AL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES: RED SOX v YANKEES

October 14, 1999

Jimy Williams

JIMY WILLIAMS: Everyday is a new day. Did you wear the same clothes yesterday?

JIMY WILLIAMS: Everyday is a new day. You go out every game starts nothing, nothing; you don't know what is going to happen in a baseball game. Go out and compete. We know the Yankees are the reigning champions. They are not that just because of whatever. They earned that title. They understand. We have competed pretty well against them, but we haven't done well, bottom line, that is to win a game. So we will go back to Boston, see what we can do there.

JIMY WILLIAMS: I thought he pitched a tremendous game. Kept us in that game; starter sets the tone we always say, certainly he did more than that. I think he threw around 120 pitches or thereabouts, which I don't know when the last time he threw 120, but maybe we pushed him. I don't know, really I just don't want to hurt the kid, but I thought he had done his job and it was time to make a change.

JIMY WILLIAMS: My system? You know what, in a one-run game you are in it 'til the last swing, that is you want that opportunity. We had two guys on in the ninth. One strike away twice and both of them got hits. So with that in mind, you know, you got to play nine innings, you got to play the games. As far as my system, I ain't worried about my system. It is okay.

JIMY WILLIAMS: I mean like even in the eighth we utilized all our players; the pitcher was in the game, we didn't have more players but took a shot at it, you know, had the right people up, had an opportunity, just didn't work. But --

JIMY WILLIAMS: Being realistic, no. I thought he would have scored anyway. You got to play O'Neill power to left field. It is a big yard out there, especially in left. Can't play him -- but I really don't think it would have made any difference. Only way it would have made a difference is to me a wild pitch, pass ball error, you people know the different ways of scoring from third.

JIMY WILLIAMS: Well, it is never easy 0 and 2. We understand that. But all we can play is one game. That is all we can go home and get ready for that one game that we are going to go play on Saturday. I think it is Saturday, right. What day is today? (Laughter.) But --

JIMY WILLIAMS: You know, yes, we did go through it already, very recent days, but maybe the way the game ended maybe the way we had a shot in the 8th it didn't work, symbolic of the way we came back down 0-2. Can we do it again? I hope you all come to Boston; they have good restaurants there, it is a nice city. Really is, but we are going, we will be there to play to say the least.

JIMY WILLIAMS: Just try to put us in position to have a chance where a base hit would put us out in front, had the right guy, you know. Buford is at second, if you get a legitimate base hit, you know, unless a ball is scalded to O'Neill because he throws very well. Shorter porch out there, proximity is closer, you really have a chance to get out in front. We know who is going to pitch the 9th. Even though he pitched two innings last night, you take a shot at it. You make those moves. Hopefully they work out.

JIMY WILLIAMS: You must work for home depot selling lumber or something. (Laughter.)

You are about right, I guess I am being a wise guy, but you are -- you are just about right. I thought Varitek's ball went up in the air, but I guess I was wrong, it had gone out there. I thought only 100 yards away but the other ball, O'Leary hit it was close too, so -- I mean, we just got to keep playing. That is it. No excuses for anything. They beat us both games.

JIMY WILLIAMS: We had a good pitcher going yesterday, good one going today. Have another good one going Saturday. Those kids go up there -- we didn't get to this level without getting hits with those in scoring position, so maybe this particular case you tip your cap to the opposing pitchers, they got their out when they needed them. For us that's all I can say. But I thought we had some good at-bats and some swing on their pitchers but unfortunately it didn't work.