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...
best exactly february late stood until
If I had until late February to make this decision, then it would be a no-brainer. I'd know exactly where I stood at that point. But right now, this is the best decision.
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.'
best faced guy hung
I didn't do what I wanted to do. When you have never faced a guy before you try to make what you think is your best pitch. I just hung it a little.
best exactly february fighting incredible stood until
I'm fighting some incredible ambition, but I need to be smart. If I had until February to make this decision, then it would be a no-brainer. I'd know exactly where I stood at that point. But right now, this is the best decision.
best felt stuff three
I felt like it was my best stuff of the year. You're like, 'How in the world did I give up three runs?
battle gets
It gets old when you battle your butts off,
draw happy momentum playing road start teams three
I said at the start of this road trip, if we can take two out of three and kill the momentum of the teams we're playing with, that's going to help. Certainly, we didn't want to draw it up this way, but it had a happy ending.
looking tested
I was looking forward. It was brutal. I was tested to the max.
everybody figure
Just like everybody else, he's going to have to go through it. You've got to figure it out yourself. It's what everybody has had to do.
deal game gone history incredible joey player
Joey Devine has such an incredible upside. I don't know any player in the history of the game that has gone through what he did. His personality will deal with it.
cannot feeling focus mound
I take the mound with the focus that is we cannot lose. I've had that feeling for a long time. That's the feeling you want to have as a pitcher. Find a way, any way, battle.
beat certainly game hooked last thoughts time
My thoughts are I better be on my game. I think Game 4, the last time we hooked up in the World Series, he certainly was on his, and he beat us.
contain fun games latter learned
The anticipation is what kills me, ... I have more fun in these games than I have in any game I pitch. The issue's going to be will I be able to contain that adrenaline. I learned how to do that in my latter years.
easy protect
That's the way I am. The easy thing to do is protect yourself and not go out there, but that's never been me.