AL DIVISION SERIES: YANKEES v ANGELS

October 7, 2005

Jarrod Washburn

JARROD WASHBURN: You're talking about a rain delay?

JARROD WASHBURN: I think everybody's body is different. You know, some people don't get real stiff until the next day. Some people get stiff in like a half hour. I think everybody is different and it's just, you know, take it case-by-case.

JARROD WASHBURN: Me personally, once I'm warmed up, I'm warmed up pretty good. I don't usually get too stiff until the next day, or at least a few hours. So if it's only a couple of innings that I've pitched, I shouldn't have a problem going out there within an hour or two for sure.

JARROD WASHBURN: Yeah, it feels great right now. Yeah, I took those two weeks off towards the end of the season with one thing in mind and that was just to be ready for the playoffs and be as ready as I could for the team so I could help my team be ready for the playoffs. Did exactly what I wanted by taking those two weeks off. I got one start where I went a full start and then I just had a little tune-up there right before the end of the season, so it feels great right now.

JARROD WASHBURN: No. Because hopefully that's not the case. So, no, it has not crossed my mind.

JARROD WASHBURN: Yeah, last year definitely didn't end the way I wanted to. I am eager to get out there and erase those memories.

JARROD WASHBURN: Not really. They always say good pitching beats good hitting. So I think it's just a matter of Bartolo and John and the Yankees pitchers, as well, have done a good job of making pitches to the big hitters in the first two games of these series. If I continue to go out there and I know if I make good pitches to those guys, that I should be able to get them out. So hopefully that continues.

JARROD WASHBURN: Yeah, I think I am a better pitcher than I was then. Won/loss record I think doesn't tell the whole story. You know, as far as in 2002 when I won 18 games, I was basically just a fastball pitcher and I reared back and said, here it is, hit it. Now I have four pitches that I throw and I feel very confident in throwing any of them in any count. And I also have better command of all of my pitches than I did in 2002, as well as better command of my fastball. So it's a constant learning process out there on the mound and I think my stuff is getting better and I'm getting a little smarter, too.

JARROD WASHBURN: I wasn't anticipating it, but that's Mike's decision. They just said they felt better with Paul in Game 3 and me in Game 4. That was the explanation I got and that's fine. I'm ready to pitch whenever he wants me to.