Al Leiter Quotes (44 Quotes)

Some people are born into money. Some are given the opportunity in a lucky way. I got where I am by a lucky bounce along the way. There have been opportunities to help people in need. There are charitable causes where you can give people hope and opportunity to turn that corner. It's the right thing to do.

I don't think he labored. . . He was ahead of every single batter. He had two quick outs. There was no laboring. I would think there is something wrong.

When you've got kids old enough to respond and tell you what they think, that plays a big part, ... My son's thinking it's pretty cool, playing with A-Rod and Jeter and all these guys, so he'd probably vote to stay.

He came out and said 'Let the defense make plays. One run is not gonna lose the game, get in the zone, get ahead in the count,' ... You know, stuff that you would teach a Little Leaguer.

I think Joe's thing is going to be he's going to be a very Type-A kind of guy that's going to have it all covered, ... He's going to be well prepared. As a player, especially as a starting pitcher, you want your club as a whole to always feel that this game is the most important game tonight. Not only in rhetoric, but also preparation.

I stunk. It was embarrassing. Down 6-0 in the first, I didn't give the offense a chance. I take the blame for the offense not doing anything.

Hey, for the first time in 20 years I can be down the Shore for July Fourth fireworks. Maybe go to Seaside for Memorial Day. I always missed that.

It feels good to be able to go out on your own terms. I love the game very much, but when you were a certain type of player for a few years, being a front-end starter, that's the way I still think I can pitch. But the body tells you no. It feels right. Family, kids, I'm constantly being asked when I'm coming home.

It's been good for me. Full circle. Eighteen years ago, I was able to pitch my first game here.

They talk about payroll and who gets paid what, ... (But) you still got to do it, and it's human beings doing it. There's no robots. And it just so happens that the other team in the other dugout wants to kick your butt, too. And (the Angels) can be pretty good, which they are. And we're standing in the parking lot.

I don't know how anybody can say how anybody would do, especially if there's no track record, ... But there will be absolutely no question as to whether his team is prepared going into a series. He works as hard and has as much information that's given to us as any coach I've ever had.

This is one of the main reasons why I wanted to come back. I like the idea of the Classic, so instead of squashing the idea and talking about all of the concerns in a negative light, why not look at this in terms of being something good for the game

I look at this as a second life, if you will. I needed the intensity aspect of every pitch matters, ... Every game feels like an event, a playoff kinda game. Having experienced that a few times, I think I not only like it but I need it.

I was a little nothing. My brother Kurt was a lot older. Mark had three years on me. They were all better. But maybe I learned a lot in those games. We had leagues where we'd imitate big-leaguers.

He is a guy modern players can relate to and respect because he actually played at the major-league level. He will understand the ups and downs of a major-league player and know when the time is appropriate to jump on someone and when to give a pat on the back.

I look at this as a second life. Every game feels like an event. Every pitch matters. I need that. It elevates your aggressiveness.

Nothing was guaranteed the roster was set, and even if I chose to stay, there's no guarantee of me making this team. I understand that completely. Joe Torre knows what I can do, and every person in this camp knows what I can do. I'm not a young kid who is going to be a surprise. They know.

It's just wrong. He's a good guy. Anybody who thinks that doesn't know him. If you sit with him, hang out, go to lunch with him, you can't think that. He's really fun to be around.

I grew up in a humble existence. I think it made me much more mentally tough. I played angry, with a chip on my shoulder. I think you have to perform with a rage to do this job.

This is what I was hoping for. I think the tournament is a great thing for baseball and I really wanted to be a part of it. If it ends up being the last time I pitch I would be very satisfied with that. This was one of the big reasons I decided to keep playing.

I'll be honest, ... I hadn't thought at all about that, but now that I have, I only hope it comes to pass.

Tom and Shirley were like Julie McCoy on the Love Boat. We'd go to their room every night for a cocktail party before dinner.

In the past I'd think a run or two or three could be a loss, especially in the third inning, ... But not with these guys.

I think there's a lot of variables and factors. Obviously, I've got to feel good, feel healthy. I have to feel as though the way I'm throwing the ball is good and effective. I have to know that if I am feeling good and throwing the ball with quality pitches, I have to feel I'm wanted or needed by the organization.

We were in a bad spot going to Game 5, ... And we put ourselves in a bad moment. But everybody felt good about what the outcome should have been or what we thought it would have been. I don't want to say (the plane ride was) sad. But it was about as depressing a room as I've ever seen.

This is exciting, ... I've been lucky. I've had a career where every organization I've played for has always put together a team that's really legitimate and had a chance of winning coming out of Spring Training every year.

Any time, if there's a little offense happening, a double play to end the inning late in a game, ... the game being as close as it was, it certainly set us up.

I would think he'll do well with his experience as a catcher on world championship teams and then coaching with Joe, sitting next to him and picking his brain, ... I know a lot of guys that have coached, and then when they become managers, they change. Hopefully he won't change.

I am grateful and appreciative that the commissioner feels that 48 hours before another work stoppage, it's important enough for him to leave Milwaukee and go to New York.

It was an absolute joy coming back to the organization that I started in. I hadn't experienced a meaningful relief role since 1993, when I came back from some injuries and was basically setting up for Duane Ward in the postseason.

I thought if I could get an out there, a sac fly, whatever, I've got two outs, and then I've got a little wiggle room with Manny, with a possible open base. It's just unfortunate it didn't work out that way.

Mike's not the first guy who, as years went on, moved from catcher,

I knew yesterday was the day, because everybody was leaving today. I knew I had a chance.

I stunk. What went wrong Everything, ... I was terrible. It was embarrassing. Not being able to get out of the first inning is embarrassing. I made it very difficult for our lineup to get anything going.

He has good ideas, and he's going to be good, ... It's just a matter of whatever else it entails as far as managing people. I don't know him that well. He seems to be a nice enough guy.

For me, he's comforting to deal with in the sense that he's calm,

So when I say that I'm happy to be here, it's not some form of Nuke La Loosh nonsense. It's for real, man.

He was a rock star. The little bit of attention other guys or I would usually get would suddenly be zero. He'd be miserable but we'd be left alone.

I call her an angel and a saint and I'll say that as long as she's around. She worked so hard to bring us up right.

I'm aware, like everyone else is aware, at this time of year, you do anything you can. It doesn't matter what position anybody on any playoff team has served you do what you can. In my case, I'll do whatever.

I remember being in shock. The night before the Orioles had told my brothers (both pitchers in the organization at the time) that they were going to take me with the last pick in the first round. The Yankees had taken a very low profile.

Any time your boss shows faith and confidence in you, you don't want to let him down, ... And he did, and it meant a lot.

It's one of those games where we're talking to ourselves about how it played out. When you're called upon, I don't care if you haven't pitched in five days we as major league pitchers, we have to be prepared for any situation.

There'd have to be a lot of talking to convince me to come back, Much less than that.