Shock. It was shock. You almost feel you have three or four innings to play, but you go home. . . . We feel baseball is best in the U.S. and it's difficult not to carry that out.
I think it's the best our pitching staff has been since I've been here, in over a year-and-a-half.
Both Brian and (manager) Joe (Torre) did the best job they have ever done in their careers to save our season,
Best thing I've ever been a part of,
At the end of the day, I realized how important it was for me to play because of the position I have in the game. ... I'm the best guy available to help the team.
I've always said that Spring Training and October are the best two months of the year. One, you're getting ready for a great season, and then in October is where you make your mark. I'll miss that part of it.
It just doesn't get any better this. This is the best time of my life, the most fun time in my baseball career. I don't remember a race like this since I've been around.
That loss might be the best thing that's ever happened to us going down the stretch. We realize we put control of this thing in other people's hand. We don't want to let that happen again.
It was just a momentum swing. We had momentum early, then we couldn't stop them. ... You wouldn't want to judge any team on their best day or on their worst day.
I'm not concerned with what Boston does or Cleveland. We have to play our best baseball down the stretch.
I know what kind of a crazy competitor I am. If I'm in Lakeland in March and my country is playing Japan in the semifinals in Arizona, I know I'd want to be there. I'm the best guy available to help the team.