AL DIVISION SERIES: INDIANS v MARINERS

October 11, 2001

Jamie Moyer

JAMIE MOYER: I think it's trying to set a tone early in the game. Go out in the first inning and going three up, three down allows you to get yourself somewhat grounded and get going in the right direction. And we came back and scored four runs in the first. I felt that was pretty important. And from there we were able to put another zero up behind that, back up the first zero and again, do it again in the third and the fourth. It keeps the momentum on our side and allows us to establish ourselves in the game.

JAMIE MOYER: I don't think any of the -- when you're referring to guys stepping out of the box, I don't think that I'm trying to force that to happen. I think that's their own individual thing. The way I like to pitch is get the ball and go. I want to the game to move along quickly.

JAMIE MOYER: Getting to the playoffs?

JAMIE MOYER: Getting to the playoffs healthy, getting through a game healthy and winning a playoff game. I mean, this is a dream come true. And it was a team effort and we played well together today. And I expect that we'll go to Cleveland and have the same results.

JAMIE MOYER: No, not necessarily. I mentioned the other day, I think things happen for a reason. I still don't have an answer to that reason, probably never will. But again I think we all strive to reach the playoffs and perform well in the playoffs. And today was an opportunity where that all has come true for me. It's a dream come true.

JAMIE MOYER: No, I think we've taken a lot of control or taken control of a lot of games like that this year. I feel like we were probably in the situation where guys felt that they needed to do a little bit more. And today we were able to do that.

JAMIE MOYER: Well, it was nice to see that happen. But I think the biggest thing for myself personally was to try to stay focused on the task that I had to try to perform and not get caught up in the runs that we were scoring, and the high 5's and the handshakes, and things like that. The way I look at it, there's plenty of time for that after the game. So it was really up to me to go out in the second inning and put a zero up behind that, to make that 4 stand up a little bit bigger.

JAMIE MOYER: Yes. He's a fun loving guy. He's got a lot of confidence. I don't think it's a cocky type of confidence, it's just his personality. And I think it's just the way he is. And I think he keeps a lot of guys loose. But again he's being himself, and I think that's what you want to be. You want to come to the ballpark and be yourself and play hard and have fun with it. And I really think that he does that.

JAMIE MOYER: That's all I have to offer (laughter.) I can't reach back and throw 95. So I feel like I have to use the abilities that I have and try to find ways to get people out. And there might be different ways than the average person or the normal Major League pitcher. But I feel like I'm pretty comfortable with what I have and I've found, I think over the last number of years, that I've found a way to utilize that and to use it to my benefit.

JAMIE MOYER: You'd have to ask them if I'm tricking them. I'm just trying to go out and pitch. And trying to be aggressive with what I have. If it doesn't make the media or the fans happy, the velocity, well, that's all I have. Again, I'm trying to go out and perform to the best of my abilities and hopefully it's good enough each and every time out.

JAMIE MOYER: I don't think it has an affect. I think just being a professional athlete and being a professional baseball player, I think the drive is right there.

JAMIE MOYER: I'm aware of the shadow. I don't think it has any affect on my pitching, personally. Again, I'm not in the other dugout, I don't hear the response of the hitters coming back to the bench. Again, those are things that I can't control as a pitcher. And I try not to get caught up in things that I don't have anything to do with. My job is to go out and throw strikes and try to be effective. And beyond that, once I release the ball, I'm out of the picture, unless the ball comes back at me or I have to cover first base. So that's simple, but I think it's so true, from a pitcher's standpoint. If you're prepared and you do the right things at the rubber, and you release the ball properly, you're done.

JAMIE MOYER: It's a lift when you score runs early. I think it's a big lift. Especially in games like these, in a playoff game. You never know what's going to happen. I think it builds momentum, and we were able to -- I felt like I was able to work off of that today.