That may have been true in the '50s. But if I'm playing against the Yankees and they say, 'You can take one guy off their team so he can't play against you,' well, then, it's going to be Mariano Rivera who won't play.

It's not good or bad, but closers have changed things. I don't think you are going to win a World Series without one. Where would the Yankees be without Mariano Rivera?

Are you kidding me? I wouldn't root for the Yankees if they were playing Poland.

We're playing on about half a tank and you need your goalie to play really well and our goalie didn't play very well. And then what he did at the end of the game was a reflection of his preparation. It was a very undisciplined thing to do and I don't accept it.

I'm certainly thankful for what the Cubs did for me. I respect their organization. It's the same way with the Atlanta Braves, an awfully fine organization. I respect everybody who's down there, and that's still where I live today. But the Cardinals represent the best years of my career.

It was the call you always hope for, but you never really expect it to happen. I can't tell you what in means to me, in words.