Take What You Need

In 1990, Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Don Carman came up with a creative way to deal with the trough of reporters who would continually ask the same repetitive questions.

He came up with a list of responses, which he posted on his locker. “You saw the game,” he told reporters. “Take what you need.”

• I’m just glad to be here. I just want to help the club any way I can.
• Baseball’s a funny game.
• I’d rather be lucky than good.
• We’re going to take the season one game at a time.
• You’re only as good as your last game (last at-bat).
• This game has really changed.
• If we stay healthy we should be right there.
• It takes 24 (25) players.
• We need two more players to take us over the top: Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig.
• We have a different hero every day.
• We’ll get ‘em tomorrow.
• This team seems ready to gel.
• With a couple breaks, we win that game.
• That All-Star voting is a joke.
• The catcher and I were on the same wavelength.
• I just went right at ‘em.
• I did my best, and that’s all I can do.
• You just can’t pitch behind.
• That’s the name of the game.
• We’ve got to have fun.
• I didn’t have my good stuff, but I battled ‘em.
• Give the guy some credit; he hit a good pitch.
• Hey, we were due to catch a break or two.
• Yes.
• No.
• That’s why they pay him _____ million dollars.
• Even I could have hit that pitch.
• I know you are, but what am I?
• I was getting my off-speed stuff over so they couldn’t sit on the fastball.
• I had my at ‘em ball going today.
• I had some great plays made behind me tonight.
• I couldn’t have done it without my teammates.
• You saw it … write it.
• I just wanted to go as hard as I could as long as I could.
• I’m seeing the ball real good.
• I hit that ball good.
• I don’t get paid to hit.