[Cardinals Hall of Fame shortstop Ozzie Smith recently spent three days in North Carolina working with Tampa Bay Devil Rays shortstop prospect B.J. Upton , who plays for the Class AAA Durham Bulls.] And I think he's going to speak to the entire club sometime, ... Ozzie is not only full of knowledge, but he's one of the most generous people in the game. He's a class act. |
At that time, they voiced no negative displeasure, |
At that time, they voiced no negative displeasure. Obviously that changed between that last series and Monday. |
Do you follow baseball? |
Having said that, we saw him play the latter part of August and thought he had had enough. He had already gone from Double-A to Triple-A and we thought it was time for him to go home and get ready to play winter ball if he wanted to, or if not, get ready for spring training. |
He cannot make 40 errors here. I think he is an improved shortstop over this time last year. He's ready to play offensively. |
He has the chance to become a tremendous major league player. The Devil Rays look forward to him joining what we think may be the best nucleus of young players in all of major league baseball. |
He thought he was ready for the major leagues the day we signed him. That's why we signed him. |
He's a baseball player - outstanding instincts on the field, good makeup, a hard-nosed player, always has been, versatility. [He's] a better left-handed hitter than right, and that fits us, especially with Damian [Rolls] at third base. He's just a good, solid performer. |
He's going to be an All-Star. And his work ethic continues to improve. As Ozzie told him, the only thing that can keep B.J. Upton from being a tremendous player is B.J. Upton. |
He's in town to spend three days working with B.J., and I think he's going to speak to the entire club sometime, ... Ozzie is not only full of knowledge, but he's one of the most generous people in the game. He's a class act. We wanted to get Ozzie's thoughts on where B.J. stands [defensively] right now and where he needs to do better. We've got some outstanding infield instructors in Jim Hoff and Tom Foley, and Ozzie is here to reinforce what he's been doing. |
He's in town to spend three days working with B.J., and I think he's going to speak to the entire club sometime. Ozzie is not only full of knowledge, but he's one of the most generous people in the game. He's a class act. We wanted to get Ozzie's thoughts on where B.J. stands [defensively] right now and where he needs to do better. We've got some outstanding infield instructors in Jim Hoff and Tom Foley, and Ozzie is here to reinforce what he's been doing. |
I apologize to the ... fans for not producing the championship team that they deserve and take full responsibility for this organization's not achieving that goal. |
I don't think there's any question that by the year 2007, ... this is going to be a winning organization and a winning baseball team for the first time. |
I take full responsibility for this organization not winning in my eight years, |