[With the free-agent talent pool no deeper than the Everglades at low tide, Burnett will be the most sought-after player on the market.] There's always an attraction for the marquee player. That's not going to change, ... A guy with the quality of Burnett — there probably isn't a bad year to be A.J. Burnett. |
At 11 this morning -- or 11:30, when my phone rang -- I was doing household chores and expected to come in and spend some time working on our plans for next year, and being here tomorrow morning first thing to do those things, ... My energy and dedication hasn't been thinking about my next job. I was trying to do this job the right way. |
At the same time, I think it's human nature, over 162 games, every once in a while, a player will get upset, ... But it can't be about that. |
Billy is a huge priority, ... We tried to broach that subject at the trading deadline. Hopefully, we'll get that done. In all the conversations we've had with him, we've told him we'd like to get something worked out. |
Billy is a huge priority, ... We tried to broach that subject at the trading deadline. Obviously, we've tried several times at that point. Hopefully, we'll get that done. |
Billy is a huge priority. We tried to broach that subject at the trading deadline. Hopefully, we'll get that done. In all the conversations we've had with him, we've told him we'd like to get something worked out. |
Billy is a huge priority. We tried to broach that subject at the trading deadline. Obviously, we've tried several times at that point. Hopefully, we'll get that done. |
Certainly there were points of time when if a vote of confidence was coming, it would have come and didn't. So I'm not nave. |
Every club draws its own line in the sand. |
He said it bothered him a little bit in San Francisco and then he felt it in his next start. (Trainer Jeff Cooper) thinks he?ll be fine to pitch again this season, but we aren?t sure when. |
He?s had one of those years where he had some high spots and some low spots. There was talk of starting (Pedro) Liriano, but with his health issues (a stomach ailment that cost him nearly a month of action) he isn?t stretched out enough. It?s good that the game falls on Gavin?s day to pitch. |
I believe that the fact that I became the lightning rod for criticism for the organization, with me being out of the picture so to speak, makes things easier in that respect, ... But I look at the last three years. The last time this franchise had 86 or more-wins three straight years was '78, '79 and '80. We didn't get to the postseason, but I'm walking away with pride in the effort I put into this job. |
I believe that the fact that I became the lightning rod for criticism for the organization, with me being out of the picture so to speak, makes things easier in that respect. But I look at the last three years. The last time this franchise had 86 or more-wins three straight years was '78, '79 and '80. We didn't get to the postseason, but I'm walking away with pride in the effort I put into this job. |
I can effectively do this job, and I have effectively done my job. |
I just talked to Rob and he said it bothered him a little bit in the start in San Francisco and then in his last start in New York. At that point he talked to (pitching coach Rich Dubee) about it. (Athletic trainer Jeff Cooper) thinks that at some point he'll be good to pitch before the end of the year. But he won't be ready for Sunday. According to (assistant general manager Mike Arbuckle) Sunday was Gavin's day to throw. He'll join the club (Saturday) and pitch on Sunday. |