John Smoltz
John Smoltz
John Andrew Smoltz, nicknamed "Smoltzie" and "Marmaduke," is an American former baseball pitcher who played 21 seasons in Major League Baseball from 1988 to 2009, all but the last year with the Atlanta Braves. An eight-time All-Star, Smoltz was one of a celebrated trio of starting pitchers, along with Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine, who propelled Atlanta to perennial pennant contention in the 1990s, highlighted by a championship in the 1995 World Series. He won the National LeagueCy Young Award...
determine game
I don't need a game to determine anything about a pitch. This is what I've been through my whole career.
fastball good
The fastball is as good as it's ever been with location.
year
I'm going to look back on my year and say, 'There wasn't much I could do in my losses,' ... That's the way it goes.
great might seem
I'm going to have a great year. I really am. I know it might not seem like it after the first two starts, but I will.
accomplish catch pitch team trying win year
I'm going to go into the year not trying to accomplish anything. I'm not trying to win all my games. I'm not trying to do anything other than go out there and play catch and pitch and keep the team in it as long as possible.
adjustment body four next time together
I'm getting there. I've made an adjustment and my body just has to get used to it. I'll go four (innings) next time and just try to put it together little by little.
best exactly february fighting incredible stood until
I'm fighting some incredible ambition, but I need to be smart. If I had until February to make this decision, then it would be a no-brainer. I'd know exactly where I stood at that point. But right now, this is the best decision.
biggest game knew start time waited
I knew the first inning was going to be my biggest inning, ... I waited a long time to start a game of this magnitude. When I got through the first inning, that was the biggest test.
handled himself last liked saw since
I like him a lot. I've liked him ever since I saw the way he handled himself after what he went through last year.
coming knew
I knew coming into this, ... that things like this were possible.
energy hall interested suited ticket
I'm really not interested in this being a ticket to the Hall of Fame, me being a closer, ... My energy is better suited to starting.
acts bad body confident good time
The good and the bad about my body is that when something happens, it acts adversely, ... But then I can get well real quick. ... I'm still pretty confident I have enough time to do that.
doubts left pitching
The doubts are going to be there, ... But I think I have a lot of pitching left in me.
age both factor hardware hearts pitch prove
Age is not a factor right now, ... I think we both pitch with our hearts and guts, and go after guys. Obviously, he's got some hardware to prove it.