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...
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?
certain changing everybody game harder people
When you're used to doing something a certain way, I think changing is a lot harder than people think. Everybody is going to have their opinions, but he's just going to have to go through it. Really, it comes down to him making certain changes. This game is a game of adjustments.
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.
atlanta goes hard perception problem soon
There's a perception problem in Atlanta with the bullpen. It's hard to let go of the past. As soon as something goes wrong, everyone says, 'Here we go again.
hard pitch playoff tried
I tried a little too hard early. I tried to pitch like it was a playoff game.
came guys hard knew needed playoff tried
I tried a little too hard early. I pitched like it was a playoff game. We needed to win. The guys came through. I knew if I could keep it close, we would have a chance.
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.
week
This whole week is important, not just necessarily tomorrow.
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.
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.
attitude consistent stayed
Everything that I wanted to accomplish, everything I set out to do from an attitude mindset-wise, stayed consistent throughout.
awesome bobby drive runner score
Bobby told me to drive the runner in. It was awesome McCann was able to score on that.