They Said It

A look at the Angels’ season, in their own words.

“Sometimes I think the cops are going to come and arrest the whole team for loitering . . . and we’d need some high-priced lawyers to get us out of that one.”

--Pitcher Chuck Finley after an ugly 9-2 loss in Toronto Aug. 2.

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“I asked the umpire for a mulligan.”

--Catcher Don Slaught after pitcher Jason Grimsley lasted seven batters, giving up two doubles, two singles, three walks and seven runs at Detroit July 30.

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“It’s my job to motivate this team, but right now that’s a zero. . . . I can’t do this much longer. I can’t sit here and watch this. I don’t know how [the players] can sit and watch this.”

--Manager Marcel Lachemann after 13-5 loss to Detroit Aug. 1.

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“This team has too many players who look like they came from Newport Beach, where their daddies and mommies gave them everything they ever wanted.”

--Team President Tony Tavares in the wake of Lachemann’s resignation Aug. 6.

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“That water cooler? That thing just fell.”

--Designated hitter Chili Davis on a SkyDome water fountain he bashed off the wall.

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“I don’t want to contribute to the back-stabbing, the griping, the bad stories and TV reports. . . . I’ve had enough.”

--Center fielder Jim Edmonds after 5-3 loss to Kansas City Aug. 9 extended the team’s losing streak to five.

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“I don’t know what would take more courage right now, quitting or staying out there.”

--Pitcher Jim Abbott after an 18-3 loss to Kansas City Aug. 10 dropped him to 1-15.

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“If you don’t see me tomorrow it’s not because I jumped out of a hotel window, it’s because I have to see a doctor.”

--Interim Manager John McNamara after a 17-6 loss to New York Aug. 20.

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“I had one of the saddest days I’ve ever had in my life, and ended it with the smallest piece of joy.”

--Mark Langston after pitching a complete game in a 4-3 victory over Detroit April 19, the day of Michelle Carew’s memorial service.

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“Trying to figure out this team is like trying to figure out a Rubik’s Cube in the dark.”

--Finley after a 5-0 loss to Cleveland June 8.

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“Where do I get my lift ticket?”

--Pitcher Mike James upon reaching the dugout on a frigid, 45-degree day in Chicago’s Comiskey Park.

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“Everybody looks like Cy Young against us now.”

--Shortstop Gary DiSarcina after a 14-3 loss to Minnesota and pitcher Scott Aldred, who was released earlier by pitching-poor Detroit.

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“I should be docked a day’s pay for this.”

--Grimsley, after giving up seven runs in 3 1/3 innings of a 17-6 loss to Boston May 15.

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“It was a fastball up. Shoot, maybe it was a slider. I wouldn’t know. I don’t even remember seeing it hit my bat. I just saw the right fielder moving, so I figured I’d better run.”

--Ryan Hancock after singling against Cleveland June 9 to become the first Angel pitcher to get a hit since 1973.

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What did us in today was the manager. The manager screwed it up so many ways.”

--Lachemann after 6-5 loss to Oakland July 7.

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“Right now, I feel like we’re just ready to break out.”

--Davis after a 4-0 victory over New York May 29.

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“I want this . . . season to be over!”

--Davis, 3 1/2 months later.

Compiled by MIKE DiGIOVANNA, Times Staff Writer