NL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES: MARLINS v CUBS

October 13, 2003

Carl Pavano

CARL PAVANO: No, it was definitely a surprise. They told me after yesterday's game. And I'm really looking forward to this challenge, this experience that's ahead of me. I had a different role going into the playoffs being in the bullpen, and I'm glad to be given the opportunity to go out and start Game 6 for the Florida Marlins.

CARL PAVANO: Well, I've made 32 starts this year. I'm used to starting. I'm not going into unchartered waters. Maybe the unchartered waters will be pitching in a playoff game in Wrigley Field. But I'm looking at it as a fun, exciting and challenging experience. My team is counting on me, and I'm counting on myself to get the job done. The focus and the concentration is going to be part of my success.

CARL PAVANO: They're definitely staying away from the big innings. Base on balls you want to stay away from altogether, keeping guys off the bases. They've got some speed, as well. We've got a great catcher behind the plate with Pudge. But keeping guys off bases, and keeping away from those big innings.

CARL PAVANO: From my experience watching Juan Pierre and Luis Castillo with the speed, obviously it's shown me a lot. And Lofton is going to make things happen. Keeping him off bases is definitely the key. So it's not going to be my main focus, but definitely part of my focus.

CARL PAVANO: I think what we've gone through all year with the adversity, and especially the end of the season, the schedule that we face, I think that we're just taking this as another game. We definitely don't give up. We're going into it with a positive frame of mind and confident frame of mind. The best man is going to win. That's what it comes down to. Who wants it the most, and who's focused. I think both teams have good shots. I think it just comes down to definitely the pitching and who has the best stuff out there.

CARL PAVANO: This is something that I think every player from this standpoint dreams of. You get a chance to go out and carry your team until it comes down to where your back is against the wall. We all handle it well in pressure, that's why we're Major League ballplayers. I don't think you can take it different than any other game. You

have to go out and give it your best stuff and get ready to compete, and the best man wins.

CARL PAVANO: It's going to be fun. The atmosphere in this field is always exciting, even during the season. I can't imagine that changing, but being even better. Hopefully we can all feed off that atmosphere.

CARL PAVANO: I think throwing quality pitches is going to be the key. You definitely want to keep him off the bags and you definitely want to make your pitches too. At any point he could change the outcome of a ballgame.

CARL PAVANO: I grew up in the Northeast. The cold weather won't be a factor for me. And with the adrenaline and the excitement I'll have going in to tomorrow's game, I don't see it as a factor.

CARL PAVANO: I think the last game I started of the year to clinch the playoffs. We really wanted to end it in that fashion. We didn't want it to go further. It came down to that game, especially knowing the rotation that we were going into. My job was to stop that and set up the rotation, so we could stop that.

CARL PAVANO: Seeing the character of the guys on their team, I think they're a lot like us. I don't think they read into that hype too much. I think they're out there, focused and know their task at hand, and rules. They all do a pretty good job at that. I don't think it's much on the focus, the focus is more on winning than trying to hush the critics.

CARL PAVANO: Well, Josh pitched amazing yesterday. Definitely it's encouraging for all of us to see him go out, and when we needed him the most, he put in an unbelievable performance. You expect the same for yourself. That's something you want to follow and maybe compete with. So he did a great job. He really picked up the whole team. And I'm hoping that I can step in where he left off.

CARL PAVANO: Oh, definitely. I think it's got us to the point where we're all competitors, and we're also all friends. But as soon as we get between those lines, we want to get the job done. And I think that's going to be a key to this series coming up. And I don't see why our attitudes or our focus really will change.