[Fortunately for Minnesota, it has the league's easiest remaining schedule, with 25 of its final 31 games against teams with losing records. However, a favorable schedule means nothing if the rotation doesn't do its part.] We feel like we're beginning to click, ... but we need to really pick it up. Then maybe everyone will forget about how bad we were in the first half. |
But that didn't happen. Whatever. |
Everything has been put behind us, ... I'm focusing on trying to win some games and trying to keep us in the thick of things. |
He knows he did his job. He's not going to cry about it. |
He's pretty remarkable with that. I think when you handle it the way he did, he gets more respect than he has already. I think he showed a lot of leadership in being able to take that. That's what you want out of the leader of your staff. |
I can't complain about being here, ... We have been in the playoff hunt the last four years. I like playing here, and I think this other stuff can be resolved. I know little things have come up, but they have been resolved. |
I didn't hear anything about it until right before I went out there. I couldn't do my own thing before my starts. I was pretty sad. It's a tough day for Twins fans and for his family. |
I just had to roll with whatever happened. |
I wanted to go out and get off to a good start, so I could forget about what happened last week, |
I wanted to go out there and get a good start, so I can forget about everything that happened, |
I was using his aggressiveness to my advantage. He's a good hitter. He's come up clutch. I was able to make pitches up and out of the zone and get him out in front a little on off-speeds. That was the key. |
I wasn't going to give into Sweeney, ever. That's the one guy in the lineup I'm not going to get beat by. Some of the other walks, I made some bad pitches and fell behind. I think the key was I never gave in. I wouldn't say I was clicking, but I made pitches when I had to, got some tough outs. That was one of the things I needed to be able to do. When you're able to make pitches, you feel pretty good about it. That was the story tonight. |
I wish I hadn't reacted the way I did, ... but it was my reaction and it was wrong. |
I would have liked to have somebody stand behind me and say: 'We've got your back. Go out there and shut them down from here on. But that didn't happen today, so whatever. |
I'd be lying if I said it didn't affect me. I definitely felt a little uncomfortable. |