Allard Baird Last Quotations

We thought Buck would come into his own in the second half of last season. We really didn't see that. So, offensively, it's an important year for him. No doubt about it.

Is he better at this point compared to where he was last week? Yes.

There's nothing new since the last time we talked.

It sounds like a company line, but he's progressing and moving forward. Is he better than he was last week? Yes.

But he improved his release time last year.

It's a better team than last year. It has better talent and makeup. But when you start out like this, everything is going to be magnified. That's the way it is. We may have been a little snake-bit. But the game doesn't stop, and nobody is going to feel sorry for you.

He's not going to overpower you. He's got to have command of the fastball. His ability to create ground balls last year was a real plus for us.