It's typical of what we've done all year. We hang around and give ourselves a chance. That's the mark of our team this year, that's the best way to sum it up.

If he's going to be in a role where he's not going to pitch much for us, it does him no good at this stage of his career. In saying that, it doesn't mean he's not going to make this team. But we're not going to send him out there and let him rot. We're going to do what's best for him.

He's one of the best players in the league and he's taken some heat for being a slow starter.

He was the best we had out there. It was his game. Sometimes your best moves backfire and your worst moves don't. Naturally, if you make a decision and it doesn't work, the other move probably would've been better. That's just baseball.

Ideally he gets through. But for his sake you hope he gets claimed. Guys who played for you in the past, you always want the best for those guys.

But the top teams, in whatever sport, always bring out the best in you. That means you're usually ready to play, not that you'll win them all.

It's not always pretty, but certain guys find a way. That was the best I've seen him this year.

We'll look at it and see who is pitching the best when that time comes. The thing that he does is give us flexibility. If he's in the bullpen, he makes us that much stronger down there. But if he keeps doing what he's doing ...