Kevin McClatchy Quotations

There are certain players who I think haven't progressed, and we need those players to grow. Put on top of that that we have a slew of young players coming into this thing, and I think Dave just wanted to make the decision to get the best person we can to help these guys continue to develop and evolve. Some can make the argument we didn't do that this year.

Mac really didn't have major-league managerial experience, and we probably wouldn't want to go that route again,

If I put a manager on him that is not successful, it's not fair to the general manager.

He understands that our scouting and player development system is the lifeblood of this ball club and the key to our sustained success. A few years ago, we set out to improve our farm system. We did, and continue to devote the necessary resources to that area of our organization. We are beginning to see the results of those efforts, as we see more homegrown talent at the major league level.

He has the buy-in of the entire team. We couldn't have found a better person for the job with this group we have right now.

I think it's going to be a wide-open search. I think a lot of names will pop up.

I think what we need is somebody with Major League managing experience. This is just my opinion and Dave might think differently. And like I've said, it's his choice. But we've gone down the road last time with somebody who didn't have Major League managing experience.

Sure, if he's available, ... If he's not, then that's the way it is.

We are beginning to see the results of those efforts, as we see more homegrown talent at the major-league level.

We won't know -- sort of -- the most important information for about two days.

When you look at building on Jason Bay and Jack Wilson, those are two pretty good players to start with as far as character. That's a nice aspect of it. But the key is performance and strengthening ourselves up the middle.

As it always does, it will come down to starting pitching. I don't think you can discount a player because of youth.

I've put a lot of focus on 2006. I think we have to improve next year. I think we are going to put ourselves in the best position that we have been in a long time.

A lot of people feel we have chance to turn the corner. We just need to go out to play.

A lot of people are excited about Jim Tracy and the players we have picked up. The All-Star game is a bonus.

There was concern there. I'm disappointed in some of the lack of improvement. Dave wanted to make sure we had the right manager in place so these players could continue to improve.

It was important to give Dave the tools he needed to go out and get these players. He's done a great job of getting some veteran players to go with our younger core.

That's one of the reasons you do these things, because you're trying to get ahead of that. We felt good about this deal. Jack's a good player and a good character guy.

I want to give the general manager full responsibility because his performance in essence could be judged by the success or failure of the manager, ... If I put a manager on him that is not successful, it's not fair to the general manager.

Not one bit. That St. Louis thing played absolutely not one shred of a role in this.

I'm not going to lie to you. There were some times -- and I think everybody knows when that was because we had to move some players -- that I don't think our plan was working. We were locked into bad contracts and ... it was time for significant changes. Things are working much better now because I think we're working our plan better. Quite frankly, we've got better people in place to execute the plan, too.

I do think this move puts even more pressure on us, in some ways. I think we have to improve next year. Dave's made a decision that, hopefully, will give us the best chance to do that, along with adding a bat that we desperately need and spending a little more money. I think we're going to put ourselves in the best position we've been in for a long time.

All I'll say is this is Dave's decision ? he can entertain anyone he wants. I'm not going to try to sway him one way or another, ... I'm fine with what happened and that was a long time ago. Whoever Dave picks, we want someone who gives us the best chance to win.

All I'll say is this is Dave's decision -- he can entertain anyone he wants. I'm not going to try to sway him one way or another, ... I'm fine with what happened and that was a long time ago. Whoever Dave picks, we want someone who gives us the best chance to win.