You tend to get nervous and excited before and after,

It’s an honor to be part of all this history. You want to put your own mark on the Yankees organization and the history.

The first five [innings], I did everything I wanted. Then I made a couple of bad pitches to a couple of good hitters. As far as I’m concerned, I’m ready for the season.

You don’t ever want to give up the ball as a pitcher, … especially after the mess you’d left out there the inning before. Each start I’ve shown him I can go deep into games...

All I could say was, `Wow,’ … It’s one thing to stand here and say, `Everybody’s got to step up,’ but it’s another thing to do it. These guys did it. … Every pitch, every...

I think everybody understands that we have to win every day. The more pressure we can put on them, obviously the less pressure there is on us.

Some days it’s going to take the starting pitcher to come out and dominate, and you might win, 2-0. But for the most part, we’re going to score runs. With a team like this, you...

When it came time to go out and pitch, I realized why I was here,

I’ve never been in a situation like this, ever.

There’s a competition in this camp, and I don’t take anything for granted. It’s unspoken (among the starters), (but) it’s not as if you want somebody to do bad so you can look better. Competition...

It’s just big not only for myself, but for the team.

That means a lot,

Everybody knows that each game is huge, … Our playoffs start now. They probably started a week ago, so we have to make the best of each day.

He basically said I tagged him too hard. If he wants to cry about it, it’s OK with me.

I felt good. I just left a couple pitches up.

You’ve got a mess you made yourself. You’ve got to work out of it.

I’m not nervous when I face anybody. I’m extremely nervous when I’m sitting down watching a game.

This isn’t fantasy baseball.

Absolutely, you don’t panic. As powerful as this lineup is, you don’t know when it’s gonna happen, but you know eventually they’re gonna score runs. Not only does that take a lot of pressure off...

I come in here and lose; I was losing in Colorado. I’ve been through that. What, am I going to get booed? I was booed in Colorado last year. So I’ve been through that.

You like the pressure but you don’t add any,

I still made pitches when I had to.

I was sort of just floating around. You’re disappointed, but at the same time you understand the situation. I just wanted to pitch.

It’s disappointing. I felt like I had good stuff when I warmed up, and I didn’t think I pitched badly. I didn’t want to come out of the game.

[To get lifted so early,] I was a little bit surprised, … I guess [Joe Torre] didn’t want to let the game get away. Obviously, I want to keep pitching.

I had pretty good stuff. I had command of all my pitches and I kept them off balance. Our offense put up runs early and that made things easier.

It gets kind of monotonous doing this over and over again. But once you physically feel good, you get anxious for the season to start.

I stunk. I got behind in the count early all night long and made it hard for myself. I didn’t make the pitches when I had to.

I just felt they showed tremendous respect to me, … I wanted to show respect back to them.

I get nervous, I’m human, … When I get out on the mound, that’s where I’m supposed to be. I’m in control and nobody can bother me.

It didn’t start well. Coming out and giving up a two-run home run.

Todd Greene told me, ‘Man, it’s going to be the best experience you ever have in baseball,’ … ‘It’s all about winning there. It’s literally like a business and the business is winning.’

Torre said. ”You count your lucky stars.

I don’t figure anything. It’s a decision I’m not making. All I can do is pitch.

I didn’t have to pitch out of jams. For the most part, I kept runners off base and out of scoring position.

I probably haven’t faced a lineup like them, but for me, I’m not scared of anybody. They’re baseball players just like I am. They put their unis on the same way I do. It’s about...

I think getting out of there, … and having an opportunity to pitch every day in a decent pitching environment, it helps. I’m not going to lie.

When I’m able to throw my breaking ball for strikes, I’m going to be successful,

You have an inning in a game when you battle with, whether it’s your control or getting the ball down or whatever. They made me pay for it, but I wouldn’t take back anything I...

Today I could locate all my off speed pitches for strikes, I wanted to keep the White Sox off balance, … I know they are a good hitting fastball team.

I’ve always been relaxed,

For [Torre] to have the confidence in me to get out of [critical spots], that’s big.

Giving up a two-run homer in the first inning is not what you have in mind. But you don’t give up, you don’t think too much about it. You just concentrate on keeping the game...

In Colorado, we knew how to play hard,

It’s just unbelievable for me. I still can’t really explain it, … It’s kind of a crazy road you take to get where I am.

I’m just trying to eliminate putting guys on base. That is the biggest concern for me. I always want to go out and pitch well. You don’t want to get in those kind of jams...

I don’t know, but I’d guess he’d be pleased with what we did tonight. It says something about this team that we can not listen to all the stuff the media and fans are going...

I tried to go back in there with my two-seamer, and it seemed like he was waiting for it, … He made me pay for it.

Everybody around me was a Yankee fan, … We grew up watching them win year after year.

I’ve said it since I’ve been here. If you keep this lineup close, good things will happen.