NL DIVISION SERIES: CARDINALS v DIAMONDBACKS

October 10, 2001

Bob Brenly

BOB BRENLY: I just felt if we hit with Tony right here, it would leave us in a weakened position defensively for the rest of the ball game. Finley had been warned if there were runners on base we were going to hit for him and that's the way we did it.

BOB BRENLY: We still plan to pitch him in Game 3 on Friday. Today was his normal throwing day. He only threw eight pitches. So he's good to go on Friday.

BOB BRENLY: Given the speed of the hitter, Robinson, I personally felt from my advantage felt we had Edmonds trapped on third base. You take your chances with the next hitter. But we told our infielders on a hard hit ball go ahead and turn two, slow hit ball, cut the run off at the plate and it was an in-betweener and he looked at the one base and got the one out.

BOB BRENLY: Yes, I put the bunt sign right there. I just felt at that point in the ball game if we could score a couple of runs and turn it into a one-run ball game in the 9th inning, we had a chance to win that game, and that's why we did it.

BOB BRENLY: I can say it in a couple of words. Matt Morris and Woody Williams. They pitched tremendous ball games. I know it's frustrating for fans and it can be frustrating for players as well. Our guys aren't trying to make outs with players in scoring positions, but the pitcher is trying to keep them from doing that. The last couple of days, Matt Morris yesterday and Woody Williams today, whenever they got in trouble they were able to come up with their best pitches of the day. I give all the credit to them.

BOB BRENLY: I don't think so. I thought he threw the ball very well today. The first inning home run to Pujols was a 97-98 mile an hour fastball up and out. He swung late and got the good part of the bat on it. He hit it in the one part of the ball park where it would go out. Tip your cap to a very strong hitter. I didn't see any signs of suffering from the layoff. I thought he threw the ball well.

BOB BRENLY: I haven't talked to the trainers yet. He instinctively stuck his bare hand to knock that grounder down and it hit him down toward the heel of the hand. It was red by the time we got to the mound. But I haven't talked to the trainers yet, I don't know what his status is.

BOB BRENLY: It starts with Woody Williams with his competitive spirit. This guy, I use the term that usually applies to position players, he is a gamer. He'll give you everything he's got out there. Cut balls out there, and just outside to the right-handed hitter, he changed speeds just enough to keep us off balance, but more than anything else, it was the competitor in Woody Williams that allowed him to pitch the kind of game he did today.

BOB BRENLY: Once again, today, we didn't score a run until he was out of the ball game. If you don't score you can't win. I think it's unfair to point at that record and infer that somehow it's all Randy's doing. He has pitched well enough in the majority of his post-season games to win those games if we score any runs for him.

BOB BRENLY: I don't think so. I mean, you know, it just shortens it to a three game series. Now I'm sure they're content with the way they came back today against Randy Johnson. As we've said all year long, there is no carryover value from one day to the next. We'll come out Friday and start fresh.

BOB BRENLY: You've been watching all year, would you be surprised if I made changes in the lineup? Stay tuned.

BOB BRENLY: I mean, I said last night when I was asked the same question, I said it was very hurtful. He is a very proud man up there trying to do the best he can. It's a very tough game to play under the best circumstances. Matty is struggling a little bit and to hear that from his home fans is very discouraging. I'm sure Matty will be on that plane to get to St. Louis where the boos will come from the enemies not the home fans.