The Week in Quotes: November 9-22

AWARDS

"It adds confidence that people who watch the game and people
who follow baseball acknowledged as good a season as I’ve had."


— Kerry Wood, Cubs pitcher and NL ROY

"It means a lot after a long season to get recognition like this.
But at the same time it doesn’t change anything. It’s just an award. I
can’t get too much of a big head next year."


— Ben Grieve, A’s outfielder and AL ROY

"I don’t think anyone thinks about winning awards. We think about
winning games."

— Larry Dierker, Astros manager and NL MOY

"After winning the World Series, this is obviously a tremendous
honor because the people who vote for this follow baseball on a
day-to-day basis."

— Joe Torre, Yankees manager and AL MOY

"It’s overwhelming to have done this now five times."

— Roger Clemens, Blue Jays pitcher and AL Cy Young Award winner

"It’s a good feeling to be part of a pitching staff that has won
as many awards as we have. It’s great to get it back in the
organization after Pedro [Martinez] won it last year."

— Tom Glavine, Braves pitcher and NL Cy Young Award winner

"Every year, year in, year out, [Juan Gonzalez] just puts up the
numbers. It just seems like he doesn’t get the notoriety he should."

— Mark McGwire, Cardinals infielder, on AL MVP Juan Gonzalez

"I would have voted for Mark. In my heart, Mark McGwire is still
the man for me."

— Sammy Sosa, Cubs outfielder and NL MVP

MOVING RIGHT ALONG

"I was shocked because of where I went. If they traded me, I
wanted to make sure it was a contender, but I’m not sure we’re going
to have the type of team to compete there, really."

— Denny Neagle, pitcher, on being traded to the Reds

"Mo [Vaughn] rejected our offer, and it looks like he’s going
to play for someone else. He’s going to put his efforts somewhere
else, and we are, too. We’re going to look at some other options."

— Dan Duquette, Red Sox GM

"[Gord Ash] thinks he can find another DH to hit 46 homers and
steal 29 bases for around $1.5 million. That’s roughly what a utility
player earns. How about free-agent Jose Offerman? He got $26 million.
Have you seen his numbers?"

— Jose Canseco, outfielder, on not returning to the Blue Jays

THE REST

"Some people might second-guess me for not testing the free
agent waters, but I’m satisfied."

— David Cone, pitcher, on staying with the Yankees

"We hit so well for three years it made us foolishly overlook our
deficiencies — and I’m including myself in that failure. You won’t
find teams that lead the league in home runs and hitting winning a
championship when they’re near the bottom of the league in pitching
and defense. That’s a bad formula."


— Lou Piniella, Mariners manager

"If I’d been strung out on drugs as opposed to gambling on
Monday Night Football, I’d probably still be managing the Reds
and they’d pay for my rehab."

— Pete Rose, former player and manager

"There’s no real urgency to have this done in a hurry. I’ve worked
very hard in my career to get to this point and I’m not going to make
any sudden decisions."

— Bernie Williams, outfielder, on his free agency

"I believe what’s essential to success is hard work. You have to
be dedicated to success. You have to work hard and pay the price. I
think when you work hard and you’re committed, success follows."

— Kevin Malone, Dodgers GM