This homer is even more important than the one I hit for the Marlins in the World Series. This was for my country.

I'm just happy to help my team out.

I'm excited and proud to be playing for one of the best teams in baseball.

I'm not going to be a Gold Glover out there, but I'll do what I can. I don't know how much playing time I'm going to get out there. I want to be prepared and get my feet wet. I'm going to be the best I can.

I'm not mad, sad because they told me I made the team 100 percent and they turn me out. They told me I was staying in a Marriott hotel and that we'd be working out at 5:30 Friday.

I want to play but I don't want to play like that, not (being at) 100 percent.

I want to play, ... I don't feel like the same Alex, the guy you see every day.

I've got to wait until Wednesday until I start throwing, hitting, see how it feels, ... I want to take my time.

It's a new role. I'm getting used to having to get ready late in the game. You can sense a difference from starting every day, but I think it's too early to assess any kind of numbers any of us have. I'm trying to find the value of it, and what I can do to help the team.

It's sad. They have a young team, and it's going to be like in '98 or '99. But in two or three years, they could be like us.