Duke did a fine job. It was a quality start and he gave an opportunity for the club to win. I don't know how much more you can ask. |
Each and every time we creep back into the game, it's followed up by additional runs by the other side of the field. And when you're trying to play catch up, and it continues to go further and further away from you, you're trying to get back in the game three or four times a game that's tough to do. |
Each time we creep back into the game, it's followed up by additional runs from the other side of the field. When you're trying to get back into a game three or four times a day, that's tough to do. |
Every team needs people like that. It's not just what he does as a third base coach, and I happen to be believe he's very good at what he does. Having this guy as a buffer between my office and the clubhouse ... that's huge. |
Every time he comes up in a situational at-bat, the job gets done. |
Everyone has their own philosophy, |
Exposure is the best teacher, ... It doesn't always work out the way you want it to, but with time and exposure, they grow. |
First and foremost, you aren't going to win many games in this or any ballpark with one run. We get six hits from three people, and that won't make it at any park. |
First of all, I happen to think he was a pretty good player before he was selected to play for his country. I don't need to see him go play for Mexico to see that. But, absolutely, it can be a confidence-building experience. |
For a guy to come in here and work to improve his versatility, to put on that catcher's gear ... I admire that. I had a 15-minute talk with him, and I told him so. Like I told him, it takes a hell of a lot more than nine players to win. ... I appreciate the demeanor he's shown coming into this camp. |
For a kid his age, he's off the charts. He's going to be a good -- make that really good -- Major League baseball player some day. |
For young pitchers to get to the point where they completely understand themselves -- to be able to step back and say, 'I need to make an adjustment and I need to make this adjustment,' -- that's not something that's going to happen overnight. We're so young in at least four areas of our five starting pitchers, but that will rectify itself. |
From my end, the biggest thing was the personnel factor and the evaluation of those players, ... I just felt very strongly that the right thing to do would be to move on. |
From the first-base side, when he throws his sinker and misses with it, it becomes more of an unhittable pitch, |
Giving up four or five runs through five innings with your starter ... that's a lot of runs to give up and expect to win. |