MLB WORLD SERIES: MARLINS v YANKEES

October 19, 2003

Andy Pettitte

ANDY PETTITTE: Yeah, I mean, it was very special. It was, for me, personally, it was a very special night to be able to stay out on the mound on the ninth inning and try to have an opportunity to go for a shutout game in the World Series game like that. I had one other chance in 1996 and wasn't able to do it. I wish I was able to do it tonight. But it was nice. Just trying to continue to focus and not get too caught up in that. Just try to make pitches there. I was starting to get a little tired.

ANDY PETTITTE: Yeah, it was big. The big thing, again, is when Matsui hits that home run, puts me up three right there. I was struggling with my command in the first inning. I was trying to throw a lot of two-seamers. Kind of tough early just to get a feel and get in a good rhythm. I was missing, falling behind everybody. When he hits the home run right there, I'm able to really start concentrating a little bit more with some four-seamers in the zone. I found out that I had a pretty good fastball. That really set up everything, was really throwing a good cutter tonight. For being on three days' rest, just really thankful I felt as strong as I did.

ANDY PETTITTE: There's nothing better than feeling like you're not gonna give up a whole lot out there on the mound. But then you realize a guy can battle you and get a walk out of you, then maybe a jam shot or whatever and a mistake and you're in trouble. But, again, I felt good. I knew second inning that I had a good cutter and felt like the fastball was coming out of my hand good. I was able to locate it into some right-handers. When I'm able to do that, it really sets up everything for me. I knew I had good stuff. And, more than anything, just continue to try to act like it was a 0-0 ball game and not give them anything.

ANDY PETTITTE: There's no doubt about it that all that stuff comes into play. I mean, this place is special. It was awesome seeing Paul come out and throw that first pitch and just being able to be a part of the World Series again and the playoffs and all the experience that I've been able to have here in the playoffs, being able to have the success with the team, that all plays a part. Again, I hate to talk too much about that stuff right now because there's a lot to be done still. And, again, we'll worry about all that when everything is over.

ANDY PETTITTE: I mean, I wasn't surprised after I saw him. I didn't know how good he was gonna be. I heard he was great and a great power hitter. But just from spring training, watching him in spring training, you realized he was gonna be a good hitter. He's got too good of a swing and he knows what he's doing. His approach is very good. So you knew he was gonna be a good hitter. He's a better outfielder than I think everybody expected him to be. He's been a great addition to our team. He's been awesome for us, no doubt about it. He's stepping up right now in the postseason and that's great to see.

ANDY PETTITTE: Yeah, just we always talk before our starts and just feel each other out about as far as what's going on in our head and stuff like that a little bit, just to get it off my chest. I know I like to do that. Really was fighting myself a little bit before the game, just thinking in my head how I was gonna feel and worrying about stuff like that before I even went out there and took the mound. I was telling him that I was a little concerned with maybe having to change my approach of where I've been the last couple of months as far as with good, hard stuff because we've been going on a lot of rest. Being short, I was concerned. He just said, "Don't be concerned. That's what we've worked so hard for." It made me feel a lot more comfortable. Jorge told me the same thing, I talked to him, too. I'm just thankful that my arm bounced back and I was able to be as strong as I was tonight.

ANDY PETTITTE: So far, after Game 1, all it's been doing this postseason is adding a little more gray hair to my head with going into Game 2 and being down 1. But again, like I said before, I'm never gonna change the approach of what I want to do. Really, that's it. I've pitched so many games, again, and just try to take the same mindset, try to get all my stuff going. Again, the home run you were talking about, it was huge. A three-run homer, that's really what really was able to settle me down. Like I said, I was able to start getting a lot more aggressive in the strike zone and really got them swinging. It helped me keep my pitch count down. Instead of being a solo shot, a three-run homer, that was huge for me.

ANDY PETTITTE: Well, I love him like a father. We've been through so much. Really, I can't tell you much more than that. I love him to death. He's shown the ultimate faith in me. Back in '99, he stuck his neck out on the line for me whenever the team was ready, I think, to part ways with me. He went to bat for me, along with my pitching coach. They stuck their necks out. That's, for both of them, just I can't tell you, I can't express how I feel about them. They mean a whole lot to me, and I'll never forget that. So I'm just very thankful that he's my manager.

ANDY PETTITTE: Not really, because, like I said and like I've been saying, I'm so focused on trying to help this team win another championship and I don't really want to get too caught up in that. So it's been very easy for me to set aside that all year. Like I said, we've talked, I've talked about it and been asked so much about it this year, it does pop in my head every now and then. But I've been able to, for the most part, take the mound and focus on the game and I feel like I owe that to my teammates and to the fans to not let anything try to distract me right now.