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
It was a goal coming into Spring Training to battle all year and get a chance to play in the playoffs like we did last year, ... My only goal was to stay healthy and try to be consistent all year, and have a chance to be here with this team, and it's worked out.
It was frustrating last year not to be a part of it, but you know, I'm excited about it and looking forward to tomorrow night and competing against a quality club. These guys have been playing well and they have got a good team and we've got to go and play our best baseball.
A few years ago, I never thought I was going to play again, ... I go from coming back and winning Comeback Player (of the Year in 2004) to winning the Cy Young. It's a crazy feeling.
A few years ago, I never thought I was going to play again, ... And I go from coming back and winning the comeback player to winning the Cy Young the year after that. It's a crazy feeling.
I saw his dedication and his work and what he took to the mound, and I didn't know how to apply it. This year I've been able to apply a lot of the things I saw.
I think the toughest thing this year is going to be to continue to do what I did last year, and that's being mentally strong every fifth day and to be able to be consistent. Am I going to win as many games? I don't know. But I believe the mental part of the game, if I continue to do the things I did last year, the success I had was because of that.
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.
You can say whatever you want. The results weren't there but ... we've pitched well all year and we've got five veteran guys ready to go out and compete. I don't see any difference when we start the series. I think we've got guys who are going to be prepared to come out and pitch. You get to a certain point in the season with 2 1/2 weeks left. Granted, as a competitor the games mean a lot to you. You want to go out and win and do well. But we clinched and there was nothing on the line anymore.
You can say whatever you want, ... The results weren't there but ... we've pitched well all year and we've got five veteran guys ready to go out and compete. I don't see any difference when we start the series. I think we've got guys who are going to be prepared to come out and pitch. You get to a certain point in the season with 2 1/2 weeks left. Granted, as a competitor the games mean a lot to you. You want to go out and win and do well. But we clinched and there was nothing on the line anymore.
We had that last year, we have that this year.
The sheer number of claims and inquiries can be overwhelming -- tremendous energy is required just to get your arms around the problem.
I've been in this situation, blowing a 2-0 lead.
They are a lot like our club. They take quality at-bats. They are patient and they have an idea about what they are doing and the pitcher they are facing. They've got speed. They've got some guys who can hit the ball out of the park. They have got quality guys from top to bottom, and you've definitely got to be on your game and make quality pitches to get these guys out.
There's not a lot of people that come from this area or this state that play in the big leagues, never mind win the Cy Young, ... To be part of that is unbelievable and to be part of this situation is unbelievable. I can't believe I won.