AL DIVISION SERIES: TWINS v YANKEES

September 29, 2003

Jorge Posada

JORGE POSADA: It doesn't matter what you do in the regular season. When it comes down to it, every pitch in the playoffs counts. Every hitter is important. You know, you've just got to bear down and make sure that the pitch is supposed to be at the location it's supposed to be, and you've got to make sure that the pitch is the right one for that particular batter.

JORGE POSADA: You know, obviously he doesn't get scared. That's why he's throwing the first game. He has come down the stretch for them big time. They needed an extra pitcher and he has stepped up. I tell you, he's looking forward to his start. I don't know much about him. We haven't seen him much, but to me, it looks like he's ready. He doesn't get scared.

JORGE POSADA: We're going to find out. We have no idea till we win something. Obviously the clubhouse is full of veterans, full of guys that want to contribute, but this is the time that we all have got to step up. We're going to find out.

JORGE POSADA: They are a fastball-hitting team. We all know that. We've just got to bear down. That doesn't mean we're not going to throw any fastballs. That means that we've got to make sure, like I said earlier, the pitchers are in the location that they are supposed to be and make sure that the pitchers are in the right spot at the right time. We've got a bunch of veteran pitchers that know what to do, and I think that's the advantage.

JORGE POSADA: I think that's said and done. I said some things, obviously, that upset a al couple of guys. But it's the way I felt after a loss. I was very angry. I was even angry at myself. You just can't take a loss like we took at that particular time, in Anaheim. I was very disappointed and I kind of said something that I wish I could take back. It's just, whatever. But that's the way I felt. Hopefully we can build from that day and try to be more focused.

JORGE POSADA: No, not at all. I think we understand what we have to do here, and it starts tomorrow.

JORGE POSADA: No. I wouldn't say so. I think that team has changed a little bit. They have got some key guys that are hot and they weren't hot back then. We were playing good, we were playing very good baseball, and it just happened to be at the right time we were playing. We started real hot. It's different now. It's just a different kind of ballgame. It's a different atmosphere. It changes a lot of things. One pitch can win the whole series.

JORGE POSADA: You know what, I haven't -- I didn't change much during the years that I've been here. I try to adjust a little better. I try to not -- hopefully not throw at-bats away, and make every one, every at-bat count, and I think that's the difference.

JORGE POSADA: No. I think the game doesn't change. I think we try to do the same thing here and there. Obviously, it's going to be a lot faster over there. But, you know the game really doesn't change. I think the most important thing is our infielders and outfielders have to be a little quicker on balls hit.