Outside of the Yankees, who could take on such a gamble? You don't know if he'll ever be Sammy Sosa again. He just hasn't looked like the same player, especially this year.

[Neither Dusty Baker or Sammy Sosa would comment on their closed-door meeting, prompted by Baker's earlier statement that Sosa was] sensitive ... you just can't lose him psychologically and spiritually.

I've always swung the same way. The difference is when I swing and miss, people say, 'He's swinging for the fences.' But when I swing and make contact people say, 'That's a nice swing.' But there's no difference, it's the same swing.

I'm not even thinking about passing McGwire. The season will be over September twenty-seventh. Mark will go home, and I will go to the playoffs.

When you're in the middle of a pennant race, you can't go up there thinking about home runs.

Don't compare me to Babe Ruth. God gave me the opportunity and the ability to be here at the right time, at the right moment, just like he gave Babe Ruth when he was playing. I just hope I can keep doing what I've been doing - keep taking care of business.