MLB WORLD SERIES: YANKEES v BRAVES

October 26, 1999

Chuck Knoblauch

CHUCK KNOBLAUCH: I know I had a great batting practice facing our left-handed batting practice pitcher Charlie Wonsowicz. I tried to lock in against him because Glavine has such great control of the outside corner and a great changeup. And I carried my BP over into the game. It's funny, you don't do that every day, but tonight I did and I felt great at the plate and it was a good night all around. I mean you work hard in batting practice and, you know, both defensively and offensively and it turned out good tonight.

CHUCK KNOBLAUCH: I'm glad I hit it in Yankee Stadium.

CHUCK KNOBLAUCH: I hope it continues tomorrow if it's a pattern. I don't know. That situation of course you're not trying to hit a home run, you're trying to make solid contact. As I mentioned, Glavine has great control outside and he'll sneak one in on you every once in a while, and I was able to just stay on it, keep my shoulder on it and put a good swing on it. It went far enough.

CHUCK KNOBLAUCH: I never walk up to the plate trying to hit a home run. I try to put a good swing on it and hopefully hit something solid. I think more of the criticism was last year because I hit so many fly balls. But this year, I felt I was back to my normal swing that I've always had.

CHUCK KNOBLAUCH: Every time Joe Torre takes a guy out of the game when we're losing, he tells the pitcher coming in, "hold him right here and get yourself a win." That's something positive that he says all the time, and Derek and I almost every inning were talking, we hold them at five runs, keep them right here and they don't score anymore, we're going to come back and win this thing. That's the way you have to think. It's not cockiness, it's just a great deal of confidence in the guys that we have on our team, and, you know, we were hoping to come back and tonight we did.

CHUCK KNOBLAUCH: I think enough has been said about it and I think it needs to be put to bed. I can't control what people want to say or say about me. All I can control is going out, working hard every day, and focusing on the game and each and every play. And, you know, tonight was a good night, and, you know, hopefully there will be better nights.

CHUCK KNOBLAUCH: I was hoping it was going to get further in the seats, but I know Jordan's a tremendous athlete and a great outfielder. I was hoping -- I didn't realize till somebody told me I had the bat in my hand. I was hoping it would get up far enough, luckily it bounced the right way.