Jim Tracy Player Quotations

I don't want Jason Bay to do anything other than be the player he's been here for the last two years.

He has handled the situation very professionally and he's made a big fan out of me because of that. It's great to have a player like him on the bench that you can put into the lineup and the other team knows he's a significant factor to contend with.

He's been terrific. He looks to me like a very good baseball player and a very good number two hitter.

He's going to get the ball in the ninth inning. We'll see how it goes. We've got a guy who is a complete novice in that environment. But what I see is a player that an opportunity has been created for him and he's seizing the opportunity.

I think he has a chance be a terrific offensive player. But part of becoming a great offensive player is having a full understanding of the strike zone and understand what pitchers try to do to him in certain situations. The only way you get to that point is you keep carrying the bat to the plate.

Duffy is an important piece at the top of our lineup. That's an ideal spot for him. When he gets on first base, he can be a very disruptive player as fast as he is.

You better believe he's having a terrific spring. He has a chance to be a real player at the major-league level.

Colby has worked with him a lot. Oliver is being given information that can help him succeed as a major-league pitcher. Sometimes, the player has to take the information and make certain adjustments in order to be successful.

First of all, I happen to think he was a pretty good player before he was selected to play for his country. I don't need to see him go play for Mexico to see that. But, absolutely, it can be a confidence-building experience.

I haven't convinced myself that he's played his last bit for 2005, but I do know today he should sit back and relax, ... He's quite a professional player and a professional person. I believe we've pushed him about as far as he can be pushed, and he's responded in every single case.

I loved those kids. I loved Andrew . . . I loved him. Smartest player I had in that program. He lived for it. Absolutely lived for basketball at St. Martha's.

If you have them, great. If not, there are people in every clubhouse in baseball that every player in the room identifies with. I don't think that he necessarily needs a 'C' on his shoulder or anything like that.

The best way to approach a player with his type of ability and talent is to feel like you've developed a type of environment to allow his development to continue on its natural course. With what we have done this winter, we have put this young man in a position to where his natural progression as a Major League Baseball player has a genuine opportunity to take place without heaping any unexpected expectations on him.

He can go get a ball and make it look easy and effortless. I want to see how versatile a player he is, but he will have a home at third base for some time.

Because I want to see how versatile a player he is.