NL DIVISION SERIES: METS v DIAMONDBACKS

October 9, 1999

Todd Pratt

TODD PRATT: Well, since I hit it I knew I had a chance. I hit it pretty well rounded first and saw Steve starting to plant for his jump and we have all seen it a million times on the highlight films, Steve bringing back balls. He went up and I lost the ball, kind of paused. That is when you said you saw me stopped. I thought he had the ball actually. Then he put his head down. I didn't see the umpire but he put his head down. I knew we won the game right then.

TODD PRATT: Mike Piazza?

TODD PRATT: Haven't even talked to him.

TODD PRATT: I think that is premature. This was only divisional Playoffs. I think if it would have been a World Series or NLCS It might have been something more -- you know, honest with you, I could have been the goat today. There was a couple of chances, guys in scoring positions today and with offensive power that Mike has and me replacing him and me not coming through the first couple of, I think it was my third and fourth at-bats, I could have easily been the goat today if the game didn't go in extra innings.

TODD PRATT: I know him pretty well actually. I have been playing against him since 1987, so -- but it is a little too early to call me a Jimmy Leyritz.

TODD PRATT: Not at all. It was a team effort and we really haven't done anything yet actually.

TODD PRATT: Yeah.

TODD PRATT: Yeah, the ball was hit hard off Matt Williams's bat. I just want to stop right now, talk about Melvin Mora. You look at this kid's numbers, what he has done up here and he hasn't really done much, numbers-wise, but seems like every big win, Melvin Mora is mentioned. He made some great bunts in this last stretch of games. As soon as he hit the ball and I see Mora out there, get it on the one hop, I knew -- I knew he was going to throw him out. Jay Bell is not the fleetest player out there. I saw him rounding third and Melvin releasing the ball at the same time and I was just at that point was saying please be on line. He released it. Right then I knew it was on line. It was a two-hopper and at that point I said just catch the ball and get in front of the plate, because I knew we had him out.

TODD PRATT: I am going to kiss my wife, give my son high five and probably I will be back on my computer playing computer games. I mean, honestly, I don't think it was that big of a deal. This is honest from my heart. I mean, yes, it was a win, but as soon as we found out Mike wasn't playing, a lot of people amongst you were trying to put pressure on me and asking me about the pressure but I never really felt pressure. I just felt that just go play my game. I know I can catch. I am not the offensive power like Mike but I can handle the bat right. I just thought if I can handle the staff good we would have a chance. To be honest with you, it was just another another game.

TODD PRATT: Mantei is one of the young premier relievers. I actually think he might be third all time of strikeouts per 9 innings; that is in history. I had a chance to give us a lead. I think it was the 9th inning or bottom of the 8th third and first, one out, I grounded out to him. I was choking up that at-bat because I usually choke up against guys that throw 90 plus or upper 90s. I seen Robin bottom of that inning just miss a pitch, pop up to right, I stood in there and told myself that I am not choking up this time. I usually hold the bat at the end of the nob. He threw me the first pitch, curveball, that wasn't even close. Gave me the count 1-0 which is a hitter's count. I just said if it's a fastball anywhere I can touch it I am swinging. And I didn't choke up and I said I need to get out in front of this one, and you know, he threw it. He actually threw it to where my favorite pitch is, a little up and out over the plate. I just got enough steam not to grab it in the wall.

TODD PRATT: Atlanta whipped up on us this season. One of our goals was to reach the Playoffs, especially after that swoon we had. Now we have a chance. I mean it is time to put up or shut-up. Braves have been the premier team of the decade. Yes, they don't have all the world championships that they should or deserve or been there, but now we have a chance to start a series at 0-0.

TODD PRATT: I just don't want to make too much of it. I mean, don't get me wrong; I am very happy that I gave my team a chance to go to the NLCS, but you know, I am just one guy in the mix. I could have easily been the goat today.

TODD PRATT: Exactly. Last year was a very testing year for me. Every time I got sent down last year I didn't deserve it. I mean, you know, everybody makes a big deal out of Mike Piazza here which is correct, but I am the Mike Piazza in Triple A, you know, it was very heartbreaking last year getting sent down there because (Laughter.) I was a career 300 hitter in Triple A, everybody knew I didn't belong there, and I just -- last year was a very difficult year for me. They kept on bringing catcher and catcher in here and they kept on getting sent out because I was the player and today was the exclamation point on that.

TODD PRATT: Twice last year, you all know that I sat out in the year 1996. I hated baseball at that point because I knew I was too good a player and just was getting a bad wrap, maybe not the bad wrap where this guy is a problem but maybe they just didn't think I was good enough. We got to understand that when I first got called up I had a backup Darren Dalton, he was the Mike Piazza of the early 90s. I was 25 years old and I was a bench player. After tearing up the Triple A a couple years -- last year in spring training, I thought I was going to be the starting catcher with Todd being hurt. I didn't have a good spring training, the other guys did. But I was hurt when I didn't -- I didn't make the team. At that point right there I was considering not showing up to the Norfolk squad. If it wasn't for Rick Dempsey at that point coming to my hotel room three days later, I probably would have never showed up. The middle of the year when it might have been the Jorge Fabragas (ph), they sent me down I was hitting I think 327 or above 300, playing well and they said it was a numbers game. At that point right then was the first time I cried after being talked to by a manager. At that point I stayed here three days then once again contemplating asking for my release and saying forget it, there has got to be another team that wants me. Butch got hurt. I was lucky enough to get, you know, still be in New York, got called up. There is one thing I don't want to be bashing New York because New York is the one that gave me the chance to come back after sitting a year out but there was a lot of frustration aned hurt last year the way I was treated.

TODD PRATT: It is a good question. But I just don't feel that I was the guy that put us in the NLCS. I mean, hell if Al Leiter doesn't throw a game like today against you know, mind the fact, guys, that the team right there is the best hitting team against left-handed pitching. If he doesn't throw a game like he did today I don't have a chance to swing the bat in whatever inning that was. If John Franco doesn't come in and throw that good, that way, I don't have a chance to win the game. So that is why I feel like this. I mean, it is very easy for a player to get very high emotional on himself and, you know, talk himself up. I am just not that kind of player. I mean, yes, I am or arrogant but I am arrogant inside because I know I can play this game. If not I won't be playing professional baseball for 15 years.

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