AL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES: INDIANS v YANKEES

October 12, 1998

David Cone

DAVID CONE: It is very good to be in this position after what happened last year I kind of felt like I let our team down last year when I told Joe Torre I was ready to go and in reality, I probably fooled myself. This really is the first full year I have had with the Yankees. The first time I have gone into postseason where I have been relatively healthy, felt good about it.

DAVID CONE: Sure, definitely, there always are. Especially when you are first -- the team second time in less than a week, certain matchups you look at where you may want to change your patterns. There may have been a few hitters where I threw predominantly off-speed pitches that I may switch and throw fast balls too. Always a little cat and mouse game going on. Always a little guesswork, but without a doubt, I am a firm believer in trying to change your patterns and give different looks as often as possible.

DAVID CONE: It is engrained in my mind, definitely. That is the beauty of the ALCS, we know each other very well. It is a dogfight, face these guys a lot over the years. They know me. They know on any given day if I don't make good pitches, they could get me, beat me. I know if I could make quality pitches, I could beat them. Some times you get in the -- there is a little bit of mystery there where you don't face these guys; don't know about them. The ALCS is a dog fight. That is the one you have to scratch and claw; everybody knows everything about everybody else.

DAVID CONE: Well, there is no doubt that it is kind of nice to see across the board in a year of the home run Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa -- pitching has really been dominating by and large throughout the playoffs both sides, boat leagues. Everybody throws out the old cliches, good pitching always beats good hitting, but it is nice to see. I think our pitching has really stepped up. I am really proud of everybody. El Duque the other night was just incredible. We found a way to get enough runs even though everybody is talking about when are we going to bust out; how come we are not hitting. The fact of the matter is, we have found a way to get just enough runs; whether that means manufacturing them or running the bases, stealing, I like our chances because our team is really resilient in that matter.

DAVID CONE: It is going to be a frenzy, no doubt about it. To me, Yankee Stadium is center stage. There is no place like it in all of sports. And I know obviously, I am a little biased in that regard, but big game in Yankee Stadium, sellout crowd, chance to go to the World Series, I just hope we see the horses at the end of the game circling the field.

DAVID CONE: I think it is especially important with those two guys to mix it, to give them different looks. I have got enough pitches to be able to do that, but those guys are quality hitters. Both of them are hot right now. They also read pitches very well. They read tendencies. They seem to pick up tips. They recognize pitches a little sooner than maybe your average hitter, so, you definitely have to mix it up. You have got give them different looks.

DAVID CONE: I have a lot of respect for Charlie. He is a great competitor, really great guy. How close are we? We don't send each other Christmas cards, but we have talked over the years and just have a lot of respect for him. He is just so gutsy and the way -- he is a standup guy as well. The way he handled himself last year in the World Series, in a tough time, and the way he has turned the season around this year, he is hot. He is a good pitcher, quality pitcher, and he is pitching right now.

DAVID CONE: Well, if there is -- I think it is kind of minute. Momentum can swing in one game if they push it to game 7, the momentum might swing back to them. I am sure they feel like they can push it to Game 7. They probably like their chances if they do. I still view it as a must-win. We have got to do it now. Got the opportunity now, we can't let it slip away. If it does go to Game 7, who knows what can happen.

DAVID CONE: Well, it is kind of nice for me to have the off day. We can kind of relax, you know, nothing against Cleveland, or the Marriott Hotel there, but I was getting kind of tired staying in that place. It is nice to come home and sleep in your own bed; get a good meal; spend a little time with the family and you know, just -- it is a nice balance to have where you can just relax a little bit and prepare for the game.

DAVID CONE: I totally expect to see them out there. I haven't even gotten to Plan B.. I just anticipate they will be there. Those guys are gamers. Cleveland is not going to go down without a fight. They are not going to lay down for us. I anticipate those guys being there. If they are not and there is a couple of rookies in there, usually that works to a veteran pitcher's advantage but sometimes that is the kiss of death too. Sometimes those guys sneak in there and hurt you. I don't take anything for granted, but I think expect to see them at full strength.

DAVID CONE: More so than normal? It is tough to say. It is kind of you ironic to hear Yankee players talking about opposing fans. I found that very ironic. I guess maybe some of the comments about his mom set him off a little bit. I thought Cleveland fans were really, end of the game, they have great fans there. I don't know what was said on a personal note and there is no place for that in any ballpark, but they really support their team. They have an incredible run going on there with all the sellouts and the way they support their team. It is good for baseball. It is a good baseball town.

DAVID CONE: Well, Warner, you are right. I think the degree of difficulty is much tougher. It is much higher the second time and for a pitcher, I think hitters make adjustments. They have the advantage of video, they can go back and look at patterns, look at pitches, look for tips. Sometimes the element of surprise is kind of lost the second time around. I think it is much tougher for the pitchers. I think it will be tougher for Charlie and myself going out there and try to duplicate what we did the last time around.

End of FastScripts….