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...
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.
concerned five standard
I'm more concerned about the five of us getting it right. We're the momentum. It has nothing to do with the bullpen. We have to be able to set the standard each day.
determine game
I don't need a game to determine anything about a pitch. This is what I've been through my whole career.
baseball beg division good guys playing terms
I beg to differ. One through five, they're as good as most people. I don't know if there's going to be a better division in baseball in terms of playing these guys 18 times.
chance given honestly last match people pitching staff stay took year
I honestly think if people would give this staff a chance to find its own identity, given what took place last year with Sosa pitching so well, we have the capabilities to match up with any other staff if we can stay healthy.
faith ultimate
I have the ultimate faith in what he's able to do.
bigger deal eight few fight hits innings realize
I fight the frustration when I give up a few hits like that. I'm old enough to realize that I can fight through that and just keep it there. ... All in all, to go eight innings was probably a bigger deal for me than anything else.
side stand
If I could stand up there with my whole side protected, ... why would I give up anything?
felt gave given stuff year
I felt with my stuff tonight, I shouldn't have given up a run, and I gave up three. It's the way our year has gone.
guess
If I had to guess today, I think I'm going to be fine, ... I really do.
cold felt lost related second
I couldn't get my feel in the second inning. I felt I lost it and then I got it back. It's related to the cold weather, and that's all we've had out here.