Scott Podsednik Quotations

I dont have words to describe whats going on here,

I don't know what to tell you. I feel fortunate.

I can get more accomplished staying back here, being able to hit every inning. Just get some more game-time at-bats rather than going to Atlanta. It's a more controlled environment where I don't really have to go all out, somewhat test and see where we stand.

I can't say enough about what our starters have done this series. Our pitchers have set the tone for us all season long. It does something for the offense when you know those guys are out there battling.

I got a good pitch to hit and I drove it out,

Go look at the video; I don't feel good,

It all seems surreal, ... It was a long, tough road, but I learned a lot of valuable lessons along the way. I struggled and hit a lot of obstacles in the road, but I think those times only made me a stronger person.

I think we all needed the second look to find out exactly what's going on in there. We will see how it feels the next few days and try to start increasing my activity.

I was just trying to get on base.

Our pitching has set the tone for us from day one. They don't have words to describe what our starting staff has gone out and done this series.

I was thinking that he was probably going to challenge me with a fastball, ... And I said, 'Hey, let's put a good swing on this fastball.'

I thought it would be fun. I heard Lance Armstrong and Sheryl Crow was going to be hosting the show. I thought it would be a great opportunity to meet him for the first time. It was tons of fun.

I'm still waiting to wake up, it hasn't sunk in yet.

I'm still returning phone calls and text messages. That's what this is all about. These opportunities don't come around very often, so you've got enjoy it while you can.

We haven't won anything. That team is going to be ready to play (today). We're not going to play like we have a 3-1 lead. Our mindset is to win the next game.

Yeah, there were a couple of times when I was really considering if I was cut out to play major league baseball,

We needed to improve on our situational hitting, which has been lacking of late, ... We were able to do that tonight.

We got the pitching and we manufactured a few runs to win the game. That's what we've been doing all year.

We all probably needed a second look to see what exactly is going on, and now we will know and we will take the necessary steps. I am confident that what (team trainers) are telling me is on the money and they are not concerned, that it is not in the joint, it is outside the joint and we are dealing with muscle. That is positive news.

There are a lot of things that went right for us this year. We start from scratch now.

When you have a chance, you've got take it, you can't just wait around for something to happen. You've got to make it happen.

To watch what Paul has done in this series ... wow. It's been fun to watch. We like our chances with guys on base and him at the plate.

Every opening day is special, but this one is really special.

As soon as it came off my bat, I was thinking at the very least to get to third base. Then, I saw (first-base coach) Tim Raines throw his hands up.

Coming over my first couple of months people were asking me about the change in leagues. I didn't see a significant difference. ... I don't think it's a necessarily a different brand of baseball. The DH may have a little to do with that but it's probably just coincidental that the American League has won these last few.

It wasn't real hard to make a decision. It's been nagging on me for quite some time now and it got to the point where I can't continue on. I have probably been running 60 to 70 percent so it's matter of getting in there and getting some treatment on it and gaining some strength back.

It's up to me to go out and prepare myself, to make sure I get good, loose and hot. I think that was somewhat our approach (rest) last year. I felt pretty strong.

That's the difference in having an offense that can score in other ways than hitting the ball out of the park or getting base hits,'' Raines said.

That remains to be seen, depending on who is throwing that day, depending on how the leg is feeling. I'm hoping not to have any problems once I get this thing behind me.

The big thing was to get runners on base and drive them in. We got a whole team effort and Jose Contreras pitched a great game and kept down their hitters. It's a nice way to start, so now we have to keep this up.

That is what we are hoping for. I did some work on the treadmill (Wednesday) and it felt pretty good. We are a little further than we anticipated.

I walked to the plate trying to get on base,

It was a good pitch to hit, ... and I was able to drive it out.

It will be a tough home run to top, given the timing and when and where it happened. I don't hit too many home runs, no less a walk-off home run in the World Series.

I kind of asked the guy a crazy question,

I'm pretty crazy, so to speak, a little superstitious. I'm using something different up there just about every week.

I recall standing out in left field after Paul did what he did, thinking about, man, what does that man feel like now? ... So to go out and hit one out of the ballpark for a game-winner is pretty indescribable.

I know no one was expecting that homer to come off my bat. We'll continue talking about it and I enjoy talking about it and it's one of the biggest hits of my life. Just one of those things.

I really have no confidence out there. I'm getting bad jumps. It's hard to steal with a lack of strength. Straight-ahead running is no problem, but running from a dead stop, I'm having problems. It's a matter of getting in the weight room and getting more strength.

I really haven't found my rhythm out there. It's a matter of continuing to (get on base) and if I steal some bases, that will give me some confidence and get back on track.

I don't think it gets any bigger than that, to face Clemens in the first inning of the World Series,

If fans are waiting for an offensive explosion, ... they might have to wait awhile.

I definitely hope this is something that can get me going. I'm not feeling that bad up there, actually, because I feel like I am close. I'm not looking that far into it where I need to change mechanically. I think it's about getting up there and getting my mind right, getting a little more positive at the plate. I just need to go up there ready to battle each at-bat, not give anything away.

For the most part, it's just mentally getting over the hurdle, trusting it, being able to go out and put it in the back of my mind to where I'm not worrying about it.

The guy is just a lot of fun to watch. We like our chances with runners on base and him at the plate.