MODERATOR: Questions for Tim Salmon.
Q. Mike said that today's day off went from being optional to a mandatory day off. Do you think it was pretty well-needed by this team?
TIM SALMON: Well, you know, this time of year, every game is an emotional game, exhausting. I think the last couple games, we could use a rest. I mean, there's no doubt about it. I was basically here just to do treatment. At this stage, everybody's exhausted. Our families are exhausted. I'm sure you guys are exhausted. Everybody's exhausted. A day off is good.
Q. What has made this team so resilient this entire year? You have all those comeback wins throughout the course of the year.
TIM SALMON: You know, I think it's just the character of the club, the personalities, the individuals. Scios, the tone he sets, just kind of keeping things loose, coming out, just really taking it one game at a time. I think the difference has been just the players. Guys don't really seem to get too high or too low. Tomorrow's going to be a classic example. Guys aren't going to be moping around. We're not like that. That just seems to be the character of the club, that we just kind of stay on that even keel.
Q. You've won a game up there, they won Game 1 here. Is there any advantage any more to home field advantage at this stage?
TIM SALMON: You know, I don't know if that's going to be an issue. I mean, both clubs have shown that they play well in any kind of situation or circumstances. I'd like to think that playing here can make a difference for us. I mean, I'd really like to think that's going to make a difference. That's a great club over there. There's a lot of characteristics in that club that we have, and that is that playing well, they can do it on the road just as well as they can do it at home.
Q. How dangerous is Kenny Lofton as a lead-off hitter? He struggled the first two games, has really come back and hurt you guys the next three.
TIM SALMON: Just like with both offenses, you get that lead-off guy out there on base enough, it's going to be tough for the opposition just because the guy's coming up behind him. Especially in that lineup, if he gets on base, now you're always going to be in that situation whether or not you want to pitch to Bonds or not. Any of those first three guys make a big difference. But no doubt, he sets the tone with his speed and things like that.
Q. As well as you guys have hit, Garret hasn't had a real good post-season, hitting-wise. Any frustration you sense? Is he hitting tough luck?
TIM SALMON: Garret, I don't know, seems like he's hit decent. I know he probably hasn't had the big hits that he wanted. There's certain guys in the lineup, if you're not getting pitches or balls that you can do much with, what can you do? I think Garret has kind of been in that situation. I think he's probably maybe going out on his own a little bit. We've talked a few times. It's been like, if they're making their pitches on you or they're not giving you much to hit, what can you do? He's been a guy that has carried us all year. I'm sure every team that we play is focusing on not really letting him beat them.
Q. Is there any sense of nervousness for you? How will you spend tonight?
TIM SALMON: No. You know, from the standpoint of pressure and all that, I look at it that the pressure's on them. They have one game. They're trying to get one game. Our backs are against the wall now. We're going to come out fighting. We've been in this situation all year long. We're actually more familiar being in this position where we're kind of the underdog, I guess, as a club. I don't really feel the nervousness or pressure, anything like that. If anything, I think we're going to come out and play our game, be tough, gritty, fight. We've been in this situation all year long. As far as tonight, I'm just going to get some rest.
Q. We see, every year in the World Series, we certainly saw last year, how starting pitching can be dominant. How surprising is it to you we've gone through five games and haven't seen a great job from either team?
TIM SALMON: It is. I was even thinking about that last night with Schmidt throwing. He's nasty. To me, he's got some great stuff. Maybe it's just the way the games have gone. Maybe it's the offenses, both swinging the bats well. But there's definitely been pitchers going out there that are capable. We've seen it all year long with Wash, Ape. I'm sure some of their guys have been out there and throw quality games. I think right now both offenses are swinging the bat so well, the pressure is continually on the pitchers. I think we're seeing more mistakes because of that.
Q. Mike was referring to that stutter step you did right before the clinched the playoff spot. Are you seeing any similarities these last two nights to that?
TIM SALMON: No. That was different, I thought. That was in that situation where we were just trying to get one more game (laughter). We were facing some tough pitching. The offense really wasn't doing much. We're swinging the bats. We're still getting our hits. But they're matching us the last couple nights. They're right there with us. They've been able to get more of the bigger hits. I don't see that stutter step being in the same light as this go around right now.
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