Gabe Kapler Quotations

We've still got a grind and battle ahead of us. I think we're going up against a great team and we're going to have our hands full. I think the rivalry is there regardless of which team is in front.

I fell asleep on the situation. I pride myself on being professional and not showing anyone up. It was a poor error in judgment.

When he swings the bat well, he?s fun to watch. There?s no better right-handed hitting batter in the league. You could make that case.

I think it's always an issue. Billy definitely is one of those guys who plays hurt consistently and plays well.

Right now, our offense is really putting everyone else on its back and carrying us. There's going to be a time when the pitching is going to put everybody on its back and carry us. I just think it's important to note that for us to win a championship, everything has to be going in the right direction. I think that's right around the corner.

We have a mission, ... we have a goal. And it's not complete.

This team has done something the past two days that should go down in history as an incredible accomplishment. And what David Ortiz has done is miraculous. He's carried us on his shoulders.

There's not a man in here who doesn't realize Johnny Damon makes us go. He's very important to us.

There's not a man in here that doesn't realize that Johnny makes us go. He's the catalyst.

Right now, the offense has us on its back and it's carrying us. There will come a time when the pitchers will put us on its back and carry us.

As an athlete, you have to have that feeling that you can beat the odds, come back sooner than expected. Otherwise, the guys who are like, 'What's going to happen?', those guys it takes three months longer. It's better to have the reverse attitude.

This game seems to happen so fast, it happens so quickly. I was glad to get back in the clubhouse and know that we had a win. That was the most important thing.

It's embarrassing to be out there and not be able to finish it, ... So, I would've liked to be able to at least run around the bases. But they told me that wasn't the right thing to do.

It was awesome. Still trying to figure out how David Ortiz does it. We all would like to have a smidgen of what he's got going for him.

It was an amazing performance because it's not easy to sit through a long rain delay and have the same intensity. It's not easy to start and stop, and that's what Matt did successfully. When you start and stop, it's easy to bow out of the situation, but he didn't do it. And he was rewarded for it.

It's good to have a little cushion. But it's not going to be easy.

That's probably the best perspective in the park. My favorite one was the strike three pitch he threw Giambi that kind of went straight, cut in and then ran back on the plate for a strike.

Everyone is very respectful of one another and what they choose to believe in. The guys in this clubhouse live in harmony when it comes to that kind of stuff.

I wanted to make sure they all knew that I apologized, ... that I just fell asleep. That was me, not thinking about the situation in the game.

I just haven't really had a chance to allow it to sink in, ... There's going to come a time when reality hits me. It's going to be a while before I can help my teammates. That's going to be hard for me.

I really didn't think it was it, especially because immediately I started getting feedback from people who had known people who had had the injury. I got a call from (Cleveland first baseman) Eduardo Perez relatively soon after the injury, and he said he came back and felt as good as new. I know there are some NFL quarterbacks, too. (Dan) Marino did it and came back as good, or better. I believe Walt Weiss had his career ended, but I'm 30. I think Walt was a little bit further along.

I had constant communication with the Red Sox, and they were awesome all the way through. It became clear I wasn't going to be ready to start the season, so it didn't make sense to hold that roster spot. I had nothing but great support from the Red Sox.

He's our catalyst, he means everything to this team. I think there's not a man in here that doesn't realize that Johnny kind of makes us go. He's very, very important to us. I know he's a tough player and he'll be back out on the field for us soon.

I just haven't really had a chance to allow to sink in. I'm sure there is going to come a time when reality is going to hit me and I'm going to know that it's going to be a while before I help my teammates, and that's going to be hard for me.