There is 'The Book' that has certain things you do and don't do (as a manager). I missed parts of it. We're going to take chances. We're playing to win. |
There is more anticipation on the part of the players than there has been in a long time. The club is growing together and has formed a core group together. They know now that they can compete. The next step is to win. |
There was some hype [when Kim first came to the U.S.] and she showed us the reason for the hype. That's a live fastball. He topped out at 95, he probably threw a dozen or so at 93 and he had a sharp slider. I think we'll have to find some other opportunities that present themselves and see how it works. |
There was some improvement, but we need some more improvement. |
There were games early in the season where we crumbled like a house of cards in situations like that. These guys are willing to pick one another up and that is a big improvement with this team. |
There's a few others, but it's not a large number by any means. And one of the things we want to continue to make known to our other Minor League guys is, this position up here is one that needs to be earned. There's a lot of things given to these young players already in the game and when they enter the game, but we want to establish some criteria [for promotion]. |
There's no doubt in my mind that he's gong to get better, and that's what I told Matt earlier in the season when we had a sit-down. I said, 'You're not just hitting fourth anymore. You're our cleanup hitter.' Two months later, I told him, 'What you are doing now is providing protection in the lineup.' That's a big statement for a second-year player. |
There's nothing to read into that. It's the first opportunity to get him in a game and try to split the innings up and give them both opportunity to pitch. |
There's nothing wrong with that. Now you can start adding up the one- and two-year players and see that we've got a lot of youth on our side. |
There's other guys we want to look at, more importantly, for next year's bullpen, ... If we need him, he's available. |
There's years when we'd have given body parts for 5-4 road trips. |
These are opportunities for growth. Everybody made a statement tonight that took the ball. |
These guys have a chance to chart a new course. |
These guys overcame adversity. They persevered through it all. |
These guys want to take some momentum into '06. They are looking forward to letting people know that we're going to show up and play. |