NL DIVISION SERIES: CARDINALS v DIAMONDBACKS

October 8, 2001

Albert Pujols

Fernando Vina

ALBERT PUJOLS: Well, I am just going to try to help my team the best I can. I think that's why we play all year long, 162 games, to the last 11 games, if you win at all. I don't think I'm going to change anything. If I see a guy on base hitting in front of me always getting on base, it's a situation, it's my job to bring them home. I play 162 games so far and I haven't changed anything, just tried to do the best I can to help my team out to win.

FERNANDO VINA: I think we just got to go out and play good baseball, basically, because we know they have real good pitchers, Schilling and Randy, they're the best. We're going to go out there and have a game plan, and I believe we've got a real good offensive team also, so it will be fun to go out there and see what happens.

ALBERT PUJOLS: No. I've been really blessed this year. And that's all I can ask, real healthy and good helping me with a great year and helping my team out. Like I say, I always dream about this and my dream has come true so far, I'm right here and I'm going to do the best I can.

FERNANDO VINA: Either way, you've got to face both of them. To win, you have to get by the top pitchers. And for me, you know, I'm a competitor. I'm going to go out there and battle, regardless who is on the mound. You want to get to the ultimate goal we have, beating these tough pitchers, teams, period. Either way, I'm just excited about having the opportunity.

FERNANDO VINA: I don't know. Both teams have good scouting reports, that's what we have to go by because we haven't seen each other for a long time. Whoever comes out in the playoffs early and plays well, that's what it's all about. In a five game series, anything can happen. We have to go by scouting reports and see tendencies and things of that nature, but it's a whole different ballgame once these playoffs start.

ALBERT PUJOLS: I guess working hard, I got ready in the off season, preseason. I just went to spring training, tried to do by my best, get ready and work hard, like I said they gave me a lot of opportunity to make the club and they gave me a lot of chance to prove what I can do and start with the club and just try to do the best I can and working hard every day. That's the main thing.

FERNANDO VINA: Definitely we've been up and down this year. The first half was tough, we were having tough times. After the All-Star break, we've played the best in the National League, I don't know what the numbers are, but it's pretty close. The grind is so tough, 162 games, but a lot of things happen. We got hot at the right time and we're playing well the last 20 or 30 games, that's big. You can look at that and analyze it and all that stuff, you still have to play well Tuesday, and that's what it all about. The pressure is different, every ball is different. It's a whole new game. You have confidence going because you played well and you see what happens.

ALBERT PUJOLS: We haven't faced them, but like Fernando said earlier, we go by the current report or watch the tape of how he has done this year, he had a great year this far. And we just come out there, and like I say, you go out there and see the ball and do the best I can, and don't try to do too much.