NL DIVISION SERIES: ASTROS v BRAVES

October 5, 1999

Jose Lima

JOSE LIMA: It's fun. I think last year, we went to San Diego and played over there. I didn't have the chance to pitch. I was disappointed. My first year, to win 16 games, my first year starting pitching. I tried to pitch a little -- at least one inning. I think it's going to be different this year. Finally, I'm going to start tomorrow and I can prove myself.

JOSE LIMA: We stick around in the clubhouse yesterday, playing cards, talking about what's going to happen between the Mets and Cincinnati. Around the 6th inning, we saw the score, 5-0. And by 8:30, we left for the airport, and by the time we got there it was like 9 o'clock already, and we know it was like the 9th inning. And to the other guys I say, "Wow, I think we're going to Atlanta." I think they want to play here and I think, you know, I hope we do a better job than last year.

JOSE LIMA: I think it's different this year. With all the injuries we have, we have to be pleased at this point. We win the Central Division Championship. Our pitching staff was pretty good. I think it's going to be a different story this year. I hope the bat wakes up. And if we can do the job pitching between myself, Hampton, Reynolds and the rest of the guys I think we're going to do the job this year.

JOSE LIMA: We know that we don't have a lot of guys down. Like Moises and those guys we have to pull ourselves together and do the little things to win ball games, and that's what we're doing. Last couple games, we played real well. We scored a lot of runs, our pitching staff came through, and I think it's a time now that we can go up there and beat the Braves.

JOSE LIMA: I don't know. All my life I've been saying I've got a rubber arm. My arm never hurt. This year, I pitched three times on three days' rest, and I win three of my outing. It might work. You never know. I'll let you know tomorrow when I throw the first pitch during the game. It feels pretty good right now.

JOSE LIMA: I want to beat them. They beat me in the regular season. This is playoffs now. I think this is different right here, right now. I've just got to go up there and not be emotional, just be myself. Don't change anything I did during the year around. I know if I do that, I'm going to have a great game.

JOSE LIMA: They are still tough. Even though they don't have Galarraga and Javy Lopez, they win 100 games. You just have to be careful. For one, they are a great team. Even when you get to -- Andruw Jones, he's young, he's a great ballplayer. You still have to be careful. Go up there, just challenge everybody and let them hit the ball somewhere.

JOSE LIMA: I'll be dancing tomorrow, too. If you don't like it, don't play against me tomorrow. I'll tell you right now, I've been having this all year: "Lima showing off to everybody." They never said that to Randy Johnson, because he's Randy Johnson. Why Jose Lima? He's having fun. I enjoy my career. Finally, I'm on a ballclub where they believe in me. You don't like what I do, take me deep. I'm going to dance. Believe it.

JOSE LIMA: When I see 50,000 in the stadium, I say, "Wow." It's going to be awesome. The more they cheer, the more they make noise, the better I feel? I know I have to stay in myself and go up there and try to do my best. I know, you know, they have to watch a playoff game. I enjoy it.

JOSE LIMA: Greg Maddux, Randy Johnson; we're going to go to Atlanta; we're going to go to Arizona. We're going to Atlanta; we're going to Arizona. Whoever comes up, we're happy to be here now this year. We've got another chance to go all the way to the World Series. It's fun now. Whoever comes out, let's do it, and be sure we've got to do it together.

JOSE LIMA: To me it means a lot because finally, you know, I'm pitching on the team -- winning the division this year, I win 20 games, but I still -- I have to go up there and try to win the ball game, and help this ballclub go all the way. This means a lot to me.

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