Clubhouse Reactions Following Game 12 vs. Glacier

A Postgame Conversation with Manager Michael Schlact

Q: Yesterday you mentioned that you felt your pitchers could have executed a lot better in certain circumstances. Today I felt they located much better, and were able to stay out of trouble for the most part. Did you make a similar observation? 

Schlact: "They did a great job making good pitches. The score was close today because of how good that offense is over there. There were a few mistakes that they took advantage of but for the most part I am very pleased with the effort they put in. Overall I felt we played a much more complete ballgame as a team." 

Q: A key moment in this game was the 4-run rally you put together in the bottom of the 6th today. What were the keys that led to success in that inning?

Schlact: "I think it's easy sometimes to be discouraged when you do not find success against a pitcher over a long portion of time. This group does not do that. I believe that every hitter that goes up for us believes they are going to be the one to start a rally. Then our offense does a good job of feeding off one another. I thought our approach, and mindset was very good and led to success in that inning."

Q: Another thing you talked about last night was the idea of making adjustments from game-to-game after a certain scenario does not play out in your favor. We saw a player make adjustments in Matt Taubensee when he retired Kingston Liniak in the 7th, a man that took him deep last night. Was that encouraging? 

Schlact: "That was great. Part of the reason we ran him back out there today was to show him we have confidence in him. But we also wanted to keep him pitching. It worked out that Glacier constructed their lineup in the same manner they did last night. We want him out there to face left handed hitters often and Liniak happened to be between a pair of those bats. The mental fortitude to show up big in that spot is impressive, and fun to watch." 

Q: A big part of your offense today was Carlos Perez finishing with 2 hits and 2 RBIs. He really had been in a slump at the plate coming into today. Was it nice for him to start to come out of that funk at the plate? 

Schlact: "I think you reach a point where you just need to relax and have fun in this game. He was up there pressing trying to make big things happen for the team in every at-bat. What he really needed to do was have fun again and play loose. Once he got to a certain point in his slump he realized what he was doing was not working and he needed to change things up. I saw the change in his mentality. He was having fun, and playing much more freely. That looked a lot like the guy I remember, which was great to see." 

Safford's Stars From Sunday

1. Carlos Perez

The PaddleHeads catcher came into Sunday having only recorded 3 hits on the season to this point. His fortunes would quickly begin to shift with a 2-out base hit to knock in a run in the early innings today however on his way to a solid day at the plate. Having that type of an at-bat is what you love to see. As Schlact alluded to, he was not trying to be the hero in that situation. There was a big hole on the right side of the infield and he put the ball in play right to that spot to knock in a run, that's just good baseball. 

He also had a great feel for the game behind the plate. I felt he called a great game by moving his pitch types and locations often to tie up hitters. He also had a fabulous feel for the strikezone. Perez challenged 4 pitches from behind the plate that were called balls by the home plate umpire originally. In each instance, the call was overturned to a strike in that scenario. That is a sign of being loose and confident as a baseball player. 

2. The Peanut Inning

The bottom of the 6th had its magic again Sunday at Allegiance Field at Ogren Park. The 4-run rally for the PaddleHeads would prove to be the difference between a win and a loss Sunday. You have to give Missoula's offense credit. They sensed blood in the water, and they did not let their foot off the gas until the damage was done. That is the type of attack mode this team will look to continue to shoot for on the road.

The bottom of the 6th would also be fruitful throughout the course of the week for Missoula as well. In the first homestand of the season, the PaddleHeads would tally runs in the bottom of the 6th in 5 of 6 games this week against Glacier. The 1st inning would also be squarely in favor of Missoula as Glacier failed to tally a single run in the frame all week long. 

3. Kids Free Sunday

Sunday matinees are one of my favorites. Maybe it's just the change of pace that does it for me considering any other day sees a game start close to the 7 o'clock hour. But Sunday afternoons at the ballpark just have a different feel to them. They have that nostalgic feeling. It reminds you of why you enjoy baseball in the first place. I was the kid who snuck a radio into my room so I could listen to John Miller broadcast San Francisco Giants games  when I was a kid when I was supposed to be asleep (sorry Mom). Now this generation gets to enjoy baseball in their own way. In Missoula, that means having plenty of ice cream sandwiches.

It also is a tradition for every Sunday home game to see kids run the bases after every game. The first ones that get to do so every Sunday in Missoula are the 2 young sons of Michael Schlact. You can take it to the bank, they haven't missed a Sunday yet. That is the amazing human element of this game that is on display here. It would not have mattered if Sabouri held up in the 9th like he did today or if he got taken back to downtown Kallispel. These joyous memories that have nothing to do with the final result of a game involve an entire community. These kids will remember their days at the ballpark with their families for years to come. Being a part of something that cultivates a family atmosphere like that is special. The human element of this game is special.