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...
concentration facing great guy hope issue provides
They've all been great games. Concentration isn't an issue when you're facing a guy like him. It's really their lineup that provides the most problems. You just hope to keep it close.
enforce explain guys lets manager rest rules veterans
There's not a better manager they could play for. He's patient. He's been through it all. He can explain things to them. He lets the veterans guys enforce the rules in the clubhouse, and the rest is history.
baseball beg division good guys playing terms
I beg to differ. One through five, they're as good as most people. I don't know if there's going to be a better division in baseball in terms of playing these guys 18 times.
guys might percent
Sometimes 90 percent of the guys you might get away with it once in a while. You're not getting away with it with him. He's dominant, he really is.
ball game guys spot trust
That game showed me if you put the ball in the right spot and trust it, you can get guys out.
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.
balance effort guy
I'm an effort guy, a max-out guy. But I'm not a guy to go out there grunting, ... There's just no balance to closing.
doubts left pitching
The doubts are going to be there, ... But I think I have a lot of pitching left in me.
faced fifth five great last time
It's the fifth time we've faced each other over the last two years. He's up 3-2, but it's been five great games.
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.
bearing game hear
You will not hear me say once after Game 1 that had any bearing whatsoever.
closest playoff
It's the closest thing you can get to a playoff game.
talking tired
I'm tired of talking about it. But that's just the way it is.
gone mentally
You can't go through what I've gone through, ... and not be mentally tough.