Quote: Setting the Table, Good Start, Run Support
Following last night’s victory over the Reds, Jerry Manuel told reporters:
“Things really worked out well for us early. Angel Pagan…set the table for us. He was able to do some things, made a big play…and it at least got the pitch count up along with…scoring some runs, so if we can continue to do that and…getting hits with men in scoring position…maybe do a better job of reading balls off the bat…those types of things…”
Manuel was then asked about Jeff Francoeur and him getting off to a good start and fighting off a pitch to hit it the other way, to which he said:
“He has done that to us many-a-times…it’s just that competitive nature he brings with him.”
…i know it wasn’t a pretty hit, but the key was that it was good situational hitting…he hit the ball the other way…
With regards to Santana possibly being surprised to get run support:
“I don’t think he gets caught up in whether or not he’s getting runs or not…He usually faces, being a number one, a pretty competitive pitcher anyway.”
Johan Santana, when asked the same question by reporters, said:
“Well it’s good, not just for me but for the whole team; to be able to score those runs against a good pitcher, right from the beginning of the game, I think it gives everyone confidence and we definitely play a better game…that’s what you want to see – you want to put pressure on the opponent right away, and that’s what we did tonight.”
Regarding Francoeur and getting a fresh face possibly helping the team’s mood, Santana said:
“Yeah, definitely.”
