With three games on Wednesday, there was plenty of quotage from the MLB on TBS crew regarding the great postseason action we saw, from Cliff Lee’s excellent pitching performance in the Texas-Tampa Bay game to Roy Halladay’s no-hitter and finally to the great action in the Yankees-Twins game. Lots of good stuff. Here;s the quotes in case you missed any of the games.
Notes from MLB Postseason on TBS – October 6, 2010The MLB Postseason continues on TBS on Thu., October 7 beginning at 2 p.m. ET with TBS MLB on Deck followed by a tripleheader featuring the Texas Rangers @ Tampa Bay Rays, Game #2 (2:30 p.m. ET), New York Yankees @ Minnesota Twins Game #2 (6 p.m. ET) and Atlanta Braves @ San Francisco Giants Game #1 (9:30 p.m. ET). The night will conclude with the post-game show Inside MLB.
TBS’ Play-by-Play Announcer Brian Anderson’s call of the final out of Halladay’s historic no-hitter (click link to see video clip of final out on MLB.com)***** ***** ***** ***** *****TBS MLB On-DeckMatt Winer (host), Dennis Eckersley, Cal Ripken and David Wells (analysts)Rangers starting pitcher C.J. Wilson on teammate Josh Hamilton: “Josh is the absolute best player I’ve ever seen. He’s the most physically talented baseball player that I’ve ever witnessed. He can hit the ball 500-feet. He can throw a guy out at home. He can do anything and he showed that this year. To have him in the line up (again), every time he’s at bat, we’re all sitting there like little kids waiting to open up a Christmas gift. What kind of cool thing is he going to do now?”Ripken on Hamilton’s rib injury: “If you’ve had a fractured rib, (and you have) a sneeze or a cough it just puts you in the worst sort of pain. Just think about him swinging the bat and the violent action all the way through, especially the way he finishes really high there’s a lot of torque on his ribcage. He says when he swings and misses, it doesn’t hurt. I had a similar experience. I had a hyper extended elbow at one point and if I swung and missed it really hurt. I became more selective and got a better pitch to hit, my focus went up. Maybe (this experience) will make Josh Hamilton a better hitter by making him focus and little more sure.”Eckersley on the two Game #1 starting pitchers, the Rangers’ Cliff Lee and the Rays’ David Price: “It’s tough to go against a guy like (Cliff) Lee who has a lot of experience. However, (David) Price has had people paying attention to him since he was a first pick overall out of college and you see what he’s done since. The guy was an All-Star starter. He’s had pressure his whole life so I think he’ll be fine in this (Postseason) situation.”Wells on Cliff Lee: “I expect nothing but greatness (from Cliff Lee). He is a proven pitcher and he doesn’t crack under pressure. This guy has such good mechanics. He’s a smart pitcher with gas.”Wells on Lee pitching with emotion: “There’s nothing wrong with pitching with emotions. But sometimes when you’re in a playoff game you get a little frustrated because you’re not making your pitches and he can be erratic at times. But he has what it takes to get you out no matter what.”Injured Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins on his health: “I can do anything I want physically. The only thing I haven’t tried to do was steal a base and that will be done on a need to steal a base term. You can never go at full speed during practice, only during the game. The ball dictates how fast you’re going to go. I wasn’t slacking, just being careful. I am ready to go. My legs have played the innings and they feel pretty good.”Eckersley on Phillies Game #1 starting pitcher Roy Halladay: “(Roy) Halladay is the best pitcher in the game. He comes over from the American League and look what he does in the National League. It’s a cake walk. He’s probably going to win the (NL) Cy Young. He’s done everything except pitch in the Postseason. He done everything that Philly could have ever imagined. The only thing left to do is take them to the house and win the World Series.”New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter on the importance of winning on the road: “If you’re going to win, you have to win on the road, too. I haven’t seen a team that’s only won at home win a championship. In my opinion, it doesn’t make a difference where you play. If you have a good team then you’ll win.”Ripken on teams adjusting to new ballparks: “I think there’s a factor playing in the new ballpark (Target Field) in Minnesota. It’s a big yard. Joe Mauer only hit one home run there. So it does take away some of the power. Home run hitters hit home runs in all ball parks. Just think about the Kingdome (in Seattle) and then moving to (Safeco Field) in Seattle where they play now. It’s a different game and it could neutralize the power advantage the Yankees have and Minnesota can truly have an advantage by playing the small ballpark.”Wells on how Twins Game #1 starting pitcher Francisco Liriano can neutralize the Yankees lineup: “(Francisco Liriano) just has to go out and pitch. He had electrifying stuff before his surgery. Left-handed pitching is tough for the Yankees (hitters) and always has been. He’s not afraid of anybody and he’ll bring the gas. He’s got a good curve ball. Overall, he has a tough line-up to deal with but if he can succumb that whole line up he has a good chance facing (Yankees Game #1 starting pitcher) CC (Sabathia).”Eckersley on pressure on power pitcher CC Sabathia: “The pressure is on CC today. You could go to any first game but this one is even bigger for the Yankees because all they have is CC. They’ve been banking on this guy all year long and he’s come through big for them. If the Yankees lose today, if CC loses today, the Yankees will lose this series.”***** ***** ***** ***** *****Game 1: Texas Rangers (5) @ Tampa Bay Rays (1) – Rangers lead the series 1-0Announcers: Don Orsillo (play-by-play) and Buck Martinez (analyst) with Marc Fein reportingMartinez on the pitching matchup between the Rays’ David Price and the Rangers’ Cliff Lee: “Price has taken it to a new level. He established the franchise record with 19 wins. Price is a Cy Young Award contender. He understands what it means to set the tone for this series. This is why the Texas Rangers acquired Cliff Lee from Seattle. Last year against the National League, (Cliff Lee) he set the tone in the division series with a complete game in Game #1 and they hope he’ll that again against Tampa Bay.”Martinez on Josh Hamilton’s comeback: “Over the course of (the season), he out hit everybody in baseball by 54 points and e won his first batting title. He will change the way (Rays manager Joe) Maddon looks at (the Rangers’) line up.”TBS’ reporter Marc Fein interviewed Game #1 winning pitcher Cliff Lee following the gameLee on what was the key to his win in Game #1 against the Rays: “(I was) just locating pitches and trying to get ahead in the count. When I got out of the first inning, I knew things were going to go well. They got three hits in the first and didn’t get a run, I got lucky to be honest with you. To come out of that without any runs gave us a little momentum. The key was locating pitches and staying out of the heart of the plate. It’s a very good lineup over there (with the Rays). If you make any mistakes up in the zone, they can make you pay.”***** ***** ***** ***** *****Game 2: Cincinnati Reds (0) @ Philadelphia Phillies (4) – Phillies lead the series 1-0Announcers: Brian Anderson (play-by-play) and Joe Simpson (analyst) with David Aldridge (reporting)Simpson on the Reds/Phillies series: “I think it’s going to be a very interesting series. Because of the pitching for both sides, this could be a very low scoring series. Or with the firepower that both teams have, it could be high scoring because they play in small ballparks and they have a lot of power up and down their lineups.”Simpson on veteran Reds third baseman Scott Rolen: “Rolen is a seven-time Gold Glove winner and he’s been to the Postseason. He’s a real gamer in every sense of the word. He was the kind of presence that this ballclub needed in their locker room. He is a great leader by example if no other way.”Simpson on Phillies infielder Wilson Valdez: “(Valdez is) a line drive (hitter). He’ll try to hit behind runners or hit the ball to right field. He’s an excellent defender with an outstanding throwing arm.Simpson on Halladay: “(Halladay) is dictating to every hitter than comes up there.”TBS’ Anderson and Simpson interviewed Reds manager Dusty Baker during the gameBaker on Phillies Halladay’s performance in Game #1: “He’s definitely on his A-game and he’s throwing the first pitch for strike one. He has great movement tonight. The main thing is we just need to string together some hits. We might need to start attacking early in the count. What we’re doing (now) isn’t working.”Simpson on Jimmy Rollins: “He’s a vital part of their offense, especially with their running game.”Simpson on Halladay being ready for his first career Postseason start: “(Halladay) has great movement on every pitch. He was really ready and jacked-up for this first Postseason appearance. He’s waited a long time (for this opportunity).”TBS’ Anderson and Simpson interviewed Phillies pitching coach Rich Dubee during the gameDubee on Halladay in Game #1: “He’s commanding everything so far and hopefully that will continue. He’s pretty good when he gets a lead.”Simpson on Halladay dominating the Reds lineup in Game #1: “You always know (Halladay) is capable of no-hit stuff when he goes out there. He’s that good on any given night. I just never expected in his first Postseason appearance for him to come out and dominate this (Reds) lineup.”Simpson on Halladay’s dominance of the Reds: “He’s had perfect control of all of his pitches tonight against the best hitting team in the National League and he has dazzled them.”Anderson’s call of the final out of Roy Halladay’s Game #1 no-hitter: “Halladay is one strike away. The 0-2…a bouncer…Ruiz…in time! Roy Halladay has thrown a no-hitter!”TBS’ reporter David Aldridge interviewed winning pitcher Roy Halladay following his no-hitter in Game #1 of the NLDSHalladay on throwing a no-hitter in his first Postseason appearance: “I felt like we got in a groove early. Carlos has been great all year, he helps me get in a rhythm, throwing a lot of pitches for strikes and getting ahead. Later in the game (we try to) mix pitches well, mix speeds well. He’s done a great job for me. I just tried to be aggressive.”Halladay on playing in Philadelphia: “Winning the game comes first and foremost. In atmospheres like this, it’s easy to focus on this. It’s been a great place to play all year and I’m looking forward to continuing here.”Halladay on why he wanted to play for the Phillies: “This is what you come here for. This is a good team and they know how to win. You come in and try to chip in and be a part of it. It’s been a great year. It’s been a fun year. Like I said, we obviously have a ways to go but it’s a veteran team that knows how to win. I can’t say enough about them.”Halladay on his feeling after throwing a no-hitter: “It’s surreal, it really is. I just wanted to pitch here and pitch in the Postseason. To be able to go out and have a game like that…it’s a dream come true.”***** ***** ***** ***** *****MLB Game BreakWiner, Eckersley, Ripken and WellsEckersley on Halladay being the best pitcher in MLB: “(The no-hitter) makes Roy Halladay exactly what everyone said. This is the best pitcher in the game. He made history tonight.”Wells on Halladay: “(Halladay) is electrifying. Is there anything he can’t do?”Ripken on Phillies Shane Victorino: “(Victorino) just drives in runs. He’s got a lot of RBIs and he’s a good Postseason player. He comes through in the clutch as many times as I can remember.”Eckersley on who Halladay reminds him of: “(Halladay) reminds you of (Greg) Maddux but with a little more velocity.”Ripken on Halladay’s pitching repertoire: “It looks like (Halladay) has four or five extra pitches because of the way he can make his fastball go different directions.”***** ***** ***** ***** *****Game 3: New York Yankees (6) @ Minnesota Twins (4) – Yankees lead series 1-0Announcers: Ernie Johnson (play-by-play), Ron Darling (analyst) and John Smoltz (analyst) with Craig Sager reportingYankees starting pitcher CC Sabathia on the pressure of pitching in Game #1 of ALDS: “It is a lot of pressure but I don’t think its any more pressure than I put on myself every time I go out there. So I won’t pitch any different. I’ll just go out there and pitch my game, be aggressive and try to do what I’ve done all year.”Darling on the popularity of Twins catcher Joe Mauer in Minnesota: “You know the scene in ‘The Natural’ when they get on their feet for Robert Redford? Not much different here for Joe Mauer when he comes to the plate.”Smoltz on the confidence that pitchers need to have: “You have to be in control of your emotions. You have to be confident that the pitch you’re going to throw is the right pitch. You can’t be negative, thinking ‘uh-oh, if I do this or do that, now they’ve got two runners on.’”Smoltz on Twins manager Ron Gardenhire: “This is the ‘Year of the Pitcher’ and it’s also the ‘Year of the Manager.’ So many guys have done a good job and (Gardenhire) is one of them. I have all the respect in the world for how he has gotten his team back to the playoffs when everyone said, ‘not going to happen.’”Darling: “In a year where (Joe) Torre is going home and (Bobby) Cox is going home. You could call this the ‘Golden Age’ of managers. Then the next wave (of managers) is lead by guys like (Angels manager) Mike Scioscia and Ron Gardenhire.”Smoltz on Twins starter Francisco Liriano’s control of his fastball: “I’ve been impressed by (Liriano’s) control of his fastball. You might have the greatest slider in the world and he’s got a really good one but it doesn’t mean much if you don’t get your fastball in an area where (the hitter) can recognize (and say), ‘that’s a fastball…no, that’s a slider.’ He’s really been able to pitch straight-forward with his fastball. Sometimes he starts to rush too much when he gets out of synch.”TBS’ Johnson, Darling and Smoltz interviewed Yankees manager Joe Girardi during the gameGirardi on Twins starting pitcher Francisco Liriano: “(Liriano) has got an outstanding slider. He’s got a couple of different ones and he’s got a very good change-up. He’s able to locate his fastball. He just knows how to mix his pitches.”TBS’ Johnson, Darling and Smoltz interviewed Twins manager Ron Gardenhire during the gameGardenhire on Twins second baseman Orlando Hudson: “(Hudson) has been there, he’s done it and he knows how to play. He’s loud and he’s not afraid to tell the guys, ‘hey, let’s go.’”Darling on Twins relief pitcher Brian Fuentes: “(Fuentes) hides the baseball as well as any pitcher in the game.”Smoltz on Twins catcher Joe Mauer’s ability to set a nice target for the pitcher: “As big as he is, he gives such a low target and works well with the pitchers. He’s one of the tallest catchers in the league but he has the ability to get down there with the glove and show a nice target for his pitcher.”Darling on the Twins needing contributions from outfielder Jason Kubal: “I think Jason Kubal is really the key to Minnesota. He is one of their most important hitters, most important run producers and he’s going to have to produce at some point in the Postseason.”TBS reporter Craig Sager interviewed Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira following the gameTeixeira on the Yankees ability to beat the Twins in recent years: “It’s probably just bad luck for Minnesota. We keep fighting and they’ve got a good team over there. We’ve played a lot of tough games against them. We just happen to get one big hit or one big pitch and we’ve been battling and it’s worked out.”***** ***** ***** ***** *****Inside MLBWiner, Eckersley, Ripken and WellsEckersley on Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Roy Halladay’s no-hitter: “He did anything he wanted to. This game seemed to be so easy for him. Cutting the ball, sinking the ball, throwing his change up, doing absolutely anything he wanted. This thing wasn’t even close. The pitcher got the hardest hit ball off of him all day.”Eckersley on the significance of Halladay throwing a no-hitter: “When he got to the fifth inning, we started thinking this guy can throw a no-hitter. This is a history piece, over 50 years since anyone has done it.”Eckersley on Halladay acknowledging Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz: “I like how much credit he gives to his catcher. He kept saying “we did it, we did it.” He’s a humble guy.”Eckersley on Halladay’s unique pitching style: “More than anything, he’s never done this before. This guy is so special; there is no one like him. He’s throwing five or six different directions. He has unhittable pitches and if the umpire gives him an inch or two, you have no chance. I get so excited talking about this guy. I wish I had this stuff because I would go out there and be styling all day long.”Wells on Halladay’s improved progress: “When I saw him in 2000, he was a young kid just coming up. He threw hard and threw everywhere and didn’t know what he was doing. Then, he went down to A Ball and learned how to pitch. He came back to the Major League and proved that he could pitch. He kept working, working and working and now it has paid off. Roy keep doing what you are doing.”Wells on New York Yankees starting pitcher Andy Pettitte’s postseason experience: “I like Pettitte in the Playoffs. He’s provided many, many thrills for New York in the Playoffs. He’s just a big game pitcher. Forget about the injuries and what he has gone through, I like Pettitte.”Eckersley on Texas Rangers starting pitcher Cliff Lee: “Cliff Lee punches out 10 guys. He only needed two runs today but he mixed it up. Pitched a curve ball here and there but more than anything, he’s a strike machine. This guy is incredible. He scares you. He wins a game like that you would think the series is over because he is so good.”
One more MLB-centric press release coming up.
