"Somebody had to make the decision for me because I wouldn't have done it. I would much rather have left like I've done today (December 10, 1998) than to leave in the middle of the season or getting booed out of the ballpark. I didn't want to taint my career."

"He taught me something about fear. Eck tells me he spends the whole game being afraid. Fear makes some guys call in sick, or be tentative. He uses fear to get him ready for every stinking time he pitches." — Tony La Russa