Lasorda's standard reply when some new kid would ask directions to the whirlpool was to tell him to stick his foot in the toilet and flush it.

Pitching is what you have best on the day you work, and if you can't get your fastball over the plate, then maybe you can win with your curve.

I firmly believe that there is a God. I firmly believe that there is a Heaven. And I firmly believe that if you go there, it's gonna be great.

With faith, I know that everything will be taken care of. Even the difficult times become learning experiences to help make my faith stronger.

When you do what you're supposed to do and don't complain much, I think the fans, media, players and front office appreciate and respect that.

To play meaningful games and try and win a division, a pennant, a World Series, that's what it's all about. That's the thing I'm most proud of.

Don't ever forget two things I'm going to tell you. One, don't believe everything that's written about you. Two, don't pick up too many checks.

I was a momma's boy. I didn't get anything from Dad, except my body and baseball knowledge. The only time I spent with him was at the ballpark.

When I came up to bat with three men on and two outs in the ninth, I looked in the other team's dugout and they were already in street clothes.

I'll also say, yes, I think the change in black consciuosness in recent years has made me more sensitive to injustice in every area of my life.

When you're having a bad day at work, a lot of times it's your head. When you're having good days, a lot of times it's the absence of the mind.

These days baseball is different. You come to Spring Training, you get your legs ready, you arms loose, your agents ready your lawyer lined up.

Tom Cruise only makes one or two film appearances a year. A baseball player can be the hero or the goat one-hundred and sixty-two times a year.

Keep winning and get to the postseason, I won 20 games and they just dumped one beer on my head. It feels good because I'm helping my team win.

I definitely think with a lot of hard work, I can be a better player than I was last year, and hopefully, continue to raise the bar every year.

I'm very comfortable here. I enjoy all aspects of it. This is a place I want to make a stamp and bring something that Miami hasn't seen before.

I could probably throw harder if I wanted, but why? When they're in a jam, a lot of pitchers...try to throw harder. Me, I try to locate better.

I had many, many, many death threats. I couldn't open letters for a long time, because they all had to be opened by either the FBI or somebody.

I am very proud to be an American. This country has so much potential, I'd just like to see things better, or whatever, and I think it will be.

In baseball, you pack your uniform in the clubhouse after a ball game, and you see it hanging up in your locker when you get to your next city.

I want to say that maybe I've made some wrong decisions, but I'm still an honorable person, and I intend to take care of all of my obligations.

I'm starting to swing the bat now like I know I can. You can't really explain it. I'm just seeing the ball good and everything is going my way.

I think it's all a coincidence. I've pitched some poor games here and got a no-decision. But just give me the ball. I don't care where I pitch.

Jeter is a six-tool player...I've never eaten with him so I can't tell you if he has good table mannners, but I would imagine he has those too.

I didn't do it (pitch like he did) for show. I did it to get batters out. Players would tell me, 'We can't tell where the ball is coming from.'

I expected to be in the big leagues soon. I didn't know exactly how soon, but I wanted to be here soon, and I wanted to make a difference soon.

That's sometimes the hardest thing to do as a professional athlete, because when you get lit up, you wear it, especially as a starting pitcher.

You have to look back on everything that you've done and critique yourself and find the holes in your game that you can continue to get better.

What is the top requirement for a second baseman? A fine shortstop. I am fortunate in having the greatest shortstop in baseball, Luis Aparicio.

Enjoying success requires the ability to adapt. Only by being open to change will you have a true opportunity to get the most from your talent.

Doctors tell me I have the body of a thirty year old. I know I have the brain of a fifteen year old. If you've got both, you can play baseball.

When I was a little boy, I didn't know what the Hall of Fame was. I was just playing the game of baseball, and I wanted to be just like my dad.

I've been very fortunate. I feel very thankful. I've been able to come home and do some fun things and make it exciting for people here at home

I think I've inspired a lot of people, and I'm one, if I get a letter and someone's in serious shape, I'll call them. I relate to these people.

I enjoy talking pitching and talking baseball. And I don't have all the answers. I don't claim to, but I'm more than happy to share my beliefs.

It's going to be unbelievable, you know. There's going to be a lot of people cheering for Mark McGwire and me. And, hey, we'll see how it goes.

You must be passionate, you must dedicate yourself, and you must be relentless in the pursuit of your goals. If you do, you will be successful.

I always try to act as though there is a little boy or a little girl around, and I try never to do anything that would give them a bad example.

It's still the best game in town because you don't have to be big to play, and everybody plays. Even your grandmother probably played baseball.

If the national government doesn't fix your problem, you've got a problem. You've got to fix it yourself. That's just part of the American way.

I love New York. I love to come here, to play here, the tradition here. I'll never forget my first home run here was over Mickey Mantle's head.

If you work hard, good things will happen. I will never be in a situation where if I fail I can look back and say, 'If I'd only worked harder.'

As a ballplayer, you just want to feel respected. I like the way Washington presented the team to me and I feel good about what was being said.

Everybody can have a bad game, and we did. These guys have all proven that they can handle adversity. We're in the midst of a little adversity.

I'm going to be prayerful about it. Whatever decision I make hopefully is the best decision I can make for my family and the fans and everybody.

I always say God doesn't need me, but I need Him in my life to survive in this world and over temptation. That's Who keeps me humble every time.

Keep reading books, stay in school. I encourage kids to read as much as they can, I challenge you to read a book every two weeks, like I try to.

I love the way people talk crap. I hear it all the time. 'Overrated.' 'You suck.' I'll just do something to shut them up, like, 'I'll show you.'

I was lucky enough to have the talent to play baseball. That's how I treated my career. I didn't think I was anybody special, anybody different.

I have always loved the Bay Area. I spent a lot of time in the Bay Area. I started my career there. That's a huge part of the excitement for me.

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