July 6, 1998

The Week in Quotes

June 22-July 5

by Dennis Cleary

DODGER SHAKE-UP, LAST WEEK

"I never thought I'd get fired."
-- Fred Claire, former Dodgers GM

"Everybody is numb right now. You just go out there and play. You just go to the park and hope you still have a uniform to wear."
-- Eric Karros, Dodgers infielder

"[Tommy Lasorda is] just killing me and Fred [Claire] with the Fox people. Fred knows it. I know it. And there's nothing we can do about it. It's just tough to work under these conditions. Tommy's just vicious when he wants something. He did the same sort of thing when he was a coach under Walter Alston and wanted Alston's job."
-- Bill Russell, former Dodgers manager, before

"I don't know if I'm bitter. But I know I was disappointed with the way things turned out. Do you know how disappointing it is to be there so long and then for everything to end like it did?"
-- Bill Russell, after

"That's not to say I wasn't comfortable with Billy [Russell], but it's easier to be more comfortable with someone else around."
-- Paul Konerko, Reds infielder

"With the way the team has been playing, I decided that a change was necessary. The team just wasn't performing up to it's capability, and I wasn't comfortable staying with the status quo."
-- Bob Graziano, Dodgers president

"I told Bob Graziano that I would always be there for him in whatever he needed me to do, and this is what he needs me to do now. There is a lot of talent on this team, and I'm going to challenge every one of these players to do everything they can to help this team."
-- Tommy Lasorda, Dodgers GM

DODGER SHAKE-UP, THIS WEEK

"The Dodgers have made so many changes that it's not really the same team it was when I was there."
-- Orel Hershiser, Giants pitcher, on facing his former team

"Each day's a new adventure."
-- Glenn Hoffman, Dodgers manager

"I turned down seven teams asking for Konerko. The one guy I wanted, I had to give up Konerko to get him."
-- Tommy Lasorda, Dodgers GM

"Obviously, we wish the timing was a little better. First we lost our opening-day starter on the eve of opening day, and now we lose our only All-Star representative just prior to the All-Star game, and that's difficult."
-- Jim Bowden, Reds GM

THE ALL-STAR GAME

"I looked at the fan voting three days ago and saw Felix Martinez ahead of me. I'm like, 'What do I have to do, kick somebody in the face?'"
-- Pat Meares, Twins infielder

"It's the fans' game. The fans have the say. They have control. You're trying to market the game to the fans, and this is a way to get feedback on who they want to see and who they want to be there."
-- Cal Ripken Jr., Orioles infielder

"I love Kerry Wood, and I know it's exciting for baseball and all, but he didn't deserve to be on this year, in my opinion."
-- Jim Leyland, Marlins (and NL All-Star) manager

"It's going to be a kick just being in the same locker room as Ken Griffey and Roberto Alomar."
-- Damion Easley, Tigers infielder

"I'm honored every time I'm named, but really, it's for my boys. I just kick back and they get to have all the fun."
-- Roger Clemens, Blue Jays pitcher

"If they ask me, I'll do it. In Colorado everyone has a shot."
-- Omar Vizquel, Indians infielder, on the home run derby

THE REST

"This is a good fit for [Bip Roberts]. He's from Oakland. He could help out at a couple of different positions for them. And obviously we're paying a large portion of his salary. There's little or no downside for Oakland."
-- Randy Smith, Tigers GM

"When you're going as bad as we are, you're got to get your mind occupied by something else. You have to get away from baseball."
-- Roberto Hernandez, Devil Rays pitcher

"The only guy who can break the [home run] mark is Mark McGwire. He's the man. I'm just another kid trying to play good."
-- Sammy Sosa, Cubs infielder

"I drive more people crazy when I don't play. Instead of driving the other team crazy, I drive my own team crazy."
-- Ken Griffey Jr., Mariners outfielder

"If you can't learn from those guys, then you're brain-dead. They're a fountain of information. If you can't pick their brain and learn something, you're just not trying to be a pitcher."
-- Alan Embree, Diamondbacks pitcher, on his days with the Braves staff

"Home runs are emotional. Fans become excited when they see them. My job is to knock in runs. I like to see guys on base, and I enjoy doing my job."
-- Juan Gonzalez, Rangers outfielder

"I feel the same thing every pitcher feels the day after he throws. But nothing out of the ordinary. I feel good when I throw a lot of pitches."
-- Livan Hernandez, Marlins pitcher

"I'm of the opinion that he deserves another chance. If he screws it up, it's adios."
-- Gord Ash, Blue Jays GM, on signing Tony Phillips

"I don't think I was a bad hitter. A lot of people talk about my glove, but I'm a good player. When I go to the plate I'm not afraid to fail."
-- Ozzie Guillen, Braves infielder

"By nature, I count things. Not absolute to the exact. But I keep a rough track. You only have so many throws, so many games. So you don't want to use them up."
-- Trevor Hoffman, Padres pitcher

"There are many rumors out there. People see the last year of my contract, but my intention is to remain in South Florida."
-- Dave Dombrowski, Marlins GM

"I know I need to be more consistent. I'm not frustrated but it bugs me when I don't do better. I want to do better. At least I'm seeing progress now; I'm not going backward."
-- Karim Garcia, Diamondbacks outfielder

"I'm not too optimistic. If we conclude in the days ahead that we're not going to make a run at the playoffs, then we will make the moves necessary to ensure that we are prepared to win in 1999."
-- Peter Angelos, Orioles owner

"I think playing football at Nebraska really helped. Playing in front of all those people and on national television in pressure situations, it was a really good learning experience for me. I think it can only help me with the situations I encounter in the future."
-- Darin Erstad, Angels outfielder