Tony Russa
Tony Russa
capable couple early games middle score
That's how he pitched early in the year. He just got in a funk. In the middle of that funk, he had a couple of games like this and we couldn't score for him. ... This is what he's capable of doing.
ahead guess plate talked
I think he's doing everything at the plate ahead of what we expected. I haven't really talked to him about this weekend, but my guess is he'll probably play.
concentration dip impressive level maintain
The impressive thing is he was able to maintain that level of concentration and competitiveness. Most guys, even if you're great, you have a dip once in a while. Every day he pitched it was like the same pitcher.
brought couple days expand three tie
Think about it, I brought him into a tie game, how much more do you want to expand the role? He pitched three innings, so it's going to be a couple of days before he's back out there.
five four gives jim leave middle playing walker
So you get Jim four and Walker in the five spot. I think that the other thing, too, if Reggie is not playing in the middle of the lineup and you leave Jim second, there isn't as much thump in the middle. So let's put some thump in the middle, and So gives you a lot of options.
guys neat outfield playing watch
I watch the outfield and how neat it is to have guys playing for their lives. You watch those drills, there's a lot in those drills. When you have an outfield that's set they're getting the kinks out.
chance concession diminish fifth
That's the only concession we've made. And I don't think having Carp go out there every fifth day is going to diminish our chance of winning.
couple dangerous good hurrying location looked missed
It wasn't good enough. It looked like he was kind of hurrying to get outs. He missed his location a couple of times, they've got a dangerous lineup and they made him pay.
answer closing club eight goes great guys handle heck hitter produce screws starting tougher watches
Mentally, is closing tougher than a hitter going out there with 600 at-bats to produce ... tougher than a starting pitcher? For the great closer, it's as tough. He watches the club for eight innings. Then if he goes out there and screws it up, he's got 24 guys to answer to. It's a heck of a deal. Some guys can't handle it.
checked half numbers question raised second somebody wears
Somebody raised a question that he wears down in the second half and I checked the stats. His numbers are better in the second half.
decisions everybody faces forces free guys money prioritize return spend strong sudden tender three trying year
If you return a lot of the strong nucleus, year to year, for two or three years, I think that'd be an exception. There's too many free agents, there are times money forces you to make decisions to not tender (contracts to) guys who all of a sudden become too expensive. You're trying to prioritize how to spend your money, and everybody faces it.
agency changing free makeup routine
Changing the makeup of your club, that's just routine with free agency and stuff.
ahead guys key knowing miss pull stretch
If you could look ahead knowing those key guys would miss so much time, you'd really stretch to think you could pull it off.
affecting difficult pitch shown situations
He's shown that he can pitch in difficult situations without it affecting him.