Jose Contreras Quotations

When I'm in the zone, it's difficult for players to hit me. That's what I've been working on -- getting in the zone.

When I was a Yankee, I didn't have a lot of luck against Boston, ... In my last three starts against the Red Sox, I've had a lot of success against them. Maybe it's the luck of the uniform.

We had a very good relationship and he taught me a lot of things,

Since the first day I walked into the clubhouse, everyone believed in me and had confidence in me, ... Even the language barrier. The manager not only speaks Spanish, he's my friend. He gives me a lot of confidence.

Since the first day I walked into the clubhouse, everybody believed in me,

Me and Roger had a very good relationship,

My success is a lot due to Cooper and the patience he's had with me since last year and through the first half,

I don't feel that I am the lost stopper on the staff. I just feel that every time that I go out, I can win the game.

But we've turned double plays all season long and can't change anything you've done this season. If we turned that double play, we might be talking about something different.

I felt fine after having such a long time off. No problem.

I feel very proud of being part of the staff, ... It never crossed my mind once, though, to throw a complete game because when you face such a great offense as Anaheim you never think this.

I feel very good right now. (I've) never been happier than (I am) right now. All (I'm) asking God is to keep me healthy, and everything will work out for the best.

If a fan wants to say something to me, they don't know what to say because I can't understand them, ... So they can't get to know me. Even though I can talk to fans about the game, I cannot get into a deep conversation and talk about the things I want to talk about.

I don't think you would see a difference in the performance of normal everyday tasks where you don't need to learn something new,

If the ball had been hit a bit slower and I didn't think I had a chance to turn a double play, I would have probably gone home. But we've turned double plays all season long and can't change anything you've done this season. If we turned that double play we might be talking about something different.

He hit a home run that put us ahead and add in the two defensive plays that kept us in the game and made us win. Because if those balls go through, they go ahead and we might lose.

Today, I was ready from the get- go. I was ready from the start today. I wasn't ready from the first inning against Cleveland.

I think it's my best outing in a major league uniform.

I was mad because I had a lot of friends in New York. But I had to just step through that, go through it, and when I got here I wanted to thank the organization for just giving me the confidence.

Our pitchers get along with Coop. Coop understands us, lets us do what we think is best and we feed off each other very well. He's been a great part of our success.

I was ready to pitch my game once we started. The rain was the last thing on my mind. I had a good fastball, kept the ball down in the zone, and my slider was effective early in the game.

Today's game was a great one and I dedicate it to Chicago and the fans of Chicago who have waited for so long. I know they deserve this because they stood by me when I was pitching bad and now that I'm pitching great.

We get to talk because we speak the same language,

We pitch mostly the same way, and just facing him is an honor. As good as he is, I wish I had him on my team, but too bad we have to face him.

When I would lose a game before and they were not here, it was hard, but now it's a little easier to take, ... And when you win, you feel that much better because you can share it with your family.

Falling behind on Garret Anderson, such a great hitter. You attack him the wrong way and you are going to get hurt. After that, I wasn't locating the ball the way I was the first couple of batters and they got back-to-back hits. I got myself in trouble.

When you lose, it's always a bad outing regardless of how you pitch or how many strikeouts you have or what you threw.

Even though the first half of the season didn't go as I wished, as everyone expected me to be, you just got to face that you have ups and downs and I'm glad that it's on an up side right now, ... I hope I can keep it going.

Believe it or not, you get ready for this game from Day 1 in spring training,

At the beginning of the year, I was pitching pretty decent but I wasn't getting the wins. Now, I'm getting the wins and helping the team win games.

The trainer said not to worry, but obviously I'm worried a little bit. I'm going to get treatment and see what happens the next few days.

The way he pitched looked so perfect, you wanted to try to do the same,

It was a little bit of a motivation, but I never let it get to me, ... I knew if I work hard, good things will happen.

I wanted to get it done before the season started so I could focus on the season and get rid of any trade rumors that would come. We've been working on it all spring, and I'm glad it got done before the season started. It was fair for both parties.

After the All-Star break there were trade rumors that were bothering me, ... But Ozzie and Cooper gave me the confidence and took the pressure away from me and I tried to work as hard as I could with my stuff and my mental state.

The most important thing to me is to stay healthy. If (I) stay healthy, the rest will come. (I) can keep the ball in the zone and strike batters out.

You might call it lucky, you might call it great, but we stepped it up.

This is one of the few times when I haven't missed Cuba. I know after this I'm going to feel a little sad because my family hasn't been able to share this victory with me, but later I'll talk to them on the phone and they'll enjoy it, too.

This is the beginning of every important game left in the year. I knew that. We can't lose from this point on. Luckily I got three runs and I could pitch more comfortably.

This (demonstration) is great because nobody cares about what's happening (with the bill). It's a beautiful thing, as long as everybody stays calm.

It's a big difference, ... You have that extra support when you look into the stands and see your wife and kids.

Even when Jose was struggling we kept sending him back in there to get over it. It was a long process and it paid real well,

Even when I was in Cuba, I hear of Roger Clemens, and I was a big admirer. I'd heard so much about him, and then I got to see him pitch. Everything about his pitching is perfect. You watch him and you see nothing wasted.

Everybody knows the quality of players from Cuba. All of the championships we won -- you have to be one of the best in the whole country to be one of the 25 who are coming.

I've got a lot of respect for the Yankees, but I think it's just coincidence I pitched well against them. Both games were big games and we needed that. Hopefully I can bring this game against every team I face.

They can't leave me out there. I'll lose the game, ... We have guys out there that are fresher.

The invited are young players who are followers of the revolution and have a clean background. If you have relatives who live in other places in the world, it will be really difficult to be taken out of Cuba on that team. For example, if you have an uncle who lives in Miami, it's going to be real hard for you to leave the country. They worry that you will stay there.

I'm going to attack them the same way I have in the past and the same way I did last time. I think that's the key against every major-league team, throw strikes and attack them. I don't think my game plan is going to change, anything at all.

I just worked more on my mental and physical health, ... The trade rumors were bothering me.

I'm throwing the ball well, my defense is outstanding. I'm throwing the ball the way I want to.

I have no pressure with the White Sox. And my confidence is very good.

I'm being aggressive and throwing strikes, ... Finally, it's coming together.

I haven't felt as mentally and physically strong as I do right now in a while. I am feeling real good right now.

I haven't felt as mentally and physically strong as I do now.

I have to thank Roger very much because in Cuba I was throwing a two-seam fastball and he taught me how to throw a four-seam fastball. Every time I did something wrong with my mechanics, he helped he correct my errors.

By the third inning, I felt like I could go forever. For having such a long time off, I felt real good. No problems so far.

I felt very good. I feel 100 percent and my arm doesn't bother me at all.

I dedicate this to Chicago, ... This is for the fans of Chicago who have waited so long. I know they deserve it because they've stood by me when I was pitching bad.

I don't think there's such a thing as an excess of pitching.

If Cuba wins, it is expected. If they lose, there will be a lot of explaining because baseball is the top sport and if you don't win, it's a problem. The pressure is going to be double for Cuba. You have the government watching and you are playing against the best players in the world. This will be the best competition Cuba has ever played against.

The comfort level comes from throwing strikes like I have in the past and passing the ball around the strike zone and not walking as many people, and that comes from confidence, ... When you have confidence you have success, and that's when you have wins.

The first thing I do after a game is call my mom or brother or someone, and I don't know how they do it, but they get the information before I can tell them, ... It's pretty funny.

The confidence I have received from my manager and my pitching coach Don Cooper, ... I think my pitching coach and my manager have been really patient.

It's amazing how everything here seems like it's in abundance. In Cuba, there is a shortage of everything.

Don Cooper is an incredible person. He's not only a great pitching coach, but he's a great human being and a great friend.

Sometimes I just stand on the beach and look at the water, and Cuba feels so close it's unbelievable.

The day I pitch, I feel confident I can stop the other team.

Pitching in the Olympic Games, Pan Am Games and Central American games prepared me to pitch at the big-league level.

I'm Cuban and I always will be.

The government is one thing and the country of Cuba and my people are something different completely, .. It's like the United States government and your country. You don't have to agree with the policies to be proud of your country.

All of the good houses belong to people who have emigrated.