MLB WORLD SERIES: PADRES v YANKEES

October 21, 1998

Bruce Bochy

BRUCE BOCHY: Yankees -- it's been an incredible year for them. They did it all season, they did it in the postseason, I said that this club, the Yankees I'm talking about, has to go down as one of the greatest teams of all times. We had them on the ropes, and they came back on us. They had no weakness on that club. They had starting pitching, relief throughout their line-up, they just do a great job, and I tip my hat to them, because I do think they should go down as one of the best teams ever.

BRUCE BOCHY: I just tried to, and I couldn't get to him because of the media, but before he leaves I'd like to tell him congratulations, because it's been one heck of a year for them.

BRUCE BOCHY: Yeah, he's done that before, and he's gotten base hits with it, and the ball just -- it didn't roll far enough away, but he'll bunt it any time.

BRUCE BOCHY: Well, with Kevin up there, he's been giving up a lot of toppers, and we could not afford to give up another run, we didn't have him all the way in, we had him at what we call in between, there, and we could still turn two from there. And we just felt we weren't in a situation to give up another run, and we couldn't play all the way back, but they were not all the way in.

BRUCE BOCHY: Well, it's hard for me to see, to be honest, it was bang, bang. And obviously we wanted the call. Kevin was there, and I don't know if Jim realizes how quick Kevin is at covering first base, and he was there to take the throw, but Jim felt like he could take it himself. And from my angle it was hard to see. But going by Kevin's reaction, he was out, and

that's why I was arguing.

BRUCE BOCHY: Well, it's been a hell of a run. We weren't expected to win our division, we weren't expected to beat Houston or Atlanta, and I can't say enough about the hard determination our club played with. And for us to get here, it's a long road. It takes a lot of effort and these guys put it in, from Spring Training on, and I couldn't be prouder of them. They're champions, they're National League champions, and that's all I said to them. You have to keep your head up.

BRUCE BOCHY: Well, really first time we had a chance to see him. And he was on. He was locating his fastball well, had his change-up, curve ball working, and did a great job on us. He's a good pitcher, and he showed it tonight, and going against Kevin Brown, I know they knew they needed a great pitching effort and they got it.