Willie Randolph
Willie Randolph
Willie Larry Randolphis an American former Major League Baseball second baseman and manager. During an 18-year baseball career, he played from 1975 to 1992 for six different teams, most notably the New York Yankees. He has joined ESPN as a postseason baseball analyst, beginning in September 2013. He will mainly be on Baseball Tonight, and provide updates during Monday and Wednesday night September network telecasts...
ProfessionCoach
Date of Birth6 July 1954
CityHoly Hill, SC
double level nerve player second tougher toughest turn
That's the toughest thing for a young player to learn, and at the major-league level he has to be able to do it consistently. It's tougher to turn the double play at second than at shortstop because your back is to the runner. You have to have a lot of heart, nerve and confidence.
easy execute far five focused game pitchers pitches stay tired wrapped
That's very important. I like my pitchers to stay focused and execute pitches and not get wrapped up in the score, but that's not very easy to do. Jae got a little tired at the end. We had some long innings, but he did keep us in the game as far as getting throught the first five pretty easily.
ball fly free hand impressed impressive nice
I was really impressed with him. He's nice and free and easy, and, boy, he's huge. Big boy. It's pretty impressive to just see the ball fly out of his hand without any effort.
foundation gotta perfect solid somebody step
Gotta do it on the field, brother. In a perfect world, yeah, I'd like somebody to step up.... To have that solid lineup, solid foundation every day is what you like as a manager.
against family guard happens hope talking
For the most part, you hope it's a 24-hour deal. You can't guard against it. It happens all the time. We're like family ? everyone talking together, spitting ...
asked felt guy last work
I asked him how he felt. He said he felt great. I told him this was his last hitter, get this guy for me. And it didn't work out.
concerned opening ready trust
I am not concerned at all. I trust Pedro and that he'll be ready to go (by Opening Day).
afraid express eye honest lacking straight
He's not afraid to express what he feels. He's going to look you in the eye and ... be straight and honest about how he feels. That's something that's lacking in a lot of clubhouses.
beat
He's not, for the most part, going to beat himself,
best expect hitters seen
He's one of the best hitters in baseball. I've seen him for a long time. This is what I expect from him.
anyone saves
He's my closer, he's been my closer, he has the most saves of anyone on my team,
ball far good passes
He's making good passes at the ball and not favoring the leg, so let's get it going. He's probably as good as he's going to get as far as a shot. Let's see how he looks.
guys sit
I don't like to have those guys sit too long,
throwing
I don't like throwing superlatives around, but you've got to like what you see.