I really don't have the answers. You just have to stay with it and grind it out. Ask [Yankees manager] Joe Torre, and he didn't know the answer, either. |
I saw him over there. He made a play to the right. He made a play to the left. He's moving OK. |
I saw him pitch good games when I was roving through the minor leagues. That tonight is an indication of how good he can be. He's got real good stuff. If you look up there, he can throw 94, 96 when he wants to. |
I saw him play in Montreal, and made the statement that I liked his swing. He looks like a different hitter. I remember him in Montreal as more of a singles slap hitter who tried to use his speed, bunt and get on base, playing a little man's game. |
I saw him walking around and figured he was ready to play. |
I saw him walking around and figured I'd play him. I said, '[Heck], he's ready.' He got a fastball up and smoked it. He consistently hits the ball hard. |
I see a lot of good things on this team. I especially like what we've down with our bench. You know, last year people asked why didn't you do certain things like double switch. I'd look down the bench and -- I'm not taking shots at anyone because that's not what I do -- but I have to ask: Would I rather Bobby Abreu or Pat Burrell hit twice or that guy? This team has choices and that makes me excited. |
I see how he's hitting the ball. He's not killing the ball by no means, but he's hit some balls. He's had good swings on. |
I stopped watching that one on the scoreboard. I figured it was over. |
I think [Howard's] stats speak for themselves and he's meant a lot to us, too. Howard went right in the middle of our lineup and he's produced some big numbers for his at-bats. |
I think Bobby will always play 150 games, probably. When he comes to the ballpark, he thinks he should be in the lineup playing. I like a guy thinking that way. |
I think Bobby's much more mentally tough than people think he is. |
I think by him gaining confidence in himself, that gained my confidence in him, |
I think competition is good. I think competition is outstanding. In this game here, you never have it made. That's why pitchers have a record. That's why players have batting averages. That's why last year's dead and gone. That's why yesterday's out of sight, too. Today's what we're doing. |
I think every one of our players knows what it means, ... If I stay positive, stay upbeat, let them play, let them relax ... then they have to go play, they have to go execute. |