Javier Valentin Quotations

I don't know, man. ... What can I say?

Give me an opportunity. That?s all I ask for. Just give me a chance to make the team.

He looks much better. I talked to him and told him to pitch just like he pitched at Triple-A.

He made good adjustments after the first two innings. When he gives us more than six innings, we have a great shot at winning.

He's going to try to be careful with me and he's only going to give me one pitch to hit, ... In that situation, I can't miss that pitch.

He's going to give me one pitch to hit. That's why it's a situation where I can't miss that pitch. Because if I miss the pitch he gives me to hit, I know I'm going to be in trouble.

The only thing I was trying to do was put the ball in play. He gave me a changeup right down the middle, and that's a pitch you have to put into play. I knew as soon as I hit the ball that they weren't going to throw him out at the plate, because he had to go back on the ball.

It found a hole. It's good enough for me.

I'm starting to feel comfortable after getting four at-bats Sunday,

We can play with anybody. If we continue to play the way we're playing now, we're going to be there.

Finally, we've got everything together. We can play with anybody. If we can continue to play like we are now, we're going to be there.

E.Z. is one of those pitchers that needs to relax. He needs to keep the ball down. It?s different when we?re playing in Washington on a big field. He has to make the adjustment. After the first couple of innings, he made the adjustment. He gave us a chance to win. He pitched a great game.

You don't know what's going to happen on a play like that,

I've been trying to shorten my swing a bit more, ... I'm also trying to see the ball more. That's the only change.

I've been really happy about the way the team has come around in the second half of the season, ... And I think I'm a part of that. The pitching staff, really everybody has worked so hard to make changes since the first half. We're going to finish the season close to .500 and that was the goal. Finish .500 and finish positive.

This game is funny. We have to continue what we've been doing and come back tomorrow and start over.

A change-up right down the middle, ... You've got to hit that pitch.

It was going straight to the second baseman. Then it went like this.

It was scary. Right now, he's responding and doing a little better. He's home with his mom. Everybody is OK.

It's no secret. I just see the ball good against him. I'm patient against him and it has paid off.

It's serious in Puerto Rico. The game against Cuba is sold out - it sold out in two or three hours.

If you sit back and say, 'Whew, I finally made it,' that (approach) will get you sent back down quicker than anything else,

I didn't know what part of my body he hit. But in the morning - my shoulder.

This is a good opportunity, and we're going to do it for us and for our family. My father is so excited.