MLB WORLD SERIES: GIANTS v ANGELS

October 24, 2002

Robb Nen

ROBB NEN: I think he means a lot to us. I think he's a guy that when he pitched, he did everything, everything from start to close to setup. He relates to everybody really well. I think he knows this game. There's a lot of mental side to this game. He can go out, help, talk about it, figure out what guys are troubled -- not as much mechanical, more than the mental side of it. He helps out with that a lot.

ROBB NEN: I think so. I think the first time, it's such a whirlwind, you don't know what to expect. You're out there just in awe of everything. This time, coming into here, I told myself that I was going to sit back, relax, enjoy it and watch everything else, watch everybody else kind of get caught up in the hype and all that stuff and still enjoy it, but just really kind of look around and watch everything.

ROBB NEN: Yeah, this is not a time to take days off. Everybody makes a big deal about being tired, being sore or being stiff. But the way I look at it, if you can't pitch now, your arm better be falling off and you better not be able to lift it. So, this is crunch time. This is the time that you need to go out there, really kind of suck it up and do everything you can to help this team win.

ROBB NEN: Guys on our team managing?

ROBB NEN: Oh, I don't know... I think David Bell would be a great manager. I think he's a guy that understands the game and realizes what it takes to play the game hard and play the game the right way. He goes about his business by showing people how to do it, as opposed to really being outspoken. For me, I think he'd be a great manager.

ROBB NEN: I don't think home field advantage really matters right now. I think everybody's kind of gotten used to going to each one of the fields and playing at the fields. We went down there and beat them, they came here and beat us first game. I think as far as home field, I think it's kind of thrown out. I think you go down there and just do what we've been doing the last few games, just staying focused, playing the game the way we know how, scraping hits here and there, throwing strikes, getting ahead of guys, and really just kind of staying in the game as long as you can and going from there.

ROBB NEN: First of all, I think he's a guy that played for a long time, he knows it's not an easy game. He knows any added pressure you get put on yourself, makes it tough. He doesn't do that. He sits back, lets you play. If you're struggling or if you're doing good, he just keeps throwing you out there in the same situation. He knows it's a long season and you'll have ups and downs. If you play this game long enough, you realize it's not an easy game. You just go out there, keep battling, keep playing, get the support from your teammates, your coaches, everybody else, and it makes the game a little bit easier.

ROBB NEN: Well, I think the first thing is I don't know if anybody's really worried about if Dusty is leaving right now. We have some games to play ahead of us. I think we're all worried about playing those games, not as worried as much about what's going to happen at the end of the season. When that time comes, I think everybody's going to be wondering what's going to happen, whether he's going to be gone or whether he's going to stay, what is going to happen. He means a lot to this organization, this team, and I know, the players. Hopefully, he stays and hopefully, he sticks around with us.