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

I Bet You Didn't Use the Term Base-Clogging Even Once
"We talk about it. On-base percentage. We've been doing a better job. What can I say? Two of our new additions, (Reed) Johnson and Fukudome, have done a nice job in that regard."
- Lou Piniella

"We're second in the league in runs scored to Arizona, and to me, you score runs, you win. On-base percentage, hitting with men in scoring position, left on base -- those are all byproducts of how many runs you score."
- Lou Piniella

Moneyball was So 2003
"That'd be a great thing if that was contagious, because then we'd be like the Oakland A's. The big thing there is on-base percentage. That means you have a lot of chances to score a lot of runs and put pressure on the other team consistently."
- Daryle Ward

Caffeine Watch '08
"I've never had Red Bull in my life, but I've actually seen people at a bar order Red Bull and vodka. I can't comprehend that. If I had a couple of those things, I'd be like the malt liquor bull (from the old TV commercials) leaving the bar. My lord."'
- Lou Piniella

"You think Lou lives in my house in Chicago?"
- Carlos Zambrano responding to questions that Lou thinks he's still drinking too many caffeinated beverages

"Every time I don't want to drink Gatorade or water, they are all over me .I appreciate that. They are doing a good job. I have to keep going with my diet -- bananas, bananas and bananas.''
- Carlos Zambrano

I Sense Sarcasm...
"It was foul? You mean, the umpires were wrong?"
- Lou Piniella on DeRosa's "gift" homer on Sunday

Male Bonding...
"We can bond a little bit on this road trip. And you've got a chance to catch up a little on rest with [mostly] night games."
Lou Piniella on the road trip

That's What She Said..
"For me, it's been better when it happens quick, because I don't have time to sit and think about it."
Kerry Wood on closing

Steady, Non-Essential, Low-Leverage Work
"We'll use him behind in the score if we have to. We'll find spots for him to work. We'll get him steady work. That's the important thing, steady work."
- Lou Piniella on Bob Howry's new role

A few years back, TCR brought you "Cubs Week in Quotations"...we know you missed it.

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Before we get down to business, time to honor our past
"It's the best. This is the epitome of American life to be able to have this honor bestowed upon me; think about that. Just me. And when I'm no longer here, I'll still be here. It's amazing. This is amazing to me."
-Ernie Banks

"It's a miracle that I made it from there to here. When I had my number retired, I thought it was the greatest honor because it was the first number ever retired by this franchise. It will still be there 100 years from now, and that's how I feel about this statue. I know it'll be here 100 years from now. It's a miracle. But it is proof that if you find satisfaction in your life, miracles can happen."
-Ernie Banks

"What apostrophe?"
- Sculptor Lou Cella responding to his grammatical error on the Ernie Banks statue