It's amazing, right down to both being hurt. I understand what he's going through, because I've gone through a lot of the same things. You don't really feel a part of it. |
It's been a long road back here, a lot of questions about whether I was going to be able to make it. [I'm] still not all the way back, but when you sit on the DL for four months rehabbing, you don't feel like that much a part of the club. Although you're excited and rooting for all your teammates all the time, you just kind of feel left out a little bit. Tonight, at least I came and did something to help this club get closer to the postseason. |
It's difficult. It's probably the most difficult thing to do in the game. You're just thrust into a situation where the game speeds up real quick. When you play every day, it's easy to slow it down. It's been a difficult adjustment. |
It's going to come to an end. We know that. We're not talking about a 23-year-old rookie. We're talking about a 43-year-old guy who has been there, done that. Eventually -- whether it's the next two weeks or the next two years -- this thing is going to end. So I'm just grateful I had the opportunity to play baseball with him. As a kid who grew up as a Boston Red Sox fan to where I am today, it's been an honor. |
It's great for me, but it goes way beyond that, ... It's big for the team. We needed to win this game. Everybody knows how important every single game is, and tonight is no exception. |
It's just a natural progression right now. I'm throwing a little bit between innings and getting my at-bats. |
It's like going to the (NBA) Finals in basketball or to the Super Bowl, |
It's like going to the finals in basketball or to the Super Bowl. You still have to win it. Yeah, it's great to get there, but that's not the ultimate goal. The ultimate goal is to be the last team under the pile. |
It's not good for us that he's had hamstring problems for us in the past. We need Rock (Clemens) to pitch. We are here partly because of him. |
It's very important to be there, ... He's been a friend of mine 15 years, and it goes beyond baseball. We stayed friends beyond baseball. He was a great man, and we owe it to him to be there. |
It's very special, ... We've spent a long time together. It's really like a marriage. We've had good times. We've had bad times. But it's been a heck of an association. |
It's who I am. I can't just go away. |
Just to get out here, get back on the field, I felt like it was a little bit of a trial camp today. I felt like I almost had to try and prove something, but yet I've got to sit back and say, 'No, I don't, I just have to get ready for April 1. |
Locating on the outside corner, getting confidence with his outside fastball, hitting his spots, ... When he does that, he's tough to hit. |
make his career complete. |