He’s one of the best players in the league and he’s taken some heat for being a slow starter.

We had no choice (yesterday), we had to get some innings out of him. But we weren’t going to abuse him by any means.

I don’t see any evidence of guys pressing. We’ve had some good at-bats. We just have hit any long balls lately.

He’s a proven winner, some years some guys just get that.

You watch Ortiz over the last few years, there’s not a more clutch player out there. And you can’t walk him because Ramirez hits behind him.

Personally, I don’t see him making that start. He has to come out and throw in the ‘pen but whether he can push himself out there to really know, we don’t know. If (he can’t...

Ski had a very good spring. He deserves this.

I would’ve done it again. It didn’t cost us the pennant or the World Series, … It wasn’t quite the Pedro Martinez versus the Yankees in the postseason decision, but I thought [Towers] earned it....

Look at his arm, his age. He’s got a chance to be a very good starter. I don’t think we’re even considering the bullpen right now. He’s got too much going for him the other...

He’s got to be able to move laterally. And he’s still got some pain, … If he goes that long, I don’t think it makes any sense [for the] final three games of the year...

I don’t think we have any questions this spring other than to find out whether Eric can play right field.

Expectations rise and players have to go out there and perform, but ultimately the manager is the one held responsible. But I like that. I’ve got no problem with that.

We’re not dead yet, but we’re tired. In the end if we hang in there, it’s because of the way they go about their business. If we don’t it’s because we’re not good enough, yet....

One run wasn’t going to do it, anyway. We caught a break on the force at second and they got one there. It’s a wash.

We’ll look at it and see who is pitching the best when that time comes. The thing that he does is give us flexibility. If he’s in the bullpen, he makes us that much stronger...

I don’t think it is anything serious. He went back to Toronto with tenderness in his forearm. It should just be one start.

It’s in the same area he had the problem last year. He only threw a few pitches and we shut him down.

He understands. If we get him through he’ll back sometime during the year, at least September.

They say things always even out in this game, I don?t know if it?s true or not. Sometimes it is.

You don’t like to have to do it, but this is going to be his last start. Hopefully, you get five [innings].

We gave them some extra outs and it took our offence a while to get going. But for the most part our pitchers were around the plate.

Well, I’ll tell you, about a year ago in November the National Zoo had its first litter of cheetah cubs born. And when we had them debut, the very first day, we had over about...

He was moving like nothing ever happened. I didn’t see any hesitation or anything. We’ll know better tomorrow.

They [the Devil Rays] keep hearing how they don’t have this and don’t have that, but when they get pitching, they’re going to win a lot of games.

From day one of spring training, he came in with mental toughness and helped set the tone for our team. He had an all-star year for us, so he’s very valuable for us.

But it’s his first year and he has done a pretty damn good job.

That’s what this team does. This team is dangerous. They’ve got so much speed, they can do anything.

Great win, really gutted one out today.

He is a fly ball pitcher – always has been, always will be – and when you get a windy day like today he is going to give up some homers.

This is an opportunity for him. He wasn’t expecting one but shoot, he’s done a great job.

He’s not missing by much. But I would say that what’s hurting him this year is a few too many mistakes … like keeping the ball up.

We were raving about him two months ago.

You never anticipate two of your top guys [being out]. But you know it happens to everybody along the line. You just have to deal with it. The good teams are the teams that can...

We don’t know how bad it will be,

He’s the logical guy — that’s the way our team is set up, anyway. He knows that. Everybody knows that.

It was a Motor City Mauling.

You know, Ted threw good. He got into a couple of jams and got out of them [leaving the bases loaded in the third and fourth innings].

Maybe it was too routine a play. He’s saved us so much through the course of the year.

I don’t think we’d have any other choice really. Those guys in the Minor Leagues are stretched out a little bit. We’ll see.

It all came down to that big inning.

Josh went out in style. He’s had a heck of a year.

It’s typical of what we’ve done all year. We hang around and give ourselves a chance. That’s the mark of our team this year, that’s the best way to sum it up.

He ran (yesterday) and felt good. Hopefully, he can make progress and we’ll see what he has. It’s hard to say.

Plenty of visitors not only came to see them on their first day out, but they’ve returned on a weekly or monthly basis to visit the three cubs.

I just made sure I cleared it with Hillenbrand first.

All the umpires are going to do that. If you get a chance to get the last couple outs, they’re going to try to get it in. Everywhere I’ve ever been they’ll do that.

That’ll be his debut. But hopefully he pitches well and has a chance to stay here a while.

He pitched some good games in August, too, and didn’t get a decision. But that’s good. That’s No. 12, and it was a long time coming.

You want a guy to have a good Spring Training. But it’s just Spring Training. That’s how you look at it.

Bush was outstanding tonight. He had a good breaking ball. He had that hard crisp one. We definitely needed that, no question.