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...
hurt
When you can get on base, and it doesn't hurt that bad, why not?
bad beat defense pitch
The pitch to Reyes was the make-it or break-it pitch of the game. He beat our defense because I made a bad pitch.
best exactly february late stood until
If I had until late 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.
best felt stuff three
I felt like it was my best stuff of the year. You're like, 'How in the world did I give up three runs?
catch good playing throwing
I feel so good right now it's like I am playing catch and throwing to a glove.
week
This whole week is important, not just necessarily tomorrow.
coming dealing dream great hard imagine left possible realize reason rookies seeing spring time training truly
The reason why we're seeing such a great celebration is we realize how hard we've worked, ... This truly is a dream season. I didn't think it was possible in May. I didn't think it was possible from the time we left spring training with all the things we were dealing with. I mean, who could imagine 12 rookies coming up here at different times?
adrenaline boost boy brian changed home run threw
When Brian threw that home run, boy it changed the whole game. That home run was pretty much the adrenaline boost I need to get through the game.
feelings innings nine pitch tough winning
To be one out away, one pitch away, from winning and then have to play another nine innings -- it's a tough way to lose. When you're put in this position, you're going to have one of two feelings in the end: gut-wrenching or ecstasy. There's only one way you can feel. We got the gut-wrenching. And it doesn't feel real good.
magic number remember until
We just have to remember that this thing isn't over until that magic number is at zero. We have to keep our focus.
difference guys hit hitting home people pitchers using
You are still going to have guys who hit 50 home runs. The difference is that guy who was hitting 25 is hitting 10 again. I know people say just as many pitchers were using steroids, but I can't see how they benefited from them as much as hitters.
build early exciting foresee lead obviously runs
We obviously know who they have in their rotation, so it's important that we get an early lead and build some kind of momentum. It should be an exciting series, but I don't foresee a lot of runs being scored.
attended bit coming game greatest irony seen series trip truly
Truly a little bit of irony here, coming back to this stadium. I'd seen enough in 18 innings, but this is the greatest trip of my life, ... This is going to be the first World Series game I ever attended that I didn't play in.
criticism critics-and-criticism deal given harder
It's one thing to deal with criticism when you haven't done your job. That's part of the game. But it's harder to deal with it before you've even been given a chance.