Cubs Week in Quotations

Commence the Season
"Hey, it's Opening Day. We've got some things to find out about this group, and we'll find them out relatively quick.'' - Lou Piniella

''Words can't describe how it felt. Just awesome.'' - James Russell on his major league debut.

Quote You Only Hear from the Losing Team on Opening Day
''Opening Day don't mean anything. You want to win ballgames early in the season. The more games you win now, the less you have to win later. But it's just a game.'' - Aramis Ramirez

Is There a Draft?
"We need Zambrano to shut the door." - Lou Piniella

Maddog Love
"This Spring Training for me is very special. To have Greg Maddux around, he's my guy. ... I was asking him the other day, 'How can I throw a backdoor sinker to a lefty?' It's unbelievable -- you ask him something, and the way he answers is ... wow." - Carlos Silva

"When Greg's on your team, you're better in any role. He's got a great way about him, and he's the most successful, non-promoting person I've ever met. We can all learn from Greg." - Jim Hendry

"In every sense of the word, he's someone I aspire to be. It's just how he's so personable and knowledgeable and doesn't try to force it on you. It's almost like he breathes excellence. It's pretty cool and pretty special having him around." Randy Wells

Except Steal Their Hearts
"I haven't done nothing for them." - Greg Maddux

A Land War in Asia?
"Those things shouldn't happen." - Lou Piniella on Chad Tracy getting doubled off first on Opening Day

I Want Answers!
''We've just played two games, sir. 'We're not in our 22nd game or our 42nd. We've played two games, for God's sake. What do you want? Roles changed in two games? - Lou Piniella

Once You Lose That Trust, It's Gone Forever
"Demp pitched a heck of a ballgame, and I kind of let everyone down. But you've got to come back tomorrow and go at it again. Once you leave this place, it's over.'' - John Grabow

The Other is Where to Hide Soriano's Body
''We're going to have to sort some things out here, period. I said that coming out of spring training. And one of them is the youth that we have in the bullpen.'' - Lou Piniella

Quicksand Jesus or Jason Heyward?
''I don't want to be more impressed than I was the first day. He's impressed me enough.'' - Lou Piniella on Jason Heyward

Maybe 3 Feet
“...2-0 you’re on top of the world; 0-2, you’re six feet under. - Lou Piniella

Like How I Forgot How to Throw Strikes Last Year
"We learn from our mistakes. We have tomorrow. He needs to forget stuff."- Carlos Marmol on Esmailin Caridad

And Make Routine Catches
Control yourself, and that's all you have to do."- Alfonso Soriano on Esmailin Caridad

Lies, Damn Lies
"We have a good bullpen. We just have to trust them." - Carlos Zambrano

Someone Should Hang a Green Jacket in Fukudome's Locker
"He's a Masters player. That's when they play the Masters -- in April, right?" - Lou Piniella on Kosuke Fukudome

"This is the year I feel he'll break out and have a nice solid offensive year. We know he can play defense."- Lou Piniella on Kosuke Fukudome

Funky Fukudome
"The country guys play country music, the Latin guys play Latin music -- Kosuke's on the team so he should be able to play his music." - Carlos Zambrano letting Fukudome choose the music the day he starts. It's customary to let that day's starting pitcher make the choice.

Can Lou Make It Anymore Clear that He Doesn't Like Soto's Defense?
''I like Koyie, the way he calls a ballgame. He's a really good defensive catcher. When a team isn't scoring many runs, the more defense that you have on the field, the better. Is he going to catch more? We need Soto to hit. I've said that before. That's the key to this whole thing, how well Soto swings the bat. And we'll leave it at that.'' - Lou Piniella

18 Million Excuses
"I took a couple steps then hit the grass, and as soon as I hit the grass, I thought I had two more steps. I took little steps, because I didn't want to hit the wall. You know, full speed into the wall can be very dangerous." - Alfonso Soriano

"But at the last moment, I take my eyes off the ball and just think about the wall. One second, I took my eyes off the ball, and I dropped it." - Alfonso Soriano

"I've got to have a little stop, because I don't want to go into the wall. If you go full speed into the wall, it can be very dangerous." - Alfonso Soriano