Allard Baird Game Quotations

It's a better team than last year. It has better talent and makeup. But when you start out like this, everything is going to be magnified. That's the way it is. We may have been a little snake-bit. But the game doesn't stop, and nobody is going to feel sorry for you.

If he left March 15, that would be a different story. We haven't played a game yet. No pitcher has pitched a pitch yet in a game, so to me that does not factor in. The most important thing for us right now really is for him to take care of the personal matter. Everything else is secondary.

Having a good camp is one thing, a lot of people have good camps. But his maturity level, his presence, his professionalism and respect for the game ... those are things that really stand out.

We were pleased when he came in after the trade and did a solid job receiving the ball with above-average blocking skills. He's still learning to call a game but, overall, we're pleased.