MLB WORLD SERIES: MARLINS v YANKEES

October 18, 2003

Juan Pierre

Dontrelle Willis

DONTRELLE WILLIS: Basically go out there, try to throw strikes. Try to get a hit and go from there.

DONTRELLE WILLIS: I guess so. I'm just going out there, just throwing the ball, you know. I don't think it's that deep into detail. I'm just trying to go out there and just have fun and go out there and try to get people out and that's it.

DONTRELLE WILLIS: I warmed up in the stretch so I just -- Rosenthal talked to me about deciding to stay in the stretch because I warmed up and I came in the game in the stretch. It was all about timing. I was able to stay in the rhythm.

DONTRELLE WILLIS: Like you said, keeping the ball down. Great Yankee hitters, they're aggressive. They don't miss much. So you have to just emphasize having every pitch down and just going from there.

JUAN PIERRE: Probably not necessarily a surprise element. But knowing an American League, the series they play with Oakland and Red Sox, there aren't too many guys bunting over there. Just to put them uneasy, that's my job, to create a little havoc. With the bunt, I think they weren't as comfortable the rest of the game. I know the next time up, Torre was yelling, "Move up, move up." Another guy moved over. It was already in their head with the bunt. It just opens up the whole field for me. I think it accomplished what I wanted to do tonight as far as getting on and creating havoc.

DONTRELLE WILLIS: Actually, to me, I feel the same. I think it's more just location. Just trying to hit your spots and what have you. If you don't, they're gonna make you pay, so... I think I was able to hit my spots a little better today.

JUAN PIERRE: Well, you want me to talk about it?

JUAN PIERRE: Yeah, I think we been playing -- that's the start, with good pitching. We started getting good pitching. The pitchers have confidence in our defense, that we gonna make plays. Takes a lot of pressure off them if they do make a mistake, that we got guys that can make plays behind them. We got the equalizer behind the plate in Pudge where guys can't get their regular secondaries, maybe not scoring balls they should score on, turning double plays that way. Some we been doing all year, like I said. It's just taking notice because we're in the postseason now. That's why it's a fun team, because we haven't changed one bit. With all the attention we're getting now, we're still playing the same ball we played basically in May.

JUAN PIERRE: No, you just try to get a good pitch. I always try to say all the pressure's on the pitcher. He's supposed to get you out. Try to make him work a little bit. Sometimes you go after the first pitch. But for the most time, you try to go deeper in the count, give him a chance to make a mistake. Not really nothing I do different. I know that when guys are on, it puts them out of the position that they usually play me. So some of the holes will be open that usually they're probably not open, just the simple fact that men on base. Nothing usually different. Just try to use the middle of the field. Same old, same old, for me. I don't have different swings. My two strike swings and my 0-0 swings, my 2-0 swing, it eliminates a lot of guessing for me with having the same swing.

JUAN PIERRE: It feels real good. Especially to drive in runs. 40 RBIs, 700 at-bats. It's always good for me to drive in runs, take pride in that. I think just from me getting on, me and Luis stealing the base today, hopefully setting the tone for the rest of the series, but these guys are the Yankees. You know they're professionals. I don't think they take notice in all this. They'll probably come back tomorrow, fired up, ready to go. Just for us to send that message, hopefully, for the series, that I'm gonna be on and hopefully drive in some more runs this series. Definitely score some runs.

JUAN PIERRE: I think it helps the whole line-up. They get fastballs and balls up. I know we had Wells slide stepping tonight. I don't think he does that too much. He was bouncing his breaking ball, his fastball got up a little bit. I just can't see a pitcher being as comfortable when we're on base. They may say "I know baseball," saying stealing bases, all that, is not as important. But I think if you talk to any defensive guy or pitcher, that they're not as comfortable when we're on.

JUAN PIERRE: I just seen it on video and I know we played him in Colorado last year. I didn't play that game. But it's kind of probably a crap shoot, you know. I mean, you probably take a chance, 50/50, probably go first moving or something like that. I think guys will try to pick up on things all year and they haven't. I'll go watch video, but I don't know how successful I'll be. But just getting on, making him maybe -- maybe if I see it while I'm on base, I might pick something up. It's a great pickoff move. I'm gonna be as aggressive as I can on him, but be smart about it.

DONTRELLE WILLIS: I think I'm able to come back tomorrow and throw. As far as starting, really doesn't matter to me if I start or relieve. I just want to be able to be ready, go out there and pitch at any time. Whatever Jack wants me to do, I'll be ready.

JUAN PIERRE: I know where the leftfielder usually plays me, how shallow it would be. I knew I'd hit the ball hard. I was surprised. I was gonna make the turn so he can cut the ball off. He was cutting the ball off as I was just trying to get off of first a little bit more. Little bit surprised just for the fact that I know where he was playing and how hard I hit the ball. But, you know, maybe Encarnacion got a good jump. I don't know. Looked like it was on line, but, you know, who knows? Maybe I affected him, maybe he seen me out the corner of his eye rounding first and ready to take off. I was a little bit surprised I guess just for the fact that I knew how close Matsui probably was and how hard I hit the ball.