I don't know where these guys fit in our team, ... but they're all very hardworking, very serious players, very angry-type players -- with talent.

I've told these guys, we're a good team. We don't have great players like we did last year.

I think he just wants to get better. He understands that great players get better, that great players are consistently improving. His best asset in the summertime was his defense, which was most improved. He's in his stance, and much more alert.

I tell our players a lot about some of those guys. I don't know if they realize the tradition. Maybe if they see it in the paper, it will mean a lot more to them.

This is a hardworking team, that's the name of it this year.

The pep talk was good. I was fired up. I told them some stories? (Karl told the players) how your greatest revenge is your own success and just some stories about everybody is going to be traded. Everybody is going to be fired. That doesn't mean you don't feel juiced and committed to spank the team that let you go.