AL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES: RED SOX v YANKEES

October 13, 1999

Jimy Williams

JIMY WILLIAMS: Well, I am not going to -- I don't go out that often. Seems like that rule if it hits the glove he is out, but in my mind, he didn't have any possession at all of that ball. You got to have some kind of possession of the ball.

JIMY WILLIAMS: It happens. Tip your cap to their pitching. They had opportunities too. We made some good plays out there. There were some errors for a couple of guys out there that made great plays just to catch the ball. So with that in mind, come back tomorrow. But we have talked about it during the course of the season if you get those base hits with guys in scoring position, two out helps you win games. Unfortunately, didn't work for us tonight.

JIMY WILLIAMS: See as far as I am concerned Nomar doesn't play bad defense, period. He just plays good defense. If you see this kid play you understand what I am talking about. Of course I am lucky enough to watch him every game. He wants the ball hit to him. He is an outstanding player, both sides of the line. I will never ever, ever say he is a bad defensive player.

JIMY WILLIAMS: That just goes with the kind of player the kid is. It is -- he plays to win, gives you everything he has got.

JIMY WILLIAMS: Well, my time that he has been here with us anyway, I think he has got lefthanders out pretty good using his split. I am not sure what pitch he threw that one to Bernie, but I believe in the guy because he has helped us win games from the time that he joined us actually the very first day. Tried to place it, just didn't work. But I really believe it was the right decision to bring him in.

JIMY WILLIAMS: Well, I know those guys are out there doing the best they can and rather than comment on what the man said to me, it really doesn't matter. It was just my opinion that he didn't have possession of the ball. I think that is the bottom line.

JIMY WILLIAMS: Well, he certainly did going after that ball and I think about the ball that Valentin knocked down that went up in the air, you know, if it goes through, then I think Knoblauch -- Jeter would have scored. That is the ball that was thrown to second errantly, but there was two or three great plays made out there on our side, certainly on their side too.

JIMY WILLIAMS: You know, good execution on -- but unfortunately a bad result. But certainly a great play and certainly Varitek has been outstanding catching them balls. I couldn't tell what the hop was. You say it took a bad hop. The ball was there though before the runner, so if he gets a clean hop, hangs on to the ball, the man slides into the plate, I believe it was Brosius, so you give Brosius a compliment too sliding in there like that.

JIMY WILLIAMS: Well, gutsy performance got us 12 out. Went to the mound, I said get one more out. I know we had a right-hander warming up there in the bullpen and I believe Knoblauch was a contact hitter; correct me if I am wrong -- got him out, big out, it was a 3-2 game, but with a couple of great plays behind him certainly held that club down to two runs for four innings on a couple days rest, so I really thought he did a commendable job.