The Week in Quotes: October 29-November 4

MARLINS HIRE MIKE REDMOND
“I've been preparing for this day since 1993. Kane County Cougars. Charles Johnson starting catcher, Mike Redmond backup catcher.”
—New Marlins manager Mike Redmond, referring to his first day in the minor leagues, on being the new skipper in Miami. (Joe Frisaro, MLB.com)

“Starting in 1993, coming up as a young kid out of Gonzaga University, cutting my teeth in the minor leagues. Not a lot of guys get the opportunity. No. 1, to get into an organization and then make your major-league debut with that organization, let alone to play seven years, win a World Series, and then come back as the manager. … It's pretty amazing. Believe me, I've had to pinch myself the last couple of days. It's reality. I'm super excited. I'm grateful to the Marlins for giving me the opportunity to go out there and manage this team. I accept that challenge, and I can't wait.”
—Redmond

“First of all, I want you guys to know that I had a little media training this morning. They advised me that I should keep my clothes on for this press conference. I want you guys to know that going in.”
—Redmond provided a lighthearted moment during his press conference with reporters, recalling the time he took batting practice wearing nothing but shoes and socks.

“I think this is a major win for us in a lot of ways. Mike is going to have so much support from a variety of people that he's touched in the game, including this front office. It's going to be tough for him not to succeed.”
—Marlins president of baseball operations Larry Beinfest

“I'll never forget having a meeting one time, apologizing to some of the guys for not being able to play them enough. A guy like Red, he'd come up to you, pat you on the back and say, ‘Don't worry about it, keep doing what you're doing. We're fine.’ … He was very observing of different situations. He was always alert, unselfish, willing. He was always in the dugout, keeping guys loose, picking up pointers and helping guys.”
—Former Marlins manager Jack McKeon

“I like this team. I like the makeup of this team. We have some nice young players. We have some older, veteran players. It really is an exciting, young team with a lot of talent. I can't wait to get the opportunity to go out there and watch these guys play.”
—Redmond, on the 2013 Marlins

“I wear it on special occasions, and this is absolutely a special occasion. When I lift this thing up and I think about this, I smile. There are so many guys that were part of this team that care so much about this organization like myself, that want to see this organization get back in the right direction, a championship direction.”
—Redmond, on wearing his 2003 World Series championship ring, which he also broke out for his interview with owner Jeffrey Loria and members of the front office last month. (Juan C. Rodriguez, South Florida Sun-Sentinel)

“To the fans, things are going to get better. I can't wait to get started. Anyone that knows me, you understand my passion, you understand my loyalty. I will give every ounce of effort out on that field. I'm going to get it done. We need to put the focus on the players playing baseball, coming to the park every day, ready to compete, ready to win. I'm going to create a great environment for these guys so that when they show up to the park they can't wait to get there. They can't wait to go out there and compete, and I feel the fans are going to feel every bit of that.”
—Redmond

PEAVY INKS EXTENSION
“I’m really excited to come back to Chicago and build on what we did last year. I made no secret of the fact that this is where I want to play. Chicago is a great city with great fans, and I can’t think of a better place to try and win a championship. With the guys we have coming back, I think we have a great opportunity to accomplish some special things.”
—White Sox starter Jake Peavy, who signed a two-year, $29 million extension with Chicago on Tuesday. The 31-year-old right-hander went 11-12 with a 3.37 ERA and 194 Ks in 219 innings in 2012. (Daryl Van Schouwen, Chicago Sun-Times)

“I love what we’re building in Chicago.”
—Peavy

“Jake Peavy showed again last season why he is capable of being one of the top pitchers in the American League. We’re happy to reach a deal that keeps him at the top end of our rotation and his influence in our clubhouse for at least the next two years.”
—Newly-appointed White Sox general manager Rick Hahn, on Peavy, whose 32 starts in 2012 represent his highest total since 2007.

DODGERS SIGN LEAGUE, SET CLOSER MARKET
“We think, after what he did, closer is the role. That's what he was in Seattle in 2011 and part of 2012. We acquired him and the last few weeks, obviously he was very, very solid. So that's where we start.”
—Dodgers GM Ned Colletti, after signing reliever Brandon League to a three year, $22.5 million deal. League will (presumably) close for the team through 2016. (Ken Gurnick, MLB.com)

“Everybody goes through ups and downs, struggles, but it's not the end of the world. We saw him up in Seattle while he was going through it. He has a lot of ability. He got here; it took a little while to get acclimated. But Kenny Howell and Rick Honeycutt did a great job changing his delivery a little bit, and at the end of the season he was as good as anybody in baseball.”
—Colletti

“Now we know what to look for, whereas when I was with Seattle, I had no idea what I was looking for," he said. "I was trying to correct problems that weren't even problems.”
—League, on his mechanical changes. (Dylan Hernandez, Los Angeles Times)

“It's just my opinion, but it's not a robust market. It's not like you have eight, 10 choices.”
—Colletti, on the lack of closers in the free-agent market. Maybe he should have looked in his own bullpen. (Dylan Hernandez, Los Angeles Times)

“The Giants had a great year. They won the games they needed to win. But I think in 2013, the Los Angeles Dodgers are going to be the team everyone wants to beat or tries to beat.”
—League

TWITTER

Congrats to the Giants, and all my former teammates on winning the #WorldSeries Trading me was the key, Jk

— David Aardsma (@TheDA53) October 29, 2012

—Trading David Aardsma is the newest market inefficiency. (David Aardsma, @TheDA53, New York Yankees)

Jones said the Gold Gloves are a team award: "We all made each other better.And it’s appreciated." #orioles

— Brittany Ghiroli (@Britt_Ghiroli) October 31, 2012

—Adam Jones will get a few brownie points for thanking his teammates for the award, but he raises an interesting question: Do teammates make each other better defenders? (Brittany Ghiroli, @Britt_Ghiroli, MLB.com)

THE REST
“Just having the new uniforms and going over to the American League is one of the things where it's a fresh start and a clean slate for everybody.”
—Astros pitcher Lucas Harrell on Houston’s new uniforms and logo. (Brian McTaggart, MLB.com)

“Some guys, they're just excited to come to the ballpark. He has a lot of fun doing that. He's a great baseball player. His mind is always in the game; it's always attuned to what's going on. He prides himself on being extremely prepared and a step ahead of what's going to happen in the game. It shines through in his play. There's no luck to that, it's all his habit and his work ethic and his drive to be the best second baseman in the game.”
—Diamondbacks shortstop John McDonald on teammate Aaron Hill and his first full season in Arizona. Hill easily bested all NL second basemen in 2012 with a 5.9 WARP.

“After my wife and I had talked it through, we had really sold ourselves on how fun it would be for a year.”
—Dan Haren, after hearing rumors of a trade to Chicago. The deal fell through, and now he’s headed to free agency. (Alden Gonzalez, MLB.com)

“We liked the way he pitched on the field. We liked his performance on the field. His on-the-field performance is the reason for this decision. I think he showed how beneficial throwing strikes are. I think that was the best influence he could have had on our young guys.”
—Athletics GM Billy Beane, after signing Bartolo Colon to a one-year deal. He’ll return to a rotation full of sophomore starters. (Jane Lee, MLB.com)