AL DIVISION SERIES: RED SOX v INDIANS

October 7, 1999

Mike Hargrove

A. I hadn't even thought of that. I think a lot of times when you compare teams, you really are comparing apples and oranges and each team has a different personality, different character about it. I think this team is as different from '95 as night and day. So, I guess I can say it's not reminiscent at all.

A. Yes. That's the idea. Everything is upbeat. We realize it's a very important game, as all these games are, and we're ready to play. I'd much rather be 2 and 0 than 1 to 1 to Boston. Boston is always a great place to play, great fans, great ballpark. We realize this game is important and we approach it that way.

Q. Would you talk about how it affected the mood of the dugout last night when Pedro was taken out because of the injury?

A. I don't know that there was a real mood shift. You know, he is awfully good, has tremendous stuff. But Pedro Martinez is the best pitcher in baseball. Obviously him not coming out for the fifth was, you know, was nice to see. But there weren't any high fives or people jumping up and down screaming. I mean, we realized that we still were down two to nothing, we had to score some runs, and Derek Lowe was coming in, who as I said was very good in his own right. But I mean there's something about when you don't have to face Pedro Martinez for the rest of the game, you know, it kind of, things go to the positive side a little bit.

A. I don't know that we are the only people that have struggled against him. From what I have seen of him, Derek Lowe throws the ball at 93 miles an hour, has a nasty sinker, he struck Sandy Alomar out last night with a nasty, cut fastball that really took off for him. So I would say that the reason we struggled against Derek Lowe is because he's very good. He throws good stuff. He throws strikes, and that can be a tough combination to overcome.