September 5, 2000

The Week in Quotes

August 27-September 3, 2000

by Derek Zumsteg

PEDRO

"A no-hitter is not what's going to dictate what kind of pitcher I am. I think my career is more interesting than one game."

-- Pedro Martinez, Red Sox pitcher, on having his no-hitter broken in the ninth by John Flaherty

"I want to remain professional. Sometimes, it becomes increasingly difficult when you're given a guy's background. That's all I want to say about it."

-- Gerald Williams, Devil Rays outfielder, on charging Pedro, inciting a brawl, after being hit by a slider on a 1-2 count

"The whole thing was we thought Daubach threw some cheap shots in the pile. You've got to protect your players. You're not going to let that happen."

-- Larry Rostschild, Devil Rays manager, on Red Sox infielder Brian Daubach being drilled twice after the first brawl

"It's why his nickname is `Ice.' He seems to never lose his cool."

-- Carl Everett, Red Sox outfielder, on Gerald Williams

THE NEXT JOE CARTER

"He's an RBI addict. He just has an uncanny ability to put the ball in play in RBI situations."

-- Tony Muser, Royals manager

"Whenever there are runners in scoring position I really bear down. I don't know what it is and I don't think you can teach it. It's just something inside of me."

-- Mike Sweeney, Royals infielder

20 WINS APPROACHES

"Winning 20 is not easy. It takes maturity, it takes skill and it takes luck -- being in the right place at the right time. But for Boomer, the time is right."

-- Dave Stewart, Blue Jays pitching coach

"Personal stats are when your career is over with. If it happens, then I'll treasure it when I'm done. But right now, it's the team that matters. It's not important at all. I've been telling these guys all year I could care less about 20. I just want to win. That's what we're here to do."

-- David Wells, Blue Jays pitcher

GAME TIMES

"Good baseball games can be very boring. It was a very good baseball game. You've got to give credit to both clubs. They played well. No brawls. Country hardball."

-- Muser, on losing to the Devil Rays 2-1 in two hours, thirty minutes

"I don't sit there and watch the clock. If you'll notice, I never wear a watch on the field. That's what's great about baseball, there's no time limit. You can be 25,000 runs behind, but you can keep hitting."

-- Johnny Oates, Rangers manager, on beating the Indians 14-7 in four hours, 21 minutes

FONZIE IN FENWAY

"We've got a very specific need to be addressed if we're going to make the playoffs and that's run production."

-- Dan Duquette, Red Sox general manager

"It's a place I've always wanted to play. I met my wife at the Gold's Gym beyond the Green Monster. I've had a lot of luck there."

-- Dante Bichette, Red Sox outfielder

TROUBLE

"He's had a lot of success against a bunch of guys in the second half, right? It's not just us."

-- Bobby Higginson, Tigers outfielder, on Jose Mercedes' two-hit, one-run win over the Tigers

"I knew we were in trouble after he threw the first fastball tonight."

-- Felipe Alou, Expos manager, on facing Randy Johnson

"It was good for him to pitch like that. I wanted to see him work like he worked."

-- Jerry Manuel, White Sox manager, on leaving pitcher Jim Parque on the mound for a 127-pitch, 7-inning loss

"He owns me. Ahead in the count. Behind in the count. Whatever it is, he seems to hit it. I guess everyone has their guy. I don't know what to throw him."

-- Ryan Rupe, Devil Rays pitcher, on Royals outfielder Jermaine Dye

THE REST

"I don't know, but if Darin can't break that record, then that dude could hit."

-- Adam Kennedy, Angels infielder, on George Sisler's single-season hits record

"I don't know if you get any better than that,"

-- Art Howe, Athletics manager, on Tim Hudson's one-hit, one-wak shutout of the White Sox

"This is fun, being in the pennant race like this. It's very easy to get up every day for these games."

-- Will Clark, Cardinals infielder

"He's energized that team, there's no question about it."

-- John Boles, Marlins manager, on Clark

"I'll just grab another ball. In 20 or 30 years, I won't know the difference."

-- Mike James, Cardinals reliever, on forgetting to snag a game ball from his first win

"Clemens is a future Hall of Famer. He hasn't accomplished the things he's accomplished in baseball because he hasn't been able to do those things."

-- Lou Piniella, Mariners manager, on Roger Clemens

If you would like to submit a quote, please email Derek and be sure to include both the quote itself and a URL pointing to the quote.