Quote: Willie on Pagan
Angel Pagan hit a two-run home run yesterday. He is batting .419 with 10 RBI in 15 games this spring.
Willie Randolph, on Pagan’s early, spring-training success, while speaking to reporters after yesterday’s game:
“I’ve seen this happen a lot in spring training. The guys in a good rhythm, in a good groove, and determined to make the team. I’ve seen that before, where guys go crazy in spring training. Like I said, he’s in great shape, he’s matured a lot since the last time I saw him and he’s having a real good spring so far. Still got a ways to go, though, so keep it going…
“A lot of kids have talent. But a lot of time they do things on the bases or in the outfield that are not always instinctive. It doesn’t make it bad, but to be on a winning team – and to be a winner - you have to do a lot of things instinctively…You know, the first time I saw him he didn’t make good choices on the base paths, now he’s looking better at that. That’s what I mean by maturing. He had some really weird routes in the outfield, it seems to me that he’s learning how to get a better jump and take better routes. I remember when I first saw him he was very raw…But hopefully with a couple years under his belt he’s learned some things, and it’s good to have him. And, again, we’ll see how this all plays out. I told the guys when spring training started, you’re not necessarily going to make this team just on batting average and stats. I mean, we’re trying to put together a team that’s gonna help us win games. So, it’s nice to go out and impress, but, when you get down to the end of the day, you have to do certain things to help us win a game.”
In a report for 
, despite having a personal stake in Pagan’s success, Ted Berg wonders why we are all getting so excited about Pagan, reminding of us of past, out-of-nowhere spring success stories, such as Butch Huskey.
Lastly, speaking of outfielders, in a column for Newsday, Anthony Rieber reminds us of Endy Chavez.
