THE COLD SHOULDER
“If he didn’t have bad luck, he would have no luck at all.”
—Adam Dunn, Reds outfielder, on teammate Ken Griffey Jr. (AP)
“I’m just angry I’m going to miss a long time. I’m not happy about it… I’ve never done this before. I have no idea how long it will take.”
—Derek Jeter, Yankees shortstop, on dislocating his shoulder on Opening Day
“I don’t think it really makes a difference if we do it now or Thursday… I want to find out. Obviously, something is wrong, because something is out of place. Something probably has to be torn.”
–Jeter
PLAY BALL!
“It certainly wasn’t what I envisioned, what I’d hoped for… But in the grand scheme, it’s one game, one bad day. I have to look at the big picture.”
—Tom Glavine, Mets Opening Day starter (AP)
“Mongo was an animal out there tonight. Let him out of his cage and he goes crazy.”
—Tim Hudson, A’s pitcher, on new teammate Erubiel Durazo’s 5-RBI opener against Seattle (AP)
“When you’re losing and you’re not producing, it stinks… It hurts and it should hurt. … I hope it’s drawing them to a point where they want to get better, not give in and say, ‘It’s the way it’s going to be the rest of the year.'”
—Alan Trammell, Tigers manager, on the team starting 0-5 for the second year in a row (AP)
“Obviously, I can’t throw as hard as I used to… It is more of a thinking man’s style.”
—David Cone, Mets pitcher, on returning to the majors at age 40 (AP)
“It was my first slide in about 12 years… That wasn’t very pretty. It was more of a collapse.”
–Cone, after singling in his first at-bat of the night
FIVE-HUNDRED
“To tell you the truth, I really don’t want to think about it right now… I don’t want to get caught up in 500. It’s not an end in my career. I have to let it go. After the season I’m going to celebrate the way I want, but right now it’s just the fourth game of the season.”
—Sammy Sosa, Cubs outfielder and the newest member of the 500 Home Run Club (AP)
“I’m just happy to get that out of the way… I can come back and play my game relaxed. It was just a matter of time. I’m very happy now that I don’t have to go up there thinking of a home run in every at-bat.
–Sosa
“The whole world wanted me to hit it. ‘Are you going to hit it or not? Is it going to be today or not?’ Thank God it’s over and now I can go out there and just be me.”
–Sosa
“I’ve been working so hard all my life to be what I am… But I’m not going to be the only one. There’s a lot of Latin players coming up.”
–Sosa
“Sammy may have one of those years… Once I hit 500, you know, I boomed. So, this might have relaxed him just enough to where he might hit 80 home runs this year. You don’t know.”
—Barry Bonds, Giants outfielder and fellow-member of the 500 Home Run Club (AP)
“If he had known, he wouldn’t have traded me.”
–Sosa, on former Rangers owner and current President George W. Bush
YOUR WEEKLY DOSE OF PROPAGANDA
“They were the first club that won because of changes in our system. Without revenue sharing, there is no way they would have kept that club together.”
—Bud Selig, MLB commissioner, on the World Champion Anaheim Angels (AP)
“From being around them, watching them play, there were no superstars, and they played the game the way you’re supposed to, went farther than anyone ever expected and stunned some people. They were the first big beneficiaries of revenue sharing.”
–Selig
“We’re in the first year of a new labor agreement, and given that it’s the first year, we’re very satisfied with the early returns… There is no doubt in my mind that a year, two years from now, everyone will realize the importance of it.”
–Selig
“Given the last 35 years, this is our time in history to do something with the game… There will always be thorny issues, but I believe this is our time. We need to take advantage of this time of peace in the game. If not, then shame on us.”
–Selig
THE REST
“That was an aggressive, not-very-smart play… That’s an example of the old expression… what is that expression… Once, shame on me; twice, shame on you? Or once shame on you… Oh, whatever it is. You know the one: Try not to be a dumbbell too often.”
—Mike Hargrove, Orioles manager, on infielder Jerry Hairston Jr. (Washington Post)
“Myself, I don’t even know if I have a tool. But look at Ruben Rivera. He was the best five-tool prospect ever to play the game, and he never did anything in the big leagues.”
—Kevin Youkilis, Red Sox minor-leaguer (Baseball America)
“Sandy Alderson can kiss my [expletive]. What’s he going to do, fire me?”
–Bonds (Contra Costa Times)
“Guys in double-A don’t get around on Bonderman’s fastball. But there are no Jacque Joneses in double-A.”
—Bob Cluck, Tigers pitching coach, on the difference between Double-A and the major leagues (Minneapolis Star-Tribune)
“With their pitching staff, things are in their hands… But I’m still not convinced they’ll win a world championship the way their offense is set up.”
—Joe Morgan, former major-leaguer and ESPN commentator, on the 5-1 Oakland Athletics (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
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