Aaron and I made a bet on the progress of catching prospects in 2003. He took Joe Mauer and Jeff Mathis. I took Dioner Navarro and Guillermo Quiroz. We bet on which two would have the most runs created during 2005-2008. 2004 was not kind to me; 2005 has been a little better, but still...

I think I was the best baseball player I ever saw.
-- Willie Mays

Too many pitchers, that's all, there are just too many pitchers. Ten or twelve on a team. Don't see how any of them get enough work.
-- Cy Young

I've been away for several days, and so missed much of the fun surrounding Rafael Palmeiro. While creating a post on his Hall-of-Fame worthiness in the accompanying sidebar poll, I went into more detail than usual and ended up with something I thought I'd post as a short feature, to while away a few minutes of your day.

I am intense. No question about it.
-- Roger Clemens

A guy who cheats in a friendly game of cards is a cheater. A pro who throws a spitball to support his family is a competitor.
-- George Bamberger

Good pitching will always stop good hitting and vice-versa.
-- Casey Stengel

I had slumps that lasted into the winter.
-- Bob Uecker

Everything looks nicer when you win. The girls are prettier. The cigars taste better. The trees are greener.
-- Billy Martin

The best thing about baseball is that you can do something about yesterday tomorrow.
-- Manny Trillo

Baseball is like church. Many attend, few understand.
--Wes Westrum

My friend the manager told me that he felt terrible about Gene Mauch. "He's been in this place for so long, and he won't give in to it and he won't walk away from it. This one's going to be very tough for him. He gets within one pitch and one run of the Series, but those 'ones are still there for him. I know Gene, and I know all the cigarettes that have been smoked and the drinks that have been drunk and the miles that have been paced over this kind of thing, down the years. He'll pay that price to get there, but now I don't know if it will ever happen for him. How do you go on?"
-- Roger Angell, writing about the 1986 ALCS. I'm pretty sure he's quoting Bill Rigney.

Batter's Box Tabs Guerrero, P. Martinez as
Greatest Montreal Player, Pitcher

In recent polling, the readers of Batter's Box Interactive Magazine displayed a preference for active players over the historical legends who wore the tri-coloured "M" of Les Expos before their recent move to Washington, D.C. to become the Nationals.

Vladimir Guerrero rocked past Tim Raines to nab "greatest player" while Pedro brushed back Dennis in a battle of Martinezes for the honour of "greatest pitcher."

Once in a while, you get a miracle.
-- Tony LaRussa

All pitchers are liars or crybabies.
-- Yogi Berra