[Over the course of my time covering the Pirates, Perez was a frequent topic of conversation. Right before his last start, McClendon told me:] From a physical standpoint, he's ready to go; now it's just a matter of performing. ... Everything feels good, everything's OK. |
But I feel great. My arm feels strong. I'm trying to think only about making the team and being right for the season. Last year when I came here I hurt my shoulder because my arm wasn't stronger. |
But I'm trying not to think about it too much -- that's what happened last year. I was thinking too much. My mind was lost. I'm trying to focus now on the next game. |
Don't go too quickly. Stay on the back foot and throw the ball. |
Every year is a different year, ... This has been a disappointing year. I have to come to spring training next year prepared to have a good year. |
Everybody has experience, just not as much as Kip. Maybe the rotation doesn't have a leader now. Maybe it's up to everybody to help everybody -- like a committee. |
Everybody knows it's how you finish, not how you start. We're not winning now, so we're going to forget this game. We know we can start winning games. It's part of baseball. This happens to the good teams. |
Everybody wants to represent their country. You are excited because you want to be with your team and get ready for the games start. |
Everything is a lot better now. My last bullpen was good. I had good location and my mechanics were better. I'm ready [to start]. |
For me, this is no problem. Sometimes when I strike out some people I feel good and I do something that's in the moment. So I don't try to intimidate that guy. I do it for myself. ... You feel happy because everybody knows he's the best hitter right now in the major leagues. |
He's always used that number. He came to me and asked, and I said, 'Yeah.' The number is not special to me. Fifty-nine is the number I first wore in the big leagues, so it was no problem. |
He's such a tough guy in pitching. We're not thinking about winning against Roger Clemens, we were thinking about just seeing him, that it's maybe the last game - and that we won. |
I didn't have good numbers in winter ball, but more importantly, I felt [healthy]. I feel good, almost like I am 100 percent. |
I don't try to think too much. That's what happened last year: I thought too much. My mind was lost. |
I feel good. I threw too many pitches. That's why they took me out, but I used all my pitches, and I felt good. |