November 7, 2005

The Week in Quotes

October 31-November 6

by John Erhardt

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"I had to ask, 'resigned or re-signed?' It came back, 'No, he resigned.' That was a surprising development."
--former Red Sox V.P. For Baseball Operations Mike Port, on former Boston GM Theo Epstein's resignation (New York Times)

"You have to devote yourself to it completely. You have to believe in every aspect of it. And in the end, after a long period of reflection about myself and the organization, I decided I could no longer put my whole heart and soul into it."
--former Red Sox GM Theo Epstein, on why he resigned (MLB.com)

"The way I look at it, you have to be all in. You have to believe in every aspect of the job and the organization and your ability to stay and do the job the right way, with your whole heart and your whole soul. In the end, it wasn't the right fit."
--Epstein (New York Times)

"My relationship with Larry is one that spanned about 14 years; we've had a very successful working relationship. I think Larry and I like each other. As with any long-term relationship, there are complexities, there are ups and down, there are occasionally times where you have philosophical differences. In the end, I want what's best for Larry. I wish him well in the future. And when I look back, he's done a lot for me. I owe him quite a bit. And I take that to the heart. In the end, 30 years from now when I look back on my relationship with Larry Lucchino, I'm going to see it as a positive influence in my life."
--Epstein, addressing the rumor that he conflicted with Larry Lucchino (MLB.com)

"Look, focusing too much on any one person or any one factor is not appropriate here. This decision was not something I took lightly. And it was based on a variety of factors. Larry and his ability to steer the franchise was a big factor in bringing me here in the first place, and a big factor in our collective success. It's inappropriate to focus on any one person."
--Epstein

"This was not Larry Lucchino pushing Theo out."
--principal owner John Henry, responding to a popular reason for why Epstein resigned (New York Times)

"Maybe I'm not fit to be the principal owner of the Boston Red Sox. There's no crying in baseball."
--Henry, as he fought back tears

"Never in my wildest dreams did I think this would ever happen. I had this romantic notion Theo was going to be our G.M. for the rest of my life."
--Henry

"I never really foresaw the day when I'd leave the Red Sox organization. But, sometimes, choices in life aren't easy. Sometimes, you have to take the difficult path because it's the right path. That's what I believe I did."
--Epstein

"WHEN YOU GO IN FOR A JOB INTERVIEW, I THINK A GOOD THING TO ASK IS IF THEY EVER PRESS CHARGES."

"People seemed more interested in their martinis than me."
--new Phillies GM Pat Gillick, on how he anonymously went out to dinner in Philadelphia before being hired (Philadelphia Inquirer)

"My challenge is to try and coax five more wins out of this team and get us into the playoffs. Once you get into the playoffs, anything can happen."
--Gillick (MLB.com)

"We have somebody older than me, and that's good, too. He's going to do a good job for us. I think his experience speaks for itself."
--Phillies manager Charlie Manuel, on Gillick

"I'm lucky. Maybe I was born under the right star on the right day of the year."
--Gillick

"Quite frankly, I'm glad he's out of the league. He's obviously a very bright guy. He's always had a very good idea about how to put a club together and what it takes to win. He's able to communicate well within his organization and with other GMs. He's a very shrewd talent evaluator. I think he'll be a great asset to the Tampa Bay organization."
--Cardinals GM Walt Jocketty, on how Gerry Hunsicker is now the GM of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays (St. Petersburg Times)

"You look at the Houston Astros organization and that's his plan, his success. As much as you hear from others that they had fingerprints on it--everyone had fingerprints on it--but it really was Gerry's overall plan that made the Astros what they are."
-- Baltimore vice president Jim Duquette, on Hunsicker

"EVERYONE LIKES A HARD WORKER." "OF COURSE THEY DO! THEY DO ALL THE WORK FOR THEM!"

"This shows you the reputation and the respect [Hunter] has defensively. When it comes to outfield defense, you talk about Torii Hunter, and you talk about the rest of the American League."
--Twins GM Terry Ryan, on outfielder Torii Hunter winning his fifth Gold Glove, despite missing two months of the season (Minneapolis Star-Tribune)

"I know I'll be ready for spring training. Next year, I'll win [the Gold Glove] legitimately."
--outfielder Torii Hunter

"I want to keep the roll going as long as I can. It's not any one Gold Glove I'm most proud of, but the streak itself. If I didn't get it, I wouldn't have been shocked. I think some people look only at errors. Thank God that's not all that goes into the voting."
--A's third baseman and five-time Gold Glove winner Eric Chavez (San Francisco Chronicle)

"His play is so unique to the position, and he does things that nobody does at that spot. He never ceases to amaze me. Oh, by the way, he's only 27 years old."
--A's GM Billy Beane, on Chavez

"There were a couple of days I saw him limp out to second base and make plays I thought he had no chance of making. There's Luis Castillo and there's the rest of the second basemen in the league. He's separated himself."
--Marlins infield coach Perry Hill, on Luis Castillo (South Florida Sun-Sentinel)

KEEPIN' IT REAL

"If somebody goes out there and they try to emulate my manager, they're going to drive themselves nuts. They're going to have to be committed. You can't emulate that guy. That guy, he's one of a kind. You can't recreate that. It's not a cookie-cutter thing."
--White Sox general manager Ken Williams, on Ozzie Guillen's originality (Miami Herald)

"It's not an act. That guy has been the same way since I met him 20 years ago."
--Williams

"The tough thing about managing is not the game. Now, players make so much money they think they can do whatever they can do. Well, with the White Sox it's a little bit different because I don't care how much money you make. If you don't go by my book, you're not going to play for the White Sox."
--White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen

"I worry about 25 guys, not one. I will treat Paul Konerko the same way I treat Pablo Ozuna--with respect, loyalty and trust. The only thing that's different is every 15 days they've got a different paycheck."
--Guillen

'TIS MY OPINION EVERY MAN CHEATS IN HIS OWN WAY, AND HE IS ONLY HONEST WHO IS NOT DISCOVERED

"There's an old saying, `If you're not cheating, you're not trying,' so you're always looking for an edge. It's not like it's the end of the game."
--retired knuckleballer Charlie Hough, on cheating in baseball (South Florida Sun-Sentinel)

"I knew it was wrong. I was kind of persuaded into it, and obviously, I'd never do it again. It's amazing that after it happened how many guys come up to you and say you should try it this way or that way."
--Marlins pitcher Brian Moehler, on how he was caught with sandpaper on his thumb, earning the nickname "Scuffy"

"Everyone who says they haven't cheated is crazy. You cheat in school or driving down the highway exceeding the speed limit or not wearing your seat belt."
--former Marlins manager Jack McKeon

"When the pitching rubber got muddy, pitchers used to stand three inches in front it. Everyone knew [Gaylord Perry] threw a spitter and that [Don] Sutton and Rick Rhoden scuffed the ball. Nothing was ever done about it."
--Marlins broadcaster Tommy Hutton

"[Cheating] is done in every sport. In basketball you get an offensive foul by bringing the guy into you. All of a sudden we're a society that's all concerned about that stuff."
--Hutton

THE REST

"I understand there's been some interest in talking to me over the last couple of days, as evidenced by the cameras outside my house and the fact that I left in a gorilla suit the other day. That thing's getting itchy, so I thought I would just come here and try to answer your questions today."
--former Red Sox GM Theo Epstein, on evading the media (MLB.com)

"I just want to thank these guys for pulling my big butt across the finish line."
--White Sox DH Frank Thomas, who missed much of the season to injury, during the rally in Chicago (Chicago Tribune)

"Um."
--Philles GM Pat Gillick, when asked if Seattle ownership didn't approve extra spending to help the Mariners compete (Philadelphia Inquirer)

"We really have to go through it game-by-game. The biggest difference may be luck, but I'm not prepared to accept that."
--Indians Assistant General Manager Chris Antonetti, on his team's bad record in one-run games in 2005 (Cleveland Plain Dealer)

"We're looking for somebody we think can help us win some games. That's really what our biggest goal is."
--Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski, on his offseason goal (MLB.com)

John Erhardt is an editor of Baseball Prospectus. You can contact John by clicking here or click here to see John's other articles.

John Erhardt is an author of Baseball Prospectus. 
Click here to see John's other articles. You can contact John by clicking here