Famous pep talks from postseason history

Teams rallied around these veterans when they were needed most

November 1st, 2023

Even the best athletes in the world sometimes need a jolt.

A veteran clubhouse leader will recognize that and provide that shot of energy -- each in his own fiery way. Particularly in the postseason, with emotions swinging from the highest of highs to the lowest of lows, some timely words from team leaders have helped to swing the outcomes of playoff series, sticking as pivotal moments in the memories of those games as they go down in baseball history.

Here's a look back at some notable postseason pep talks from the recent past.

, 2023 World Series, Game 4
Garc¨ªa lifted the Rangers to the World Series by putting together one of the greatest postseason runs in MLB history. That included a walk-off homer in the 11th inning of Game 1, Garc¨ªa's fifth straight playoff game with a dinger. However, as the Rangers were on their way to taking a 2-1 series lead over the D-backs in Game 3, Texas' celebratory mood turned sour as Garc¨ªa exited in the eighth inning with a left oblique strain. His World Series -- at least on the field -- was over.

But Garc¨ªa would provide an impact prior to Game 4. That's when he gathered Texas' hitters and gave a ¡°vulnerable and emotional¡± pregame speech, according to catcher Jonah Heim.

"What he said was emotional and it hit us right in the heart and gave us a little bit extra something to play for today," Heim said.

The Rangers' offense responded by thumping Arizona, 11-7, to pull within one win of the franchise's first World Series title. Shortstop Corey Seager hit his third homer of the series in the triumph.?

"[Garc¨ªa] told us he loved us. He wants us to do it for him," Seager said after the game. "We tried to go out there and put on a good performance."

Chris Sale, 2018 World Series, Game 4
Boston's powerful offense posted 12 runs over the first two games of the World Series at Fenway Park to push the Red Sox to a commanding 2-0 series lead, but once the series moved to Los Angeles, that productivity was suddenly nowhere to be found. Boston was held to two runs in its 18-inning loss in Game 3, with one scoring on an error, and when ?stretched the Red Sox's scoreless streak to 11 innings with six shutout frames to begin Game 4, Sale had seen enough.

At that point, the Red Sox trailed, 4-0, in the seventh inning, and Sale was seen shouting in the dugout in a fiery plea for the bats to wake up. Shortly after, hit a pinch-hit, three-run homer in the seventh, tied the game with a long ball in the eighth and Boston pounded five hits in a five-run ninth that put the game out of reach. The Dodgers could have tied the series, but instead, the Red Sox emerged within one win of a World Series championship.

"That moment was huge because it motivated us," said through an interpreter. "It scared me a little bit, because I had never seen him yell like that and the words that he was saying, I had never heard that come from him before, but we came out sluggish, and that moment helped us get motivated for the rest of the game."

, 2017 World Series, Game 2
Much of the buzz entering the 2017 Fall Classic surrounded and the Dodgers' seemingly unbeatable bullpen. Featuring Jansen, , , ?and a host of others, Los Angeles' relief corps threw 17 scoreless innings in the National League Championship Series against the Cubs and tossed two perfect innings in World Series Game 1 against the Astros.

In Game 2, the Dodgers cracked Verlander for three runs and took a 3-1 lead into the eighth inning. But in the Astros' dugout, Verlander still wasn't done helping his team, even though his night on the mound was over, as he poked his head out of the tunnel and forcefully reminded his teammates that they weren't yet out of it. Houston then tagged Morrow and Jansen for a run in the eighth, hit a game-tying homer off Jansen in the ninth, and the Astros added two in the 10th and two more in the 11th to send the series back to Houston tied 1-1.

"I guess that was just my message: Stay positive and remember how good you are, and play the game," Verlander said after the game. "It's only two runs. This team, since I've been here, and I know it hasn't been that long, but two runs is nothing. And all of a sudden, two runs seemed like it was the Grand Canyon. I don't even know if anybody heard me, but I just wanted to remind these guys two runs is nothing."

, 2016 World Series, Game 7
Heyward, signed by the Cubs to a blockbuster eight-year deal during the offseason, struggled to live up to expectations during the regular season and was mired in a deep slump throughout the playoffs, hitting .104 with one RBI despite playing in all but one of the Cubs' playoff games.

Heywardobviously didn't make as much of a contribution on the field as he would have hoped, but on baseball's biggest stage, with a World Series Game 7 going into extra innings after ' improbable game-tying homer off , Heyward gathered his teammates together for a team meeting during a 17-minute rain delay to help the Cubs regroup and refocus. Out of the break, they strung together three hits in a two-run 10th inning to win the franchise's first World Series championship in 108 years.

"I told them I love them," Heyward said. "I told them I'm proud of the way they overcame everything together. I told them everyone has to look in the mirror, and know everyone contributed to this season and to where we are at this point. I said, 'I don't know how it's going to happen, how we're going to do it, but let's go out and try to get a W.'"

David Ortiz, 2013 World Series, Game 4
It was a make-or-break point in the 2013 World Series, when the Red Sox and Cardinals were tied 1-1 after five innings at Busch Stadium with St. Louis already leading the series, 2-1. If the Cards were to win, they would get the chance to clinch the championship at home the next day. Sensing the magnitude of the moment, Big Papi called together a huddle in the dugout between innings and delivered a steadying call to his teammates.

"We don't get here every day," Ortiz was heard saying. "Let's relax and play the game the way we know how. We're better than this right here. Let's loosen up and let's play the game the way we do."

One inning later, Jonny Gomes, a late lineup replacement for Shane Victorino, drove a two-out, three-run homer off reliever to stake the Red Sox to a 4-1 lead. Boston never again trailed in the series, taking Game 5 in St. Louis before clinching the World Series in front of its home fans for the first time in 95 years with a 6-1 win in Game 6.

, 2012 NLDS, Game 3
The Giants' World Series dynasty in the early 2010s was almost stopped short in its tracks in the 2012 NL Division Series, when the Reds shelled and in the first two games at AT&T Park to bring the series to Cincinnati with the Giants facing an 0-2 deficit. Before the start of Game 3 at Great American Ball Park, Pence gathered his teammates for a passionate pregame speech shortly before the first pitch.

"I want one more day with you. It's the most fun, the best team I've ever been on, and no matter what happens, we must not give in -- we owe it to each other, play for each other," then-Giants third-base coach Tim Flannery remembered Pence saying. "I need one more day with you guys. I need to see what [Ryan] Theriot will wear tomorrow. I want to play defense behind [Ryan] Vogelsong because he's never been to the playoffs. ¡­ Play for each other, not yourself -- win each moment, win each inning. It's all we have left."

Vogelsong went toe-to-toe with Homer Bailey in a Game 3 pitchers' duel that the Giants won, 2-1, in extra innings. San Francisco stayed alive with an 8-3 rout in Game 4. And after Pence fired up the Giants one more time in the AT&T Park dugout prior to the decisive Game 5, they rode a six-run fifth inning to come all the way back and advance to the NLCS, eventually winning the second of their three World Series titles as part of their even-year run.

seductrice.net
universo-virtual.com
buytrendz.net
thisforall.net
benchpressgains.com
qthzb.com
mindhunter9.com
dwjqp1.com
secure-signup.net
ahaayy.com
tressesindia.com
puresybian.com
krpano-chs.com
cre8workshop.com
hdkino.org
peixun021.com
qz786.com
utahperformingartscenter.org
worldqrmconference.com
shangyuwh.com
eejssdfsdfdfjsd.com
playminecraftfreeonline.com
trekvietnamtour.com
your-business-articles.com
essaywritingservice10.com
hindusamaaj.com
joggingvideo.com
wandercoups.com
wormblaster.net
tongchengchuyange0004.com
internetknowing.com
breachurch.com
peachesnginburlesque.com
dataarchitectoo.com
clientfunnelformula.com
30pps.com
cherylroll.com
ks2252.com
prowp.net
webmanicura.com
sofietsshotel.com
facetorch.com
nylawyerreview.com
apapromotions.com
shareparelli.com
goeaglepointe.com
thegreenmanpubphuket.com
karotorossian.com
publicsensor.com
taiwandefence.com
epcsur.com
southstills.com
tvtv98.com
thewellington-hotel.com
bccaipiao.com
colectoresindustrialesgs.com
shenanddcg.com
capriartfilmfestival.com
replicabreitlingsale.com
thaiamarinnewtoncorner.com
gkmcww.com
mbnkbj.com
andrewbrennandesign.com
cod54.com
luobinzhang.com
faithfirst.net
zjyc28.com
tongchengjinyeyouyue0004.com
nhuan6.com
kftz5k.com
oldgardensflowers.com
lightupthefloor.com
bahamamamas-stjohns.com
ly2818.com
905onthebay.com
fonemenu.com
notanothermovie.com
ukrainehighclassescort.com
meincmagazine.com
av-5858.com
yallerdawg.com
donkeythemovie.com
corporatehospitalitygroup.com
boboyy88.com
miteinander-lernen.com
dannayconsulting.com
officialtomsshoesoutletstore.com
forsale-amoxil-amoxicillin.net
generictadalafil-canada.net
guitarlessonseastlondon.com
lesliesrestaurants.com
mattyno9.com
nri-homeloans.com
rtgvisas-qatar.com
salbutamolventolinonline.net
sportsinjuries.info
wedsna.com
rgkntk.com
bkkmarketplace.com
zxqcwx.com
breakupprogram.com
boxcardc.com
unblockyoutubeindonesia.com
fabulousbookmark.com
beat-the.com
guatemala-sailfishing-vacations-charters.com
magie-marketing.com
kingstonliteracy.com
guitaraffinity.com
eurelookinggoodapparel.com
howtolosecheekfat.net
marioncma.org
oliviadavismusic.com
shantelcampbellrealestate.com
shopleborn13.com
topindiafree.com
v-visitors.net
djjky.com
053hh.com
originbluei.com
baucishotel.com
33kkn.com
intrinsiqresearch.com
mariaescort-kiev.com
mymaguk.com
sponsored4u.com
crimsonclass.com
bataillenavale.com
searchtile.com
ze-stribrnych-struh.com
zenithalhype.com
modalpkv.com
bouisset-lafforgue.com
useupload.com
37r.net
autoankauf-muenster.com
bantinbongda.net
bilgius.com
brabustermagazine.com
indigrow.org
miicrosofts.net
mysmiletravel.com
selinasims.com
spellcubesapp.com
usa-faction.com
hypoallergenicdogsnames.com
dailyupdatez.com
foodphotographyreviews.com
cricutcom-setup.com
chprowebdesign.com
katyrealty-kanepa.com
tasramar.com
bilgipinari.org
four-am.com
indiarepublicday.com
inquick-enbooks.com
iracmpi.com
kakaschoenen.com
lsm99flash.com
nana1255.com
ngen-niagara.com
technwzs.com
virtualonlinecasino1345.com
wallpapertop.net
casino-natali.com
iprofit-internet.com
denochemexicana.com
eventhalfkg.com
medcon-taiwan.com
life-himawari.com
myriamshomes.com
nightmarevue.com
healthandfitnesslives.com
androidnews-jp.com
allstarsru.com
bestofthebuckeyestate.com
bestofthefirststate.com
bestwireless7.com
britsmile.com
declarationintermittent.com
findhereall.com
jingyou888.com
lsm99deal.com
lsm99galaxy.com
moozatech.com
nuagh.com
patliyo.com
philomenamagikz.net
rckouba.net
saturnunipessoallda.com
tallahasseefrolics.com
thematurehardcore.net
totalenvironment-inthatquietearth.com
velislavakaymakanova.com
vermontenergetic.com
kakakpintar.com
begorgeouslady.com
1800birks4u.com
2wheelstogo.com
6strip4you.com
bigdata-world.net
emailandco.net
gacapal.com
jharpost.com
krishnaastro.com
lsm99credit.com
mascalzonicampani.com
sitemapxml.org
thecityslums.net
topagh.com
flairnetwebdesign.com
rajasthancarservices.com
bangkaeair.com
beneventocoupon.com
noternet.org
oqtive.com
smilebrightrx.com
decollage-etiquette.com
1millionbestdownloads.com
7658.info
bidbass.com
devlopworldtech.com
digitalmarketingrajkot.com
fluginfo.net
naqlafshk.com
passion-decouverte.com
playsirius.com
spacceleratorintl.com
stikyballs.com
top10way.com
yokidsyogurt.com
zszyhl.com
16firthcrescent.com
abogadolaboralistamd.com
apk2wap.com
aromacremeria.com
banparacard.com
bosmanraws.com
businessproviderblog.com
caltonosa.com
calvaryrevivalchurch.org
chastenedsoulwithabrokenheart.com
cheminotsgardcevennes.com
cooksspot.com
cqxzpt.com
deesywig.com
deltacartoonmaps.com
despixelsetdeshommes.com
duocoracaobrasileiro.com
fareshopbd.com
goodpainspills.com
hemendekor.com
kobisitecdn.com
makaigoods.com
mgs1454.com
piccadillyresidences.com
radiolaondafresca.com
rubendorf.com
searchengineimprov.com
sellmyhrvahome.com
shugahouseessentials.com
sonihullquad.com
subtractkilos.com
valeriekelmansky.com
vipasdigitalmarketing.com
voolivrerj.com
zeelonggroup.com
1015southrockhill.com
10x10b.com
111-online-casinos.com
191cb.com
3665arpentunitd.com
aitesonics.com
bag-shokunin.com
brightotech.com
communication-digitale-services.com
covoakland.org
dariaprimapack.com
freefortniteaccountss.com
gatebizglobal.com
global1entertainmentnews.com
greatytene.com
hiroshiwakita.com
iktodaypk.com
jahatsakong.com
meadowbrookgolfgroup.com
newsbharati.net
platinumstudiosdesign.com
slotxogamesplay.com
strikestaruk.com
trucosdefortnite.com
ufabetrune.com
weddedtowhitmore.com
12940brycecanyonunitb.com
1311dietrichoaks.com
2monarchtraceunit303.com
601legendhill.com
850elaine.com
adieusolasomade.com
andora-ke.com
bestslotxogames.com
cannagomcallen.com
endlesslyhot.com
iestpjva.com
ouqprint.com
pwmaplefest.com
qtylmr.com
rb88betting.com
buscadogues.com
1007macfm.com
born-wild.com
growthinvests.com
promocode-casino.com
proyectogalgoargentina.com
wbthompson-art.com
whitemountainwheels.com
7thavehvl.com
developmethis.com
funkydogbowties.com
travelodgegrandjunction.com
gao-town.com
globalmarketsuite.com
blogshippo.com
hdbka.com
proboards67.com
outletonline-michaelkors.com
kalkis-research.com
thuthuatit.net
buckcash.com
hollistercanada.com
docterror.com
asadart.com
vmayke.org
erwincomputers.com
dirimart.org
okkii.com
loteriasdecehegin.com
mountanalog.com
healingtaobritain.com
ttxmonitor.com
nwordpress.com
11bolabonanza.com