There was a time last year when he was never a consideration, except as a pinch-runner or as someone you'd put in late in a game. But after Donnie worked with him, I saw a different hitter. He once was a dead pull hitter -- hit the ball in the air and swing and miss. Donnie got him waiting on the ball. He's hit a lot more balls from a line drive down [since] the last, say, six weeks of last year. He's a much better player now. |
There was frustration, obviously. You can't get that many opportunities and come away empty without being frustrated. |
There was frustration, obviously. You can't get that many opportunities and not do anything with it, and not get frustrated about it. |
There was more public stuff this year than the other years. |
There was no reason to think that when everybody got healthy, he'd still be one of our starters. |
There were a lot more liberties you could take years ago. Now you have to worry that someone (whether Ortiz or the umpires) will take it the wrong way. |
There's a chance if he continues to improve that he'll be able to pitch for us in September. Whether that's out of the bullpen or other than that, we'll wait and see. |
There's a chance we'll meet again, ... If it does happen, it'll be a shootout. |
There's a chance we'll meet again. If it does happen, it'll be a shootout. |
There's a danger that if you don't get in enough, ... he'll hit it out of the ballpark. |
There's a lot of jealousy out there. That's what goes with who you are, how much you make and all that stuff. It's part of the equation I guess. You've got to deal with it. |
There's a lot of pressure on the pitchers, and the only way you're going to get good hitters out is not to be the same with them all the time, ... I think [the Angels] have done the same kind of job on Alex. Both guys are MVPs and both guys are explosive. They can even hit a bad ball a long way. |
There's a lot of pressure on the pitchers, and the only way you're going to get good hitters out is not to be the same with them all the time. I think [the Angels] have done the same kind of job on Alex. Both guys are MVPs and both guys are explosive. They can even hit a bad ball a long way. |
There's been a lot of talk about Hernandez all week, which is understandable, |
There's been no concern physically. He certainly was way ahead of where he anticipated being at this point of time. I think he just sort of hit a wall. |