NL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES: PADRES v BRAVES

October 12, 1998

Bobby Cox

BOBBY COX: I do, yeah. Who knows how they're going to pitch tonight against us; that, but it helps to see somebody come through in a big situation and get a base hit, whether it's hit hard, soft or whatever. And we had two of them last night with Ozzie's line drive to left, and then we kind of got a break with Lockhart getting an infield hit, hustling it out. And that's a little bit of luck there in order to get Galarraga to the plate that inning. It never would have happened if he didn't beat it out. And that kind of allowed us to breathe a little easier. I think it is contagious, but we'll see. It's something to feed off of, that's for sure.

BOBBY COX: Well, I didn't know about Kerry's sideburns. I hear he shaved them off. I can't even see that far to the mound. I couldn't tell. And Ozzie, I don't know if that's a good luck charm or not, but he's a good player. And Walt had three hits the day before, I think, and we'll go this way and see what happens. As far as personal superstitions, I think as soon as we lose, I stop them, do something else. I got a little Saint Christopher's medal from some of my children; had that in my pocket last night. So I'm going to carry that again tonight. I think we all do to a certain point. But I know football teams do a lot: The same ways to the park and to the hotels. We all go through that.

BOBBY COX: You know, these times are very difficult, I think. We're used to playing at 7:40 every night, and in complete darkness with the lights on. When you play at dusk, it's a little harder to see. But I thought Hamilton was probably throwing about as good as I've seen him pitch. He was really dealing. And I thought Neagle was really popping the ball good, too. He had good stuff. I don't think it would have made any difference to either one of those pitchers if it was fully dark or not, because they were on. But you'd have to go up there and stand to find out the difficulty of picking up a baseball, moving like it does.

BOBBY COX: He's fine. He can play. He got injured in his head a little bit and shoulder a little bit. He could have started the game last night very easily, but nothing that keeps him out of the line-up.

BOBBY COX: Yeah, it's the same line-up that we've been going with: Tucker in right field and Lock at second, same line-up.

BOBBY COX: Well, we have used a lot of relief pitchers. We've been behind in every ballgame, just about. It's hard to play catch-up, without using your bullpen and pinch-hitting as often as you can to score a run. I ran a poll, and they're all fine. Seanez feels good, and Ligtenberg is fine. Martinez can always go one. So they're in good shape. Day off tomorrow, we're fine.

BOBBY COX: I don't know how effective he would be. I would say this: If we get into real extra innings, where we're really out of pitchers, I think Tommy would have to be available as well as Greg.

End of FastScripts….