November 15, 2004

The Week in Quotes

November 7-14

by Ryan Wilkins

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"Defense is so important in the National League. To get someone of Omar's caliber certainly is a godsend. Our pitching staff will be much better for it. Right now, we'll see how we can improve the outfield defense."
--Brian Sabean, Giants general manager, on signing 37-year-old Omar Vizquel to a three-year, $12.5 million deal (San Jose Mercury News)

"The only team that called was San Francisco. Length of the contract-they gave me another year-was very important to me. When the Giants came up with the offer, it didn't take long to make up my mind."
--Omar Vizquel, Giants shortstop (San Jose Mercury News)

"I think if you watch him play, it's obvious he's got passion for game.... He's in great shape. To tell you the truth, I'm only worried about next year. The year after that and the year after that will take care of itself."
--Sabean

"A lot of people say I'm young at heart. It's really important to me to stay in shape at my position, do some extra stuff and keep agile. I like to keep myself in shape. I finished really strong this year. I really feel good, health-wise. I had two knee surgeries a couple of years ago. I pushed myself to work extra hard and keep myself at the same level. A lot of people said I would not be the same. I want to show people I am."
--Vizquel

BRING OUT THE GIMP

"What's the right word? Masochist? I didn't want to be a masochist watching those games."
--Alex Rodriguez, Yankees third baseman, on losing to the Red Sox (The New York Times)

"The fact that I got what I got, I deserved every bit of it because I was brought here to help win a championship and we didn't get that done.... Therefore, we failed. I don't think you can point your finger at any one guy because we win and lose as a team. But if you had to point a finger, I think you would point it right at me."
--Rodriguez

"I knew what I was getting into it here...I love that it's all or nothing. When I say point the finger at me, it's the way I feel about my responsibility. It comes with the territory."
--Rodriguez, on playing in New York

"Anytime he says something about me it's a compliment, especially when they're in their championship parade and they're still thinking about us.... The one thing I hope is that he continues to speak poorly about me and the Yankees because that will give us great motivation to beat the Red Sox in the future."
--Rodriguez, on Curt Schilling's remarks that the Yankees have no class

"The fact that I haven't won a championship bothers me.... Until I do, I will not sleep or be comfortable with my career."
--Rodriguez

"Obviously, what will make it better is coming back next year and winning a title.... But I'll never forgive myself or my team. As good as we were, there's no way we should have lost four games in a row to anyone. That disappointed me. That shouldn't have happened."
--Rodriguez

BRASS ON THE TITANIC

"All along, our goal has been to craft a structure that addresses to some degree our concerns that he has put this injury behind him."
--Joe Garagiola Jr., Diamondbacks general manager, on first baseman Richie Sexson (East Valley Tribune)

"I have so much confidence in my shoulder right now, it's hard for me to sign a deal like that.... Say I take a deal of that nature and sprain my ankle..."
--Richie Sexson, Diamondbacks first baseman, on signing a contract with playing-time requirements (East Valley Tribune)

"There's always a way to work around everything...[but] it's tough for me to sign an incentive-laden contract after all the [rehabilitation] time I put in."
--Sexson

"I could go out right now and play, guaranteed."
--Sexson

"I think everybody's 10 percent.... You're 10 percent. You might bump into a door and it might come out. You can't put 100 percent on everybody's shoulder."
--Sexson, on the Diamondbacks' medical staff's claim that his shoulder has a 10 percent chance of re-injury

"Every team is a couple of moves away from winning, and that includes Arizona.... If the deal is right and I feel there's a good chance to win, sure I'd like to come back."
--Sexson

"Winning's pretty important to me at this point. It's been five years, six straight years of losing. I kind of have the option to pick and choose [a team]."
--Sexson

WE'RE NOT TALKING...WE'RE JUST TALKING

"I think they had someone in mind before the lunch...I've noticed in the process most of the people have someone in mind, and unless you have a philosophy that knocks them over, that you pretty much don't have a shot. I haven't seen it as being open."
--Jerry Manuel, former White Sox manager, on being "interviewed" by the Mariners (The New York Times)

"I guess you could call it an interview...I would assume it was more of a personal meeting, I felt, versus an interview."
--Manuel

"I can't recollect the term they used.... They said, 'We're going to ask you questions even though it isn't an interview, but it is an interview.' The way it was expressed to me was: 'We'd like to get to know you. This is a get-to-know-you lunch. We've already done our research.'"
--Manuel

"I'd have to answer no, I don't think I was interviewed for the job."
--Manuel

THE REST

"I'm just always under the impression that the guy with the most wins is the best pitcher.... People at ESPN are into numbers and they say, 'Well, Santana's ERA is better and Schilling had more run support.' But what's the big thing for a pitcher? Win 20 games, right? You never hear, 'I want to win the ERA title.' They want to win."
--John Kruk, ESPN baseball analyst, on Cy Young winner Johan Santana (St. Paul Pioneer Press)

"It's hard for anybody except those of you that are in the clubhouse and involved to really know and understand [Jeff Kent's value to young teammates]."
--Tal Smith, Astros President of Baseball Operations, on Jeff Kent (Houston Chronicle)

"I personally think the depth and quality of the intelligence of the general managers is much improved from what it used to be when I first started in the game.... Especially on the weaker clubs. GMs used to really be strong, but in teams 20 through 30 those are much stronger today."
--Jim Bowden, Unnamed Washington Baseball Franchise general manager (Florida Sun-Sentinel)