AL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES: RED SOX v YANKEES

October 16, 1999

Jimy Williams

JIMY WILLIAMS: Mike is in the lineup. He will play, yes.

JIMY WILLIAMS: Garces is fine along with the others, yes.

JIMY WILLIAMS: Well, see, I have been that way all year. Just today's game, you know, it is go out there and do the best we can to win this game. That is all we are going to try and do. Can't worry about tomorrow. It is not that I have forgotten about tomorrow, it is just that that is the way we are here. Focus on today's game the best we can.

JIMY WILLIAMS: I am not one to really talk ahead in games, but since you just want to ask about Bret Saberhagen, he has been through a tremendous amount starting in 1997 and then coming back and pitching the way he did for our club last year; pitched very good again this year and then the latter part ran into a little bit of a problem with his shoulder. I think he was on his 25th day when he pitched the game in New York, so we had to shut him down for a long period of time. But he is a warrior. He is a kid that -- he relishes the moment now I think maybe as much or more than when he was healthy as a youngster because he understands that maybe -- he could have not even been pitching again. But all the hard work that he went through and we have a trainer in there Rick Zawacki, who to me has done a tremendous job, encouraging him, getting on him, whatever it took to help get this kid back. Certainly he had to do it on his own physically but words of encouragement and at times maybe the other way to help get him back. But he has been through a tremendous amount of pain and hard work and coming to the park early and exercises and just to be able to go out there and pitch successfully at this level.

JIMY WILLIAMS: Varitek is going to hit third and Daubach seventh; other than that, it is the same.

JIMY WILLIAMS: Well, I think in baseball there is less of a home-field advantage overall than other sports. It is just my opinion. I don't know what that means, but that is my opinion. I don't know if there is a home-field advantage stronger here than anywhere else I have been. I mean, they had that other thing down in the south, you know, I don't know. Players play, you know. If the fans feel it creates enthusiasm and electricity and they really get involved, then maybe it can, maybe it does. I think we have great fans here in Boston and they will be here today. I mean, they are going to be rocking and rolling out there, I am telling you. But we have to stay focused on playing this game the best way we can and let them enjoy it. I think all of us have to enjoy the moment. We have to smell the roses of what we are watching here. This is a great opportunity for all of us to see a tremendous game. It is a playoff game, two great pitchers in a fantastic city, you know, how many people are going to have that opportunity to do this. I think all of us here have to really relish this moment. I mean, I really mean that 4:20 or whatever it is, I know it is a game. But it is in a special city and two teams that have locked horns before. I am looking forward to it. I really am.

JIMY WILLIAMS: His stuff was good the other day. It was just his location. I mean, velocity comes into play at some point, pitching-wise, but it is location, change of speeds, movement, then velocity. That is how I rate them. That is why Pedro is able to be pitch-efficient and get out the other day because he located with less velocity. Until he felt comfortable with his back in the third or fourth inning of the game he pitched the other day. So it wasn't that his arm wasn't healthy. It was just that he didn't locate like he is capable of and his numbers reflect that. So when he does pitch, you know, hopefully he can this time.

JIMY WILLIAMS: Go one hitter at a time. Go one out at a time. That is it.

JIMY WILLIAMS: Well, he has had a tremendous season. He is an important factor to say the least with our team, and his main focus is to try and help our pitchers get out and utilize their pitchers in the proper counts whatever to get out. That is his main focus. When he gets in the box and he has done very, very well offensively from both sides of the plate. He really has. As far as him hitting third today, I think a week ago he hit third. So it is not like he hasn't been there. He was there in the playoffs -- playoff games I believe against Cleveland. If not there, then the latter part of the year for several games. So it is not like it is a new situation for him.

JIMY WILLIAMS: See, it is not bothering him. But I don't think it is fully recovered. I don't know. I mean, I don't think there is anybody in our clubhouse that is 100% but I don't think there is anybody in the Yankee clubhouse that is 100% either. But he is going to go pitch. He hasn't really said anything about his back, so that is a good sign. Just throwing everything. I am certain he is ready to pitch. He feels good enough to go compete and in his mind go compete successfully. That is what we all gauge within ourselves and the other players too. So I think he is fine from that standpoint.