AL DIVISION SERIES: RED SOX v INDIANS

October 9, 1999

Mike Hargrove

MIKE HARGROVE: Well, obviously we're a lot more healthy now than we were during the season. I don't think this time of the season any team's 100 percent healthy, but we're certainly a lot better off now than we were. We were very fortunate in that we had good Minor League people to rely on that we called up. Our Minor League development people did a tremendous job in getting these guys ready to play, guys like Jeff Dance and Joel Skinner, the managers that are Triple A and Double A affiliates did a tremendous job as well as our scouts and coaches. So we were able to weather the storm and find some things out about guys like Alex Ramirez, Cruz. It's paying off so well.

MIKE HARGROVE: I don't think that unless you get a chance to watch Robbie Alomar perform on a daily basis you truly realize what a special talent he has. He is a tremendous student of the game, understands the game, the dynamics of the game. He has the ability to go out and play the game like -- I mean, and I'm not saying this just because he's my player, like nobody else I've ever seen the game. There's so many ways that he can help your team win with his glove, with his speed, with his bat, with his knowledge of the game on the field. Robbie saves you trips to the mound. There's a tremendous case that should be made for Robbie as the MVP of the League this year.

MIKE HARGROVE: Scary. They scare you because they don't quit. They obviously played us very well during the regular season. They've just, I mean Jimy Williams and his staff do a good job. It's a very professional team, they go out, they play every day, they don't offer excuses. They don't win, they don't win and they try to get you tomorrow. And I think that I admire people like that and respect people like that. So, you know, Red Sox have obviously -- this year -- had their share of problems and injuries, and -- but they continue to be -- to conduct themselves and play like winners.

MIKE HARGROVE: No, I don't think that -- no. And I don't, you know, I don't know why, it's just maybe when the Red Sox have caught us in the post-season, you know, we've been playing well. And maybe in the regular season we haven't been playing as well. I certainly don't know the reason for it, but that's, for me, probably one of those things that's -- it may be better off not knowing the answer.