Bob Apodaca

He's still very weak. I really don't know when I can get him off a mound, let alone in a read more

He's still very weak. I really don't know when I can get him off a mound, let alone in a game. So the clock is ticking, and it's not going to stop. It's going on nine or 10 days since he's pitched a game. These are all the things you can't make up for. All you can do is, first and foremost, get him healthy.

Throwing on the side doesn't equate to spring training. There's just not the same intensity. There's nobody with a bat read more

Throwing on the side doesn't equate to spring training. There's just not the same intensity. There's nobody with a bat in his hands telling you that you just made a mistake.

He's going to be a Major League pitcher -- we caught lightning in a bottle when we acquired this guy.

He's going to be a Major League pitcher -- we caught lightning in a bottle when we acquired this guy.

He's a very good guy, he's a great teammate. He's good in the bullpen with the younger guys and he's read more

He's a very good guy, he's a great teammate. He's good in the bullpen with the younger guys and he's free with his advice and he speaks his mind and sometimes it isn't always a kind remark. To be a true teammate, something needs to be said when it needs to be said. He's the type of person who will do that.

He showed me his slider was his command pitch. I told him, 'You get behind in the count, throw it read more

He showed me his slider was his command pitch. I told him, 'You get behind in the count, throw it anyway.' He started throwing the breaking ball with the fastball.