February 19, 2002

The Week in Quotes

January 28-February 17, 2002

by Derek Zumsteg

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MARLINS LET BLOOD, GET NEW BLOOD

"We haven't laid off anybody. In this transaction, all we're guilty of is being loyal to our employees that we have."
--David Samson, new Marlins president, after the entire player-development staff was laid off so that the Expos player-development staff could take over

"I don't see any reason why this club can't compete for the division and win it."
--Jeff Loria, Marlins owner, on his new team

THOUGHT I'D JUST STICK THESE TWO NEXT TO EACH OTHER

"We are going to contract. The road map is out there very clearly and everybody knows what our intentions are."
--Bud Selig, commissioner of baseball

"The current public perception of Enron is incompatible with the honesty and integrity embodied in baseball, as America's national pastime, and espoused by the Houston Astros."
--Motion filed by the Houston Astros to get their stadium naming rights back from Enron

TURN THE PAGE

"There are a lot of things I'll miss about playing baseball, but I realize I can't do it forever. I'm at that point where I can't play at the level I would be happy with."
--Kevin Tapani, ex-Cubs pitcher

"They needed someone else to balance out their rotation, and I thought a 38-year-old guy with a back problem would not be the answer.
--Tapani, on why he turned down an offer from the Diamondbacks

LEADOFF

"We need a leadoff hitter. Jerry's talents lead you to think he could be a prototypical leadoff hitter. He has speed. He's an aggressive base runner. But Jerry also had a .305 on-base percentage last year. So obviously there are some things Jerry needs to do better."
--Mike Hargrove, Orioles manager, on infielder Jerry Hairston

"I don't want to put any undue pressure on him. I want him to play like Shinjo can play. We want him to be Shinjo. Everyone wants the leadoff man to walk more. Not everyone is a walk-type person."
--Dusty Baker, Giants manager, on outfielder Tsuyoshi Shinjo

"If Delino doesn't pan out, who are they going to use as their leadoff guy, Bobby Hill? Just imagine what their lineup would be like if they had me and Ricky [Gutierrez] back."
--Eric Young, ex-Cub infielder

TOE TROUBLE

"He's still sitting there."
--Tony Bacala, Ascension Parish Chief Deputy Sheriff, on Devil Rays farmhand Toe Nash, arrested on charges of aggravated rape, aggravated crime against nature, and felony theft

"Right now, baseball is secondary. This is definitely primary."
--Dan Jennings, Devil Rays scouting director

THE REST

"He's an outstanding defensive player and a quality hitter. And he only has three years in the big leagues, so he should get better."
--Syd Thrift, Orioles vice president of baseball operations, on outfielder Chris Singleton

"There was no interest on our part. He brings a lot more to the table than batting average and driving in runs."
--Don Baylor, Cubs manager, on trade offers supposedly made for catcher Joe Girardi

If you would like to submit a quote, please email Derek and be sure to include both the quote itself and a URL pointing to the quote.