Richie was one happy camper after that game, ... especially when you consider that this time last year he couldn't even pick up a bat.

It's the first time I've ever seen anybody play the field with a shinguard on. He kept saying it was fine and that he was feeling better. If he'd have said it was the same or getting worse, I'd have taken him out of the game.

I thought Joe caught real well. He had a lot of life. He bounced around behind the plate real well.

Usually it's two guys holding the victim, but this was even better. I think this trick was invented when Abner Doubleday started this game, and every year there's somebody who hasn't seen it. We had to go all the way to Japan to find someone this time.

Everyone is doing what they're supposed to do. Guys around our big guys are getting on base and into scoring position, and our big guys are putting the ball in play and coming through. Everybody is doing their jobs offensively.

I always have been intrigued by Ichiro hitting third. When I managed against him with Baltimore I was intrigued by the idea. It is not out of the realm of possibility that it would happen here. ... That would never be done without first discussing it with Ichiro.