Leyland: ‘With the year we’ve had, I stink,’ but I ain’t the Lone Ranger

Return with us now to those thrilling days of yesteryear… The Marlboro Man rides again!

“I’m going to tell you the facts: I stink,” he said. “With the year we’ve had, I stink. But I can tell you one thing: I ain’t the Lone Ranger.”

“Everybody’d better step it up,” Leyland said. “They’d better do what they need to do this winter. They’d better come to spring training in shape, because there’s only two jobs on the pitching staff right now, other than Bonderman. That’s it.

“I don’t want to hear any whining. I’m talking about the bullpen, too. There’s no jobs. ... We’ve been pretty nice around here long enough. Sooner or later, you’ve got to do the job.”

...“I’m tired of worrying about guys being sensitive,” Leyland said. “The facts are the facts, boys: We stunk. I stunk. We stunk. I don’t want to hear any pouting, any whispering in the clubhouse. That’s over with. I can tell you that right now.

“Step up to the plate and show you’re one of the best. You do that, you’re going to pitch, you’re going to play.”