“You mean guys don't get injured in spring training? Guys get hurt walking down the street. All the managers, pitching coaches (are) very sensitive. Look, you can always pick at something, but there's a broader picture, a grander picture.”
“Nobody on either side can say that this wasn't vetted properly over a long, long period of time. Other than that, I'll handle the internal matters in my own way.”
“The Yankees are still there, there are still spring training games. If that's the greatest criticism, the only answer I can give to that is that at some point in life, you've got to rise above your own selfish interests. If this sport is to (reach) the heights that we have to, you can't let your own myopic interest guide you.”
“Most of the Yankee roster is there. I'll grant you that three of their great stars are here, but their whole pitching staff is there, sans Al Leiter. At some point, sometimes in life you do things that in the long run really help you and your sport.”