Whenever you replace your manager, it’s a drastic move. I’ve never had to do it in my tenure as general manager. This is a new script for myself. I don’t know if you ever know what the right time is.

Billy Beane, Oakland A’s GM as quoted by Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated

“The Yankees have one of the really great young rookies that I’ve ever seen, a kid by the name of Mantle, Mickey Mantle, who is a unique ballplayer in one respect: He’s a switch hitter, but with good power. While he has a slight limp, which is enough to keep him with the Yankees for awhile, he has tremendous speed afoot. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a ballplayer run as fast, and he’s a good-looking hitter. He can really whack from either left side or right side, and he couldn’t catch a pig in a blind alley. It comes to fielding, he’s nonexistent. Of course, I’m in a good spot now, I can second-guess all these clubs, and I definitely would play the kid at first base. ”

Bill Veeck quoted from a preserved film by by Tim Marchman and featured on Baseball ProGUESTus

I kept waking up last night thinking about different things and what might be causing me to stumble in my relationship with the Lord. I felt like chewing tobacco was one. So I got up this morning and threw it all away. So when it is time to take a dip, I pray instead. I didn’t care. I’m human, I like to feed my fleshly desires just like anybody else does. But there comes a point when you realize those things aren’t important or necessary.

Texas Rangers All-Star outfielder, Josh Hamilton, as quoted by T. R. Sullivan on MLB.com

I think the line always has to be drawn, and I admit you walk into some places and it’s too much, but I must say, I think for the most part baseball gets it right. I think it adds to the customer experience and I think the customer wants the entertainment between innings to complete their experience and make their experience more enjoyable. The guy who sits in the press box is not the average fan.

Stan Kasten, former Washington Nationals president, on the bells and whistles of the ballpark experience (as quoted by Nick Cafardo in the Boston Globe)

I have no George Bretts on my pitching staff, I’ll guarantee you that.

Detroit Tigers manager, Jim Leyland, on one of his many reasons for disliking the inequities of inter-league play
(for what its worth, we agree with you, Jim)

This guy believes in this team now. He’s like me. He believes we have a chance.

New York Mets manager, Terry Collins, speaking about his general manager, Sandy Alderson

There are a lot of power arms. And they’re coming in all shapes and sizes. Some of them have rough deliveries and some of them are 5-foot-10 right-handers. But this is the most guys I’ve ever seen who are throwing mid-90s. The last three days I have seen three college guys out of bullpens, throwing at least 94 mph. I had a run earlier in the year when in 10 days I saw eight guys who hit 95 or better. A lot of these guys aren’t particularly high draft picks. They don’t have a breaking pitch in place and they’re a little rough. But I’ve never seen this many guys run the radar up as high as I have this year.

Tampa Bay Rays director of scouting, R.J. Harrison, discussing the amateur draft with mlb.com

Not much to say about it, really. Not really anything to speak of. It happened probably about an hour ago, or not quite an hour ago, and I’ve been over it for a while.

Jayson Werth, Washington Nationals outfielder, after the game in which his controversial ground ball “out” was hit in the ninth inning of the team’s 1-0 loss to the New York Mets

“Everything was just a lot more clear. It’s kind of like watching the TV in regular and in HD. It was just like that. It made a world of difference. The biggest thing was at night. The biggest help was at night.”

Eric Hosmer, Royals rookie, on the difference LASIK surgery made in his playing.

We are so spoiled up here. The best down in the minors can’t even compare to up here. You realize you got to take a man pill. It was time to take a man pill when I was out there pitching in Port Charlotte. I was internally starting to whine about the heat or not enough water. You find out how much you can complain and how great an attitude they have for just being able to play baseball.

Rays reliever J. P. Howell on his minor-league rehab assignment