He throws an upper-80s fastball with a strong slider and keeps the ball down. He's a competitive kid. |
I am pleased with the effort and commitment and the fact that the youngsters are committed and motivated. They are certainly enjoying the experience. It's a tremendous opportunity for them and for me, to be given a chance to participate in a world venue. I have never been on that stage myself. |
I couldn't be more proud. We closed the book on the Cinderella story. We tried our best. We put ourselves in position to win. We got down. We came back. It was a tremendous effort. |
I wouldn't want it to be a demoralizing experience for the boys, because young men's egos are fragile. But given an opportunity to allow all the players to participate today, that would have been my goal. And I think that could have been better achieved had we played nine innings. |
I'll piggyback the two of them against Canada, I just haven't decided who will go first. But we'll keep both of them below the pitch limit so we can use them in the third game. |
If they can look back and say they gave their most, that's all you can ask. |
It is an amateur team. There is no way to handicap it to make it a level playing field. Nonetheless, memories are going to be made here and maybe we can grow the game and create a greater interest. |
It was just a thrill and a privilege to be here. I don't know that I can put it into words exactly but it's a lifetime experience, something these boys will treasure forever — although we didn't win and the scoreboard tells the true story. |
My God, we're going to be like Lilliputians out there. |
Nobody wants to be beaten by South Africa. It's embarrassing. Las Vegas odds on South Africa winning it all are 20,000 to 1. |
The adage I use is of Jack and the Beanstalk, Gulliver and the Lilliputians and David and Goliath. |
The adage I use is of Jack and the Beanstalk, Gulliver and the Lilliputians and David and Goliath. All of them apply, there's no doubt about that. But if we can find the magic beans, or if we can zero the stone, then you never know what can happen. |
To keep the game going and expand the venue, MLB is trying to create a greater global interest and places to develop big leaguers. |
We have to keep a positive attitude. This is not golf, I don't get eight strokes a side and we level the playing field. There is a disparity in terms of talent. |
We need to give some of our pitchers work. |