Roberts said. ''This is my team. It's special. It's doubly special for me. I missed school to watch this team play. I had dreams of playing for the Padres. |
[After 41-year-old Roger Clemens struck out 11 Marlins last week, Florida manager Jack McKeon said,] Age is just a number. The way he pitched last night he probably could pitch until he's 50. ... I hope I'm upright when I'm his age. |
[And what about his competitive spirit? Will it ever be quite the same since the death of his 75-year-old mother, Bess, in September?] She was my strength. She's always been my will. She was really my father and my mother, ... She was always my first phone call. |
[It wasn't long before there wasn't a single other pitcher left out there. Not one . They'd all pitched. So] next thing I know, ... I'm out there by myself. Not a lot to do -- flick seeds, chew gum, talk to the fans. That's about all there was to do. |
[You want unintentional comedy?] Just because you are getting whipped, ... you don't hit behind somebody's neck. |
A very hittable pitch, ... When a guy's at this level, it doesn't matter if he's 21 or 41. He's going to hit that. |
All in all, it was a good day. |
All of these guys had great years, ... Obviously, I knew Jeff and he told me about his younger brother before. I've had the opportunity to talk with the J.P. and Wade as well. They all have a lot of character, will and desire. |
And she was as worried for me as I was for her, ... She was worried about how my body would hold up. |
Andy and I just look at each other, and we've been there and done it, but it's still a proud moment for us, ... It's really unbelievable. |
As a starter, if I were to look at this lineup here, ... you're always going to have one or two guys. But when you get three or four ... you're going to have to be coming in with it. |
As far as Brad knowing the game and his receiving skills, he would rank right there with Charlie O'Brien. If you are a catcher in Little League, high school, college or in the Minor Leagues, if you don't want to ask any questions and you want to learn by watching, I would get a video tape of either one of those guys. |
As soon as I climbed on the mound, I was lost a little bit, ... I knew I had to gather it up pretty quick and get through that. |
At this point, let's just say I haven't opened it. I tried to shut the door a few times the last couple of years, but it just didn't work out. |
Brad [Ausmus] and I were working like we normally do, they just got some key hits. |