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Once you make the majors, it's never a great feeling to go back to the minors - no matter what the circumstances.

If you go back to the minors, you have to start swinging and hitting the ball again. I've been in the minors since the '70s semipros, let's put it that way.

I'd rather play in the major leagues and have some bad games than play consistently good ball in the minors.

Baseball is a hard game. There's going to be ups and downs.

If you're in the minor leagues, you want to get to the majors.

Young pitchers don't throw enough in the minor leagues, and when they get to the majors, they don't have the stamina; their arms haven't been built up.

If you are used to going five innings and then go six or seven, you won't have your good stuff. They need to start that from the minor leagues and give pitchers strong arms.

Your first responsibility is to the organization, to teach and prepare players to get to the big leagues and have them ready when they get there, but everyone in the minors wants to be in the majors.

Finally, for all of us but a lucky few, the dream of playing big-time baseball is relinquished so we can get on with grown-up things.