I started to fall in love with the game of baseball when my dad gave me my first set of baseball cards, ... I kept the ones I recognized. The guys I didn't were the ones I put in the spokes of my bicycle with clothes pins.

Each time we creep back into the game, it's followed up by additional runs from the other side of the field. When you're trying to get back into a game three or four times a day, that's tough to do.

Each and every time we creep back into the game, it's followed up by additional runs by the other side of the field. And when you're trying to play catch up, and it continues to go further and further away from you, you're trying to get back in the game three or four times a game that's tough to do.

We were pitched to death. It's the best game that's been pitched against us all year.

When the first pitch of the game gets thrown, we've got four games to try to win. I'm certainly interested in doing that now that I am sitting in this office.

We're not quitting, that's for sure. We've been in every single game and we've had a chance to win every single game.

We got the three runs in that inning and we didn't do anything else. That's our offensive game tonight.

We had opportunities for this game to be different than it was. We let it get away from us and that happened in the top of the first inning.

We had our chances to win that game, but it boils down, night after night, to the kind of game we had, and I say the same thing. We needed a situational at-bat to tie the game, then a two-out hit would put us ahead.

That was his game to determine. It was his baseball game at that point. You have to give him the opportunity to finish it.

Just giving him two or three days. Hey, that kid can fall out of bed and hit. The first game we played he had three hits and every one was smoked. I said right then, 'Let's put him in a humidor until Opening Day. Why does he need to be out here?

He was terrific. He looked like it was his third or fourth game of the spring, not his first. And I liked his approach at the plate, too.

He was terrific tonight. I certainly would hope that this is a game he can build on. He doesn't have anything left to prove in the Minor Leagues. He has to prove that he belongs here, and I think he started to tonight.

One of the things that young players have to not only learn but gain an admiration for is the respect factor of the game and the people who have participated in previous years, and an understanding of the history of the organization they are playing in. It's an organization very rich in tradition.

You want this whole environment to be fun for them. You want the game of baseball to be fun. You can have fun and also be involved in a businesslike manner and continue to utilize the techniques that we have been talking about over the course of these four days. You can get something done and have people going into the clubhouse with a good feeling about themselves.

Pitching and defense has been the name of the game in baseball forever. I don't care what level you're playing at. My philosophy since I started managing has been that, before you can look at any other phases, you've got to feel fairly comfortable that you've got some people who can pitch and you've got to be able to catch the ball. If you can't do either one, your chances of being very good are slim.

We made the most of three first-inning runs. The reason: Derek Lowe. For the fourth game in a row, he's been phenomenal. Not good, not great, but phenomenal. I can not say enough good things about Derek Lowe.

The kids are obviously part of our future, and the fact is they're going to experience, hopefully, a very exciting pennant race. Everybody likes their hits. It's being involved in something that could be special and getting experience when the game counts. Mets fans and the organization should be proud of David Wright and Jose Reyes, and Victor Diaz had a huge night also. And Jake is getting his feet wet.

Comeback wins are always nice. Anytime you can take a game away it's always big.

If we've got to win a game or we need him, I'll put him in.

If somebody told me wed lose every game to the Braves this year and be in the World Series, Id take that.

It's obviously a very important stretch for us, and we'll just play it as we go. That's the way we've kept it all year, one game and one series at a time.

I told him that I'd prefer him not to do that, ... He felt he could maybe get a bunt base hit and, like I said earlier, if he makes it, then we're O.K. But even if he makes it, it still might not be the right play. But he feels that's part of his game in his mind. But personally, no, I'd rather him swing the bat.

I told him that I'd prefer him not to do that. He felt he could maybe get a bunt base hit and, like I said earlier, if he makes it, then we're OK. But even if he makes it, it still might not be the right play.. ... He feels that's part of his game in his mind. But, personally, no, I'd rather him swing the bat.