"Every at-bat, I try to hit the ball. I don't like to strike out. I put the ball in play a lot, so I'll take the hits as they come."

"Home runs usually come in bunches for me. If I'm feeling good and I'm on time, I can drive the ball even more."

"I am a big guy and happen to play a position that requires you to be relatively quick. I can't let up now. I have to work every day to be better next year."

"I'd like to think I'll be here for awhile. There are other players behind me, but that's something every player has to deal with unless you're a Todd Helton."

"I get the fantasy league comment a couple of times a series ... that's pretty cool. They might be rooting for the other team, but if I do well it helps them out. It's kind of cool."

"I love Denver. There's not a better place to hit, better place to play. I'm a West Coast guy, so I like playing in the NL West."

"I'm probably still not the ideal defensive player, but there is enough offense on the table that people will say they can live with my defense. I would like to change that reputation."

"I'm trying to put together quality at-bats and hit the ball hard somewhere."

"I've definitely got to take on more responsibility and try to lead by example."

"I wasn't going to worry about what might happen. I had to take advantage of what was happening, which was me getting a chance to play."

"My parents were big supporters of me going to college. It was the right thing for me to do. But it was the toughest decision I had to make."

"They had some great fans out there (Wichita Regional) It was fun getting to play in front of 4,000 people. The atmosphere was totally different. We know what the tournament is like now." - Daily Bruinn Online (April 20, 2000)

"You make an error in a big situation, it's easy to question yourself, especially when you haven't had the success defensively like you've had hitting."

"You never know how your skills are going to play out at the next level. But I knew I had a lot of doubles and I was capable of driving the ball into gaps."

"Garrett can hit!"- Alan Cockrell

"Go to the book. Check the media guide. He'll hit."- Clint Hurdle

"He can hit and he's proving he can do the job defensively. He has a Scott Rolen arm. He has tremendous carry on his throws and he's done the job with the glove."- Todd Helton

"He reserves his dry wit for his teammates, with whom he's quick with the good-natured needle."- Thomas Harding

"He's one of those players who got an opportunity and he has established himself. He has a lot of quiet confidence. He's not a big talker, but he expects a lot of himself."- Clint Hurdle

"I think Atkins is actually underrated as a third baseman-but don't tell him that."- Mike Gallego

"I think we do push each other."- Chase Utley

"I would not put a ceiling on what kind of hitter this kid is going to be."- Clint Hurdle

"We've both had to prove ourselves, that we were more than what people initially thought. We both had to battle through some things in terms of our confidence level. Garrett knew what was being said, but he believed he could compete, and he is proving that."- Clint Barmes