We do extensive preparation, particularly in our pitching, ... (Bullpen coach) Bob Geren helps Curt. Curt said to me, 'All this work. I'd like to start seeing some results.' I said, 'Stick with it. Persistence.'

You look at one game we lost against Baltimore early in the year. We had a missed call at first base, ... We lost the game by one run and there was three runs there. It should have been closed out of the inning, so everything's crucial.

I had a lot of maintenance my first year because we had six outfielders, so there were three guys every day who were pissed off because they weren't in the lineup. Last year we started with three first baseman and there was maintenance there. They were all veteran guys. This year we haven't had that.

The likelihood of him playing back-to-back is good.

He's been very pleasant, but not a surprise. I don't think he leaves anything out there when he's relieving.

That's a fair assessment.