February 10, 1999

The Week in Quotes

January 18-February 7

by Dennis Cleary

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THE DODGERS DID IT

"We're not owned by a Murdoch, Disney or Ted Turner, and baseball can't afford the kind of imbalance where the Dodgers' Kevin Brown alone makes twice the Montreal Expos' entire payroll."

-- Jerry McMorris, Rockies owner

"From our perspective, we're trying to run the business on a stand-alone basis. We felt we needed to make a commitment to winning, and that's what we did."

-- Bob Graziano, Dodgers president

"I think the Dodgers misled everybody in baseball. I feel somewhat stabbed in the back by what they told us and what they've done."

-- Peter Magowan, Giants owner

"A pitcher cannot be worth more than an everyday player, much less one who has won two Most Valuable Player awards in three years."

-- Juan Gonzalez, Rangers outfielder

VAUGHN TRADED

"I consider myself a fine wine; I get better as I get older."

-- Greg Vaughn, Reds outfielder

"It's going to be a psychological boost that the Reds management has made a commitment to winning now. Now with a 20-game winner like Denny Neagle, Vaughn and an improved bench, we're starting to put the pieces together."

-- Jack McKeon, Reds manager

"I don't think this should in any way, shape or form be considered a fire sale. All we've been trying to do, and we've been saying this all along, is trying to get younger. We're trying to add some youth to the ballclub."

-- Kevin Towers, Padres GM

SIGNINGS

"You can't win championships without a reliable closer, and so having someone with a special talent like Billy Wagner and knowing he's part of this franchise for the years to come is certainly comforting."

-- Gerry Hunsicker, Astros GM

"Carlos [Baerga] is an experienced, quality infielder who gives us good offensive potential at second base and versatility from both sides of the plate."

-- Walt Jocketty, Cardinals GM

"I'm really excited about it. I'm looking forward to swinging the bat. I hope I can hold my own."

-- Jim Abbott, Brewers pitcher, on joining the NL

"[Tim] Raines will definitely be a welcome addition in the A's clubhouse this season. He knows what it takes to win and he'll show the youngsters the way to go. It will be nice to have his bat in the lineup or on the bench to use in key situations."

-- Art Howe, A's manager

"Omar [Daal] is one of the players from the expansion draft who really made the most of the opportunity that expansion afforded him."

-- Joe Garagiola Jr., Diamondbacks GM

"We are very pleased to add a player of Wilfredo's caliber at this point in the off-season. He brings more depth to our ballclub and can help us in a variety of ways either as a role or every day player."

-- John Hart, Indians GM, on Wil Cordero

THE REST

"I'm going to have fun this year. I'm going to make sure I have fun. That's what I think I lost last year."

-- Frank Thomas, White Sox infielder

"Everybody is accepting failure, but I'm not. I'm not done. I'm a baseball player."

-- Pete Rose Jr., minor-league player

"In some ways, how far we go depends on how many innings Kerry [Wood] can throw. But we have to be cautious because of all the torque and strain he puts on his arm at so young an age."

-- Ed Lynch, Cubs GM

"If this is the toughest thing we have to deal with, then I'm OK."

-- John Hart, Indians GM, on Omar Vizquel's threatened holdout

"The Mariners shouldn't be concentrating on me right now; they shouldn't be concentrating on Alex [Rodriguez]. They've got to get somebody who can get some damned outs."

-- Ken Griffey Jr., Mariners outfielder

"I deeply appreciate the many fans that have cheered and encouraged me, both on and off the field. Without them, we as players would not have the opportunities that are made available to us as major leaguers."

-- Jimmy Key, on his retirement

"A mid-market team, which we'll still be with our new stadium, really can't realistically hope to win more than two out of every five years. It's an economic fact of life."

-- Kevin Towers, Padres GM

"You hear debates across the country, whether stadiums are economic generators. What we're doing here is seeing if they are economic generators -- and we'll cover the difference if they're not."

-- Kevin McClatchy, Pirates owner, on PNC Field