All I tried to do was make the routine plays and get on base for the big guys. |
Basically, we're playing to complete the schedule, ... We're not going to the playoffs. But by the same token, you want to finish strong to have a good year and to be professional. This is a game, this is your job, and you want to really play the game right. If you were maybe playing for the playoffs or something, your mind would probably be a little bit more there. That's just the way it is. But by the same token, there's no excuse. You have to come out here and play. You want to win every game. |
Being a manager is tough because you can only make decisions, but you can't do anything more, |
He probably knew I was going to throw it like that, because I knew the bag is there. I have to throw it to the bag. But in this case, he knew I was probably going to do it. The more you play with a guy, the more you get to know each other and better you can get. |
He's only going to get better. |
I don't know how ready he was. Even during the season, sometimes you miss it. But sometimes you crush it. I'm pretty sure Ortiz thought that was a good pitch to hit. |
I knew I had a chance. That's why I threw it. I didn't know how accurate it was going to be. |
I knew I was going to play. This game is already hard. You don't need other distractions like knowing whether you're going to play or not. Now I'm very, very comfortable. |
I see a team that's committed, |
I'm sure the fans back home are pretty upset. I think the hopes were pretty high. |
If I didn't think they have a chance to be good, I wouldn't have signed here. |
If you focus on the statistics, that's the worst thing you can do in your life as a baseball player, |
If you're counting on home runs to win games every day, you're in bad shape. Home runs don't come every day. |
If you're counting on home runs to win games, you're in bad shape. Home runs are not going to come every day. Home runs just happen. You get good at-bats, you put good swings on the ball. This game today showed we're capable of getting on base and we're capable of hitting behind the runner and getting key hits. |
It was a great experience. Now, I show up here and look at all the runs we're scoring. |