We know it’s still early, but you don’t want to fall as far behind and get in that rut where you have to battle back. You don’t want to find yourself coming to the ballpark,...

We were all thinking in the back of our minds, oh God, here we go, the Devil Rays have our number.

His stuff is electric. His pitches were explosive. Everything was [breaking] late.

We changed it up a little bit (from last year) because my ability to lift was already there. I had that base. We started squatting right away, lunging.

I was all over the place then. I had been hit (by a pitch) in the head and had been doing so much work since spring training to try and make up for last year...

I was trying to get him to roll over, … I got a lot of outs on my breaking ball. It was a good pitch.

I don’t really care what anybody thinks,

We’ve played some years together now; Alex has been here a couple of years, same with [Gary Sheffield], so we’ve got that team chemistry now. My first year, I was the new guy, then it...

People don’t realize this game is not fair. I’ve seen some great players who, for whatever reason, never got the opportunity. To keep going back to Triple A, when you know in your heart you...

I got those pretty good. It’s been a long time since I’ve hit balls like that. The ball doesn’t usually carry here that well.

I love being in that spot, and it’s great to come through. Hopefully, this will get us going and get us on a little bit of a tear.

I’m just glad we won. If I had hit three solo shots and we lost, who cares? … They came in big spots. I love playing in this ballpark. I came through here a lot...

I have no idea what’s in the book. I handled it last year and I’ve gone forward from that.

I know we like to think baseball is America’s game, but that isn’t totally true. There are some teams out there that can play this game pretty well.

The shot has helped me a lot. I had tendinitis.

He was unbelievable. He gave us the start we needed. (John) Lackey was pitching great and Shawn matched him zero for zero. For his first postseason start, you can’t ask for more.

It’s getting close again, … We could probably do it again, but I’m not going to get any days off. We’ll just see if this thing helps.

They have guys that steal bags and put the ball in play, and they have pitchers that throw the ball well against us.

New York is home to me now. [I wanted] to get a chance to walk through that room and see the kids get a chance to get away from the doctors, play and be with...

We’ve been close. They’re letting us know we need to get over the top.

We have to worry about winning, … I’m glad that tonight, I came up big. They came in big situations, which is what’s most important.

That’s the Big Unit we all know and love. He dominated, gave us a chance to win, and made one run hold up. That’s what he’s done in his whole career.

He was outstanding. We gave him that early lead and he didn’t disappoint.

You never pick up the ball until it’s too late. He throws just hard enough to sneak a fastball by you when you’re looking for a breaking pitch. I was glad we signed him because...

That’s what he does best. That’s what makes him the player that he is: He gets on base. He scores runs. He gives you an opportunity to score a run when he gets on.

This is the best I’ve felt the last couple of years. It was nice to come back and be able to work out right from the get-go after the way I finished the year last...

I enjoy being in that spot,

This is the fun time of the year. This is what you play the whole season for. … If you don’t play (well) in September, there’s no October.

It was a slider that didn’t slide, the same pitch he hit off me before. I knew the location of this pitch was trouble when I let it go.

You can understand George’s position. He’s basically got $50 million worth of players there. You tell me what billion-dollar corporation would want $50 million of its [assets] out somewhere with no guarantees if they get...

We don’t get worried when we’re behind. We know we’re only a few walks and a few swings from being back in the ballgame.

It’s been a lot of hard work and a lot of grinding it out.

It’ll be unbelievable. It’s always a playoff atmosphere when you play the Red Sox. It will be a lot of fun.

What are you doing?

It’s sore. He got me good.

He loves the city. He’s got that mentality. He knows what he needs to do. He has a good time. But he’s pitched some great games at the right time. I think he would fit...

He’s always been our guy. We’re going to go as far as he takes us, no doubt about it.

That was a Yankee Stadium homer, for sure,

It’s not the best way to go. I guess we’re giving fans their money’s worth. It would be nice to have a couple laughers.

When I got home, I wasn’t sick, so I was able to continue all of the hard work I did last year. It was nice to be able to get back on that routine, start...

This is the first I’ve heard of it. I don’t know what to say.

It’s more on my arm than my wrist. That’s good. Right now I think I’ll be OK. We’ll see.

I hit it pretty good. I kind of reacted in and caught it clean.

Everybody wants to come here and win. We’ve been close, but we need to get over the top this year. No doubt about it.

This is a huge series,

That’s true, but winter ball is really huge for some of the Latin American countries.

I think it’s pretty pathetic they want to drag my father into this. I’ve moved on. I mean that’s just sad that someone would try and do that to sell a book.

I really didn’t know [about the milestones],

Every New Yorker, they love to see somebody face adversity and still stand tall and not fall by the wayside. They like to see you man up and you take your beating, but you just...

That kid is going to be good; he reminds me of Rocket. He’s young, but that fastball, it’s late. I don’t care what the radar gun says, it seems like it’s on top of you....