When I played, a pitcher could throw at you any time he wanted to. In fact, he could tell you he was going to throw at you, and there was nothing said. You had to take it. If he hit ya, he hit ya.
In the split second from the time the ball leaves the pitcher's hand until it reaches the plate you have to think about your stride, your hip action, your wrist action, determine how much, if any the ball is going to break and then decide whether to swing at it.
I had some great pitchers while in St. Louis. At first, they only 'pitched' the ball fifty feet. They had an allowance of six bases on balls, which was neutralized to some extent by four strikes. Later on, the 'throw' became a free-for-all, overhand, or any style the pitcher chose.
And then when I went to stay in '68, I can honestly say that I was not focused on my career and on what it took to be a major league pitcher and to be a starting pitcher.
It doesn't matter what the scoreboard says. I'm always having fun, talking to other guys. They even come to first base and ask me about hitting. I try to help them out as much as I can in the 30 seconds before the pitcher throws the next pitch. That's me. I don't think I will ever change that.
If a pitcher makes a mistake inside, I'm going to hit it.
As soon as I got out there I felt a strange relationship with the pitcher's mound. It was as if I'd been born out there. Pitching just felt like the most natural thing in the world. Striking out batters was easy.
I always tried to watch the pitcher and his complete windup from the moment he had the ball in his glove all the way through his motion, and tried to follow it all the way out of his hand, all the way to home plate.
Goose Gossage is a friend of mine, and he's definitely a Hall of Fame pitcher in my mind.
I worry about my voice 24/7 when I'm on tour. It's like a pitcher and his arm. It's constantly the thing that my whole life revolves around.
I've won plenty of games by knowing when to take out my pitcher; whom to replace him with; or how to place my infield or outfield to defend properly against the opposing hitter.
What's unfortunate about buying a pitcher for $12 million is that he carries no warranty.
Walk rate is probably the area in which a pitcher has the most room to improve, but a rate that high is tough to overcome.
Anybody who's ever had the privilege of seeing me play knows that I am the greatest pitcher in the world.
Half the time, I have trouble following our own pitcher's sequence.
I think what hurt me all along was the label of 'war-time pitcher.' I've always resented that.
I was a pitcher, played third base, shortstop. I was good at all the positions and great at none. All it takes is a .111 lifetime batting average to make you go into acting.
We're pretty good at putting bunts down and really good at hitting. I know as a pitcher, when you face a pitcher you know can hit, that's not fun. I think taking pride in that, and being able to hit helps your own cause.
Tiger Woods, Larry Bird, Wayne Gretzky, a pitcher just before a game, I would imagine they all have nervous energy. But as you perform, the nervous energy dissipates and you start to relax and you start to do what you do best.
There is no future for me as a closing pitcher.
My favorite sport is baseball; my cousin is pitcher Heath Bell.
I can understand the fact you don't want the ball slipping out of a pitcher's hand because someone can get hurt.
I was never a strikeout pitcher. Why should I throw eight or nine balls to get a man out when I got away with three or four?
I don't know why you would trade a stud pitcher.
I'm not really a pitcher; I just play one in the movies.
My flexibility is probably my No. 1 asset. Obviously we need to have a strong shoulder, strong scapula, strong lats, and a durable elbow to have longevity as a pitcher, but being mobile in the hips and flexible in the hamstrings takes so much pressure and stress off of my arm.
