The Week in Quotes: May 15-May 21

THOSE WACKY CUBS FANS

“A fan came down and hit one of our guys [Chad Kreuter] in the back of the
head. Literally punched him in the back of the head when he wasn’t looking.
And he took his hat. That’s how the whole thing started.”

— Todd Hundley, Dodgers catcher

“I was worried. I’m down there trying to get my guys out of there, and I’m
getting beer thrown on me.”

— Davey Johnson, Dodgers manager

“That was part of the problem. It kept going on and no one showed up. There
were no uniformed personnel. It looked like it was out of control and there
weren’t any control measures in place.”

— Kevin Malone, Dodgers GM

“I just know that when pitchers go into the stands, you’re taking big risks.
The next thing you know, you have their general manager standing next to me
on the field. He shouldn’t have been there, either. You can’t go into the
stands. No matter what they throw.”

— Don Baylor, Cubs manager

“Our security staff is still in the process of sorting things out.”

— Ed Lynch, Cubs GM

“There really is never any excuse for going into the stands. It is not only
not acceptable, it exposes players and other uniformed personnel to risks and
liabilities. At any level, it is not a tolerable response.”

— Sandy Alderson, MLB executive VP

“The players need to be isolated from the fans, and you have to have a canopy
over them, and you need security. If you don’t have that, you’d better cut
back on the alcohol.”

— John Boles, Marlins manager

“To be honest, I could see myself getting into it with someone if they wanted
to hit me. If a fan decides to be stupid and is trying to injure or hurt me,
I’m going to react.”

— Brian Jordan, Braves outfielder

“If anybody touches anybody they have the right to defend themselves even if
that means going into the stands. He could be superstitious and that’s the
only hat he wears, so there is grounds for that as well. He had every right
to do what he did. He shouldn’t be fined or suspended.”

— David Wells, Blue Jays pitcher

MORE RICKEY

“I’m certainly disappointed that Rickey didn’t play like he did last year
here, because he was a very important part of the team. I think it left our
manager and general manager scratching their heads. But I think our guys
handled the situation very well, with a lot of respect and patience.”

— Fred Wilpon, Mets owner, on releasing Henderson

“We’ve been looking for an outfielder for a long period of time, and Rickey
became available. We just hope he has something left.”

— Pat Gillick, Mariners GM, on singing Henderson

“He’ll probably help them if he has an incentive.”

— Bobby Valentine, Mets manager

“I feel physically good. It’s a fresh start for me. I know I’m going to get
the opportunity to play.”

— Rickey Henderson, Mariners outfielder

PITCHERS

“Our starting pitching has been very encouraging. Now we’ve had good starts
here from everyone except [Jose] Lima. Once he has one, I think we will have
gone beyond the psychological barrier we might have had about pitching here.”

— Larry Dierker, Astros manager, on Enron Field

“The game at this level is mental, and when you make a contribution to your
team’s winning, you have to feel good. I honestly believe every pitcher should
feel like an ace. If not, you shouldn’t be a big-league starter.”

— Al Leiter, Mets pitcher

“I was little bit erratic. I couldn’t spot my fastball, and it would take
off on me. I would throw a couple of good ones, but then I would struggle
with it.”

— Pedro Martinez, Red Sox pitcher, on shutting out the Blue Jays for
7 innings

“It’s weird when you have five strikeouts in the first two innings and then
give up five runs in the third.”

— Kelvin Escobar, Blue Jays pitcher

“It’s nice to have five wins already. It took me all year last year.”

— Jeff Fassero, Red Sox pitcher

“A lot of people said I was a second-half pitcher, so I wanted to come
out focused and start off the year good.”

— James Baldwin, White Sox pitcher, on starting 7-0

“He’s a competitor. He’s used to going 140, 150 pitches. We don’t do that
here.”

— Dusty Baker, Giants manager, on pitcher Livan Hernandez

THE REST

“This has been going on the whole season. I go on a seven-game hitting
streak, then I go 0-for-5, and the next day, I’m out of the lineup. I’m not
used to that. It’s just disappointing. [Jack McKeon] has shown no
confidence in me.”

— Dante Bichette, Reds outfielder

“There’s always a reason why the elite become the elite, and just pure talent
is not always the answer. There is a driving force within this young man that
is very unique and very genuine. He believes in hard work. There’s a great deal
of humility about him. He’d rather be a server than be served.”

— Clint Hurdle, Rockies hitting coach, on Todd Helton

“Home runs are baloney. At least one-run homers are. Give me some three-run
homers. Just a homer doesn’t tickle me to death.”

— Phil Garner, Tigers manager

“I play aggressive. If I see something I like, I swing. The same way I played
the game 10 years ago, is the same way I play now.”

— Raul Mondesi, Blue Jays outfielder

“That’s probably one of the greatest things you could add to any baseball
resume, to play in the Olympics and represent your country. I think it would
be neat.”

— Wade Boggs, retired player

“I won’t stoop so low as to talk about Chad as a person because it is not my
purpose to judge anyone. In fact, I don’t give a damn about Chad. What I have
a problem with is the lack of respect he brings to the clubhouse.”

— Royce Clayton, Rangers infielder, on teammate Chad Curtis

“I don’t totally want to negate the stolen base, but it is probably the most
overrated statistic in my mind. The stolen base will help create something. I
like the play, but I just don’t see it being that crucial to the game.”

— Bobby Valentine, Mets manager

If you would like to submit a quote, please

email Steven and be sure to include both the quote itself and a
URL pointing to the quote.