Allard Baird Quotations

We've added two innings starters, we've added some team speed, we've improved our defense, we've increased our depth in the bullpen. So I feel good about that. But we still have some things left to do. We'll continue to be aggressive.

What he's done in the clubhouse and with the young players, I can't say enough about him. His value to the ballclub goes well beyond his numbers.

Very few times do you see a player who you can say he can be as good as he wants to be. Literally. I saw Alex Rodriguez in high school, and you could say it about him. That's what I think about Carlos.

We're better. If you want to gauge it, you gauge it at the end of the season. As long as we stay healthy, we're a better club.

We're still in a developmental stage, but we said we need to see some results. We want to start turning projection into production. We're looking for more results.

The reality is most of our players should be in Double-A or elsewhere in the minors,

Makeup-wise he's a tough kid, a competitor, no excuses, holds himself accountable. Pitching consistent and down with his stuff are going to be big for him in spring training.

Losses bother me. Jokes do not. The losses were tough.

Mike would still get time in the field. We are not thinking of doing anything else.

Perception is reality until you know what reality is. When I met with them and asked if they had any questions, they had questions. The big thing with them was, 'If I sign, is it going to stop there?' They wanted a whole, detailed plan, and I was glad to be able to give them that.

I'd like to compete in 2007. That's what I've said all along.

But we still have some things left to do. We'll continue to be aggressive.

From there, we'd like to get him in the fall league and, if he does well and where he's at stamina-wise, we may even look at the Puerto Rican League just to make up for some of the time that he has not been on the field.

If it was a pitch count, a baseball issue, I could tell you.

If something presents itself, we'll surely take a look at it. But as of right now, we think we've addressed our needs as we head into the off-season.

He is obviously a skilled player that we anticipate will move quickly through our system.

He has solid, above-average receiving skills and is above-average in handling a pitching staff. He'll be able to aid us in the development of Buck.

He is a fly ball pitcher and I think it's going to help.

He'll be reevaluated as far as the timetable when Dr. Joyce arrives in camp next week. I won't know until the doc comes in and the swelling goes down.

We think he has the stuff to be a starter.

We've got to stick with our plan. We have no other alternative. We feel like we have some good, young players.

His next outing will be a big indicator where his knee is at in relationship to where his arm is. His arm is ahead of his knee right now in terms of strength and stamina.

When he does get back, it will be like he has to start with spring training all over again.

He was really quiet, unassuming, to himself. A lot of people here still remember him as little Johnny.

He wanted to get an idea about American Spring Training and techniques.

He comes in where he's got to be beat out for the fourth spot in the outfield. He has some speed and defense, and a pretty good approach to the plate.

He comes into Spring Training where it's his job to lose.

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.

I talked to him the other day and he's doing well. He's progressing and he's kind of anxious to get back. We don't have a timetable yet.

It is all quiet there. There's nothing new, right now.

I think, this year, his concentration skills have gone to another level. He's taking strikes. There are very few people who can take strikes and wait for the strike they really want. Carlos can. That's a tribute to his work ethic and natural ability,

Out of respect to him, I'd rather have him do that.

Play solid defense, show the ability to steal bases and just perform well. Offensively, he's got some power and runs some deep counts. When we acquired him we knew he could be a solid fourth outfielder.

I wish we had two more weeks to add on to Spring Training. If we had that, I think he'd be fine, but we don't have that.

I think he would be a pretty good addition to our club. But until everything is set, I just don't want to speculate.

Justin probably shortened the time to really establish ourselves by two years because of his contacts and notoriety.

The alternative is to change direction. And that would be easy at this point, but it would be a mistake, so you stick with it ... Believe me, I understand that people are upset. I understand why they're upset. But you can't change the direction.

We do have some resources available. If one makes sense, I would.

We had a lot of discussion on our young core group and guys that will need more time in the Minors and guys that we have an interest in pursuing as free agents.

We were going to do it at the end of the season. Out of respect for Ruben, this gives him a head start on finding a job for next season. He did a good job, we wish him the best.

You don't aim for it, but you can build an organization that way. I think we've done a good job as far as the players we've drafted except for the first year that I was here as general manager,

We definitely have an interest and we are pursuing it. I do not get the feeling that anything is imminent.

We let the ability of the player dictate how fast he comes along. He's an advanced college hitter, and that makes a difference.

With a guy coming off Tommy John surgery, it's usually the second year those guys come around. We like our defense, especially our infield defense, and its potential to be a good fit with a sinkerball pitcher.

We thought Buck would come into his own in the second half of last season. We really didn't see that. So, offensively, it's an important year for him. No doubt about it.

When you look at him on the field, his defensive ability goes without saying. I don't think any second baseman stays in on the double play like he does -- recklessly, sometimes.

We've had a lot of guys here for a while. They're anxious to get going. And let's not forget, there's a lot of competition here.

To acquire a pitcher, it's going to have to be a free agent.

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.

Everybody told me the same thing about Raul Ibanez. I was told he'd never be anything but an extra outfielder.

Coming back with the same ball club was not going to cut it.

Corner outfield, first base ... second base. He's a good enough athlete.

Emil has put himself in a situation, offensively, to be an everyday player. But where he is defensively is still in the discussion stages.

There's nothing new since the last time we talked.

Is he better at this point compared to where he was last week? Yes.

Right now, we'll send him out as a third baseman.

People ask who our best prospects are. They're here. They're right here. Now we have a core group we feel are ready to move into the big leagues next season that were already here.

The bottom line is I'm the general manager of the club. I'm held accountable. The expectation of fans is a good thing. If the club continues to struggle, that rests on my shoulders.

That's when we start looking for more results. We had this year to go full steam ahead. Next year we're in that next phase where we're looking for more results.

This is a process. It's gonna take some time. No one knows how much time. He's taking steps to move forward.

They knew we had some productive arms out there and there was interest in our bullpen across the board.

There is no timetable. We'll support him and we go from there.

There's a lot of clubs looking for starting pitching. There's not a lot out there. They're calling me for starting pitching.

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.

It sounds like a company line, but he's progressing and moving forward. Is he better than he was last week? Yes.

It's tough to say. We'll send him to the Instructional League and see where he is in relationship to where he should be, game-wise,

David is one of our key core players. He fits perfectly into our plan and direction. This shows the continued support of the Glass family to build a winning club in Kansas City.

The big thing with him is to gain some consistency to his positive play -- that's all we want out of him.

I want to get some power with solid defense.

It was just a comfort level with the manager. He inherited those guys. Both of them are good baseball people and they're going to be offered other positions in the organization.

I'm not going to rule out anybody at this point.

I like that. That says a lot about him. Most people would kind of rest on what they did. That's a good attitude. This guy has had to prove so much in his life, I don't think this is anything different. If he keeps that attitude, I think good things are going to happen for him.

I like that. That says a lot about him.

In our market, for instance, you look at the risk factors involved, and the fact that the margin of error is smaller for us to be successful, and it's very important.

I look at it as a multicultural communicator. We're fortunate to have that guy on our staff.

I'll let Buddy (Bell) make that call but he sure fits nicely as the No. 2 guy.

But he improved his release time last year.

He's progressing nicely at this point. He sounds happy, but there is still no official timetable for when he will return.

He's underrated as an outfielder -- his readings are good and he knows when to take a chance and when not to.

He's low in the strike zone with his fastball and has an out pitch with his change up. He's worked hard on the command of his fastball. I think he's made improvement.

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.

I'd still like to find a starter and improve the outfield situation as well.

I feel confident about all our other drafts and this gives us a chance, obviously, to get an outstanding player two years in a row. And that adds depth to your system and we're finally at a point where we do have some depth.

He's one of the good guys. I'm happy for him.

He's not going to overpower you. He's got to have command of the fastball. His ability to create ground balls last year was a real plus for us.

Andre understands our organizational hitting philosophy. He has worked with a number of our young players, as well as some veteran players that came up through the organization.