Tony Russa
Tony Russa
applaud average batting best cool five game history huge league major saw talking whether
When you're talking about the best first five years in major league history, how's that not huge? Whether it's 100 RBIs, the .300 batting average or 30 homers, it's huge ... it's historic. We're not going to be cool about that one. We just saw history. I don't think you see history in this game that often. When you see it, you applaud it.
best care chance fresh great guy pushing side
We have one of the game's best closers but he was fresh and we didn't feel like we were pushing him at all. I don't care how great Izzy is, if I'm on the other side they may think they've got a better chance when the other guy comes out, because Carpenter's just dealing.
almost believe best create feeling personal plan played reason won year
To me, 2002 was so personal and emotional. I believe that you create your own destiny, but it was almost like there was a plan for us. I don't feel that this time. I feel this is more normal. The reason we've won is because we've played the best. If we play the best in the postseason, we should win. And if we don't, we'll get beat. But 2002 was the only year I had the feeling it was inevitable.
best change grind trying wins
The best way to keep yourself competitive is not to change anything. Right now we're trying to grind out wins and win the division.
best club compete impressive losses talking toughest watching
This is one of the toughest losses, and one of the best losses I can remember, just because what the club showed. It was impressive watching them compete like that. I'm just talking about our team. They did the same thing.
baseball best came competition cuba fans good japan korea league major position powers
I think there was very little good that came of it from the major league side. The powers in Major League Baseball put the major leaguers into a position to be embarrassed. Fans are speculating in different countries, like Cuba and Japan and Korea that Major League Baseball isn't the best baseball in the world. I think it is, if the competition is fair.
best capable chances five game hat
He pitched the game he was capable of, but we actually had three, four, five chances with some of our best RBI guys, and he made pitches, ... So take your hat off to him. He pitched very well. We had our chances.
best both excited guys outfield playing second tomorrow
I'm just excited that both of the guys are playing well. That's the best part about second base. The thing about Luna is he's got so much versatility. He can play in the outfield tomorrow if we really want him to.
attention players point prove
It would prove that point that the attention should be on the players and not the managers.
brought couple days expand three tie
Think about it, I brought him into a tie game, how much more do you want to expand the role? He pitched three innings, so it's going to be a couple of days before he's back out there.
academic days guys point resting week
The whole point about resting guys is all academic as of this week because we've got days off, and I don't have to rest anybody,
bad innings last nine pushing time
Every time we play him in the last two-three innings of a game, we're pushing him. It wouldn't be a bad idea for him not to play nine too often.
chance clubs dangerous facing forward gives somebody win
(Opponents) still think he's a dangerous hitter, ... I don't think clubs look forward to facing him. If you think there's somebody who gives you a better chance to win than Larry, you put that person in there. I don't see him.
champion feeling gets great last magic number taught zero
We went through this last year. ... We're not going to get into wild-card formulas. The magic number has got to be zero to celebrate. It is one. ... It's a great feeling to know we're going to play in October, but we've always been taught you're a champion when it gets to zero.