So many good things happened this year that you have to be proud of these guys. |
That was the nerves of his first major-league start. Everything speeded up on him. The next time, he realized, 'That's not me. That's not who I am.' It was a whole different mentality from the minute he got to the ballpark. He warmed up better, he was focused, he was concentrated. |
The whole year he showed that poise and composure. |
We talk to all of our guys to have the in-game awareness and to be cognizant of the game around you. You have to have the big picture. Also, when it is critical to make pitches and to not let the game get away from you. These are things that John has started to realize. |
We want to make sure when we send him out, that he's in condition to pitch again. With the resiliency of his arm, his athleticism and his youth, it doesn't take long for a young guy to get in shape. Essentially, he's not really behind arm-wise because he pitched roughly 2 1/2 to three weeks ago in the Caribbean finals. He got game innings. I suspect his arm is fine. |
You can't speed up a pitcher. Bart has to get his arm ready and he has to be able to get his body ready, but I have total faith in [Dominican pitching coach] Billy Castro. |
You don't experiment with a changeup against Alex Rodriguez in the ninth inning at Yankee Stadium. |