Vlad reminds me a lot of Kirby [Puckett], but with more pop. Kirby was a free swinger, but [Guerrero] is in a league of his own. I don't think he even has a plan when he goes up there.

Like a lot of guys, Pudge has tried to do too much. Yes, he's a free swinger -- to a limit. This year he has expanded his zone.

You've got to set a tone early. We didn't set that tone early last year and it lasted the whole year.

I fell behind 2-0 and had to get a strike there. The ball was not where I wanted it, no doubt. I just blew it. I blew it. We played big today.

After the other guys did the job in relief, I was supposed to nail down the shutout for Felix after a great start. You hate to lose that zero, but we did get the win, and that's what it's all about.

You pitch up there at this level, you're going to pay the price. It was my fault.