Jim Tracy
Jim Tracy
ability area command innings latter needs pitches pleased progress strikes throw
He really understands that he needs command and the ability to throw strikes when he pitches in the latter innings of games. I'm very pleased with the progress he has made in that area this spring.
ability aspects best coaches national physical pitching teach
To me, he's one of the game's best pitching coaches in the National or American leagues. He has not only the ability to teach the physical aspects of the game, but also the ability to communicate with his pitchers.
ability allow approach baseball best continue developed environment genuine league major man natural opportunity player position talent type unexpected
The best way to approach a player with his type of ability and talent is to feel like you've developed a type of environment to allow his development to continue on its natural course. With what we have done this winter, we have put this young man in a position to where his natural progression as a Major League Baseball player has a genuine opportunity to take place without heaping any unexpected expectations on him.
ability advance appear aspect change complexion game might runner small
As small an aspect of the game as bunting might appear to be to a lot of people, it's really important to me. The complexion of a game can change because you have the ability to advance a runner 90 feet. It's huge.
both exactly great job
I thought they both did a great job (Saturday). They did exactly what you wanted to see and what they would have wanted to do.
caught certainly good ryan
I thought Ryan caught a good game. He certainly will go back out there.
active baseball behind care finished gets half imperative members pitching plate product ryan safe stuff taken team
I think it's very safe to say that Ryan is not a finished product defensively. I also feel that, when you look at a major-league baseball team that has 25 active members and half of that is your pitching staff, it's pretty imperative that that stuff back there behind the plate gets taken care of.
attack finished mistake people
I think the mistake people made was, many thought he was a finished product. We wanted to back off for a while. We wanted to watch. We didn't want to attack him.
bed fall game giving hits kid opening played three until
Just giving him two or three days. Hey, that kid can fall out of bed and hit. The first game we played he had three hits and every one was smoked. I said right then, 'Let's put him in a humidor until Opening Day. Why does he need to be out here?
complete jeff performance
Just another complete performance by Jeff Weaver. He's the workhorse of this staff.
great help knows ourselves owe ryan starting
I think everyone knows Ryan has a great arm. I think we owe it to ourselves to find out if he can help us a starting pitcher.
builds himself life saw sit velocity
I saw better life to his fastball, much better life. I can't sit here and tell you what the velocity was, but that will come as he builds himself up. But the life on his fastball, it was there tonight.
deep nine tap
I say it all the time. I don't need nine guys. I don't need 25 guys. I need 35. You have to be deep enough to tap into the minors to be successful.
bases count golden opportunity seventh
Our golden opportunity was in the seventh inning. We had the bases loaded, we had one out, we had a 3-1 count and we just didn't get it done.