Cubs Week In Quotations

The $18M Set-Up Man
"The bottom line is that at this particular time, it makes us a better club. [Zambrano] didn't throw poorly. [Silva and Gorzelanny], their arsenal isn't conducive to going to the pen. ... There's no agenda at all except it was the best fit at the time. He's capable of doing it." - Jim Hendry

Sunk Costs
"You can't worry about anybody's individual salary. Things change. People adjust. We're going to have an injury or two along the way and we'll adjust to that. ... Nobody ever breaks camp with the 25 in the same role and just run the table, win 100 and goes to the playoffs. To get hung up on what somebody makes or what they used to do or what's going to happen a month from now or who you're going to acquire, that's foolish thinking." - Jim Hendry

Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy
“I’m not ‘happy’ happy about this decision, but I feel good. I feel good to help my team and to do everything to help us solve whatever the problem is.”- Carlos Zambrano

He Gives Us Headaches
"Zambrano gives us a presence. He gives us experience. He gives us a really good situation. He gives us an opportunity to win baseball games. To me, that's the limelight." - Lou Piniella

Even A Zombie Apocalypse?
"Yeah, I'm ready for everything." - Carlos Zambrano

It's Something to Slap Corporate Advertising On
“Well, it’s…it’s something for the fans.” - Lou Piniella on the BP Crosstown Cup

Like Wait-And-See If They'll Hit Today
"I think our lineup is a little bit of a wait-and-see." - Lou Piniella

Practice? We're Talking About Practice!
''When we get home, we work on a few things [before night games] that we haven't executed all that well." - Lou Piniella

Said the 15-year old Soriano in his Bedroom
'It's the same approach. I just trust my hands more.''- Alfonso Soriano

Tried Sushi?
'I think I did it once in Washington in 2006,'' - Alfonso Soriano after taking 3 walks in a game.

The Baseball Where Having a Runner on Third With Less Than 2 Outs is Good?
"Bunting what? With a left-handed hitter ( Mike Fontenot) up, you want to bunt? What kind of baseball you play?"
"Really, what kind of baseball do you play?"
"How about getting (the runner) in, or getting him over by swinging? How about that?" - Lou Piniella

Blind Luck
"It was all luck. It was one of those last-minute, sun-is-in-your-eyes (situations). I try to get to a position and stick your glove out. - Marlon Byrd

And That's He Still Batting 4th (or 5th)
"The only surprising thing is the number of strikeouts (25 in 97 at-bats)." - Lou Piniella on Aramis Ramirez

Crash Cart
"We just need to stabilize this thing and win some games and get above .500. That's what our job is, and that's what we're going to try to do." - Lou Piniella

Swingers
"I've got Fukudome that's swinging it, I've got Soriano that's swinging it and I've got Byrd that's swinging it." - Lou Piniella

Or Use Koyie Hill as the Catcher
"He's going to add 3-4 miles per hour to his fastball. Yesterday, what was wrong with Teddy was he got the ball up with the wind blowing out, and that's not good. His velocity will improve, yes. Remember, this was his second major-league start, and he'll get more arm strength." - Lou Piniella

Or Trade for Someone Really Good
"And if you want to put together a good bullpen here this summer that wins you a division, that's exactly what we're going to have to do. Put the brakes on some of these young kids and pitch them, at the right time, give them the necessary experience and let them build some confidence." - Lou Piniella

Simple, Yet Surprising
"The Cubs outplayed us. It's pretty simple." - AJ Hinch

Late Night with President Obama
"It's been nine years since your last title -- which must have felt like eternity for Yankee fans. I think other teams would be just fine with a spell like that. The Cubs, for example."- President Barack Obama

Mediocrity Might Be Shooting a Little High
"What I've learned is that I don't understand the term 'lovable losers.' A century of mediocrity isn't funny and I think the Ricketts family agrees with this. They are giving a sense around the ballpark of a comprehensive engagement in the game, and the amenities in the ballpark and, most of all, in the quality of what is going on on the field. I don't think the Ricketts want to be the owners of lovable losers, and more power to them." - George Will