MLB ALL-STAR GAME

July 6, 1998

Tony Gwynn

TONY GWYNN: I don't know why I'm here.

TONY GWYNN: I feel pretty good to have 101 RBIs (laughter).

JEFF IDELSON: Questions for Mr. Gwynn.

TONY GWYNN: They already asked them all.

TONY GWYNN: I don't know jack about hitting home runs, to be honest with you. But I've got to believe that DiMaggio's streak is the toughest. That's every day, get one hit every day. If you can go a day without getting a hit, hitting 400, hitting a home run. But 56 straight, I've got to believe that's pretty difficult. I don't know about the pitching thing either, because Orel Hershiser breaks Drysdale's record a few years ago, that's got to be difficult too. From a hitter's standpoint, I think 56 straight would be tough.

TONY GWYNN: Four or five years ago? Last year (laughter). We were in last place last year.

TONY GWYNN: Actually, yeah. I mean, how many people you have here really is kind of indicative of what kind of year you're having. '96, we had three guys. We were battling for our division. This year it's no different. I think all the guys here, except for me, are really deserving to be here. That's the truth. That's how I feel. You know, Vaughn, Hoffman, Brown, Ashby, those four guys are probably the main reason why we're where we are at. I think they probably all deserve to be here. In my case, I'm not having that great a year in my eyes. When you're the leading outfield guy in the National League, which is the first time that's happened, I'm flattered. I'm flattered to be here. I love coming to the All-Star Game anyway, but this year I'm really flattered. That's never happened. The majority of games we were playing, we were on the road. I'm always looking forward to coming to the All-Star Game. This year especially because being No. 1 in out field. But I think, you know, we're deserving. We've had a good year up to this point. We played pretty good baseball. Although we're not there with Atlanta, you know, we're in the neighborhood. We've played really good baseball, really consistent baseball, played a brand that's been based on pitching and defense. I'm really happy for those other four guys here.

TONY GWYNN: I thought about it. I couldn't understand why I was the No. 1 outfielder, to be honest with you, with guys like Vaughn and Sosa were having monster seasons.

TONY GWYNN: You know, yeah. I've been around a long time. I'd like to think I've been pretty consistent. So, like I said, I'm flattered to be here, to be honest with you. But I realize that there are other guys in that clubhouse who are having better years than I, and deserve an opportunity to play. I mean, I'm going to be out there as long as Jimmy Leyland says you're out there.

TONY GWYNN: I think most people expect it to be. I think most people expect to see some home runs, some hitting, some high-powered offense. But there might not be. This game is really based on pitching. If the pitchers are throwing the ball good, it could be 2-1, 3-2. If they're getting the ball up, that's going to be the key. If they get the ball up in this ballpark, you don't have to hit it good to get it out. You don't have to hit it good to get a base hit. This is a big ballpark. You've got a lot of room out there. If the ball is up, then lots of things can happen. We can have a lot of bloop hits, home runs, balls in the gaps, down the line, or guys can throw the ball well, good movement, you can get 2-1, 3-2. I think a lot of people will be watching this. I think there's going to be a ball in the rock pile by the end of the night (laughter). I've been here quite a few times and seen a lot of BP, and haven't seen anybody get close. I think tonight somebody is going to throw one up here. I think that's why a lot of people are going to be watching.

JEFF IDELSON: The NL West is a very competitive division; does that help you?

TONY GWYNN: I think so. I think coming in, all the clubs in our division thought that we all had a chance to win. We're pretty equal. You know, I think the thing that separates us maybe from the Giants or LA is our experience. We've got a lot of experienced guys on our ball club. But I think everybody still feels like they've got a shot, you know. Even though the Dodgers are double figured games back, that doesn't mean very much because we know we can beat each other.

TONY GWYNN: Sure, sure, I do. Because you can change the game with one swing of the bat. The guys who are making them run at this number -- making a run at this number, all of them, very disciplined, a lot more disciplined at the plate, can hit the ball out to all parts of the ballpark. Yeah, I can understand that.

TONY GWYNN: Yeah, I do. I do (laughter).

TONY GWYNN: I do, I do (laughter). But all three of them are capable. You know, I think the guy that has the best chance is the guy who is the most disciplined, you know. Sammy was a free swinger before this year. This year, he's a lot more disciplined. He's taking a lot more pitches, waiting for a pitch that he can handle. The same with Mark and the same with Griff. Our guy in San Diego has gotten a lot more disciplined, too. I know he doesn't want me mentioning his name with the other three, but he's got 30, so anything is possible.

TONY GWYNN: That's a good question because when you watch the other league, I just perceived him as a power hitter, a guy looking for a pitch to hit the ball out of the ball park with. When we started interleague play last year, he was with Oakland. I noticed that if you get him out one way, you can't get him out that way again. That's the first clue. Second clue was, we had a game in San Diego, facing Joey Hamilton, Joey is 2-0, blow it. 2-0, you would think a power hitter, looking for a pitch to drive. He took a fast ball right down his shoe, 2-1. Next pitch was a heater down and in. He inside outed it to right center. That told me he was a good hitter. That's the thing that gets lost in all the home runs, is the fact that all three of these guys, all four of these guys, are good hitters who are capable of using the whole field and don't necessarily have to hit a home run to help their ball clubs. They all hit the ball to all fields. I've heard Mark McGwire talk about it before. He's just as happy getting a double to right center as he is hitting the ball out of the ballpark. So you don't just have power hitters, you've got guys who understand hitting and are good hitters.

TONY GWYNN: I think that baseball is good. I think that interleague play has created some new rivalries that I also think is good. I think getting some leadership now that they announced Bud Selig as Commissioner, I think that's good. I think fans want to know there's one guy in charge of watching out for the game of baseball. I think a lot of things have been good. We've done a lot of good things since the strike of '94. Is it enough? No, I don't think so. I think we still got a lot of work to do, but we're trying. I think the effort that people are putting in to trying to do the right thing for the game of baseball, I think it's apparent. I think people are able to see that. I hope that we can continue in this direction. But we've got some -- you know, we've got some things that have to be discussed. This interleague play is one. I like interleague play, but I'm never going to get to Fenway playing American League West. I want to play the other divisions. But travel is the problem. That's one of the things that we have to deal with. I think on the whole, if you ask people, I think they like interleague play. I think that's good for the game. Like I said, we're trying to do a lot of positive things for the game, and I think people are aware that we're trying to do that. I think we're heading in that direction is good, but we still have a lot more things that we need to do.

End of FastScripts….