NL DIVISION SERIES: METS v GIANTS

October 4, 2000

Bobby Valentine

BOBBY VALENTINE: Rodriguez got a good out, threw the ball hard and got a big out. Our guys got big outs, too, but they already had a lead.

BOBBY VALENTINE: I was out in the outfield. I should have had Mike throw more. He lost his rhythm after that. And he threw one down the middle to Alex that did what he should do to it. It was much too long a delay, and I should have had Mike throwing.

BOBBY VALENTINE: I think it was a two-two pitch. The way everyone reacted, like the infields were coming off, and Mike was coming off. But that's baseball, nothing you can do about that. It was a close pitch, no doubt about that.

BOBBY VALENTINE: I thought -- a couple of pitches there, the only time he faltered, I thought he had his good stuff. He got a lot of big outs, jammed some hitters, got a lot of balls off the end of the bat the way he can. He threw it well. Not good enough, but he threw it well.

BOBBY VALENTINE: It was an exciting crowd. I don't know if it had anything to do with the game. But I think it does a game proud, when we see that many people excited about our game.

BOBBY VALENTINE: I'd rather they get a hit all the time. But Fonzi's at-bats were good, Mike went out of the zone a little. Robin let some hitters count that he missed the pitches.

BOBBY VALENTINE: We're down one.

BOBBY VALENTINE: That you get to play. You hit the last three times, if it goes five games, you know.

BOBBY VALENTINE: He did what we thought he would do. He just made pretty good pitches at times. He used his change-up and slider and breaking ball when he was behind, and threw a few good fast balls hard and away. He pitched well. He's a good pitcher.

BOBBY VALENTINE: It's an injury that will keep him from playing, that's for sure. And it's wrapped up pretty good now. He has crutches. No way he'll play tomorrow, that's for sure.