AL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES: RED SOX v YANKEES

October 17, 1999

Kent Mercker

KENT MERCKER: Well, I think in the back of your mind you know this isn't the elimination game. And that probably will, you know, whether you want it to or not, have a little difference. But you really can't worry about that. You know, you just got to pitch. You got to pitch the way you're capable of pitching, whether you're up 3-0 or down 3-0.

KENT MERCKER: Yeah, I think I need to get ahead of guys a little better. I was better in New York, but, you know, this time of year with the hitters you're facing, you can't afford to be 1-0, 2-1, 2-0, they're a patient ballclub, New York. They're willing to take a strike. If they're willing to take it, you got to give it to them. I did that better against New York than I did Cleveland, but still I could do a better job with that. And, you know, if you can get ahead 0-1 all night, you know, they have to expand the zone a little bit, you can make some pitches that aren't as good that they have to swing at to protect the plate. Getting ahead's the key.

KENT MERCKER: I think home-field advantage is great, but I know I speak for myself, for whatever reason, when I'm pitching, I don't hear a lot of crowd noise. I don't pay attention to the stands. So, you know, it's the same distance to the plate here as it is there. For me, it's not going to be a big difference, you know. Hopefully, for whatever reason, we're scoring a lot more runs here, though, and it's pumping the offense up maybe to allow them to score more runs. But for me, it's, yeah, I mean I'm going to hear little things, people routing for me instead of yelling at me this time. But for the most part, it's not going to be a big difference for me.

KENT MERCKER: I think you do, yeah. I mean, out of nine guys in their line-up, there might be two you might pitch a little differently. You know, because of the short wall in leftfield. It's a big ballpark in rightfield, as everyone knows. And it's not very hard to just play pepper with that wall in leftfield. So you might get ahead of a guy or fall behind a guy. Instead of trying to go to Paul O'Neill, you might try to go away in certain situations. He's strong enough to put the bat on it and hit a double. So, yeah, I mean you don't worry about it until that situation arises. You definitely have to keep that in the back of your mind for when a situation might arise that, you know, make them pull the ball. Make them beat you to the -- I guess here, the big side of the field.

KENT MERCKER: I don't think about that. I hope I can keep them even more rested, you know. I want to do that whether they're warn out or whether they need innings. I want to go as long as I can, as long as I'm effective and get as many outs as I can. As a starter, that's my job; it's not to win the game, go as far as you can, keep the game close. If you happen to win, great. But keep it within striking distance, one way or the other. But knowing they're more rested is good for us because when they're tired, they're good. When they're not tired, they're real good. So, as long as I can go, the better. That's in any situation. But, like I said, I don't approach it as I want to go six innings or five or seven or nine or eight, I want to go one at a time. The hitter that's up there, try to get him out and then go to the next guy. And it's easier to pitch and stay focused when you think in those terms.

KENT MERCKER: You know, I went an inning and two-thirds against Cleveland here and that's probably the most fun I ever had on a baseball field. Fortunately, we won the game. But the fans here are unbelievable. I walked out to warm up and they went crazy for me. I hadn't even done well yet. So, you know, they love their Red Sox. And I think more than any other city, they're for their team. And that's not to say the other cities aren't, but I just notice it more here since I've been here. I mean Atlanta was great, but they get some empty seats in Atlanta this time of year. It's not the same. But this place is -- I can't think of a park I'd least like to come in to if I was a visiting club than Fenway Park.

KENT MERCKER: I was -- that was one of the best days of my life when I found out I got traded here. They were in the pennant race. Going from fourth place -- nothing against St. Louis -- going from fourth place to first place, as a player, that's what you look forward to. And I think I was spoiled younger being in Atlanta and, for whatever reason, we went every year. And you kind of expected to go. Then when you get away from that for two or three years, you miss it. And, so the thought of me having a chance to do that again and pitching in games like that and talking on the podium like this, it's great.

KENT MERCKER: If it is an advantage, I don't think I've tapped into it yet. But, I mean, there is -- it's a -- I think it's a state of mind more than it is anything else. You know you've been to these games. You felt the atmosphere, and believe me, when you -- at this time of year it's cooler. You hear a buzz in the air, at least I do. More so than during the regular season. And I think if you -- by being in that situation, the four or five years I was, as excited as you get, it calms you down. So now when you're in the situations, it's not like, you know, the first time you've been there. You've done it before and you know how to deal with it. You know how -- it doesn't always look like that when you're playing, but, I mean it was invaluable for me, I think.