[He paused and looked up to make eye contact, expressing sincerity that needed no translation.] When I go out to pitch, I go out to pitch not only for the fans here in Chicago but my fans in Cuba and the Cuban people, ... I represent something bigger than just pitching for one team. |
After the All-Star break there were trade rumors that were bothering me, ... But Ozzie and Cooper gave me the confidence and took the pressure away from me and I tried to work as hard as I could with my stuff and my mental state. |
All of the good houses belong to people who have emigrated. |
At the beginning of the year, I was pitching pretty decent but I wasn't getting the wins. Now, I'm getting the wins and helping the team win games. |
Believe it or not, you get ready for this game from Day 1 in spring training, |
But we've turned double plays all season long and can't change anything you've done this season. If we turned that double play, we might be talking about something different. |
By the third inning, I felt like I could go forever. For having such a long time off, I felt real good. No problems so far. |
Even though the first half of the season didn't go as I wished, as everyone expected me to be, you just got to face that you have ups and downs and I'm glad that it's on an up side right now, ... I hope I can keep it going. |
Even when I was in Cuba, I hear of Roger Clemens, and I was a big admirer. I'd heard so much about him, and then I got to see him pitch. Everything about his pitching is perfect. You watch him and you see nothing wasted. |
Even when Jose was struggling we kept sending him back in there to get over it. It was a long process and it paid real well, |
Everybody knows the quality of players from Cuba. All of the championships we won -- you have to be one of the best in the whole country to be one of the 25 who are coming. |
Falling behind on Garret Anderson, such a great hitter. You attack him the wrong way and you are going to get hurt. After that, I wasn't locating the ball the way I was the first couple of batters and they got back-to-back hits. I got myself in trouble. |
He hit a home run that put us ahead and add in the two defensive plays that kept us in the game and made us win. Because if those balls go through, they go ahead and we might lose. |
I dedicate this to Chicago, ... This is for the fans of Chicago who have waited so long. I know they deserve it because they've stood by me when I was pitching bad. |
I don't feel that I am the lost stopper on the staff. I just feel that every time that I go out, I can win the game. |