Without Rocket being around, nobody is going to fill those shoes. But Brandon is a big piece of our puzzle. He understands what he can and can't do. He is going to be a big part of this. |
You couldn't have scripted it any better than that. The guy came back and he's not supposed to be back. He took a risk and a gamble to have the surgery and help us. I couldn't be any more happier for him. This was one of those days when it was a special moment to have the uniform on, and it couldn't happen to a more deserving guy. |
You don't slap a New Jersey girl and get away with it. |
You know that play is going to be real close, ... I don't know if he would have gotten me or not because I hit it off the end and it was spinning funny. It's just one of those situations where you always run it out and you always get an opportunity. |
You know, it was going to happen sooner or later. We understand that. Whether it's another year, another two years, whatever, we know it's going to happen. We know nobody can play forever. But for now, the thing I'm happy about the most is that he's down here and he's getting the opportunity to play. And he's such a professional, if he can't play, he'll let you know it. |
You're confident (when he's on the mound. He's one of the top five starters in the game. You don't expect to lose that game. |
You're never going to forget certain things that happen to you in this game. And a three-run home run off the Rocket in his first playoff game -- I guarantee you he'll never forget that . It was good for him, just bad for us. |
You're talking 25- and 30-home run guys and they're not in your lineup anymore, so you have to do some things differently, ... That's hit-and-running, laying down some bunts. We can't be swinging for the fences. We've got some power, but we don't have as much as we did last year. We just have to be a little more creative. |