Quotations

«I threw him a good changeup and it had good bite, ... He's a good hitter. He's shown that.»

«[Larkin anchored the Reds' infield for the better part of 19 seasons, winning the National League MVP award in 1995. That was too much competition for Hoffman, who only had his father to blame for the predicament. When Hoffman reached high school, his father had forced him off the mound, hoping that it would save some bullets for his right arm. By the time Hoffman got to the minors, however, his career as a position player had stalled.] I couldn't hit a slider and I was having a hard time throwing it to first base without putting it in the stands or throwing it in the dugout, ... The writing was on the wall that I wasn't going to make it higher than A-ball as an infielder.»

«Regardless of how the outcome happens, it's how you get over the failures that matters more than anything else in this role, ... If you do screw up, 24 hours later, there's a chance the ball's going to be in your hand again.»

«When you routinely do the things you have to do to get ready, everything does become second nature.»

«Not many of us are left. I don't think you really get a feel for what the rally cry is until you get there. There's a sense of start over with all of the change that we have seen.»

«I was flattered to be asked to play for your country. But I know how I felt to get ready (for the season) and to be able to go in October. Some may call it selfish, but I know what I need to do to get ready and still be strong at the end of the year.»

«Coffee sales will be up.»

«I don't know if I'd call it a reckless abandon, but he's always played with a fearlessness. I think it's going to take him a while to feel comfortable going into the gap hard again.»

«It just puts a little added pressure. You want to find out if you've still got it and get out there and help the club. But they come in spurts, so you've got to be ready.»

«It's nice that it's over.»