John Smoltz Quotations

We're fortunate that more guys in the last three games didn't have (injuries) happen.

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.

When you're used to doing something a certain way, I think changing is a lot harder than people think. Everybody is going to have their opinions, but he's just going to have to go through it. Really, it comes down to him making certain changes. This game is a game of adjustments.

The only way it?s bad for the game is if a guy is falsely accused. That?s bad. To be thought lesser than your talent, lesser than what you deserve to get credit for because of what somebody wrote, that?s the greatest travesty. That?s why you should hold onto people?s words as long as you can, until you absolutely know the truth.

When he made the catch and when he hit the home run you could tell the whole thing had turned.

Whenever you see a rash of new guys coming through, you never imagine they can contribute the way that they did. I think it's a great boost of confidence for them to be able to feel that no matter what happens this year, they have the capability to be a big part of our organization.

When you can get on base, and it doesn't hurt that bad, why not?

The pitch to Reyes was the make-it or break-it pitch of the game. He beat our defense because I made a bad pitch.

My control shouldn't be an issue. I've been down this road so many times before. Adrenaline is going to be incredible at this time. ... The issue's going to be will I be able to come out from the start and contain that adrenaline?

My control shouldn't be an issue, ... I've been down this road so many times before. Adrenaline is going to be incredible at this time. ... The issue's going to be will I be able to come out from the start and contain that adrenaline?

Now that makes me feel a little different.

Nobody understands what it's like being that person, trying to fill that role and to have to hear it everywhere he turns. We all can say pretty confidently that was a great part of the problem for Danny Kolb.

Right down the middle. I can't believe he took it.

I was forced to get out of a lot of jams, but ultimately I'd take 25 or 27 more of these games. I'd like to think I'm going to come out on top more often than not.

If we had to lose and if one person basically was the reason -- you never want to lose -- but you didn't mind it being Kirby Puckett. When he made the catch and when he hit the home run you could tell the whole thing had turned.

I don't know any other way to do it. I take the mound with the focus that we can't lose. I've had that feeling for a long time.

I don't know anyone in the history of the game who went through more to start out.

I don't count the first one, because I just made a terrible pitch. After that, tip your hat, because that was a ball and he hit it out of the park.

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.

I felt like it was my best stuff of the year. You're like, 'How in the world did I give up three runs?

I feel so good right now it's like I am playing catch and throwing to a glove.

I fought it most of the night. I thought I pitched great warming up, then all of a sudden it wasn't normal.

Great transition. He doesn't try to do too much. He comes in and evaluates, communicates ... he has a lot to offer.

I don't think it's real serious, but it just comes at an awkward time.

If it were the old way there would have been another four-spot in that third inning.

I got a thousand emotions going through my head right now, and a lot of it has to do with all the things that are being said, just the teeter-totter of what this team has accomplished or not accomplished,

He's been a big part of this resurgence that's allowed us to win. He's getting on base. He's getting huge hits. He's been the key.

He does terrible interviews for a reason. Believe me, he knows a lot more about what he does than he lets on. He never wants anyone to know where he's coming from.

He's definitely hurt a lot of other rookies' chances.

He's got the kind of skills to put the bat on the ball behind him.

His name just seemed to be synonymous with being a superstar. It's not supposed to happen like this.

Hudson is the Opening Day starter of the future, and as long as he's here, he's going to continue being the Opening Day starter.

Huddy is Opening Day starter for the future here.

I was looking forward. It was brutal. I was tested to the max.

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.

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.

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.

I think it's going to be even better, because mechanically it should allow me to throw with a lot less stress and a lot more accuracy.

I think it's because my mechanics are so much better. My arm and hand are in a position where I couldn't get them consistently before. I still break down. ... But more times than not, it's right where it needs to be and the hitter isn't recognizing it yet. It's going to be a weapon.

It gets old when you battle your butts off,

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.

I respect him as a player that I've played against about as much as anybody. That's a high regard when you talk about the likes of who I've played against. He plays the game right, plays with his head and you never hear anything about him bad. I think he's going to wear our uniform about as well as most have.

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.

My whole career, it's never been about trying to achieve something like this, ... It's who I am.

I was trying to mess with their heads a little bit. I felt like if I could get through the first inning doing that, that the next few innings could give me some room for fastballs -- even right down the middle.

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.

That's what everyone here was talking about -- mainly because of the role, ... It's a big part of your team's mentality, when you know you have someone to count on.

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.

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.

When you're put in this position, you have either one of two feelings gut-wrenching or ecstasy ... there's nothing else you can feel,

We obviously know who they have in their rotation, so it's important that we get an early lead and build some kind of momentum. It should be an exciting series, but I don't foresee a lot of runs being scored.

This whole week is important, not just necessarily tomorrow.

The reason why we're seeing such a great celebration is we realize how hard we've worked, ... This truly is a dream season. I didn't think it was possible in May. I didn't think it was possible from the time we left spring training with all the things we were dealing with. I mean, who could imagine 12 rookies coming up here at different times?

When Brian threw that home run, boy it changed the whole game. That home run was pretty much the adrenaline boost I need to get through the game.

To be one out away, one pitch away, from winning and then have to play another nine innings -- it's a tough way to lose. When you're put in this position, you're going to have one of two feelings in the end: gut-wrenching or ecstasy. There's only one way you can feel. We got the gut-wrenching. And it doesn't feel real good.

We just have to remember that this thing isn't over until that magic number is at zero. We have to keep our focus.

Truly a little bit of irony here, coming back to this stadium. I'd seen enough in 18 innings, but this is the greatest trip of my life, ... This is going to be the first World Series game I ever attended that I didn't play in.

You are still going to have guys who hit 50 home runs. The difference is that guy who was hitting 25 is hitting 10 again. I know people say just as many pitchers were using steroids, but I can't see how they benefited from them as much as hitters.

Everything that I wanted to accomplish, everything I set out to do from an attitude mindset-wise, stayed consistent throughout.

Bobby told me to drive the runner in. It was awesome McCann was able to score on that.

Every day, I'm thinking of ways to implement this system. That means I can't get in the rut of doing everything fast.

At this point, it's the playoffs, and I guarantee you won't hear one word about my shoulder being an issue one way or the other,

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.

I've been busting it. This is as much as I've battled for a long time. It was a playoff game for me.

I've woken up thinking my arm has fallen off because I can't feel it,

I've never seen a bruise that lasts all year.

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.

People don't understand every year for the last four years we've been dealing with being written off. It's kind of ironic people are picking us now because they don't want to pick against us.

A fault of mine is to get too excited about the first game. I kind of figured it out, then had a different routine for five years and had to learn it all over again last year.

After last season, I had to make some changes. I couldn't keep going with the philosophy that I had to pitch no matter what.

Stuff like that just doesn't happen in other cities.

Actually, ... I think I know the reason, but I don't need to say it.

Anything you give a couple of extra days, it's just going to make it that much better,

That game showed me if you put the ball in the right spot and trust it, you can get guys out.

You never want to say that series in April are big, but this is for us.

This is for everyone who doubted us. People said I couldn't make the transition back to starting. People said we had too many rookies again. But we proved everybody wrong. This is really something to celebrate.

This is for all the nay-sayers. This is for all the ones that said there's no way this can continue ... to the ones that are waiting for the next debacle.

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.

You don't want to give any momentum to anyone, especially a team that started out so well. They're the team to beat. I think they're the team to beat in the whole National League. I think they're that good.

There's a perception problem in Atlanta with the bullpen. It's hard to let go of the past. As soon as something goes wrong, everyone says, 'Here we go again.

It's just a case of giving me a couple extra days off. We're fresh enough in the starting rotation.

It's just ingrained into a player now. It's more famous here than anyplace else in the world, ... The only thing about it here is it's followed by, 'Let's score some runs!'

It's a role with a huge magnifying glass. We're fine. It'll turn.

It's a devastating blow for us, because I don't think people realize how vital he was to our rotation.

It's a frustrating way to lose, because you'd always like to win that first game. Now we have to win the next two.

I tried a little too hard early. I tried to pitch like it was a playoff game.

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.

It's one thing to deal with criticism when you haven't done your job. That's part of the game. But it's harder to deal with it before you've even been given a chance.

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.

It's the closest thing you can get to a playoff game.

It's almost like you're in some kind of twilight zone. You're going, no way.

It's been a grind. I feel like I'm pitching really good and sometimes you give up runs, where you go, 'How in the world did I give up runs?' Then there are games where you think you should give up six (runs) and you don't.

It's been a feeling, ... of watching other people do what you want to do.

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.

It's been a story line for awhile. It hasn't happened in awhile.

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.

I've just got to be honest with them so in case something happens, they have a plan,

I've got to be careful I don't hurt him. That's why it's got to be something slow like a knuckleball.

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.

Anybody can be a starting pitcher. Not everybody can be a great starting pitcher, but anyone can start. Anyone can't close. It's a completely different animal. It's a completely different mind-set. Some guys can do it for a while, then burn out. Some guys can't do it at all. I think it's the most challenging thing in the game.