“Let me tell you this: Without Santana, we felt as a team that we have a chance to win in our division. With him now, I have no doubt that we’re going to win in our division,” the star center fielder said. “So this year, to Jimmy Rollins — we are the team to beat!” — Carlos Beltran, February 16th. 2008

In the Associated Press, Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins had arrived to spring training and answered a few questions for the reporters.

Rollins on Beltran’s statement…

“Has anyone ever heard of plagiarism?”

“Pretty good, especially coming from him. Because he’s a quiet guy, it was probably shocking when he said it. Not shocking in a bad way, like, ‘Wow, I can’t believe he said that.’ More like, ‘Wow, he finally said something because he’s a leader on that team and you definitely need to be a vocal leader.’”

Rollins on the Phillies…

“There isn’t a team in this division or the National League that’s better than us. After 162 games, we’ll be looking to win the next 11.”

“We can win 100 games. Look at what happened to us last year with all the injuries and all the different pitchers and the uncertainties and we wound up winning 89 games.”

Filed under: Carlos Beltran, Jimmy Rollins