Q. Yesterday you were able to just take part in facing some live pitching. How is your hand feeling? What are your own personal expectations heading into this series?
WILL SMITH: Yeah, it's feeling good. It's really close to 100 percent. Looking forward to being out there playing and helping the team win.
Q. We haven't seen a lineup yet, but are you going to start tonight?
WILL SMITH: I don't think so, no, but I'll definitely be able to come off the bench and I'll be in there.
Q. As you're getting close to 100 percent, is it more just like kind of building up the strength of the swing and the throwing after not playing for a couple of weeks, that that's the process now?
WILL SMITH: Yeah, pretty much. It's definitely still rehabbing on the hand but definitely making sure the shoulder is not getting banged up, the hips, the legs, all that, just kind of getting my feet back under me.
We're trying to be smart about it. It's a long month, but also there's some urgency to win now, obviously. So just trying to kind of weigh both of those and go from there.
Q. When you talk about what you can do and what you can't do, are you able to come into the game and possibly catch the final two or three innings if that was like a double-switch situation?
WILL SMITH: Yeah, absolutely. I feel like I could go nine innings right now and be good.
Q. Just in terms of like bigger picture this season, ended up with about 100 games caught, down just a little bit, but you had, along with the best offensive season of your recent past, but specifically on fastballs. Seemed like you were getting around better on them, and your average (indiscernible) was solid. Did you find a sweet spot in terms of rest and the ability to be productive going forward?
WILL SMITH: Yeah, I mean, the game volume is down just because I missed all of September. But, yeah, I think just got in a really good spot with the hitting coaches with my swing, made some adjustments from last year. And then able to be really consistent with the swing. So I think that more so is why as opposed to being rested more or anything like that.
Q. You've had the opportunity if I'm not mistaken to play every year in the majors. I know it's pretty rare air, it's rare for someone to be able to say that. How do you then come into the playoffs? Is it just, this is normal for me, this is what I'm a part of? Not that it's all you obviously, but it's part of a normal season for you in a way?
WILL SMITH: Yeah, fortunately I am with the Los Angeles Dodgers. That's why I wanted to be here my whole career was a chance to play in the postseason every year. No team is committed more to winning a World Series each and every year than the Dodgers.
That's what I want to be a part of. I love the challenge and the goal. That's what we try to do every year is win a World Series. And that's who I am, that's what I want to be a part of.
Q. Does it help normalize things for you so it seems like it's a seamless part, you just continuing right along?
WILL SMITH: Yeah, definitely have had a lot of experience, winning two World Series, and losing a few.
It's learning from the mistakes when we lost and trying to apply what we did well last year, what we did well in 2020 and bring it to this year.
Q. Just kind of follow up on what we were saying. It seems like -- we've talked about this before -- where you're more comfortable when you're catching in terms of your overall hitting. I'm wondering whether you think that balance is the one that is continuing to be the one that's best for you? Again, like you said, your games per week were real similar, if not a little bit higher this year, and the production was really significant all the same.
WILL SMITH: Yeah. Yeah. I don't know.
Q. You don't want more DH time going forward in your career?
WILL SMITH: We've got a pretty good DH. I think we're pretty set on that. (Laughter.)
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