February 8, 2000

The Week in Quotes

January 24-February 6

by Dennis Cleary

YET MORE ROCKER

``I wouldn't sit in the same room with him. I wouldn't sit with someone who's a racist. He says he's not a racist, but he makes racist comments.''

-- Derek Jeter, Yankees infielder

``Obviously, this is a big problem for our team. He's put the whole team in a situation where not only John but the whole team has to answer questions about it.''

-- Kevin Millwood, Braves pitcher

``I'm glad there's finally a decision. Maybe we can get this behind us one of these days.''

-- Bobby Cox, Braves manager

``There's part of me that thinks it would have gone a long way toward showing remorse if John would have just said, `OK, forget it. That's the price I'm going to pay, and I'll pay it.' But at the same time, I understand. Nobody's ever been suspended this long for saying something stupid.''

-- Tom Glavine, Braves pitcher

``That's our house in the clubhouse. I've never been in a clubhouse where all 25 guys liked each other. I've never been in a clubhouse where there were not certain problems. The ones that are successful, much like ours, are the ones to address these situations.''

-- John Smoltz, Braves pitcher

YET MORE GRIFFEY JR.

``The situation hasn't changed. There's not a player I'd rather trade for in baseball, but I don't want to give up our whole young nucleus for one player who may leave after one year. It just does not make sense.''

-- Jim Bowden, Reds GM

``Everybody's mad at me because I want to be near my family. I want to give my son something my father never gave me.''

-- Ken Griffey Jr., Mariners outfielder

``I turned down $140 million from the Mariners. Does that sound like a guy who cares about the money?''

-- Ken Griffey Jr.

``I gave the Mariners an option that if they wanted to trade me, they could trade me. But it's got to be where I want to go. And I'm the bad guy in this? I don't get it.''

-- Ken Griffey Jr.

``When you get death threats from Seattle fans, then that's bad. Something like that is pretty much the last straw as far as me staying in Seattle.''

-- Ken Griffey Jr.

SIGNINGS

``I thought there was a 70-80 percent chance I was gone. That was pretty devastating to me. Now they want me to stick around for three more years. It shows how quickly things can change.''

-- Andy Pettitte, Yankees pitcher

``You build teams up the middle and certainly with Rey [Ordonez] and Edgardo [Alfonzo], we have as strong a combination as arguably any in the game. They have been an important part of our success and one we feel is part of the formula for success. Therefore we wanted to secure that for as long as we could.''

-- Steve Phillips, Mets GM, on signing Ordonez to a 4-year contract

``We are part of the entertainment industry, and I think this will add some excitement to our spring. I don't know what sort of impact it will have on crowds, but it will add excitement.''

-- Steve Phillips, on inviting Garth Brooks to spring training

``Bobby [Cox] and I feel that [Bobby] Bonilla adds great depth and strength to our bench and provides us with another very productive offensive player.''

-- John Schuerholz, Braves GM, on signing Bonilla to a minor league contract

``I said it before: I'd like to sign a long-term deal, but it's not up to me, it's up the team to make that decision. I don't think the team owes me a long-term deal. That's not how it works. I have two more years. Then you can start negotiating. Then you can make decisions on your own.''

-- Derek Jeter, infielder, on signing a one-year contract with the Yankees

THE REST

``Fans will look at batting average, but on-base percentage is the most important thing. That's what I gauge myself on. I always try to stay around that .400 level.''

-- Jeff Cirillo, Rockies infielder

``I'd love to finish my career here with the Yankees. It would be nice. I'm sure the Yankees have some things in mind. We'll have to see what happens. Whatever happens, I've had a great time.''

-- Tino Martinez, Yankees infielder

``With the pitching we have, we have to be able to catch the ball.''

-- Jerry Manuel, White Sox manager

``Everyone knows the price I have on the market. I've heard that they're paying $140 million to my friend Juan Gonzalez and that Alex Rodriguez and Ken Griffey could surpass that amount.''

-- Sammy Sosa, Cubs outfielder, on wanting an 8-year $160 million contract

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