Bud Black Quotations

We want to make sure when we send him out, that he's in condition to pitch again. With the resiliency of his arm, his athleticism and his youth, it doesn't take long for a young guy to get in shape. Essentially, he's not really behind arm-wise because he pitched roughly 2 1/2 to three weeks ago in the Caribbean finals. He got game innings. I suspect his arm is fine.

So many good things happened this year that you have to be proud of these guys.

No one pitches that alike unless they're brothers. They pitch so much alike you'd have to split them up in the rotation just so hitters didn't get the same look.

He had the most impact on a pitcher that anyone in the lineup could. He had the power, he had the ability to get on base, he could draw a walk and he had great speed. But don't forget that Rickey was a very good hitter.

He has to continue to get over the little hurdles that are going to make him a big-league pitcher. In his case, it is realizing the importance of location and trusting his sinker in the strike zone.

He had a big year for Washington. He's a much different pitcher now than early in his career. He's pitching now instead of throwing. He made five starts for the Nationals. He could start.

He was in the training room drinking Gatorade while everyone else was drinking champagne in the clubhouse.

He knew it was just one pitch; he didn't worry about the early runs. He kept his composure.

Lackey is experienced, although he is only 27. And his best years are ahead of him.

I think he's a confident guy. He just needs that mind-set that, 'I am capable of doing something special,' just that sheer determination. He's a great worker, a great teammate, has a great aptitude to take instruction.

That was the nerves of his first major-league start. Everything speeded up on him. The next time, he realized, 'That's not me. That's not who I am.' It was a whole different mentality from the minute he got to the ballpark. He warmed up better, he was focused, he was concentrated.

You don't experiment with a changeup against Alex Rodriguez in the ninth inning at Yankee Stadium.

We talk to all of our guys to have the in-game awareness and to be cognizant of the game around you. You have to have the big picture. Also, when it is critical to make pitches and to not let the game get away from you. These are things that John has started to realize.

The whole year he showed that poise and composure.

It was great to see him step up and make pitches.

Any time you have a chance to sort of regroup, take a step back, then go at it again, it helps. Last year, everything happened so quickly. Every game was vitally important. Now we get a chance to exhale.

In the dugout you see some of the facial expressions up close and you see that intensity. Don't be confused by their laid-back, California personality. These guys compete.

If he makes all his starts, with his stuff, there's no reason why he can't win upwards of 15-to-20 games.

I don't think these guys lose confidence. You'll find very few major league players lose confidence. That's one of the reasons they got here, because they're very confident men.