MLB WORLD SERIES: YANKEES v BRAVES

October 23, 1999

Kevin Millwood

KEVIN MILLWOOD: Hadn't quite sold them yet, but I was in the process. I got them back. But now I need to buy a few more. So if anybody's got any, let me know.

KEVIN MILLWOOD: Found out definitely today when I got to the ballpark. I had heard earlier today that Glavine wasn't going to pitch, and -- or that he was ill or whatever, whatever had happened. And, excuse me, and I got to the ballpark today and went to see Bobby and talked to him about it. He said -- asked me if I would be okay to start tomorrow, and of course I am.

KEVIN MILLWOOD: Emotionally it's the same. It might be a little easier because we're here instead of New York. Physically, the only difference is I get to hit. I don't know if that's a positive for us or not. (Laughing).

KEVIN MILLWOOD: I was kind of looking forward to pitching there. I hadn't got to pitch there before. I missed pitching there during the regular season this year, and it's always been kind of a dream of mine to be able to pitch in that stadium, and, you know, what better time to pitch there than the World Series. But, you know, it doesn't really matter to me where I pitch, but I guess if I had to pick home or away, I'd much rather pitch at home.

KEVIN MILLWOOD: I remember one time in particular I got moved up for some reason, I don't remember why, went on three days' rest and pitched really well. So, you know, hopefully it will be the same type of thing this time.

KEVIN MILLWOOD: I don't think so. I haven't seen Tommy today, and, you know, I don't think he's going to be coming around kissing anybody. (Laughter.) Making them sick. So I think everybody here is, you know, grown men and I think we're smart enough or capable enough to kind of stay away from the sick guys and, you know, just do what we can to stay well.

KEVIN MILLWOOD: I think it frees up a little more here with the left-handed hitters. You know, obviously down the line in any ballpark is going to be the shortest part of the park. But up there, it's where the guys try to hit home runs, is to right field. I think our field being a little bigger down the lines, it frees you up to be able to do a little bit more with their lefties.

KEVIN MILLWOOD: I really don't know how it was in the past. But you always hate to see people throwing water bottles or batteries or change or whatever it is at players. People are going to say what they want to say and you can't do a whole lot about it. I think as far as a fan that pays his money to get in and sits up in the stands to watch the game, I think cheering's great; say whatever you want to say. But just, you know, shouldn't be throwing stuff at people. You know, we don't go to their job and throw batteries at them. (Laughter.) So I'm sure they say a lot of bad stuff about us, but we just -- I think we're just trying to look at it now because we're going up there to play a baseball game and that's all we try to worry about. And hopefully if something like that does happen, nobody gets hurt and, you know, the security will take care of it.

KEVIN MILLWOOD: I haven't heard anything he said to the Yankees fans. I don't know how smart it was, what he did or whatever, but, you know, obviously the guy feeds off of it. He enjoys it. As long as he keeps pitching well, I'll let him do what he wants to do.

KEVIN MILLWOOD: Not really. I mean I'm the type of guy that I'm going to go right after hitters, I'm going to try to get ahead of them and try to get them out as quick as I can. And, you know, I think if they're too patient, it could work to my advantage a little bit because I like to throw strikes. And, you know, if they're up there and taking a lot of pitches, you know, it's probably going to be easier for me to throw the ball in the strike zone and not have to worry too much about it early in the count.

KEVIN MILLWOOD: Yeah, I was in Australia playing winter ball, and I watched -- I watched most of Game 7 in a casino. It was about six or seven in the morning, but I couldn't quite stay awake for the whole game.

KEVIN MILLWOOD: I haven't pitched in really cold weather since high school, the playoffs in high school. It got pretty cold. But I don't think it will make a whole lot of difference with me.

KEVIN MILLWOOD: I don't think I'm carrying any motivation at all from it. I thought I pitched really well up until the sixth inning. You know, it just -- I wasn't finishing my pitches off, I wasn't getting my breaking balls down. When you're facing a team like the Mets, they're going to hurt you when you do that. I think it's going to just take a little more focus throughout the whole game, you know, even if we do jump up to the lead. And, you know, I think I just lost a little focus in that game. If I can stay away from doing that, I should be fine.

KEVIN MILLWOOD: I was in Melbourne, Australia, I don't know the name of the casino.

KEVIN MILLWOOD: Right now, it's been a little bit of a headache, signing so many balls and stuff. But, you know, I'm trying to have a good time with it right now, and I'm sure tonight watching the game and not being able to be a part of it is going to be pretty nerve-wracking. But I'm excited about it. I think it's going to be probably the most exciting time of my baseball career up till now. You know, I was able to make the All-Star Team this year, and that was a lot of fun. But I think that that comes second fiddle to something like this.

KEVIN MILLWOOD: I talked to a couple guys during the NLCS. They're just telling me to, you know, try to approach it like just another ball game, and not get too worked up. And that's what I've tried to do. Actually, in the last game that I pitched in Game 6, you know, I went out there thinking that, you know, I want to pitch really well, but, you know, if I don't, so be it. I tried to view it as the first game I pitched all year, and, you know, I think it worked out well for me, and like I said, I just didn't finish the job like I would have liked to.