Optimism is the cheerful frame of mind that enables a teakettle to sing, though in hot water up to its nose.
Earl WeaverNobody likes to hear it, because it's dull, but the reason you win or lose is darn near always the same - pitching.
Earl WeaverThe Chinese tell time by 'The Year of the Horse' or 'The Year of the Dragon.' I tell time by 'The Year of the Back' and 'The Year of the Elbow.' This year it's 'The Year of the Ulnar Nerve.' Someone once asked me if I had any physical incapacities of my own. 'Sure I do,' I said. 'One big one - Jim Palmer.'
Earl WeaverThe only thing that matters is what happens on the little hump out in the middle of the field.
Earl WeaverThe guy who says, 'I love the challenge of managing,' is one step from being out of a job. I don't welcome any challenge. I'd rather have nine guys named Robinson.
Earl WeaverIn baseball, you can't kill the clock. You've got to give the other man his chance. That's why this is the greatest game.
Earl WeaverI became an optimist when I discovered that I wasn't going to win any more games by being anything else.
Earl WeaverEconomics played a role. Raleighs have gone from six fifty to nine dollars a carton, but there's a three-quarter cent coupon on the back. You can get all kinds of things with them, blenders, everything. I saved up enough one time and got Al Bumbry.
Earl WeaverA manager's job is simple. For one hundred sixty-two games you try not to screw up all that smart stuff your organization did last December.
Earl WeaverCoaches are an integral part of any manager's team, especially if they are good pinochle players.
Earl WeaverBad ballplayers make good managers, not the other way around. All I can do is help them be as good as they are.
Earl WeaverThe job of arguing with the umpire belongs to the manager, because it won't hurt the team if he gets thrown out of the game.
Earl WeaverThere was nothing to keep him (Cal Ripken, Jr.) from being a star in the Major Leagues. That was inevitable.
Earl WeaverA manager should stay as far away as possible from his players. I don't know if I said ten words to Frank Robinson while he played for me.
Earl WeaverWe're so bad right now that for us back-to-back home runs means one today and another one tomorrow.
Earl WeaverMy best game plan is to sit on the bench and call out specific instructions like 'C'mon Boog,' 'Get a hold of one, Frank,' or 'Let's go, Brooks.'
Earl WeaverLeadership can be defined in one word - honesty. You must be honest with the players and honest with yourself.
Earl WeaverI never got many questions about my managing. I tried to get twenty-five guys who didn't ask questions.
Earl WeaverTeam speed for Christ's sake. You got bleeping' bleep bleep little fleas on the bleeping' bases getting picked off, trying to steal, getting thrown out, taking runs away from you. You get some big bleep bleepers that can hit the bleeping ball out of ballpark and you can't make any bleep bleeping mistakes.
Earl WeaverSome have said that I can accept inadequacies in my players but not in umpires. That completely misses the point. I can't tolerate anyone's mistake.
Earl WeaverYou win pennants in the off season when you build your teams with trades and free agents.
Earl Weaver