Chris Duffy Quotations

I am uncertain if race was a factor in Mr. Dilks' assault on me in August and his subsequent threats, but I can assure you that I feel my safety has been severely threatened.

I felt I had a real good jump on the ball. I had a long way to go, and off a left-handed bat, the ball tails to left-field more.

I felt great today. I want to play. I've sat out enough times already. My head is really clear now. There should be no setbacks.

I felt great, like I could have played the whole game, but I need some work recognizing breaking balls. After sitting out (for eight days), I felt a little off at the plate.

I felt just a little woozy right after I was hit, but that was it. I really feel like I could play right now. The Pirates are taking precautions by keeping me out of the lineup and I understand that. I'm just glad I'm feeling good.

I feel fine, like I should be out there playing. The only thing holding me back is the test. You have to remember a series of words and I just haven't been able to pass it. I'm fine, though. There's no need to worry.

I can't see myself play, but I guess the way I play the game really stands out. I didn't realize that. I've always just played the game the only way I know how to play it -- hard.

For me, the biggest thing was just getting all the wows out of the way, and that was mostly stuff like the new cities and stadiums and facing a certain great pitcher here or there, ... Better to do it now than next year. We want to be winning right off the bat.

From really, really working on hitting the other way, my elbow is coming up, and my hips are coming open. I'm kind of fighting myself. The proof is in the tape.

He works hard. A lot of guys who have been around for 11 years, they just kind of go through the motions in spring training, but that guy works hard.

I actually felt at home -- finally. I'm trying to get back into the routine. It was weird to pick up the leather and run out there with the guys. But it felt good.

I was comparing myself to what I was doing last year. I'm trying to get myself right.

I said what I have to stay and I've forgotten about it and put it behind me. I'm over it, no hard feelings.

My whole body seemed to seize up on me in a full cramp. It was really scary.

It felt good just to get off to a good start. We haven't had a lot of those.

That's what he should do -- open some eyes and show that he can play. We're real good friends and competitive, too, at the same time.

Whoever is playing good should play. I think that's fair.

We're always dealing with the administration, and the typical student really isn't, so we're trying to bridge the gap and explain to them in more, I guess, casual terms the reasons for some of the rules that are in place.

We haven't had a whole lot of these innings. It's a lot easier to play the game that way. It's tough to have to play from behind like that all the time.

We had a heart-to-heart with each other. A lot of guys said stuff. It was like a venting session for everybody.

We had a heart-to-heart talk and let it all out on the table. It was more of a venting session for everybody.

Even the stuff we were doing today, that could be huge. It's a lot easier to score from third than from second.

I've been told two to three weeks, so that's what I'm hoping for.

I've been ready for spring training since the day after last season ended. It was extremely frustrating to have to sit on the bench and watch for the last five weeks. I never want to have that happen again.

I've really fine-tuned myself getting those little muscles strong and trying to fire a hamstring the way you're supposed to. I'm probably in the best shape I've ever been in.

These projects are being worked on because, obviously, they impact student life.

They found I was leaning a certain way, and I didn't have the muscle buildup necessary to support that style of running. That was how the hamstring was hurt. It was carrying too much of the stress.

It wasn't the usual Sunday game. We wanted to come out with a win.

It was real nice to get back out there and do some things on the field.

It was really an eye-opener. I guess I took some things for granted when it came to hydration and nutrition. I learned a valuable lesson.

I tried to sell it the best I could. I thought I did a pretty good job.

I tried to sell it as best I could.

It's not that there was a flaw in my running. It's that they found I was leaning a certain way, and I didn't have the muscle buildup necessary to support that style of running. That was how the groin was hurt. It was carrying too much of the stress.

It's a lot of responsibility, but I'm up for the challenge.

It's a pretty important asset, especially with a group like ours. The players want to know what the manager thinks. With Lloyd, you pretty much had to figure that out on your own. Jim Tracy's known to talk to his players, and that makes guys happy.

Dave Ruth and I set this meeting up because the student leaders asked me to have it, and I'm glad we made it happen.

That may set the tone for the starting pitching.

It's nice to see a lot of smiles after a game.

It's nice to know that the opportunity to start is there and I'm excited about it, but I've got to go to spring training and play hard every day. I can't go in with the attitude that I have the club made. A lot of things can happen and I'm trying to be as prepared as possible.

It's been kind of frustrating. I've never been a guy who has had a lot of injuries. I always had 500 at bats every season in the minor leagues. It seems like that ever since I've got to the major leagues that I haven't been able to avoid injuries.

It'll be great to be part of the team again, just joke around and not have to stretch by myself.

It was nice to lead off the game and kind of set the tone for us.

It will be fun. Maybe we'll have words then.

I kind of knew I stole it. I looked at the nearest umpire and he had the out sign, so I thought I sold it pretty good.

I'm putting a little too much pressure on myself, rather than relax. I've been on base a few times, hit some balls hard at people. I think I'm kind of selling myself short a little bit. We still have three weeks left. I'm not worried about it. But I'm not satisfied.

I just decided to play it up as a catch. And then I saw the ump giving the out call.

I definitely have to be a table-setter. My job is to get on base and just score as many runs as I can. Whether my numbers are there or not, I just want to score. I don't really mind what I hit or what my slugging percentage is. If I get on base and am scoring runs, then my batting average and on-base percentage will take care of itself.

I can't stand so far off the plate that I just let him keep getting me out on the outside corner with pitches I can't reach.