May 22, 2000

The Week in Quotes

May 15-May 21

by Dennis Cleary

THOSE WACKY CUBS FANS

``A fan came down and hit one of our guys [Chad Kreuter] in the back of the head. Literally punched him in the back of the head when he wasn't looking. And he took his hat. That's how the whole thing started.''

-- Todd Hundley, Dodgers catcher

``I was worried. I'm down there trying to get my guys out of there, and I'm getting beer thrown on me.''

-- Davey Johnson, Dodgers manager

``That was part of the problem. It kept going on and no one showed up. There were no uniformed personnel. It looked like it was out of control and there weren't any control measures in place.''

-- Kevin Malone, Dodgers GM

``I just know that when pitchers go into the stands, you're taking big risks. The next thing you know, you have their general manager standing next to me on the field. He shouldn't have been there, either. You can't go into the stands. No matter what they throw.''

-- Don Baylor, Cubs manager

``Our security staff is still in the process of sorting things out.''

-- Ed Lynch, Cubs GM

``There really is never any excuse for going into the stands. It is not only not acceptable, it exposes players and other uniformed personnel to risks and liabilities. At any level, it is not a tolerable response.''

-- Sandy Alderson, MLB executive VP

``The players need to be isolated from the fans, and you have to have a canopy over them, and you need security. If you don't have that, you'd better cut back on the alcohol.''

-- John Boles, Marlins manager

``To be honest, I could see myself getting into it with someone if they wanted to hit me. If a fan decides to be stupid and is trying to injure or hurt me, I'm going to react.''

-- Brian Jordan, Braves outfielder

``If anybody touches anybody they have the right to defend themselves even if that means going into the stands. He could be superstitious and that's the only hat he wears, so there is grounds for that as well. He had every right to do what he did. He shouldn't be fined or suspended.''

-- David Wells, Blue Jays pitcher

MORE RICKEY

``I'm certainly disappointed that Rickey didn't play like he did last year here, because he was a very important part of the team. I think it left our manager and general manager scratching their heads. But I think our guys handled the situation very well, with a lot of respect and patience.''

-- Fred Wilpon, Mets owner, on releasing Henderson

``We've been looking for an outfielder for a long period of time, and Rickey became available. We just hope he has something left.''

-- Pat Gillick, Mariners GM, on singing Henderson

``He'll probably help them if he has an incentive.''

-- Bobby Valentine, Mets manager

``I feel physically good. It's a fresh start for me. I know I'm going to get the opportunity to play.''

-- Rickey Henderson, Mariners outfielder

PITCHERS

``Our starting pitching has been very encouraging. Now we've had good starts here from everyone except [Jose] Lima. Once he has one, I think we will have gone beyond the psychological barrier we might have had about pitching here.''

-- Larry Dierker, Astros manager, on Enron Field

``The game at this level is mental, and when you make a contribution to your team's winning, you have to feel good. I honestly believe every pitcher should feel like an ace. If not, you shouldn't be a big-league starter.''

-- Al Leiter, Mets pitcher

``I was little bit erratic. I couldn't spot my fastball, and it would take off on me. I would throw a couple of good ones, but then I would struggle with it.''

-- Pedro Martinez, Red Sox pitcher, on shutting out the Blue Jays for 7 innings

``It's weird when you have five strikeouts in the first two innings and then give up five runs in the third.''

-- Kelvin Escobar, Blue Jays pitcher

``It's nice to have five wins already. It took me all year last year.''

-- Jeff Fassero, Red Sox pitcher

``A lot of people said I was a second-half pitcher, so I wanted to come out focused and start off the year good.''

-- James Baldwin, White Sox pitcher, on starting 7-0

``He's a competitor. He's used to going 140, 150 pitches. We don't do that here.''

-- Dusty Baker, Giants manager, on pitcher Livan Hernandez

THE REST

``This has been going on the whole season. I go on a seven-game hitting streak, then I go 0-for-5, and the next day, I'm out of the lineup. I'm not used to that. It's just disappointing. [Jack McKeon] has shown no confidence in me.''

-- Dante Bichette, Reds outfielder

``There's always a reason why the elite become the elite, and just pure talent is not always the answer. There is a driving force within this young man that is very unique and very genuine. He believes in hard work. There's a great deal of humility about him. He'd rather be a server than be served.''

-- Clint Hurdle, Rockies hitting coach, on Todd Helton

``Home runs are baloney. At least one-run homers are. Give me some three-run homers. Just a homer doesn't tickle me to death.''

-- Phil Garner, Tigers manager

``I play aggressive. If I see something I like, I swing. The same way I played the game 10 years ago, is the same way I play now.''

-- Raul Mondesi, Blue Jays outfielder

``That's probably one of the greatest things you could add to any baseball resume, to play in the Olympics and represent your country. I think it would be neat.''

-- Wade Boggs, retired player

``I won't stoop so low as to talk about Chad as a person because it is not my purpose to judge anyone. In fact, I don't give a damn about Chad. What I have a problem with is the lack of respect he brings to the clubhouse.''

-- Royce Clayton, Rangers infielder, on teammate Chad Curtis

``I don't totally want to negate the stolen base, but it is probably the most overrated statistic in my mind. The stolen base will help create something. I like the play, but I just don't see it being that crucial to the game.''

-- Bobby Valentine, Mets manager

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