Clint Hurdle Statement Quotations

We came out tonight and made a statement in the first inning.

There comes certain situations where I think a manager has an opportunity to make a statement to his team. You don't want to miss them. I might have missed one with (Cory) Sullivan earlier in the season.

This guy has a very workable package and a passion to play the game. I was open-ended with him today because of his competitiveness and he made a statement to finish it off and throw a complete game with 118 pitches.

Every year you show up here, you at least have a fraction of hope. This year there's a lot more substance to go with that hope. They know (the division) is open. It's time to make a statement on the field.

There's no doubt in my mind that he's gong to get better, and that's what I told Matt earlier in the season when we had a sit-down. I said, 'You're not just hitting fourth anymore. You're our cleanup hitter.' Two months later, I told him, 'What you are doing now is providing protection in the lineup.' That's a big statement for a second-year player.

It's Jason's time to take the next step, and sometimes when players can't get to certain places, it's up to a coach to take them there. I want him to know going in that I've got the confidence in him to do that. By giving him the ball Opening Day, I can't make a bigger statement than that.

His fastball was short (Friday), and his command was mediocre. That being said, you're normally not able to make that statement and have a pitcher only give up one run in five-plus innings at Coors Field. So he deserves a pat on the back for that.

These are opportunities for growth. Everybody made a statement tonight that took the ball.

It was a situation where I think we'd try to make a statement inside, hard. I think the statement was made inside, hard. It's unfortunate he got hit. It's unfortunate Danny got splattered last night. Sometimes unfortunate things happen. We won't be intimidated by anybody.