NL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES: BRAVES v DIAMONDBACKS

October 16, 2001

Craig Counsell

Reggie Sanders

CRAIG COUNSELL: Well, I mean it's a great time to play. I'm just trying to do my job. I'm trying to contribute to wins. If we all take the attitude of just contribute something every day, then like we've been doing, that formula seems to be working. It's somebody different every day. I think that's the strength of this team.

REGGIE SANDERS: Well, for me, what happened in the past is really in the past. For me, I try to just focus on the now and the now is for me to help the ballclub in whatever way I can do that. It's great to get the win because it motivates the team even more, gets us up for the games even more. Scoring a run in the first inning, Randy had a chance to relax a little more, gave our team a little more confidence to go out there and play. So that's the way I view that.

REGGIE SANDERS: Well, I knew he was gonna pitch well. When I walked into the clubhouse this morning, he was putt-putted, conversing with the guys. And when I see a relaxed Randy like that, that just lets me know that he's on top of it; he's very focused and there's no stress. So I knew from the get-go he was going to have a great game.

CRAIG COUNSELL: Well, it's fun. I mean, I think one thing is sometimes it's, from the infield, you're kind of sitting there in awe almost. You're watching him like just amazed at what he's doing. He strikes out so many hitters, sometimes there's not a lot of action and stuff. But it was fun today. I mean, you kind of felt like you were with him and you could see that he was on with everything that he was doing. He was throwing a slider for a strike to get ahead in the count. He was throwing fastballs away for strikes consistently. I mean, it was a great performance by him.

REGGIE SANDERS: The most amazing thing is for him to do it all nine innings consistently. That's impressive.

REGGIE SANDERS: Stottlemyre, too.

CRAIG COUNSELL: No, I haven't. These guys all know that I played in a World Series and won a World Series. But I don't bring it around or anything. I mean, we're all trying to get there again. It's a tough, tough thing to do. I realize this time around how tough it is. I think I thought it was easy the first time. I got spoiled. But it's -- I'm not going to show it in people's faces or anything like that. It's sitting in a closet, to be honest with you, at home.

CRAIG COUNSELL: Bad question.

REGGIE SANDERS: (Laughing). Yeah, but I don't want to release it. That, you know, we've learned as players what stays in the clubhouse stays in the clubhouse. So I'm gonna stick with that. Sorry. I got his back.

REGGIE SANDERS: Next question, please.

REGGIE SANDERS: I had a bead on it all the way. I just thought that it wasn't going to carry as much as it did. When I saw it up, I figured it was going to be right there. It continued to carry, and I had a bead on it all the time. I stayed sideways. So I didn't have any problems with it whatsoever.

CRAIG COUNSELL: Well, I mean I like -- reliable is a good characteristic I think. I'm the kind of player that I'm not going to come out there and I can't win a game by myself. Like Reggie can, with the home run. But I just try to bring the same thing every day, and like I said, do things that help us win every day. If you do your part, and everybody else does their part, then that adds up to a win.

CRAIG COUNSELL: Well, I don't know if I want to be Reggie Sanders (laughter). But I'd love to be able to hit 30 home runs, I tell you that. But that's just not going to happen. So you got to do what you're good at. Reggie's good at hitting home runs. I got to do the little things.

CRAIG COUNSELL: Well, I mean, I think -- I don't know. I like -- you like doing what you do, no question about it. I mean, if you're offering me power, I'll take it (laughter).