Chris Carpenter
Chris Carpenter
Christopher John "Chris" Carpenteris an American retired professional baseball starting pitcher. He played 15 seasons in Major League Baseballfor the Toronto Blue Jays and St. Louis Cardinals from 1997 to 2012. A Cy Young Award winner and two-time World Series champion, he was also a three-time All-Star selection. In addition, he was twice named the Sporting News National League Pitcher of the Year, and voted for a number of Comeback Player of the Year awards for surmounting injury...
ProfessionBaseball Player
Date of Birth27 April 1975
CityExeter, NH
I'll never forget the night we sat here until about 3 o'clock in the morning crying and talking about my career, ... I was ready to be done. And she didn't think I was, that I would regret it if I didn't take that one more step and try to come back again. And the next thing you know, I got my second surgery and here we are today. And I know that if it wasn't for her I wouldn't be here.
I located my fastball good, and my breaking ball was good. I made some quality pitches and kept the ball down. The fun thing about early on is getting the feel back and competing.
I know I got a little careless. I threw him a lot of breaking balls in a row.
I know if it wasn't for her. I wouldn't be here,
I haven't heard it come up. We have goals, and our goals are to finish this season strong, get into the playoffs and do what we came into this year to do -- that's win the World Series.
I really felt that there was more in there, ... When I came back last year, I knew I wasn't going to take anything for granted. ... Mentally, I grew up a lot.
I had no idea. They were asking for the ball and I didn't know why. I didn't know until I came into the dugout.
I'm confident in my stuff, I was confident in my delivery, I was confident in the pitches I made, it was just one of those nights. I think guys are eager and ready to get going, and I'm one of them.
If you go out there relaxed, you're going to give up runs. You have to go out and continue to compete and make pitches.
Granted, as a competitor, the games mean a lot to you. But we clinched, and there was nothing on the line anymore, everybody was talking about who we're going to play and what day we're going to play and where, all that stuff. You lose a tiny little edge and you get beat.
I felt relaxed, ... I felt confident. When I was in trouble, I wasn't concerned about it. I was really focused on what I needed to do and I did it all night long.
If I made the proper pitch to the pitcher, we'd be 0-0 right now. I felt we were going to get some runs, and no matter what happens I didn't think one run was going to beat me. Unfortunately it did.
I definitely felt better than I felt the last couple of starts, mechanically, ... I felt like I was getting through the ball a lot better. My sinker was better, my cutter was better and my command was better.
I don't think there will be a problem with people moving back, but I think it will attract a different group of people. I lived there for 12 years. I know how the city works.