Cliff Politte
Cliff Politte
Cliff Anthony Politteis a right-handed Major League Baseball retired relief pitcher. He was selected in the 54th round of the 1995 Major League Baseball Draft by the St. Louis Cardinals as the 1438th player selected. Politte came up to the parent club in 1998. He threw the first pitch at the new Roger Dean Stadium in spring training that year. From there, he went to the Philadelphia Phillies and then the Toronto Blue Jays, before signing with the Chicago White...
anybody bigger ticked trouble watch
We all give him trouble about how big he is. But he's a lot bigger than anybody in this clubhouse. You got to watch what you say, you don't want to get him ticked off.
goal help huge last mountain numbers point step team time trying ultimate win
I'm just trying to be consistent. Last year, the numbers showed that I was very consistent. I'm to the point right now where I know that I have a huge mountain to climb, but if I take it one step at a time ... I know that the ultimate goal is to help this team win games.
beat last supposed team tough
We're the team to beat and we're supposed to be the better team than we were last year. It's tough because we know we're a lot better than this.
baseball bit everybody exciting finally gratifying playing pull seen struggled teammates thick thin together
I've been playing professional baseball for 10 years and I've seen everybody do this, and it's exciting for me and my teammates who have battled through thick and thin to finally be a part of it. We struggled for a little bit and for us to pull together at the end here, it's very gratifying for us.
bad borrow deal easier fun hotel means phone road room saying shoelaces team teammate wants
The whole team does that. When I have a bad one on the road and my hotel room phone is ringing, it's a teammate saying he wants to come up and borrow my shoelaces and belt. By no means has it ever been to that point, but they like to have fun a little bit. To be honest, I think that has made it easier for me to deal with.
appreciate seen
I've never seen him really down on someone. That's what makes us appreciate him so much.
anyway fact game learn pressure realize save toronto until winning
When Toronto made me the closer, that was something I had to learn to do. The pressure was a factor. I didn't realize until after the fact that it was about winning the game and getting the save anyway you could.
against felt growing talent tough
It's been something that I've had against myself for a long time. Even growing up, I felt I had more talent than I was out there showing. I've always been tough on myself. I always felt that even if I did something good, I could still do it better.
starters
It's a two-way deal. If we're not pitching, the starters are doing well. But if they need a right-hander in relief, I want it to be me.
faced hitter knowing march nervous rest situation until
A lot of us were nervous knowing that it's a big game, a big situation and we haven't thrown, haven't faced a hitter in two weeks. If I have to rest until March or February, so be it. We live with it as long as we win.
guess half share team telling
We've all been telling a lot of jokes. I guess we'll all get half a (playoff) share and half a ring. We won't be in the team picture.
guess
I guess we'll just play it all out.
glad
He's the backbone. I'm glad he's on our side.
stuff system trophy
I don't think so. We got all that celebration stuff out of our system when we got the trophy at home. We just have to regroup. Fortunately, it's early.