David Eckstein
David Eckstein
David Mark Ecksteinis a retired American professional baseball player who was an infielder in Major League Baseball for ten seasons. He played college baseball for the University of Florida, and has played professionally for the Anaheim Angels, St. Louis Cardinals, Toronto Blue Jays, Arizona Diamondbacks and San Diego Padres. Eckstein won the 2006 World Series Most Valuable Player Award...
ProfessionBaseball Player
Date of Birth20 January 1975
CitySanford, FL
early last outing pressure spring threw throughout training
Anyone, you want to try and put pressure on him as early as possible. He threw very well throughout Spring Training -- his last outing was his toughest.
allowed balls credit double early ground needed preached sharp spring
It's something we preached from Day 1 (of spring training). But you've got to give a lot of credit to Mulder. He wasn't sharp early on and allowed some runners, but then he got the ground balls he needed for the double plays.
mattered stepping understanding
Just stepping to the plate, just understanding it's you vs. him, that's all that really mattered at that point.
balls base played second time
I played second base all my life. The only time I backhanded balls was on dives.
calming feeling plate win
I'll take my chances, win or lose, ... It's a calming feeling to be up at the plate at that time.
calming plate step
It's pretty calming to step to the plate in that situation.
bottom champion guess line
Guess what, if we're going to be a champion we've got to come back. The bottom line is we still have life.
calming feeling matters step understand versus
It's pretty calming to step in there in that situation. I don't know why, but it's a feeling that comes over you. (The fans) are so loud, but you just understand it's you versus him ? that's all that matters at that point.
brothers four herself job mom orders sisters strict
I had strict orders from Day One that I have a job to do, and I need to do my job. I do have four other brothers and sisters who were able to be there, so it wasn't like my mom was by herself or anything like that. But yeah, there were strict orders that I don't come home.
clubhouse concerned control develop hard matter outside people reputation respect
I wasn't really concerned about the people outside the clubhouse and organization. I wanted to develop a reputation with my teammates. I wanted them to respect me. No matter how hard you play or what you do, you can't control what people on the outside think.
confidence dad freedom full gone
Having gone through this other times, I have full confidence in the surgery. Actually, it'll probably be a day of joy. Because my dad will get a lot of his freedom back.
hanging knock
Knock on wood, I've been hanging in there.
coaches consider focus heard main players playing
I had heard other players say 'when you play in St. Louis, you don't want to leave,' ... When you consider it, playing here is a no-brainer. It's awesome, from the organization to the manager, to the coaches to the fans. The main focus here is on winning.
guess might sleep
Guess what? If we're going to be a champion, we've got to come back. We might not be able to sleep tonight, but that's normal.