZ: I'll be honest, it obviously hasn't been easy body-wise, a little bit more demanding, got to be more active. But I have to prepare myself a little bit better to play shortstop.
It's been good. Happy to help the team in that position, and I'm really happy for that.
Q. How have you liked it? How have you liked playing shortstop?
ANDRÉS GIMÉNEZ: I like it. It's been fun for sure, especially after four years. I think the last time that I played consistently at shortstop, it was 2020, but it's been fun for sure.
Q. Is there anything specific you like about it?
ANDRÉS GIMÉNEZ: I don't know. It's just way different. Playing second for the last four years and move to short, it changed everything. It's fun, especially playing next to Ernie, next to Barger, and Izzy on the other side. So it's been fun.
Q. Andrés, when you were his opponent, what did you think of Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and his talent? Have you learned anything new and surprising being his teammate, and particularly as you saw what he did these last two games?
ANDRÉS GIMÉNEZ: It doesn't surprise me at all. Not too many people know, but we did tryouts together, international free agency, back in 2015, and he was hitting the baseball in the same way that he does right now. He was hitting the first group, hitting bombs, and I would hit it in the second group, and I was like I'm not sure. (Laughter). He's been the same hitter obviously now in this stage postseason. But he's amazing.
It's been amazing playing with him the whole season, next to him. He's just amazing.
Q. What have you thought about Ernie Clement's success, and did you maybe see that coming when you guys were in Cleveland?
ANDRÉS GIMÉNEZ: Yeah, when we were in Cleveland, we were in a different situation. We were trying to find our spot in the Big Leagues, competing for a spot, but now he realize that he can do it at this level and he's doing it in an amazing way. He's playing every position, any spot in the lineup, and he's doing great.
So I'm happy for him, and obviously he helps us to win, and that's our goal.
Q. After playing all year with Vlad and seeing especially the reaction to his home runs this weekend, what do you think he means to Canada and Canadian fans? What has he come to represent to them?
ANDRÉS GIMÉNEZ: It means a lot. Obviously he's the face of this franchise. He's been doing great on and off the field. He means a lot, not only for Canada or the Blue Jays, for us, he means a lot.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports