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...
describe kid prepare word
It's really been amazing, ... That's the only way to describe it. There's no other word to describe what we're doing. They prepare each kid that's come up here in a way that not a lot has to be taught.
bobby bona cox credit describe few kids veteran
It's been amazing. I don't know how to describe it, other than to give all the credit to Bobby Cox and a few of the veteran players. These kids are so bona fide. They're like sponges. They want to learn. I'm having a blast.
change coaches credit future game kids nine players playing respecting room seen teach ways
For the most part, we've had change of nine to 10 to 12 players every year, so there's always room to play for the future of the Braves, ... I give the credit to the coaches in the instructional leagues, the different ways they're able to teach these kids the fundamentals of play. Playing the game is one thing. They've done that all their life. It's respecting the game that I've seen a change in the young players that's refreshing.
baseball single strange ways
In baseball history, it'll never be done again, ... We did it in such strange ways every single year.
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.
ball bat eighth erase flew flying ugly
The ball was flying today. Certainly, for us in the ninth, thankfully, it flew with Chipper's bat and Andruw's. That, hopefully, will erase what was an ugly eighth inning.
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.