NL DIVISION SERIES: ASTROS v BRAVES

October 8, 2005

Bobby Cox

BOBBY COX: There's a lot of factors, and I don't care to describe them right now. We're going to talk after the game tonight with our pitching. Tim Hudson could very well start tomorrow. He had seven days off prior to his last start, and he went less than six innings, less than 100 pitches. So he wants to pitch it, and I'm still debating right now.

BOBBY COX: Several of them, actually. John Smoltz, for one. Eddie Perez is a guy that you know has been injured almost the entire year. Eddie's great with young kids and great with veterans also. He's a big factor on our team, actually, even though he's not playing. And of course Chipper and Andruw have contributed in that area. I think they have shown them the ropes and helped them a lot.

BOBBY COX: About Backe? You know, we faced him last year in the playoffs and he threw a great game against us. I've seen him pitch on video. He's got good stuff, I think. He's a good fielder, he's a good hitter, and he's certainly, for me, better than a fifth starter.

BOBBY COX: Well, we'll see what happens. Mac was swinging before the playoffs started, he started hitting the ball awfully hard. You know, he hit the big home run the other night, why not go with him? Johnny's (Estrada) still not 100%, although he's feeling better. Mac's swinging the hot bat, so we'll go with him.