NL DIVISION SERIES: ASTROS v BRAVES

October 8, 1999

Bobby Cox

BOBBY COX: He went through quite a bit, I guess, in spring training in the beginning of the season, and I decided to drop his arm angle down some to take the pressure off his elbow and he's never felt better. Ever since he did that, he's had absolutely no pain, and I don't think I've seen John throw any harder than he is now. He's really popping the ball and its got really good movement to it. He's really at the top of his game right now and right now, unless he's fibbing, he's 100 percent.

BOBBY COX: I don't know if there is such a thing as playing loose in these things, period. You know, I think everybody gets a little nervous at the beginning of all the games and then it's gone, you know. It's not just another ballgame. There's too much riding on it, so there's always certain amount of, I guess, pressure or whatever, you know, wanting to win so. We are as loose as we can be, like anybody else. The other teams are probably exactly the same way. I mean, try to be loose, but it's kind of up to the individual.

BOBBY COX: I don't really know. I think both ballparks are equally matched for the most part. It would be great to beat Mike today, and I'm sure they are saying the same thing. We've got a two-time Cy Young Award that's really throwing the ball really well right now, Tommy Galvine. So today is really like the first game. It's a very big ballgame and the second game was big for us because we had to get back in this thing and we did. I don't think you send any messages, honestly. I mean, I don't recall anybody ever sending me or my team a message by beating us, you know.

BOBBY COX: I don't really know. I don't even know who is umpiring behind homeplate tonight, but we will abide by what he rules, you know. If he establishs his strike zone, he establishes it and that's even for both teams. It really doesn't make any difference.

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