First of all, like I said a thousand times, I never thought I’d end up leaving New York. But the door closed there and I came home. Obviously, the first year was horrible. It was a nightmare that I never would’ve thought would happen with the injury.
So this is kind of what you dream: You can come home and have a good year, pitch good, pitch good in front of the hometown fans and make it to the postseason.
This team, for us to get to a World Series, is a big accomplishment. We’re just all extremely proud with this group of guys of what we’re able to do with where we came from. It just makes you smile to know that, man, we’re in the World Series with this club.
I’m just soaking it all up and watching guys like Baggy and Beege (1).
This is like my first one in New York just because they’ve never done anything like this–the organization, the city. This is like ’96 for me.
I’d have to say, yeah, I guess so (2). Obviously, when I signed, that was the dream–to be able to help this organization get to a World Series. And it was kind of like, well, we’ll probably be in it playing the Yankees.
Roger has an unbelievable ability to go out and make pitches. If he does get in trouble, he’ll stay away from guys who might be able to hurt him and just do what he’s got to do to get through innings and continue to put zeroes up. He’s always done a great job of that in the World Series that I’ve seen him pitch in.
He probably should’ve had 30 wins instead of 13.
Stay out of the middle of the plate. Anybody can hurt you if you get the ball in the middle of the plate.
The whole thing (3) is I just want to see the mitt, you know. Don’t want to see a hitter standing there and don’t care who’s standing there. I just want to make my pitches and hit my spots and, really, that’s all I’m trying to do out there.
They were great Little League parents. My dad coached me. I guess I’m tough on him a little bit. He was a little tough on me too.
It’s good to go home. It’s good that all my family for the first time could see me pitch, all my friends can drive down to Minute Maid and see me pitch, stuff like that. That’s special. People that you grew up with and played with and stuff are able to come to the games.
My kids, for them to be able to come to the ballpark on a daily basis with me, it’s just an ideal situation.
I know a few of them (4). Several of them were in the American League. There’s a lot that I don’t know real well. You leave it up to scouting and the advice from other guys who’ve played them.
It’s just such a fine line between having a good outing and a bad outing, especially in these games.
I can tell you right now I haven’t pitched in it in a long time (5), so I’m not really looking forward to it. I pitched in it obviously a lot in New York, but the big thing here is the wind. The wind’s not good, and when you can’t really feel that ball on your fingertips–we’re all going to have to deal with it.
Obviously, the goal is to win the World Series. We have a lot of work left to do. We know that.
(1): Longtime Astros stars Jeff Bagwell and Craig Biggio.
(2): When asked if he was surprised that he beat the Yankees back to the World Series.
(3): His well-known look of his cap pulled down low and his glove held high over his nose.
(4): White Sox hitters.
(5): Cold weather.
