NL DIVISION SERIES: ASTROS v BRAVES

October 6, 2005

Jeff Francoeur

Macay McBride

MACAY MCBRIDE: I didn't really see any difference in their attitudes. I think everybody wanted to win all game. I think more or less it was if we were going to come back, it was going to take a pretty big effort. Everybody kind of -- we did that. We had some baserunners there for that, you know, to score some runs. And staying poised, when it was 10-3, I didn't really realize what was going on yesterday. Just got there, get outs like you normally do, and try to treat it like the same game.

JEFF FRANCOEUR: Well, obviously, in this kind of situation, you know, it's a five-game series. You don't want to look at one game and put too much emphasis on it. But, for me, I think I was so geeked up and so ready to go yesterday, it kind of like let me down. We went down 10-3, I was so disappointed, you know. But I realized that tonight's another night. Obviously, we're facing Roger (Clemens), which is a tough task. But we have John (Smoltz) going for us, who's been pretty good in the postseason himself. So we feel confident to be able to get it done tonight. Chipper just kind of said, "If you keep this one with you for a while, we'll be three and done pretty quick."

JEFF FRANCOEUR: Well, last night after the game I went home and played X-box with Brian (McCann) and his brother for about five hours. So we didn't want to watch any -- we watched a little bit of the Yankees game, but we didn't want to watch any highlights of our games or anything. Just kind of put it behind you. Like I said, we were in it then, you know, we gave up those five runs. It's tough to come back in the playoffs and especially they still had Lidge in the bullpen.

JEFF FRANCOEUR: Well, the atmosphere was obviously different. You could feel the playoff atmosphere out there. You know, I think the biggest thing that I learned about this, a guy getting on base like that early, getting a guy on first in the playoffs is a lot different. You put pressure on the pitcher. That's what the Astros did to us yesterday. Between us walking and them getting some hits, seemed like they had guys first, second or third all game with less than two outs. That's not a good combination for us to win. But you could definitely tell it was a different atmosphere.

MACAY MCBRIDE: Yeah, I just say that, it is a different atmosphere. The crowd's a little bigger. You know, as far as the coverage, it's a little bigger. But if you treat it like a different game, you're going to go out there and put extra pressure on yourself. You want the extra energy, but you don't want the extra pressure. So when you go in, you're at the plate or whatever, you think the best. For me, it was more of a -- you know, it's the same game you played all your life. You know, let the situation dictate what happens; don't get caught up in what's going on.

JEFF FRANCOEUR: Well, I think the biggest thing for him, kind of like it was with Tim (Hudson), I think Tim just got really excited last night and a little too pumped up, kept the ball up. I think if John just goes out there, doesn't get too much adrenaline, too much going, I think he'll be fine. He keeps the ball low in the zone quite a bit. Obviously, that's our guy, that's the guy we turn to. You know, for a guy like him, he hadn't pitched in 12, 13 days, I don't think it's a big deal. Young guy who does it a lot, yeah, maybe it's more of a deal. But, I think he'll be fine tonight.

JEFF FRANCOEUR: Well, I think for one, we have a different team, if you look at the roster compared to last year's roster. But last year, like the Astros, for instance, they were the wildcard team, they were playing well at the time coming into it. That's one thing that's very tough about playing the wildcard team, is they're hot usually when they come into the playoffs. We ran into a tough team last year and the year before, the same thing with the Cubs, when they had (Mark) Prior and (Kerry) Wood and all those guys pitching well. So, you know, I think the biggest thing for us is just to relax. Obviously, last night after the game it seemed like the whole media was already counting us out and saying, "Oh, here's the same old Braves." You know, "They go into Game 1, and it's over." You know, we don't listen to that. You try to just block it out. It's a new game. We come back today, who knows, maybe we can put up 15. You never know. It's baseball, and it's a crazy game. Look what the Angels did. They came back and scored late and beat the Yankees last night and pushed it to 1-1. So hopefully we can get it 1-1 going to Houston tonight.

MACAY MCBRIDE: Also, we weren't picked -- half of us weren't here when we started the season, weren't picked to win the NL East or the wildcard. You know, same situation. You go down one game, somebody's going to lose a game anyway. So, you know, we don't feel like our backs are to the wall, but that just puts, once again, the pressure and that's something you don't need in a five-game series. So, it's kind of nice being the underdog every now and then because as much as people may write you off, you always have something to prove instead of, you know, just a little -- we like it, I think. I think most of us do.

JEFF FRANCOEUR: I think more than anything, in the Minor Leagues for us, I think some people take winning more serious than others, you know. For our club, winning was a big key in the Minor Leagues. They wanted to prepare you to win there so you could win here. It is about obviously preparing you for up here, and the Braves keep that in focus. They don't go out there and rush guys. I was told my first year in Rome that I was going to play the whole year no matter if I hit .260 or .400. They have plans for you. They stick to that plan. I didn't know when I was getting called, I didn't know if I would be up here at all. They called me up, and Bobby's great about giving rookies a shot, putting them in there. He's got total confidence in you.

JEFF FRANCOEUR: It was funny. Last game, I was 0 for 3 and get the hit off Jonesy and he just kind of smiled at me because he was out in the bullpen giving me heck for going under .300. It was kind of funny. But, you know, it was great to finish the year like that. Just I want this so bad right now, and I think we all do. You know, it will be fun tonight. The atmosphere for me and I think for Macay and for a lot of us I think I was one or two, when Roger first started pitching - not trying to make him feel old. But it's going to be fun to face a guy like him, and the guy's a first ballot Hall of Famer.