Rick Magnante Quotations

We won the first two innings. We're a capable team, but most of these players are amateurs.

My God, we're going to be like Lilliputians out there.

I wouldn't want it to be a demoralizing experience for the boys, because young men's egos are fragile. But given an opportunity to allow all the players to participate today, that would have been my goal. And I think that could have been better achieved had we played nine innings.

If they can look back and say they gave their most, that's all you can ask.

It is an amateur team. There is no way to handicap it to make it a level playing field. Nonetheless, memories are going to be made here and maybe we can grow the game and create a greater interest.

We never stopped. We got down, we kept playing hard all the way, we got down, we came back, it was just a tremendous effort.

The adage I use is of Jack and the Beanstalk, Gulliver and the Lilliputians and David and Goliath. All of them apply, there's no doubt about that. But if we can find the magic beans, or if we can zero the stone, then you never know what can happen.

We have to keep a positive attitude. This is not golf, I don't get eight strokes a side and we level the playing field. There is a disparity in terms of talent.

We're the only team with two losses and still have to play the USA. It's a big game for us and we know it's going to be a big game for them because it's a must-win for them.

We need to give some of our pitchers work.

We've got a combination of veterans and young kids with limited experience. They've never played in a venue like this.

We'll just try to be fundamentally sound. Get the pitchers to throw strikes and put the ball in play. Then we'll see if we can make the plays. That'll be our key, to just play catch. Not give up too many outs.

To keep the game going and expand the venue, MLB is trying to create a greater global interest and places to develop big leaguers.

I'll piggyback the two of them against Canada, I just haven't decided who will go first. But we'll keep both of them below the pitch limit so we can use them in the third game.

He throws an upper-80s fastball with a strong slider and keeps the ball down. He's a competitive kid.

I couldn't be more proud. We closed the book on the Cinderella story. We tried our best. We put ourselves in position to win. We got down. We came back. It was a tremendous effort.

I am pleased with the effort and commitment and the fact that the youngsters are committed and motivated. They are certainly enjoying the experience. It's a tremendous opportunity for them and for me, to be given a chance to participate in a world venue. I have never been on that stage myself.