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...
help innings rest seven sustain throw
Ultimately, I did what I wanted to do. If I can throw seven innings the rest of the way and we sustain this lead, it's going to help me a lot.
changes good half hoped learn liked played second
We hoped we would win. We had played good in the second half of '90, and I liked some of the changes we made. We were working to learn as much as we could.
best chance closing gives won
I just really believe, in my heart, what we're doing gives us the best chance to win, ... If we had won while I was in the closing role, I would have said 'Fine. I was wrong.'
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.
fun games mixed quick
I mixed it up enough. Those are fun games to play when you can do them quick and win.
catch feeling feels playing
I just feel good. I want to keep feeling like I'm playing catch because that's how it feels right now.
talking tired
I'm tired of talking about it. But that's just the way it is.
approach extra game smart
I'll be smart and say I can use that extra day of rest. I'm not going to approach one game as being more important than another.
games gear messing stay track
I like the way it's situated right now, ... That's why I don't like messing with it. I'd like to gear myself to stay on track because of how important these games are.
certainly feels good pitches rough sure tonight
I'm certainly proud. For tonight it sure feels good. I had some rough pitches but some good pitches.