A lot has gone right, so far, ... I've gotten a lot of support from my teammates. |
After the sixth inning I was overwhelmed on the bench, just so proud of how everyone played. It was so impressive. |
Early in the game, I established trying to get ahead (in the count) throwing my fastball down and away. When you show that to them, it makes them more aggressive. Then, you can use it against them later in the game. |
Early in the year we lost Ben for a while (to an inner-ear ailment) and as a pitching staff we picked up the slack pretty well, ... So this time we just got together and said, 'Hey, we've got to do the same thing here.' |
Every day I try to ask him a new phrase in Japanese. Like, 'What are you doing tomorrow?' or, 'How are you?' I'm not even close to ever speaking it or reading it fluently. But I know some basic phrases. |
Getting ahead of hitters and throwing a lot more strikes early in the count has been the biggest difference. |
I always want to do well, ... I don't have any animosity toward the Diamondbacks. They were always a class organization. They let me finish school before I started pitching. They gave me every opportunity to succeed. |
I didn't have good command of my pitches. I wanted to pound the strike zone and I go 2-0 to the first guy. But it doesn't mean anything. Physically, no pain no problem. That was the biggest thing. |
I didn't pitch very well tonight, but my teammates really picked me up ... I can't feel bad because we won. But I know I have to pitch better next time out. |
I felt physically OK, ... I fell behind some hitters, and that usually is a recipe for giving up some runs. |
I just kind of gave in and threw him a fastball down the middle. The second one was a slider that was supposed to be down and I just left it up. |
I was having a little trouble keeping the ball down to Andruw Jones, |
I was having a little trouble keeping the ball down to Andruw Jones. |
I was just so proud of how the team battled, really unbelievable. I didn't pitch well, but I can't feel bad the way the team played behind me and the bullpen came in and shut the door. |
I'm certainly not happy with the way I pitched, ... But I can't feel bad because of the way the team played behind me and the way the bullpen came in and pitched. It's just an all-around great feeling for the team |