Al Leiter
Al Leiter
Alois "Al" Terry Leiteris a former Major League Baseball left-handed starting pitcher. Leiter pitched 19 seasons in the Major Leagues for New York Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays, Florida Marlins, and New York Mets. He is now a studio analyst for MLB Network and a color commentator for the YES Network and Fox Sports Florida...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionBaseball Player
Date of Birth23 October 1965
CityToms River, NJ
CountryUnited States of America
You put deadlines on people you really don't want, because that's how you feel about them.
The pitcher setting up the batter. It's chess, and you play with it.
I like starting. It's pretty cool.
I did not want to leave the Mets and I did not want to leave New York.
Announcers don't do enough of the cat-and-mouse strategy and all the work that goes into it. You watch a broadcast and guys get the pitches wrong.
Pitches are like pages of a book; they're so important. The chess game; how I set you up early, and how I'll do it differently later.
We were in a bad spot going to Game 5, ... And we put ourselves in a bad moment. But everybody felt good about what the outcome should have been or what we thought it would have been. I don't want to say (the plane ride was) sad. But it was about as depressing a room as I've ever seen.
They talk about payroll and who gets paid what, ... (But) you still got to do it, and it's human beings doing it. There's no robots. And it just so happens that the other team in the other dugout wants to kick your butt, too. And (the Angels) can be pretty good, which they are. And we're standing in the parking lot.
This is what I was hoping for. I think the tournament is a great thing for baseball and I really wanted to be a part of it. If it ends up being the last time I pitch I would be very satisfied with that. This was one of the big reasons I decided to keep playing.
This could be really exciting. Maybe before I die it ends up being a rival to the soccer World Cup.
Some people are born into money. Some are given the opportunity in a lucky way. I got where I am by a lucky bounce along the way. There have been opportunities to help people in need. There are charitable causes where you can give people hope and opportunity to turn that corner. It's the right thing to do.
I think there's a lot of variables and factors. Obviously, I've got to feel good, feel healthy. I have to feel as though the way I'm throwing the ball is good and effective. I have to know that if I am feeling good and throwing the ball with quality pitches, I have to feel I'm wanted or needed by the organization.
I was a little nothing. My brother Kurt was a lot older. Mark had three years on me. They were all better. But maybe I learned a lot in those games. We had leagues where we'd imitate big-leaguers.
I think the World Cup is going to be bigger than what a lot of people are anticipating. At this stage in my career, when there is an opportunity, albeit a small one, of being on the team, what a great way to possibly end my career.