Paul Duca Quotations

Show it, sell it and if you don't get it, you don't get it. We were lucky enough to get it.

My job is to move him over, especially with the guys we have in the order.

I guarantee Pedro can tell you what a guy hit off him five or six years ago. He's very, very intelligent.

I felt great. My hand wasn't an issue at all. It was fun to get on the field and start getting ready.

Getting to meet him brought chills to my spine. He's a special person. Not only was he a great boxer, but he was an outspoken person.

He was throwing me everything up there. He had great stuff. I was just trying to put the ball in play and fight some stuff off. His ball was moving all over the place. He was tough today. We were very fortunate to win this game.

We're on the computer e-mailing each other about trades and stuff. There's a lot of trash talking.

He's got great stuff. And he always wants that ball.

He was good in the pen. Just one of those things where he didn't execute a couple pitches. You're facing all young kids who are hacking.... They probably don't even know that he has a great split-finger, so they're probably going to the plate oblivious to everything.

He can throw it to both sides of the plate, so when you can do that you're going to win ballgames.

Just show it and sell it. It trickled down my arm and I just grabbed it and showed the umpire. It was a break. Sometimes you need those. You're going to get breaks against you during the year.

I think it's a good to bring in a guy like that with a lot of excitement, a lot of pizzazz. Guys will be able to relate a bit more, so that should help.

I think it's good to bring in a guy like that with a lot of excitement, a lot of pizzazz, ... Guys will be able to relate a bit more, so that should help.

It is a lot of fun catching these guys. You have four guys who can throw a no-hitter at any time. That makes it interesting.

I think he's got great potential. We just didn't swing the bats really well.

I think he's got great potential. I'm not saying that if I didn't mean it.

I think it would be a disappointment if we didn't win the NL East.

You have to earn it. You want guys to trust you in big situations. You work on things and talk in spring training and in the middle of the season they trust you.

When Jesse Orosco threw up his glove in '86, I was jumping up and down on my bed.

When somebody has your number, you want to play extra hard. We need to turn the tide and that's what we did tonight.

It would be a disappointment, with the team we're throwing out there, not to be competitive and win the World Series.

It was an honor to be a part of it. I'm glad he got it out of the way. Now, it's on to 300.

I've always tried to hit that hole. I'll protect him and do whatever it takes. My job is to get him to third base with less than two outs, and we'll have a 1-0 lead with the guys around me.

Your body reacts differently to different foods. Some give you more energy than others. Everybody is different.

This is huge. It's not the end of the world if you don't win this series, but you want to.

There's certain guys you need to go out there and pat on the back, there's certain guys you need to get up there, you know what, and get 'em going. Every guy has a different personality. Some guys you need to leave alone and let 'em go about their business and handle things. Some guys you need to constantly baby 'em. It's just personalities and that's how you figure out guys.

There's always people out there that are hating, I guess. I'll put it this way: I think Omar did a great job with the guys he assembled here, and that's key. Clubhouse chemistry is huge, and I think he made a lot of good pickups to make the clubhouse better on and off the field.

It's a shame we blew that game, or he'd be even closer.

It's a big win. This is a big series. For April, this is as big as it's going to get.

It's a big series to start the year and let them know we're for real. The Braves are still the team to beat. You want to come out and play hard, and you want to let them know that we're not gonna go anywhere.

For April, it's as big as it's going to get. You have to dethrone those guys. They're the team to beat. They've been there 13, 14 straight years now. So this is big. Take them any way you can get them.

It's the third time I've done it. It doesn't feel weird any more.

It's a long season. You have to have energy, and that comes from eating properly. Your body tells you when you don't.

It's good. It's not an issue. There is no pain.

David's one of those guys who has a knack for getting a hit when we need it.

The number one thing in spring training for me is getting to know the pitching staff. I think I'm pretty laid back and easy to work with.

It's spring training. I have to work on getting thrown out of the game.

It's something I'm going to have to deal with the rest of the year. It won't be back to 100 percent until spring training.

It's not going to be that tough. I faced a lot of these guys. I know what they have.

The best thing for young catchers to remember is you don't get trust, you earn it. Sometimes it just takes time.

It'll be fun catching guys who are going to the Hall of Fame.

I've got the Italian descent, I guess. I don't know if I can say I'm a full-fledged New Yorker, but hopefully I can be by the time I'm there.

I want to be in these games. Hopefully my hamstring will hold up.

I want to be the guy. I want to be the guy in that spot. That's the way I look at it. When the game is on the line, I'm hoping it's me.

They let you know when they're not happy. It's the bottom line. It's what have you done for me lately. But when you do it right, it's the best feeling in the world.

Once in a while my emotions get the best of me. This is my third year in a row. I'm trying to set the record.

It's no disrespect to anybody, but he's your horse. He's your guy. We've got a great pitching staff, but he's the key. We need him healthy. He's your stopper.

So far, I feel comfortable with everyone. It's not something I'm worried about now. Guys were working on things before; they'll now be working more like they would when the season starts.

I let my emotion get the best of me.

I like that people are gunning for you. It's better than being predicted to come in last.

I'm just trying to get a feel for Tommy and what he wants to do in certain spots. I'll talk it over with him to see if he's happy with my target and little stuff like that.

I'm just happy to do something to help the team win a game.

I'll be disappointed if we don't win the NL East. I'm excited.

If you have trouble getting up for these games, you probably shouldn't be playing. But it does help to get the fans behind you, screaming and yelling and getting your adrenaline going. These next four or five games could be our season.

I'll take pitches for you. And whenever you want to go, you go. Don't worry about me.

I know it's hurting Mr. Loria. He wants to win so badly, but with no stadium, he is doing what he has to do.

I know deep down this is what he didn't want to happen.

He's such a calm customer, so I think he's going to be just fine. He's been bred for this because of who his father is.

He?s one of those guys that with one swing can change the aspect of a game. Just an unbelievable hitter and a presence. He?s a great teammate, very intelligent. Just a solid, solid guy.

I figured when they traded Josh Beckett, that this might happen.

I feel bad because that was an RBI for him.

The kid's a special player. He's one of those types that has a knack to get a hit when you need it. You can't teach that. He's a young superstar, bottom line.

The kid's a special player. He's a young superstar.

This is a huge road trip, everybody knows that. So it's going to be hard for guys not to press. ... You play the whole year and spring training for this road trip.

The hand is quicker than the eye, I guess. It's one of those where you just show the umpire and hope that you get the call.