Tuesday, April 07, 2009

MLB Notes And Quotes From Opening Day


New York Mets Ace Johan Santana has now gone 18 consecutive starts without a loss and with their 2-1 win over Cincinnati on Monday the Mets Opening Day record now stands at an MLB best 31-17.

“There’s that quiet confidence about this team. Not many people share that with us, but that’s OK. We believe in each other. That’s how it felt before the game, during the game and after the game.” – Texas Rangers Opening Day pitcher, Kevin Millwood after the Rangers 9-1 victory over Cleveland.

“It was a heavyweight fight out there. It was blow after blow. Every time we scored, they scored, and we finally had the last say.” – Arizona first baseman Chad Tracy after the Diamondbacks beat Colorado 9-8 in a game that featured eight homeruns including the game winner off the bat of Tracy.

What can you buy for $341 million? If you are the Yankees that is the cost of an Opening Day loss after tying up $180 million in Mark Teixeira and $161 million in CC Sabathia. Teixeira went hitless and Sabathia didn’t make it through the fifth inning of the Yankees 10-5 loss to Baltimore.

“He’s the fastest guy I’ve ever seen in my life.” - Florida shortstop Hanley Ramirez on teammate Emilio Bonifacio who hit an in the park homerun in the Marlin’s 12-6 win over Washington. It was the first in the park on Opening Day since Boston’s Carl Yastrzemski did it in 1968.

“That first one, he blew by me pretty easily. Then I kind of stayed back and it felt pretty good. Just try to get it out there, put it in play, and then you have a chance.” – Pittsburgh shortstop Jack Wilson after hitting a game winning three-run double in the 9th inning against St. Louis.

“That’s as good of a lineup that you’ll face—a little bit of everything. That’s a team to be reckoned with.” – San Diego Padres pitcher Jake Peavy after suffering his first loss to the Dodgers since September of 2003.

Chicago Cubs hurler Carlos Zambrano went into the seventh inning and struck out six batters in leading the Cubs to a 4-2 victory over the Houston Astros. It broke a four year opening day losing streak for Zambrano.

“Both of them were pretty close. If it hits you in the head, it could do some damage. After the second one I said, ‘That’s enough.”’ – Toronto outfielder Josh Anderson on Detroit fans throwing baseball at him during the Tigers 12-5 loss to the Blue Jays.

Seattle Manager, Don Wakamatsu, is the leagues first Asian-American manager and scored his first career win Monday night in the final Opening Day game at the Metrodome. Ken Griffey Jr. hit a homerun in his first game back in a Mariners uniform to help lead Seattle to a 6-1 win over the Twins.

“Give the defense an A-plus, it was an honor just for me to be out there. Then the fans gave me a standing ‘O.’ It was special.” – Angels Opening Day pitcher Joe Saunders after a 3-0 decision over Oakland.


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