OF FEATS AND STREAKS
“I just hope everybody enjoyed it as much as I did.”
—Tony Pena, Royals manager, on the team’s nine-game winning streak coming to an end (Akron-Beacon Journal)
“We’re still 1-9, so we can’t celebrate like we’ve just won the World Series.”
—Shane Halter, Tigers infielder, on the team’s nine-game losing streak coming to an end (South Bend Tribune)
“I know we’ve surprised a lot of people… But we worked so hard this spring. I’m probably the only one not surprised.”
–Pena (Minneapolis Star-Tribune)
WHAT MAKES THE WORLD GO ‘ROUND?
“It’s disappointing when you have an article that is so completely baseless, and yet they just keep putting this stuff out, maybe they think that people are easily fooled.”
—Howard Lincoln, Mariners chairman and CEO, on Forbes recent article claiming that the Mariners had the highest profits in all of baseball last year, at $23.3 million (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
“We have not spoken to Forbes. We have never provided them with any financial information, nor has Major League Baseball provided them with any financial information… Where they came up with $23 million is pulling it right out of the air.”
–Lincoln
“Wouldn’t he have to turn back a whole bunch of money to go get a whole bunch more money? …So who’s going to give back $33 million to go get $35 million? That’s way down the line, but I don’t foresee that happening. One thing about Sammy, he can count real well.”
—Dusty Baker, Cubs manager, on Sammy Sosa’s out clause in his contract (Chicago Tribune)
“That’s what we’re getting paid for… We’re not getting paid to sit on the bench. Tomas, myself, Ricky and Tyler Houston are all guys with experience. Just because we’re bench players doesn’t mean we couldn’t be starters for other teams.”
—Todd Pratt, Phillies infielder (Philadelphia Inquirer)
THE MASTER AND THE DISCIPLE
“My location is terrible… When that happens, it’s tough to pitch. I feel bad for the guys behind me.”
—Greg Maddux, Braves pitcher, on getting hammered by the Phillies on April 10th (AP)
“That was one of the best performances by a young man I’ve ever seen. It’s kind of silly to think a 22-year-old can do what he did today… It’s unheard of. But we’ll definitely take him on our team.”
—Damian Miller, Cubs catcher, on Mark Prior’s studly performance against the Expos (AP)
THE ACCUSED
“Whatever works for him, he throws up there. Cutters, fastballs, changeups, spitters…”
—Mike Cameron, Mariners center fielder, speculating that Angels pitcher Kevin Appier was putting a little something “extra” on the ball (Orange County Register)
“I think that’s weak… I’ve been accused of that before because of the way I rub it up to get a grip on my breaking ball. When you’ve been around as long as I have and come up with a different pitch, it doesn’t surprise me they would say that… It’s not cool. Accusations are bad.”
—Kevin Appier, Angels pitcher, on Cameron’s comments
“But at the same time, it’s flattering.”
–Appier
“If I did say it, I was rambling with my words… He’s tougher in different ways than anyone else because of the different things he does with the baseball. The guy does all kinds of stuff with the ball.”
–Cameron, upon being informed of his comments about Appier
“I know he likes to raise the seams a little bit… Whether he still does, I don’t know. It’s something you can’t help but notice sometimes.”
—Bob Melvin, Mariners manager, on Appier
“I’ve never raised the seams… He’s going senile.”
–Appier, on Melvin
THE REST
“My groin felt great… I didn’t feel it one time.”
—Kevin Millwood, Phillies pitcher (Philadelphia Inquirer)
“We believe your very public criticism of President Bush at this important-and sensitive-time in our nation’s history helps undermine the U.S. position, which ultimately could put our troops in even more danger. As an institution, we stand behind our President and our troops in this conflict.”
—Dale Petroskey, Hall of Fame president, on actors Tim Robbins and Susan Saradon’s opposition to the war in Iraq (AP)
“He seemed like a pleasant young man.”
—Lou Piniella, Devil Rays manager, on the recently acquired John Rocker (AP)
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