I know they're going through a tough time. It's terrible to see a great player like that going down, but that's going to happen in your career. |
I probably shouldn't bring it down to that level like I did last week, but I showed today that that's not the way I play the game. At the same time, I need to respect my teammates. Because I don't want any of my guys to get hurt from me doing something stupid like that. |
I should get more hits. I hit a lot of balls hard, but I didn't get a lot of hits. That's the way it goes sometimes. |
I think that if you get caught the third time, I mean that's real bad, you should get abandoned from the game. You shouldn't be able to be caught the third time because after the first time, if you don't learn from that, from 50 games that you sit down without getting paid, that's pretty bad. |
I thought we were going to get him. But he found a way to make a pitch and get a ground ball double- play. That's why he's won 14 Gold Gloves. |
I told you I would be ready for opening day. I'm ready. |
I try to be patient at the plate and draw my walks like I did with runners at first and second. We got four runs in that inning. That's the key. If I'd tried to come out of the strike zone, I probably would have hit into a double play. That's the last thing I want to do. I want to be patient at the plate, just try to see the ball and, like my dad would say, take what they give you. |
I was [ticked] off. I'm human. I made a mistake. I shouldn't have taken it to that level. I have too much respect for the game. |
I was just thinking, ?Jimmy, hit a ball out of the park to tie the game or get a base hit,' |
I was praying, 'just give me the strength, Lord, to ... hopefully come through for my teammates, |
I would have taken a one-for-three or a one-for-four and win the game. That's what it's about. We just didn't find a break where we could score and get a bunch of hits early against Armas. ... (The wins) are what you play for. |
I would say it's the best base hit I've ever had in my career, |
I'm a line-drive hitter with power. I can drive the ball into the gap, and I'm strong enough to hit it out of the park if I elevate it. No matter how people describe me, it's about staying focused. Don't worry about what people write or say. I don't play for those people. I play to try to get better. |
I'm getting pitches. I'm taking my swings. And when I don't, I take my walks. It would be good for the team to have all those guys going good. But I have to do my job. I had my chances. |
I'm just taking advantage of what they're giving me. I don't try to do too much. I just try to get on base. Scott and Jimmy (Edmonds) are swinging the bat pretty well right now. I try to get on base so I can score as much as I can. |