Joe Torre Time Quotations

When you're in a slump, you do something different, just to try it. I remember one time I was in a slump, and I borrowed one of Henry Aaron's bats and hit two homers. I used my own bats the next night. I just needed a change.

That's the sign of a good relationship, when you can pick up a phone and it doesn't matter when the last time you spoke was.

Lou isn't someone who is going to sit around and wait for time to march on. He's a very animated, passionate guy about what he does, and he takes a lot of pride in what he does. I give him a lot of credit after the bad first half that they had, to have the second half that they've had. That's all credited to his keeping their attention.

Scott Boras, I've known for a long time. We were both in the Cardinals organization. I'm a lot older than Scott. He's a very tough man, very tough agent.

One thing I'll say here. I'm not going to waste my time talking about negative things. We won a ballgame 9-8. I'm not here to start beating on people, especially the people that, if we expect to win, are going to get us there.

Bubba showed some signs. It took a little time for Donnie (Mattingly) to convince me that he was a different hitter. Again, he's not a world-beater but the fact he's made some adjustments offensively certainly made him an option in postseason play and in important games down the stretch, which never would have been an option before.

Bubba showed some signs, ... It took a little time for Donnie (Mattingly) to convince me that he was a different hitter. Again, he's not a world-beater but the fact he's made some adjustments offensively certainly made him an option in postseason play and in important games down the stretch, which never would have been an option before.

He seems pretty confident. It's evidenced by the fact that he'll throw any pitch in any count at any time in the game. We needed him to fill a spot and he's given us much more than we could've hoped for. He seems to be strong as an ox.

He seems pretty confident, ... It's evidenced by the fact that he'll throw any pitch in any count at any time in the game. We needed him to fill a spot and he's given us much more than we could've hoped for. He seems to be strong as an ox.

I talked to him again today, and he's on board with that. This time of year, you like to go with as much experience as possible.

Opening day is very special. We've waited a long time for this. I left for spring training about two months ago.

That bothers me, but I don't think about it. We go there every year. If every time you walk in, that's what comes to mind, that's too many sad times.

We have to improve our bullpen somewhat and find someone to play center field. Teams have to change all the time to try to stay up with things and try to improve.

You just accept whatever comes down, because if you start getting lost there, you're going to wind up getting distracted and using it as an excuse, and this is no time for excuses.

We just want to get home, ... Not many guys have had their families with them the entire time and we want to get back.

Very satisfying. Coming back in a place where we haven't been comfortable playing in this year and at this time of year, it shows you what kind of players we have.

At some point soon, I'll sit down with Bernie and we'll go over everything. I have a great relationship with him, and always have. I've probably talked to him more than any other player here in my tenure. If the first game of the season were today, I'd say he'd be the starting DH. But I also want to give him a lot of time in the corners (left and right field), with the emphasis more on him playing right than left, spelling Sheffield.

Every time the Yankees go to spring training, you have to be thinking World Series. I don't think that's a disrespect to any other team. It's just understanding the pressure that goes with playing here.

There's only one place to manage in my estimation, ... It's been the best time I've ever had, these 10 years.

This is the time of year Bernie is used to playing.

It's a time of year that they're not used to being competitive. Whether it happened because of that, or the fact that it's just part of getting in shape, I don't know.

It's nothing unusual that pitchers and catchers from time to time have issues. It's the emotion that goes along with playing this game.

It's been an upside down time for him over the last week or so. He's not going to back away from a challenge, he just wasn't as sharp as he could have been.

That lacked respect last night. Winning and losing had nothing to do with it. I just thought it was time to acknowledge what he's done here.

I've enjoyed my time in the American League, the fans of Southern California and other friendships.

It's ready-get set-go time of year. We've got to come ready to play every day on both sides of the ball, and I couldn't be more pleased by what I'm seeing.

I know I alluded to it with my players at one time or another, ... I said, with everything we went through, if it was May or June, you'd have given your right arm to be in the position we are right now. Yeah, we're not in first place, but where we were then, and where we were going, if you knew the last 20 games of the season you're fighting not only for a wild card but for a pennant, you'd be tickled to death.

He's got a microphone in front of his face all the time. Do I like the remarks? No. But I'm not going to worry about getting on the phone every time someone says something.