These guys are proven hitters in the major leagues. There really wasn't much to do. They're our best hitters and I wasn't going to sit them on the bench or put them at the bottom of the order.

These guys enjoy the competition. They are baseball players -- that's what they do. Because they are representing the country makes it more special. I expect good things. There is a lot of pride for Venezuela.

These guys, they want to be honored. They want to play. We have a good pitching staff, and we have a good lineup, too. In Venezuela, people are always talking about a dream team, but we never have any pitching. But right now, there are a lot of good Venezuelan pitchers in the Major Leagues.

He blamed himself. I think he took it personal. ... He said, 'I'm sorry, guys.' ... He felt like he let us down.

Clutch hitting has been the missing ingredient for us. The Cubans are very good fastball hitters and they showed they were ready whenever they got that pitch.

I'm very happy at the appointment, and now we have to put together a team that puts Venezuela's name high up there. But I think in Venezuela there are enough quality players to win the title. I hope the best are available.

They did a very good job against our hitters. They threw a lot of strikes. When we were behind, they threw a lot of breaking balls and changeups.

That's one thing in this game, you have to be strong mentally. If you're not strong mentally, you're done.

It's going to be hard, ... I've been with these guys for 10 years. They've been a winning team, and Mel's been a big part of it. It's going to be tough. That's the name of the game. You're in and you're out. You've got to move on. We're going to miss him, that's for sure.

For 10 years, they've been a winning team, and Mel was a big part of it. It's going to be tough, but that's the name of the game. You have to move on. We're going to miss him, that's for sure.