Bob Apodaca

He's still very weak. I really don't know when I can get him off a mound, let alone in a read more

He's still very weak. I really don't know when I can get him off a mound, let alone in a game. So the clock is ticking, and it's not going to stop. It's going on nine or 10 days since he's pitched a game. These are all the things you can't make up for. All you can do is, first and foremost, get him healthy.

He's going to be a Major League pitcher -- we caught lightning in a bottle when we acquired this guy.

He's going to be a Major League pitcher -- we caught lightning in a bottle when we acquired this guy.

Throwing on the side doesn't equate to spring training. There's just not the same intensity. There's nobody with a bat read more

Throwing on the side doesn't equate to spring training. There's just not the same intensity. There's nobody with a bat in his hands telling you that you just made a mistake.

He showed me his slider was his command pitch. I told him, 'You get behind in the count, throw it read more

He showed me his slider was his command pitch. I told him, 'You get behind in the count, throw it anyway.' He started throwing the breaking ball with the fastball.

He throws 10 pitches (during the game), and then he's in the conditioning room for an hour and he's just read more

He throws 10 pitches (during the game), and then he's in the conditioning room for an hour and he's just rolling in to the clubhouse when the game is over. He's put in that much work to maintain his body. He doesn't take his body for granted. That's why he's so good. That's why he's had longevity.