April 28, 2003

The Week in Quotes

April 21-27, 2003

by Ryan Wilkins

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"It was probably about as nervous as I've ever been... The fans were great. They were loud. They were standing on their feet. Today was my day and I got lucky."
--Kevin Millwood, Phillies pitcher, after pitching his first career no-hitter against the Giants (AP)

"He had more movement on his (fastball) than usual... Usually, it's maybe a two-inch kind of comeback. Today, it was more five to six inches it was coming back. So I was setting up pretty far in on the left-handed hitters."
--Mike Lieberthal, Phillies catcher, on Millwood

"When I threw the ball, I never saw (Grissom) hit it... The ball went up and I just turned around to look. Ricky was camped under it and then I saw Thome running towards me. That made me a little nervous."
--Millwood

"I couldn't be happier for him. I'd be a lot happier for him if he did it for us. Obviously, we know every time he goes out there he has no-hit stuff. He finally put it all together."
--Chipper Jones, Braves outfielder, on Millwood

WE'LL SEE

"Hopefully it's nothing too bad... I feel there's something in there. If (surgery) is needed, why not? I'll get over the injury and come back stronger. The sooner I get back the better."
--A.J. Burnett, Marlins pitcher (AP)

"You can't throw the ball 95 or 96 mph with a damaged ligament."
--Burnett, on whether or not he thinks he elbow is injured

RANTS & RAVES

"I'd like to give you my glove and you go out there and try to pitch to that lineup. I'm thanking God we're in the Central and not the East"
--Rick Reed, Twins pitcher, on facing the Yankees (Pioneer Press)

"He was just filthy... I've never seen him have a bad start. They should name a bridge or a street or something after him."
--Todd Helton, Rockies first baseman, on Cubs pitcher Mark Prior (AP)

CONTENDER OR PRETENDER?

"People ask me are we really this good... I say yes, we are this good."
--Tony Pena, Royals manager, on his team's improbable hot start (AP)

"Well, we did lose 100 games last year with essentially the same team."
--Joe Randa, Royals infielder (AP)

GOING THE DISTANCE

"We were so excited in the ninth... I would never have thought then that we'd be playing for as long as we did. Right now, I'm tired. I feel dead."
--Mike Lowell, Marlins third baseman, on his team's 20-inning loss to the Cardinals on Sunday

"We didn't want to see him then... This is a game of percentages. Sooner or later, a guy like that is going to get a hit."
--Juan Pierre, Marlins outfielder, on Fernando Vina, who notched the game-winning hit in his 10th at-bat of the afternoon

THE REST

"I'm tired of being on the DL. I was sick of it last year. I'm beyond sick of it now. I'm sick of staying in shape. I'm sick of working out four or five hours a day only to come in and get hurt. All these fat guys in the league. How come they never get hurt?"
--David Segui, Orioles infielder (Baltimore Sun)

"I don't remember that game. I couldn't tell you what the score was. I'm too old for that nickel-and-dime stuff. Is there an emptiness because you didn't win a championship? I'm too old for that. I still got a championship ring--a National League championship ring."
--Barry Bonds, Giants outfielder, on Game Six of the 2002 World Series (Philadelphia Inquirer)

"Hits seem to come in bunches. They're like bananas. Did you ever see a skinny gorilla?"
--Craig Wilson, Pirates outfielder (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

"There are the girls you know here and there who you don't have relationships with, but they're not just friends, either... [They're] friends with benefits."
--Mike Piazza, Mets catcher and man-about-town (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)