Bob Wickman Quotations

There's huge satisfaction in that, but I've got to credit all the doctors and trainers in Cleveland.

I never gave up, even when people told me I'd never make it.

The pitching is a big core. You look at the Chicago White Sox, what they did last year, the New York Yankees, when they were in their heyday, they had pitching and that's what wins championships. You're very seldom going to slug it out with a team in the playoffs.

Now we have players who are young in age, but they have experience under their belts. Something could happen at any time, they could take it to the next level. We're there, we're competing with everyone, but taking it to the next level is the thing.

I was going with a strikeout pitch every time.

I don't know about the people who didn't understand what (Shapiro) was doing back then, but they should understand now. This is a very good team. The sky is the limit with this group.

I didn't get too many people out in that first one here last year.

If I was in the same situation, my family would come first also. We're all behind him.

He went down and got it. It wasn't the worst pitch in the world. Some guys foul it back, some guys hit it out. Heck, if it's not for me, we win three games.

Hopefully, we'll be the team getting off to a quick start. If we're not the team getting off to a quick start, hopefully, we can stick with them. Last year, Chicago was just too tough at the beginning of the year and they just lost everybody else. We almost came back, but it fell short. Everyone says don't worry about the beginning of the season, but it is a key.

I was coming after him because he already had his homer tonight.

Other than that one game in Chicago, I've had an OK start.

We ended like we started. We came up one game short. But the guys should be very proud of what they've accomplished.

We have a lot to be proud of so far this season. It's not just about being right there with teams like the Yankees and A's. It's about what we've developed into.

To get up in there and by right around the top three or four in the league, I can say, 'Yes, I was one of those guys for one year that was able to save a bunch of games,'

The sad thing, ... is seasons like this don't come around every year. You never know when you will get another shot.

It would be sweeter, ... Everybody would like to see the Yankees not make the postseason one year. If Boston wins that division, and we do our job by beating the Yankees, it would be a tremendous thing. It means we're playing good baseball against a team that sets the standard for good baseball.

The bullpen and starters have been strong all year. This series the hitters are picking us up.

There were two teams that manhandled us last year, Chicago and Tampa Bay. It was just the worst-case scenario that we had to play them seven times at the end of the season when we were right in the race. Any other team, we probably would have been there. We were beating everybody else, but for some reason, Tampa Bay had our number, and so did Chicago.

It's not just me. People are in their roles, and they've stayed in them all year.

It may sound bad, but you've got to experience everything before you can win. Last year was a huge learning experience for this ballclub.

It's going to be tough without him. He has been huge for us all year. We're definitely going to miss him.

It's fun. When we win, we don't have to look at the standings. When we lose, we have to hope that someone else lost.

It's been a team effort. Guys have been stepping up all year.

It was a great battle. You definitely didn't want to let the team down today by going out there and blowing the game.

It's weird, because I am getting the opportunities this year,

It was his decision, not the Indians' decision. I think he made the right decision.

Their durability is impressive. All aspects of this team are getting it done. The hitters have come on strong, the bullpen has been solid. But it all starts right out there with the starters.

In 2000 and 2001, people feared coming here. They're not afraid now. We've got to get that back. We can't keep saying we're a young team. It's time to put that behind us.

I hope it doesn't happen again that it gets out of hand, but yes, it is something to think about. We have to come out and get it done.

I hear a lot of what is said about me on those shows, and it really ticks me off. Guys who call and blast me will have an effect on whether I want to come back here next season. My kids hear this stuff and it makes me mad.

I get asked a lot about being their third choice, but I was the one who chose to make it harder on myself by wanting just a one-year deal. There were some owners with wide eyes when I told them that. I wanted it that way because, if I got hurt, I could just walk off and go home.

I just don't see why you are picking at him. He answered the question,

If I stink, I'm not going to play just to collect a paycheck.

I definitely struggle with the White Sox, especially this year and here at this park,