Interview : Tuesday October 26, 2004. 7:31 PM.
The A’s Leave New York With A Game 1 Victory Under Their Belts! Will It Lead Them To Victory In The ALCS And Into The World Series?
An anonymous reporter from Oakland, CA interviews owner of the Oakland Athletics after their return trip from New York:
Reporter: After the first inning when Slifka struck out the side what were you thinking after he walked off the mound pumping his fists?
Slifka: When I saw the look on his face after walking back to the dugout while pumping his fists I knew he was going to have a great game tonight. I talked to him after the first inning and I could just see the terror waiting to be released in his eyes. And whenever he has that look in his eyes I know he’s going to pitch a gem.
Reporter: After you sent Freddrick Crevan to the mound in the bottom of the forth, were you nervous at all about him coming in for the save?
Slifka: No, not at all. He has in the past blown a couple saves during the season and that happens to even the greatest, but tonight everyone was playing at their best. I knew I could count on Crevan once again do get the job done.
Reporter: Tonight your team had just broken the 33 game winning streak of the New York Yankees that has lasted a year and a half now. After Crevan struck out the side of the bottom of the 4th and got the save tonight, were you surprised at all at the end of the game?
Slifka: Well in a way yes and no. I was surprised because tonight was the first night this team has batted against the Yankee all-star pitcher JR Neuman. Everyone knows how well he can pitch, but tonight we were very fortunate and got lucky that he wasn’t pitching at his best. I wasn’t surprised about this win because we were very well prepared for this game. Before we flew to New York this afternoon, we took some batting practice that helped us out a lot, it was very productive and proved itself in the game.
Reporter: How much does this victory mean to you and your whole team tonight?
Slifka: Well on the airplane over to New York we were all very confident. But this win tonight just raised our confidence even more. The first game of any series means a lot to any team. But just the fact that we have two games left of the ALCS to beat the New York Yankees once just takes a lot off our shoulders. It’s never good to enter a three game series down 1-0 after the first game and having to win the next two games.
Reporter: Tomorrow you play game two, are you going to do anything different in preparation before the game seeing how Aminis is going to take the hill tomorrow for the Yankees?
Slifka: Oh yeah we will definitely be preparing a little different tomorrow afternoon. Aminis has shut us out before with a one hitter and that’s not pleasing at all to us. He’s a submarine pitcher that is very difficult to hit off of, so tomorrow we are going to strictly focus on batting before the game. Today we pretty much evened it out in pre game with pitching and batting, focusing on both concepts evenly. But tomorrow we are going to focus on batting most of the day. Slifka is pitching again on very short rest tomorrow so we will still focus on pitching somewhat.
Reporter: You’re A’s are undefeated at Gypsy Park so far since it opened up in mid July with a 9-0 record. How are you feeling right now about tomorrow’s game when the Yankees come into town looking for a desperate win?
Slifka: Well tomorrow I am just hoping to god that we can hit decently off of Aminis and if that happens then we can produce some runs, which will hopefully be more runs than the Yankees will get. Also we are hoping for another excellent pitching performance from Slifka as he takes the hill again. He’s pitched great at Gypsy Park throughout the season and we just hope he can give us a performance like he did tonight, that would really satisfy and raise the spirits of this ball club.
Reporter: OK that is all we have for now. Thank you for your time. Congratulations for what you and your team have done tonight and we wish you the best of luck tomorrow night.
Slifka: Thank you, we appreciate it...now excuse me, I have a special guest in the clubhouse waiting for my arrival to celebrate the big victory!
Concluded at 7:41 PM.