Aaron Small
Aaron Small
Aaron James Smallis an American former Major League Baseball pitcher. He is probably best remembered for his short successful stint as a starter for the New York Yankees in 2005...
control free guys hitting passes plays quick tough walking
I can't give free passes away. Walking guys and hitting a guy, that's uncalled for. I can't do that. That just plays out of my game; I'm a control guy, getting quick outs. When I give out free passes, it makes it tough for me. It's inexcusable.
against average faced pitchers season
We've faced a lot of average pitchers this season ... and haven't done anything against them.
ball changed finger grip huge inches instead last middle sink slide spring
He changed the grip on my sinker last spring and got it to sink more consistently. He had me put my middle finger on the seam instead of my first finger, and slide it up on the ball about two inches. Those two inches made a huge difference.
coach
You didn't know I could hit, did you coach?
grip helped spring taught
Mel taught me a new grip on my sinker in spring training, and I've used it all year, ... It has really helped me.
game heart looking pray releasing tired
I didn't feel like my heart was in the game anymore. I told the chaplain: 'I'm just releasing it to God. I surrender. I'm tired of doing it myself. Pray with me.' I wasn't looking for a sign. Just some peace.
bothered felt good hitting walking
Walking guys, hitting guys, I can't do that, that's uncalled for. I wasn't bothered by the situation, I felt good on the mound.
caught people
I'll tell people I'll really look back on this year. Right now I don't really get too caught up in (his success). To do it for this organization, it is an honor.
caught focus inches red throwing wearing
I'll try not to get too caught up in the situation, ... I want to focus that it's 60 feet, 6 inches that I'm throwing to. Just another batter; this one is just wearing a Red Sox uniform.
dream help insurance last pinch serious seven six stadium start team time wake yankee
I know I'm an insurance policy. I've been that for the last six or seven years. This has been a dream come true. After my first start at Yankee Stadium I said 'Don't pinch me, I don't want to wake up,' but now it's serious time and I want to help this team any way I can.
imagined night
I never could have imagined having a night like this in my career.
bit count felt games hated matter missing nag pitch pop time took
Once I felt good, it was a matter of just getting in games and getting my pitch count up. They were really cautious, which was good. It's something you don't want to nag you or to pop back up later. I hated missing every bit of it up here, but we took our time and got it right.
appreciate defensive good run support team
That's a good thing to hear, and I appreciate it, ... I also think that without the defensive and run support, nothing happens. It's a team game.
ahead early glad strike worse
The big thing for me is getting ahead with strike one, ... Early on in the game, I wasn't doing that. I was just glad it wasn't worse than it was.