AL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES: YANKEES v MARINERS

October 16, 2001

Aaron Sele

AARON SELE: You always look forward to pitching in the post-season. You know, we're excited, we had a tough series in Cleveland. We're excited to be here. We're excited to go back out and play another game.

AARON SELE: I think any time you have experience in whatever situation you're facing, I mean, it breeds a little bit of confidence, because you've seen some of the things before. There's not -- the first time you ever come into the media room like this, you don't really know what to expect. Once you've been there, you know what to expect. I think it's just that kind of case. We know what to expect. It's a big series, and I think we'll just go out and play good baseball.

AARON SELE: Actually, it does. They are a great ballclub. They are defending champions. You know, you expect to have to go through the best teams to get to the World Series if you're going to make it.

AARON SELE: I mean, really, it's been our character all year long, not to worry about what's happened in the game before us. You know, win or lose, we come out and the guys are here early. They are doing whatever they need to do to prepare to win that game that day, and that's -- I think the biggest thing we learn is we don't change, we don't change in the post-season. We lost a couple tough games; we came right back out and won the next day. The biggest thing was we didn't change.

AARON SELE: No, it doesn't change the way I pitch. I'm still trying to go out there and pitch, seven, eighth innings. But it's also nice to know that you don't have to pitch seven or eight innings to win.

AARON SELE: Well it would be meaningful because we would get to the World Series. That's the end goal of every season is to get to the World Series. The fact that we have going through the best teams in baseball to get to the World Series is one of the reason why the teams that I've been on have stopped at the Yankees; they have been the best team.

AARON SELE: It doesn't change my approach at all. Especially now that it's Game 1, compared to Game 3, the scenarios are totally different. Does it bother me? No. Pitching, defense and hitting are the three things that you have to have to win the game. We didn't have any of the three; so might as well change one to see if we can get one of the other two to settle down. It doesn't affect us at all.

AARON SELE: That age is showing? They have three World Series rings in the last few years. I don't think anything has changed.

AARON SELE: No. Why?

AARON SELE: And? No.

AARON SELE: Well, pitchers rely on defense so much and our defense has been so good all year long with Carlos there. McLemore has done a wonderful job filling in at all positions, second, short, third and left. Wherever he plays, he's excellent. But Carlos is your everyday shortstop, and I think, you know, having him, if he is there, I don't really know, obviously. You guys have spoke with Lou. He's outstanding. He's an outstanding defensive shortstop and that makes us maybe just a little bit better, especially when you're able to use McLemore as a situational guy and maybe off the bench as a switch-hitter, or whatever; or starting him in left one day, depending what the scenarios are. It gives Lou a little bit more options.