[Carpenter is] really going after hitters, and ... getting in situations and making pitches and staying away from the big damage. I mean, that's what he's been doing consistently.

That was vintage Carpenter. He had first and second, the middle of the lineup, and he gets out of it. That's what he does.

If you try to give them a scheme, most hitters will rebel.

I guess they don't want it to flare up. (But) everything's a big deal. You don't want it to catch you by surprise.

(Clemens) is tough enough to hit when it's over the plate and if he starts getting a big plate, that's going to be tough for us. I know in our ballpark, both Tim (McClelland) and Greg (Gibson), and I think Wally will, too, will call a good game and not get excited about the home crowd. You always worry when a guy has good command that he can get somebody excited.

I think there's a growing number of pitchers who want to have a plan going into a game about how they're going to go after that lineup. I'd say 75 percent want to have an idea, and they plan their attack. I know that 75 percent of hitters do not have that same type of plan against a pitcher.