John Gibbons Tough Quotations

He's become a better pitcher. He's throwing more strikes. He's got a better feel for that breaking ball now, and he's locating his fastball better. He's ahead more and he's been real tough on right-handers.

We're on a tough little stretch right now, no question. But we always seem to bounce back, that's the character of the ball club. In this business you take your lumps sometimes, it's just how you handle it that separates you.

We survived it, we move on. There's more tough ones ahead of us.

What we want him to do is get up there and turn it lose, ... He has a track record to prove he's a productive big league hitter. It's been a tough year for him. I think his timing is back.

He's pitched great for us the last two years, so he ought to be able to throw with confidence. But it's a tough business. He's one of those guys that lives and dies with his outings because he cares so much.

He can overpower you. He's got that big, hard breaking ball that's tough to do anything with when he gets ahead.

Look, if the guy is going to keep hitting a home run a day it would be tough to keep him out of there.

We've got nothing to lose and everything to gain. Especially for young guys, it's tough to accept that, ... You know you're under the gun. Even though it doesn't affect us as a team -- in the standings -- there's pressure because of what the other team faces.

There's no question he's been through some tough times, but you know what, everybody has a little bit. This whole game comes down to location. Whether you're a starter or a reliever, you have to make a pitch.

There's no secret. When you're in the division with these guys, you've got to slug it out. When you go head-to-head with them, very rarely is there going to be low-scoring games. ... It's tough to shut them down, to hold them to three runs or less. You've got to score with them.

The thing about Crawford is he's got some big-time power, too. He can beat you in so many ways. They're pretty much the same guy once they get on, you know they're going to get their bases, it's tough to get them even when everything goes right.

I've always been a fan of the guy. He played for me in Triple-A. He's been in the big leagues the last few years. He's had some success. He's played in some tough towns -- in New York and L.A. -- So that doesn't phase him. He's not a Minor League player. He's a big league player.

It was an inconsistent month. We had that good stretch where we put ourselves in position, ... I just look back at that road trip -- it was a tough trip and we know that. ... It was part of our schedule, but to bounce back and finish 14-14, I'd feel pretty good about it.

It will be good to get home. I think any team would've had problems with this trip. It's tough to win on the road in any sport. You just get more opportunities in baseball.

I knew it was going to be a tough day when they scored those four in the first. When you come in this place, you know you're going to slug it out with them.

His instincts told him he had a shot at him. It's a tough play when the third baseman is on the move.

Cabrera, when he's throwing strikes, he's as tough as anybody. When he figures it out, watch out.

He always pitches very good when he's facing these guys, which is tough to do.