Dan Haren Quotations

I don't know what other bullpen is better in the major leagues. I really don't. We have four setup guys and one of the best closers in baseball. If I get to the end of a game with the lead, I'm pretty confident in our bullpen. That's the strength of our team.

If that pitch is down, it's an out. If I could take it back, I would. I was just hoping to keep us in the game after that. It could have gotten ugly.

He makes so many big plays for me. He's just so good up the middle. In fact both those guys on the left side give me confidence. I'm not scared of contact. If someone hits it, chances are those guys will make a play.

I take a lot of pride in (not walking hitters). Early in the year, it was really getting me in trouble. That's not really my game. My game is throwing a lot of strikes. I think that's why I give up a lot of homers. I'm always around the plate, and hitters know they will get something to hit. But as long as I keep them to solo (homers), I usually don't get hurt.

I threw some pretty good breaking balls, a lot of curveballs. I tried to throw a few more change ups. I was able to work on that a little bit. My curveball was real good. My fastball command was not as good as it usually is. I walked a couple of guys.

I think this year our offense is even better with Milton and Frank. I mean, look at the hits those guys got tonight. They already have a few big hits for us. That's exciting to see them in the lineup.

I think everyone's expectations are really high. I know most of us are young and haven't been there before, but everyone expects us to be on top at the end.

I think our offense is even better than last year. Milton and Frank, I mean, look at the hits they had tonight. It's nice to see them in the lineup.

That was the only cutter I threw all game. It was a bad pitch, it floated up there, so I was frustrated with myself. If I'd got through that inning (without a hit) I would have started thinking about it.

That was just really exciting. You always want to show the fans something when you come to a new team. Just in this series, he and Frank (Thomas) both got some big hits for us. It's coming together.

With all the guys on the bench, we feel comfortable having them in the game. There's always someone on the bench who should be playing. That's a nice problem to have.

You know, in spring training, you go two, three, four, five innings and you almost forget what it's like to go seven, eight innings. Some pitchers in April, their arms feel great. They are fresh coming out of spring training. Me, I feel like my command gets a lot better after April.

When you give up four runs to the Yankees, and it's the third inning at 4-0, the thought crosses your mind that the game could be over. You tell yourself it's over or you try to fight back. I sat in the dugout after the third inning and I had thrown 66 pitches. I felt I had about 40 pitches left, and if I could put up three zeros, we'd still have a chance.

We all want good results. I still want to get my work in but I also want to get guys out. I feel like I made progress.

We had some chances today, but when it comes down to it, it's the pitch I made to Ramirez. I just look back at it and I'm mad at myself. I let that pitch get away from me. The loss is because of me.

Everyone was so excited to watch him hit. Everyone was on the top step (of the dugout) every at-bat like we were waiting for something to happen. It's just fitting something did. It was awesome.

Every game is a must-win. This time of year, it's life or death right now.

Early on it was more maybe me keeping us real close. There was a stretch there where I wasn't pitching that well and the offense picked me up every time. Now it's just kind of both clicking. I've thrown the ball better the past few times and the offense is still rolling and picking me up. It's a nice combination and hopefully there's two more months of it.

It would have been a devastating loss. Now there's 20 games left and every one is important. Fortunately, we came back, and that will make it a little easier to forget.

A few of those bad outings rack up, anyone would get worried. Everyone wants good results. I'm working on things, you can always say that, but I feel like I made some progress (today).

You don't want to go into the season on any kind of a streak.

It wasn't exactly what I wanted but I am definitely making strides. I was getting through innings without any trouble.

It was sloppy out there. The mound was sloppy. I thought we were going to be fortunate to get five (innings) in, but fortunately the rain let up and I was able to slow down and get into my game more.

It's awesome. Finally, maybe he'll get some recognition here as the player he is, because his tendency (in the past) is to get hot at the end of the year. He's just carrying our team right now.

It's been a rollercoaster year with a bunch of streaks.

That last start was so frustrating. I don't know if I overlooked Seattle or what. Maybe I lost my edge a little. But that last game was not me. This is the way that I'm supposed to throw the ball.

It was an important game for me, just being able to finish the season good. It's a start that I'll think about a lot longer because I have no chance to redeem myself.

No matter how much other people are going to talk about his contract, or trade rumors or whatever, Barry is the last guy who will be affected by it. He's just so mentally strong, and that was one of the ways he really helped me last year. He's the same guy every day, win or lose, and that's how you have to be. It's not easy, but he's got the mental side of the game locked down. Nothing bothers him.

It was one of those innings. I threw a few decent pitches, and some balls fell in there. I made a big mistake that cost me. I have to eliminate those mistakes. Half of my runs have been on fastballs I left over the middle of the plate.

It's very exciting. When we went through that bad stretch (in mid August), a couple people might have written us off, but we're playing so well on the road and that series (in Anaheim) is going to be awesome. It will be fun.

I'm happy I finally got through some innings without any trouble. Those are my first two zeroes of the spring.

I know he has something like 450 home runs, but that was awesome. It was fun seeing him hit that ball so far. We were all on the top step of the dugout every time he came up.

By far, it was the happiest I've been with a win all year. I knew I had to step it up. I just feel good for the team. This game was so important.