Everybody's into it, everybody's giving 100 percent. Nobody's letting down at all. It feels great to compete in these games. |
First of all, he throws a hundred |
First of all, he throws a hundred ... Secondly, he's learned to spot his fastball. He's got a good slider, too, but in the last couple years, he's learned to paint the corners with his 100-mile-an-hour fastball. If you're doing that, guys don't have a chance. I know it's hard to control your fastball sometimes, but he's found a way to have consistent mechanics to be able to paint the corners with his fastball. That's why he's dominating so much right now. |
Getting this far almost leaves a bitter taste in your mouth, |
He gave me a call after those outings didn't go well, ... He talks to me on occasion when things aren't going great. He says 'don't change anything; you know you're the best.' He is the best. I really have so much respect for him. He's one guy who never changes. He goes in every time and gives it everything he has. |
He hit a slider up in the zone. I knew it was gone. I wish I had the pitch back was the immediate feeling. It's tough. This will sting. I'm a closer. Tomorrow, I'll have to put it behind me. I've blown saves before. |
He hit it a mile. |
He taught me a ton of stuff, ... The most important thing I learned was getting in a comfortable routine and doing the same thing day in and day out as a closer. |
He's too good to leave the game right now. |
Hickey's awesome, ... The best thing about Hickey is he keeps everything simple, doesn't try to overcorrect things. |
Hickey's awesome. The best thing about Hickey is he keeps everything simple, doesn't try to overcorrect things. |
I always say there's something about their team that brings out the best in you. I think when you're facing as many dangerous hitters as they have, you really have to be on you're 'A' game. Fortunately, tonight, it worked out again. |
I cannot even fathom. Right now I'm trying to take it all in. I'm doing the only thing I know what to do, and that's get ready for the next season. |
I definitely needed to pitch last night and I need to be as sharp as possible, but the bottom line is we need to win games right now. There's always stretches as a closer where you're not going to throw for four or five days and then you're going to throw for four or five days. That's the way it is. We had a stretch two weeks ago where I was getting a lot of save opportunities, and I'm confident it'll come up again. |
I didn't realize how intense the games were going to be. To be honest, it felt like a playoff atmosphere out there. |