I remember there was a lot of talk about upgrading the pitching staff. I knew Matt Morris was out there. Watching him from the other league, I knew he was a tremendous pitcher and a tremendous competitor. I was thinking, 'Man, I really hope we get him,' and we did.

Our pitching staff is a conspiracy of ifs.

If you look around at everything that has happened to me, to the whole starting pitching staff, if we have had won all those little games, then the whole pitching staff should be Cy Youngs. It didn't happen for me to get those wins, but that doesn't mean I'm done working.

In hindsight, having seen the replays, the runner did not leave the bag too soon.

I guess the best part of it is he hasn't changed. We were sitting around two nights ago telling stories, and it's like we're right back in school.

I had butterflies. There's something about putting that USA jersey on. It just feels different.