There are a lot of players with the Pirates who were in the minor leagues just a couple years ago. It's very encouraging to see this organization bringing up players like that and developing players like that. It's definitely a good incentive to work hard and see where it takes you.

The players' association negotiated for a clean slate when a player is promoted from the minor leagues to the major leagues. That clean slate, however, is a two-way street. If minor-league discipline does not count in determining the severity of the penalty to be imposed for a violation of the major-league program, then such discipline cannot immunize the player from discipline under the major-league program.

There was a need early on with the Pirates that you had to bring guys to the big leagues because you had to have people to fill positions.

When I managed in the minor leagues, I think I learned that,

The bus rides remind you you're in the minor leagues but there's a lot of good from it, too. There's a lot of friendships, a lot of talking about game situations that go on during bus rides that you never forget.

Everybody in the minor leagues - if you're a player, an announcer, whatever - wants to be in the big leagues.