
“I would
say the best thing that ever happened to him was to become a closer.
With his
fastball, plus a good changeup, plus a good curveball, nobody has a chance
against this guy. This kid is nasty, nasty, nasty.”
—Teammate Odalis Perez
“He has
a lot of things going for him. His stuff is the best in the league. Not
only is he throwing 96, 97 98 mph, he’s throwing it where he wants
to and he’s throwing three pitches for a strike.”
—Teammate Paul Lo Duca
“I think
the closer role fits him, and he’s eating it up. I know he’s
having fun when he’s smiling. He’s facing the best hitters
in the game and doing well. His confidence level has risen to unbelievable
heights.”
—Lo Duca
“With
his mentality alone, I knew he had the makings of a great closer.”
—Teammate Brian Jordan
“He’s
devastating. He throws 95 to 100 mph, he can put it pretty much where
he wants it, and his best pitch is his changeup. That’s pretty
scary.”
—Teammate Paul Quantrill
“Somebody
told me he used his breaking pitch as a ‘show’ pitch. Yeah
right. I call it a ‘show-you-back-to-the-dugout’ pitch. There
needs to be an ordinance against that.”
—Big-league veteran Trenidad
Hubbard
“His enthusiasm
for the game fits the role of the closer. The mystique he brings to the
mound is great, but it pales in comparison to the stuff he brings. It’s
one thing to be flamboyant or have antics, but you can’t intimidate
big-league hitters.”
—Padres closer Trevor Hoffman
“Not only
does he go out there and get it done, but he gets it done with such devastation.
That’s how he’s built a reputation so quickly.”
—Dodgers manager Jim Tracy
“His
command is absolutely impeccable, his pitch efficiency as good as there
is in
baseball. A few years from now he will be a more powerful version of
Dennis Eckersley.”
—Tracy
“There’s
something about putting on the closer’s clothes that gives Eric
a special armor of invincibility.”
—Dodgers pitching coach Jim
Colborn
“He’s
an ornery guy, but if a ballplayer doesn’t have a little orneriness,
you’re wasting your time.”
—Eric’s college coach
Lloyd Simmons
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