July 14, 2003

The Week in Quotes

July 7-13

by Ryan Wilkins

SINS OF ONAN

"That wasn't my intention in my heart for that to happen... I was just trying to get a tap at the costume and for her to finish the race."
--Randall Simon, Pirates infielder, on beating the sausage (AP)

"I thought at the moment they were trying to play with us. They were running right next to the players... I'm a fun player, and I've never hurt anyone in my life."
--Simon

"We figured something was going to happen when Bud Selig talks about it on 'SportsCenter'... Three games is not unreasonable. We just want him to serve it and get back as soon as possible."
--Jack Wilson, Pirates infielder, on Simon's suspension (AP)

"It's not like he meant to assault the mascot. But major league baseball players are role models and major league baseball had to do something about it."
--Wilson

"It's not like it's happened before... There's no bar to measure it by as reasonable or unreasonable."
--Wilson

"I'm certainly not happy with the suspension... We are playing a first-place club. We've gotten ourselves back into the race. I would like to have my first baseman in there against this team."
--Lloyd McClendon, Pirates manager, on Simon's suspension (AP)

"It's very difficult to swallow. I guess baseball thinks they need to make a statement to show they care and this is their way of doing it."
--McClendon

THIS TIME IT COUNTS!

"It's a publicity deal... He's just trying to cover his (rear end) for what happened last year."
--Phil Nevin, Padres outfielder, on Bud Selig's plan to make the All-Star game "count" (San Diego Union Tribune)

"I don't like this so-called solution at all... Home-field advantage in the World Series is too significant to attach to a midseason game played by guys from every team, most of whom won't be playing in October."
--Joe Morgan, ESPN broadcaster and Hall of Fame infielder, on the new All-Star Game format (AP)

"One thing has nothing to do with the other."
--Carlos Delgado, Blue Jays first baseman, on the All-Star Game and the World Series (AP)

"I like the idea of the game having more significance... Home field advantage is a big plus."
--Lou Piniella, Devil Rays manager (AP)

GETTING OLDER

"Because I'm a grown man and I don't have to do it."
--Barry Bonds, Giants outfielder, on why he's not participating in this year's Home Run Derby (ESPN.com)

"Did Michael Jordan play in the slamfest every year? ...Nobody asked him why. I'm 30-something years old. They didn't even ask me. Go ahead and get mad at me. Say what you want, but no."
--Bonds

"It's not about the money. I don't need that... I just need to get a treadmill so I can stay in shape. I'll be one of those fat asses if I don't keep myself running or something. That DH can make you lazy. "
--Bonds, on why he stays in the game

"I can go catch the ball. I can't throw it anymore, but I'll catch the ball..."
--Bonds

A MAN NAMED JAMIE

"The guy is tough... He throws at 80 mph, then a 70-mph changeup. How are you going to stay up with this guy? Every pitch he throws is tough."
--Melvin Mora, Orioles outfielder, on All-Star pitcher Jamie Moyer (AP)

It's not my decision, but there's a strong argument for him to start, numbers-wise... He's kind of a sentimental favorite because he's been around longer than some of the other guys."
--Bob Melvin, Mariners manager, on Moyer (AP)

"He can make hitters as uncomfortable as Randy Johnson or Pedro Martinez."
--Bryan Price, Mariners pitching coach, on Moyer (AP)

"He's an outstanding student of the game, with an incredible understanding of his own abilities. He doesn't try to pitch outside of his strengths... He's willing to throw any of his pitches to either side of the plate in any situation... It takes a lot of guile and confidence to do that because he's facing some very good hitters in the American League."
--Price, on Moyer

THE FIRST TIMERS

"It's like it's taboo or something, that you shouldn't be doing this... I still have the ability and desire, so why not? Just because your birth certificate says you were born in 1962, it doesn't mean you're finished."
--Jamie Moyer, Mariners pitcher, on making the All-Star team (AP)

"It's my first year. It's all happening so fast and I'm just trying to stay as level-headed as I can about it... An All-Star is an All-Star. They're not going to put, 'he was the last man added.' I could care less if it was at the last minute. I thought they were joking and then I almost started just crying because I was so overwhelmed and everyone was so happy for me and that meant a lot."
--Dontrelle Willis, Marlins pitcher, on being selected for his first All-Star game (AP)

"I don't feel like I need to go redeem myself in Chicago...I don't need to go back and show anybody up. Whatever happened, happened. I don't miss Chicago, I don't think about Chicago. I definitely got the better end of the deal."
--Keith Foulke, Athletics reliever, on making the AL All-Star team (SF Chronicle)

THE REST

"We have a number of relievers here getting deep with more appearances... We have to get more careful with them. Jerome has a nice, smooth delivery. I believe on any given day he can throw 120 to 130 pitches, but not every time out like a more mature arm, like Jason Schmidt."
--Felipe Alou, Giants manager, on rookie Jerome Williams, after sending him out for 127 pitches (SF Chronicle)

"I'm getting older. As you get older, you do this (cry) more... winning is very emotional to me. If it isn't, you're losing the meaning of what winning is about. These games were very important to us."
--George Steinbrenner, after being seen weeping in the clubhouse after a win over the Red Sox (AOL Sports News)

"I know he swings at everything moving..."
--Grady Little, Red Sox manager, on Randall Simon (Boston Herald)

"I want my strikeout-to-walk ratio to be 5 or 6 to 1, and I want my ERA in the 1.00s to put on my bubblegum card... I can look at that and be happy."
--Foulke (SF Chronicle)

(Black players') skin color is more conducive to heat than it is for lighter skin people, right? You don't see brothers running around burnt. Yeah, that's fact. I'm not making this stuff up. Right? You don't see some brothers walking around with white stuff [sun block] on their ears and noses.
--Dusty Baker, Cubs manager (Chicago Sun-Times)