May 24, 2004

The Week in Quotes

May 17-23

by Ryan Wilkins

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"Anybody is capable of doing anything on any given day... Not bad for being 40 years old."
--Randy Johnson, Diamondbacks pitcher, on throwing a perfect game against the Braves (Arizona Republic)

"It ranks up there with a lot of great accomplishments... The most important thing was winning the game. Looking at it now, I would have been a little upset if I lost it in the ninth. But everybody played well and we got the win, so that is the most important thing."
--Johnson

"We scored a couple of runs and didn't need many the way Randy was pitching. We're so excited for him and for us to be on the field for that."
--Luis Gonzalez, Diamondbacks outfielder, on Johnson's performance (Arizona Republic)

CLOSE TO PERFECT

"It was a close one, one you'll think about the rest of your life... Obviously, a no-hitter would have been outstanding, but I'll take a shutout and a win every day. No-hitters, there's a lot of luck involved. If I never get one, I'm not going to lose sleep over that."
--Jason Schmidt, Giants pitcher, who allowed just one hit by the Cubs last Tuesday (San Francisco Chronicle)

"He was throwing 95 mph in the ninth inning. He didn't seem too fatigued to me... He threw the crap out of the ball in the beginning and at the end."
--A.J. Pierzynski, Giants catcher (San Francisco Chronicle)

"That blows me away... I might have to miss a couple of starts if I did that. He's unbelievable."
--Matt Clement, Cubs pitcher, on Schmidt's 144-pitch outing (San Francisco Chronicle)

"It was a concern, of course. But he kept saying he felt good. He kept getting people out."
--Felipe Alou, Giants manager, on Schmidt's high pitch count (San Francisco Chronicle)

"As soon as he hit it, I knew it was over."
--Tom Glavine, Mets pitcher, after coming four outs within a perfect game on Sunday (N.Y. Daily News)

"Believe me, a no-hitter or a perfect game, that's the last thing I expect to do... I've got a better chance of going 4-for-4."
--Glavine

THERE'S NO HOME FOR YOU HERE

"While this has been a painful process, the time I think has probably helped us because it's given the cities and given everybody a chance to respond and do the things they have to do... Sure, in a perfect world, you'd like things to happen quicker. It's time to get this done."
--Bud Selig, MLB commissioner, on the fate of the Expos (ESPN.com)

"In terms of the whole Expos situation, I think it's a joke. It bothers me... In my opinion, it should have been taken care of a long time ago. I feel sorry for those guys, and I hope it gets resolved."
--Matt Herges, Giants reliever and former Expo (ESPN.com)

I do feel comfortable. ...absolutely."
--Selig, on whether he thinks the Expos will have a new home by 2005 (ESPN.com)

"It isn't only the Orioles, it's all teams. I think it's the commissioner's responsibility to protect the 30 franchises."
--Selig, on whether or not a northern Virginia stadium would cannibalize the Baltimore Orioles

"I was raised in a generation, an era, where I understand the concerns about gambling very well... Life has changed. We have stadiums where there are casinos very close by now. All over. Are there conditions to Las Vegas if we-once we get into the final phases that we would seriously look at?-Yes, of course there are. But it's premature. ...That's for another day."
--Selig, on the potential problems surrounding moving the Expos to Las Vegas

BLEEDING GREEN AND GOLD

"Whenever everybody was looking, when all the cameras and all the people were looking, he was the best player I ever saw."
--Billy North, former A's outfielder, on Reggie Jackson (MLB.com)

"No matter what went on in the clubhouse, once they went out and crossed that line, it was all for one and one for all... I've never seen camaraderie like that."
--Claudell Washington, former A's outfielder, on the famously volatile Oakland clubhouse (MLB.com)

"If we had stayed together, and didn't have free agency, we'd have won eight or nine world championships. That's not a boastful statement, that's reality."
--Reggie Jackson, former A's outfielder (MLB.com)

THE REST

"Vegas is great. But it's tough to push yourself away from the craps table and the blackjack table to go to the ballpark."
--Tanyon Sturtze, Yankees pitcher, on his time pitching for the Las Vegas 51s (Yankees.com)

"We're not going to spend $10 million on one player... It's not going to get us to the World Series, although it might make some people feel better. We had the largest winning percentage in the minor leagues last year. For us, that's the only way we're going to compete, with our minor league system."
--Kevin McClatchy, Pirates owner (CBS Sportsline)

"I don't like to knock guys, but it was tough to get a streak going with Jimmy (Haynes) in the rotation."
--Dave Miley, Reds manager, after the releasing former Reds pitcher Jimmy Haynes (Cincinnati Inquirer)