NL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES: METS v BRAVES

October 13, 1999

Brian Jordan

Eddie Perez

EDDIE PEREZ: I've been enjoying this since I've been playing every day. So right now, that's what we need from -- because I don't want to pitch against those guys, Chipper and Brian. So I told Andruw before yesterday's game: "Be ready, because we're going to see somebody on base every time we're going." It's a good feeling. Right now -- it's not over yet. We have to keep pushing and go to New York and try to win two over there now.

BRIAN JORDAN: I love it. It's my competitive nature. I guess it's my football mentality. I love when people challenge me. And if the Mets want to continue to walk Chipper to get to me, then I'm just going to continue to take advantage of those opportunities. So far, I've been pretty fortunate throughout the series to do so.

EDDIE PEREZ: Well, 2-0 is better than 0-2. And we're playing very good in New York as you know. We played good against them the whole year long, and we play good in there, too. We have to play the same way we played there last month or whatever, two weeks ago, but we don't have to change anything. We have to play the same way we played them the whole year, and don't change anything.

BRIAN JORDAN: I don't think the Mets are going to be pressing, believe me. Those guys, their backs have been up against the wall at the end of the season, and been coming out smelling like roses. Right now, they're happy to be in a championship and going out and having fun. They continue to battle and fight and find a way to win. Believe me, we're going to New York, and those guys definitely want to win, and win three, in New York. We've got our work cut out for us.

EDDIE PEREZ: I don't know what kind of pitch it was. I think it was a change-up. But that surprised me that he was there when I was hitting because I look in their dugout and I saw their pitching coach ready to take him out. I saw him go back. I think Valentine called him and they left him in. I was looking for a good pitch to hit. And telling you the truth, I was looking for that curve ball. Because he threw it to Andruw in the first pitch, and he was doing that the first pitch, curve ball, to everybody. I was looking for that one. And then he threw me the change-up, and I hit it on the good part of the bat and it went out.

EDDIE PEREZ: That's the easiest name for them to say. That's why they're saying it (laughter). I'm not thinking about that. I try to do the job so they can keep cheering for me.

EDDIE PEREZ: I don't think so. I think next year they'll forget about me because Javy will play every day.

BRIAN JORDAN: My first two at-bats. I was very impatient and I was swinging at balls. And I was trying to pull an outside pitch. This was my first time facing Rogers. I didn't know what to expect. After seeing him twice, I had to realize that I had to be patient and take what he gave me. If he froze it outside, try to go that way. And I was fortunate that it went a long way and it stayed fair.

EDDIE PEREZ: Yeah, I wanted to face him instead of somebody else, the fresh arm coming from the bullpen. Like I say, I got surprised when they left him in there. And I saw how much every pitch he was throwing -- I was ready for him. I was ready for any kind of strike, anything for a strike to swing at.

EDDIE PEREZ: I don't think so. The Mets got their back-up catchers. They're here because of him, Pratt. One of the things to be a back-up catcher, you have to be ready when the big guy is down. I just have to do the best I can to win this game, and my main thing is catching. And I'm just going to try to hold the right pitch, and whatever it comes to hit at when I'm at bat, I'm going to do it. It's not over yet. We have to go to New York and try to do our best.

EDDIE PEREZ: After Andruw, when I walked out there, they were talking about him -- him and Valentine were talking, and I thought they would take him out because they had somebody else ready in the bullpen, and I'm glad they didn't.

EDDIE PEREZ: I was looking for a good pitch to hit, no matter what kind of pitch it was. I was looking for a good hit in the strike zone. I talked about what was my experience with Big Cat and Javy, and they are both here trying to help me.

BRIAN JORDAN: Definitely. I still have memories every day about '96 with the St. Louis Cardinals, we were up 3-1 and we ended up losing the series, and Atlanta went onto the World Series. Definitely, you never know what's going to happen. You have to go out and give 110 percent and try to kick them when they're down, basically. That's the attitude you have to have. We're not going to get complacent. We know the Mets are not going to quit. They're going to come at us hard, and we have to be prepared to go at them hard.

EDDIE PEREZ: I wasn't moving at all, because when he threw Andruw out, I swung and I was hitting. I swing the bat and he threw to first (laughter).

End of FastScripts….