Negative WAR, but Positive Person.
"Ike will be missed. I think Ike would be the first one to tell you things didn’t pan out the way a lot of us thought they would in terms of production, but through thick and thin Ike’s been one of the best teammates I’ve ever had and he’s going to be missed.’’ —David Wright [New York Post]
I would’ve changed a few things.
"It was fun. I wouldn’t change it for the world. I had a great time here." —Ike Davis [New York Post]
If that’s a ‘little while’ then Ike struck out a ‘little too much’ too.
"It was pretty negative over there for me for a little while." —Ike Davis [Post Gazette]
Well at least the saying is ‘If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere’ and not the other way around.
"I really had a blast in New York. I made my childhood dreams of playing in the big leagues come true here. But it’s just a stepping stone." —Ike Davis [New York Post]
Well to be fair, Pittsburgh does have some nice scenery with that view beyond right field.
"It happens to a lot of people getting traded. Now I go help my team in Pittsburgh. … I’m excited to see if different scenery is better. But I haven’t done it yet, so I don’t know.’’ —Ike Davis [New York Post]
Really should be a new rule: Don’t comment anon or GTFO.
"Ike [Davis] handled the pressure. He has the personality to do that. Lucas [Duda] has never had that pressure yet. I am not sure how he will handle it if he goes through a long slump with people asking him every day what’s wrong."—Anonymous Team Source [New York Daily News]
Well I’m hoping the PTBNL is what’s making Sandy happy.
"That was a decision we made several months ago, something we revisited several times. We’re very happy with the trade. We’re happy for Ike in the sense that he’ll get another opportunity elsewhere. It’s a situation that we needed to resolve here. We’re happy with the return. This has gone on for some period of time, as everyone knows. The return has not increased, hasn’t diminished.’’ —Sandy Alderson [New York Post]
Sounds about right.
"I'm not done [answering questions about first base]. [Sometime, Duda] is going to be 0-for-15. Ike's going to have eight home runs [with the Pirates]. You're going to ask." —Terry Collins [ESPN]
I’m just going to assume that Lucas never corrected TC that TC’s been calling him the wrong name for years.
"It's like, 'Hey look, Luke, it's yours." —Terry Collins on Lucas Duda being the starting first baseman [ESPN]
Valverde on how he feels during a save…I hope.
"My body’s hot in that moment, it’s like something burning in my body." —Jose Valverde [New York Post]
I mean you are getting paid to play a kids game, but it’s nice to see the perspective.
"I'm never disappointed," he said. "If I'm not doing my job, someone else has to do it. ... [I'm a] happy guy. I stay happy." —Jose Valverde [ESPN]
Or, you know, throw less garbage.
"You’re there to save the game. That’s your job, and that’s what you have to do. The moment you have a blown save or lose the game, you have to throw that pitch away in the garbage, and be ready for tomorrow. Mariano [Rivera] and Trevor Hoffman, [John] Franco, [they blew saves]. [So] take that pitch and throw it in the garbage." —Jose Valverde [New York Post]
Yeah, about that.
"Jose wasn't able to come through tonight, but I know he will next time. 'He's been there before. He's been through the good and the bad. He's a veteran, and he'll be OK. We just look forward to moving on from here and getting some more wins.'' —Anthony Recker [Sports.yahoo.com]
Well hopefully the rest of the league isn’t looking at Colon’s FanGraphs page.
"Anytime you can hit three home runs in a row, that's pretty special. I've been through that before in my career. Everybody knows what Bartolo is going to do - 95 percent of his pitches are fastballs and he pounds the strike zone.'' —Albert Pujols [Sports.yahoo.com]
If I’m ever feeling stressed, I just think What Would Bartolo Do?
''At that moment, you're not thinking: 'Why is this happening?' It's just part of the game. 'Everything felt all right. They just felt a little bit better than me.'' —Bartolo Colon [Sports.yahoo.com]
Get in the pool!
''Get in the pool!'' —Unidentified Met on Kirk Nieuwenhuis HR in Arizona [Sports.yahoo.com]
You don’t ever catch the dragon, Aaron!!
''It gets to the point you chase that no-hitter, chase that dragon, you're up to 140 pitches. I think we made the right decision.'' —Fredi González on pulling Aaron Harang during his no-hit bid [Sports.yahoo.com]
Californian Smack Talk
"Maybe [Ike being traded lessens the pressure] a little bit. But I still have to produce. If I don't produce, I won't play. If I don’t get the job done, someone else will." —Lucas Duda [ESPN]
Mets Quote of the Week
"[On if it’s true he once hit two triples in one game] I’m not sure, I don’t, I don’t remember…umm…if it did, the outfielders my of collided and fell down and tripped over each other and fell again and then probably fell one more time and then probably threw the ball away and then…the third basemen may of tripped and then the shortstop may of tripped and I’m not sure [shrugs]."—Lucas Duda [MLB.com]
AA Quote of the Week
"THERE IS NO HIDE IMAGE FOR THIS ARTICLE!!!" —IPA