NL DIVISION SERIES: BRAVES v CARDINALS

October 2, 2000

Greg Maddux

GREG MADDUX: I did not assume everything. I tried to get ready to face their lineup. Try to worry about Ankiel just as much as the three, four, five hitters.

GREG MADDUX: He can hit, he can hit.

GREG MADDUX: Beating them, really. They have a little bit of everything. They have speed, power, some hit-and-run guys, they can do a little bit of everything. They can hit the home run and steal a base, get them over, get a man. They are a very balanced, very experienced

lineup; that is why they are here. They won for a reason; their lineup was a big part of it.

GREG MADDUX: I did it awhile ago. I don't remember how old I was. You know, it does not get any easier, that is for sure.

GREG MADDUX: I don't know if there is an advantage or not. I think the majority of their players played in postseason one time or another, just like the majority of ours have. We have a few new guys here, it is their first experience, too. I don't know if it is an advantage. It definitely does not work as a disadvantage. But, you know, if you play good, it was an advantage; if you play bad, it wasn't. I don't think it really matters a whole lot

either way what happened last year or last ten years.

GREG MADDUX: I do not put any stock into it. During the regular season you play the last place team and get swept; you play the first place team and sweep them. Anybody can get hot at any time during the season and really beat anybody. I remember playing the Expos about a month ago, they took, was it, I think it was three out of four from us, next week we go and win the same thing in their park. I don't put a whole lot of stock into the regular season.

GREG MADDUX: I don't think there is no more or less than four years ago or eight years ago when I first got here. Playoffs are

playoffs. There is not many guys around that were on the team in '90 as opposed to, even go to '95. The team is totally different. It is a new year, a new challenge. We are going to be up for it and come out ready to play, just go out there and play hard.

GREG MADDUX: Probably both. I have probably thrown better lately than I have earlier. At the same time, there is a lot of luck involved. I actually thought I pitched better against the Mets the second time than I did the first time, two totally different results. But it does not matter. How I threw last week does not matter; what matters is how we play tomorrow.

GREG MADDUX: Bad beat. We took a bad beat. It is not the first time. I think we are pretty -- I think when you win as much as we do, at the same time you also learn how to lose. I think, you know, we took a bad beat. It is done with.

GREG MADDUX: I don't know. I have always thought we played well on the road in postseason. So, I don't think it matters a whole lot to us. Obviously, we would like to be in Atlanta right now doing this, but we are not. But, you know, if you win it is not a big deal.