Jim Tracy Starting Quotations

If this kid maintains the same type of mentality and approach that he possesses right now, it's a matter of time before you start strongly talking about the fact that he is a candidate to come here and start a Major League game. I look at this guy as being a very good starting pitcher some day.

He threw way too many pitches last night, with 100-plus still trying to get through five innings, ... But he's getting plenty of seasoning this year. He has exceeded expectations for a Rule 5 Draft pick. Is he a stone-cold lock to make the starting rotation in 2006? No. Is he a candidate? Sure he is.

I think everyone knows Ryan has a great arm. I think we owe it to ourselves to find out if he can help us a starting pitcher.

Did the starting pitcher give you a chance every fifth day to go out there and win? -- that's the biggest element I look at. (Santos) was pretty good at that last year.

He got 13 ground ball outs, and that's good for a nine-inning game. That's an indication of how well he pitched. That's a very positive sign ... It's March 18th, and you want to see your pitchers starting to sharpen.

He's on a mission to pitch himself into the starting rotation and right now he's succeeding.

There isn't a day you would sit here and not want a starting pitcher to go out there and perform the way he did today,