John Smoltz Guys Quotations

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

I beg to differ. One through five, they're as good as most people. I don't know if there's going to be a better division in baseball in terms of playing these guys 18 times.

The home runs just shocked me. We needed to win, and the guys came through. I knew if I could keep it close, that we would have a chance.