MLB WORLD SERIES: YANKEES v BRAVES

October 23, 1999

David Cone

DAVID CONE: Well, yeah, naturally I would prefer warm weather, but, you know, since I've had my arterial bypass surgery, each year's gotten a little easier circulation-wise. I don't really anticipate any problems.

DAVID CONE: I don't really know John Rocker very well, obviously, just what I've seen over the last series. And Mariano is just as cool as they come. He's unphased and unflappable in almost any situation, and I've always seen him that way. Even if you go back to the '97 Series we had with Cleveland when he gave up the home run to Sandy Alomar, his reaction was the same as if he had just saved a game. So Mariano is amazingly evenly keeled.

DAVID CONE: Well, Joe just commands respect. He has from day one. I know that's easy to say now that we have a couple of World Series Championships under our belt. But it was that way from the beginning with Joe, he just came in, took over, had a presence about him and an even keeledness about him. He's a straight shooter. I think people picked up on that early with Joe. He also keeps our owner in the loop. I think he heads off situations that might arise or have arisen in the past and stops them before any trouble happens.

DAVID CONE: Even back to '92 when I was with the Blue Jays, pitched in Game 6 in Atlanta for the Blue Jays in a game we eventually won in extra innings. Then again in '96 here. You just always know they're going to be tight games. Because of Atlanta's pitching, you know the margin for error is very minimal. You expect 1-0, 2-1, 3-2 type games, potential extra inning type games. In those type of games, it's usually the bench or bullpen that makes a difference.

DAVID CONE: My offensive approach, I didn't think I had much of a chance against Maddux. Millwood throws probably a little harder. So if I can get a bunt down or make contact, it's a moral victory. But it's tough to say. I think American League pitchers like to joke about their hitting a lot. Certainly we've gone back and forth joking about who's a better hitter, who's going to do something in the series. In all likelihood, something's going to happen with the American League pitchers that could determine the outcome of a game, whether that's getting down a bunt or a suicide squeeze or sacrifice fly. Something to score one run or help score one run could be the difference. All kidding aside, I think we all realize that.

DAVID CONE: I think it's easier this time around. In '92 with the Blue Jays it was a bit of a blur for me. I traded at the end of the year. You're so worried in your first World Series experience about messing it up, about doing something you're going to be remembered for the rest of your career, some sort of, you know, mistake that's going to cost the game. But now I don't worry about those things as much. Even in '96 and '98, progressively I got a little easier with the notion of accountability during these games. And being able to deal with that, because that was a little scary notion early in my career or during my first World Series experience. Because you were so worried, you know, about something going wrong or, you know, having some sort of defining moment in your career that is the type of moment you didn't want to remember.

DAVID CONE: I think it does. There has been so many human interest stories over the last five years with the Yankees. It's been one dramatic story after the other. With that being said, I know the Braves had their own story with Andres Galarraga this year. Just a remarkable man, universally respected in both leagues. So if you want to go tit for tat, I think the Braves have their own motivation for this series, because of him. But we're certainly used to it, yes, to answer your question. We've been through it, it's been one right after the other for the Yankees over the last five years.