He's a veteran. It's a Rickey Henderson type of thing. If he's here in four days, he'll be four days early. |
He's had his challenges in spring training to get out of the gate. If ever there a year that he needed to be on time, it's this year. He's a free agent-to-be, and we certainly need him. |
He's probably done as much as he can down here. Now, he'll be in a baseball domain. I'd like to see him in a simulated game, but that's probably difficult to do. And there's a lot going on you can't simulate. |
He's the prototype. He has been and will be a dominant force at the end of the game. ... He's a guy we had our eye on. |
Him taking swings in a college batting cage is a long way from doing baseball work with us, ... It's just another step in his rehab. To what extent this is of any significance -- until I'm told otherwise -- it's just part of the exercise regimen he's going through. Once he's accelerated to the point where the doctors are ready to turn him over to us, then he can do more meaningful and substantial baseball activities. But for now, this is just another step. |
His stuff has been electric. He's throwing strikes and the breaking ball is improved. I think his future, and the impact he could have on the major-league roster, it looks like he'll probably start the year in the bullpen. |
Hopefully, it won't ruin a friendship. Obviously, he's in hated Dodger Blue now. It is an interesting twist of fate. |
Hopefully, it won't ruin a friendship. Obviously, he's in hated Dodger blue. I'm sure he'll be having a lot of pasta dinners with Tommy (Lasorda). Levity aside, it is an interesting flip of fate. You guys know how close we are personally, how hard we worked professionally. |
I do know he has interest. We've pursued him as much as any player we possibly could, of recent note. We hope it comes to a head in the next day or so. |
I don't go that deep. It's all about our budget. We answer to a higher authority -- which is our lender. |
I don't see either route to be a surefire way to accomplish what we want to do. We're going to be challenged in the market and challenged in terms of trades. But as I step back and review our situation, the division, the league and the rest of baseball, we're in a heck of a lot better shape than some other teams. |
I don't want to be too hard-line about it, but the more we see of the old Jason Schmidt, the more you want to sign him. |
I expect we have a better chance to win a game, |
I expect we'll have a better chance to win games, especially against right-handers. He has the ability to affect the team and provide a snapshot for the rest of the season and next year. |
I guess the good thing was, we made San Diego earn it, |