November 19, 2012

The Week in Quotes

November 12-18

by Hudson Belinsky, Jonah Birenbaum, Andrew Koo and Matthew Rocco

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DEAL LEAVES MARLINS GUTTED
“I do not like this at all. This is the 'winning philosophy?' Then to say it's not about money? What is the motivation? There comes a breaking point. I know how I feel. I can't imagine how the city and the fans feel.”
—Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton on the trade that sent Josh Johnson, Jose Reyes, Mark Buehrle, Emilio Bonifacio and John Buck to Toronto in exchange for Yunel Escobar, Jeff Mathis, Adeiny Hechavarria, Henderson Alvarez, Justin Nicolino and Jake Marisnick. (Peter Gammons, MLB.com)

“They talked about that, a winning philosophy, and how they were building a winner to play in the new ballpark. They talked about me and Jose. They talked about how they'd have Jose and [Emilio Bonifacio] and Hanley [Ramirez] in front of me and how they would go get a bat to protect me. Jose, Bonifacio, Hanley… all three are gone now. I had people warn me that something like this could happen, but it runs against the competitive nature every athlete has, that nature that everything is about winning. This kind of thing is what gets talked about all the time around this team. Former Marlins come back and they warn us. It gets talked about during the stretch, in the clubhouse, after games, on the road. Again, I do not like this at all.”
—Stanton

“I can deal with losing as long as one is trying to win. If you're losing and you're not trying to win, that is not fair. I play to have fun, I play to win, I play for my teammates. Then to say it's not about money, what is the motivation? Where is that winning philosophy? How many times do you have to be told something and have it change before you realize what's going on? It's like the boy who cried wolf. There's nothing I can do. I'm not going to change the way I work out in the offseason and prepare. I'm not going to change the way I approach the game. I'm not going to change the way I play every day.”
—Stanton

“We finished in last place. Figure it out.”
—Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria when asked about the blockbuster trade. (Jon Heyman, CBSSports.com)

“Absolutely not. That's more stupidity.”
—Loria on whether he is selling the team.

“We have to get better. We can't finish in last place. We finished in last place. That's unacceptable. We have to take a new course.”
—Loria

BASEBALL WORLD WEIGHS IN ON JAYS’ BIG WEEK
“I'm not worried about it.  We've talked about this before. We've gone through this with other teams, whether it's Boston or New York or whomever with all the different things they do in the offseason.”
—Rays manager Joe Maddon, who is not in the least bit concerned about Toronto’s franchise-changing week. On Tuesday night, Toronto agreed to a deal with Miami that will put Josh Johnson, Jose Reyes, Mark Buehrle, Emilio Bonifacio, and John Buck in Blue Jays uniforms next season. Toronto also reportedly agreed to a two-year, $16-million contract with outfielder Melky Cabrera on Friday. (Marc Topkin, Tampa Bay Times)

"Now Toronto's doing it. But it's about what we do and how we cohabitate and how we make ourselves better. Coming off 90 wins with all the issues that we had last year, that's still pretty impressive."
—Maddon

“This changes everything.  If you’re a manager and you want to win, there’s no better situation right now than the Blue Jays job.”
—Former Blue Jays outfielder Jose Cruz Jr., on how enticing the Jays managerial job became this week. (Brendan Kennedy, Toronto Star)

“Jose Reyes needs to leave me alone, I'm tired of seeing that guy when I'm catching on the basepaths. That guy's a nuisance.”
—Newly signed Red Sox catcher David Ross, who’s not looking forward to playing in the same division as Jose Reyes again. (Evan Drellich, MLB.com)

CABRERA TAKES HOME MVP HONORS
“That means a lot. I thought it was going to be very close, because Trout did a very good job this season.”
—Tigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera, commending MVP runner-up Mike Trout on a sensational rookie season. Cabrera edged Trout in MVP voting, taking 22 of the 28 first-place votes. (Jason Beck, MLB.com)

"You had two unbelievable seasons. I was not expecting to win, but I was like, ‘Thank God they voted for me to get this award.’ ”
—Cabrera, who took home the first Triple Crown award since 1967 after hitting .330 with 44 homeruns and 139 RBI.

“It's exciting to see a player like Trout do that kind of stuff, what he did in the field. That's very exciting. People talk about that. People get excited about that. That's very good stuff, because people can understand how good baseball is. Hopefully every year is a battle like that.”
—Cabrera

“I think if I don't win the Triple Crown, if I don't get into the playoffs, I think there's no question Trout would be the MVP.  I think winning the Triple Crown helped me a lot to win this. I think [getting to the playoffs] helped me a lot.”
—Cabrera

R.A. DICKEY WINS NL CY YOUNG AWARD
“It just shows you that there’s not just one way to do it. And it gives hope to a lot of people, because they see—you know what?—you don’t have to take the conventional way to get to a certain place or a certain height or to reach a certain goal. With imagination, hard work, people who love you… you can do it.”
—Mets starting pitcher R.A. Dickey, during a conference call with reporters, on winning the National League Cy Young Award. (Mike Kerwick, The Record)

“[The voters] didn’t see the knuckleball as a trick pitch. They saw it as a legitimate weapon that has one purpose, and that’s to get big-league hitters out consistently.”
—Dickey, who became the first knuckleball pitcher to win the award.

“To win the Cy Young Award at his age is more incredible than when I won at age 20.”
—Former pitcher Dwight Gooden, who won the NL Cy Young Award in 1985.

“I feel good about being a Met. … I can certainly say that I believe the Mets are going to be a lot better, and I want to be a part of the solution. And hopefully we’ll be able to work something out where I can stay here. I’ve loved nothing more in my baseball career than being a New York Met.”
—Dickey is under contract for 2013 but is talking with the Mets about an extension.

“I’m very happy for Dickey, I really am. But did I think he would get it? I really didn’t, if you want to know the truth, because no one else has done it. I mean, he had all the numbers, don’t get me wrong, and he deserved every bit of it. … But, you know, there’s been a way of people saying, ‘Ah, he throws a freak pitch.’ So they figure, ‘Ah, we’ll go with a fastball, curveball, slider, so forth and so on.’ ”
—Former knuckleballer Wilbur Wood (Kevin Paul Dupont, The Boston Globe)

“Ah, I would doubt it very much. There are just too few who throw it. I mean, you know, there are many who can throw it, be it infielders or outfielders, but they’ve only got one problem: They can’t throw it over the plate.”
—Wood on whether Dickey’s success will make young pitchers interested in trying the knuckleball.

POSEY, YOU’RE GONNA NEED A BIGGER TROPHY CASE
“It's tough to put into words. I think it's an accomplishment that is shared with the whole Giants organization. It's a great place to come and play ball every day. I couldn't be more honored to have my name alongside the previous winners.”
—Giants catcher Buster Posey, after receiving the NL MVP award for 2012. He received 27 of 32 first-place votes, ahead of Ryan Braun. (Mark Purdy, MercuryNews.com)

“It’s a position that, to start playing in the first place, you have to love it. There’s something about being back there behind the plate and working with the pitchers. For me, having such a great staff and great bullpen, I wanted another opportunity to work with those guys. I’m glad I did it. [...] Anyone who has caught before understands the grind — the wear and tear and just the mental grind. It’s demanding. I think that there have definitely been some really good ones that have played before me and some good ones that have been deserving, as well (of winning).”
—Posey, on the catcher position. He’s the first catcher to win the award since Johnny Bench in 1972. (Alex Pavlovic, MercuryNews.com)

“When we drafted him we knew we were getting a talented player, we knew what a good hitter he was, and we knew he was converting to catcher. I didn’t know he would become the caliber of catcher that he is today quite so fast. We knew he was a good makeup guy, but his professionalism, his handling of the staff, it’s amazing how good he is.”
—Giants manager Bruce Bochy. Posey also won a Silver Slugger award, the NL Hank Aaron Award, and NL Comeback Player of the Year. They’ll reside among his Rookie of the Year and two championship rings. (Andrew Baggerly, CSNBayArea.com)

“I do know I definitely have a deeper appreciation for being able to play baseball. I’ve seen it can be taken away quick. I hope I can continue to embrace the game and enjoy it because that was my mindset coming into the year: just enjoy each minute that you’re out there.”
—Posey. He was also tops in BP’s Internet Baseball Awards, and BP staff voting.

TWITTER

Jerry Dipoto on Torii Hunter departing: "It's something we've certainly been prepared for, so it didn't take us by surprise." #Angels

— Alden Gonzalez (@Alden_Gonzalez) November 14, 2012

—After five seasons with the Angels, Torii Hunter will take his talents to Motown, where the Tigers will give him $26 million over the next two seasons. (Alden Gonzalez, @Alden_Gonzalez, MLB.com)

Matt Sosnick, JJ's agent: “He’s thrilled, he’s really excited. He told me, ‘I really feel like we have a good chance of winning the AL.’”

— Shi Davidi (@ShiDavidi) November 14, 2012

—Josh Johnson and the Jays (and a few gazilillion fans) are excited at the Canadian club’s chances of capturing an AL championship for the first time since 1993. (Shi Davidi, @ShiDavidi, Sportsnet)

THE REST
“This award that I got tonight to me is more a reflection of the organization than on me. I’m just kind of the guy who tries to keep them on track. As a manager, if you do that, you can be proud of yourself. I don’t think we lost anybody. I think everybody came closer to what they’re capable of doing, but there’s still a higher ceiling, and that’s the challenge I’m looking forward to. This was a step along the way as far as I’m concerned.”
—Nationals manager Davey Johnson on being named the National League Manager of the Year. (Amanda Comak, The Washington Times)

“[Playing in the major leagues] was my dream. I wanted to make that dream come true as quickly as possible. I wanted to be ready for that next step the day that they called me. All I wanted to do was try to be the guy that I was throughout my whole life and really try to enjoy myself playing baseball. … From my heart, I think this game is unbelievable. I love it with everything I’ve got, and I’m going to play every single day like it’s my last.”
—Nationals center fielder Bryce Harper on winning the National League Rookie of the Year Award. (Amanda Comak, The Washington Times)

“Torii was a very unique scenario. I talked to [Tigers GM] Dave Dombrowski today. Torii had targeted them as his destination. My understanding is everybody else was going to fall behind his first choice. The fact his first choice said yes made it easy for Detroit and Torii. With Melky, they were very aggressive and that one moved quickly.”
—Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik’s comments on two recent outfielder signings. (Greg Johns, MLB.com)

Jonah Birenbaum is an author of Baseball Prospectus. 
Click here to see Jonah's other articles. You can contact Jonah by clicking here
Andrew Koo is an author of Baseball Prospectus. Follow @akoo
Click here to see Andrew's other articles. You can contact Andrew by clicking here