On not getting called up from Pawtucket in September: "I thought I pitched well enough to deserve it, but it's their decision and I respected that. Before the season, I asked if I had a decent shot of getting called up this year, and they said that basically everyone in Triple-A has an equal shot. So, for the team to go outside the organization to fill holes as often as they did, rather than look at their own Triple-A staff…it was disappointing. From my perspective, I've paid my dues and did everything they asked of me: starting, long man, short man. Still, even though I pitched well late in the year, I was hoping more than anticipating. It just didn't happen. That said, I can’t stress enough just how important it was for me, in my career, to be with the Red Sox. And I absolutely respect how much effort, time and dedication their front office puts in."
On Cla Meredith: "Cla is just a happy-go-lucky kid. It was fun to play baseball around him. And he had the same personality after a bad outing that he did after striking out the side. Not many guys can do that. I first met him in Portland two years ago. I was one of the oldest guys on the team, and Cla was one of the youngest, so he asked me a lot of questions. I admired that about him. He was a student of the game, and really wanted to learn. It was sad to see him go. We were in Ottawa when he got traded, and it was hard for him to leave the clubhouse. It was probably one of the most emotional times of his life. You could see how much the Red Sox, and his teammates, meant to him."
On Corky Miller: "I loved playing with Corky. Talk about a throwback. He's great in the clubhouse, always in a great mood, and can really lighten up a staff. He's a good defensive catcher, too. He and Ken Huckaby both are. He takes pride in how he calls a game, and he'll block a ball with his teeth if he has to. And, of course, he takes those Babe Ruth swings. As a matter of fact, Corky Miller has the best on deck swing in baseball. We'd give him a hard time about that, how he'll almost come out of his shoes in the on deck circle."
On Jason Varitek: "I threw to Tek when he was rehabbing down in Pawtucket, and it was great. I'm always intense when I'm driving to the ballpark before a start, and I was even more pumped knowing that he'd be catching me. Then, when I got to the clubhouse, he was waiting for me at my locker, ready to go over the line-up. Think about that. He's on a rehab assignment, and he's waiting to go over how we're going to attack Triple-A hitters. He also made sure he knew what my strengths were, and how I like to work hitters in certain situations. One time during the game, he came out to the mound and said, 'I know you want to throw a fastball here, but a breaking ball in the dirt is probably going to get this guy'. And he was right. That was my last start of the year, and if it's the last one I ever make…what a way to go out."
On life in a minor league bullpen: "There are some pretty interesting conversations out there. As a matter of fact, when Bob Tewksbury was in town, sometimes he'd come down just to listen to our debates. Craig Breslow, Tim Bausher and I always seemed to be debating something. Some days it would be who the best basketball players are, others days it would be George Bush. The fans would yell some pretty off the wall comments down to us, too. One of the classics is, 'When are you going to go pro?' Or someone will yell, 'Hey 16, why are you on the bench and not in the game?' A fly on the bullpen wall would have some pretty good stories."
On his future: "I have my sports facility, so I obviously have a passion for coaching and teaching kids, from the younger ones up to the college level. It’s rewarding to see them make the jump from high school to college and start to live a dream they’ve had for so long. I've spent 12 years in the minor leagues, and I still have that dream of pitching in the big leagues myself. Baseball is in my blood, and my career has been all about enjoyment and perseverance. I'm a free agent right now, and there are a few teams that have shown interest. I'd love to re-sign with the Red Sox, but we'll have to see what happens."
