Craig Monroe Quotations

We believe we're a good team, and a lot of that is due to our manager. He's always prepared, and when the head is prepared, it is much easier for the body to be prepared.

I felt I had a very good, solid season. I'm very proud of what I've done, and I feel like I'm not going to do anything but get better.

I don't think anybody has quit, we're just going through a rough time, ... We owe it to ourselves and our fans to play as hard as we can the rest of the season so that everybody can have something to look forward to by the time spring training rolls around.

He jumped. I jumped. We both saw it at the last minute. It was twilight.

I thought it was a foul ball, ... But with 17 runs on the board, I'll take it.

We're all very excited for Big Red. We all just hope he can stay focused and keep it up.

Today was a day when I was going to relax and it ended up working out for me, ... I got a chance to swing the bat and get some more confidence. That's a good day off.

Tip your hat to him and turn the page.

We've got no excuses ? we just have to remember that we are a better team than that.

You can tell he's a straight-shooter. Everything seems to be very upbeat. A lot of people talk about whether he still has it, but you could tell he definitely is going to command respect.

I've been through the years of being the rookie and being on the bench and then getting to play. And to be honest with you, now I'm as confident as ever. It's time for me to step up. It's time for me to be a leader. I can voice my opinion and try to push guys, but not really forceful. Just prove to them that I'm here to play, I want you guys to be ready to play and let's just go out and play hard baseball.

They've been outstanding. With Kenny here, I really think his influence, how he goes about his business, it's rubbing off. These guys are learning. They have somebody that they can go to with questions.

They got the hits when there were guys on base, and they scored more runs.

It's just one loss. We're 5-1. We feel great about going home.

It's exciting for us as a team to be able to go out and have pitching like that. Our pitching staff has done an excellent job. Things are going to be fun around here.

It's not sad because this will give him an opportunity to continue his big-league career. It's obvious here he wasn't going to play. I personally think that when you've done some of the things he's done in this game, there's an opportunity for you somewhere else. I believe in my heart he's going to get an opportunity.

It's confidence. I feel I'm maturing a little bit. A couple of years ago, I would've tried to do too much.

I wanted to set the tone. I didn't want to be the guy who you walk guys to get to. That doesn't make you feel like a good hitter.

It was great seeing them win the national championship this year. It was exciting to follow them all season and they won it all.

I'm not sure about that. I think we're doing it to ourselves.

I had a rough night tonight. To be able to end on a positive note and drive the ball the other way, it tells me I did everything right and to trust in myself. That was a very positive at-bat today.

I'm not sure right now if it's the pitchers out there. I think right now it's us. We're doing it to ourselves. Guys are trying way too hard.

I just continue to keep working. Playing in the major leagues is a chance of a lifetime and I need to continue my hard work and dedication to improve myself and help our team win this year.

I don't know -- it's like, 'I'm coming for that Number One Spot,' ... Somehow that's how I've always been, and I just tapped into it.

But today, for me, was a good start.

If I had stopped, set, and then thrown, we wouldn't have had a chance. I wasn't sure it was going to work, but it did.

He's not happy at all about that leg injury. Like he said, 'I've busted my tail. I've worked hard. I don't need nothing like this to happen.' But at the same time, it's early. He ain't going to miss that much time. Who cares if you give him another week or so?

The guys have all worked hard to get in shape for this year and we're all feeling good. We've got good baseball players on this team and our goal is to do what the White Sox did last year.