Quotes by Mike Mussina

“I dont think its a significant amount of concern. Its a possibility, I guess, but its not a significant amount of concern.”

“Because of them, we have a chance, ... Without them, we wouldnt have a chance.”

“If it doesnt hurt on Friday, Im going to try to play catch, ... If it does hurt, well wait a couple of days.”

“If youre going to have a good year, then people you dont [usually] count on have to come through. These guys have done it. Because of them, we have a chance. Without them, we wouldnt have a chance.”

“We knew in Spring Training he could throw the ball the way hes throwing it. When he got the opportunity, he did the job.”

“Chacon came in and he had been struggling in Colorado. He got a new chance, got to pitch for a team thats in playoff contention, so it was a good change for him. Then he started throwing the ball great, had some success and felt better about himself. It just kept building.”

“Four months ago, we were really in bad shape, not knowing where we were going, ... But through everything we sit here with a chance to be playing one month from now. At the beginning of the season, it didnt look that way at all.”

“This is one of those situations you have to deal with. Well get back out there as soon as possible, but Im certainly not going to risk anything long-term to get out there and rush myself and try to do something I shouldnt do.”

“Its a possibility, I guess, but not a significant concern.”

“Its always tough not to rush yourself. If I didnt want to be out there pitching, I could have probably spoken up a long time ago. But I could still go out there and do the job, and I felt it wasnt bothering me to do what I wanted to do. But when it got to the point where it was bothering me, then it was time to take it seriously and realize that you might be seriously hurting yourself.”

I was young enough to be an optimist.