Jim Tracy
Jim Tracy
few numbers past
Look at his numbers over the past few years. They were not too shabby.
belongs convince helps knows major playing winning
It helps convince (him) that he belongs playing in the major leagues. He's a winning player. He understands situational baseball, he can steal, he knows how to read pitchers.
baseball group importance players realize type understand winning
I think a group of players has to understand the type of baseball you have to play to play winning baseball. You have to realize the importance of the intangibles, the little things.
ball hit wonderful
Cirillo didn't hit the ball well at all. He just hit it in a wonderful spot.
player versatile
Because I want to see how versatile a player he is.
effort gives makeup single
His makeup is off the charts. He gives 100% effort on every single pitch. He's one of the real up-and-comers in our game. There's nothing not to like about him.
arm coming elbow hitter leads lower pitches pitching slot supposed swing throwing
His (left) elbow is lower than it should be and he's not pitching like he's coming off a slope. At times, his arm was where it was supposed to be ... but his inconsistency with his arm slot is what leads him to throwing pitches that no major-league hitter would swing at.
hitting people start
But if you start hitting people in the head, you got to be very careful.
against caliber chris crack face opportunity pitcher quick seventh time took until
Any time you face a pitcher the caliber of Chris Carpenter, you get one opportunity against him. He started quick and it took us until the seventh to get our opportunity to crack through.
bat difference effort given impressed league major reaches result run second teach time winners
That second run was the result of 100-percent effort that he's given each time he's on the field. It's a very noteworthy play and the difference in the game. You can't teach that, but winners do things like that. You have to want to do it. I'm impressed with this player. If his bat reaches its potential, he's an every-day Major League player, in my opinion.
aggressive percent situation sure third trailing
That's an aggressive play, ... but as I said to him, when you're trailing in that situation and you would have had first and third with no outs, you have to be 100 percent sure that you make it.
game obviously tested tough
That's a tough game to lose, and obviously we're being tested early.
alone changed mixed nine positive speeds
That's a lot for nine innings, let alone five. He showed command, mixed his pitches, changed speeds -- there were a lot of positive signs.
admire competing game knowing physically retire wants
I know he wants to retire from the game knowing he did it physically competing at the end, ... You have to admire that.