MLB WORLD SERIES: CARDINALS v RED SOX

October 22, 2004

Keith Foulke

KEITH FOULKE: No, I had not thrown that many pitches in that short of a time. During the regular season, you know, the staff really tries to try and prevents you from pitching that much. But during the playoffs when you're down to your last lifer, you've got to do whatever is necessary. But I feel great. I felt better in Game 6 than I did in the first game.

KEITH FOULKE: You know what, I really don't have any expectations. Obviously this is the two best teams in baseball going head-to-head. There's nothing going to be easy about this. And you wouldn't want it to be easy. But these ballclubs, two great offenses, a bunch of guys who can pitch on both sides, and it's going to be a dogfight. We're going to have to go out there and play good ball.

KEITH FOULKE: Kenny Williams? (Laughter.)

KEITH FOULKE: I mean, I don't know about unhittable, but, you know it really, I guess effective wildness. It's one of those things where I think I had seven walks during that series, and I mean usually I don't walk seven people in two or three months. But you know, the thing; as a pitcher or as a player, you have to be able to lock in, concentrate and go out and do your job. I think failing a lot in the playoffs in the past couple of years has helped me to be a lot mentally stronger and go out there, and it's one of those things, I would rather pitch on the black than let you hit it out of the ballpark.

KEITH FOULKE: You know, it's one of those things that kind of goes both ways. There's been a couple of instances where it's kind of come out to bite me a little bit where a lot of fly balls are outs in other ballparks. But then there's also those rockets that would be possible home runs in other parks that has kept a guy to a single. So it's really one of those things I really try to pitch away from. I like to use the centerfield, right field area here since it's so big. But that wall, it's one of those things that helps you at times and other times it hurts you. It just depends on the hitter. You just don't want to be banging off the wall all day.

KEITH FOULKE: You know, I guess one of the things that surprised me is, A, the number of them that they are everywhere. You don't go down the street a city block without seeing someone in some type of Red Sox attire. They are in every road city. They show out in numbers. They are vocal. You know, the thing is, it's just a passion that they have for this team and this organization that is unrivalled by nobody.