[Catcher] Toby [Hall] and I, we were clicking, ... That makes it so much easier when catcher and pitcher are on the same page. You know exactly what to anticipate. |
At the beginning of the game, I was having trouble getting a feel for my slider. And it was hanging a lot and everything. [I] just wasn't getting it down and I wasn't working both sides of the plate like I wanted to. [I] felt like I was kind of falling off a little bit, staying on one side a little bit, and that was hurting me. |
Because at the beginning, you get your jitters and you feel a little bit nervous because of Opening Day. You never know. You're not always going to face the No. 1 starter on the opposing team. It's not always the same. So it does feel like it's the same as last year pretty much -- like it's just going every five days and facing the hitters. You're facing the hitters, not the pitchers you're going up against. |
Everything I threw was right down the middle hanging. It's frustrating to try and work so ahead, and you try to bury one and it hangs. That's something you can't do. |
He's unbelievable. But watching him last year, I definitely figured he could do something like this. He looks so comfortable at the plate. He's just right there on it every time. He always has a game plan. He's a good hitter all around. |
I did [want to stay out there]. I wanted to go out there and take one of those Gatorade packages and get hydrated and everything and keep going because I felt good. |
I didn't have all my control. I was struggling down in the zone. |
I feel like I'm ready, I really do. |
I felt good, for the most part. [But it] felt like I was guiding it a little bit. I mean, that happens around Spring Training. You feel like you're trying to throw it exactly in the right spot instead of just letting it go. So better it happens now than in the season. ... Just being too fine, like I was trying to throw darts instead of just letting it go. |
I felt I got in a good groove from the beginning and I attacked the strike zone, |
I felt like I got in a groove right from the beginning, ... I just kept attacking that strike zone. I kept trying to work hitters and keep them off balance. |
I felt like I got in a groove, kept working the strike zone, kept the hitters off balance. |
I felt like I got into a groove right in the beginning. I just kept attacking hitters. |
I knew it was a cramp. |
I need to be the guy who comes in and puts us back on track or keeps a streak going. I'm up for the challenge. I want to be that guy. |